‘…There are Orcs, very many of them,’ he (Gandalf) said. `And some are large and evil: black Uruks of Mordor. For the moment they are hanging back, but there is something else there. A great cave-troll, I think, or more than one. There is no hope of escape that way…’
I think back on my relatively young life and can fondly recall a few events that I would consider highlights: My marriage to my beautiful wife; the birth of our daughter; TheOneRing.net Oscar Parties from 2002-2004; Finding my dream job with Sideshow; and that time I got to see 26 minutes of The Fellowship of the Ring at the Cannes Film Festival in 2001. As you can read in my original report, I was blown away by the revelation of Peter Jackson’s vision of The Lord of the Rings on the big screen, especially when it came to the infamous Mines of Moria. Sure it was different from the books, but visual execution seemed to transmit my own visions of Middle-earth and put them on the big screen. So many years later, it is now my privilege to relive some of that sequence through the ‘Mines of Moria’ LEGO® Set, now available at most retailers.
As a preface to my review, I need to remind you all that I am not a LEGO® Set expert. My first experience with LEGO® Sets in many years was building the ‘Shelob Attacks‘ set I reviewed last month. So if I get some terminology wrong, please don’t hold it against me :P.
There are a few obvious differences between the ‘Shelob Attacks’ LEGO® Set and ‘The Mines of Moria.’ First, and most obvious, is that the set is much larger and more complex. Whether it is the ‘action’ elements in the gate and right side piece, or it is adding the detailing stickers just in the right place, you will find this set takes anywhere from 3-4 hours to piece together. Let me say…that is not a bad thing! I’m quickly finding myself addicted to the enjoyment and plain old fun of LEGO® Sets again! (After the break I’ve got 84 pictures of the set!)
Continue reading “Product Review: ‘Mines of Moria’ LEGO® Set”
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Today, in their ‘Road to Comic-Con 2012 Email Campaign,’ Sideshow Collectibles teased the next statue in The Lord of the Rings statue line. Making an appearance at Comic-Con, and later our collections, will be the Witch-king in True Form which can be paired with the Ringwraith statue Sideshow announced a few months back. No details on anything else at this time, but there is a great video on the Sideshow Experience page that you can check out. [Video Link]
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A treat for all you Billy Boyd fans out there; we reported back in March that Beecake, the band of which Boyd is a part, were set to release a new EP this June. That EP, ‘Please Stay’, is available now for digital download, from iTunes and (title track only, it seems) from Amazon. You can find more details at Grammy or at Beecake’s own website. And – there is a fabulous video to go with the title track! For Pippin-lovers and lovers of good music – enjoy:
Many thanks to Michael J Ferns, who directed the music video, for letting us know about it.
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A not-that-careful look at stores shelves reveals that LOTR Lego items are available right now and have been since June 1. Members of our spy network have written in to inform us they are available online for later delivery but if you get yourself to a retailer with toy shelves you can grab and buy already. (We suggest finishing this article first!)
On day one at E3 the guys over at IGN Live sat down with Nick Ricks, Executive Producer at Traveller’s Tales Games for an in-depth analysis and some game play. All three Lord of the Ring movies are included in the Lego game and actual film dialogue is used as well. By far the coolest feature is being able to toss the dwarf.
If you’re more of a hands-on fan with your Legos, they are now selling their Lord of the Rings sets online at Lego.com, including the hard to find The Orc Forge
. That set joins the previous releases: Gandalf Arrives
, Shelob Attacks
, Uruk-hai Army
, Attack on Weathertop
, The Mines of Moria”
and The Battle of Helm’s Deep. But wait, could there possibly be more? SteveDJ was kind enough to scan the latest Lego catalog which has a poster (forum post) revealing what looks to be a teaser about possible Hobbit sets coming December 1st, 2012. Stay tuned for updates as we get them.
Please, out of courtesy to others, pick up all the Legos before bed. No one likes to step on those things in bare feet (even Hobbit ones).
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Wellington will roll out its really, really long red carpet and throw a world-class party for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” on November 28. The date of the event has been guessed about for months but today it was confirmed in New Zealand.
The Embassy Theatre has long been the expected spot of the premiere and today’s story confirms it, giving the beautiful site another world-class event to go along with its 2003 hosting of “The Return of the King.” (You can check out TORn’s scrapbook of that event right here.)
Middle-earth royalty, many from the film, would be likely to attend and walk down Wellington’s Courtenay Place which serves as a weekend hot-spot in Wellington that typically stays open until the sun rises.
“I know I speak for a company of hobbits, dwarves, elves and orcs when I say that this city holds a special place in all our hearts,” director Peter Jackson said of the event at www.stuff.co.nz.
“We cannot think of a more perfect way to send ‘The Hobbit’ off into the world than to celebrate with a huge party here in Wellington, where the journey began.”
TheOneRing.net, long friends with Red Carpet Tours, is supporting their longer tour of Middle-earth, one we definitely recommend, but also hope to put together a shorter trip focused on the premiere. You can read Red Carpet’s full itinerary and sign up while details for a micro-trip will be announced ASAP. In addition, both groups will host a joint party in Wellington at a hotel in central Wellington
The two films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” is currently filming and is expected to finish principal photography later this month with pickups for the first film scheduled for later. TheOneRing.net spent a five-week stint embedded on set for the films with content coming later, as agreed before the embed began. We also fully expect to cover the premiere, and everything else ‘Hobbit’ related, as possible.
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There are some very exciting Lord of the Rings related live performance opportunities this summer to tide you over until “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” release later this year. In Ottawa, the NAC will be screening “The Fellowship of the Ring” and providing the musical soundtrack for 3 performances: July 5th, 6th and 7th. (Many thanks to Emanuel for that information!) Similarly, The Lord of the Rings in Concert has a few forthcoming dates in France, Australia and Chile. The Hobbit returns to The Maverick Theater in Fullerton, California. This imaginative production, reviewed here at Backstage.com, runs now until July 14th and is a must see. (Thank you Ringwinner for the heads up!) If you haven’t already caught Charlie Ross’s One Man Lord of the Rings you’ll have an opportunity as the show moves to Austin, Texas June 20th through 24th, Columbia, Maryland June 29th, San Jose, California July 24th through 29th and the exciting Fringe Festival in Edinburgh August 13th through 27th. Lastly, the popular musical Fellowship! closes at the Trepany House in Hollywood after the 11pm performance on Friday, June 29th.
Get out there and support your local arts. Shire!
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