Cool News
LORD OF THE RINGS.... It's Official!!!!!!!!!! This will be a day long remembered in the annals of geek history!!!
After reading the below, check out this article on THE LORD OF THE RINGS film from the L.A.Times... Click here for story!
Harry here, with my favorite news I've yet reported on this site since it's creation. Peter Jackson is really going to do THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. Peter has gone through hell to get movement on this project. The script, written by himself and Fran Walsh, was originally written to be two films while at Miramax, but now it seems that the fanboy dream of there being a LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy is at last a reality. All of a sudden the most important spies in the world live in New Zealand. That magical place is going to bring to life what could very well be the genre defining locale for LORD OF THE RINGS. I'm so excited about this project I can't even think straight. So you spies in New Zealand, you guys and gals at Weta and you scoopers at Wingnut... I can't wait to hear the reports on this film over the course of the next 3-4 years. My god this is all very exciting isn't it? For everyone worried about the 'adaptation', believe me I'm all over this like molasses. Peter Jackson worships Tolkien's original text. Fran Walsh and him have labored intensely for years writing this script, which has now become the pinnacle of my drool inducing want list. So read this magical press release and realize that we are in for one hell of a ride...
New Line Cinema to Produce Trilogy of Films Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's
'The Lord of the Rings' for Director Peter Jackson
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- New Line Cinema will commit more
than
$130 million to produce a live action, special effects-packed trilogy of
films
based on J.R.R. Tolkien's internationally renowned fantasy novel `The Lord
of
the Rings,` it was announced today by Robert Shaye, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of New Line Cinema, Michael Lynne, President and Chief
Operating Officer of New Line Cinema, Michael De Luca, President and Chief
Operating Officer of New Line Productions, and Mark Ordesky, President of
Fine
Line Features. Peter Jackson will co-write, co-produce and direct the
franchise, which will be executive produced by Academy Award-winning film
legend Saul Zaentz. Jackson's longtime production partner Fran Walsh will
co-write and co-produce the films through the director's WingNut Films
banner.
New Line picked-up the rights to `Lord of the Rings` and Tolkien's other
seminal classic `The Hobbit` from Miramax Films. Miramax co-chairmen Bob
and
Harvey Weinstein will serve as executive producers of the potential
franchise.
New Line's deal also includes worldwide merchandising rights to consumer
products based on the film property.
The company may release the trilogy as a Christmas-summer-Christmas
event
series during the 2000-2001 calendar year. The films will be produced
consecutively and all will be shot on location in New Zealand. Principal
photography will last approximately one year, and it is expected that
production will begin by mid-1999. Weta Digital, Jackson's innovative
special
effects firm based in New Zealand, will be responsible for the elaborate
computer generated visuals demanded of the epic project.
`This deal represents a unique collaboration between competitors in the
independent film world, and an unprecedented production commitment on behalf
of New Line Cinema,` Shaye said. `Anyone who is familiar with Tolkien's
work
knows that this is one of the most internationally beloved pieces of fiction
ever produced. We are completely committed to Peter Jackson's vision for
this
trilogy, and we will make sure that he has the necessary logistical,
financial
and creative support to complete a project of this size and scope.`
Jackson has been developing the trilogy for more than two years while
working with his groundbreaking visual effects team to perfect proprietary
computer programs that will be used during the complex production and
post-production process.
`It has taken 45 years for filmmaking technology to finally catch up
with
Tolkien's imagination,` Jackson said. `We are fortunate down here in New
Zealand to have both the computer technology and the natural landscapes to
bring the unique world of Middle Earth to life. It's very exciting to be
making 'The Lord of the Rings' as a trilogy. Shooting three feature films
back-to-back has never been done before, and it shows tremendous vision on
the
part of Bob Shaye and New Line Cinema. Not only will we create a unique
cinematic event, but we will be treating Tolkien's work with the respect and
integrity it deserves.`
Added Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of Miramax Films, `Given our
long-term
relationship with Peter Jackson dating back to his Academy Award-nominated
'Heavenly Creatures,' and our respect for Bob Shaye, Michael Lynne and their
excellent team at New Line, we're pleased that Peter's vision for 'Lord of
the
Rings' will be realized.`
Demonstrating the enormous popularity of Tolkien's work, `Lord of the
Rings` has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide while being translated
into 25 different languages. `The numbers support our enthusiasm for the
project,` Shaye said, adding `we believe international interest, licensing
and
promotional opportunities will be extraordinary.`
Fine Line Features President Mark Ordesky was instrumental in securing
the
project, and he will oversee the project on behalf of the studio along with
New Line Productions President Michael De Luca.
`Peter's creative foresight, technological prowess, and passion for the
project uniquely qualify him to translate one of the world's most
imaginative
novels to the screen,` De Luca and Ordesky said.
New Line's Senior Executive Vice President Ben Zinkin and Senior Vice
President of Business Affairs Suzanne Rosencrans negotiated the agreements,
along with Ordesky. ICM's Ken Kamins represented Jackson and Walsh.
Jackson
was also represented by attorneys Peter Nelson and George Davis of Nelson,
Guggenheim, Felker & Levine. Al Bendich represented Zaentz.
Last year, `Lord of the Rings` was named the `.1 Book of the Century` in
a
survey of more than 25,000 avid readers in the United Kingdom. Published in
1954-55, Tolkien's timeless masterpiece `The Lord of the Rings` -- comprised
of `The Fellowship of the Ring,` `Two Towers,` and `The Return of the King`
-- stands as one of the greatest works of imaginative fiction ever written.
Set in a mythic pre-history, `The Lord of the Rings` tells the saga of a
desperate battle against encroaching evil -- a perilous quest to save
humanity
which falls upon the shoulders of a young hobbit, Frodo Baggins, who has
inherited a seemingly innocent magic ring from his elderly cousin Bilbo.
