New Line Home Entertainment unveiled the new DVD edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at a celebrity event in Los Angeles’ Franklin Canyon Park on Aug. 25, benefitting the nonprofit TreePeople environmental charity.
During the event, the nonprofit education and advocacy group received a donation of seedlings from celebrities that included Lorenzo Lamas, Thora Birch, Giovanni Ribisi and others in the company of actors dressed like the treelike Ents from the movie.
Invited guests were also treated to a screening of the DVD, including a preview of footage from the upcoming third Lord of the Rings film, The Return of the King. The DVD goes on sale Aug. 26. The Return of the King opens Dec. 17.
TreePeople is a 30-year-old environmental education and advocacy organization. Its mission is to inspire the people of Los Angeles to take personal responsibility for the urban forest.
The screening was awesome!! They had a huge tent with a huge screen, and for those who could not fit, another screen outside. There was an area where you could get your picture taken with people dressed up as Legolas, Sam and Gandalf. As soon as my picture is sent via e-mail, I will scan it in for you. Before the movie was the much awaited costume contest, which attracted many kinds of Lotr fans. Some parents dressed up their little children as Arwen or a hobbit, and some were pretty cute. I myself went as Legolas, and I think I was the prettiest one there. 😀 The contest came out with five finalists: A fantastic Witchking, complete with $500 sword, Gandalf, with a beard so realistic that I thought he’d grown it, the most original costume ever, THE EYE OF SAURON, A very strange but in-character Gollum, and the winner, A girl on stilts dressed as an ent. I don’t think the judging should have gone any other way. The costumes were fantastic, and I salute all those who participated in the costume contest. after the awards, the screening began.
I was not able to stay for it, unfortunately, I had to catch the last ferry back to Vancouver island, where I live, in Nanaimo. Even as I walked away, I could hear the great sound system Futre Shop had put together. Fantastic overall!!
Also, if anyone from Future Shop reads this, THANKS FOR THE HUGE LEGOLAS AND ARAGORN POSTERS!!
Harmony picks up where Sailorlegolas left off, at the outdoor screening of TTT
I read your note from Sailorlegolas about the Future Shop screening of TT. I had to opposite, but just as wonderful, experience.
I missed the costume contest but made it just in time to see Gandalf decending with the Balrog on the massive screen. I was greeted by the excellent Gandalf in costume mentioned by Sailorlegolas and given a pin of Arwen much like the ones you have posted pictures of here before.
I was amazed by the dedication of the fans who couldn’t fit in the big tent. They were planted on the concrete parking lot viewing on the outdoor overflow screen. Some had lawnchairs but most were sitting on car blankets or right on the ground. I was glad to have a wonderful friend who was able to show up early enough to get us great seats inside the tent. I can’t explain how wonderful the picture and sound were. Any scene with horses, wargs, or battles had the ground shaking and our whole bodies vibrating. It was like a ride at Disneland! It felt like we were there in the action. At the stroke of midnight they started the sale of the dvd’s and then showed the preview for ROTK. Amazing. It was a great night. Thank you to Future Shop for the show (and who’s employees were friendly) and thank you to my fellow Vancouverites who laughed, clapped and cheered in all the right the places.
I was down in the South Island checking out the details of the Red Carpet LOTR Locations tour and we were in Te Anau, the closest town to the epicentre of last week’s massive earthquake. [More]
Well, we’d had a great time so far – rocketing around the site of the burned Rohan village in a farmer’s 4WD, jetboating down the river Anduin, following a snowplow to the edges of Fangorn Forest. But the earthquake that night was something else again!
Just after midnight our hotel room started to shake from side to side like it was built on a wobbly jelly. My room-mate and I looked at each other, both thinking ‘I’ll get up and run under the doorway if she does….’ I had time to think ‘no point getting up now, it’s going to stop any moment’ about 20 times before finally getting up and standing under a doorway. And still it went on.
Once it was over everyone piled out into the hotel hallway in their pyjamas, talking about it of course. Nobody seemed too frightened. There was no damage, and the hotel was built in such a way that there were no scary creaking and cracking noises to alarm us. Some older buildings make a lot more noise in a quake.
The oddest thing was that the ground continued to sway very slightly for a long time aftewards, as though we were riding a slow gentle swell, and as we stood around we’d rock from foot to foot as though tipsy.
The point of this is that I’m registering my disagreement with those people who are objecting to having the Embassy Theatre in Wellington strengthened for earthquakes in time for the ROTK premiere. [More I would not have wanted to be in a large masonry building without earthquake strengthening in a quake like that, and given the fact that Wellington is built on a faultline, the Embassy Trust is wise to insist on meeting seismic requirements.
