This statement from Peter Jackson on the passing of Bob Anderson was sent to us a few days ago, unfortunately we were unable to post it until now, thanks for the kind words Sir Peter:

“It is a rare, even within the film industry, that you get to work with a legend which was why I was thrilled when Bob Anderson agreed to come on board The Lord of the Rings as our sword-master. In fact, it took a while for it to sink in that I was going to get to work with the same man who had helped create some of cinema’s greatest fight sequences – from Star Wars to ThePrincess Bride. Bob was a brilliant swordsman and a gifted teacher; I will remember him as a wonderfully patient man, possessed of a terrific sense of humour. It was a privilege to have known him.”

Sunset near Twizel, New Zealand on the day of our story.
TWIZEL, NEW ZEALAND — Not every conversation I had in New Zealand is fair game for publication at TheOneRing.net. If they all were, people would have spoken with me a lot less and a lot less openly or maybe just have not spoken with me at all.

During one such private meeting, a shared photo led to a side conversation that led to a revelation about an act of kindness that hit me, and still hits me, in my core. Somebody I knew, not in New Zealand, had heroically withstood some of life’s trials and others, in New Zealand, had selflessly performed a service for them. I can’t relate the story here because it was unmistakably not an interview situation and even the people on the receiving end of the generosity have kept it to themselves.

I was amazed by the revelation at the time and I was on the road much of the next 24 hours, meaning I was alone with my thoughts; Despite having a lot to ponder, this bit of unselfishness stayed with me for the entire drive when I wasn’t distracted by things like getting lost or finding a place to stay. Continue reading “Unreported acts of kindness from New Zealand”

There are many cool things and great moments in the teaser trailer that finally came out just a week and half ago. But, silly lists aside, there’s a lot of interesting stuff at work in this trailer: for what it includes AND for what it omits. One of the things that struck me immediately was the emphasis on character. It’s enormous.

There’s some justification for that: Jackson and his minions need to introduce a core cast of 15. That’s a lot of different people that the audience has to invest in… and differentiate between. (Before you read on, I must warn you: this is inevitably a spoiler-filled discussion) Continue reading “Why the Hobbit trailer is a test of character”

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 – December 26, 2011”

On December 20th 2011 at approximately 10pm ET/7pm PT, Warner Brothers released the first official trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. What followed was a world of fans exploding in joy. We here at TheOneRing.net were equally giddy and now, after some time digesting, we offer our complete and detailed frame-by-frame look at the trailer.

Find the trailer online at Apple.com and TheHobbit.com.

The following screen caps and commentary are not confirmed and only speculation by the staff at TheOneRing.net.

And a special note: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!!! And Click the images to see larger versions

Continue reading “First Hobbit trailer: TORn’s frame-by-frame analysis”