However Frodo soon learns that the ring's original maker, the Dark Lord
Sauron, is desperately seeking it -- for it is a ring of great evil which
will
enable Sauron to enslave the people of this land known as Middle Earth. A
hurriedly assembled fellowship of wizard, elf, dwarf and men accompany Frodo
and his friends on a harrowing mission across Middle Earth in an attempt to
destroy the ring by casting it into the volcanic fires in the Crack of Doom.
Against them rages the monstrous power of Sauron, whose sinister emissaries
ruthlessly pursue Frodo and his companions, while the omnipotent power of
the
ring attempts to corrupt the fellowship from within.
An internationally respected filmmaker, Peter Jackson received an
Academy
Award(R) nomination for his screenplay of `Heavenly Creatures,` a film he
also
directed and produced. `Heavenly Creatures` was awarded a Silver Lion at
the
Venice Film Festival in 1994.
Among his other films, he previously directed and co-wrote `Dead Alive,`
which won 16 international science fiction awards, including the Saturn.
Most
recently, he was responsible for `The Frighteners,` which was executive
produced by Robert Zemeckis.
Walsh co-wrote the Academy Award-nominated `Heavenly Creatures` and has
also collaborated with Jackson on `Meet the Feebles` and `Dead Alive.`
A legendary producer, Zaentz secured the rights to `The Hobbit` and `The
Lord of the Rings` directly from author J.R.R. Tolkien. Among his many
credits, he has produced such Academy Award-winning films as `The English
Patient,` `Amadeus,` `One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,` and he is a
recipient
of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' prestigious Irving G.
Thalberg Memorial Award. Zaentz is also co-owner of Fantasy Records, the
first recording company to introduce audiences to Dave Brubeck, Lenny Bruce
and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Fantasy has grown into one of the largest
jazz labels in the world.
Along with his work on `The Hobbit` and `The Lord of the Rings,` Tolkien
is the famed writer of such fantasy genre novels as `The Adventures of Tom
Bombadil,` and `The Silmarillon.` A distinguished professor of English,
Tolkien began writing `Lord of the Rings` in 1936, and the three volumes
took
more than 14 years to complete.
Founded in 1967, New Line Cinema is the entertainment industry's leading
independent producer and distributor of theatrical motion pictures. New
Line
licenses its films to ancillary markets including cable and broadcast
television as well as to international venues. The company, which is a
subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX), operates several divisions
including in-house theatrical distribution, marketing, home video,
television,
acquisitions, production, licensing and merchandising units.
SOURCE New Line Cinema
-
+ Expand All
-
I hope Jackson doesn't add any silly crap to the story and ruin this like Lynch screwed up Dune. I don't know how in the hell anyone could turn out a decent script for LOTR that's only 6-7 hours of screen time. Sure, the technology is there to make Ents and Balrogs and Nazgul realistic, but will he be able to capture the calms between the storms...The comraderie of the fellowship...And what about the Hobbits? They'd better not use "little people" or else it will resemble that obnoxious movie Willow. I'm saying a little prayer that Jackson will stay true to the beauty of the book and make up for that piece of shit Rankin and Bass cartoon that made Aragorn look like the ugliest freakin' extra from a pirate movie.
-
Just answering the above post.......Harry
-
There was a bit of a mistake in that press release: Peter Jackson's last film was NOT "The Frighteners", but rather a brilliant little faux-documentary called "Forgotten Silver". For anyone who doubts Jackson's ability to handle this trilogy, watch "Forgotten Silver" (if you can find it anywhere!) for a great look at how this amazing man is able to create an entirely realistic and beautiful fantasy world.
-
Well my usual reaction would be "don't mess with a work of such untouchable magical genius as Lord of the Rings". I didn't eat or sleep for a week when I was first reading this, and I really don't have the words to describe that experience. However, if everyone on this project is as crazy about the text as I am, and committed to see it done right, this could be unbelievable. To a certain extent I reserve judgement as any fantasy writing, but this above all others, is such a personal thing, with no two readers having the same concepts or the same mental images of what they are seeing, that it would be a shame to have these individual responses suppressed by those thrown up on a 60 foot screen; most of all to pre-form what the inevitable new readers will see in the book. Is this a reason not to do it? I don't know. Hopefully I will be able to see the films as an alternative Tolkein-reality, leaving my own images intact. Let's hope everyone involved in making these films will keep remembering the magic , the passion and the intensity of first reading the books - if they mess up, it just doesn't bear thinking about, but if it works.....wow.
-
If only 3 films are going to be made, what about the Hobbit? That's the one that's been being talked about. Now, suddenly it's going to be the Trilogy only? Am I wrong, or is that what this press release is saying?
Andy -
I will remain calm... I will remain calm... I will remain...
(Deep breath)
Okay I started with hyperbole, so let's continue.
This is the coolest news in the history of "Aint It Cool News".
I'm from New Zealand (you may notice the bias). Peter Jackson is a hero. No, maybe a God. Someone you worship at the feet of.
I'm one of the countless thousands who writes scripts on the side and dreams of Hollywood. Jackson has been an inspiration. He's made it - but on his own terms, making the movies he wants to make.
And he's finally been given the opportunity to make not one, but three cool films from one of the classic pieces of literature.
I don't think he'll do a good job. He'll do a great job. He understands genre films. He knows fantasy.
And how about the scenery? Xena and Hercules show one area of New Zealand around Auckland. In the rest of the country we've got every piece of eye-candy you could want to create Middle Earth - mountains, forests, rivers, heck even an active volcano or two.
Isn't it typical that by the time he finally gets the go-ahead I'm on the other side of the world?
Chris
-
If it can be believed, I am actually looking forward to this more than Star Wars.
-
Any word on whether or not this deal includes a Filming of The Hobbit? They kinda need to tell the story from the beginning, dontcha think?
