I guess since I never had the things you're "supposed to" have in youth, I'm not losing anything as I get older. I just keep pluggin' away like I always have.

---I thought the kiss was fine. I was glad Lindsay's character (Diane?) made the first move, because the articles before the movie was released made it sound as if William fell in love, but she didn't reciprocate, so I was afraid we'd have another Leo on our hands :( .

It was the rest of his acting that I thought could have been better. Not that his acting was bad. It was actually good. It just wasn't Elijah Wood level good (IMVHO). I didn't feel as if I was seeing inside the character, and the emotions seemed less nuanced and more like: "Okay, now I'm feeling..." Y'know, the way most actors do it. :haha: But, almost by definition, his nuances can't all be caught in one viewing, so if anyone else saw some I'd be happy to watch again. ;)

[ETA: Now, Mumble OTOH... :cool: ]

Found this over on TORn:
11-23-06 Latest News

Saul Zaentz On The Hobbit

Saul Zaentz, the owner of Tolkien Enterprises, and ultimate holder of the film rights to The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings was very recently interviewed about the Hobbit and Peter Jackson's involvement.

The interview has since been posted on German Rings site Elbenwald. You can read the original article here. It's in German, so below is a translation of his comments. The translation comes from Jurgen at TheHobbit-Movie.com.

Q: What is with the long anticipated Hobbit-adaption?

A: It will definitely be shot by Peter Jackson. The question is only when. He wants to shoot another movie first. Next year the Hobbit-rights will fall back to my company. I suppose that Peter will wait because he knows that he will make the best deal with us. And he is fed up with the studios: to get his profit share on the rings trilogy he had to sue New Line. With us in contrast he knows that he will be paid fairly and artistically supported without reservation.
http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/8/1164265935


In the "Show Your Support for Peter Jackson Making the Hobbit" section over on TORn (Yes I have been spending too much time over there lately) here are some wonderful photoshop ads/posters that the fans have made to show their support for Peter. http://www.theonering.net/scrapbook/group/1924


Honey Yeper, that was me. Post #213 on page 9. I was suprised that no one else here had caught that bit, posted it and was talking about it. Nothing that is Elijah slips by the Faculty- for very long! :lol:


tg wrote: I would like to know, though, what you, or anyone else, saw in Elijah's acting that I didn't.
I akin this part to the part that Elijah played in Ash Wednesday. It was a small bit part without much meaning in the overall story. He just had to come in, say a few lines, pick up a check and leave. No acting involved. It is sort of where he is in life right now too. Not much meaning, but a lot of quick in and out things.

It is sort of where he is in life right now too. Not much meaning, but a lot of quick in and out things.

:eek: Ummm.... :o :lol:

I would like to know, though, what you, or anyone else, saw in Elijah's acting that I didn't. If I knew there was something to look for, I might go back for a second viewing. I felt as if he was saying the lines but wasn't "becoming" the character in the way he so often does.

Much as it pains me, I have to agree. Not that it pains me to agree with you, TG, but I hate to agree that there were none of those moments when you see inside his character. There was even one line - "Now that would be a miracle" - when I knew exactly how he'd deliver the line, from his intonation to his raised eyebrows and half-lidded eyes. I was beginning to wonder if I'd just seen one too many Elijah Wood movies, one too many times! :rolleyes:

As far as the other characters were concerned, I actively loathed the shallowness of Helen Hunt's character. I guess that's what she was supposed to be, but she just irritated me no end.

***
Fiondra, I sent you a PM with links to the Robot Chicken YouTube vid, and to the community at LJ that I mentioned. Come back soon, and tell us more, like what brought you here. We like new people; gives us a chance to tell our tired old stories one more time! ;)

honey!

Fiondra, I sent you a PM with links to the Robot Chicken YouTube vid, and to the community at LJ that I mentioned. Come back soon, and tell us more, like what brought you here. We like new people; gives us a chance to tell our tired old stories one more time! ;)
honey!

Thanks, honeyelf! I followed your links and uh-oh.... ANOTHER place to read and look at pictures and videos when I should be doing housework!

What brought me here? Hmmmm....well, I've been an Elijah fan since way back, and became even more so after LOTR (which I've read nearly every year since the early 70's...yikes...giving away my age there!) I stumbled on this place because of that, but I'm enjoying reading all your posts, and finding out I'm not the only one who harbors an affection for our lad ;)

Stories?? Bring 'em on!! :lol:

Hi all. Well, I am new here too. I have been lurking for a while, soaking up all of the stories and knowledge. Yes, please bring on the stories.

Hello, everyone, from the shadow-world of the technologically impaired! I haven’t been here in ages, mainly because my antique computer has been driving me crazy. E.g., it keeps turning itself off when I turn it on, among other irritating quirks. It’s sort of like being burdened with an aging relative who refuses to get out of bed in the morning. . . . And it runs more slowly than ever when I’m online. I’ve promised myself that in January, I’m going to get a new one – and a faster internet connection!

Thanks to everyone, belatedly, for the birthday greetings.

I just ADORE Happy Feet, which I have now seen three times. (I would be embarrassed about this except for the fact that Achila has seen it just as often.) It’s one of my favorite movies of the year. I also bought the soundtrack, which has all of the big pop numbers but is sadly lacking in John Powell’s lovely original score. I wish they would bring out a second CD just with his music.

And now (clears throat professorially), since I don’t think that anyone has addressed this very serious topic, here are my thoughts on “Mumble and Casey: From Nerd to Hero.” Has anyone besides me noticed the parallels between Elijah’s characters in Happy Feet and The Faculty? Note:

Both are misunderstood outsiders in their communities.

Both have dealings with aliens.

Both are attacked by lethal, slithery creatures that travel in water (the leopard seal, and the alien in the high-school swimming pool).

Both “save the world,” at least within the context of those communities, and end up as heroes. (BTW, how many times has Elijah saved the world by now??)

Both win the heart of the most desirable girl.

(Any others?)

Wired.com is asking for YOUR nominations for MOST SEXIEST GEEK. Please take a moment to click over and nominate your most sexiest geek.

http://blog.wired.com/biotech/2006/11/2006_sexiest_ge.html#comment-25825973

Monday, 27 November 2006
2006 Sexiest Geeks: Call for Nominees

Last year, Wired News started what promises to be a long-held tradition: the crowning of the 10 sexiest geeks of the year. This year, we're asking for your help choosing the brainy men and women who filled your Google search boxes and fueled your dreams.

Be they programmers, scientists, writers, architects or attorneys, please leave your suggestions in the comment space below. There are no rules for submission. The only guidance we can offer is: you know a sexy geek when you see, nay, experience one. We'll publish the finalists next month along with a space to vote for who you think is the smokingest geek

I just ADORE Happy Feet, which I have now seen three times. (I would be embarrassed about this except for the fact that Achila has seen it just as often.)
Er...uh....yes...(and we'll probably have a fourth viewing before this' all done, owing to the fact that we haven't gone with ceefour to see it at the IMAX yet!).

We're off to see Bobby today and will be sharing our thoughts on it, I'm sure. I do remember RFK's death, even though I was only 7. I'm from a long line of Brooklyn-born, Jewish democrats and JFK was God in my house. My mother always tells the story of his assassination, and pleading with me not to cry and to be quiet while the never-ending news coverage was on (I was 2). So by the time Bobby was shot, I was well-immersed in our political culture. I remember drawing a picture of a church with people in the windows, crying, and the caption read "Poor Poor Senator Kennedy". I well expect to be quite moved by this film.

I did want to remark about one thing tg said:
According to what I have to admit is only my interpretation of history, what was lost with the assassinations of MLK and RFK within a few months of each other wasn't the hope that things could be changed, but the hope that things could be changed peacefully. Things were changed even without MLK and RFK, so in a way their continued lives might not have made much of a difference in the way things are now. But it's possible (not a sure thing) that their continued lives could have held off some of the violence that erupted when people lost hope of changing things peacefully.
While we often speculate about what life might have been like if these men had lived, I think we also have to acknowledge how their deaths also evoked change. When a charismatic leader dies, there's always a time when the followers take up the mantle in tribute, and it's often then that much change occurs.

Welcome to Fiondra and trinity. It is always nice to find fellow EW fans.

Has anyone besides me noticed the parallels between Elijah’s characters in Happy Feet and The Faculty?
Something of the kind has been floating around in my mind but I hadn’t got round to putting it in words. No further parallels with Casey come to mind but
with a bit of stretching of categories (and I haven’t seen Happy Feet yet so I am probably sticking my neck out) we could include Frodo in this.

Both are misunderstood outsiders in their communities. Book Frodo more so than film Frodo.
Both have dealings with aliens. I think you could count Sauron as an alien. Come to think of it, so is Gandalf
Both are attacked by lethal, slithery creatures that travel in water (the leopard seal, and the alien in the high-school swimming pool). and the Watcher in the Water.
Both “save the world,” at least within the context of those communities, Undoubtably.
and end up as heroes. In Minas Tirith, at least.
Both win the heart of the most desirable girl. Perhaps not.

But also

Both go on a journey, a quest, accompanied by a small number of companions.

From what I have read, there may be other parallels, but I have been trying to avoid spoilers as far as possible and do not wish to inflict them on anybody else.

I think you could count Sauron as an alien. Come to think of it, so is Gandalf

Basically, anyone of any race besides their own is an alien to the hobbits, considering their insular lifestyle. They may have had dealings with men or elves or dwarves but they don't exactly trust them, do they?

Great observations, you guys!

Hi Y'all :)
I was already posting a few times in the EWNF Hugs Haven enjoying a lot of great talk and pictures but maybe my last post fitted better here
I always wandered what the difference between those 2 threads was and it seems that people here are discussing the movies Lij played in more thoroughly. I have followed your comments about Happy Feet and Bobby with eager eyes :D
About Happy Feet (which most of you have watched already, and now I'm spoiled by reading the comments)
It seems a very entertaining , funny movie and the fact that Ewood 's doing the voice of mumble is a really nice surprise. I never heard him as a tapdancing penguin before :p but aaaw poor baby can't sing properly so Robin Williams and co have to save the day. No ... really they just told him to sing the poorest he could and so he did? :D
Yesterday I saw a fragment of the London premiere of HF on a media program and a Belgian reporter was interviewing Lij for about 2 minutes asking him what he liked about the movie but I don't remember what he answered very well cuz I was focussing on his face all the time *slaps head* :o :rolleyes:
It all went soo fast you know
I'm planning to see Happy Feet in decembre somewhere *yay* !
Oh and btw thx for the piccies HoneyElf Geekboy rocks!
And then Bobby
Btw thx for the release data Bunniebugs but I knew already that Bobby was in cinemas here january, have to wait another 2 months while some of you have again already seen the movie *lucky you*
And again I'm being spoiled by readings these comments damnit :mad:
But Oh what the heck anyway I love being spôiled ;) :haha:

originally posted by Shelbyshire:
I enjoyed the movie for the drama it is. All the acting was very realistic, even Lindsey did well. I felt most for the “older” ladies. A little bit of something in all their stories touched home for me. The movie did not go deep into any of the character stories but it was still enough to “know or relate” to them each in their/our own way. The One Lad? Very fine work. I actually felt that his acting was much more mature in this movie. I have no doubt that as he ages, his acting will exceed all expectations! Also, the first time we saw his character, my daughter leaned over and whispered, “Wow, his eyes are so blue!” And the kiss? Nice. Elijah and Lindsey did better in my opinion than Martin Sheen and Helen Hunt. I believe he has improved in that aspect of his acting but it was too short to really assess properly. I was left wanting more.

Interesting ,very interesting indeed Shelbyshire
I think I'm on for it!
Now need more info about the kiss scene pweeeasse! :o :p

Byez

I've been thinking about some of the similarities in the roles and was reminded of the following quote from JRRT:
You can make the Ring into an allegory of our own time, if you like: an allegory of the inevitable fate that waits for all attempts to defeat evil power by power. But that is only because all power magical or mechanical does always so work.

So, maybe we're looking at what happens with "attempts to defeat evil power without using power."

Depends on how you define "power" of course - but for Tolkien both magic (the way he normally used the word) and machines were illegitimate power, so he seems to be talking about "bad" power here.

In the book-length "Tolkien stuff" I'm writing, I just wrote about Gandalf's line at Rivendell that Frodo will come in the end "not to evil, I think," and joining that with the idea that Frodo was battered and broken by evil but he didn't respond to evil with evil, so Gandalf's prediction was correct. I think this fits the heroes Elijah has played - as opposed to, say, Rambo or James Bond. I absolutely love the fact that weekend box office numbers are now:

tap-dancing penguin... 2
James Bond................0
:cool: :cool:

BTW, if you count Happy Feet, Elijah has saved the world 4 times; that includes Deep Impact because he sighted the comet while it was still far enough away for plans to be made. He tried to save the world unsuccessfully once - "Oops!" :haha: Interesting that the one time he failed he was playing a character who was very sure that he could save the world - "Cake". The others just keep doing what they can do.


From Wispy Wisteria:
No ... really they just told him to sing the poorest he could and so he did?

The line in my sig is a direct quote from Elijah during a press conference about Happy Feet. He went on to say that they added actual penguin squawks over his singing. :D

I think you've figured out the two threads pretty well, Wispy :) - That's why I was hanging out in the Hugs Haven during the "Elijah Wood retrospective" :cool: . We try to stay centered on his work here, as opposed to the rest of his life, but sometimes the two do overlap. (While you're reading my sig, you're also very welcome to click on the link to my website. ;) The Elijah Wood side of it is set up specifically with Faculty discussions in mind. :) )

THE ONE RING CELEBRATION 2007 OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED
11/28/06, 2:17 pm EST - Xoanon
http://www.theonering.net/index.shtml

TheOneRing.net and Creation Entertainment join forces once again to present THE ONE RING CELEBRATION scheduled for March 9-11, 2007 at The Burbank Airport Hilton Hotel in Burbank, California. This unique weekend honors THE LORD OF THE RINGS and all things Tolkien and features celebrity guest appearances, scholar and art panels and presentations, fan films, displays, auctions, trivia and costuming competitions, autographs, photo opportunities, merchandising, music and non-stop partying.

Superstar ELIJAH WOOD (Frodo) has accepted ORC's invitation to headline the convention and additional guests and attractions will be announced in the months to come. Full up to date information on ORC is available at creationent.com/cal/one_ring.htm



The Hobbit petition is now up to 50,000 signatures! If you have not signed it yet, please take a moment to click on over to add your support to Peter Jackson filming the Hobbit. http://www.petitiononline.com/hobfilm/petition.html


MSN has a good article about this Hobbit hoopla mess here: http://movies.msn.com/movies/hitlist/11-28-06_2?GT1=7701


Concerning the singing ability of certain geek-penguins:
"It was actually kind of great though, because I was called on to sing really poorly for the film, and I thought I did a pretty competent job," Wood says. "But they actually digitally made it worse. I knew what I had done, but my god, they made it sound horrendous."
Elijah Wood from Elijah has 'Happy Feet'
http://movies.msn.com/movies/hitlist/11-07-06_3

:) Welcome Fiondra and trinity! Originally posted by trinity...Yes, please bring on the stories. I first came to appreciate Elijah Wood when he portrayed Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings. From there, I began to watch his earlier work. I'd be at the video store with the kids, I'd pick a movie and they would ask, "Is Frodo in that one too, Mom?" Yes, he would be. I now have a complete Elijah Wood film collection that I owe to this community and its generous members. It was decided to have a Faculty Library that would be available to those who desired to see some of Elijah's films that are not available for purchase or are rare to find. I volunteered to be the Faculty Librarian and would like to again post what is available. If you would like to "borrow" any of the below titles, send a PM to me and I will send it out. Upon returning the material, please include the postage that it took to send it to you. Donations of any Elijah material is always appreciated. That's it. Enjoy!