A small group of lucky members of the media (including TORn) were offered a very special treat on this Monday morning, courtesy of New Line: an early sneak-peek of the Return of the King preview from the TTT DVD. After a great complimentary breakfast, we got the opportunity to see the preview before the DVD hits the stores tomorrow. I won’t go into the details of what the 10-minute behind-the-scenes has to offer, as I don’t want to spoil it for Ringers worldwide. Not to mention that TORn has already posted many detailed reports of the preview’s contents…! One thing is confirmed however: the footage that surfaced on the internet a few weeks ago and was hailed as the “official trailer” is nothing like that, but simply the last 2-minutes of the preview, which does give a glimpse of a few scenes from the movie. I suspect the real theatrical trailer will be quite different.
Two things struck me while watching the preview: one, the sheer epic size of the movie (the charge of the Rohirrim, the Battle of The Pelennor Fields are breathtaking – although the preview only offers a brief glimpse of both) – and two, how emotionally charged the movie will be. Exhilarating and heartbreaking. Some moments of the preview did bring tears to my eyes, and I think we should all bring a large supply of tissues to the theaters come December 17th… Like PJ himself, I tend to think of ROTK as my favorite part of the book – and Elijah Wood may be right when he says that the third movie will be better than the first two combined. But rather than trying to speculate and project unrealistic, unreachable expectations (which in my experience is the best way to be disappointed), I think ROTK will deliver on all levels on a very large scale, and will be incredibly emotional. As much as I’m looking forward to seeing the finished film in December, part of me is dreading that moment, as I’m sure many other fans are. Because we’ll have reached the Grey Havens, and we’ll be saying goodbye to the film version of Middle Earth. But we’re not there yet, and of course “the road goes ever on and on”. And to end of a happier note, let’s have a pint to celebrate the release of this highly anticipated DVD. Enjoy!
Xoanon here, So you’re planning to get the TTT DVD tonight at midnight? Are you prepared for the long wait? Are you ready to stay up REALLY late tonight watching the whole DVD and all the special features? If not then follow this easy-to-use guide called ‘Geeking Out on TTT and Surviving ‘Till Morning’.
Last fall I was a special invited guest to New Line Cinema’s offices to watch the Extended Edition version of ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’. The film itself was over 3 hours long we then proceeded to watch supplementary DVD’s with all the extras, another 4 or 5 hours, I was one of the few who survived. How did I do this? The boy-scout training I received as I child paid off…I was prepared.
A ton of you are planning on invading your local video stores at Midnight and picking up your own copy of TTT. Midnight can be a long wait in line, are you ready to handle it?
Here are a few essential items to bring with you:
Water: Water (or any other non-alcoholic beverage) is essential when waiting in line. Water acts as a distraction in the long hours of the night. It can also provide as a conversation piece if you happen to see a sexy looking fan next to you. Asking ‘What are you drinking?’ can lead to a long a fruitful relationship (this may not happen to all of you).
Snack Food: Along with something to drink, a little something to eat can help you pass the time. Also, you may be forced to stand the whole time, depending on the state of the video-store parking lot, so you need energy. You may also use food as a bribe to get yourself ahead of the line. Recommended foods: Skittles, popcorn, chocolate covered peanuts. Not recommended: Meatloaf, tacos, spaghetti, pea-soup.
Warm Clothing: Even in the sunniest parts of Los Angeles, temperatures can dip down at night. Wear loose fitting clothes but bring something along with you to keep you warm if the temperature dips down in the night. You can also sit on it while waiting. If you have any LOTR themed clothing, bring it along with you.
Seat-Filler: Worried that you may not be able to ‘hold it in’ the whole time? Need to step away from the line for a minor emergency? Someone stealing your car? Be prepared! Bring someone with you who can stand in for you when you need to leave. Someone you can leave on their own is a must. Do not bring your 6 month old and expect them to stay in line and get the TTT DVD for you. Kids that age usually don’t have money and may get the wrong DVD for you. Also pets such as dogs and cats tend to get distracted. Goldfish are an absolute no-no.
So, you have everything you need. The clock strikes twelve, it is officially August 26th and the doors to the video store open! You are about to get your very own copy of TTT! Are you getting a little nervous? Here are a few tips to help you out.
Stay on target! Don’t get distracted by the pretty lights and millions of other pretty DVD’s available. Don’t stop to look at new releases, don’t look at what is on the TV, don’t look at anyone in the eyes! Head directly to the area where they are selling the DVD, grab yours and go! (please pay first)
Widescreen VS Fullscreen? There is a raging debate as to which is better, some people are too distracted by the black bars on the top and bottom of the screen that they would prefer the full screen version. Whatever your choice heed my words, CHECK WHAT VERSION YOU HAVE IN YOUR HANDS BEFORE BUYING! Trust me, I know where of I speak. I currently own a horrible fullscreen copy of ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ and I feel the shame of it every time I watch it! It laughs at me at night…I can tell!