-
Please don't ruin it, please don't
ruin it times infinity. This series is nestled close to my heart. These were the first non-children's book that my father read to me when I was 5 or 6. He knew the songs' tunes and everything. As I look past my hard-drive, I can see all the non-famous sequels: The Treason of Isengard, Sauron Defeated, Return of the Shadow, The Lost Road, as well as the Hobbit, and the other three. Nine years after he introduced me to them, he is gone.
How I wish he could have lived to see them on screen, presuming it turns out well. Some people have faith in this guy, and I hope it isn't misplaced or I will use all the hard-back copies of Tolkein's books and beat him to death, I swear.
Silver -
I think that may be part of the reason they're doing all 3 at once. Instead of technology leaping on you between each version, you digitize one Ring Wraith and use it through all 3, no re-invention for each part.
This should definately help keep the look and feel similar through all 3 versions.
So hopefully this will effectively increase their bugget...
Hmm.. Wonder if Star Wars Episodes 1 thru 3 will learn from this approach? -
I know I should be happy about the news, but I can't. I wanted to
do this movies in the future. I know how Peter must be feeling I wish I could be where he is now...
It's a dream come true. I Am just gonna ask you something: PETER JACKSON IF YOU READ "AINT-IT-COOL-NEWS" read this: DON'T DO "THE HOBBIT" after these movies let it to DAVI PINHEIRO. This is my favorite book and it is my absolute dream project. I Am writing an screeplay to that book and I...Well just let it, give me that chance please...So In a few years I can do this movie.
Good Luck, Peter Jackson.And thanks.
Thanks Harry for the good news to the fana-boy and the bad news to the dreamer...
-
This is SO VERY, VERY COOL!!
I have faith in Peter Jackson!
He has been dreaming about making
a fantasy movie since... forever, and I believe he can pull this off !!
This is SO VERY, VERY COOL!!
I sure hope this means that we'll see more fantasy movies in the future... Dungeons & Dragons anyone ?? -
As an utter Tolkien fanatic, I approach this news with cautious hope mixed with a measure of trepidation. Even slavish devotion to the original book -- and a great director and a big budget -- aren't enough to ensure a great movie (i.e., Dune). And let's not mention the awful animated films. I know that both J.R.R. and Chris Tolkien have long maintained their preference that no movie be made of the books, and for good reason -- not just the lack of technical means. I fear that LOTR may prove to be an example of literature that can't make the jump to celluloid -- I can guarantee you that little of the rich etymology and created history that gives the trilogy its power and atmosphere will make it. At least he has the good sense to make a trilogy and not squeeze it into a two hour action flick. May you succeed beyond our wildest dreams, Peter -- or else we'll conjure an Orc army to hunt you down.
-
Hey beermeister. Shut up you whineee little bitch. When Jackson is going to make a movie like this who gives a fuck what his last movie really was.. not that i don't care about the movie.. i just couldn't give two shits which one really was the last one (movie) when the artical is dealing with "Lord of the Rings" So please stop wasting space in the talk back section with shit like you posted so i won't waste space here either.
-
Wasn't somebody comparing New Line to Warner last week? Shame on them.
-
Yessss, yessss, now we shall see, now we gets our precioussss
from the nasty creatures!!!!!
-
When I first heard about the begining of the filming of the star wars prequalls, I couldn't wait. I thought that there was no way that a movie could be made I'd want to see more than a new star wars. I was wrong. When I first started hearing rummers about The Lord of The Rings, I was amazed...and my thinking changed to Star what? Who cares about that when there's The Lord of The Rings? And then I heard that the movie was not going to made, I was devestated. But I held on to the hope that some one would pick it up, and my wish was grated. I can't wait for it o come out...
-
Just One word of warning for anyone anticipating this film
GODZILLA!! -
Okay, I don't think Peter Jackson should be doing this. I'm a big fan of his - I own Dead Alive and watch it all the time, and I really enjoy Meet the Feebles and Heavenly Creatures, too. The Frighteners was quirky and entertaining... That being said, if any of you guys go and watch those films and can honestly come back and say that Jackson is right for Lord of the Rings then I'd be very surprised. Jackson's films have a tone to them like no other - and they ALL have this tone - quirky, odd characters, weird little quick reaction shots, odd pacing, etc. All in all - they're weird, and that's not a derrogatory comment. However, Lord of the Rings should DEFINITELY not be "weird". These movies better not have his odd reaction shots and weird style - that would destroy the story and the proper tone. It's well known that Led Zeppelin wrote many lyrics about Lord of the Rings. Whether or not Stairway to Heaven includes Tolkienesque lyrics is often debated. I say it does ("there's a feeling I get when I look to the west and my spirit is crying for leaving" seems to me to obviously be talking about the elves and the Grey Havens, but I digress). Anyway, the opening of that song - the instrumental before Plant starts crooning - listen to that again... THAT'S the tone Lord of the Rings should have. Very epic, very grand and large, mysterious, magical, but also somehow a bit ordinary in an odd way(Tolkien's characters should feel like they're in a "real" world, not a fantastic one). It's also a bit heroic but sad, too. That's the tone all these films should have. The story IS sad, it IS bold and epic, it IS "real" and fantastic at the same time. It's going to be a balancing act, but if pulled off it could be a visual and emotional buffet of sheer great storytelling. But nothing Jackson has done has seemed to even come close to this kind of thing... If he puts his trademark "weirdness" on Lord of the Rings he will ruin what could be fantastic. I LOVE Peter Jackson's movies, but some people are just not right for some things. Harvey Keitel's a great actor but I'm very glad Coppola replaced him with the more suitable Martin Sheen to play Willard one week into shooting Apocalypse Now... That's what I'm talking about with Peter Jackson - it's the same kind of thing. Frankly, I'd much rather not see this movie come out for about ten more years(until they find the perfect director) than have Peter Jackson "weird" it up too much or set the wrong tone. Example - I heard from Harry that the Jackson team was thinking about really emphasizing the fantasy part of it by making the grass almost neon green, brightening up all the colors off the scale, having unbelievably weird vegetation everywhere, etc... NOOOO!!!! Does ANYBODY want this kind of stuff??? How incredibly out of place is that in this story??? That alone could ruin what needs to be a more gritty, dark atmosphere. Reading the books never illicits an Alice in Wonderland feeling. Middle Earth is fantastic to be sure, but it feels more like a lost place from a long time ago(which is what it's supposed to be) than an absolute fantasy world that belongs on another planet. The grass should be the same color, as should the water, the sky and everything else. Just populate this real world with the "forgotten" or "lost" things that used to roam or grow here in another time. Middle Earth is still Earth - stay true to Tolkien's vision... Anyway, I'm starting to ramble here and trust me, I have so many ideas and things to talk about for this project that I can hardly contain myself. As a filmmaker in training, I must credit Lord of the Rings with being one of the many sparks that ignited my creative passion... I just want to see it done right.
