When I sat down to read the newspaper this afternoon I was surprised to see a large image of the infamous orcs on the last page. The article is called “Fairytale for grownups” with the subtitle “England got its own mythology”. The fact that it is published today – exactly two months before the premiere is no coincident. In the ingress the author states that “this year, going to see the Fellowship of the Ring will be almost as common as eating Christmas ham”, however the article is about the books that the upcoming movies are based on instead of the movies them self. 🙂
The books are discussed both by content and style and the message is that they are very good, even though they have been criticized by literary scholars for as long as the books have been around.
One of the main points is that the story is told from the Hobbits’ points of view, with all their naivety and surprise about the world in which they embark on their long journey. That means that the reader feels very comfortable reading the books, since he/she – just as the Hobbits knows nothing or very little about the places, people and history of Middle Earth. Since the Hobbits share the reader’s ignorance and surprise about most of the presented events, the reader becomes part of Middle Earth in an insidious way.
I don’t have the time to translate the entire article now, but if anyone is interested in reading the article in Swedish, it is available on the web at the following URL (with image and everything). [Posted in:
The next issue of InQuest Gamer is chock-full of Lord of the Rings Gaming goodness.
“We’re counting down to “The Fellowship of the Ring,” and the last few month’s of InQuest Gamer are as packed with Middle-earth stuff as Samwise after his third breakfast. And IQ #80, on sale November 7th, is the best yet.
Yeah, Decipher’s new Lord of the Rings Trading Card game is cool, but we want more! We prove that there’s no such thing as too many wizards with our “Rule Them All” feature, where the populace of Middle-earth invade games like Magic: The Gathering, Mage Knight and Magi-Nation. Ever wonder how Frodo would fare among Dragon Ball Z combatants? Well, wonder no more.
Plus, we’ve got the first killer deck anywhere for Decipher’s new card game. If you want to win right out of the gates—of Moria—you’ve come to the right place.
And, as if that weren’t enough, InQuest #80 has a “Lord of the Rings” Gift Guide, packed full with titles, prices and sources for everything from Gandalf busts to obscure Tolkien books on tape, and from action figures of Aragorn to weapon replicas of Glamdring. Everything associated with the new films.
In the next few months, look for InQuest Gamer to provide you with even more info on the new “Lord of the Rings” games; you don’t want to miss a Middle-earth minute of the excitement, and we won’t let you.”
Here’s a great offer for LOTR fans in NZ, Thanks to Ian Brodie of the NZ Fighter Pilots’ Museum. Some of you may remember that PJ himself has a liking for old planes too! So, from the ranks of the Tolkien Fans who Like Aviation:
“As a total fan I am so pleased to be able to offer these amazing figures to New Zealanders through our secure internet store. [I asked – this is for New Zealanders only! – Tehanu]
“We are very pleased to announce that the amazing Sideshow Weta Collectible figures, busts and helms are now available in New Zealand via our secure internet store at nzfpm.co.nz Whilst we are a museum normally selling aviation memorabilia I am a total enthusiast for the Lord of the Rings and am totally amazed by the quality that Weta in Wellington have been able to produce. We are based at Wanaka, New Zealand and look forward to providing you with these lasting images of the three movies. Images will be posted shortly onto the store but in the meantime if you have any queries please contact me at ibrodie@nzfpm.co.nz
“I would be happy to offer a 7.5% discount off the quoted prices for those that mention that the order came via www.theonering.net You have all done a wonderful job for us enthusiasts!”
Ringer Spy Anthony wrote in with some statistics that suggest that Shore has the knack of picking good movies to write for – or his music helps them succeed, either might be true:
“I’ve noticed something about movies that Howard Shore does the music for. They are critically acclaimed. I got a list of many of the movies he composed music for in the last decade, from IMDB and looked them up on Roger Ebert’s site and RottenTomatoes.com.
Many of the reviews from Ebert are 4 stars…and very few below 3 ½ or 3.
“On RottenTomatoes.com, a percentage of positive reviews from a large group of critics, many movies scored above 60%…giving it a “fresh” rating rather than “rotten.”
“I don’t know if this correlates that good music subconsciously alters critics opinions, or if Howard Shore only takes good scripts, or if it’s just a coincidence, but it does add to the stack of evidence hinting that Lord of the Rings will be a critically acclaimed box office smash (a rare phenomenon).
Movie Title ~ Music By Howard Shore, with Ebert’s Review out of 4 stars, and Rotten Tomatoes.com (percentage)
Yards. The (2000) *** 59%
High Fidelity (2000) **** 88%
Dogma (1999) ***1/2 88%
Analyze This (1999) *** 75%
Game, The (1997) ***1/2 75%
That Thing You Do! (1996) *** 92%
Looking for Richard (1996) *** 100%
Crash (1996) ***1/2 46%
Truth about Cats & Dogs, The (1996) ***1/2 100%
Se7en (1995) ***1/2 100%
Nobody’s Fool (1994) ***1/2 N/A
Ed Wood (1994) ***1/2 100%
Philadelphia (1993) ***1/2 100%
Guilty as Sin (1993) *** N/A
Prelude to a Kiss (1992) *** N/A
Single White Female (1992) *** N/A
Kiss Before Dying, A (1991) *** N/A
Silence of the Lambs, The (1991) ***1/2 ~ later **** 100%
By the Way…Heavenly Creatures directed by Peter Jackson got a ***1/2* from Ebert, and 88% on RottenTomatoes.com.