You’ve made your purchase…you are out the door and back home in record time.
It is now 12:15 in the morning, usually an un-godly hour because you have school and/or work the next day. But tonight you have the TTT DVD…the night is just getting STARTED!
You slip that DVD into your player and sit down to watch it in all it’s glory…but are you prepared to stay up this late? Ask yourself these questions!
Am I ready for ‘emergency sleep’? What happens if I find myself falling asleep during the battle of Helms Deep? If I decide to stop the DVD (my god man…what a thought) and fall asleep right here on the couch, am I ready? If not then go to your room, slip into your PJ’s and slippers…bring a pillow and a blanket and get ready if and when it happens.
What about my TV? Is it ready for the experience? Believe it or not, when I pop in a movie I am looking foreword to watching, I dust off the screen and do a sound check. At 12 in the morning you may want to be careful of the sound levels!
So…a few hours later and you’ve seen everything there is to see on the TTT DVD and then some. It is almost 5 am and you need to be up in about an hour. What do you do now? Here are some tips for a VERY hard morning.
Coffee Coffee Coffee: Actually any form of caffeine will help you out here. My personal favorite is Red Rose tea (tea has more caffeine than coffee) add a few spoonfuls of sugar (and one directly into the mouth wouldn’t hurt). A few hours later you can try Skittles, they work wonders and are so full of sugar that you may in fact need to peel yourself off the wall.
Old Tricks Being The Best Tricks: If you are at work or school and seem a little zoned out, try to avoid conversations with anyone. And if you are approached you can simply say that you were up all night working really hard on a new assignment. People with seasonal allergies will be lucky this time of year as they can blame the puffy eyes and droopy cheeks on allergies. Fake sneezing will confirm this.
Get Some Sleep: Finally, when your Wednesday from Hell is complete, you can crawl home and get some much-deserved sleep. Yes you will have to SKIP watching TTT again for a second night in a row and sleep. Your body will thank you later.
I hope this guide helps you out in all your geeky quests.
NEW LINE CINEMA CELEBRATES DECEMBER 17 RELEASE OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING WITH EXCLUSIVE SCREENING SERIES
SPECIAL EXTENDED EDITION PRESENTATIONS OF THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING AND THE TWO TOWERS CULMINATE IN THREE-FILM MARATHON
Los Angeles, CA, August 22, 2003 – Leading up to the December 17 release of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the final film in Peter Jackson’s epic dramatic trilogy, New Line Cinema will release a limited number of 35mm prints of the Special Extended Editions of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers in theaters across North America. The special screening series will culminate in an unprecedented marathon of back-to-back presentations of the Extended Editions followed by a special screening of The Return of the King. The announcement was made today by Rolf Mittweg, the studio’s president and chief operating officer, worldwide distribution and marketing.
“These films have undergone an incredible journey, from production to theatrical release around the world, to great success in their extended form on DVD,” Mittweg said. “The release of the third film affords us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give audiences a compelling new theatrical experience of Peter Jackson’s sprawling vision for this trilogy.”
From December 5 – 11, the studio will release 100-150 35mm prints of the Special Extended Edition of The Fellowship of the Ring in cities across the country. On December 12 – 15, these prints will be replaced with Special Extended Edition prints of The Two Towers. On Monday, December 8, and Monday, December 15, both films will be presented back-to-back. Then, on Tuesday, December 16, participating theaters will show a one-time-only marathon of both Extended Edition prints followed by an 11pm screening of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. The official opening of the film will commence at 12:01 AM on Wednesday, December 17, 2003.
Advance ticketing for the screening series is expected to commence this fall.
New Line Cinema presents the epic drama The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, co-written, directed and produced by Peter Jackson. The third film in the highly acclaimed trilogy is produced by Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh and Jackson. The screenplay is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Jackson based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Returning cast-members include (in alphabetical order) Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Brad Dourif, Bernard Hill, Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen, John Noble, Miranda Otto, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Liv Tyler, Karl Urban, Hugo Weaving, David Wenham, and Elijah Wood.
UK casting is by John Hubbard and Amy MacLean with U.S. casting by Victoria Burrows. The costume designers are Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor. Special make-up, creature, miniature and digital effects are by Weta Ltd., NZ. Jim Rygiel is the visual effects supervisor. Music is by Howard Shore. Jamie Selkirk is the film editor. Grant Major is the production designer. Andrew Lesnie, A.C.S. is the director of photography. The film is co-produced by Rick Porras and Jamie Selkirk. Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne are the executive producers, along with Mark Ordesky. Produced by Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is based on the Book by J. R. R. Tolkien. The screenplay is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson. The film is directed by Peter Jackson