David
-
Dave- Deducing that LoR won't work with Peter Jackson at the helm based on Dead-Alive and Meet the Feebles is ludicrous. It's like saying Steven Spielberg is unsuited to directing a WWII epic based on the way he directed E.T. and Jaws. Look at what Peter's done recently, specifically Heavenly Creatures. That movie quite effectively portrayed a dull, mundane, utterly believable 1950s NZ by every once in a while exploding into giddy fantasy sequences. Isn't that exactly what you say you want, a believable Middle Earth in which the occasional Balrog or Ent pop up? Peter tailors his directing style to the genre in which he works- Dead-Alive is directed and edited very differently than Heavenly Creatures. He will do the same for LoR. Do I have concerns about this project? Sure. I'm worried about New Line meddling with it. I'm worried about how the hobbits will be shown on screen. I'm a little worried as to how the whole trilogy can be shown in 6 hours. But I am convinced that the best person, the ONLY person capable of overcoming those obstacles in creative ways is Peter Jackson. The man has yet to make a bad picture. Why would he start now?
-
Even if Jackson intends to create a "faithful" adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, his efforts are doomed from the start. The problem is that true works of Art are profoundly wed to their respective media. The Lord of the Rings is a work of literature; as any Tolkien fan or scholar knows, the trilogy's strength lies in Tolkien's use of language. It is a FUNDAMENTALLY LITERARY work. Any attempt to adapt it to another medium, such as film, will necessarily miss the mark.
I wish I could stop the production. Not only will these films fail to provide an authentic cinematic realization of Tolkien's story, it will mislead movie-goers who are not familiar with the books, misrepresenting plot, theme, character, and overall vision. I am not calling Jackson's skills into question; I contend that NO ONE could make an acceptable Lotd of the Rings film. -
Temple, the reason I posted that message was because "Forgotten Silver" is one of Jackson's best films, and it wasn't even mentioned in the press release. If people are going to make an informed judgement about whether or not Jackson is suitable to direct this trilogy, then they should view all of his films, especially "Forgotten Silver" since it is his most fantasy-esque film to date.
Anyway, I was just trying to help out, so I think your insults were way out of line. Your unfounded hostility shows that you've got a lot of anger in you; maybe you should see a shrink. Oh, and "I" is capitalized when used as a pronoun. -
Best news since this site's creation? Are you serious?
-
Instead of being a negative son of a bitch like most of you, I am simply going to say that I wish him the best. LOTR is one of my favorite books. That said, Peter Jackson also made one of my favorite movies, his first (I think), Bad Taste. Anyone seen this piece of work? Its fucking hilarious.
-
David, one more thing- Zeppelin??????!!!!!!?????? Gee, David, I own I through IV- and I thought Houses of the Holy was kinda quirky- but is that really what we want for LoR? A self-indulgent, turgid mid-70s rock feel to the series? Why not have Bakshi just finish his version and be done with it? (And if anyone suggests Page & Plant for the soundtrack I shall have to hurt them). "In the darkest depths of Mordor...", my ass. Ramble on THIS, pal!
-
I realize that shooting the movies back to back and in New Zealand with Jackson's own effects teams working on it should keep budget costs down, but 130mil???, for three movies? I would feel a lot better about such great and exciting news if New Line had ponied up just a bit more cash at least 50 mil per piece. 150-200 mil for such effects laden movies would be a bit more in range. Can't wait to hear some casting news. I suspect quite a few unknowns, we'll see.
-
Yes, Harry, there is a God. And he's a film geek, too.
-
Is New Zealand a good location? Xena, Hercules, and Willow. Picture the locations only. I foyu are distracted by the fantasy then think of the Piano.
But what other effects can location have? Jackson is a New Zealand native and seems like he will never leave. Will there be signs of the native Maori culture in the film? It's at least possible. What about other polynesian influences?
The budget does seem small. Maybe that will mean lesser known actors or stage actors. The budget excludes Kevin Costner from festering on the set with a jet standing by waiting to fly him to Sydney or Honolulu. The principal photography will take so long that will keep some other hack off of it.
The geographical distance from Hollywood ought to be a plus for the film.
Music? How avout something legitimate, like celtic traditional music. A drum group like Kodo? Some music with several thousand years of history. -
It would be so difficult to bring the project in on time. Consider the possibility that Jackson could direct the first installment and leave the following films to someone else while he does post on the previous episodes.
The latter films in the series could be directed by JOEL SCHUMACHER.
The music could be done by PUFF DADDY and TANGERINE DREAM.
bwaa-haa-haa-ha ha
(scared?) -
Harry,
Outstanding is all I can say!!
I've read the trilogy at least two dozen times over my brief lifetime. I never get sick of it. Impossible to imagine how anyone, no matter how devoted, will capture all that Tolkien magic on screen. I'll keep my expectations appropriately in check when viewing.