Child in the Night, DVD, Plays on computer DVD drive.
Dayo, DVD, Plays in Region 1 DVD player.
Graham Norton Interviews, 2004/2005, DVD, plus Heaven and Earth Show, 2005.
Green Street Hooligans, DVD, Overseas copy formatted for Region 1.
Homicide TV Episode, DVD.
North, DVD, PAL Region format, plays in computer DVD drive.
The Witness, VCD/CD, Non-English w/foreign subtitles, would not play in computer DVD but did in DVD player.
and these links...
http://www.storylineonline.net/, Link, Elijah reading Me and My Cat, can be found through "more stories".
http://greybook.thefarmers.org/FanFiles/, Link, .avi Zip File for download The Witness, Arizona Interview, Laptop Commercial. Email or PM HoneyElf for Username and Password.

(While you're reading my sig, you're also very welcome to click on the link to my website. ;) The Elijah Wood side of it is set up specifically with Faculty discussions in mind. :) )
Very neat site! I can see I need to go back for a longer visit when it's not nearing midnight and I'm more awake. :) I really liked your essay on "Frodo Lives." As another one who remembers the first time that phrase came around (and yes, wears it on my t-shirt to this day!) I can relate to everything you said....I've tried to explain it all to my 20 year old daughter but I think I'll forward your thoughts to her -- you said it so beautifully. Or maybe print it and keep it hanging by my circa 1960's "Come to Middle Earth" poster that's been rehung on my bedroom wall after a rest of about 30 years! :lol:

As Achila announced yesterday, she and I went to see Bobby. A very uneven film. We agreed that it would have benefited from a tighter, more polished screenplay, and from the elimination of some of the miniplots (e.g., the Martin Sheen/Helen Hunt one). And we felt that Emilio tried to cover too much ground, and just couldn’t do it (e.g., the stabs at dealing with racial prejudice).

As for Elijah, he really didn’t have a character to play – he just had lines to read; and given how little he had to work with, he did as well as could be expected, I think. And of course, he looked absolutely charming.

I agree with Shelbyshire that the “older ladies”’ stories were most affecting. That was in part because those characters had more depth and detail; though I also have to acknowledge good performances by Sharon Stone and Demi Moore, neither of whom has ever impressed me in the past. I also liked Anthony Hopkins and Harry Belafonte’s performances/characters.

As I said to Achila afterward, after seeing all the 1960s news footage of demonstrations, “Where are all the people in the streets nowadays?” It’s not as if the problems alluded to in Bobby have gone away. But there’s not much sense of outrage or purpose anymore, it seems. And seeing Walter Cronkite was thoroughly depressing, in view of what we have presenting TV news nowadays.

On a lighter note, Wispy Wistaria wrote: Yesterday I saw a fragment of the London premiere of HF on a media program and a Belgian reporter was interviewing Lij for about 2 minutes asking him what he liked about the movie but I don't remember what he answered very well cuz I was focussing on his face all the time *slaps head* I’m afraid that this is an occupational hazard of Elijah fandom. He’s just distractingly breathtaking.

tg, my mind is blank. What does "Cake" refer to??

Brummie wrote, re Mumble/Frodo comparisons: Both go on a journey, a quest, accompanied by a small number of companions. Or one could say, “accompanied by a number of small companions.” ;)[OK, everybody, go ahead and groan]

Elijah backs Jackson in "Hobbit" dispute
29 November 2006

Sir Ian McKellen has already voiced his dismay at New Line Cinema‘s decision to drop director Peter Jackson from their movie of "The Hobbit" and its apparent sequel as, according to Jackson, New Line have refused to consider him for the project as they are currently embroiled in a legal battle over DVD royalities. And this week Middle Earth hero Elijah Wood, Frodo Baggins in Jackson‘s "The Lord Of The Rings" trilogy, told us in London of his concern over the situation.

"If [Peter] ultimately doesn‘t come back because of what New Line has done I think it would be a great tragedy. I think it‘s ultimately quite foolish for New Line to move forward assuming they can create an equally wonderful film without Peter…and I think for that for fans that‘s tragic," Elijah told us, adding "For a long time I never kind of imagined that these movies would ever be made, so if they do get made I think they should be made by Peter."

However the star doesn‘t think we‘ve heard the last of this, saying "I don‘t think it‘s ultimately over though, I think the arguments still up in the air. There‘s talk that New Line will ultimately lose the rights to ["The Hobbit"] and that the rights will fall to the Saul Zaentz company, which is what Saul Zaentz is now saying, so who knows? I think it remains to be seen ultimately what will happen, but it makes me nervous."[/quote]
You can read the rest of the article here:
http://www.mymovies.net/news/news_listing.asp?filmid=5975&sec=news

You can read the rest of the article here:
http://www.mymovies.net/news/news_listing.asp?filmid=5975&sec=news

*Ultimately*, that is quite interesting, txtac :lol:

Achila wrote: *Ultimately*, that is quite interesting
I think that the 'Battle For the Hobbit' is far from over too. New Line is very close to the end of their option to make the Hobbit movie. They need to start now, or loose their rights to make another 'blockbuster' that they sorely and financially need right now.

Saul Zaentz obviously wants the movie the movie rights back, or at least to guarentee that Peter Jackson will direct it. He could do some legal fanageling (sp?) to keep New Line from starting production with another director until the time limit to make the movie expires. Then he can start production (where will he get the funding?) with Peter Jackson as director.

MGM who ownes the distribution rights to the movie wants Peter Jackson to direct the movie. They can refuse to distribute a non-Peter directed Hobbit, or at least give it such a small release that the movie will financially fail for New Line. There is Hollywood power here.

What director would want to step into a situation where he would be immediately hated and reviled. Can they re-create a Jacksonian Middle Earth in New Zealand without Jackson? Will the Kiwi's be willing to work with a new director as they did with Jackson's teamwork and family type working environment?

Will any of the original cast and crew be willing to sign on to a non-Jackson made Hobbit? There is a lot more at stake here than New Line is realizing. New Line is only looking at the financial side. Everyone else in the universe is looking for Peter Jackson's Middle Earth.


IGN has created a "short list" of director's who they think can make the Hobbit. You can read the article here: http://au.movies.ign.com/articles/747/747881p1.html

tg- The mantra used to be "Let the Hobbit Happen." With you I'm starting "Let the Avatar Dance!" :haha:

That was an interesting article, TxTac. There were at least three names on that list that made my blood run cold: Terry Gillian, Ron Howard and Alfonso Cauron. I doubt Gilliam could create a Middle Earth I'd believe in, and his Bilbo would become a buffoon. Ron Howard has a consumerist sensibility to his films that I just don't like at all. Alfonso Cauron did not manage to make me believe in the Harry Potter universe, and I think that's essential to making any film about Middle Earth work.

As for Jackson's original cast members coming back to do the film, you just have to have Hugo Weaving and Ian McKellen back.

But for Bilbo, while I adore Ian Holm as Bilbo, I think at 75 he's a bit old to play the accidental adventurer. I'd like to see David Suchet take a crack at it; he has this fussyness and fastidiousness that would be great for Bilbo, but at 60 he's a bit old too. Bilbo is only 50 when he takes off, so an actor in his 30's would probably suit best.

Of course if they keep batting this business around long enough, Elijah will be in his thrities, and the family resemblence between the old hobbit and his tormented nephew would be perfect! :cool: Oh, or maybe Billy Boyd!

Just so long as they don't cast Jack Black for Bilbo... :p

honey!

Thank you Shelbyshire. I will indeed be contacting both of you.

Dear Friends,

Just to let you know -- I just heard from ylla (aka Candy) and she called to tell me that her husband Gary passed away this evening. I hope you will all send your best thoughts for healing and peace her way.

Love,
Ann

So sad to hear this.......................................thanks for letting us know.


saile

Poor Candy, they had a long struggle. Thanks for letting us know, Ann.

pamela

Ann, thank you for letting us know.

Dear Candy, I'm thinking of you and will pray for you and your husband -

(((((Candy)))))


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/whiteling/gabriel-1.gif

Thank you for passing on the news, Achila. Please let her know that she's in our thoughts.

While scrolling back to see what posts need responses, I see that whiteling has already provided one messenger for us, but I've added my favorite little hobbit angel, too.

http://www.frodolivesin.us/archives/22a876f0.jpg

-----------------------------

Fiondra, I'm glad you've enjoyed what you've seen of the website so far. As a long-time Tolkienite, you may be interested in some of the material in the archives.

And for trinity, the long form of my "story" can be found there, too. How Did It Come to This? (http://www.frodolivesin.us/archives/id61.htm) was written when I first spun off what had started as one page about Elijah Wood on an otherwise Tolkien-related site into a complete section. The short form of the story is that when Elijah was cast as Frodo, I found myself defending the choice to Tolkien readers who were upset about it. But I'd only seen a couple of Elijah's movies, and in order to keep up my side of the debate I needed to watch more of them -- and was hooked.


from Pelagia:
tg, my mind is blank. What does "Cake" refer to??

spoiler warning for Spy Kids 3D








Pelagia - You can confirm this with a member of Elijah's generation, but I assume it's short for "It's a piece of cake." The Guy says it after the kids tell him what needs to be done to win the game -- and just before he takes himself out of the game by making a wrong move -- "Oops". IIRC, "Cake" and "Oops" are Elijah's only lines in the movie.






End of spoiler for Spy Kids 3D


On The Hobbit: Any movie of The Hobbit has been held up for years by legal tangles, so it sounds as if they're not over yet. I don't know if Saul Zaentz has the same rights to The Hobbit as he does to LotR, but if so he should have a lot of power in this.

Any idea what the "prologue" movie thing is all about? I'd think the Tolkien Estate would have something to say about that.

from txtac:
Then he can start production (where will he get the funding?) with Peter Jackson as director.
Another movie directed by Peter Jackson based on a Tolkien book? Hmmm... somehow I don't think funding would be a big problem.

tg wrote:
Any idea what the "prologue" movie thing is all about?
The "prologue" movie will be another "prequel" dealing with that pesky little time frame between the Hobbit and LOTR.
Think of all the possibilities...that young rascal post-pubesint Frodo who "borrows" his uncle's ring which makes him invisible... :p

I'd think the Tolkien Estate would have something to say about that.

If I remember correctly, back in the 70's when J.R.R. signed away his rights to Saul Zaentz (read Tolkien Enterprises), so that a movie could be made, he (J.R.R.T.) gave up his rights to say anything about it. Christopher now can whine all he wants to, but legally can't do a thing about it. :( All he can do is pray that whoever writes the script will stay true to J.R.R.T.'s vision of Middle Earth. :z:

At least with Peter Jackson directing the Hobbit, you know that the over-all vision of Middle Earth will be compatable with the LOTR movies. Tolkien purest still lambast Jackson for not staying true to the books, but he did make a fantastic movie out of it. The Hobbit movie, with Jackson directing, will probably not follow the book word for word either, but -hopefully- will be another incredible movie that stays in line with the already created movie version of Middle Earth.

The Photo Caption Contest for Peter Jackson to direct the Hobbit over on TORn is still going strong. If you haven't checked it out lately, they have some wonderful and very funny new additions. Make sure that you check out all three of the new pages. Click here: http://www.theonering.net/scrapbook/group/1929/range/1
_________________________________________________________________
tg- Let the Avatar Dance !

ylla, please accept my condolences on your husband's passing.

C4

tg- In trying to understand, or second guess what the Tokien family might think of someone else writing in, or about J.R.R.'s Middle Earth, or rewriting it in the case of movie scripts; I ran accross these articles that might help understand their point of view and problems with it.

Interview with Adam Tolkien About New Book, The Children of Hurin
October 11, 2006
Submitted By Jonathan

The Spanish Tolkien Society has posted an interview with Adam Tolkien, grandson of JRR Tolkien and son of Christopher Tolkien, discussing the upcoming book, The Children of Hurin. Here's an excerpt:
Alejandro Serrano: It would be a dream for all. But this publication opens the door to other books, for example only about 'The Fall of Gondolin', 'Beren and Luthien' or the 'Song of Leithian'?
Adam Tolkien: There has been some talk on this subject, the problem being that J.R.R. Tolkien never rewrote these tales as extensively as the The Children of Hurin, so there is less material to work on, and it would be more difficult to produce a worthwhile volume. It is not totally unthinkable, but no more than that!
http://www.theonering.com/articles/19971,1.html

New Tolkien Book, The Children of Hurin, to be Released in Spring 2007
September 19, 2006
Submitted By Jonathan

Turin Turambar slays GlaurungPublishers Houghton Mifflin and HarperCollins have announced that an unfinished tale by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by his son Christopher Tolkien, will be released in Spring 2007.
The Children of Hurin is an epic tale that Tolkien begain in 1918 and later abandoned... and then taken up again by his son Christopher 30 years ago, piecing together the entire tale from his notes and other works.
While this news is somewhat unexpected, it is not altogether surprising. Christopher Tolkien has been a powerful executor of his father's literary estate, and has done his best to bring us all of the unfinished works left (something which his father was known--not finishing a work, that is).
Those of us who have read The Silmarillion already know the overarching story of Turin Turambar and Nienor Niniel, the Children of Hurin... but I'm very excited to see what Tolkien had truly intended this epic tale to be!

http://www.theonering.com/articles/19956,1.html

Ylla ~ I'm so sorry to hear your sad news.

Sending sincere sympathy.

Thank you for letting us know, Achila. Warmest thoughts to Ylla/Candy and family.

Think of all the possibilities...
Yes, multitudinous fanfic writers have been involved in that process for decades. ;)

If I remember correctly, back in the 70's when J.R.R. signed away his rights to Saul Zaentz (read Tolkien Enterprises), so that a movie could be made, he (J.R.R.T.) gave up his rights to say anything about it.
I've never understood that he signed away all the performance rights to everything about Middle-earth, though, but just to the specific books. In fact, I believe the clearest-cut rights were for LotR. I'm not sure what the legal tangles are that have delayed any more movies of The Hobbit for years, and maybe those are getting straightened out; but the rights for that did seem to be less clear than for LotR. As I understand it, for the trilogy PJ & Co. could use material that was within LotR, including the prologue and appendices, but couldn't import anything found, say, only in The Sil. So I'm curious about how a brand new story would fit into the rights.

BTW, it may be only a legend, but I've heard that one stipulation JRRT had written into the contract with Saul Zaentz was that Disney would never be licensed to use the material. I hope that's true, just because it increases my respect for the Professor's wisdom.

Add my sorrow and thoughts to everyone elses. (((Ylla))).

I'm sorry I'm late in reading the post about your husband, sweetie. :( I know you've had a hard time of it.

(((((((((((Ylla)))))))))))


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v382/mechtild/art%20images/Ch7delatourGeorgesAYoungSinger1650.jpg


:k


~ Mechtild

ylla, I’m so sorry to hear about Gary. I know what a tough time you’ve been having. I’ll be in touch by “snail mail.”

tg, thanks for the “Cake” info. I always forget about The Guy (who should be memorable as another of Elijah’s “tall” roles).

Going back to an older discussion of the casting of Bilbo in The Hobbit: the first time I saw a picture of Michael Sheen playing Tony Blair in The Queen, I thought, “He could be Bilbo!” But he’s too tall, I’m afraid.

BTW, I recently saw The Departed (marvelous, though you need to have a high tolerance for four-letter words and blood spatter), and was struck by all of the “degrees of Elijah” it contained. E.g., the cast includes:

Kevin Corrigan (Chain of Fools)
Martin Sheen (Bobby)
Leonardo DiCaprio, who was in Titanic with Kate Winslet (ESOTSM)
Matt Damon, who was in The Bourne Identity with Franka Potente (All I Want)
Jack Nicholson, who was in A Few Good Men with Kevin Pollack (Avalon)
Alec Baldwin, who was in Pearl Harbor with Josh Hartnett (The Faculty)
Mark Wahlberg, who was in Three Kings with George Clooney, who was in Out of Sight with Steve Zahn (Chain of Fools)
Ray Winstone, who was in Sexy Beast with Ben Kingsley, who was in Death and the Maiden with Sigourney Weaver (The Ice Storm)

For good measure, Howard Shore wrote the score, and the opening sequence is set to “Gimme Shelter” (also used in The War). And the screenplay is by William Monahan, who wrote Kingdom of Heaven, which starred Orlando Bloom. (Whew!)

