While being a part of TORn means I am a volunteer in a non-paid position, this gig does have its perks. One of those would be, something along the lines of, seeing 20 minutes of ‘The Return of the King.’
Before I go further, please take this into account. I can say no more than what you read in this report. So sending me an email to elaborate on something, or asking a question will more than likely get a response of ‘don’t know.’ You might as well not even try…:P
I had the distinct pleasure of sitting with two fellow Tolkien fans in the audience: Ted and Jon from TolkienOnline.com. We’ve been together at other screenings and I was pleasantly surprised when I saw them in the room, because I knew post-viewing we could have a great conversation. They were extremely kind to buy me a hot chocolate afterwards. Thanks guys!
Let me be clear up front. What I witnessed tonight makes me completely confident that ‘Return of the King’ will live up to the intense expectations that the two previous films endured, and more than likely surpass them.
The footage began with the recently released ROTK trailer. Being the poor webmaster I am, I had not seen this trailer in the theater, and it was nice to finally see it on a screen larger than my monitor.
Directly after the trailer, we plunged into a series of scenes from ROTK. The scenes were approximately 3-5 minutes in length and showcased the diversity of the upcoming film. Unfortunately, I cannot go into detail or give you a shot by shot relay of the happenings. What I can do, is give you some insight and answer a few long standing questions.
1. Gollum speaking to Smeagol in a pool near Mordor. – We saw the ending of the sequence in the trailer, in which Gollum lusts for the Ring. This is another great Smeagol/Gollum ‘discussion’ but this time both are in agreement. Andy Serkis’ flexible acting skills lend themselves perfectly to the scene, and trust me, if the Academy doesn’t reward him with a best suppor actor nom after this one, you’lll be wondering why.
2. Denthor, Pippin and Faramir – I absolutely REFUSE to explain this scene at all. All I can say is I was blown away. For me to discuss it in any kind of detail would immediately detract from your first impression on screen.
3. Aragorn Receiving Narsil – Guess what? Elrond brings it! There is a brief second in which you think its Arwen sitting there, but whew…what a relief when that hood goes back.
4. Eowyn and Theoden – A small scene in which Theoden and Eowyn discuss the future. We also saw a little bit of this in the preview.
5. Theoden and the Ride of the Rohirrim – Self explanatory. Torture to watch on screen and not being able to see the end.
6. Shelob and Frodo – Um…horrific. Disgusting and horrific. The few seconds I saw was the lead up to the scene in the trailer.
I’m sorry I can’t go into more detail, but I’m sure more information will be coming online in the next few weeks as this footage is shown to more and more press. I for one am going to keep my mouth shut. I don’t want to ruin this, even for you spoiler maniacs, for anyone.
Trust me folks, you don’t want to see this footage. Its much worse having a taste of that freshly baked Thanksgiving turkey, and then having to wait a few hours for your grandparents to arrive. Now I’m left to drool for a month and a half. I envy all of you for not knowing what is to come!
I was at FACTS (Ghent, Belgium) over the w/e, where I got a chance to meet John Rhys-Davies. John is truly a warm, cordial gentleman, who took ample time to chat with the fans who were queing up for an autograph. He also freely had his picture taken with most of the fans present and gratiously participated in a Q & A session organised by the Belgian Star Trek fanclub BVC (yes, John played “Leonardo Da Vinci” in Star Trek Voyager) and LOTR fan club Elanor. He even offered a bout of Treebeard on the spot and, when asked about the famous Fellowship tattoo, he pointedly answered that he sent his stuntman to get tattooed!
Wendy
After meeting Elijah, Dom and Sean last week at collectormania 4 in England Milton Keynes, today we met John-Reese Davies in our home country of Belgium.
We met him at FACTS in Gent, which comes very close to what Collectormania is in the UK, but over here there were more stands, while C4 had the best actors around. But hey we had John this year and it was swell!
