Welcome to this months “Getting to know…” questions that need answering. It’s based on the old Getting to…
Continue ReadingWelcome to this months
“Getting to know…” questions that need answering. It’s based on the old Getting to know you threads that I used to post on the message boards here on TORn, so those familiar with them will know that the questions can be a little crazy and the answers even crazier.
This month we’re asking questions of author of “The Frodo Franchise” and TORn Staffer, Kristin Thompson.
A friendly spy let us know some exciting news! As seen on a book supplier’s ordering site – listings for a pair of Hobbit movie themed books by Weta Workshop!
The first, titled “The Hobbit Chronicles: An Unexpected Journey”, is a hardcover expected to retail at $39.99(USD). It’s listed as coming out on November 6th, 2012. Presumably this will be some kind of “making of/behind the scenes” book for the first film.
The second book has a publication date of October 15th, 2013 – a long time to wait for this one! Titled “The Hobbit Location Guide: Where the Journey Begins”, it is a trade paperback with an anticipated price of 14.99(USD). It seems likely that Ian Brodie, author of the “Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook”, would be involved with this one. This will come in handy if you’re planning a pilgrimage to Middle-earth, aka New Zealand!
Neither appears to be available for the public to pre-order just yet; but as we make our way through this year of ‘Hobbit Eve’, the good stuff just keeps coming and the anticipation just keeps building!
With just one day left in the second round of our Middle-earth March Madness, it is time to summarize the competition and do a little cheerleading for the characters.
The first match up in the Rankin/Bass division is between Gandalf (1) and Feanor (4) and is running extremely close. You best get your votes in, this one could go either way. The second match up in the Rankin/Bass division is Galadriel (2) versus Smaug (6). Again, this one is extremely close, will it be the Lady of the Golden Wood, or Smaug the Golden, their fate is in your hands, so vote now.
In the Ralph Bakshi division, the first match up is between Bilbo (1) and Gollum (4). Bilbo has a little lead, but it is not to say Gollum couldn’t sneak up and take this contest, so get your votes out. The second match up in this division has Thorin (3) up against Aragorn (2) and it appears at the moment the current lead hero is besting the previous lead hero, so pick your favorite hero and vote, vote, vote.
Checking in on the Tolkien Family Division, Legolas (1) is taking on Pippin (4) and as you might expect, the Elf Prince has a comfortable lead. Pippin fans, where are you? The other contest in this division pits Faramir (3) against Frodo (2). Currently, the Gondorian heir to the Stewardship who could not be swayed by the ring is beating the Ringbearer, please vote for your favorite in this contest.
And finally, in the Peter Jackson division, Glorfindel (1) is up against Merry (5) and the Elf lord is handily beating out the Esquire of Rohan. Make sure this one ends the way you want it, so vote now to ensure your favorite wins. And the last contest is between Samwise (2) and Boromir (3) with Samwise beating out everyone’s favorite Son of Gondor. How will it all end, only you can determine that by voting.
Not quite in time for St Patrick’s Day, but shortly thereafter, fans will at last be able to read an Irish language version of The Hobbit. The book has been translated into Gaelic by Nicholas Williams, and will be published by Evertype on March 25th. More details here. Thanks to ringerspy Riccardo for the news. Middle Earth go Bragh!
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…
The rest of the world is perfectly free to walk (or run) to the cinema and watch The Adventures of Tintin directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg. But for once, the tables are turned on movie lovers in the U.S. and we must wait until December to see the motion capture film of the beloved comic strip character produced by Peter Jackson.
However, those who are anticipating Belgian writer and cartoonist Hergé’s collection of grand adventure stories put on screen can content themselves with The Art of The Adventures of Tintin book from special effects studio Weta and HarperCollins. Continue reading “Review: The Art of the Adventures of Tintin”