Ben Kingsley was also in Dave, with Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver (playing a couple!).

Dave can also be used to link Frank Langella and Charles Grodin to Elijah. And a link to Charles Grodin has all kinds of possibilities.

After 34 movies, including several "all star casts," I have the feeling it's almost harder to find anyone who's done a few movies who can't be linked to Elijah in just one or two steps. Maybe we need a new game. :D

----------------------

One thing I'm learning in my first experience with a cat is that even if they act like they don't need you that doesn't necessarily mean they don't need you. After 8 years with one owner, Houdini wasn't adjusting as well as she seemed to be on the surface - she wasn't eating well and, even with her long hair, I could feel that she was losing weight. So this past week, instead of going straight to the computer when I got home from work, we did some serious cat cuddling in front of the TV, which means watching movies on *gasp* VHS *gasp* :eek: .

First up was, of course, the one EJW movie not on region 1 DVD. I don't think I'd watched North since before LotR-FotR, and as with Elijah's other movies that I'd watched prior to LotR (about 15 of them), my first post-LotR viewing had me amazed at all the Froshadowings. I know some people like this movie more than I do...

I'd also read the book since watching the movie, so hadn't realized that the book's author was also one of the two screenplay writers and a producer. All these years, I've been feeling sorry for the author because the movie messed up his wonderful book so much, but it seems it was at least partially his own fault. I also hadn't remembered that the main "mentor" character in the book wasn't completely cut out of the movie as I'd previously reported; he shows up for a minute or two as one of Bruce Willis's later characters (the aging stand-up comedien). The entire point of the book - North reconnecting with his Jewish heritage (during a trip to eastern Europe with the comedien ;) ) - is still completely missing, though. So I still wonder why they picked, of all possible characters, the Easter bunny to start things off :confused: .

I was entertained by counting penguin appearances :p . All but one of them completely wrong, of course, because they're connected to North's sojourn in the Arctic. During the opening credits, a toy penguin is used to represent that part of his trip; when North is staying with the Eskimo couple, their fireplace andirons are shaped like penguins, and the embroidery the wife is working on is a picture of a penguin. The only geographically possible penguins in the movie are also the only real ones - after he gets to New York towards the end of the movie, North stands for a few seconds in front of a penguin display at a zoo.

North spoiler alert







As I've said before, the book does not make the story a dream like the movie does. Watching the entire movie knowing that it's North's dream does actually put some sense into it - especially the really weird details, such as an igloo having andirons (and a garage door opener). But IMVHO that doesn't mean it works any better as a movie, since a movie really needs to make sense the first time you're watching it; being able to pick up new details and make new connections while rewatching is a wonderful thing, but that's not the same as having it be nonsense the first time.





End of North spoiler



Regarding the great all-American family that's North's final visit, I missed the names of the boy and girl (so may have to watch the movie again :eek: unless someone remembers them). But otherwise we have:

Father: Ward (Leave it to Beaver)
Mother: Donna (The Donna Reed Show)
Family name: Nelson (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet)

It's not that the movie isn't clever - I think it may just be a bit too clever for its own good. Some of that is already dated, for example using the Dallas theme during the visit to Texas.

-------------

I'm now digging into my backlog of non-Elijah videos. Just as Houdini started eating better, the apartment management started having second thoughts about her being here, so I'm not sure what will happen.

Thanks for the info on North Tig, I think I saw the movie many years ago. As always, it is wonderful to read your perspective on things.

It looks like Happy Feet will be #1 at the box office for a third weekend.

C4

From Yahoo Movie News:
Penguins, Bond Still Ruling Box Office
Sunday December 3 4:24 PM ET

A dancing penguin and the world's deadliest spy have settled in for a long stay at the top of the box office. The animated penguin tale "Happy Feet" was the No. 1 movie for the third straight weekend, posting ticket sales of $17 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. Also for the third straight weekend, the James Bond adventure "Casino Royale" ran a close second, taking in $15.1 million.

"Happy Feet," from Warner Bros., raised its total domestic gross to $121 million. Sony's "Casino Royale" has climbed to $115.9 million.

With a fairly open market for family crowds through Christmas, "Happy Feet" is expected to top out at $185 million or more, said Jeff Goldstein, general sales manager for Warner Bros.

..."It's been all about 'Happy Feet' and 'Casino Royale' for the past three weeks. Those films have really captured the marketplace," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. "I've never really seen two movies define the start of a holiday season in the way these two have."
You can read the entire article here: http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/ap/20061203/116519184000.html



Simian Records has signed a SECOND band called Heloise and the Savoir Faire!

You can check out this new band here: http://www.myspace.com/heloiseandthesavoirfaire
and here: http://www.heloisemusic.com/about.html

Elijah said that their first album with Simian Records will be coming out sometime next year.

The Apples in Stereo album is due out February 7th!

Simian Records has a possible new logo. If you try going to the Simian Records website, it still links you to the Yep Roc Records website page for Apples in Stereo; but scroll down to the very bottom, is that a "new" logo for Simian Records, or just another doodle by Elijah? :lol:
_________________________________________________________________

tg- Let the Avatar Dance! :z:

I put this in the Non-Hugs Haven, but thought I'd put it here too in case anybody has missed it. It's two clips of Elijah on the Jonathan Ross program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lid43z3jD78 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_23ACRwhNY (it's in 2 parts)

Does anyone know if the clip of Elijah on Jimmy Kimmel exists somewhere online? Thanks!

For the US Faculty members, FotR and TTT are to be shown on TNT in HD this coming weekend with RotK in HD the next. (All are to be broadcast in HD in one day on Sunday, the 17th, starting at 12:30 P.M. E.S.T. and ending at 12:15 A.M.)

http://alt.tnt.tv/d-vision/vidplayer.html

There are 5 pages of behind-the-scenes clips, cast interviews, and movie trailers. Most we've seen before but there is still some new stuff here. :cool:

C4

Does anyone know if the clip of Elijah on Jimmy Kimmel exists somewhere online? Thanks!You can find a link to a download over at LJ in elijah_finds. If the main link is not working, there are mirrors available in comments.

I can't let the mention of SpyKids 3D go by without mentioning that Elijah has several lines as "The Guy." It's a hoot to watch him throw himself into the role, despite its brevity. ;)

You can find a link to a download over at LJ in elijah_finds. If the main link is not working, there are mirrors available in comments.
Thanks, babe :k

I personally wanted to thank Ann for passing along my unhappy news..once again... I didn't know if my using this forum was the place to bring such sad tidings, but I'm quite releaved that she let you all know. I was going to post it over on my LJ but was so emotionally and physically spent...I decided to try and get to it later this week.
It happened while I was at work and my poor kids were left on their own to try and do CPR...you see he kept changing his mind on his DNR statis...he really never wanted to give up...but I'm afraid nothing was going to work this time..I was so proud my kids rose to the occasion and kept their cool well enough so he could make it to the hospital long enough for me to say my goodbyes.
Tomorrow is the bural services where I will be running the prayer and eulogy services...I ask all of you to send your posive energy so I don't freeze up.
Once again Ann I thank You for being my Sam and for all the rest of my friends for your loving condolences...I'll be back when life settles down.
I do plan on seeing TOL in both new movies...a little blue eyed boy would be just what my doctor would order...better than any pill they can make!
Love and Gratitude :k
Ylla/Candy

(((ACHILLA)))

(((((((((((((((((((Ylla))))))))))))))))))))

Your kids are as amazing as you are. You'll do fine. And HF will be a tonic (haven't seen Bobby yet). :k

(I sent you an e.)

~ Mechtild

Dear Ylla,

Sending positive energy as requested. You're all so brave. Sending best thoughts and hugs to all the family.

((((((Ylla)))))

I haven't been in here for the last few days and so I just found out about your husband. Sending you lots of love. You and your family have had to be so strong. Be good to yourselves. HOpe all went well today....

I was so sorry to hear about your husband, ylla. I'm sending good thoughts your way for you and your children.


I also bring a bit of news with me: There is no Picasso at the Lapin Agile film in the works (http://stevemartin.com/steves_message/message.php?page=3&). :(

Ylla, I was so sorry to hear your very sad news. You and your children are in my thoughts, especially today. {{{ylla}}}

Dear Faculty, apologies for lack of posts & missed birthdays. I have not deserted you, I still read all your wonderful posts, but a great deal of my online time is taken up by a little Elijah/LOTR project I'm working on in my Live Journal :)

It's been very nice to have Elijah over here in the UK again, even though this time I haven't been able to actually see him in the flesh. He's been doing some tv & radio spots since the HF premiere, as I'm sure you know:) And on Saturday I'm off to see our Mumble :)

((((((Candy/Ylla))))))....you are an inspiration.:k
Good thoughts your way and Mechtild is right about HF. And HF will be a tonic

My best to you and your family,
saile

Bunnie wrote: I also bring a bit of news with me: There is no Picasso at the Lapin Agile film in the works.
Didn't we hear from TOL himself saying that he was going to be playing the part of Einstien in an upcoming film "Picasso in the Lapin Agile?" The last that I heard, they were still working on the script. Writing the script may not be "film in the works," that's definitional. The film "may not be in the works" NOW because they are still working on the script. After they have a finished script, funding, director, producer, actors and crew hired, THEN they will/might have a "film in the works." It just might be too early to say that they have a film in the works. Anyone in business will tell you that you keep things quiet until the ink is on the paper (signature on the contract...). With millions of dollars at stake in making movies these days, you can not blame Steve Martin for trying to keep things quiet, or throw the hounds off the scent by saying that "there is no fim in the works." I say that it is too early to lose hope, or give up on the film yet. Let's just wait and see what happens. :z:

Bunnie wrote:
Didn't we hear from TOL himself saying that he was going to be playing the part of Einstien in an upcoming film "Picasso in the Lapin Agile?" The last that I heard, they were still working on the script. Writing the script may not be "film in the works," that's definitional. The film "may not be in the works" NOW because they are still working on the script. After they have a finished script, funding, director, producer, actors and crew hired, THEN they will/might have a "film in the works." It just might be too early to say that they have a film in the works. Anyone in business will tell you that you keep things quiet until the ink is on the paper (signature on the contract...). With millions of dollars at stake in making movies these days, you can not blame Steve Martin for trying to keep things quiet, or throw the hounds off the scent by saying that "there is no fim in the works." I say that it is too early to lose hope, or give up on the film yet. Let's just wait and see what happens. :z:I'd like to think that was the case, but at a press conference in England last week, Elijah himself apparently denied with some vehemence that he would be in the film. It may, indeed, surface again one day, but it doesn't sound like our fella will be in it, if it does.

Wonder if that earlier remark was a misquote? Or did he think he was going to be in it and that's changed? It's not like Elijah to announce that something's going to happen before he's sure it's going to happen. The previous statement seemed pretty straightforward if he actually said what was reported.

Bunnie posted: ...at a press conference in England last week, Elijah himself apparently denied with some vehemence that he would be in the film.
Does anyone have a transcript, or a video of the press conference? I am digging through my pile of recent interviews to find the source for Elijah saying that he was going to be in the movie. If he is saying that he is NOT going to be in the movie now, I would like to have a copy of it for the file/record.
_________edt.
This is what I have found so far:
In the article Elijah's Happy Ride, by Sheela Chandran, Nov.17, 06
http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2006/11/17/movies/15921536&sec=movies
last paragraph: "With so many offers in store (Picasso at the Lapin Agile and 9 slated for 2008), fans will see much more of him on the big screen."
_________edt.


Ran across this newish article on TORn. TOL talks more about New Line's dropping Peter Jackson as director of the Hobbit:

Exclusive: Elijah Wood Talks The Hobbit
Frodo on the Rings prequels
29 November 2006

... can you imagine a prequel that didn't look the same, and didn't have the same continuity after all that work?"

But, like many up to speed on the situation, he's not convinced that the fat Hobbit lady has sung. "At the moment it sounds so definitive, and Peter has said "That's the end of the journey" in a very dramatic way, as Peter is wont to do - but absolute power to him, because I would be equally disappointed if I were him. But I think it remains to be seen, and apparently New Line may lose the rights eventually. If that happens, it would eventually - I think - fall back into Peter's hands. It's just sad that it's ultimately a business decision, and not at all considering the fans."
There is a great picture of Elijah in the article. Check it out! You can read the entire article here: http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=20036

Does anyone have a transcript, or a video of the press conference? I'm afraid that I don't have anything in "official" print, txtac. Elijah told "Teletext" in an interview, and it appeared on British television, but only in a text version, I think. Here is a copy of the transcript as written up by sneaking:

No Einstein role for Wood

Happy Feet star Elijah Wood insists he is not set to play Einstein as was reported on a leading film website.

Imdb has Wood playing Einstein in Picasso At The Lapine (sic) Agile but the actor told Teletext: "That story is not true. Imdb is not always the most reliable website for news stories."

"But I am playing Iggy Pop at some point, although as it's such a small film it takes that much longer."

end of transcription

A short near-swoon for "definitive" and "wont" :cool: :p

...and IMHO, what Elijah says in that article is the most hopeful outcome - that New Line won't be able to pull things together before they lose the rights and the ball will be back in Peter's court. Or, technically, in Saul Zaentz's court, but he's been very upfront in wanting Peter for the job.


txtac - There was another interview that was either posted in or linked to from this thread. I don't have time to search for it right now, but I added a note about it to my "What's New" page on August 7, so it would probably be within a week or so before that. It has a direct quote from Elijah (allegedly) saying that he will be playing the part of Einstein - very straightforward. A little too straightforward, perhaps, to be a direct quote from Elijah on a project that's still in the future? :haha:

OTOH, the transcript Bunnie just posted could be seen as a bit cagey. Elijah talks only about the IMDb report and says that the site isn't always correct. It's the reporter who says he "insists" on the fact that he's not playing the part, and the headline writer who says "No Enstein role"; Elijah's language isn't as forceful. - And he quickly segues into talking about Iggy Pop, to avoid having to say more about it. It'd be interesting to have someone ask him about that previous interview, rather than the IMDb listing. After reading Steve Martin's note, my best guess is that the on-again, off-again, on-again project is off again. But that's just a guess.

tg: ...very straightforward. A little too straightforward, perhaps, to be a direct quote from Elijah on a project that's still in the future?

Elijah:"But I am playing Iggy Pop at some point, although as it's such a small film it takes that much longer."
The one thing that I like about Elijah is his upfront blatent honesty. He tells it like it is and isn't sorry for saying so. This yes and no that we are getting about Picasso just reeks of coverup. Something is going on in the background and we do not know about it- yet.

Steve Martin has been working on this script on and off for years. His last comment sounds like he wants to "go on vacation" , or just get away from it for awhile again. It could be a case of writers block, or he could just be stuck on something in the script and needs to work it out- figure out what direction to take the storyline/character development next. :confused: He also knows the business end of Hollywood. It may not be the right timing to approach a studio with his script.

Most of the studios are strapped for cash right now. Ticket sales are down. They are not making as much money as they would like to. (Who is?) It looks like we (the U.S.) are heading into another slight recession next year. It is not a good time to approach any studio with a small, financially risky, artsy-fartsy type movie. Steve Martin could be playing it safe by just waiting for a better time to approach a studio about making his film IMHO. :confused:

Another possibility is that Steve might just have had enough of the harrassement by other actors/actresses wanting a part in his movie.
He could be saying that there is no movie just to get them off of his back.

For Elijah to strongly say yes then no- something is rotten in Denmark ...

_________________________________________________________________

On a somewhat happier note: Check your local TV listing! This coming Saterday, December 9th, TNT is going to be showing Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings. The TV listing reads: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring TNT (2001, Fantasy) Elijah Wood. Creatures unite to destroy a powerful ring and defeat a lord. (3:45)(cc)
Notice that Elijah Wood is the only actor listed ! :lol:

'Creatures' - Humans, Hobbits, Elves and Dwarves are Creatures?!? :mad:

'... a lord' - Sauron is JUST a 'lord' !!! :eek: Have these people even read the books?

