IMG_6715As we approach another Comic-Con I wanted to share a review of an item I loved from last years Comic-Con. The amazing Minas Tirith Environment from Weta Workshop was the scene stealing item of their booth last year. Sculptor Leonard Ellis out-did himself with the detail that went into this piece, from the detailed front gate to the last little brick in the upper-most wall. This is the kind of piece that you feel, with the right camera, you could do a fly over to film your own Minas Tirith scene. Thankfully for collectors, this piece is an open edition and can still be had. I would encourage you to get your Minas Tirith today.

Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – Weta Workshop’s Minas Tirith Review”

lotreowyna6If you’ve been collecting statues from Weta Workshop for as long as I have, you have a mental list of things not yet done that you hope do get done. This week’s new release brings us one of the iconic moments from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. As we see Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli ride up to Edoras, and Lady Eowyn comes barging out of The Golden Hall in the beautiful white dress. This moment has been screaming to get a statue made since the film came out in 2002. This week, that long wait is over and we can now place orders for a statue capturing this breathtaking moment, including those very cool Rohan flags flying in the breeze. Coming in with an edition size of only 750 pieces and a price of $275, this statue is sure to go fast. Fans will also be responsible for a $50 deposit at the time of purchase.

San Diego Comic Con’s schedule is up and TheOneRing.net’s panel will be Friday, July 22 at 5pm in Room 25ABC. If you’re attending, be sure to join the fun!

Tolkien Fandom: The Road Goes Ever On
Friday July 22, 2016 5:00pm – 6:00pm, Room 25ABC
There have been fans of Professor Tolkien’s work since 1937, and there will continue to be fans far into the distant future. The staff of TheOneRing.net are continuing to host online discussions, streaming video and live events throughout this year and for years to come. They know you want to discuss the details of the books, make and wear beautiful costumes and party like Hobbits whenever you can. This year they will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the release of Fellowship of the Ring. Join staffers Clifford Broadway (TORn Tuesday), Josh Rubinstein (TORn bookclub), Kellie Rice (Happy Hobbit), Alex Rice (Happy Hobbit), and Josh Long (Collecting the Precious). Expect some fun audience participation during this in-depth discussion with the website forged by and for fans of J. R. R. Tolkien.

Weta CaveOne of the many things I love about our friends at Weta Workshop is they’re always trying to find ways to bring new collectibles based on the world of Middle-earth into our homes. Not only that, but they listen so well to the things fans want, and this is a line that has been gaining steam from what I’ve been seeing at places like The Flame of Udun. Showing up at Comic-Con 2016, these new 1:30 scale Middle-earth pieces will give fans a chance to create dioramas or mini-scenes from both The Hobbit Trilogy and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. As you will see in this video, the first piece being done is capturing the events of Dol Guldur during The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. One thing of note when it comes to this line: you will be able to buy lots of these figures individually so you can create a scene however you’d like. There is also one surprise in this video of something we may see at Comic-Con this year. Let us know if you see it. Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – Weta Workshop’s New 1:30 Range of Middle-earth Collectibles”

IMG_20160401_130850983_HDR
TheOneRing.net’s table at the convention. Thanks to all who stopped by!

It’s hard to believe a week has passed already since HobbitCon Vier in Germany. Staffers deej and greendragon were delighted to be there, meeting fellow fans and sharing the fun. As promised, here are some tales of the weekend for those of you who couldn’t be there – or who were there and just want to look back!

HobbitCon was held in the Hotel Maritim in Bonn, April 1-3. Folks started arriving on the Wednesday before, and there was an atmosphere of anticipation as more and more people, often laden with suitcases full of costumes, showed up to be reunited with friends.

On Friday the con officially got underway, and the big ‘kick off’ was the Opening Ceremony that evening. All the guests were invited on stage – TORn’s staff had no idea they would have to speak, but greendragon dusted off her German to say a few words! Of course the crowd was really waiting to see the guest actors; in attendance this year were Mark Atkin, Dallas Barnett, John Bell, Billy Boyd, Jed Brophy, Sadwyn Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Lori Dungey, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Stephen Hunter,William Kircher, Craig Parker and John Tui. Mark Ferguson was a seemingly indefatigable host for the weekend! (You can read full details of all the guests at HobbitCon’s website, here.) Continue reading “HobbitCon 4 – a merry meeting!”

hobbitcon_4-logo-triff_die_tolkien_stars-600x184Just a couple of days to go until the fourth (and final?) HobbitCon gets underway in Bonn, Germany. Fans and cast members alike are getting on planes around the world and making their way to the Hotel Maritim – and TORn staffers greendragon and deej are looking forward to being there too! We’ll have t-shirts and buttons for sale, some prizes to giveaway, and we’ll be giving two panels over the weekend:

Saturday 2nd April 2pm in Saal Maritim

A Party of Special Magnificence – Behind the Scenes of The One Last Party

February 2015 in Hollywood – TheOneRing.net and fellow fans gathered with some of the cast and crew from Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth movies, to celebrate this fandom we all love – ‘one last time’… TORn staffers greendragon and deej share tales of fundraising on an epic scale, preparing for this special event, and trying to keep elves, dwarves, hobbits and men – and the occasional dragon – happy! Plus we’ll show some footage from the night itself – and maybe some extra video clips of cast who sent along their support.

Sunday 3rd April 12pm in Saal Maritim

There and Back Again – Looking Back on an Extraordinary Journey

Seventeen years ago, a film maker in New Zealand began his work bringing Middle-earth to the screen; and TheOneRing.net began a mission… quest… thing. In the years which followed, we’ve travelled far and wide, in cyberspace and in the real world; meeting cast and crew; getting magical glimpses behind the scenes; and most importantly, sharing an epic journey with our fellow fans across the globe. Join staffers from TheOneRing.net to share reminiscences about the highs and lows of this Unexpected Journey with a Fellowship of Fans.

You can read the full program for HobbitCon here.

Hope you can join us at the panels – and of course come by our table to say hello! We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone there – and of course we’ll report back with photos so everyone can share the fun.