Deleece Cook sends along an interview transcript from Newstalk Radio discussing the departure of Guillermo del Toro. The interview features…well…me! Take a listen or a read.

Perma-Listen link here.

Director Guillermo Del Toro has quit as director of The Hobbit movies. The Mexican filmmaker has been working with Sir Peter Jackson to bring the two Lord of the Rings Prequels to the screen. (duration: 10:57):

Jim Mora “After living 2 years breathing designing a world as rich as Tolkien’s Middle Earth, I must with great regret take leave from helming these wonderful pictures”.

And with that, Director Guillermo del Toro has quit as Director of The Hobbit movies. The Mexican Film Maker has been working with Sir Peter Jackson to bring the 2 Lord of the Rings prequels to the screen. But indefinite delays forced on the films by the financial troubles at MGM, which holds part of the rights, and also del Toro’s unwillingness to continue delaying his other projects, these factors have contributed to the split here. Continue reading “Newstalk Radio Talks Del Toro”

Anthony B. Robinson writes: In response to my recent piece on Australia, Crosscut readers quite correctly pointed out the role of natural resources and their extraction in the strength of the Australian economy. That is a major factor that I didn’t note. Coal mining for the Chinese market is huge. Still, the more conservative bent of banking here (and in Canada) has been a hedge against inflation. And the more robust public sector has balanced excessive recourse to privatization.

Now I’m in my second week in small New Zealand, which affords opportunities for some comparison to its huge neighbor, Australia. In some respects, New Zealand is to Australia as Canada is to the United States. Australia, like the U.S., has the larger population and the dominant economy, tending to overshadow its neighbor culturally as well as economically. More..

You are invited on a tour of special magniificence! Red Carpet Tours requests the pleasure of your company to celebrate the eleventy-first birthday of Bilbo Baggins by journeying through Middle Earth with like-minded people. A Dinner Party on the 22nd. September is included and costumes are optional. Red Carpet’s gift to TORn readers is a 5% discount on bookings made directly through Red Carpet. Book now and tell them you’re a TORNado for the discount!

Tom writes: Have you noticed the “newest news” on Weta Workshop site, about their new display at Wellington airport. The picture shows one of the two trolls holding the shelves. They don’t look like the ones from the FOTR. A “Hobbit” stone Trolls sneak peak perhaps? (I doubt it, but they’re awfully cute -Xo) More..