Hi everyone... :D :D
I have been happily following all of your discussions for the last few weeks, even though I haven't been posting...just like Shireling, I have been taken up with a small Elijah Project of my own, over at my Fashion Police Files Journal...
If anyone on here, who hasn't been lurking with intent around LJ recently, would like to come over and have a read, Part 2 will be up today...Part 1 has been very popular, for some unknown reason - :o - could be something to do with the beautiful subject matter !!

PM me for a link !!

Elijah has been over here in our neck of the woods recently, and so we have been blessed with many interviews, TV appearances and radio guest spots etc, etc...Bunnie has invented the most marvellous LJ Community for all these things, and so, I would heartily recommend that you all keep her Elijah_finds Community in your Favourites list, as it is a very excellent resource for this message board...

Little poem by me *ahum*

One afternoon I went to see Happy Feet
That animated penguin movie with a swinging beat
Had to smile, to laugh, to brush away a tear
Mostly because of Mumble,cause he's such a sweet little dear

A lovely heartwarming film, perfect on a cold december day
Great humor (Robin Williams "Ramon and his Latin Lovers") :p :D
Songs that make you wanna dance so happy feet indeed :cool:
Beautiful detailed computer animation
The message within: "Don't be afraid to be yourself, others have just to accept the unique being you are" is very important nowadays. And of course not to forget the ecological problem which we "aliens" often neglect.People should take notice and learn from this

Oh and wasn't it just remarkable that Mumble was the only one with the big bright blue eyes and such an adorable expression on the face *wink wink*
*nudge nudge* Yeah Yeah don't tell me about it :rolleyes:

After the film Wispy felt so "happy feeted" that she quickly went in town and bought some very appropriate Christmas cards for her friends ;)
And a good thing about buying those cards was that you support a relief fund for cancer

:k ((((Passes on the Christmas spirit))) :k

btw thx for the info Lady Wendy i'll check it out :D

Byez

"Never Gonna Break My Faith" from Bobby and "The Song of the Heart" from Happy Feet are on the list of 55 songs for consideration for nomination for Best Song at the Academy Awards this year.

C4

Oh and wasn't it just remarkable that Mumble was the only one with the big bright blue eyes and such an adorable expression on the face *wink wink*
Definitely one non-photorealistic penguin (as a penguin, that is :p ).

C4 - Great news about the songs. Am I right in assuming that "Song of the Heart" is the song Prince "sat down and wrote" for the movie when they asked for his permission to change a word in a song he'd already written so it fit the movie better?

Happy Feet-Best Animated Film 2006

L.A. Film Critics
Washington, D.C. Film Critics
N.Y. Film Critics

and

American Film Institute Best Film Honoree

C4

ETA-Yes, tg, "The Song of the Heart" is the song Prince wrote for the movie.

The NY film critics win turns out to be just a little bit by default. This is actually kind of funny (http://www.nerve.com/nerveblog/screengrabblog.aspx?id=107e7985#7985). One of the critics was in the toilet when they voted and when they tried to incorporate his vote for the 2nd place A Scanner Darkly, he couldn't come up with other 2 films he needed so they had an argument and didn't count him. The entire critics setup sounds like a cross between a little boys club and a comedy of errors. They clearly take it all very, very seriously (4 rounds of voting on what the best cartoon of the year is?). Having said that, HF clearly beat Cars and that's the main thing (from a purely partisan Oscar viewpoint).

Happy Feet-Best Animated Film 2006
(...) and

American Film Institute Best Film Honoree
What's "Best Film Honoree" mean, Ceefour? :confused: :)

~ Mechtild

What's "Best Film Honoree" mean, Ceefour? :confused: :)

~ Mechtild

The AFI don't have an overall winner. They list 10 films as the best of the year all equally. Happy Feet is on this list which is what ceefour means. They don't always have an animated film on the list (they've had Finding Nemo, Shrek and the Incredibles but no others in the 6 years they've been doing awards this way).

FYI the complete list is here http://www.afi.com/tvevents/afiawards06/default.aspx

The AFI do go for slightly more commercial films, but they usually get 4-5 of the best picture nominees, they've never missed a best picture winner and any animated film they've listed has won the Oscar. It's still going to be a very tight race with Cars though. It's a very close race indeed this year for animated picture.

Thanks, Sneaking. (And I enjoyed your NY Film Critic's link.)

They don't always have an animated film on the list (they've had Finding Nemo, Shrek and the Incredibles but no others in the 6 years they've been doing awards this way).
Sounds impressive for HF! I would love this to mean an Oscar appearance for EW. I didn't bother to watch the Oscars last year, except when they announced the awards King Kong was up for (my daughter is an avid fan so I kept her company; and I wanted to see the Weta people as they--hopefully--went up to get their awards).

I'm hoping for more of the snappy dressing he did for the Bobby premiere and the "Black Ball". Although I'm one of the only people who found his lame "like a penguin" outfit at the London HF premiere charming on him, if he wears something like that to the Oscars he'll have to be abducted and re-attired forcibly.

~ M

if he wears something like that to the Oscars he'll have to be abducted and re-attired forcibly.

Re-attired forcibly, you say? The queue for volunteers starts HERE. Although we probably should let Wendylady do it since she's the one who knows what she's talking about. However, I'm sure she would require a lot of assistants. ;)

I don't know if the vocal talent for animated films goes to the oscars or not. I suspect not, since they get so few tickets. Although, they would probably have penguins featuring somewhere in the show so they might want somebody there to show laughing at that so who knows. Or maybe they'd have Elijah and Brittany presenting something? Wishful thinking perhaps. It might depend on whether the bandwagon really rolls for Happy Feet.

Or maybe they'd have Elijah and Brittany presenting something? Wishful thinking perhaps. It might depend on whether the bandwagon really rolls for Happy Feet.
That's not a bad bet. They like "matching" presenters (which they would be: co-stars from the same nominated film). But I imagine they'd try to get Robin Williams first off, who would be sure to provide some really comic turns while presenting, always a crowd-pleaser.

~ M

Sneaking wrote: I don't know if the vocal talent for animated films goes to the oscars or not.
If memory serves, Elijah won his first Oscar, catagory: "Technical Achievement" for his voice-over work that he did for The Lord of the Rings Video Game in 2000, or 2001. It was another one of TOL's firsts. Not only his first Oscar, but the first Oscar ever awarded for voice-over work/ video games.

Borrowed this from TORn:

12-11-06 Latest News

Royd Tolkien Weighs in on THE HOBBIT!
Xoanon @ 10:23 am EST

From Royd Tolkien:

I've had a bunch of people asking my opinion on the recent New Line / Peter Jackson / Hobbit news. These are my thoughts...

Before Peter made Lord Of The Rings all I knew of his work was that I really enjoyed his films. That all changed a few years ago. He's not only a filmmaker, he's someone that I now trust and respect.

Before the films were made I held massive reservations and fears that JRRT and LOTR would be used as merely a tool for producing revenue and would result ultimately in a substandard film. But it's different now, and it's different because of Peter.

3 weeks ago those feelings returned. Without him, The Hobbit will become what I had earlier feared LOTR was to become.

To find a new director after the time and dedication Peter and all his people put in would not just be wrong, it would also be a bad decision.

Now I know and understand that some purists would disagree with me, and whilst I again understand and agree with their right to have an opinion, just imagine how bad it could have been without Peter at the helm. Peter didn't just direct a film, he brought together a highly impressive team.

Think about the different elements of his team; first there was the thoughtfulness and professionalism of Richard Taylor and everyone at Weta who realised the complex detail needed to make it believable; secondly the way Howard Shore's beautiful music compliments and binds the film. In addition to this there is the wonderfully detailed concepts of Alan Lee and John Howe, both of whose insights helped craft the feel of the film. The fabulous costumes of Ngila Dickson, the photography and vision of Andrew Lesnie, and New Zealand, a country that lends itself perfectly to Middle Earth with its breathtaking and varied landscapes. All of these elements and many more were brought together by Peter.

How could a different director do what Peter has done? How would they find a similar team of people who have the knowledge, passion and understanding of a world they helped create?

Surely that doesn't make any sense when Peter already holds the key.
I do understand and agree with Peter's position, although I only know on the surface what must be a very difficult and frustrating decision for him.

I know it's not simply a matter of saying yes. There's a mountain of issues that lie between New Line and Peter, but there must be some way to resolve this.

I imagine there's been an awful lot of letters and conversations between both camps, heels have been dug in and hair pulled out. If only there was some way to sort out the stalemate between them and find that common ground and resolution which is needed to do justice to such an important book.

Whilst I don't know the inner relationship between New Line and Peter, what i do know is that they backed him, all those years ago, to produce LOTR. For that part and many more they played, I'm forever grateful.

When I saw the end result on screen, knowing that everyone had played a part in putting it there, and were all united in putting it there, it made me smile. I'm sorry but has everyone forgot those simple smiles? Isn't that what making films is all about?

If Peter hadn't made LOTR with the respect he showed to my Great Grandfather, I'd not have felt compelled to voice my opinion.
http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/8/1165850624

If memory serves, Elijah won his first Oscar, catagory: "Technical Achievement" for his voice-over work that he did for The Lord of the Rings Video Game in 2000, or 2001. It was another one of TOL's firsts. Not only his first Oscar, but the first Oscar ever awarded for voice-over work/ video games.

Appears you're right, txtac! I didn't know that!

Wikipedia Page of Elijah's awards, lot's of them! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah_Wood#Awards_and_nominations)

Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences USA

2004 Won Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance - Male ROTK

That is an Oscar "special" award, isn't it? I'm not sure. :confused:

honey!

Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences USA
Yes, I remember this. But isn't this some other organization's award? Something to honor the performers and makers of video games, etc.?

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences isn't the same thing as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, no?

~ M

You're right, Mech. It's not an Oscar. So he's yet to win his first Oscar...

Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (http://www.interactive.org/)

Kinda sneaky, naming it that way!

h~

Re-attired forcibly, you say? The queue for volunteers starts HERE.
*bowls over Honeyelf, Mechtild, and Txtac, who happened to be between Mariole and Sneaking at the time of this announcement-- and Mariole must forcibly butt her way to the front of the queue!* Sorry, ladies! :D ;)

Sneaking, Mech, and Mariole...
Re-attired forcibly, you say? The queue for volunteers starts HERE. Although we probably should let Wendylady do it since she's the one who knows what she's talking about. However, I'm sure she would require a lot of assistants.

Oh yes...and some privacy !! Of course, if the first outfit we try doesn't suit, we may have to do some deliberating...could well take all night !!

(Elbows his way back to the front- Sorry Mariole for stepping on your foot. :p )

Honeyelf: That is an Oscar "special" award, isn't it? I'm not sure.

Mechtild: Yes, I remember this. But isn't this some other organization's award? Something to honor the performers and makers of video games, etc.?

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences isn't the same thing as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, no?
NO, No, no, no. :rolleyes: They always say that the first thing to go is the mind- and I am older than all of you- :haha: but I distictly remember a picture of Elijah not wearing a tux, but holding AN OSCAR ! It was in the "Technical Achievement" catagory for his voice-over work for the LOTR video game that was just out. I can not remember the year, but it would have to have been right after they released the first LOTR video game.

Whoever has the game at home, look for the release date. We can cross reference the Academy's list of awards for that year. It was the first year that they awarded voice-over work, or video games. I think that it was for the voice work. I know that one of ya'll out there with your own web-site will be able to check your picture archives and find this one photograph of Elijah (and I think that he might have been wearing the one jacket) holding his Oscar. 'Don't make me dig back through my big box of Elijah stuff again!' :z:

Maybe the picture was one of him holding up one of the 11 RotK Oscars, after Pete had them all come up on stage? Or later, at a party? Or was that at some other awards?

I don't remember. I'm sorry. :(

~ M

I've been looking for a pic and this is all I've come up with. It is the CTJ, is it not? But a Bravo award, not an Oscar.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Shelbyshire/bravo-005.jpg

Using honey's link to the "Interactive" academy found that their 7th annual awards, given in March 2004, was the first time there were actors' categories: male and female. Elijah won "Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance: Male" for playing Frodo in the Electronic Arts game "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King."

I looked through the technical awards for the Oscars all three LotR years, as well as the year before in case the game would have come out sooner, and there's no mention of any awards for video games or for voiceovers. That's also a black tie event, so the CTJ wouldn't have made an appearance in any case.

In 2001, at least, the American Film Institute gave a single best picture award, because LotR:FotR won it - I do remember that! That was the first year they'd officially given awards (there are listings for 2000, but they're not called "awards" :confused: ). From anything I can find on their website, 2001 is the only year they chose a best picture from among the 10 originally selected; there were a lot of other categories that showed up that year that then disappeared. They seem to have chosen a different direction after 2001.

Tg, you're amazing. I really love the research you do! :k

Of course, if the first outfit we try doesn't suit, we may have to do some deliberating...could well take all night !!
Oh, yes. This could be a dreadful problem. We'll just have to keep trying and trying and trying... ;)

No problem, Txtac! *dusts off foot, places it firmly in front of Txtac to resume first place in queue* :p

*Trips and falls face first into a big pile of discarded crappy looking tan jackets. Gives Mariole one of those looks that your mother always gives you when it's time to pick up your room... * ;)

It is definitly not the Otto award that Elijah got from Bravo. It's close, but not an Oscar. TG might be on to something here, but if the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences award is that three pointed thing with the hole in the middle that is shown on their web page- that is not what I remember Elijah holding. It really looked like an Oscar. :confused:

__________________________
ed. for Thursday Morning News:
__________________________

The Golden Globe Nominations for 2006 are out:

...Also nominated for best dramatic picture: the Robert Kennedy story "Bobby,"

...For the first time, the Golden Globes have an award for best animated feature film, following the lead of the Oscars, which added an animation category in 2001. Globe animated nominees were the talking-automobiles comedy "Cars," the penguin romp "Happy Feet" and the fright flick "Monster House."

Golden Globe winners will be announced Jan. 15, eight days before Oscar nominations. The Oscars will be presented Feb. 25.

The Globes feature 13 categories for film and 11 for television. Warren Beatty will receive the Globes' Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement. The entire long article is here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061214/ap_en_mo/golden_globes_nominations

The songs from Happy Feet and Bobby are nominated for Best Song.

C4

Went to see Happy Feet with my hubby this week. :)
First off, the animation is simply breathtaking. Very impressive textures and the colouring was beautiful. I loved the songs, and the characters were done very nicely. The Baby penguins were adorably cute. Hubby thought Mumble looked a good deal like Elijah Wood! (I happen to agree :D)
Another amazing thing - the German voice artist who did Mumble's part sounded very much like Elijah! I almost couldn't believe my ears. How did he do it?! It was not the actor who dubbed him in LOTR, pity I couldn't find out who it was until now.

I must confess that I found the overall plot line rather weird though - the story seemed strangley undetermined to me (not so well-rounded as, say, the plot of Finding Nemo, for instance); perhaps the makers tried to deliver too many messages at once?
It was interesting to watch the reactions of the children sitting in our row - two 5 and 6 year old girls didn't get large parts of the plot at all and seemed pretty bored. A group of 8 year old boys OTOH paid close attention to the action parts and tap danced out of the theatre afterwards :D.
I have no box office records of HF here in Germany, but I am under the impression that it won't turn out as a bit hit. (But I'd like to being proven wrong!)

So, why does a teenage CGI penguin remind me of Elijah? :p Well, of course, it's the big baby-blue eyes with a rather prominent lower palpreba area... yes, but what is more: there is a kind of resemblance in face proportion - look:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/whiteling/Mumble_Elijah.jpg

Notice the beard line (especially the moustache). It follows the line of Mumble's peak, no?
Mumble, an Elijah-Penguin-Hybrid. :k

Mumble, an Elijah-Penguin-Hybrid. :k
Who - as was pointed out by someone earlier - even does eyebrow acting without eyebrows (How does he do that? :p ). The animation occasionally gets frighteningly close to micro-expressions! (How did they do that? :cool: ) In the midst of all those photo-realistic penguins being voiced by big-name stars, there was only one actor they couldn't bring themselves to take completely off-screen - Who'd of thunk it (except us, of course? :haha: )

Hi, Whiteling! :k Thanks for the comparison shot. Anyone for "golden ratio" analysis?

