They Shall Not Grow Old

In 2014, the British Imperial War Museums approached Peter Jackson, the award-winning director of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, with a request. They had 100 hours of digitized film footage and 600 hours of audio recordings from World War I of Tommies in the trenches, behind the lines, and in battle.Continue reading “They Shall Not Grow Old”

Link Round-Up: December 28

I’ve just finished listening to Joel McNeely’s Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire soundtrack. I bought this when it came out in the spring of 1996. And I have no idea what I did with that CD. So, after seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I found it inexpensively on eBay. It arrived today. IContinue reading “Link Round-Up: December 28”

Thoughts on The Hobbit Films

Last week, the third of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit films came out on DVD and Blu-Ray. Wednesday night, I rewatched the film after seeing it in the theater after Christmas, and I think this Tweet summed up my reaction to the film: Three months later, the third Hobbit film is still tedious. It hasn't improved withContinue reading “Thoughts on The Hobbit Films”

On a Dream About The Hobbit

I had a dream last night that I saw an advance screening of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. And I was blown away by it. Not because it returned me to Peter Jackson’s version of Middle-Earth is awesomely spectacular fashion, but because there was something about the film and its narrative style that Jackson hadContinue reading “On a Dream About The Hobbit”

On The Hobbit’s Casting Choices

Today I read an interesting criticism from Ben Child of Peter Jackson’s upcoming Hobbit films — the films will be an extended exercise in stunt casting: With the news that Billy Connolly is to take the role of dwarf king Dain Ironfoot in his adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s debut Middle-earth-set novel, Jackson appears to beContinue reading “On The Hobbit’s Casting Choices”

On Guillermo del Toro and the Hobbit Movies

I found myself antsy this week. This is the week that Guillermo del Toro’s deal to direct The Hobbit duology has to be made. He’s said as much in interviews. If it’s not this week, The Hobbit will happen, but not with del Toro. I keep checking TheOneRing.net. Daily. Even hourly. Maybe there’s been movement.Continue reading “On Guillermo del Toro and the Hobbit Movies”

On Visiting an Old Friend

Yesterday was the anniversary of the fall of Barad-Dûr, and in commemoration of that I decided I would watch The Return of the King. I hadn’t watched the film in far too long — nearly two years — and I found that I missed things from the Extended Edition, as it was the theatrical editionContinue reading “On Visiting an Old Friend”

On The Hobbit Sequel

Following up on yesterday’s announcement from MGM and New Line that Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson will be producing two Hobbit films, I wanted to muse, for a few moments, on what those two Hobbit films will be. It’s been rumored for a while that MGM wanted two Hobbit films — indeed, theirContinue reading “On The Hobbit Sequel”

On The Hobbit Film Duology

The Hobbit movie. The long-rumored two-film plan. Peter Jackson. It’s happening! I’ll quote the whole damn thing: LOS ANGELES, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson; Harry Sloan, Chairman and CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. ; Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs of New Line Cinema have jointly announced today that theyContinue reading “On The Hobbit Film Duology”

On Andy Serkis and Tintin

Andy Serkis will be reteaming with Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson for the upcoming Tintin trilogy to be directed by Jackson, Steven Spielberg, and a director to be named later. I am not, honestly, familiar with Tintin. I do know, though, that these are some of the best-selling comic books worldwide. Steven Moffat,Continue reading “On Andy Serkis and Tintin”