It's gotta be better than the cartoon version of the late 70's.
Guru out... -
Alright now, this column is long enough with all this blathering, so a little more should not hurt. I just hope someone has patience to get to it. I have a picture of Frodo from a June BBC article detailing Jackson's endeavour (it was ultimately linked to this page). Does anyone know if this was an authentic cast/costume picture for the films??? It sure looked cool! If so, they should be ready to film right now!
Secondly, this has NOTHING to do with the topic, but, was that not our very own Harry Knowles on "Titanic" as the comic-relief, profanity-spurting deep-sea researcher?? Could be....Harry, have you been straight with us??? -
I cant believe that anyone can be excited about this. I read the trilogy once on a recomendation and had to fight my way through it. Very boring story. But it is good to see what will already win the award for most overhyped movie of whatever year it ends up being out. It will make any other movie coming out around the same time seem triumphant.
-
The LA Times article said that people on the Web are screaming for Sean Connery to play Gandalf -- NO WAY! Too bad John Guilgud is so old; he've been great. I think Max Von Sydow might be pretty good, or Dan O'Herlihy. My personal casting wish list: Daniel Day Lewis as Aragorn, Sophie Marceau as Arwen, Brian Blessed as Elrond, Steven Mackintosh as Legolas, Rufus Sewell as Boromir, Hope Davis or Imogen Stubbs as Eowyn, Sean Bean as Faramir, John Wood or Jonathan Pryce as Saruman (Pryce would have to be aged a bit)... I can't think of anyone suitable for Gimli or the hobbits -- I sort of agree that turning this into "Willow" should be avoided at all costs. As for Sauron and the Ringwraiths: they'd have to be computer generated, no?
-
how come ralph bakshi's version of lord of the rings was such a flop? i dont understand why its not given more credit. i loved that movie. it displayed the best animation i have ever seen and certainly had a brilliant art direction and focus to it. granted it ended as a cliffhanger, but so did the empire strikes back. the only difference(other than the obvious of course) was that one story was resolved and the other wasnt.
-
Middle Earth Comes To New Zealand
Tuesday, 25 August 1998, 11:14 am
Staff Reporter: Greg Meylan
"One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them"
Next year Middle Earth -
amen.
-
Hey, I've never read any Tolkien book in my whole life but after reading all these wild responses to this press release and as Harry has proclaimed this to be the coolest news he has heard since he has started this sight, you can bet i'm going to go out and read these books. One question though: does this mean that the one book, Lord of the Rings, was published as 3 different volumes? And what about the hobbit? It wasn't part of the actual "Lord of the Rings" trilogy? Does the hobbit take place before or after Lord of the Rings and is it too divided into more than one volume? Well, i would be grateful if someone would answer my questions!!
~~Till next time~~
Oh yeah, one more thing, you know what i think New Line's next film should be?? The greatest cartoon ever to be on T.V., THUNDERCATS!! If not a motion picture, (re)animate it!!
-
I am a mid-sized midget but a large Jackson fan. However, if there is any Casio keyboard soundtracking fouling the score like the "you've been eating onions" part of Heavenly Creatures, I will work with Norm Macdonald FOR A SECOND TIME.
-
It's about time!!! When I first read reports on the LOTR trilogy here at AICN, I nearly had an orgasm right in my pants! Now that it's been given the green light, I need to go clean myself up. Wanted to say a few things first. I read these novels years ago when I was an early teenager, they kept me up all night and fed my imagination like no other work of fiction had. I can't wait to see Orcs on screen!!!!!!! Way freakin' cool! Here's something to think about though, if the last of the LOTR movies comes out against Episode 2, think of the battle at the box-office!!!!!! Nobody in their right mind is gonna want to miss either of those 2 films. The Return of the King vs. The Clone Wars?!?! Think about it, oh my god, I did it again, opps, gotta go change.
-
Peter Jackson is like 2 hours away
from my house. I think someone is getting her ass down there to help out on the biggest film project out of hollywood....... -
The Lord of the Rings trilogy consists of 3 volumes:
The Fellowship of the Rings
The Two Towers
The Return of the King
The Hobbit is one volume and takes place several years before the other 3.
The Hobbit's style suggests that it was written as a book for children or pre-teens.
The trilogy was aimed at more mature readers. -
I just want to say that this is the bestest news I've read on the oh so great site....WAY TO GO NEW LINE
-
ok...i'm gonna put my 2 cents worth here. I'm a huge fan of the books and have read them many times. I've thought long and hard about who could play what and I'm gonnay say it now.
Aragorn - Daniel Day Lewis is perfect...rough, good actor, somewhat indi
Gandalf - John Neville...maybe a bit old but Gandalf should appear very old and tired near the beginning of the movies...and didn't he pull off a similar tranformation in Munchausen?
Saruman - ok...how about Connnery here. Think about it, we don't see much of him but we hear that all too familiar charming voice when he's in Isengard. That's his power...to charm with his voice and who better to throw the audience off than Connery? just and idea.
Denathor - I just think that a properly mean Patrick Stewert could really pull this off..he can really be a bad ass when he wants to.
As for the hobbits, please no "little people"...at least not for the main characters. Hobbits are not human...actors such as Warwick Davis are. The Hobbits need to be handled with care...and much FX.
