On the heels of one of the best art books for a film that I’ve had the chance to add to my personal collection Weta Workshop has announced a second book to their art book range for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The second art book for The Hobbit covers the many creatures and characters that help populate Sir Peter Jackson’s adaptation of the first of three movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Within the Chronicles: Creatures and Characters are quotes from the actors who played the many roles on-screen and this book comes with a size chart, a great way to compare the various sizes of these characters in relation to each other. The book is on sale now for $39 and if you buy now from Weta, you can get a signed copy for your collection. This second book does not ship until April so in the mean time you can still buy the previous Chronicles: Art and Design book for the same $39.
This month on J.W. Braun’s Bookshelf, J.W. takes a look at The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Visual Companion by Jude Fisher and also gives away a couple of prizes. Meanwhile, in his mailbag feature below, he shares a riddle and answers your questions about Tolkien rewriting The Hobbit and the scriptwriters messing up a quote in The Lord of the Rings movies.
Robb B. – NJ, US Deana B. – California, US Talytha B. – South Carolina, US Peter B. – LA, US Carmelita B. – NJ, US Joshua B. – IL, US Jody C. – UT, US Mike C. – Utah, US BreeAnn C. – CA, US Debbi C. – CA, US Natalie D. – Ut, US Judy D. – IL, US Ryan F. – SC, US Pete F. – MI, US Morgan G. – MN, US Randi G. – MD, US Kimberley G. – AL, US Megan K. – Ontario, Canada Logan K. – Ca, US Xavier K. – Montana, US Landon L. – AR, US Maura M. – NJ, US Roland M. – Washington, US Clare M. – GA, US Timothy M. – , US Adam M. – ma, US Joshua M. – VA, US Donna M. – New Jersey, US Georg N. – New York, US Sophia P. – WI, US Kenneth R. – MS, US Erik S. – Maine, US Robert S. – Illinois , US Elizabeth T. – Alabama, US Miranda T. – British Columbia, Canada Garret W. – GA, US Sheri W. – Tn, US Brett W. – Az, US Jeffrey Y. – NY, US Kay G. – Texas, US
First off just let me say that, as an Aussie, I was a bit dubious at being asked to review a self help book based on the Shire. We tend to be a bit wary of these sorts of books and part of me jumped to the conclusion that such a book could only be an attempt to cash-in on the new Hobbit films. I am very pleased to say that my initial prejudices were completely unfounded. The Wisdom of the Shire is an excellent, well written book, by a true fan of Tolkien.
As we’ve come to expect, Weta and Harper Collins have produced another sumptuous, richly-bound volume detailing the process of turning words and imagination into the films we see. It’s written by Daniel Falconer, who’s had a hands-on overview of the road to executing Jackson’s vision since the beginning of LOTR. Thus you see many sketches exploring the different concepts that inform the finished designs we see on screen, and a wealth of objects you only dream of studying at leisure and in detail. It’s full of insights into how the film’s creators saw the character and history of The Hobbit’s people, creatures and places. The actors get to speak about their characters too, so we learn for instance that Sylvester McCoy loves animals in real life – he whistles to birds and they whistle back! Definitely a book to treasure. It’s full of spoilers too promising scenes that we can hope to see in the extended edition DVDs if nowhere else – scenes with the Old Took and Belladonna Took, Gandalf’s first meeting with Bilbo when he was a young boy, and a closer look at more Shirefolk such as Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, Old Gammidge and Old Hob. Check out some scans below. [Purchase Today!] Continue reading “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Chronicles”
On the heels of one of the best art books for a film that I’ve had the chance to add to my personal collection Weta Workshop has announced a second book to their art book range for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The second art book for The Hobbit covers the many creatures and characters that help populate Sir Peter Jackson’s adaptation of the first of three movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Within the Chronicles: Creatures and Characters are quotes from the actors who played the many roles on-screen and this book comes with a size chart, a great way to compare the various sizes of these characters in relation to each other. The book is on sale now for $39 and if you buy now from Weta, you can get a signed copy for your collection. This second book does not ship until April so in the mean time you can still buy the previous Chronicles: Art and Design book for the same $39.
Thanks to HarperCollins Publishers for sponsoring this amazing giveaway to promote the release of 
being asked to review a self help book based on the Shire. We tend to be a bit wary of these sorts of books and part of me jumped to the conclusion that such a book could only be an attempt to cash-in on the new Hobbit films. I am very pleased to say that my initial prejudices were completely unfounded. The Wisdom of the Shire is an excellent, well written book, by a true fan of Tolkien.