Maybe it wasn't just the "peril" that slapped a PG rating on HF instead of a G... A PG doesn't keep the littlest ones out, but does give a hint to parents that it might not be an ideal movie for tiny tots. Maybe the MPAA(A?) does boredom ratings ;) . I've shared the theater with some pretty young ones, who seemed to be enthralled enough by the animation and the music that they wouldn't have needed a plot at all :D . (I think there were a few of us big ones like that, too.) The reports did say that on subsequent weekends, the biggest rise in attendees at HF was among adults, not kids - which may be better overall for TOL's future, especially as he's so *ahem* visible... :cool:

-----------------

ETA a thought that entered my head just now. Any possibility that one reason we saw only baby Mumble in the early trailers was because they wanted to keep Mumblijah under wraps?

Whiteling, thanks for that hybrid image. It's uncanny. I'm so looking forward to seeing this over Christmas (haven't got the time this weekend unfortunately).

I'm saying prayers for our northwest US Faculty members; there's been a huge windstorm up there. Bunnie's been heard from in her LJ, and she's OK. But I don't think anyones' heard from Alyon; I tried to call her and got no answer. :z: :z: :z:

***

I must confess that I found the overall plot line rather weird though - the story seemed strangley undetermined to me (not so well-rounded as, say, the plot of Finding Nemo, for instance); perhaps the makers tried to deliver too many messages at once?

Me too, Whiteling!

Nice comparison pic! :k But what's this, rather prominent lower palpreba area... precious? :confused: I tried to find a definition for "palpreba" on the internet, and I think I found an italian porn site instead! :eek: :p

honey!

Honey, my guess is whiteling meant palpebral, not palprebal, so she's referring to EW's lower eyelids.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyelid

C4

:lol: OK, thanks for clearing that up, CeeFour!

Heard from Alyon. She's OK, and they have electricity. :)

h~

Heard from Alyon. She's OK, and they have electricity.

Thank you, HoneyElf :k . It was pretty wild, for sure, but the winds have settled down by now. Our daughter is home from college and we even had her sleep downstairs in case of falling trees. Nothing fell in our yard (or our house!), but the trees outside of her bedroom did some remarkable swooshing!! A million people lost power in this area--we were lucky in that regard, as well.

Lovely comparison of penguin and Actor, Whiteling. I know I'm going to like Mumbles. Now that daughter is home we will go as a festive, holiday outing.

Are people still dressing Elijah? Some of you must be falling asleep by now. Time for fresh recruits to step up. My turn. ;)

Note to self: avoid placing the 'r' wrong, as you will send people the complete wrong direction. :o :D :lol: (Sorry, Honey!)
Thanks, Ceefour, for helping out! :k

Tg - Mumblijah :D
I won't go into an analysis of the golden ratio, but I've done a bit of fiddling with the Human Beauty Mask and applied it to Mumble's face. I had to distort the mask slightly as I couldn't find a full frontal Mumble portrait, but maybe you get the idea. You will notice that penguin's eyes are set wider in the face than human eyes as well as the penguin head has a distinctly squarish shape.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/whiteling/RFMask_.jpg
This is the Repose Frontal Mask

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/whiteling/RFMask_changed.jpg
This is it shrunk to penguin measurements :p

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/whiteling/Mumble_mask_compl.jpg
Voilà!

-----------

Glad to hear that Bunnie and Alyon are OK!
Hi, Alyon! :) Enjoy HF with your daughter!!
And Sneaking, your wait will have an end. And then - have fun as well! :)

That's fascinating. It would never have occurred to me that the golden ratio could be applied to peoples faces - let alone penguins faces.

(The following has some sweepingly general spoilers for the Oxford Murders book but guaranteed absolutely no spoilers for any of the murder mystery part).

I found my copy of the Oxford Murders the other day (I thought I'd left it in Spain) and reread it. It's strange how I'd remembered some bits completely wrong and some things not at all. E.g. they don't actually get quite as far as having sex right there on the tennis court (that was obviously my dubious imagination) so maybe they can just bypass my concerns about tennis, tennis courts in January/February and Elijah in shorts and/or playing tennis by ignoring the tennis angle entirely but he's still going to have to do some love/sex scenes for this. Also, I think it's slightly unintentionally funny (why does he have people in the UK being superstitious about badgers? Could he hit anymore touristy/known bits of Oxford if he tried? Does he know anything about how the UK police work? The UK news media would never display some of the scenes he describes on TV). The characterisation in the book is as weak as I thought it and the John Hurt part is just as strong as I thought it was. Hurt is very well cast.

A few thoughts:

I'm presuming there is no way to avoid having this being a period piece (it's set in 1993 or 94) unless they or play fast and loose with mathematical history. Wiles' proof of Fermat's Last Theorem (happening off stage) is a keystone of the plot. This isn't a massive big budget film, it's not that far in the past so maybe they will just ignore the year etc.

There's 70 tonnes of mathematical exposition that cannot happen in a film or more than 60% of the film will John Hurt talking maths. It seemed OK to me reading it but I don't think I'm a typical reader (I have a maths degree). Also, I find the history of mathematics interesting (it was the strongest part of the plot the first time I read it and that's still true). E.g. I can remember when the proof came out; I watched all the TV programs and bought a couple of books about it. It was really exciting.

It was immediately obvious to me why somebody would cast Elijah in this role; again he's kind of like an innocent and a greek chorous who gets talked to a lot and doesn't actually have that much to say or do (apart from play tennis, follow John Hurt around, be confused and shag a nurse a lot before he finally figures it all out). So, the eyes have it. Seldom (Hurt's role) is a far more of the active protagonist. It kind of reminded me of the Name of the Rose (where the narrator is the young monk reporting what is happening).

I wonder if they really will use the Eagle and Child as the pub or just have a generic pub? Putting Frodo in Tolkien's pub seems a bit weird to me.

I found it hard to believe that any maths postgrad arrives in a new country and immediately finds a beautiful, much older girlfriend. In their dreams, more like. Freaks and geeks, for sure ((geeks)). I found this harder to believe than the fantastical mathematical plot. Although the narrator is 22 so he shouldn't look out of place for that, Elijah could look really ridiculous if they pair him up with a 10-15 year older woman as the book has it. I did wonder if they will merge the two woman (Beth, musician granddaughter of one of the murder victims and Lorna, the nurse) into one character. But maybe that wouldn't work. There isn't an obvious Lorna listed in what we know of the cast (Leonar Watling seems like a definite Beth to me if they aren't merging characters).

It's a minor plot point that he's a spanish speaker. I'm sure they can just write round that if they want him to be a yank.

There's one scene that I think is a pretty strong to actually show. Nothing relating to Elijah, just one of the murder scenes is potentially a bit horrible (depends how much they show and how it's done but the basic idea I found disturbing).

"I think I'll stop there" (which is what Wiles said when he finished the presentation of his proof of Fermat's Last Theorem).

Hi everyone! Loved your post Sneaking. I did not realize the Eagle and Child is that Oxford pub. :eek:
About the Oxford Murders: I have read the book, and I liked it, although I was surprised Martinez won a prize for it. It's plotty and well researched, but reminded me of the Da Vinci code, in a bad way... Without getting too spoilery here I hope, for I expect most of us here at the Faculty will read the book, (but I'll write in white just in case) can I just say I never broke the code...is there a website that has the solution? :confused:

Whiteling, did you notice how Mumble's eyes also have the "eclipse"? :)

Which code didn't you get? I think the murder one is more or less explained in the book. It seems to depend on specialist knowledge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagoreanism) that virtually nobody would know though. I was half way there with this one (I guessed what the underlying series was as soon as the second symbol appeared ) but I didn't have a clue about all the historical stuff and I would never have guessed the fourth symbol.

The one at the start of the book, (edit: I've whited this out) ,"M, heart on a line, eight", anybody can work out and it requires no specialist or maths knowledge. I had to stop and think about this after the narrator got it but when you see it, it's obvious.

A hint (in white): Symmetry
If that is not enough, look here (http://math.cofc.edu/kasman/MATHFICT/mheart8clues.html). You can find anything on the internet...

I did have a nagging feeling that I'd missed the entire point of the book. E.g. is the solution to the murders at the end of the book the real solution or not? I think the implication is not entirely but I can't see what the real solution would be. Or maybe he just wanted to misdirect us a bit.

Thank you! :k I followed the link so now I understand. But I didn't get it at all on my own. That's definitely not my type of intelligence. Also I was s**t at math in school. Phew, I can finally put that out of my mind now...

Sneaking, I wanted to chime in with Eandme and say your post was full of juicy info. reflection on the Oxford Murders, and how it will probably play out in terms of EW's role as the young graduate student.

Yes, it does sound like the dynamic in The Name of the Rose. William of Baskerville was a great role for Connery, observed narratively by the young friar. But who remembers who played young Adso (hmmm.... reminds me of "Frodo"...)? Not me, even though he was fine in the part. Adso's sex scene was with the maidservant, not a nurse. But on the floor. Even that is sort of similar. ;)

Oh, well, I had my hopes up for a meatier role for the lad. Maybe they will make more of it for him?

~ Mechtild

Sneaking, I wanted to chime in with Eandme and say your post was full of juicy info. reflection on the Oxford Murders, and how it will probably play out in terms of EW's role as the young graduate student.

Yes, it does sound like the dynamic in The Name of the Rose. William of Baskerville was a great role for Connery, observed narratively by the young friar. But who remembers who played young Adso (hmmm.... reminds me of "Frodo"...)? Not me, even though he was fine in the part. Adso's sex scene was with the maidservant, not a nurse. But on the floor. Even that is sort of similar. ;)

Oh, well, I had my hopes up for a meatier role for the lad. Maybe they will make more of it for him?

~ Mechtild

You don't remember who played Adso! It was Christian Slater's first big break out role. I thought it was famous (if only because he was too young for the sex scene, by US standards, and allegedly they didn't tell him how it was going to go, relied on him being inexperienced and just told the actress to go for it).

Well, at least Elijah should be in most of the scenes (effectively, he's us in the story). It was partially the way it was narrated, but I was shocked how little the narrator actually had to say - it's all people talking at him. There is one major difference between this and Name of the Rose. The narrator does put it all together in the end (instead of just having it explained to him).

I'm not sure if I'm more nervous about the sex scenes or the tennis scenes (if they happen). I'm probably not alone in thinking Elijah isn't always good at love scenes but I just cannot imagine him in tennis shorts (even Roddick style) or swinging a racquet. I think the reason I'm fixated on tennis is that we don't get that much more characterisation than that for the narrator.

Interesting post about The Oxford Murders, Sneaking. I guess I won't be reading the book as I'm mathphobic. :eek: (Unless it involves half-drop repeats, stitches and rows, or yardage, or maybe cups and tablespoons...)

I'm very dissapointed to hear that this will be another role where Elijah plays a largely passive observer; he's very good at that kind of thing. But too much of the same kind of role, and honey! will become a very bored fan-girl. *yawn* There are certain actors I can no longer watch because they play the same type over and over. I guess I'll just hold out hope for Day Zero, and The Passenger.

honey~

Interesting post about The Oxford Murders, Sneaking. I guess I won't be reading the book as I'm mathphobic. :eek: (Unless it involves half-drop repeats, stitches and rows, or yardage, or maybe cups and tablespoons...)

I'm very dissapointed to hear that this will be another role where Elijah plays a largely passive observer; he's very good at that kind of thing. But too much of the same kind of role, and honey! will become a very bored fan-girl. *yawn* There are certain actors I can no longer watch because they play the same type over and over. I guess I'll just hold out hope for Day Zero, and The Passenger.

honey~

Who knows what they will actually do with it? The character is fairly blank so they will have to develop him some how. This will definitely be different in the sense of the love interest. It's the most adult (I mean that mainly in the mature, non-kiddy sense rather than the R rated type of thing, although probably have a least a little bit of that too) relationship that he'll ever have done on screen (even if it's not the central focus of the film). Although in the book she's a bit older, it didn't overplay have the younger guy/older woman vibe. It's definitely a two way relationship, not just him being passive, innocent or awkward getting seduced by a woman.

We'll have to wait and see what they do with it. They have to do something or John Hurt's role could topple the film over (I'm basing that just on comparing the book characters, nothing to do with the actors).

Christian Slater? That's funny! Just goes to show how little I go to see films. I know Christian Slater is a big deal, of course, but I never made the connection when I saw Slater as Laurie (Little Women) or Batman, the only other roles I've seen him play, and Adso in TNOTR. And I'd seen that film several times (on vhs - never saw it in the theatre)!

ETA: I feel so silly! I was thinking of Christian Bale. :rolleyes: I guess I don't know who Christian Slater is. No wonder I couldn't connect the face of Adso with Batman! *embarrassed face*

I'm probably not alone in thinking Elijah isn't always good at love scenes but I just cannot imagine him in tennis shorts (even Roddick style) or swinging a racquet.
I see no reason why his legs would be laughably poor in shorts. His legs didn't look like sticks in his cut-offs as Sandy in "Flipper", and he was not even grown up then. The bit of calf he showed as Frodo in his thrashing around-scenes, or in the EE Dead Marshes scene when he's sitting on a tussock of marsh grass and tosses lembas to Gollum, was not spindly. As for playing tennis, if he could learn to handle a sword he could learn to handle a racquet - at least enough for close-ups. Maybe they could use a stunt double for any real playing?

~ M

I see no reason why his legs would be laughably poor in shorts.
~ M

I meant specifically in his current skinny, almost gaunt shape. His legs have been looking really, really thin in some of the pictures that have been out. If he's trying to get ready for Iggy, having nicely muscled legs is not what is required (kind of the opposite in fact).

Thank you for the insight into the Oxford Murders Sneaking.

Sneaking snuck:
You don't remember who played Adso! It was Christian Slater's first big break out role. I thought it was famous (if only because he was too young for the sex scene, by US standards, and allegedly they didn't tell him how it was going to go, relied on him being inexperienced and just told the actress to go for it).
For a couple of years before Adso, Christian Slater's girlfriend had nicknamed him "Thumper." You can guess why... ;)

Sneaking also snook:
It's the most adult (I mean that mainly in the mature, non-kiddy sense rather than the R rated type of thing, although probably have a least a little bit of that too) relationship that he'll ever have done on screen (even if it's not the central focus of the film). Although in the book she's a bit older, it didn't overplay have the younger guy/older woman vibe. It's definitely a two way relationship, not just him being passive, innocent or awkward getting seduced by a woman.
Shades of All I Want. We also need to remember that Elijah's 'public' girlfriends: Bijou Philips, Franka Potente and Pam Racine are all older that Elijah. I think that he will be able to hold his own in a love scene with an older woman. But, movies and public interest as they are, they will probably write and cast a girl/woman Elijah's own age to play the nurse (candy striper?).

Well, as a matter of fact Elijah said, on the Howard Stern interview IIRC, that he never dated Bijoux Philips. Seems that was just a rumor.

But it's kind of an unspoken rule that we don't discuss Elijah's love life here. Apparently that way lies :mad: MADNESS :mad: :lol: Seriously, I've seen some ridiculous flame wars at other places where it comes up on the 'net, and I appreciate the lovely little haven of "safe and sane" fannishness that we have going here!

:k :k :k to all my faculty friends!

honey!

Apparently that way lies :mad: MADNESS :mad: :lol:
I was going to say "That way lies the Hugs Haven" - :p - but even though that thread is more focused on Elijah and less on his movies than this one, it's still a place that's respectful of his right to have a private life. (Coincidentally, as I was typing that, the news scroll across the bottom of my screen said that a photo agency is suing a blogger for $7 million over copyright infringement regarding celebrity photos. Let's be careful out there :eek: .)

...and it's actually a written rule that we don't discuss Elijah's love life here ;) - I don't know what the guidelines are in the Hugs Haven.

