Looks like you don’t have a report on this yet, so I thought I’d write in: Peter, Fran, and Philippa all made an appearance in Austin TX yesterday as part of Harry Knowles’ fifth annual Butt-Numb-a-Thon. For those who don’t know, Butt-Numb-a-Thon is a 24-hour movie marathon at a local dinner theater, typically showing a mixture of older films and brand-new not-yet-released films.
This year it was no surprise to anyone that Return of the King would be one of the selected films, but we all figured it would come at the end of the 24-hour marathon. Imagine our surprise when they interrupted the second film mid-scene, and with no warning whatsoever the New Line Cinema logo appeared on the screen. Everyone flipped out in the theater, and settled in for a phenomenal film-going experience. (I won’t waste any space with my personal review, except to say it’s like Fellowship meets Towers with whipped cream and a cherry on top.)
At the conclusion of the film there was a minutes-long standing ovation that lasted through much of the closing credits. Then Harry Knowles walked up front and confirmed our wildest dreams: “Please welcome Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, and Fran Walsh.” The audience lit up like a firecracker as the production team walked in the theater and took up their mics.
For about 20 minutes they took questions from the audience, covering their problems adapting the stories; why they cut some scenes and kept others; a status update on King Kong (they’re into building maquettes at the moment, if that’s how you spell it); and more on The Hobbit (he’d like to do it, but the legals need to be cleared up first).
So there weren’t any groundbreaking revelations from the trio onstage, but more than anything we were elated that we got to thank them in person for such a spectacular set of films. Everyone that got up to ask a question fell over themselves to compliment the filmmakers, and Harry himself teared up while issuing his own thanks for the movies.
They stayed for the next film showing – Buster Keaton’s “The General” with a live score by local artist Guy Forsyth and his band – then it was off to Berlin for their next press junket.
Not too often that you get to meet such luminaries with an audience as few as 300! Everyone got a signed poster and had a great time. Just thought you’d like a report.
For over five weeks we have been offering tickets to Trilogy Tuesday via Ticket Exchange. These tickets, sold by fans at face value to other fans, have come to represent to me all that is good in the world of Tolkien fandom. Conversing with the sellers, the buyers, and those who just hoped to get their hands on a ticket has been really uplifting. I only wish that there were tickets for everyone.
Tonight marks the end of the Ticket Exchange program, barring any last minute ticket offers. Should more sellers emerge, we will continue posting. At this time however, these are the final six ticket offerings.
Much thanks to everyone who has participated!
Please be certain to include in your e-mail: Your Name, your e-mail address, and a phone number if possible.
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CHICAGO, IL: WE HAVE A WINNER. No more e-mails, please. Tonight’s ticket exchange offering is for ONE ticket to the AMC River East in Chicago, IL. The first person to e-mail maegwen@theonering.net with the following subject line will be put into contact with the ticket seller. The price is $31 + postage. The subject line MUST read: “My Kind of Tickets, Chicago is..”
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ONATARIO, CANADA: WE HAVE A WINNER. No more e-mails, please. This ticket offering is for TWO tickets to the Famous Players Coliseum in Mississauga, Ontario. The first person to e-mail maegwen@theonering.net with the following subject line will be put into contact with the ticket seller. The price is $101 (Canadian) + postage. The subject line MUST read: “Oh, Ontario Tickets Please!”
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SAN JOSE, CA: WE HAVE A WINNER. No more e-mails, please. This ticket offering is for TWO tickets to the Oakridge Century 20 in San Jose, CA. The first person to e-mail maegwen@theonering.net with the following subject line will be put into contact with the ticket seller. The price is $81 + postage. This price includes the “Hobbit Snack” advertised by the theater. The subject line MUST read: “Send Me To San Jose.”
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FRESNO, CA: WE HAVE A WINNER. No more e-mails, please. ***IMPORTANT NOTE***: These tickets are electronic tickets. The seller is looking to find someone who will meet them at the theater the day of Trilogy Tuesday to arrange a cash/ticket swap. Anyone responding to this offer should provide their phone number so the seller may contact them to make these arrangements. Anyone uncomfortable with this scenario should not respond. This ticket offering is for TWO tickets to the Edwards Stadium 21 in Fresno, CA. The first person to e-mail maegwen@theonering.net with the following subject line will be put into contact with the ticket seller. The price is $72. The subject line MUST read: “Fresno Tickets Wanted.”
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MANCHESTER, CT: WE HAVE A WINNER. No more e-mails, please. ***IMPORTANT NOTE***: This ticket is an extra from a group of 3 people who are looking for a 4th person who would be able to go to the theater early in the day and save seats (if possible) for the group, who cannot arrive until the start of the Trilogy showing. Interested parties should be prepared to discuss this with the seller. This ticket offering is for ONE ticket to the Buckland Hills Showcase in Manchester, CT. The first person to e-mail maegwen@theonering.net with the following subject line will be put into contact with the ticket seller. The price is $25. The subject line MUST read: “Mad for Manchester Ticket.”
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CLEVELAND, OHIO: WE HAVE A WINNER. No more e-mails, please. This ticket offering is for ONE ticket to the Valley View Cinemark in Valley View (Cleveland), OH. The first person to e-mail maegwen@theonering.net with the following subject line will be put into contact with the ticket seller. The price is $25. The subject line MUST read: “Oh, Ohio Tickets Please.”
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Ok, that’s it folks! I hope everyone enjoys “Return of the King!”
I’m hurrying back to the media pen from my hotel for the big Return of the King premiere parade. But I know I’m not going to make it. I’m on the wrong side of the road and there’s too many people lining the route for me to get to the crossing point.
