By now, you’ll all have seen the track listing for the TTT soundtrack.
Track 1 is called “Foundation of Stone”.
There’s been some speculation about what this could imply. Now it’s just possible that the title “Foudation of Stone”, could refer to the battle between Gandalf and the Balrog.
Doubtful? Consider this excerpt from the Two Towers:
‘Deep is the abyss that is spanned by Durin’s Bridge, and none has measured it,’ said Gimli.
‘Yet it has a bottom, beyond light and knowledge,’ said Gandalf. ‘Thither I came at last, to the uttermost foundations of stone[my emphasis]. He was with me still. His fire was quenched, but now he was a thing of slime, stronger than a strangling snake.’
So, the BIG plunge at the beginning of TT should show Gandalf fighting the Balrog!
Nice way to open a film, eh?
Thanks to both Feasul and Chris for pointing this out!
Update:
Okay, a few people have written in to add variuous stuff. Some of this is not at all new, but for the sake of relative completeness here’s a little bit more information …
From Ringer spy Sam: Sir Ian’s latest E-Post entry …
“Q: I saw in the new TTT trailer that when you are falling with the Balrog, you are holding your sword. How can that be if you lost her (the sword had fall first) before you completely fall in the bridge? Many thanks and keep the great work. 🙂
A: You will be answered early in The Two Towers when Gandalf and his sword are reunited. “
This isn’t entirely conclusive in and of itself. “Early” is an awfully vague word, and I’m sure Ian realises that.
Also, Mark from Texas writes: ‘It’s the first thought that hit me when I read that Fran used the term “plunge” when discussing the opening scene.’
This is from scr(i)pt magazine, of course. For those that might not have seen it before, I’ll recount the excerpt here:
“scr(i)pt: Will there be anything to help a novice find his/her way into The Two Towers, some recap of what has happened so far, or will we plunge right into it?
Philippa Boyens: Pretty much a big plunge, you might say – a rather large plunge! [Both laugh as if sharing a wicked, private joke.] – the deep breath before the plunge. Well, it’s a terrible pun; and you’ll understand it when you see it, but I think it’s one of the most amazing openings ever – pure Peter Jackson!”
There is certainly a rather large “plunge” before the two battling Maia reach the Foundations of Stone at the bottom of the abyss of Khazad-dum that Gandalf refers to in the Two Towers … :o)
One of the first things noticeable when glancing over the track list for The Two Towers soundtrack is the increase in artists lending their vocal talents to Howard Shore’s tracks. While international star Enya eclipsed her colleagues on The Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack, particularly after the shambolic advertising campaign from Reprise Records, this time the star-status of the sopranos are much more evenly spread. Here’s a look at some of these artists who’ll tear at our heartstrings come December:
Emiliana Torrini: Track 19 – “Gollum’s Theme”
In addition to her vivid imagination, a slightly nomadic childhood and a curious blend of ethnicities combined to inevitably launch 21 year-old singer Emiliana Torrini into the life less ordinary that she now calls her own. Raised in Iceland by an Icelandic mother and an Italian father, she spent summers with her grandmother in a remote corner of Eastern Iceland, and also resided with her uncle in Germany. As a youngster, she was given only a cursory introduction to music: a bit of classical, Italian pop and Icelandic folk songs.
Isabel Bayrakdarian: Track 8 – “Evenstar”
Young, stunning soprano, ahead of her years in both voice and musicianship, Isabel Bayrakdarian is gaining international prominence for her electrifying stage presence and captivating voice. Since winning the Metropolitan Opera Competition in 1997, and many others since then, she has become one of the hottest young sopranos in demand today. Her most recent triumph is first prize in Plácido Domingo’s Operalia 2000 Competition.
Sheila Chandra: Track 14 – “Breath Of Life”
Born in South London to a South Indian immigrant family, Sheila Chandra discovered her voice at the age of twelve and whilst at Theatre Arts school. From this moment her chosen path was to be a singer. Lacking any real contacts or access to the music business, she nevertheless honed her vocal skills as a labour of love, spending up to two hours a night throwing her voice into the tall, draughty and uncarpeted stairwell of the family home: “I didn’t know how to manufacture an opportunity, but I was determined that when a chance came my way I would be ready.”
Soundtrack.net have managed to be the first site to snag the official track listing for Howard Shore’s score to The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and the line-up looks as, if not more, impressive than last year’s Oscar-winning soundtrack.