But txtac's statement doesn't seem completely out of place, since it is, after all, a bit of movie speculation. -- Speaking of which, it's always hard to speculate about movies based on books because you never know how closely the movie's going to follow the book. Elijah's been through the spectrum, from Bumblebee, where I wonder why they even bothered to buy the rights, to LotR which, despite all the book purist complaints (including my own :haha: ), stayed a lot closer to the original than the vast majority of movies made from books. Not as close as Christopher Guard's shot at Frodo (http://www.frodolivesin.us/id285.htm), of course. ;) -- I'd still love to see Elijah follow him into a shot at Ariel in The Tempest :z: .

On sneaking's statement about Elijah's Oxford Murders book character being fairly blank - That's very true in EII. Jonathan is such a cypher in that book that the author must have written him that way on purpose in order for the reader to be able to "step into his shoes" (maybe part of why he gave the character his own name?). Movie-Jonathan is a complete construct by Liev and Elijah. I adore movie-Jonathan, and am kind of glad I didn't have to get a book version out of my head in order to enjoy him. :) The director for Oxford Murders is one Elijah said he's excited about working with (that seems to be a deciding factor in many of the roles he takes), so I have hope that between the two of them they can come up with a real "person" in the part. And, hey, after making a movie with John Hurt, Elijah will have a one-step connection to Christopher Guard :haha: - and the rest of the cast of Bakshi's LotR, of course.

[ETA: Mikey Carver is another character created almost completely by Elijah and the director with very little to go on from the book.]

from Eandme:
I did not realize the Eagle and Child is that Oxford pub.
You mean this one (http://www.frodolivesin.us/id336.htm) ;) ? (You have to scroll about halfway down the page.)

North is on TV in the UK! I've been waiting for this one as I've not been able to get it on DVD so maybe some other people have too. Mind you, I still haven't watched Ash Wednesday yet...

Anyway: 19/12/06 Channel 4 at 1:55

Sneaking wrote: North ... I've been waiting for this one as I've not been able to get it on DVD so maybe some other people have too.
... I still haven't watched Ash Wednesday yet...
I believe that North is available from the Faculty library if you want to check it out. Shelbyshire can send it to you. Can your DVD player handle Region 1 ?
I can loan you my copy of Ash Wednesday for awhile. It's just collecting dust on the shelf right now. I can also send it to you- as long as I get it back of course... ;)

Over on TORn:


Press Release for Immediate Release

3rd January 2007

Tolkien Birthday Toast!

At 9pm (local times) on January 3rd fans around the world are invited to raise a glass and toast J.R.R. Tolkien's Birthday

The toast is "The Professor"

The Tolkien Society has a webpage where fans across the globe can let other fans know where they'll be celebrating if they're hosting a party, or just what particular tipple they'll be raising. Fans will be able to check the webpage and see who is celebrating where and if they wish to get in touch and join in.

The Birthday Toast event should be understood to consist of the saying of the toast and a drink (not necessarily alcoholic) of an individual's choice. The information posted by anybody on the Birthday Toast web pages will not be sold or passed on to any third party (outside of the context of the web pages and the 'Birthday Toast' event). Further details can be found at the website above.

The organisers do not condone drinking alcohol if it endangers the health or safety of the drinker or others, or contravenes the law.
http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/8/1166370309

Thanks very much. However, I have got Ash Wednesday recorded and North is on tomorrow so I'm set at present.

North is on TV in the UK! 19/12/06 Channel 4 at 1:55Thanks for noticing this. It is one of the very few I haven't seen. The video recorder is set.:)

Find the December 15th issue of Entertainment Weekly. It has a two page article on the current problems with the Hobbit movie. The online version can be read here: http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,1567696_1_0_,00.html


Does anyone have the "Twas the Night before Yule" dated Dec.24, 2004 on their computer? If so, can you post it here? It is a fun LOTR related read for before Christmas. The opening lines go

'Twas the night before Yule, when all through Bag End
Not a Hobbit was stirring, not even a Baggins.
The teapot was hung in the kitchen with care
in hopes that Gandalf the Grey soon would be there.'


Haven't found a Christmas gift yet for that certain someone? Try this:

Buy J.R.R. Tolkien's Fireplace... only $250,000!

Time to dig between the cushions of your couch and find that spare change! Now you can be the proud owner of J.R.R. Tolkien's fireplace! Starting at a paltry $250,000, you can soon sit down in front of a roaring fire and read the Lord of the Rings knowing that the good professor himself did the same thing before his masterpiece became an international phenomenon.

The fireplace was removed from his master bedroom from his former home in Headington, Oxford, UK, where he lived from 1953 to 1968. Here are the details:

This tiled fireplace surround is as it was removed from the property. I can see a small chip on a tile to the front left measuring about 3/8 inch (10mm), emulsion/paint on the edges of the surround where the wall was previously painted up to it, sticky tape residue on the top shelf, and where at sometime the fireplace aperture was covered (probably to stop the draught), the marks where the 7 inch tall skirting boards fitted up to either side of the surround. In other words no attempt has been made to clean it. However, I am satisfied that soapy water will remove it. One of the fixing brackets on the back is missing, but I think that can be easily rectified. It is 100% genuine and really did come from the Master Bedroom of J.R.R.Tolkiens former home. The fireplace surround is bought as seen, and the buyer will receive written confirmation of its authenticity.
http://www.theonering.com/articles/20040,1.html

Notice anything about the official poster for Oscar 2007?

http://www.oscars.org/publications/index.html

C4

:) I like it, the poster. :)

Thanks, ceefour!

:) I like it, the poster. :)
Thanks, Shelbyshire. It was your "I like it" that made me scroll back up and click open the link I'd missed.

What can I say, but, "Awwww!" :D

~ M

Notice anything about the official poster for Oscar 2007?


Oooh! So BIG! :)

Better than last year, when they showed a montage of battle scenes from several epic movies; LoTR was represented on screen for about 2 seconds, you had to know what you were looking for or you missed it!

My adult kids have a command appearance on January 1st. We're going to start the New Year right, with a trilogy viewing! Anybody else wanna come? It's the extended editions! :k

honey!

Check your local cable TV guides. Tonight (Thursday, Dec. 21) on the WGN channel The Adventures of Huck Finn starring Elijah Wood is playing. 7:00pm Central Time.

If you're interested in seeing Elijah's directorial debut, you can see his video for The Apples In Stereo music video here (http://www.yeproc.com/artist_info.php?artistId=11076&page=#) at the YepRoc website. From the menu on the left, select "Energy" from the Media Room.

My initial impression was that it was rather dull, but others are enjoying the retro look and feel (and remember, it was shot on super 8!), and I'm thinking that I need to give it another chance. :)

Thanks for posting that Bunnie.
If you're interested in seeing Elijah's directorial debut...
Wasn't his directorial debut with 'The Long and Short of it' ? Elijah was listed as Assistant Director, or Second Unit Director, but the parts that he directed was himself by himself directing, so wouldn't that be considered his (movie) directorial debut?

'Energy' is his directorial debut for a music video. It wasn't bad for a first attempt. There is not much to the song, so there is not much that you can do with it, but it is very sixty-ish in it's sound and simplicity. I think that only us old farts who remember the sixties will kind've like it. Everyone else who only knows the power bands of the 70's, or 'glam-rock' of the 80's, or 'whiz-bang' of the 90's will think of the simplicity of the 60's rock as weak and probably boring.

If you're interested in seeing Elijah's directorial debut, you can see his video for The Apples In Stereo music video ...My initial impression was that it was rather dull, but others are enjoying the retro look and feel (and remember, it was shot on super 8!), and I'm thinking that I need to give it another chance. :)

I think that only us old farts who remember the sixties will kind've like it. Everyone else who only knows the power bands of the 70's, or 'glam-rock' of the 80's, or 'whiz-bang' of the 90's will think of the simplicity of the 60's rock as weak and probably boring.

My husband has been waiting for the second coming of Jeff Lynne ever since his E.L.O. concert tickets were stolen when he was in High School. He just about liquified this morning hearing those E.L.O.-esque back-up vocals! Now I have one more item on my Christmas shopping list: some Apples in Stereo for him.

Thanks for posting that Bunnie.

Wasn't his directorial debut with 'The Long and Short of it' ? Elijah was listed as Assistant Director, or Second Unit Director, but the parts that he directed was himself by himself directing, so wouldn't that be considered his (movie) directorial debut? Perhaps I should have said, "Solo directorial debut"? I'm not sure how much he really did on TLATSOI, but I suppose if he did
anything that a director would normally do, that would be his debut. I got the impression from his comments about it that it was really mostly an honorary title, though.

Bunnie posted:
I got the impression from his comments about it that it was really mostly an honorary title, though.
It probably was, but we have to remember his modesty. I would like to find out exactly which scenes he directed- by himself, or just stepped in to fill Sean Astin's position as director when Sean was called away for a phone call, or whatever...

Honey wrote:
Now I have one more item on my Christmas shopping list: some Apples in Stereo for him.
The new album that Simian is involved in is due out February 7th, 2007. Perhaps a post-dated gift card? :z:

The new album that Simian is involved in is due out February 7th, 2007. Perhaps a post-dated gift card? :z:

The purchase of that one'll be my valentine gift to my two favorite geeks on the planet! :D

h!

Okay, I'm really behind with this thread, but here goes.

:) :D about the Oscar poster. Very nice! :p

Txtac, that was my opening bid of $250,000 to buy J.R.R. Tolkien's Fireplace. Now everyone will want it! Oh, well, easy come, easy go. (Besides, I think he'd be more likely to have read by his study fire than his bedroom fire, don't you?)

Yay, Elijah made a movie! Very cool. :)

My big news is that I finally saw Happy Feet. ...

What was wrong with me? Why was this not a bigger priority? I LOVED this! The whole thing! I laughed, I cried, I gasped with awe. This is not a penguin movie, this is Lawrence of Arabia with webbed feet!! The blizzard scene? Cinema perfection!

I'm probably the last person on this thread to have seen it, but if there are any laggers, or if it hasn't yet come to your town, definitely plan to see this. Elijah is wonderful as this misfit penguin. He gets to do comedy, which he doesn't get enough chances to do IMHO and he does it brilliantly. But the story itself is engaging and the song selection is spot on. If I weren't buried under 4 feet of snow, I'd see it again. But the city is shut down today. I might mush around later, looking for penguins. They'd like it here. Cheers!

Honey wrote: The purchase of that one'll be my valentine gift to my two favorite geeks on the planet!
Aaawww, you don't have to buy me one, besides, I think that Elijah already has a copy. :haha:

Nice try, txtac! You're in the top ten though! ;) :haha: :k

h!

:lol: (((honeyelf)))

Thanks for the link, BunnieBugs. Yeah, it was pretty boring, but I think that's a pretty boring song. It's like a preliminary sketch for a Beatles song that the Beatles decided to jettison. John Lennon, when he went solo, did some super-simple over-and-over stuff like that, but he had a much more charismatic performing style to help put it across.

If EW were going to make a video for this song, I think he would have done better to not show the band singing throughout the whole thing (in my opinion). The words and melody are very repetitive, and none of the band are interesting as performers. In addition, the lead singer was not in synch with the recorded track (enhanced by all the close-ups), which I always find distancing. I like to at least pretend the musicians in a video are actually singing what I am hearing.

But even if the lip-synching had been better, I don't think this piece could bear up to being filmed this way, like old-style in-concert footage. EW should save the "straight up" shooting of songs for songs and performers that are more charismatic. With this song, I think something that put together a lot of footage that expressed the flavour of the song -- but not of the group -- would have showcased the song much better.

Mariole, I am jealous of all your snow. Up here in the Great North it is not even freezing. The ground is brown and bear and we have a pile of kids sulking because vacation starts tomorrow, there's no snow to play in and the ice rinks are melted. Send some of that up here! :) If we want to see snow, we have to go watch Happy Feet (yes, it was a great movie experience).

~ Mechtild

A pollster called the other night and asked a gabillion questions about the currrent movie releases. To every one I possibly could, I answered "Happy Feet." With enthusiasm. And before he'd finish the choice list. I think the pollster understood by the end of the interview that I really liked Happy Feet. ;)

Achila, Pelagia and saw it at the IMAX theater last weekend. :cool: We have a couple of scenes that require re-examination, so we may have to see it yet again. :haha:

As to the 2007 Oscar poster, what intriqued me was the choice to put "Frodo!" on it and in such a noticable size and spot. My eye was immediately drawn to it. (Of course, I may be slightly prejudiced. :rolleyes: ) "My precious." seemed to be the phrase that caught the general public's attention and that was on the American Film Institute's "100 Years...100 Movie Quotes" in 2005. It could be just a matter of what phrase fits where the best, but I like to humor myself by thinking that the graphic designer might:
1)be a Tolkien fan, 2)recognize Frodo's significance in the story, and/or 3) be an EW fan.

C4

ETA-txtac, :lol:

If you're interested in seeing Elijah's directorial debut, you can see his video for The Apples In Stereo music video here at the YepRoc website. From the menu on the left, select "Energy" from the Media Room. But, Bunnie, it's not there, at least not anymore! I selected media room from the bar menu but can't find an "Energy" video. Help!!

ceefour, what is "? days until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows". Did they change the name of the next movie?

Whispers to Shelbyshire because it's OT, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the title of Book 7. It was just announced today.

C4

Shelbyshire try here: http://www.yeproc.com/upload/video/11076-Energy.wmv

'HP and the DH' can be read here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061221/ap_en_ce/books_potter_title_2

:) Thank you, txtac, ceefour, and Bunnie for alerting The Faculty of the video.

Haul out the TV Guides again. Saterday is a Double Elijah Day!
LOTR-ROTK Extended Version is on TNT at 10:15am (Central Time) and
The Adventures of Huck Finn is replaying on FOX at 12:00 (noon) Central.

I think the pollster understood by the end of the interview that I really liked Happy Feet.
Hee! Send that pollster my way, C4, and he'll get another enthusiastic YES across the board! HF and "Stranger Than Fiction" are my two fave movies this season.

what intriqued me was the choice to put "Frodo!" on it and in such a noticable size and spot.
Yeah, I noticed that too. How could you not? I found it delightful, whatever the reason. Tolkien lives! Frodo lives! Therefore, life is worth living! :)

Mechtild, I would like to accommodate you, but we in Colorado are very selfish about our snow. We like it too! It's quite nice to go snowshoeing from one's own home. Today I went for a bit of a walk. The sidewalks are shoveled a narrow strip down the middle, with the snow waist high on each side. The streets are quite interesting, with little trails for the cars to follow; in neighborhoods they have to take turns to use the street. It took a proper backhoe to get Rapunzel out of her castle--nothing less could move the massive drifts that were forming "the wave" behind my garage. But the sun is out, and it's all very lovely. Happy holidays, all!

Mariole re Happy Feet:
I'm probably the last person on this thread to have seen it,

No, Mariole. Consider me the worst Faculty member ever!! I haven't seen it yet. But I was saving it for a holiday experience with my kid, who just recently got home from college. AND since this is a hugely busy season for me workwise and homewise, we are waiting for the relaxing days following Christmas. I want to I want to I want to!!!!!

Txtac:
Wasn't his directorial debut with 'The Long and Short of it' ? Elijah was listed as Assistant Director, or Second Unit Director, but the parts that he directed was himself by himself directing, so wouldn't that be considered his (movie) directorial debut?

I haven't had much to contribute lately, so I'll try to insert something vaguely useful. A little geekly but vague knowledge. I think Elijah was First Assistant Director (first AD). the First AD doesn't direct, per se, but is the physical extension of the director. He/she is the person on set who becomes the voice for the director--protects the director--carries out the directors directing wishes. He/she is the one you hear yelling "all quiet on the set" , and otherwise vocalizes the directors commands.

If Elijah was 2nd Assistant Director (2nd AD)--that person is in charge of the Talent. Makes sure they get signed on and off and are on set on time and does the call sheets, answers their needs...

I think he was First AD in the Long and the Short of It. I never heard he actually directed scenes. Did he?


Happy Holidays, everyone!! Whatever you celebrate!!

