Middle-earth Madness and all the fun that implies, is soon to be released to fans of J.R.R. Tolkien everywhere. Readers and moviegoers will be able to vote as we pit character vs. character in a showdown to determine the 2012 Middle-earth character champion.

In the spirit of the U.S.’ NCAA college basketball tournament, known as March Madness, we will create matchups that pit the likes of Gollum vs. Treebeard and Boromir vs. Balin. Unlike the NCAA bracket, ours will be a 32 team showdown. Using voting fan input and finally our own selection committee.

And, because there are hundreds of great characters across the Middle-earth catalog, we know not everybody’s favorite character can fit in a field of 32 and just like in the NCAA tournament, some deserving characters may not get in. (Unlike the basketball tournament however, all of the characters are fictional and none will have his or her feelings hurt and they all have “next year” to be a contender.) So, we hope you will join us for our voting and enjoy Middle-earth Madness! The Bracket will be revealed soon!

Welcome 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 in the fun!

Continue reading “TORn Message Boards Weekly Roundup – March 11, 2012”

Wow.  What a guy.  You know, I’ve always admired Viggo Mortensen as an actor, and I do think he makes a wonderful Aragorn, but in terms of crushes I was always more of a Faramir sort of gal.  Until now…  Mortensen is charming, funny, humble, laid back, erudite, fascinating – oh, and did I mention, very handsome?  During the various events at the Coolidge Theatre, Mortensen showed himself to be worthy of every bit of praise you’ve ever read about him.  The internet is buzzing with excitement following his appearances in Boston; and here at TORn we’ll be bringing you a three-part report on all the fun.  (This is a man who has A LOT to say!)  Meanwhile, here’s a video of the moment when he actually received the award (the best I could get in a crowded room of excited folks!)

Continue reading “Viggo Mortensen charms the crowd… (more video!)”

The excitement never stops – at any rate, not when Aragorn is in town!  Today Viggo Mortensen was back at the Coolidge Theatre in Boston, and at a Q&A session following a screening of Eastern Promises, he decided that rather than just sing Aragorn’s coronation song, he would teach it to the packed theatre.  So here’s your chance to sing along:

There is much more to tell and report – Mortensen is a fascinating speaker – and there’s another event this evening!  Read all about it here at TORn – as soon as I can get it written up!

It’s all happening here in Boston! Yesterday the Coolidge Theatre hosted a trilogy screening, in honour of Viggo Mortensen – to whom they are today giving the Coolidge Award. It’s always fabulous to see the Lord of the Rings films on the big screen, and to enjoy them with an army of fellow fans. The 442 seat theatre was sold out – and everyone who secured a ticket was in for a treat indeed!

Jesse Hassinger and Mark Anastasio, the Program Manager and Program Coordinator at the Coolidge, welcomed us all before we settled in to watch Fellowship of the Ring. Between that and Two Towers, TORn staffer greendragon (that’s me!) had a chance to say hi to the crowd and to remind them all (as if we could forget!) that The Hobbit is coming! Then, just as we were settling again for Return of the King, Denise Kasell, the Coolidge’s Director, told us all that they had a ‘little surprise’ for us – and in walked the king himself, Viggo Mortensen! (More text after the video)


Continue reading “Viggo Mortensen – One sing to rule them all! (video)”

The folks at IFC.com have sent us along a link to their great interview with David Hughes, author of the new book Tales from Development Hell.   The book is about the trials of endeavouring to get a film beyond the development stage, and includes discussion of failed projects such as a film of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman and a Batman movie to have starred Clint Eastwood!  Of most interest to Tolkien fans, the book also contains some insight into the once proposed Lord of the Rings movie which was to have starred The Beatles.  If you haven’t heard of this before, it sounds like some crazy April Fool’s joke – but yes,  there really was a plan for such a film, and it’s a great part of Tolkien fandom ‘lore’.  IFC.com’s article includes an exclusive excerpt from Tales from Development Hell,  which reveals more about what we might have seen had McCartney’s Frodo, Lennon’s Gollum, Starr’s Sam and Harrison’s Gandalf ever seen the light of day.  We can only wonder…