He is a very nice person! Funny as well. We went for his autograph and he was very friendly. I let him sign my English version of LOTR, the same one that I let Elijah sign last week, John saw his autograph and went Ohhhhh Elijah he he. I told him that we met him the week before and he was very impressed. When he gave my book back, he said: “Here you go darling”. My friend Mieke got him to sign a pic for her brother, who couldn’t join us because he is ill, and John wrote to him. “Peter – Get well soon or the Orcq’s will come and have ya! – Gimli. Now I thought that that was really cool and sweet!
He also got on stage so we could ask him some questions! I did ask him two. When he got on stage he said. Okay I know that a lot of girls would like to know if I have the phone number of Orlando Bloom, but I don’t…..But IF I did I WOULD give it to you…haha.
Hilarious! I asked him two questions. I wanted to start by asking if he had the phone number of Elijah..but I forgot héhé. I asked what his favourite quote out of LOTR was. He answered. “The elf did it”. I also asked him if he would be very disappointed if ROTK wouldn’t win an oscar this year. He said that he would. Just because these movies are great and that they have made history with these movies and that they, everybody whom has worked on them have done a great job and had a lot of work. But yeah..you never know with the Academy he said. Lot’s of other questions were asked. Like if he had a tattoo like the rest of the fellowship. He said that he wouldn’t come near a drunken maouri whit a dirty needle héhé, just because some drunken wee Hobbits decided that they all should have a tattoo, so he sent his sunt double like every good actor does.
So now his stunt double is running around with a tattoo on his lower part of the atonomy. Somebody also asked about him hanging around with the elf..if it was similar in real life. He said that he hasn’t seen Orli since the last premiere. He also performed some threebeard for us. Somebody asked what his favourite character was and he said the wee little hobbitses. Various questions were asked, but those are the ones I can remember really. There were also a lot of people dressed up like characters from LOTR. I was wearing The One Ring and at some point a Ringwrite started chasing me for it. Really cool; he looked really alike, so it was kinda scary…He did the right posses and everything, he even had the right sword!
Torn Staffer Ostadan had the opportunity to speak with Rob Daviau of Hasbro last month about Hasbro’s forthcoming LotR Edition of Trivial Pursuit. Below are Ostadan’s questions, along with Mr. DAviau’s answers.
Q: Who wrote the questions and answers [for this edition]?
A: The questions were generated, in part, by some of the people in New Zealand who worked on the film. They weren’t writers so we had local writers add/polish/edit them so that they were clearer and written in US-English.
Q: What special rules, unique to the LotR Edition, have been added to the game?
A: The “Fan Rules” allow people who know LOTR well to still play without having a short game. Bascially, there is a ringwraith and The Ring. The most recent person to get a ‘pie wedge’ is the ringbearer. Having the ring lets you skip a question once per turn. But, at the end of EVERY PERSON’S turn, the ringwraith moves 1-6 spaces to the ringbearer. If the wraith lands on the same space as the ringbearer, it takes a pie wedge away. If you have no wedges and it lands on your space (on its way to the ringbearer) then you are out of the game.
At the end of the game, you must have the ring and make it to the middle of the board in order to win.
I think that’s it. Essentially, these rules are for groups who can probably answer 4-8 questions in a row. Gives some downside and risk to the game.
Ostadan writes: “I suppose it should also be mentioned that Hasbro will be republishing the Risk: Lord of the Rings with a larger board, some new cards, and much better-written rules. This is not quite the same game as the ‘expansion set’ published in Europe, which is a bit confusing. Rob has mentioned the possibility that owners of the previous edition will be able to purchase an add-on kit from Hasbro, rather than having to buy an entirely new game, but I do not believe that this has been officially announced. The Risk game will hit shelves in December.”
Ever since it was announced in London that “The Lord of the Rings” would be turned into a musical budgeted at $13 million, fans have feared the worst: Gandalf singing a rock ballad, Orcs doing jazz hands, high-kicking hobbits. Well, the first workshop is finished, and early reports are in. Purists, prepare yourselves. First off the director, Matthew Warchus, promises that the show will “avoid embarrassments.” Well, that’s certainly a good start.
