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…
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“What’s this? A ranger caught off his guard?”
–Arwen to Strider during The Fellowship of the Ring
The fifth statue in Sideshow Collectibles The Lord of the Rings line and the first female statue has arrived. Which of the amazing 
female characters got the nod from Sideshow? Well, it’s none other than Arwen Evenstar.
As Strider is out looking for Kingsfoil while Frodo lay stabbed by the Witch King he is snuck up on by a certain female elf. Arwen would lightly give Strider grief for catching a Ranger off his guard before helping ride to Rivendell with an injured Frodo all while being chased by Ringwraiths. This statue of Arwen depicts her wearing this outfit while we assume she is out looking for Strider and the Hobbits.
PACKAGING
The graphics on the box for Arwen follow the same path that most of the statues in this line have followed. You have the front and back panels, which are black/green with The Lord of the Rings and Arwen done in a black/green mix. While the sides of the box you get an image of the statue from two different angles. Inside the box of course you have the protective foam with multiple areas for the many pieces that this statue comes with.
Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – Sideshow Collectibles Arwen Evenstar Statue Review”
Time for another artist interview! This is one of my favorite sculptors creating items that I personally collect. The sculptor is 
none other than the massively talented Tim Miller of T.K. Miller Sculpting. This talent is one who folks most likely have an item or two within their The Lord of the Rings collections and for sure if they collect items from the MARVEL Universe. I wanted to take the time for you all to get to know a little more about this great talent, especially since he truly knows how to bring Middle-Earth to life.
As I said, you probably have items from sculpted by Mr. Miller within your collection of The Lord of the Rings. Tim has been responsible for bringing to life characters such as Gandalf the Grey, Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, and my personal favorite, dwarf Gimli, son of Gloin. These items range from Sideshow Collectibles 1:6th action figure line to the new statue line. The latest item from Mr. Miller is the Gimli, son of Gloin statue which we just reviewed recently and is a great example of Mr. Miller’s skill.
Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – Interview with Sculptor Tim Miller”
Saturday night via email Gentle Giant announced the first bust from The Hobbit if you sign up for their 2012 Premier Guild Memberships next week. The first character to be made into bust form will be the Dwarf Dwalin who joined Bilbo on the journey to the Lonely Mountain. The PGM program from Gentle Giant runs $60 and has many great things about it that allow collectors to get first cracks at must have items. So stay tuned to next week to get your PGM membership and a chance to add a Dwalin bust to your collection.
“Forty-two? Oh, that’s not bad for a pointy-eared elvish princeling. Hmph! I myself am sitting pretty on forty-THREE..”
-Gimli to Legolas just after The Battle for Helm’s Deep
The last of the three hunters has finally arrived from Sideshow Collectibles. Gimli, Son of Gloin is the fourth statue from Sideshow’s growing and spectacular The Lord of the Rings statue line. As with the other statues in this line we don’t get an exact screen capture but this moment reminds me of something that could have happened in Moria.
Before the Fellowship sets of from Rivendell Gimli is chosen to represent the race of Dwarves as the venture to destroy the One Ring. Gimli would prove to be very loyal to all involved in the Fellowship and especially so to what would become his friend the Elf Legolas Greenleaf. In the Dwarf would be a great addition to the Fellowship and why he’s one of my favorite characters from Middle-Earth.
Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – Sideshow Collectibles Gimli Statue Review”
“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!”