CookBombur Courtesy of those talented folks at Weta Digital, we’re delighted to bring you this fantastic behind-the-scenes video of Bombur’s bouncing barrel.

Weta Digital presents a peek inside the world of the animation team as they work out how to solve one of the most complicated shots in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. As part of an epic seven-minute action sequence, Bombur’s bouncing barrel shot required an elaborate approach.

See how our animators suited up and used their own performances as part of the animation process.



IMG_9385I’ve put together another video review for you all today, this time it’s of the second member of the Hot Dwarves duo, with Fili joining the previously released Kili in our collection. Fili, as has been the case with the other statues in this line, came out really well done with a superb overall paint/detail-work as well as a great likeness to Dean O’Gorman. Fili like most of the Dwarves is a limited edition piece with just 1000 pieces worldwide and comes in with a price tag of just $249. He is in-stock so you can get him right now if you’re looking to add another piece from The Hobbit Trilogy. Fili is the eighth Dwarf to be completed in this line of statues and ninth overall to be completed, which is not what I say in the video a couple of times. Nori the latest release is on his way and we should have a review of him up soon!
Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – Weta Workshop’s Fili the Dwarf Statue Review”

Battle of Five ArmiesWelcome to our collection of TORn’s hottest topics for the past week.  If you’ve fallen behind on what’s happening on the Message Boards, here’s a great way to catch the highlights.  Or if you’re new to TORn and want to enjoy some great conversations, just follow the links to some of our most popular discussions.  Watch this space as every weekend we will spotlight the most popular buzz on TORn’s Message Boards.  Everyone is welcome, so come on in and join the fun!

Continue reading “TORn Message Boards Weekly Roundup – June 1, 2014”

S1SFpYVJBxtSsNJgBSjIqZJjOCBPSjKPJ1_o Christopher Lee turned 92 just last week. Naturally, he marked the big day with the release of a new mini-album — Metal Knight.

Lee is well-known for his devotion to fantasy and heavy metal themes, and already boasts a number of album releases and collaborations in the genre — the first with Italian Symphonic Metal band Rhapsody of Fire a decade ago. In June 2010, he received the Spirit of Metal gong at the Golden Gods Awards from Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) for his work on Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross and his contribution to metal themes on the silver screen.

And last Christmas, his rendition/affectionate parody of Jingle Bells (retitled Jingle Hell) peaked at number 18 in the Billboard Charts. That feat made Lee — at the age of 91 — the oldest performer to ever chart on Billboard. Continue reading “Christopher Lee marks his 92nd birthday with a new metal album”

John Howe. Photo: Fataneh Howe.
John Howe. Photo: Fataneh Howe.
Check out this interview with interview that Ethan Gilsdorf conducted with John Howe over two sessions in January and July last year. It’s a corker.

Howe is, of course, a long-time Tolkien illustrator and is currently working with Alan Lee as Conceptual Designer for The Hobbit movie trilogy.

Continue reading “Meet the man whose illustrations have helped define Middle‑earth”

Thorin_Oakenshield Many people have written to us over the last five or so days about a story that has begun circulating around the internet concerning Thorin Oakenshield and the final Hobbit film, The Battle of the Five Armies.

Frankly, we hoped this story would die a quiet death because it is simply not credible. However, a couple of web media outlets have picked it up so somewhat reluctantly here we are quashing a rumour that simply has no credence at all.

Seeing as this is obviously leading us into spoiler territory, if you are avoiding them or have not read the book (I know there are a few of you out there), then look away now. Continue reading “Debunking that Hobbit movie rumour about Thorin Oakenshield”