In fact, I altogether fail to recognise the landmarks and end up walking way too far. I end up almost at the Beehive — NZ’s parliament house and the beginning of the route. When I begin to hear the screams and cheers, I give up and go with the flow.
The scenes near the Beehive aren’t nearly as chaotic as later on at Courtney Place (near the Embassy), but people are still lined six deep along the barricades.
But there’s also hundreds (thousands?) of people up in office buildings, leaning out windows, lining the multistorey car parks of inner-Wellington and even hanging off trees.
Even the city’s stores seem to have shut down temporarily — many workers have dragged out chairs and stools to stand on so they have a better vantage point over everyone else.
The noise swells as each open-top car rolls past. I spot strategically placed tickertape cannons on many rooftops. Occasionally one goes off, dumping streamers on everyone below.
I miss many of the cast and crew, but spend a lot of time watching a group of four or five Black Riders, jogging alongside them. Apparently they were hugely popular at the parade for Fellowship, and their appearance is greeted by many ‘ooohs’ this time round as well.
‘Ooohs’ turn to gasps as one of the riders reaches out a gauntleted hand and menaces the crowd. If they’d shrieked as well, I reckon my day (and that of many others) would have been complete, but sadly they do not.
There’s a palpable … something … about the crowd. A depth of feeling that makes my spine tingle. Sure, there’s a fair share of foreigners, Elijah groupies, Orlando swooners or whatever, but from Wellingtonians, there seems to be a huge sense of communal pride in the achievement that Rings is.
Part of it is parochialism for the success of the local boy (Peter Jackson), but I think a large part derives from the fact that so many people know someone who worked on the production.
Sean Astin also hits on something when he says on the Red Carpet:
“There is so much darkness and villainy in the world that this city and this country are a beacon of hope — your huge smiles and friendly faces.”
“The love and adoration of the New Zealand people, the look on [your] faces. It’s incredible. God bless you.”
Estimates put the size of the crowd at upwards of 100,000 — not a bad turnout for a city of less than 500,000 people.
“I wish you could all see the film tonight,” Jackson tells the crowd.
“We should have just played on this screen,” he says, to huge cheers. “But we can’t.”
“There’s too many video cameras and you’d just pirate it. And it would be available on the corner of Cuba St tomorrow morning.”
“I’m sorry.”
The emotional outpouring of the crowd is matched by the response of the cast and crew.
Orlando Bloom tells everyone his shirt says it all. It reads: “I love NZ”.
“This has been, hands down, the single most amazing time of my life,” he adds. “Thank you so much, I hope to come back soon.”
Even Gollum is eventually forced to concede to the occasion.
“Wellington sucks”, he mutters.
Smeagol breaks in. “No, no precious, we loves you. Wellington is our friend!”
“Okay, just this once.”
The parade concludes with a pair of abseilers walking down the Embassy Theatre façade. Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana (O Fortuna) plays over the speakers. When the abseilers reach the balcony rooftop, they unfurl a pair of banners.
They read in Maori and English: “Only in Wellington.”
Tonight on Public Radio International the show “Sound and Spirit” did an hour-long overview of Tolkien’s lyrics, both spoken (recordings of the beloved Professor himself) and sung, performed by numerous artists including Shadowfax, The Tolkien Ensemble, Glass Hammer, The Hobbitons, and Donald Swann.
There’s even a wonderful original song on the Return of the King, sung by Tom Smith in the style of “The King.” And a nod is given to Led Zeppelin’s preoccupation with all things Tolkien.
There are other links on the page for listening to the entire archived show online (RealPlayer), and links to some of the websites of the performers featured. On the ‘listen online page there are links to a bibliography and a transcript of the show. [Listen Online]
Vincenzo writes: Medusa Film (the distributor of the LOTR movies in Italy) announced the plans for the theatrical re-realase of the movies (in the extended version) and the “Wopping Marathon” of the Full Monty version of the LOTR (the three movies back to back, with the extended editions of the first two before “The Return of the Kings”).
The cities are:
Milano Roma Cerro Maggiore Bologna Livorno Torino Montebello della Battaglia Lecce Salerno
And the dates are:
January, 9-15 2004: The Fellowship Extended January, 16-20 2004: The Two Towers Extended January, 21 2004: the Big One!
Price for the Marathon is 20 Euro (about $22), and it will include a gift of 5 original posters and an “undisclosed” additional surprise. The Main Event, on Jan 21, will be around 11 hours long. Medical assistance wii be provided if needed!
The extended editions of Fellowship and Towers are being screened at the moment in Sang Am CGV theater in Seoul from December 5th to the 15th. I booked tickets last week for 2 viewings each, and “danced around like a mad thing” a la Gollum. Then, I saw a newspaper article that said the two extended The Lord of the Rings films set a new record in Korea when the tickets were sold out in ONE HOUR!! The Lord of the Rings are insanely popular here, I knew that, but when I thought about how if I had been even thirty minutes late, I realized with a shudder how I would have missed the chance to see the extended editions on the big screen. According to the article, the poor souls who were a bit late are now crashing the official Korean Lord of the Rings site demanding a longer screening period, and now, the folks at Sang Am CGV theater are seriously considering a re-release.
There was another article that showed how hard Ring-mania has hit the world over. There will be a special advance screening of the Return of the King in Seoul on December 9th, but only for executives and industry people. The article said that the security surrounding the print of film was something out of “a 007 James Bond movie”, where security officers with guns and everything will be guarding it from the minute it arrives in the airport and until it reaches the projection room, and even during screening. The viewers will also be searched and stripped of cameras, watches and even their cell phones, because most cell phones in Korea have little video camers attached to them.