I thinks that should be enough star power...I can't think of anyone else well known that could pull off the other roles. Anyone who thinks Arnold and Mel Gibson should be in this movie need to be shot. The actors should be classicaly trained...preferably british. And yes I am American. I'd hate to see this become a joke...please do the right thing. -
Ah, the dreams of youth. For years I've harbored the fantasy of becoming a successful director and eventually gaining the clout (and ability) to bring The Lord of the Rings to the screen. When I was 14 or 15 I even started writing a screenplay. It's probably best that it's long gone. I always get embarrassed when I read my old writings. Imagine my hubris to think at that young age I could pull that together. Well, I never really lost the dream but it looks like Mr. Jackson is going to beat me too it. He's even making a number of moves I had considered over the years while dreaming my impossible dream. He's hired artists Alan Lee and John Howe to help visualize it (they did much of the best work on the annual Tolkien calandar, great stuff). Also the trick of shooting them all at once. If I were him and New Line I'd start with The Hobbit though, if only as a test to not get drawn into the 3 film commitment without knowing first that it will be huge. I also long considered two chapters from The Silmarillion to be worthy fodder for the big screen, "Turin Turumbar" and "Of Beren and Luthien." Anyone else ever get that notion when reading The Silmarillion? Well, good luck to Mr. Jackson. He's a real talent and I hope he pulls it off.
-
New Zealand has all the scenery that RSS mentioned exept the rocky deserts.
Everything else we have in abundance.
The budget does seem a little small doesnt it [even though NZ is a very cheep place to make movies]
this would be so much better without big name actors. -
Leonardo DiCaprio as Legolas...
*shivers*
-
oh my god, Juice. leonardo di caprio would make a great Gollum, no?..... but seriously. i think casting should be unknowns all the way; i would normally go along with the all-British idea, being English myself, but in this case, as the characters come from so many different lands, an international cast wouldn't be a bad idea. but please no stars. i agree with whoever said the look of the films should be very normal, no Jackson wierdness - the fantastic goings on and non-human figures will be thrown into stronger relief than if the whole lot is wierd as hell, and much more effective.
-
It's been quite a span of time since I read any of the books, but I seem to recall there being pretty constant samplings of lyrics thrown in. If this Peter guy intends to remain very faithful to the books, then he won't be able to ignore those lyrics. No, I'm not hoping they'll be musicals.
As for the (musical) score... I guess it goes without saying that anything you throw John Williams at will get an appropriate score, but I doubt we'll get that lucky. I just hope Horner isn't offered the job; he has difficulty developing more than two different themes per movie (Titanic didn't even have enough material to feasibly spread over a _regular_ length movie, never mind a 3-hour one), and he also tends to really screw up action sequences (again, reference Titanic for examples). Besides, he copies from everyone, especially himself. I didn't want to hear bits of Willow when I watched Zorro (but I did), and I don't want to hear bits of Titanic when I watch The Hobbit.
-Maruku
-
To temple: why must you pick on poor beermeister when he simply pointed out Forgotten Silver as being Jackson's last film?
Could it be that you were biting back because you are a bougeois American pigdog all set to rape other cultures with your imperialist dogma?
Anyway I say this because Forgotten Silver rocks and as a shameless advocate of my fair nations cinema, recommend it to any discerning film geek. It really rocks. I think it's availiable on video as a double feature along with Sam Neill's Cinema Of Unease.
Viva Cinema Aotearoa!!
-
Well that Jackson person was interviewed briefly on an Australian radio station this afternoon, and he was asked how hobbits would be realised in these films...it was pointed out that no one seems to really have been able to come up with a good solid hobbit design, not even Tolkien himself. Well Pete said that yes, that was kinda true, but Tolkien did describe hobbits in quite a lot of detail...and they were going to stay faithful to that by: making large prosthetic feet for the hobbit actors, and then 'by using CG' (no I'm not sure how exactly) shrinking the whole person down to hobbit size. So you'll have normally-proportioned hobbits, which seems like a good thing. Although how they're going to shrink them and re-integrate them with the film, I don't know.
...by the way, he also mentioned that there would be female characters, and more of a 'wry sense of humour'...to bring it up to date for a modern audience, supposedly.
That is all. -
Additions to the release. There are four writers on the project, Peter, Fran, Stephen Sinclair (co-writer Braindead aka Dead Alive) and Philippa Boyens (ex- exec. officer of New Zeland Writers' Guild).
Casting begins November.
More info in "The Movie Police" on TV 1 Wednesday (nz local) 10.55 a.m. -
A lot of people seem to be worrying about whether the movies will live up to their personal visions of the books. It seems that if Mr Jackson doesn't replicate what's in their minds, they'll go bat shit crazy. The thing is, EVERYONE has a different vision of LOTR. The biggest mistake for Peter Jackson to do is trying to please everyone, which is impossible. He should stick to his own ideas, and concentrate on realising them as best he can, and believe me, he seems to be more imaginative and creative than most people, which you would know if you've seen his films. His LOTR won't be vastly different than what people imagine; he's read the same books as everyone else.
And what if the finished product is totally different from your own ideas. First, you will have a fresh perspective on your favourite books. And if you think it sucks, there are always the books to go back to.
On a different note, I live 15 MINUTES away from Wingnut studios, and I read that they will need 15000 extras. You bet your ass I'll be first in line! -
Are there any names on it yet?
I heard that Sean Connery was interested in playing Gandalf. But maybe it started out as a guess (wish) and grown into fact, so I -
I love the Trilogy as much as any fan out there and have wanted a movie made for years and years, even since that awful cartoon "Where theres a whip, theres a way" from like 20 years ago. But with a budget of only 130 million for 3 movies I am not expecting much from any director or producer. There have been many movies made from books and the bulk of them should have stayed as books. I think the budget should be at least twice what it is at least that way I could be assured that they would have some decent actors and awesome special effects. and if the grass is neon green like someone said in a previous post then I would walk out of the movie cause that would be god awful to look at. Does anyone agree with me? I think I make a lot of sense here. Don't ruin the images in my head Mr. Jackson, Do it right!!
-
You must be fucking joking. He shouldn't be allowed within nuking distance of the whole shebang, esp. given his last efforts which we'd do best not to mention. By the way Meataxe, save me a space in that extras line, I'll see you there.