1. Foundations Of Stone 2. The Taming Of Sméagol 3. The Riders Of Rohan 4. The Passage Of The Marshes 5. The Uruk-hai 6. The King Of The Golden Hall 7. The Black Gate Is Closed 8. Evenstar (featuring Isabel Bayrakdarian) 9. The White Rider 10. Treebeard 11. The Leave Taking 12. Helm’s Deep 13. The Forbidden Pool 14. Breath Of Life (featuring Sheila Chandra) 15. The Hornburg 16. Forth Eorlingas (featuring Ben Del Maestro) 17. Isengard Unleashed (featuring Elizabeth Fraser & Ben Del Maestro) 18. Samwise The Brave 19. Gollum’s Song (performed by Emiliana Torrini) 20. (Bonus Track): Farewell To Lórien (featuring Hilary Summers)
There will be three different editions of the soundtrack released: a standard edition with one of five collectable double-sided trading cards; a limited edition with the extra bonus track, “Farewell to Lórien” from The Fellowship of the Ring: Special Edition DVD; and finally a mysterious third edition with a run of only 5,000 available to buy online.
After studying the list for a while, here’s some random thoughts from my TORn desk on this enthralling line-up: • Is the name of the opening track a reference to Emyn Muil, and thus supports the belief that the opening shot is of Frodo and Sam instead of the Three Hunters? • The promotion of the soundtrack should be a marked improvement without Enya, after Reprise’s disasterous campaign last year which focused too heavily on their Irish singer. • A greater emphasis has been placed on vocals, the number of featuring artists doubling from 3 on the FotR soundtrack to 6 on the TTT soundtrack. • ‘Forth Eorlingas’ and ‘Isengard Unleashed’ seem to be the two tracks which will play during the Battle of Helm’s Deep. • There does not appear to be a Minas Tirith track of any kind on the soundtrack. • ‘The Forbidden Pool’ suggests the Henneth Annun will definetly make an appearance in the film, most likely with the footage of Gollum hitting a fish of the ground which was being filmed during the Two Towers preview on the FotR DVD. • Will ‘Gollum’s Theme’ be the last track to play into the credits at the end of the film? And what does this name suggest; perhaps we will get a glimpse of Gollum’s betrayal of the Hobbits to Shelob in anticipation for the opening of The Return of the King. Or will we see some inner struggle between the guilt-ridden Slinker and the ring-obsessed stinker which will continue in RotK?
Houghton Mifflin is about to release four brand-new movie tie-in books for LoTR fans everywhere to drool over and enjoy. To coincide with the release on November 6th, 2002, they’ve team up with us (TheOneRing.net) to organise Line Parties.
If you’re in the USA, here’s the latest news from HM on what’s happening where and when.
On November 6th, thousands of Tolkien fans will gather at bookstores around the US to be the first to buy our books offering an exclusive sneak peek at “The Two Towers,” the second film in The Lord of the Rings trilogy:
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE MAKING OF THE MOVIE TRILOGY by Brian Sibley THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS VISUAL COMPANION by Jude Fisher THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS: CREATURES THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS PHOTO GUIDE
Houghton Mifflin Company, U.S. publishers of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works since 1938, and TheOneRing.net are teaming up to sponsor “line party” events around the country on November 6, 2002, the national laydown date for Houghton Mifflin’s books based on New Line Cinema’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. TheOneRing.net expects to have at least 500 line parties participating in the November 6th celebration.
Clay Harper, Tolkien projects director for Houghton Mifflin says, “More than 17 million Tolkien books were sold in the U.S. over the last two years, and now via the internet, the fellowship of fans is expanding out into communities nationwide. These books are filled with spectacular images from the forthcoming film — all made available to an eager audience six weeks before the movie debuts [on December 18th].”
According to Chris Pirrotta, co-webmaster of TheOneRing.net, “It is passion for Tolkien’s world that has brought us all together on-line, and it is the same passion that brings us together off-line.”
For further information about the line parties and their locations, please visit www.TheOneRing.net.
In addition to these line party events, bookstores in college communities around the country are also hosting “Lord of Rings Day” celebrations. Participating college stores include those at the University of Notre Dame, the University of Washington, the University of Virginia, and University of Southern California. Events will include trivia contests, costume contests, viewing of the latest “The Two Towers” trailer, and trading card, board game, and video game demonstrations.
