{"id":58811,"date":"2012-07-12T12:26:05","date_gmt":"2012-07-12T17:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/?p=58811"},"modified":"2012-07-13T11:08:47","modified_gmt":"2012-07-13T16:08:47","slug":"the-view-from-hobbitcon-comic-con-round-up-july-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/2012\/07\/12\/58811-the-view-from-hobbitcon-comic-con-round-up-july-11\/","title":{"rendered":"The view from Hobbitcon: Comic-Con round-up July 11"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" From all accounts, Hobbitcon has started with a massive bang. In particular, images we’ve seen of the WETA booth over in San Diego are just amazing.<\/p>\n

Carven statues of dwarves, massive, replica props in stunning detail, eight-foot-tall trolls, life-size lego renditions of Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Wizard plus 3D posters of the main cast — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg!<\/p>\n

TORn’s booths are proving really popular with fans, too. If you’re going, and have been thinking of grabbing a t-shirt of a badge, let me just say that you better act fast — they are going like hot-cakes!<\/p>\n

I can’t cope with giant crowds, and I’m starting to wish I was there! So, read on for a slightly madcap round-up of the Hobbitcon frenzy including just about every link or photo that I can find!<\/p>\n

William, Bert and Tom at the WETA booth<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> We saw some sneak peek shots last night, but now William, Bert and Tom — the famous trolls from the Roast Mutton chapter of the Hobbit — have been fully unveiled.<\/p>\n

The level of detail is superb, but what impresses me the most is the expressiveness and feeling in the faces. Unlike the Moria cave troll, these trolls have intelligence. Maybe a dim sort of intelligence, but there’s a thought process going on there! What’s more, they talk apparently!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> Note how the pose is different from pose that the trolls are frozen in when we see them in the Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition<\/a>. This new version is obviously some time before they’re turned to stone by Gandalf’s cleverness and the rising sun.<\/p>\n

Our friend Quint over at AICN also has a nice set of images of the trolls from different angles. Head here check them out<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Dwarven guard statues and old friends<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> These fellows look seriously intimidating, guarding the WETA booth with their huge double-bladed axes. Maybe we’ll next see them guarding the empty, ruined halls of the Lonely Mountain?<\/p>\n

\"\" Plus there’s a few old friends from Lord of the Rings like this one on the left as well.<\/p>\n

WETA’s replica props<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you’ve got loads of money, these limited edition replica WETA props could be yours!<\/p>\n

Handmade by master swordsmith Peter Lyon, they’re just gorgeous pieces of art.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> The descriptive text for Orcrist: “Each sword comes in its own case case with a Certificate of Authenticity, signed by Peter Lyon and Richard Taylor, and a 10-minute DVD showing how these swords were crafted by Weta Workshop.” They’re available from Q4, 2012, apparently!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> I know people are going to go crazy over the silver gleam of Orcrist and Sting<\/a>, but I think the axes of Dwalin, in particular, are a revelation.<\/p>\n

And the runes on them? They read, I think, something like: “Umraz” and “Uklakw”<\/p>\n

WETA Collectibles 1:6 scale figures<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> At the WETA booth, there’s also series of WETA Collectibles 1:6 scale minatures from The Hobbit on display.<\/p>\n

It’s hard to decide which is better: Bilbo in a half-crouch with Sting<\/a>, Gandalf with his staff, Dwalin and his axes<\/a>, Balin about to draw sword<\/a>, Bombur dashing about with his soup label in hand<\/a>, or the fearsome-looking Thorin Oakenshield with Orcrist<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Life-sized LoTR statues from LEGO<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> I remember, as a child, going to see world LEGO exhibitions and being completely awed by the skill and patience that went into their monumental creations.<\/p>\n

Looking at these life-sized versions of Bilbo<\/a> and Gandalf<\/a>, made from thousands of blocks, I can’t help but be amazed all over again at the sheer attention to detail and persistence that goes into making these things. What a job that would be to have!<\/p>\n

Sixteen 3D Hobbit character posters<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> Lenticular printing produces images with an illusion of depth. If these images are a hint of what the 3D version of The Hobbit could be like, then it might be worth reconsidering your devotion to 2D — because they’re astonishingly lifelike and eye-catching.<\/p>\n

Sixteen in total are on display in lightboxes at SDCC: all 12 dwarves, Bilbo, Gandalf, Galadriel and a particularly evil-looking Gollum who you wouldn’t want to meet alone in a deep, dark cave. Some details to look for Ori with his book and quill, the curl of Gandalf’s staff, Bofur with a flute… but really go check them all out over at Cinemablend — they have a comprehensive gallery of the whole lot<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other cool things:<\/strong><\/p>\n