Thanks, Alyon, that was a really helpful explanation. :k

Mariole, I'm *still* jealous. Our forecast remains "unseasonably mild and dry". I can't tell you how wretched all the kids are with a week and a half off from school and no snow.

~ M

I'm probably the last person on this thread to have seen it, but if there are any laggers, or if it hasn't yet come to your town, definitely plan to see this. Elijah is wonderful as this misfit penguin.

Nope- I beat you Alyon and Mariole, it only opened here (NZ) today and with a lot of promotion so I will wait awhile before I see it. The promotion was great- but I am surprised at the very few mentions of young Mr Wood. Does this mean NZ has ended its love affair with him? Bummer. Perhaps its just advertising gurus' folly. (hope)

The LoTR obssession lives on though - Fellowship of the Ring is being heavily promoted as one of the holiday movies and Frodo features hugely in the ad campaign. :) And on that note I'd like to say that the "Frodo!" on the poster was VERY cool. And I too noted that it was just where the eye naturally falls, was large and highly noticeable. :cool:

I've been lurking a lot lately since school is out and I have more time. Interesting discussions as always. But I'm pretty busy the next few days so I will wish you all a merry Christmas, the blessings of the season and a wonderful New Year. :k

love. Prim

ps we're cranking up the BBQ for Christmas dinner. How lucky you are to have a cold Christmas- and snow!!! Huge meals in the summer heat. Sigh. ....and yet I continue to eat them every year.... :rolleyes: ;)

I'd also like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas. And a Happy New Year too.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, dear Faculty!

Frodo smiles like the Angel of the Lord upon us... "Glory to Eru in the highest, and on Middle-earth peace, good will toward men."

:k

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/whiteling/Drawings/frodo_laechelt_small_dark.jpg

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

MAY 2007 BE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I brought decorations for The Faculty Lounge...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Shelbyshire/PICT2645.jpg

Whiteling...I tried to find the perfect word to describe your drawing but could not. It is just too beautiful...I'm in awe of your talent!

Whiteling! That's new, isn't it? It's gorgeous! That's a bit of an over-used word in this thread, isn't it? But it is stunning, breath-taking, beautiful. And your talent is amazing!

honey~

Stunning once again, Whiteling! Elijah should really hire you to be his personal portraitist.

Happy holidays, beloved Faculty! Elijah is hoping that the snow will stick for just a couple of days:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v32/bunniebugs/Elijah%202/elijah_wood04.jpg

Hey, thank you for your nice comments, guys :)! Yes, Honey, it's a brand-new drawing... it was my Advent pastime and I enjoyed every bit of it.

Lovely decoration, Shelby, and Bunnie, that Elwood pic is too cute! (If Elijah should ever choose me for his portraitist, he'll get mate's rates :D)

Whiteling wrote:If Elijah should ever choose me for his portraitist, he'll get mate's rates
It might be a quick Christmas present for Whiteling, but Elijah DOES OWN at least two of your drawings. They blew him away too! You do an extrordinary job. Elijah did say that he would like to meet you and see more of your work. I told him which websites that he could go to to see more of your work, but I do not know whether he ever checked them out or not. But the bright side is that Elijah DOES have at least two of your drawings and thinks that they are outstanding too. :k

Whiteling! The new sketch is simply STUNNING! You are truly gifted.

Another huge thumbs up for 'Happy Feet' from me. I loved it, and Mumble is adorable. I'm just a little puzzled as to why Elijah didn't voice Baby Mumble. :confused: We all know he's quite capable of delivering that high-pitched, child-like sound - perhaps George Miller hasn't heard TOL's rendition of Half-fling or The Spice Girls! :)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y121/Blossom10/Birthdays/HappyChristmasFaculty.jpg

And a very healthy, happy and prosperous 2007 to everyone!

Goodness gracious! The Faculty Lounge is decorated beautifully, Shelbyshire and Blossom. Thanks for your work. :k

Bunnie, I LOVE that picture! He looks like Nijinski in that pose. (Wish it would snow here. :mad: :p )

ETA: I was thinking of this famous shot:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v382/mechtild/pics%20for%20posts/Nijinski.jpg



P.S. I gushed in your LJ, Whiteling. That charcoal is one of your best for catching his essence as Frodo - the happy side of his Frodo.

~ M

Ooh, I love the holiday decorations! *takes one of each*

the bright side is that Elijah DOES have at least two of your drawings and thinks that they are outstanding too.
Loud SQUEEEEEEEEEEE on Whiteling's behalf. So Cool!!! :D

Prim, so cool that you get to see HF soon. I always wait for the 2-week introductory period to pass as well-- so I can get discount tickets. Cheap, but effective. :) Perhaps they are downplaying Elijah in HF so they don't confuse viewers who are revving up for LOTR. But in this country (correct me if I'm wrong, Faculty) they didn't play up Elijah either. They only started doing so after the movie was a proven success. How odd, the public is.

Anyway, Prim, enjoy your warm Christmas! I'll be there soon-- February 1st, I'll be winging my way to beautiful Auckland. When I see it from above, I shall shout, "Auck! Land!" Is that how the city got its name? :p

Happy holidays, everyone!

the bright side is that Elijah DOES have at least two of your drawings and thinks that they are outstanding too.

Loud SQUEEEEEEEEEEE on Whiteling's behalf. So Cool!!! :D


Like Mariole, my squeee-, err, spokeswoman said, that is SO cool. Thanks, txtac, that WAS a christmas present for me. :k

Mechtild, hehe, you are spot-on to compare Elijah to Nijinsky. ;) Both outstanding artists, involved in the World of Dance (but I doubt if Nijinsky tap danced! :p)

*kisses to all Faculty members*

Merry Christmas to all the Faculty! (((hugs faculty))))
Here is my Christmas present to all of you:

Twas the Night Before Yule

‘Twas the night before Yule, when all through Bag End
No Hobbit was stirring, not even a Baggins.
The teapot was hung in the kitchen with care
In hopes that Gandalf the Grey soon would be there.
Bilbo and Frodo lay snug in their beds
While visions of mushrooms danced in their heads.
The Gaffer next door, at Samwise’s behest
Had just settled down for a long winter’s rest.
When out on the Hill there arose such a clatter
Sam sprang out of his bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the garden he flew like a flash
Fell in the potatos and rolled on his back.
The moon on the crest of the new fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to all Bagshot Row.
When what to his wondering eyes should appear
But a train of ponies loaded with Dwarves and gear.
With a little old wizard, so lively and quick
Sam knew in a minute it must be old Mith.
More rapid then Eagles his Dwarf friends they came
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name.
“Now, Balin! Now, Dwalin! Now, Bifur and Bofur!
On Gloin! On Nori! On Dori and Bombar!
To the top of the road! Don’t trip and don’t fall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
As dry leaves before the storm clouds do fly
When they turned at the gate, they went righton by.
So up to Bag End the Dwarves rode on through
With a wain full of gold and dragon jools too!
And then in a twinkling Sam head a loud oof!
As the Dwarves stumbled and ponies stomped on the hoof.
As Sam rose up to stand and was turning around
Through the round door came Gandalf with a bound.
“Now that won’t do.” Sam cried as he stamped his foot
The Dwarves all chuckled and Sam sighed “Oh shoot!”
A bundle of gold Gandalf had slung on his back
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes- how the twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses and his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard on his chin was as grey as they go.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth
And the smoke curled round his head like a wreath.
He was known for his fireworks and some little mischief
But now, great goblins, he seemed no more then a thief.
He was grimy and gruff, unlike Bilbo’s friend elf
And Sam wept when he saw Gandalf knock off a shelf.
But a wink of an eye and a twist of the head
Soon told Sam he had much worse things to dread.
Gandalf spoke not a word, but went straight to his work
And ripped all the clean socks, oh, what a jerk.
And laying a finger aside of his nose
Said “Don’t let them down Sam! These rags have to go!”
He sprang out the door, to the Dwarves he did whistle
And away they all fled like they sat on a thistle.
Sam had to exclaim ere they were out of sight
“No more Miruvor for you! Oh, what a long night!”

by Michael Martinez
December 24, 2004.

Best wishes of the season to the steadfast EW fans at KD! :k

http://www.overthebrandywine.com/Holiday/faculty06.jpg

http://www.overthebrandywine.com/Holiday/penguinsA.jpg

Hobbit-Boys
A Christmas wish...

by Jewel Song


Oh, I want a little hobbit-boy for Christmas
I want Elijah under my tree
I want Sean and Dom and Billy
On my sofa acting silly
I want to drink a pint with them
Just like they did in Bree...

Oh, I want a little hobbit-boy for Christmas
I want Elijah looking innocent and sweet
I want Dom to do impressions
And Billy playing sessions
Grab Sean and make him dance with me
On furry hobbit-feet...

Now don't you shriek
That I'm a fan-girl freak
Who only likes to swoon for Lij's eyes
I've got all the books by Tolkien
I know Elvish when it's spoken
And how the weak can sometimes fool the Wise.

I can discourse about dwarves
Know Fallohides from Stoors
And the history of Glamdring and of Sting
The barrow-wights and Bombadil
I even read the Silmaril!
But something 'bout those boys makes me forget about the Ring

So...I want a little-hobbit boy for Christmas
I want to pat Elijah's spiky hair
Give me Dom and Billy's jokes
And pipe-weed for a smoke
Give me Sean to be protective
As I try to stay objective
And Elijah looking serious
I might become delirious
If I could have the hobbit-boys
Those mad and crazy hobbit-boys
Those sweet and funny hobbit-boys
For Christmas this year!


Merry Christmas, Faculty Friends! :k :k :k

Beautiful card, Ezzie, thanks :k . And great poems, guys :cool: :D . This is a little more serious, but it's the only Christmas thing I have. For anyone who hasn't followed the link (Santa knows who you are ;) ):

Dear Editor -

Some of my friends say Frodo isn't real. Please tell me the truth. Does Frodo live?

http://www.frodolivesin.us/archives/213a9160.gif

Your friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe unless they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, whether they be Men's or Hobbits', are little. In this great universe of ours, we are mere insects, ants, in our intellect as compared with the boundless world about us, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Frodo lives. He lives as certainly as love and generosity and devotion live, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dark would be the world if there were no Frodo! It would be as dark as if there were no you. There would be no courage then, no selflessness, no friendship to make tolerable this existence. We should have no belief except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which hope fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Frodo! You might as well not believe in fairies. The most real things in the world are those that we cannot see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest Man, nor even the united strength of all the great warriors of Men that ever lived could tear apart. Only poetry, story, imagination, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Frodo! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to give hope to hearts that believe.

http://www.frodolivesin.us/archives/213a9160.gif

Freely adapted [by T.G. Shaw] from a letter to the editor by Virginia O'Hanlon and the response from Francis P. Church (http://www.frodolivesin.us/archives/id28.htm) that appeared in The New York Sun in 1897.



Wishing a lovely Christmas and a wonderful holiday season to everyone hanging around the faculty lounge during winter break :k .

-----------

(I'm just hanging around the apartment today, but my friend who avoids all things Tolkien has agreed to go to Happy Feet with me tomorrow - her first viewing, my third ;) . Hey, she loved Spy Kids 3D, so Happy Feet should be a slam dunk :cool: .)

TG wrote: Yes, Virginia, Frodo Lives!
:D :k

That was a beautiful 'song' Honeyelf. :k

Peace on Earth and Good Will to All the Faculty (and hobbits :) and penquins :cool: and teenage hit men :eek: ...)

C4

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

Check your local TV cable listings:

Everything is Illuminated is on HBO (11:30am, central time)

and

Back to the Future Part II is on the USA channel (noon, central time)

It's not quite the beginning of the new year, but it feels like it. At least for me. Let's start off the new year with a bang.
Happy Feet is still in the top ten :cool: of last weekends movie ratings. You can see the totals here:
http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/boxoffice/;_ylt=Ah75r1p.d0Yyn_XaRwIkAaFfVXcA

The prodigals come home to roost at holiday time. It's been far too long since I've had anything to say here, though occasionally you may catch me lurking.

Good after-Yule and a Happy New Year to all you gabby, wonderful Faculty members! :)

A couple of different articles finally, officially confirming Elijah's role in The Oxford Murders:

Elijah Wood is joining the cast of the international crime thriller, Oxford Murders for Tornasol Films (http://www.movieweb.com/news/20/16620.php)

Wood joins suspects in 'Murders' (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ie8e2bec15b5c4d74d311de27d333b4f7)

Hi, Goldenberry :k ! Glad you could drop in :cool: .

Thanks to Bunnie for the confirmations on The Oxford Murders. And thanks to txtac for word on two more things I can't watch on cable TV :rolleyes: - not that that makes a difference, since I have the DVD's, but it's good to see them getting some exposure, especially EII which still hasn't had nearly enough.

Here's another one I can't get on TV. IMDb has Elijah listed as being in one episode of Robot Chicken on the Cartoon Network during 2006. Episode is titled "Sausage Fest" - anyone know about this? Here are one viewer's comments on the show itself. The part in bold is my own emphasis - I can definitely see Elijah doing this :D :
-I knew Seth Green was a goofy person but i had no idea he was this goofy. his creation Robot Chicken is probably the funniest thing since Conan O' Brien. it's a 12 minute stop motion weekly show on the cartoon network. features about 20 gags in each episode and each of them hilarious. they sometimes manage to get celebrities to do voices on the show and somehow all these celebrities agree to make fun of their public image. my only problem with the show is it's length, it's only 12 minutes long and over before you realize it. that to me seems cruel. i wish cartoon network will just give them more money to hire more people and make 30 min. shows instead of 12 minute ones. Seth Green and his friends have created a classic show that has joined Family Guy and Futurama as my favorite TV shows. wish it was longer and wish they'd do more gags with M. Night Shyamalan saying "what a twist" hope they release a DVD with commentary soon, love to hear what they were thinking when they came up with most of the stuff on the show.

My friend enjoyed Happy Feet yesterday. Like any good movie, at my third viewing I was still catching things I hadn't noticed before. (And after 3 viewings, I still haven't heard "Unchained Melody," which is listed in the credits among the songs used. Can any one tell me at what point it's heard in the movie :confused: ?)

This may not be news, but I don't think I've read about it here - There are Happy Feet toys in boxes of some General Mills cereals (Cheerios and a bunch of sugar sweetened kids' cereals). My friend gave me a "rocking Memphis" yesterday that she'd gotten out of a box of Cheerios. There are only five to "collect" unless there are different toys in different kinds of cereals, and from her description it sounds as if the Mumble figure included in the set is Baby Mumble, because she said the pictures on the box of the Mumble and Gloria toys look alike. I said, "Except that Mumble should have blue eyes," and she said she hadn't noticed :rolleyes: :haha: .

I bought the DVD of March of the Penguins when it first came out, primarily for the Happy Feet trailer ;) , and hadn't watched the actual film until a couple of days ago. I was blown away by how close the penguins were to the animated ones (oh, it's the other way around? :p ). There were some things I suspected had been added for the movie, such as the brightly colored mouths, that are actually true to life. The emperor penguins in the movie - except for Mumble, of course - are even more "photo-realistic" than I'd thought they were.



Happy Feet spoiler comments





There are two places in the movie I get teary-eyed. One is during "Leader of the Pack" (one of the professional reviewers even commented on what a completely different feeling the song gives when sung as it is in the movie instead of the way it was originally recorded). The other is towards the end, when Mumble throws fish at the glass wall of the display area trying to feed his starving loved ones *sob :( * . At my first viewing, I'd immediately caught the first penguin Mumble meets there calling him "Dave" in Hal's voice. But it took three times for it to sink in that Mumble's hallucination of his mother also calls him "Dave" :( :( .





End of Happy Feet spoiler comments

Here's another one I can't get on TV. IMDb has Elijah listed as being in one episode of Robot Chicken on the Cartoon Network during 2006. Episode is titled "Sausage Fest" - anyone know about this? You can find this little clip on youtube.com, TG! Use the search words "robot chicken elijah" and it pops right up. Prepare your self for (very funny, imho) crude humor. ;) Elijah sounds like he had a blast recording it. Heh.