Yards. The (200) – *** 59% High Fidelity (2000) – **** 88% Dogma (1999) – ***1/2 65% Analyze This (1999) – *** 75% Game, The (1997) – ***1/2 75% That Thing You Do! (1996) – *** 92% Looking for Richard (1996) – *** 100% Crash (1996) – ***1/2 46% Truth about Cats & Dogs, The (1996) – ***1/2 100% Se7en (1995) – ***1/2 100% Nobody’s Fool (1994) – ***1/2 N/A Ed Wood (1994) – ***1/2 100% Philadelphia (1993) – ***1/2 100% Guilty as Sin (1993) – *** N/A Prelude to a Kiss (1992) – *** N/A Single White Female (1992) – *** N/A Kiss Before Dying, A (1991) – *** N/A Silence of the Lambs, The (1991) ***1/2 originally…later **** 100%
Thanks to Ringer spy Brendan, we have help from Decipher for those of you who are having trouble signing up to the Fan Club announced yesterday.
Hello there, Recieved this today from the fanclub help people, may be of use to some having problems who don’t what to ring overseas.
————
“Dear Brendon:
It has come to our attention that you are encountering difficulties joining the Lord of the Rings Fan Club while using LOTR Fanclub. We sincerely apologize for your inconvenience and would like to help you join the Lord of the Rings Fan Club. Your business is very important to us.
We’d like to offer you a few alternative ways to join:
(1) We have a very dedicated staff of Customer Service Representatives who are capable of taking your order by phone. The phone numbers where they can be reached are:
In the U.S. – (800) 451-6381 Outside the U.S. – (303) 856-2201
(2) If you are outside of the U.S. and would rather not have the toll charged to you, you can reply to this email with your first name, last name and a phone number where you can be reached. One of our Customer Service Representatives will call you shortly in order to receive your membership information. You will not be charged for the call and your information will be transmitted securely.
(3) You can email the same information that you are asked for from the website to this email address:
(4) You can fax the same information that you are asked for from the website to this fax number: (757) 623-3630
(5) You can mail the same information that you are asked for from the website to this address: Lord of the Rings Fan Club P.O. Box 111000 Aurora, CO 80042 U.S.A.
Thank you for your understanding and we hope to hear from you soon!
Best regards, Lord of the Rings Fan Club Decipher, Inc.
Are you a member yet?! Visit LOTR Fanclub to sign up!”
LOTR Composer, and all around cool Canuk Howard Shore was born on this day in 1946 in Toronto, Canada. But I won’t hold that against him 😉
Ringer Spy Anthony takes a deep look into Shore’s work, I found the results interesting.
I’ve noticed something about movies that Howard Shore does the music for. They are critically acclaimed. I got a list of many of the movies he composed music for in the last decade, from IMDB and looked them up on Roger Ebert’s site and RottenTomatoes.com.
Many of the reviews from Ebert are 4 stars…and very few are below 3 ½ or 3.
On RottenTomatoes.com, a percentage of positive reviews from a large group of critics, many movies scored above 60%…giving it a “fresh” rating rather than “rotten.”
I don’t know if this correlates that good music subconsciously alters critics opinions, or if Howard Shore only takes good scripts, or if it’s just a coincidence, but it does add to the stack of evidence hinting that Lord of the Rings will be a critically acclaimed box office smash (a rare phenomenon).
Key
Movie Title ~ Music By Howard Shore. Ebert’s Review out of 4 stars. Rotten Tomatoes.com
Yards. The (2000) *** 59%
High Fidelity (2000) **** 88%
Dogma (1999) ***1/2 88%
Analyze This (1999) *** 75%
Game, The (1997) ***1/2 75%
That Thing You Do! (1996) *** 92%
Looking for Richard (1996) *** 100%
Crash (1996) ***1/2 46%
Truth about Cats & Dogs, The (1996) ***1/2 100%
Se7en (1995) ***1/2 100%
Nobody’s Fool (1994) ***1/2 N/A
Ed Wood (1994) ***1/2 100%
Philadelphia (1993) ***1/2 100%
Guilty as Sin (1993) *** N/A
Prelude to a Kiss (1992) *** N/A
Single White Female (1992) *** N/A
Kiss Before Dying, A (1991) *** N/A
Silence of the Lambs, The (1991) ***1/2 ~ later **** 100%
By the Way…Heavenly Creatures directed by Peter Jackson got a ***1/2* from Ebert, and 88% on RottenTomatoes.com.