-
Hulk saw bad animated films from 1970s. Then Hulk get BBC radio drama from 1981. Hulk very pleased. Cast has real actors that you see on screen all the time. Like Ian Holm (The Sweet Hereafter, Brazil, the Fifth Element, The Madness of King George, Big Night). Hulk think radio drama best he's heard. Hulk suggest everyone go out and buy it. It that good. Anyway, radio drama have interesting tie to Bakshi movie: Boromir and Gollum played by same actors. Gollum (Peter Woodthorpe) is especially good. Hulk last see him in NBC's Odyssey as Mentor (Hulk want to see Trojan War trilogy, too!). Anyway, Hulk like Woodthorpe still as Gollum. Hulk also see Sean Bean as maybe Aragorn (he expressed lots of interest). How about Richard Briars as Denethor, Brian Blessed as Theoden, Emma Thompson as Galadriel, Derek Jacobi as Mithrandir. Also, what with midget bashing! Hulk think Willow part with halflings fine, made him think of Lord of Rings. What else you want, millions of dollars so four of most important characters be played by CG? Or how about Henson like puppets, that work better walking around with tall actors. Frodo is lead. Frodo not as cool as Gandalf or Aragorn, but he most important character. Audiance must identify with him: need at least two midgets of extrordinaty talent for Frodo and Sam. Must be able to look into eyes and have them be real. Despite what said above, Hobbits ARE human. They not monsters or aliens or orcs or something. Their motivations are very very human. So Hobbits played by humans, not expensive CG or cruddy looking puppet.
-
Once the Ring trilogy is made, what epics to make then? Can we look forward to Titus Groan and Gormenghast - Mervyn Peake's marvellous trilogy?
-
I just received this fabulous site from my son in New Zealand. He works at WETA doing special effects for Zena and Hercules.
As a small boy I would read to him the Chronicles of Narnia, 5 books of wonderful fantesy in a special land where it was always winter.
As he got into junior high he read the The trilogy - Lord of the Rings.
I am thrilled that he will be working on this film. He loved the books as you all do and now to make it come to life.
Me, I now have to go read them so I can truly enjoy the film.
Go Gettem Vance......
Mom -
To everyone freaked out about how 'low' the projected budget is: Chill. Frighteners came in at, what, $20-30 million? And it looked a damn sight better than (insert least favourite crap Hollywood actioner here.) Why do you think New Line's willing to go ahead in the first place? $130 million does NOTmean that they're filming it on the cheap, it means they know Peter Jackson can deliver top-of-the-line FX for a fraction of ILM's/Digital Domain's/anybody else North American's cost. And Peter loves the books too much to do this if he was worried about screwing it up. So just relax and think ahead to the bounty the end of the Christian millenium has in store for us. Oh, and whoever suggested Gormenghast for the big screen is RIGHT ON. If you haven't read Mervyn Peake's trilogy go out and find it. He was a contemporary of Tolkien's, and created as radically different a type of fantasy as you're likely to read. (I've often wondered what the world would be like if Gormenghast had achieved massive popularity and LoR were just some obscure series from the middle of the 20th century.) And what about Narnia? It's about time we had a proper screen version of those. If LoR does well, then I think we could see an explosion of classic fantasy made into films. Hollywood loves not having to think too much, after all. Stephen Donaldson? Ursula LeGuin? Guy Kay? Why not? The possibilities are endless... and endlessly fascinating.
-
Gonna show my age here but would'nt the soundtrack be right on if they could get the original Moody Blues band to score it. What with their feel for orchestra and composition and their penchant for fantasy themes they would most likely do a great job. Hey,just a thought. As for actors I really don't see a problem with Sean Connery in a role. Sean seems to be able to bring his acting ability to whatever level the movie has in it. I haven't seen the Avengers yet, so can't make a call there but he has done some superb characters in the past. Although I do tend to agree that unknown or obscure actors of quality would be a good move. Hey, but what do I know, I'm just a near fifty year old guy who the teenagers look funny at when I show up to see films like Blade and other youth oriented kick ass movies!
-
If anyone reads this far, read on:
About Tolkiens world, we should not taint it with how some of us view society. Liberals have sway now, but I think that the only thing affecting Mr. Jacksons decisions is what is in the book. No 90's references.The closest thing in our history we can come to is Medieval Europe. Tolkien's world majestically different than ours, and I think our ideas of equality and what not should not enter into it. I think the man dirrecting this movie will do a wonderful job and will do a credit to Tolkien's ideas. It took him a lifetime to shape his world, and it should, and will not, be ruined by selfish people and their strange ideas. I say to Mr. Jackson "Listen to what the books say, not to what people say" The books are what we want, not our own twisted and warped versions. But, It will happen, and I for one can not wait to see the most wonderful books ever wrought, into the most wonderful movies ever made. By the way, the Tale of Turin Turambar is the saddest most extraordinary chapter in the Silmarillian. -
To all who thought I said they should use Led Zeppelin music in Lord of the Rings - read my post again - I NEVER said this, and I NEVER wanted this in the slightest. All I said was LISTEN to the INTRO to Stairway to Heaven... Musically, that intro conjures up the tone that I think is PERFECT for Lord of the Rings. I'm not saying use the music, I'm just saying listen to the song and see if it doesn't just scream out "middle earth" to you... Anybody who's ever made any kind of films will know what I'm talking about doing here - not using the actual music but "seeing" the tone of the film in a particular piece of music. It's hard to explain.
David
-
Well, it's about time that someone made a live action film based upon tolliken's classic. I hope that he stays true to the novel. Many other films that i've seen based on novels have fallen quite short of their original work. T
-
Please no. He is too expensive and definately getting old. I would put my humble vote on Nicole Williamson, the guy who played Merlin in John Boorman's Excalibur. I think he will do a great job and they can save some serious money to do real cool graphics.