Tolkien fans at select stores will also be treated to a preview of the “From Book to Script” featurette included on “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” extended DVD edition to be released by New Line Cinema on November 12th. The stores offering the special preview are Borders Books & Music in Salt Lake City, UT; the University of Notre Dame bookstore in South Bend, IN; University Bookstore in Seattle, WA; Barnes & Noble in College Station, TX; and Border Books & Music in Boston, MA.
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THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE MAKING OF THE MOVIE TRILOGY ISBN 0-618-26022-6, $17.95 paperback ISBN 0-618-25800-0, $29.95 hardcover
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS VISUAL COMPANION ISBN 0-618-25802-7, $18.95 hardcover
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS: CREATURES ISBN 0-618-25811-6, $8.95 paperback
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS PHOTO GUIDE ISBN 0-618-25736-5, $8.95 paperback
STORES HOLDING “LORD OF THE RINGS DAY” EVENTS
NB: * Indicates that the event includes a preview of the “From Book to Script” featurette included on “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” extended DVD edition
11/6, 7:00 p.m. * Notre Dame Bookstore Eck Center South Bend, IN
I’m writing from What’s On TV, the UK’s biggest selling TV listings mag.
In our issue on sale 12 November, we’re running a competition to win a trip to Paris to go to the European premiere of The Two Towers. Now, since we’re not allowed to fix these things, it means that I can’t snaffle the prize for myself – so I thought readers of theonering.net might like to know about it!
The prize is return travel to Paris via Eurostar for two people, including transfers, two nights accommodation (bed and breakfast) in the four-star Hotel Sofitel, and two tickets to the premiere on 10 December 2002.
The competition is only open to residents of the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, and the winner and their companion for the trip must both be over 18. Oh, and you must be available to travel on 9 December and return on 11 December – otherwise you’ll have two very hot tickets and no way of using them!
I promise you that I’ve not been asked by anyone at the magazine to promote the competition by writing to you. I’m a big old fan, and would kill for this prize, but sadly I’m just not allowed to enter. I only want to increase the odds of another deserving fan winning by telling you chaps about it!
Remember, the competition is in the issue of What’s On TV on sale on 12 November 2002 – the one with EastEnders’ Laura and Ian on the cover. Oh, and the question you have to answer to enter the competition is painfully easy… Put it this way: the answer starts with the letters “J R R”. Good luck!
Dateline: Norfolk, Virginia Headline: LOTR Geeks Run Amok! Subhead: Brand new Two Towers cards revealed! Caption: Card Flippers of the World, UNITE!
But seriously, folks. This is what it feels like to be swirling in the chaos that is the Chesapeake Convention Center this weekend. There are scores of young people flipping cards across hundreds of tables. From today until November 3rd, this place is a hotbed of crazed and very happy gamers!
I am one of them.
Decipher has scheduled this event every year since 1998. The World Championship events that are built around Decipher’s many trading card games were originally held privately (only for qualified players) in 1996 but now these glorious competitions are open to everyone and their sister and the kitchen sink.
Are you a fan of the LOTR card game? If you can play – if you can have fun with your friends – you should be here in Norfolk right now playing for the top $7,000 prize. Yeah, you heard me, SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. And also the Chrysler PT Cruiser (which is a lovely solid black model worth about $22,000). And also the stunning solid gold replica of The One Ring itself. And the huge trophy. And the accolades of fans across the globe. No wonder the players here are so intense as they concentrate!
The slogan for this huge event: Think – Play – Be – FIERCE
The comfortable suburbs of Virginia have been turned into a buzzing hive of Lord of the Rings fans, who are all here to compete and enjoy the camaraderie. Cleaner and better organized than any other gaming convention I’ve ever attended, the DecipherCon brings the best LOTR players in the world together under one roof. They broke a record today with a mammoth number of participants in today’s World Championship qualifier.
I walk around the room and hear dozens of different accents. Those folks are speaking French. Is that Russian I hear from that table? There is even one lad from New Zealand who qualified and flew here this weekend. Good on ya, mate!
For myself and many others, the highlight of this event is seeing the brand new cards for The Two Towers card set! If you want some delicious movie spoilers then this is THE PLACE TO SEE THEM my dears. I’m sure that I will get some of these cards scanned in and published on TORN before the weekend is over.
Remember, the new Two Towers cards will not be released in stores until next week, November 6, 2002. We will bring you an EXCLUSIVE first look at the card images before anyone else. Just wait until you see this stuff! Stay tuned to this spot to get a really good look at Faramir, and the outstanding decorative armor of the Southrons, and more!
