Thanks to Ataahua for sending in a link to this story from The Guardian: This time last year, New Zealand was under the spell of the Rugby World Cup, with host nation enthusiasm going a long way to realising the organisers’ vision of a “stadium of four million”. In 2012, the big event features hairy feet of a different sort, with the New Zealand-made film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opening with a world premiere in Wellington, the home town of director Sir Peter Jackson, in six weeks. Read more…

Ringer Karen wanted to share the news that lucky Aussies who live in or near Perth can now purchase tickets to screenings of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring with live music and chorus being presented by the Western Australian Symphony Orchestar (WASO) on June 21 and 22, 2013. From the WASO website: “Peter Jackson’s epic vision of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is supported by some of the greatest film music of all time. Howard Shore’s Academy Award®-winning score captures the film’s sweeping emotion, thrilling vistas and grand journeys through the power of a full symphony orchestra and massed voices.”

Visit the WASO website for more information and to purchase tickets. Read more…

Rosie-with-the-ribbonsRinger-spy Rosie-with-the-ribbons sent us the following report from this years RingCon.

Last weekend there was another RingCon in Bonn, Germany, the 11th RingCon to be precise.

In the last few years more and more fandoms have been invited to attend. And this year we were very happy to greet a big number of Game of Thrones-stars and their beautifully costumed fans to the event. But I am going to focus on all the LOTR-stuff that happened.

Continue reading “RingCon 2012, what a wonderful time”

The German fan site Herr-der-Ringe-Film has posted new pictures from The Hobbit movies that are currently on display at the Frankfurt Book Fair. The picture to the right depicts Lee Pace, as Thranduil. Thranduil is the king of the elves of Mirkwood, and father to Legolas. Here, we see him in an intricate silver costume with his head adorned by a silver crown entwined with leaves. Another new picture depicts Legolas aiming his bow and arrow towards the camera. There’s also a great picture of Elrond in armor, already revealed to be in the Hobbit movie calendar.

The Frankfurt Book Fair is billed as the largest book fair on the planet. It runs through tomorrow (Sunday, October 14), so if you’re lucky enough to be in the area, be sure to stop by. In the mean time, head on over to Herr-der-Ringe-Film and check out the pictures. Read More

Living in the wastelands of Angmar these Snow Trolls would adorn themselves with the furs, bones, and skulls of their victims. The most recent statue from Sideshow Collectibles The Lord of the Rings statue line comes to us not from the movies, but from last years awesome game The Lord of the Rings: The War in the North. While not from anything Tolkien wrote himself the game does allow fans of Middle-Earth to venture into events that could have happened during The War of the Ring.

The game takes place during the events of The War of the Ring, but you’re not playing as the Fellowship, you play as one of three characters: Eradan the ranger, Farin the Dwarf or Andriel the Elf, as you aide the Fellowship in stopping Sauron’s plans to take the North, making things much harder for Frodo to complete his quest. During your trek through the North, and the beauty in that area of Middle-Earth, you battle numerous Orcs, crazed Men, and of course Trolls. One of the variations of Trolls you will come across as you play the game is this Snow Troll. Sideshow Collectibles in conjunction with this game was asked to create one of these Trolls for collectors to add to their Middle-Earth collections.

Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – Sideshow Collectibles Snow Troll Statue Review”

It’s almost party time in Wellington, as they gear up for the world premeir of The Hobbit: an Unexpected Journey on November 28. From the city of Wellington website: Wellington City Council will contribute $1.1 million to the premiere week activities and towards ensuring Wellington is again looking its best under the international spotlight. Celebrations and preparations for the World Premiere are already well underway, highlights include:

  • A ‘countdown clock’ to be installed on the front of the Embassy Theatre. The clock will count down the minutes to the beginning of the premiere celebrations.
  • Stunning artwork inspired by The Hobbit Trilogy to welcome visitors at Wellington International Airport and across the city.
  • A Hobbit-inspired Artisan Festival in Waitangi Park showcasing the various craftspeople and talent involved in the making of The Hobbit Trilogy.
  • Outdoor, free public screenings of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy leading up to the premiere night event.

Read more…