-
IMHO I feel that to get the best results of the novels you need to do the whole thing in Animation. Forget about live action. Also about a week ago before I learn about this I was thinking the best way for the film versoin would be a series like a weekly 1hour show and you could do everything from start to finish. It would take years to do but the final product would be more detailed than 3 movies. Also another point. I hope they do not use any Hollywood Crap, like well known stars to play the characters. I would rather unknowns or 'the best actor' than holloywood crap? Can you picture some the people they would cast?
-
I hope Jackson uses Enya for the soundtrack to Lord of the Rings!
-
This is all very interesting. About a month ago, I started reading The Hobbit. . .now I am on the last book of the series The King Returns. I am so enthralled that I dream about Middle Earth every night now. Its insane. Anyhow, I'm not sure how I feel about the movies being made. Even if he does a spectacular job, it still probably won't appear the way I have envisioned it, so no matter what, that will be ruined for me. Maybe I just won't go see it.
-
I think Enya's music would be perfect for this movie. If you haven't heard her you really should, there's nothing else like it.
There isn't even a word to desribe her work... perhaps etherial, heavenly or something to that effect will help. -
There would be no better choice! Her music is SO beautiful and diverse! She can write lovely sentimental melodies like "On Your Shore" and "The Sun in the Stream" (upon which the main theme to TITANIC seems to be based), adventurous themes like "Book of Days" and "Anywhere Is", dark music like "Cursum Perficio" and "Pax Deorum". Plus she already has written a song called "Lothlorien"! Who better to write music for the movies than a Tolkien fan? And she has already done soundtrack work (the movie THE FROG PRINCE, the BBC series THE CELTS, and the credits song for FAR AND AWAY) and has been quoted as wanting to do more in the future. And she'll have just finished her new album by then, so her schedual will be open!
Please, please, please let Enya score the music for these movies! It just wouldn't be right if she didn't! -
I agree about ENYA, to listen (read experience) her music is to peek into Arvanador. Also, not sure about Connery, he is a bit overused for this sort of thing but Gabriel Byrne would be a sure shot for either Elrond or Aragorn, I think I would prefer Aragorn. You may not have heard of the british screen actor Brian Blessed but he would be an excellent choice for Boromir. I
-
That guy in the Highlander series (Adrian Paul?) is always the person I visualize when Boromir comes up in the Lord of the Rings. He fits the role great!
-
When Mr Peter Jackson of Hollywood announced that he would shortly be directing The Lord Of The Rings. With stunts of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement on the Internet.
Some would be crying of joy and others of sorrow....mabe the movie will be a disaster?
or a "precious" masterpiece!!
Anyway. I'm not going to miss it.
p.s. I wonder what Gandalf thinks of it? pleace e-mail me.
-
Using enya's music talk about calling them
-
...that I come back here to the very first ever AICN TB I ever saw and post again! Dam you Father Geek! It is funny reading all this stuff in hindsight and makes me wonder if PJ didn't get the idea to use Enya from this site. Ah well, hello to any mellyn reading this and WELL DONE Peter Jackson!
-
Well, RotK just opened 7 minutes ago, and I was getting nostalgic, so I came searching for where I first found out about the possibility of Lord of the Rings becoming a movie. It was either this thread, or one a few before it. Anyway, it's good looking back at all the posts, and casting ideas, and just remembering. I remember an idea, that all the talkbacks based on the Lord of the Rings movies should be printed and bound into a book. I think it was in one of Harry's reports from New Zealand. I don't know if anyone will read this, but I think that was an amazing idea. It would be a good way of tracking the evolution of fan reactions to the movies as news became available. Yikes, August 24 1998. I was 12 when I found out about the LOTR movies, now I'm 18 and in college. Obsessing over details and spoilers has been such an integral part of my life, and being a teen. I just can't believe it's all over. It's kind of how I felt at the end of main filming. No more spoiler reports and blurry pictures from the set, but lots more to happen. We'll still get all the movie hype, and all the spoilers from the extended RotK DVD, and then... nothing. Or maybe the Hobbit? Here's to seeing everyone again, a year from now, talking over casting rumors. And we've come full circle. Funny, isn't it? Now it's 22 minutes after RotK opened. I've got to pack, winter break starts tomorrow and I'm going home. I've got an 18 hour train ride to get there, then I'm seeing RotK. I've got tickets, and I'm ready to be amazed. See y'all around AICN sometime.
-
Oct 06, 2005 4:36:43 AM CDT
Umm hello? that links takes you to a piece about Tom and Kate ex
by jugs
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Antepenultimate THRONES!! Lane Pryce Returns To MAD MEN!! Roger Waters On 60 MINUTES!! Plus GIRLS, VEEP, SIMPSONS, BURGERS, KILLING, METALOCALYPSE, SHERLOCK!! THE LAST SUNDAY OF SWEEPS!! -- 102 total posts 95 posts
- Duncan Jones To Tell The Story Of Ian Fleming! -- 64 total posts 64 posts
- SNL Says Goodbye To Kristen Wiig!! -- 56 total posts 56 posts
- Hercules Picks Next Season’s 10 Most Promising New Broadcast Series!! -- 131 total posts 43 posts
- The Behind the Scenes Pic of the Day will traumatize you. -- 37 total posts 37 posts
- "Some Men Are Coming To Kill Us. We're Going To Kill Them First." Teaser To SKYFALL! -- 34 total posts 34 posts
- There Can Be Only One... Ryan Reynolds?! -- 404 total posts 30 posts
- Dan Harmon Done As COMMUNITY Showrunner!! -- 148 total posts 21 posts
- Quint thinks John Hillcoat's prohibition-era flick LAWLESS is violently awesome! Cannes 2012! -- 69 total posts 20 posts
- Adrian Hieatt Gives Us His Second Daily Report From KAPOW! Comic Convention in London! The AMAZING SPIDER-MAN! TOTAL RECALL! DC NEW 52! DAVE GIBBONS! And More! -- 18 total posts 18 posts