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 – January 29, 2012”

Filming for Peter Jackson’s latest movie The Hobbit took to the Aratiatia rapids near Taupo for a scene using spill gates from a dam. Publicist Melissa Booth said the film crew dropped 20 to 25 barrels down the rapids at a time yesterday for the scene. “We shot the scene every time there was a dam release which was at 10, 12, 2 and 4.”

She said no actors or stunt crew were forced into the barrels to venture into the extreme conditions.

“I think we would have had some issues with OSH if that were the case.” The scene was the only part of The Hobbit to be filmed in the area. Mrs Booth said the rapids were an ideal setting for the scene because the spillway turned the otherwise dry gorge into a fast flowing waterfall. More..

“A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.”

            -Gandalf to Frodo while entering into Hobbiton for Bilbo’s 111th Birthday

During Comic-Con 2011 fans of The Lord of the Rings got a chance to see the second statue from Weta’s character statue line. The character fans can now get their hands on is none other than Gandalf the Grey. This version of Gandalf captures the Wizard while thinking which route is the right route to take during their trip through Moria.

The importance that Gandalf plays to the events that happen in Middle-Earth from the time of The Hobbit through the events of The Lord of the Rings is huge. Without the leadership that Mithrandir Sauron may just come to power and events in Middle-Earth play out much differently. Leadership is what comes through loud and clear when you look at this statue.

Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – Weta Workshop’s Gandalf the Grey Statue and Giveaway!”

There are already a lot of Oscar winners working on The Hobbit. Soon there might be one more. When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the 2011 nominees, Bret McKenzie (“Figwit” in The Lord of the Rings and Lindir in The Hobbit) turned up in the “Music (Original Song)” category for his “Man or Muppet” from The Muppets. Congratulations and good luck to Bret! The Oscars will be awarded on February 26.

By the way, the highest number of nominations went to Martin Scorsese’s Hugo. Like The Return of the King, it bagged eleven–also without a single actor nomination. The parallel isn’t complete, since Hugo made it into two categories that ROTK didn’t, Sound Editing and Cinematography. It was not in two categories that ROTK won, Makeup and Original Song.

For a full list of nominees, check out the Academy’s website.

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!  MINOR SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T READ THE HOBBIT

Continue reading “TORn Message Boards Weekly Roundup – January 23, 2012”