Mr. Warchus also compares the music of the show, scheduled in the West End in the spring of 2005, to the folk tunes of “The Lion King.” Nice. But what about the book? Mr. Warchus won’t go into specifics, but he says literary license was taken. The novelist J. R. R. Tolkien “wrote the story like it was history, and that is how we are treating it,” Mr. Warchus said by phone.
“This will be a different account of events. It’s sort of like different versions of the Gospels.” And if this incurs the wrath of armies of fans of the original Middle Earth, Mr. Warchus is ready for them. “It’s impossible to please everyone,” he said.
Ben from the Dallas Comic Con writes: Our next big show (October 25 & 26 at the Plano Convention Center) has an incredible growing guest lineup of celebrities and comic artists. Shop more than 150 exhibit tables of old and new collectibles, movie memorabilia, toys, comics, cards and more!
John Ryhs Davies – Lord of the Rings (Gimli the dwarf), Indiana Jones (Sallah) Saturday only, Brad Dourif – Lord of the Rings (Wormtongue), Alien 4, Voice of Chucky Sala Baker: Lord of the Rings – Sauron
Other media guests attending:
Mercedes McNab – Buffy / Angel (Harmony) Saturday only, Anthony Daniels: Star Wars Saga – C-3PO (In a very rare autograph appearance), Warwick Davis: Episode 1 – Wald, Episode VI – Wicket, Dave Prowse: Episode IV, V, VI – Darth Vader, Rena Owen: Episode II – Tuan We, Episode III – Senator Michonne Bourriague: Episode I – Aurra Sing, Amy Allen: Episode II – Aayla Secura Sala Baker: Lord of the Rings – Sauron David Hedison: Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea And many others…
Meet these great Comic Artists! Phil Noto – Danger Girl, Birds of Prey, Adam Hughes – Wonder Woman, Tomb Raider, Tim Bradstreet – Punisher artist, Scott Kurtz – creator and artist of PvP, John Lucas – Superman Man of Steel, Ben Dunn – creator of MARVEL MANGAVERSE, Image Comics’ THE AGENTS, Jaime Mendoza – writer of MOON RUSH, inker of BATMAN and SUPERMAN, Erik Reeves – artist for MOON RUSH And many others…
Make plans to attend now and join us in all the fun! Free movie promos and posters while supplies last!
October 25-26: Plano, TX 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway Plano, TX (corner of Spring Creek Parkway and Jupiter Road)
Cara writes: I live near Scranton, Pa and saw this advertisment for a Tolkien Lecturer who will speak at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania on November 12th at 7PM.
Tolkien: Man and Myth JOSEPH PEARCE Author and Lecturer November 12, 2003, 7 p.m. Crystal Room, Nazareth Student Center Free and open to the public
J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings took first place in a recent national poll to find the greatest book of the 20th century. While popular, Tolkien is often misunderstood. Mr Pearce’s study of Tolkien’s life, his character, and his work reveals the facts and confronts the myths, while exploring the backround of the man and the culture in which he wrote. Mr. Pearce enters the world created by Tolkien in the seven books published during his lifetime. He explores the significance of Middle Earth and what it represented in Tolkien’s thinking. Myth, to him, was not a leap from reality but a leap into reality. Other aspects of his fascinating life troubled Tolkien greatly. The impact of his great notoriety, his relationship with material possessions, and his traditional religious faith are all explored, making it possible to understand both the man and the myth he created.
Mr. Pearce is the author of numerous acclaimed biographies of major Catholic literary figures. A fulltime writer from Norfolk, England, he is currently the Writer in Residence and Professor of Literature at Ave Maria College, Ypsilanti, Michigan. Mr. Pearce also serves as Editor-in-Cheif of Ave Maria University Communications and Sapientia Press, as well as Co-Editor of the St. Austin Review (or StAR), an international review of Christian culture, literture, and ideas published in England by the Saint Austin Press. Mr. Pearce regularly speaks at a wide variety of religious, cultural, and literary events.
