The world is excited. I feel it in the water. I smell it in the air. For much that once was, is rereleased…
As the world of Tolkien fandom eagerly prepares for the coming of The Hobbit movie(s), the BBC is helping us to fill in our time by re-releasing its fabulous radio dramatization of The Lord of the Rings.
Originally broadcast in 1981, this production is almost as classic as the books themselves. It is THE quintessential radio dramatization. Brilliantly acted, with atmospheric music and clever sound effects, this series has not dated at all. Brian Sibley expertly adapted Tolkien’s writing into a script; narration is kept to a minimum and pacing is maintained through active dialogue, but at the same time as much as possible of Tolkien’s original text is included. Book fans will love hearing cherished, familiar lines, and movie fans will enjoy spotting dialogue which made it into both Peter Jackson’s movies and this dramatization. Continue reading “Review: Re-Release of the BBC The Lord of the Rings”
According to a short video interview with Andy on ITN here, Andy Serkis is looking forward to reprising his role as Gollum:
Female Reporter: Was it very exhaustive being Gollum?
Andy: Yeah, yeah. It was physically very tiring. Physically and mentally and vocally. (laughs)
Male reporter: Being Smeagol, you being Smeagol as well – as an actor, that must be quite nice – to look like you, for once..
Andy: Well the fact of the matter is that I don’t know where they’re going to pick up the story – obviously Gollum in The Hobbit is Gollum – he has transformed into Gollum, so – but then there’s the prequel to The Rings as well, so we’ll have to see. It will be very, very interesting to see where the writing takes the development of the character. But I know they’ll come up with something very interesting.
Sala Baker Sala Baker (born September 22, 1976) is an actor and stuntman from Wellington, New Zealand. Originally hired as one of several stunt performers for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, he ended up landing the part of Sauron. In addition, he also played several Orcs, a Gondorian, and one of the Rohirrim. Outside of the trilogy, Baker has performed in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and two Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
Last year, “Lord of the Rings” star Viggo Mortensen told MTV News that he was game for a chance to return to Middle-earth, and would welcome the opportunity to portray Aragorn in a “Hobbit” bridge film. So why hasn’t director Guillermo del Toro called him yet? “I haven’t heard anything,” the once and future king of Men said of news about the movie. “I met [Guillermo] once years ago,” but haven’t talked to him since. Viggo Mortensen Still Waiting For Guillermo Del Toro’s ‘Hobbit’ Call
Nienna sends in this story: British actors Hugh Laurie and Christopher Lee have had their status as top Hollywood stars confirmed with entries in the Guinness World Records 2009. The latest list of record-breaking achievements, which goes on sale on Wednesday, will see 86-year-old acting veteran Lee crowned Most Connected Living Actor. A database created by the University of Virginia mapped the working relationships between more than a million actors and actresses, and identified Lee as living “in the centre of the Hollywood universe”. London-born Lee, who has been made a CBE, was listed in the 2001 record book as the star with the most screen appearances to his name – after playing about 300 film and TV roles. Read More
The man who brought us Eomer last night picked up a Best Supporting Actor award at New Zealand’s Qantas Film and Television Awards for his role as policeman Nick Harvey in the movie Out of the Blue:
The gripping re-telling of the 1990 Aramoana massacre, Out of the Blue, swept the movie section of the awards, picking up six awards including best picture.
Matthew Sutherland and Karl Urban picked up the awards for best actor and supporting actor for their roles in the popular movie.