Ian McKellen Mr HolmesThere’s a lot going on in the next week or so for Ian McKellen fans. This Wednesday, July 15th, he’ll be taking part in a Q&A session on reddit’s “AMA” (Ask me Anything). The session runs from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST, so be sure to collect your questions for him and ask them here. The Q&A comes two days before the opening of Sir Ian’s new movie Mr. Holmes on Friday, July 17th. Adapted from Mitch Cullin’s 2005 novel “A Slight Trick of the Mind,” Mr Holmes has Sir Ian playing a 93 year-old, retired Sherlock Holmes, trying to piece together what happened during his last unsolved case, 30 years in the past. If you live in the L.A. area, Sir Ian  and fellow Mr. Holmes actor Laura Linney will be appearing in person after the 7:15 showing at The Landmark theater, Westwood Blvd. Los Angeles. Tickets can be purchased here, and you can watch the trailer at the Mr Holmes official site.

With the opening of Mr Holmes, there are sure to be more interviews and appearances which we’ll bring to you as we hear about them. Here’s one with the Minneapolis Star Tribune to start them off: Ian McKellen talks ‘Mr. Holmes,’ Gandalf, Guthrie and gay marriage.

Bakshi On March 28, 2015 TheOneRing.net livestreamed an interview with animation pioneer Ralph Bakshi to discuss the first-ever “The Lord of the Rings” film (1978), and to parse the differences between homage and rip-off (and the not-so-nebulous chains of inspiration from one artist to another).

Bakshi revealed to us that his Studio’s “LOTR” character designs and artwork were sent down to Three Foot Six in New Zealand; elevating the conversation of his impact on the live-action epic.

The subversive director has lived through numerous controversies, yet remains undervalued by Ringer fans and feels personally slighted by Jackson. He carries on vigorously at 77 years old with a new crowdfunded animated work, “The Last Days of Coney Island” and his intent to direct a “Wizards 2” follow-up to his 1977 cult hit. Continue reading “The Bakshi Interview: Uncloaking a Legacy”

Bakshi LOTRRalph Bakshi will appear in person at a film retrospective of some of his most iconic animated films, presented by the American Cinematheque in conjunction with the USC School of Cinematic Arts. The films will screen at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica on the last weekend of March. You can catch a double feature of “Heavy Traffic” and “American Pop” on Friday, March 27 starting at 7:30pm. There will be a discussion with director Ralph Bakshi between these two films and a clip will be shown from his new film “Last Days of Coney Island”.  On the following Saturday, March 28, there will be a double feature of “The Lord of the Rings” and “Wizards”, starting at 7:30pm, again with a discussion with director Ralph Bakshi between the two films.

If you have never seen this Ralph_Bakshiversion of LOTR, or at least never seen it on the big screen, you must try and catch this screening. The rotoscoping is eye-catching, to say the least, and brings a level of veracity to the more serious themes of this story, something that was not common with animation of it’s time. Bakshi Productions will be selling art in the lobby starting at 6:30pm each night, so get there early.

Staffers from TheOneRing.net will running about the theater as well, so do make sure to say hello if you see us. And what can only be called a cosmic coincidence, Tolkien Forever, the Los Angeles based smial of the Tolkien Society will be hosting Tolkien Reading Day earlier in the day on Saturday, March 28 in Downtown Los Angeles. You can find out more details about that on Facebook event page. Why not make it a true Tolkien daily double with some reading, some viewing and some Fellowship.

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The Aero theater is located at 1328 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403, and you can buy tickets at the box office or in advance on Fandango. All the information you need can be found on the American Cinematheque Bakshi Tribute calendar.