Sunset near Twizel, New Zealand on the day of our story.TWIZEL, NEW ZEALAND — Not every conversation I had in New Zealand is fair game for publication at TheOneRing.net. If they all were, people would have spoken with me a lot less and a lot less openly or maybe just have not spoken with me at all.
During one such private meeting, a shared photo led to a side conversation that led to a revelation about an act of kindness that hit me, and still hits me, in my core. Somebody I knew, not in New Zealand, had heroically withstood some of life’s trials and others, in New Zealand, had selflessly performed a service for them. I can’t relate the story here because it was unmistakably not an interview situation and even the people on the receiving end of the generosity have kept it to themselves.
I was amazed by the revelation at the time and I was on the road much of the next 24 hours, meaning I was alone with my thoughts; Despite having a lot to ponder, this bit of unselfishness stayed with me for the entire drive when I wasn’t distracted by things like getting lost or finding a place to stay. Continue reading “Unreported acts of kindness from New Zealand”
A big thanks to everybody who sent in theater information about The Hobbit trailer. While we are sorry you didn’t get to see it on the big screen, we are glad you wrote in to help out. We are no longer updating the page, so while your emails are appreciated, no further action will be taken.
We recommend calling your local theater to see if they have attached the trailer. The trailers have been sent out to local cinemas but it is up to individual cinemas when and where they use them. Be a proactive consumer. We did hear back from Warner Bros. on this issue and are pleased to share their statement with Hobbit fans.
Warner Bros. appreciates the interest in the trailer for THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, and has let us know that it is in approximately 90% of the theaters playing TINTIN. The studio understands if any fans were disappointed not to see it in their local theater, and they suggest that everyone looking for the trailer check with the theater first to make sure it’s playing on that screen.
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND — In what may be a first, I am sitting in the Weta Cave next to TORn co-founder Erica / Tehanu, and we can confirm absolutely that the rumor of a delay of the first Hobbit film until 2013 is complete, uh, shall we say, balderdash. It is interesting to imagine where the rumor came from but the source here is beyond question. While I hate to drive traffic to the start of the confusion, here it is just in case. In case it wasn’t clear, this is completely untrue. UPDATE: Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures has also given a definitive statement on the matter as well:
“Contrary to inaccurate reports – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is being released on December 14, 2012.
GLENORCHY, NEW ZEALAND — Without question, Queenstown is a wonder. It is so beautiful that it is on the verge of being absurd. It is grand with lakes, mountains and forests and deserves every accolade it receives.
But it isn’t Paradise — or Glenorchy for that matter.
If Lake Wakatipu is shaped like a Harry Potter scar, Queenstown sits at the horizontal point just before the final descending line. If you climb in your car and drive across that horizontal bar and up to the top point of the lighting bolt, you will arrive at Glenorchy. (After a stunning drive on some roads that demand real courage.) Continue reading “A Tolkien reader’s Paradise”
Stephen Colbert is an unabashed popular-culture geek and frequently drops his Middle-earth knowledge and displays various swords, rings and LOTR stuff on his show The Colbert Report. So when he had Elijah Wood on to chat about Happy Feet 2 he “unexpectedly” dropped into a conversation about the currently filming Hobbit movies and made it clear that he has visited the set and been privy to secrets and then “duels” with Wood. Is he steeped enough in Tolkien pop-culture to someday drop a TORn reference? We wish he would but in the meantime, enjoy the clip! Thanks to spy Esme, the first of many to drop that little gem to us at Spymaster@theonering.net.
We’re about to kick-off our weekly Hall of Fire chat on our irc server. Today’s topic is chapter 15 of The Hobbit: The Gathering of the Clouds. So come join us as we discuss how Thorin & Co deal with their sudden good fortune!
“Under the Mountain dark and tall, The King has come unto his hall! His foe is dead, the Worm of Dread, And ever so his foes shall fall.”