The TTT set is composed of 365 new cards, including colorful templates for these three cultures, providing the game with a mirror for the new races and nations we will see in the second film:
DUNLAND RAIDER ROHAN
Let me tell you a bit about the Booster Draft product that Decipher has just created. I myself have sat down to play this unique draft style tournament. For those novices out there, a “draft” game is not the kind where you sit down using your own pre-constructed deck of cards. No, no — you leave those cards at home. What you draft to play with comes from the single booster packs you open fresh right as you sit down. You don’t know what you’re going to get until you are there! This randomness puts everyone at the table on equal footing, regardless of experience. The new Fellowship Draft Pack is indeed a special pack of 29 cards from the Fellowship set, with a perfect even number of Free Peoples cards and Shadow cards (and one randomly inserted Rare card for fun). This pack contains only “meat and potatoes” cards – basic Companions, Minions and weapons, representing the foundation of your deck. Then each player opens up regular boosters from Fellowship, Mines of Moria, and Realms of the Elf Lords, and starts sorting through to add additional supporting cards to create a fully playable deck. The new Draft Pack makes the draft style of play so much easier and fun. And for beginners who are just starting out, these Draft Packs are PERFECT for building up a good, solid collection. Even though I lost today’s games with amazing consistency, I still want to play again with this format. Splendid fun all around.
After today’s qualifying rounds for the World Championship only about 45 players will go on out of the original 254 that first sat down to compete. The competition is just as FIERCE as the evil Balrog itself. I have seen the best of the best, each player sitting down across from someone he knows is a brilliant player from somewhere else in the wide world; each sweating bullets as the giant clock on the wall runs down to zero. BUZZ! Time is up — the judge comes rushing over — tie-breaking criteria are carefully weighed and determined — then only one is announced the winner who will advance to play successive rounds with even more skilled players.
Want to see how a REAL master deck is prepared? Well, here is another exclusive. What follows is the full card list from Championship player David Malboeuf, from Quebec, Canada. He was one of today’s top players in the brutal first round of qualifiers, coming out on third after a full day of unbelievable competition. He did not lose a single game. This is his complete deck used in the tournament.
Ringbearer: Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer The One Ring, Isildur’s Bane
Draw Deck (Free Peoples) 1 Gandalf, The Grey Pilgrim 1 Pippin, Hobbit of Some Intelligence 1 Gimli, Son of Gloin 1 Merry, Friend to Sam 1 Sam, Proper Poet 1 Arwen, Daughter of Elrond 1 Legolas, Greenleaf 1 Aragorn, Ranger of the North 2 Boromir, Defender of Minas Tirith 4 Elrond, Lord of Rivendell 3 Ottar, Man of Laketown 1 Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood 1 Calaglin, Elf of Lorien 1 Orophin, Lorien Bowman 1 Rumil, Elven Protector 1 Thrarin, Dwarven Smith 1 Albert Dreary, Entertainer from Bree 1 Filibert Bolger, Wily Rascal 4 Hobbit Stealth 2 Hobbit Intuition 2 Horn of Boromir 2 Sleep Caradhras 1 O Elbereth Gilthoniel 1 Sting 1 Frying Pan 1 A Wizard is Never Late 1 Glamdring 1 Secret Sentinels 40 TOTAL
Draw Deck (Shadow): 1 Goblin Wallcrawler 4 Goblin Scavenger 4 Moria Scout 4 Goblin Runner 2 Goblin Warrior 4 Such a Little Thing 4 Goblin Armory 4 Goblin Scimitar 1 Balrog, Flame of Udun 1 Trolls’ Keyward 1 Cave Troll of Moria, Scourge of the Black Pit 2 Ulaire Nertea, Messenger of Dol Guldur 1 Guard Commander 1 Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul 2 They are Coming 2 Goblin Swarms 2 Host of Thousands 40 TOTAL
Adventure Deck Site 1 Westfarthing Site 2 Bucklebury Ferry Site 3 Rivendell Terrace Site 4 Mithril Mine Site 5 Bridge of Khazad-dum Site 6 Dimrill Site 7 Anduin Wilderland Site 8 Shores of Nen Hithoel Site 9 Summit of Amon Hen
Now here is the challenge. If you have all of these cards or can trade with people to create this deck, you will have the same power and strategy that David is trying to use to claim the top prize. Try it yourself and see how it works!
But who knows if David will make it to the winner’s circle? At the end of Saturday, November 2, the final champion will be decided.
I will come back to you with more reports from DecipherCon, including special interviews with the people who created this wonderful game. More to come my friends!
