This Saturday at 6pm EDT (New York time), Hall of Fire returns to our read-through of The Fellowship of the Ring. We rejoin our questing Hobbits as they grapple without the fall-out from Frodo’s inadvertent disappearing act in the Prancing Pony’s common room, and try to work out the motivations of the mysterious ranger, Strider. (Details on how to join the chat are found down below)

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost.

FoTR Book 1, Chapter 10: Strider Continue reading “Hall of Fire FoTR chapter chat: Strider!”

For JRR Tolkien, languages evolved at least in part in reaction to the history of their speakers. Looking at recent photos and screenshots of the cities of Dale and Esgaroth, I was struck by the thought that for Peter Jackson’s design team, Middle-earth history could exert a similar effect on architecture.

Curious how the architectural set design choices for the Hobbit might reflect the history of these two cities, I asked Barliman’s chat regular and archaeologist Jenniearcheo to provide a few professional insights on some of the set images that have found their way onto the internet.

This brief essay is the result. We hope you enjoy it.

Warning: SPOILERS.

Continue reading “Dale and Laketown: the tale of two cities”

Over the last week or so, San Diego Comic-Con has given us an absolute glut of of news about The Hobbit production.

Consider: close-up views of the trolls at the Weta booth.

Consider: Peter Jackson’s comments that he’d love to go back and film more material derived from the appendices of the Lord of the Rings.

And consider: the incredible breadth of the twelve-and-a-half minute showreel that they showed.

That’s why, this weekend, Hall of Fire will be examining the very latest movie rumours and spoilers. Continue reading “Hall of Fire movie rumour round-up this weekend!”

This Saturday at 6pm EDT (New York time), Hall of Fire returns to Fellowship of the Ring and rejoins our questing Hobbits as they arrive in the village of Bree.

‘That’s right! Barliman is my name. Barliman Butterbur at your service! You’re from the Shire, eh?’ he said, and then suddenly he clapped his hand to his forehead, as if trying to remember something. ‘Hobbits!’ he cried. ‘Now what does that remind me of? Might I ask your names, sir?’

‘Mr. Took and Mr. Brandybuck,’ said Frodo; ‘and this is Sam Gamgee. My name is Underhill.’

FoTR Book 1, Chapter 9: At the Sign of the Prancing Pony

Continue reading “Hall of Fire heads to the Prancing Pony!”

How do you put together a grand tour of The Shire? Where do you take Ringer fans who want to see the REAL Middle-earth?  Be sure to catch our innovative *LIVE WEBCAST* TORn TUESDAY — In a few minutes our delightful friends from the LOTR filming locations tour company “Red Carpet Tours” will be on via Skype from New Zealand! You can be part of the show and bring your questions to Vic & Julie James, who are busy preparing our wonderful HOBBIT MOVIE PREMIERE TOUR in late November 2012, alongside the premiere events in Wellington! You should join us in NZ too! Come join host Clifford Broadway *live* via Stickam (account “theoneringnet”) using your own Skype login or come join us via our Live Event Page with our unique Barliman’s chat embedded in the show! Tune into our webcast at 5:00pm PDT (that’s Los Angeles time folks), and just click to our Live Event page.

Early this week, Entertainment Weekly released a bunch of new still photos from the Hobbit. Their magazine feature hit the stands mid-week and is full of a big bunch of movie news. Filming has just wrapped. Comic-con is approaching rapidly.

That’s why, this Saturday July 7, Hall of Fire is taking an unscheduled break from our Fellowship of the Ring read-through to trawl through the very latest movie rumours and spoilers.

(We’ll be back with the next chapter of FOTR next weekend, promise!) Continue reading “Hall of Fire tomorrow: movie rumour round-up!”