I bought the DVD of March of the Penguins when it first came out, primarily for the Happy Feet trailer ;) , and hadn't watched the actual film until a couple of days ago. I was blown away by how close the penguins were to the animated ones (oh, it's the other way around? :p ). There were some things I suspected had been added for the movie, such as the brightly colored mouths, that are actually true to life. The emperor penguins in the movie - except for Mumble, of course - are even more "photo-realistic" than I'd thought they were.

A friend said she wanted to see Happy Feet, but felt she ought to see March of the Penguins first. I told her she didn't need to see March first, and that they really might be better in HF/MP order, because you could see just how near "real" HF was afterward. I'm glad you agree!



March of the Penguins Spoiler

I'll never forget the sight of that egg rolling out onto the ice, then freezing and cracking in a matter of minutes! That was a teary moment! :eek: :( Glad that didn't happen to Mumble, or Happy Feet would have been a very short movie!

honey~

tg- Elijah listed as being in one episode of Robot Chicken on the Cartoon Network during 2006. Episode is titled "Sausage Fest"
Bunnie- Use the search words "robot chicken elijah" and it pops right up.
Bunnie, When I punched in 'robot chicken elijah' this came up:

Elijah in Heaven
01:10
EJW appears in an episode of Robot Chicken where he gets to consult the book of life...

Not 'Sausage Fest' as stated. :confused:

You can see 'Elijah in Heaven' here: http://youtube.com/results?search_query=Robot+Chicken+Elijah

I believe that "Sausage Fest" is the name of the actual episode in which this clip appears. Each episode is comprised of many small clips (sometimes just a few seconds long), so if you were looking for the entire episode that included Elijah's and all the other clips, you would look for that title. Make sense?

Elijah in Heaven
01:10
EJW appears in an episode of Robot Chicken where he gets to consult the book of life...

That's the one, TxTac. (My husband posted it for us, but he's better at writing code than at descriptive text. :rolleyes: I'll tell him he confused you! ;) ) That was the only segment that Elijah appeared in. Besides which, sometimes the Robot Chicken titles make little to no sense! :p

honey!

Sausage Fest = Elijah in Heaven

It must be the rational of the male, because I understand no equivocal components of the above mentioned phrases. And I speak fluent Gibberish, double-talk, Pentagonese, Bureaucratese and Legalese. :rolleyes:

Seth Green, knowing that Elijah loves the bar-b-que in Texas, must have seen Elijah at the annual 'Sausage Fest' in Elgin to create 'Elijah in Heaven!' :p


Did everyone catch the 1925 Christmas card/letter/drawing that J.R.R. Tolkien made for his children that was posted over on TORn? If not, you can see it here: http://www.theonering.com/gallery/item.sd?iid=608
Shades of Middle-Earth to come! :eek:

EW will be one of three announcers of the nominees for the 2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards on Thursday, January 4 at 6:05 AM PST. (Thank goodness, I live on the East Coast which makes it 9:05.) The announcements will air on TNT and E! and will also be streamed live on TNT.TV and TBS.COM.

C4

ETA-The part that gets me,tg, is...

Spoiler Alert




...when Mumble rediscovers his happy feet at the zoo, especially Mumble's face when the little girl who tapped on the glass comes back to the window with her mother. The music is just wonderful in that section. (I don't think I hummed here, Achila and Pelagia. ;) )




End Spoiler



ETA #2-OT I know, but Doug Adams, the writer of the liner notes for the FOTR and TTT Complete Recordings has pretty much confirmed a live orchestral accompanied showing of FOTR with the orchestra conducted by Howard Shore.

A couple of different articles finally, officially confirming Elijah's role in The Oxford Murders (...)
Hmmmm..... These articles all say it's to be a nine week shoot starting Jan. 22. I was actually thinking of breaking down, getting out my hoarded Frequent Flyer miles, and attending my first, last, and only LotR fan event: the ORC thing in L.A., March 10-12. EW has been listed as the [only?] celebrity participant. Now it's looking like it will be another no-show. It's just a darned good thing I didn't actually buy any tickets yet. :confused:

Well, I guess I really would be happier seeing him in a successful, critically well-received film than posing for photos and signing autographs. ;)

~ Mechtild

Mechtild wrote: These articles all say it's to be a nine week shoot starting Jan. 22. I was actually thinking of breaking down, getting out my hoarded Frequent Flyer miles, and attending my first, last, and only LotR fan event: the ORC thing in L.A., March 10-12. EW has been listed as the [only?] celebrity participant. Now it's looking like it will be another no-show. It's just a darned good thing I didn't actually buy any tickets yet.
Don't give up the air miles yet. Just because the movie shooting schedule is forecast to be nine weeks doesn't mean that it will actually take nine weeks. It may be shorter, or longer depending on the circumstances and problems that may arise during the filming process. Elijah's actual shooting schedule will not be the entire projected nine weeks anyway. His actual time spent in front of the camera filming his part will be less than the nine weeks projected to shoot the entire film. The time that it took to film his part in Spy Kids 3-D was only one day. Sin City was (if I remember correctly) three days. Ash Wednesday was eight days. He might have more screen time in the Oxford Murders (?) but his actual filming time to just film his part will be less than nine weeks. He has already committed to ORC. He had to back out of a previous ORC because of schedule conflicts with shooting another movie. I think that it was Hooligans (?), but this year, he has plenty of time to shoot his part and still do ORC. The only caveat will be any problems with the shoot that will prolong his timeframe. Hang tough and hope for the best. :z:

Well, I guess I really would be happier seeing him in a successful, critically well-received film than posing for photos and signing autographs.
At $60.00 a pop for an autograph, I would rather see him do a successful film too. I'm not going to pay $60.00 for his autograph. I can get it for free down here. If you just want his autograph, you can buy it cheaper on e-bay. If you just want to meet him in person (without having to pay for it), come to SXSW in Austin this year. This year it is scheduled March 9-18, 2007. For more info: http://2007.sxsw.com/ Elijah always tries to make SXSW for the music and independant films. He still claims that SXSW is his favorite festival. If Gogol Bordello is playing here again, you know that he will be here. ;)

Elijah can do his one day deal at ORC March 10-12 and still make SXSW March 9-18. I have faith in his love of music and the SXSW festival that he will be here. Besides, his first album as Simian Records will have been released in February. Being able to push it at the first big music festival will be a big plus for him, Simian Records and Apples in Stereo. Heck, A in S might even be here to push and play the record too! :z:

The long and short of it is why spend $60.00 just to see him and get an autograph when you can come down here and meet, greet, sign, shoot, fondle, grope and buy him a beer too!- for FREE! :lol:

Thanks, txtac, that was very encouraging. :)

At $60.00 a pop for an autograph, I would rather see him do a successful film too. I'm not going to pay $60.00 for his autograph. I can get it for free down here.

If you just want to meet him in person (without having to pay for it), come to SXSW in Austin this year. I don't have the exact dates yet, but it is in March too. Elijah always tries to make SXSW for the music and independant films. He still claims that SXSW is his favorite festival. If Gogol Bordello is playing here again, you know that he will be here.
Awww, you're sweet -- and hospitable. I would love to meet EW, of course, but in the normal way of meeting someone. I really have nothing to say to him he hasn't long since wearied of hearing ("I just loved your Frodo", etc.). But, no, I don't want an autograph, and I don't want my picture taken with him (or anyone). I don't want to stand in line to hug him or shake his hand. But I wouldn't mind watching other people do so. I suppose I'm a little over-awed by celebrities. Watching him interacting with others, as if I were watching him in a film, is about the extent of my comfort level.

I stood in line to meet Howard Shore at an autograph-signing after the Pittsburgh performance of his LotR Symphony. He was very gracious, and my hyper-critical daughter said I was not utterly embarrassing to her. But I still remember the experience ambivalently. I was so flustered and gushed so much (I thought). I felt rather an ass afterwards, although at the same time I don't regret having told him how much I loved his score. I just wish I hadn't told him so excessively. I have the feeling I would be even worse with Elijah Wood.

I certainly would want to see EW stand (or sit) on a stage and speak, field questions, horse around with co-stars, that sort of thing. All that sounds grand. :)

~ M

If you just want to meet him in person (without having to pay for it), come to SXSW in Austin this year. This year it is scheduled March 9-18, 2007. For more info: http://2007.sxsw.com/ Elijah always tries to make SXSW for the music and independant films. He still claims that SXSW is his favorite festival. If Gogol Bordello is playing here again, you know that he will be here. ;) The music portion of the festival begins March 14, so that won't be a conflict with ORC at all. And I can't remember where I read/heard it, but Elijah said in an interview that he would definitely be at SXSW, because Simian was going to have a booth (?) there. So he'll be there, and he'll be accessible, I expect.

As for the filming, it's anybody's guess as to whether he'll be done by the time ORC rolls around, but as he's planning on being able to make it to SXSW, I'm guessing it's a pretty good bet that he'll make it to ORC, as well.

Thanks for confirming Txtac's hopeful scenario, Bunnie. :)

~ M

Mechtild wrote: I would love to meet EW, of course, but in the normal way of meeting someone.
That is the beauty of SXSW. Everyone is standing around waiting for their favorite band to start, or figuring out where to go next. There are events scattered all over town. Everyone seems to be either going, coming, or totally lost... Everytime I've met Elijah down here it was by accident. We just bumped into each other. Over a period of years seeing each other at the same event builds recognition. He still doesn't remember me from working on the same film at Troublemaker Studios (nor should he, but I will still razz him about it :D ), but he does recognize me from always being at SXSW. Most people leave him alone because they know that he is just there for the music too. The best way to meet him is wait untill he is nearly through with his beer and then walk up and hand him another cold one. He appreciates that :cool: . Don't gush though. No one likes that. If he is with Pam, or talking with someone else- don't butt in. Wait until he is through, or moves off. Occasionally someone will ask him for an autograph and/or picture. He is always gracious enough to comply and will even put his arm around you for a picture, but DO NOT make a big deal out of it. He is just a (relatively) normal guy and wants to be treated as a 'normal' guy. Say Hi and then move on unless you have a question about music, or an upcoming film of his. Be forewarned though. If you want to talk music, you better have your act together. He really is a walking data-bank of current bands and music. Do not try to impress him with your music knowledge. That will just make you look like an ass in his eyes- unless he asks a question about a band that he is interested in- and you know the answer! ;) Just say Hi and move on.

Bunnie wrote: ... he would definitely be at SXSW, because Simian was going to have a booth (?)
I wonder who he is going to have man the booth with him? He has been doing most of Simian's work by himself, so that he could learn that end of the business. I know that he is going to want to see some of the other bands playing there, so who will be manning the booth while he is gone?

I wonder who he is going to have man the booth with him? He has been doing most of Simian's work by himself, so that he could learn that end of the business. I know that he is going to want to see some of the other bands playing there, so who will be manning the booth while he is gone?No idea how he's going to swing that. I'm trying to remember if it was indeed a booth that he mentioned, but if Simian is going to have a 'presence' at the festival, it would almost have to be a booth, wouldn't it? I imagine that he has enough buddies (plus, his brother, perhaps) to help him cover it, though.

He did have a couple of guys earlier answering the phone and handling the mail that came in to the "Simian Records Office," but then Simian went 'quiet' for awhile when Elijah had to go shoot another movie. Most of this year he seems to have spent running around a lot. No one's heard anything new about the original band Davis that Simian signed last year. Then all of a sudden Elijah pops up with this deal with Yep Roc and Apples in Stereo. :confused: I can't imagine that Elijah will be down here by himself as Simian Records either. I do not know what happened to the other guys that were working in/with/for Simian Records, but I would be willing to bet you that there will be someone else besides Elijah at the 'booth.' Check out the schedule for the "business" end of the festival at the Convention Center. I would imagine that that is where the 'booths' will be set up, but at this early date I do not know- yet.

This sounds like it, the 2007 SXSW Trade Show and Exhibition
http://2007.sxsw.com/market_at_sxsw/sales/exhibition/

This might be helpful. (?) I found it on the SXSW web site.
High Visibility to High-Profile Geeks: Brand Your Business at the 2007 SXSW Interactive Festival
The New Year is right around the corner -- before you know it, March will arrive and it will be time for the SXSW Interactive Festival. Leverage all the buzz surrounding the 2007 event to increase the visibility of your new media-related company, business or service. Contact Katie King for more information on all SXSW Interactive Festival marketing opportunities.

Also, exhibit space is still available at the first-ever ScreenBurn Arcade. Scheduled Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March 11 on the first floor of the Austin Convention Center, the ScreenBurn Arcade is the play area that allows attendees to experience the newest developments in the world of video games. Contact Lindsay Muse for complete details.

Posted in Latest News on 12/20/06

http://2007.sxsw.com/interactive/

The Interactive Festival doesn't sound like the place for a record label to set up, but it sure sounds like a place that Elijah will visit! :lol:

Thanks, txtac, that was great info., and a fine primer to fans who want to meet anybody, not just EW.

I won't be going to SXSW, though. I am going to be forking over my frequent flyer miles not just to go to ORC, but to meet a fan I've been corresponding with for a year (who recently dipped into her time and pockets to come and spend two days with me here up in the Big Nowhere), and also to visit my sister who lives in another part of Californina. It's making these other visits that permits me to feel "allowed" to attend a fan event, just for my own pleasure, when I know we are on a stringent budget.

Of course, if I liked contemporary music at all, that would be a strong draw to attend the SXSW festival. But I don't, so it really would only be to see EW that I'd go to it.

HOWEVER, I will love reading your reports, txtac, since you will probably be there, no? :p

~ Mechtild

Mechtild wrote: ...since you will probably be there, no?
Are you kidding? I'm volunteering to be "Booth Monkey!" :haha: I'll even dress up in a gorilla suit if he wants me to. Simian Records needs a good mascot. What better 'attention getter' than to have some idiot dressed up as a simian in the Simian Records booth! Imagine the fun you could have going for coffee! You could definitly pass out a lot of Simian Records business cards that way. We'll need to pick up several cases of bannanas to pass out and get some bananna shaped business cards. I wonder if Elijah would dress up as Tarzan? Anyone volunteer to play Jane? :lol:

Txtac, if you wear a gorilla suit, I definitely expect photos. :cool:

~ M

Mech- That's the only way you'd recognize me anyway- as the idiot in the monkey suit! :haha:

Txtac:
He still doesn't remember me from working on the same film at Troublemaker Studios

OH!! Did you tell about this before and I just missed it??? Can you tell it again? What film??? Story???

Breezing in to wish everyone a happy, healthy New Year (sorry I've been absent lately)!


I love this -- I'm thinking of making it my new sig line:

"2.7 miles?"
"I know!"

*snerk*

Happy New Year, everyone!

A link to an interview/article about Happy Feet and Simian Records that you might enjoy: Elijah's Penguin Suit (http://www.news.com.au/sundayheraldsun/story/0,,20978464-5006023,00.html)

And a short article in this month's "Q" magazine (a music mag) that was posted in elijah_finds over at LJ:

Home Entertainment
Living the Perfect Day the Couch Potato Way

LISTENING
I've just launched a label called Simian Records, so I've been listening to more music than ever. Our first release is an album called New Magnetic Wonder by a great band called The Apples in Stereo. I've been a fan of theirs for years. The older I get, the more voracious my appetite for music gets. A new mainstay is a reissue of a 1972 album by a French duo called The Yamasuki Singers, titled Le Monde Fabuleux Des Yamasuki. It's this weird hybrid of funky French music with Japanese vocals. It reminds me a little of The Flaming Lips.

WATCHING
I don't watch a huge amount of TV, but I'm a big fan of [satirical US news show] The Daily Show. There's a big divide now in the US between the Democrats and the Republicans, and [presenter] Jon Stewart pokes fun at both of them. It has better political commentary than most news shows."

READING
The last book I read was The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, which was extraordinary. It's about a man who has a genetic affliction that makes him bounce around in his lifetime and the plot bounces back and forth through time. It's hard to believe that it was her first novel as the construction is so complex. Laying all that out must have been very difficult.

MAKES ME FLEE THE HOUSE
Corporate radio. It hasn't been relevant in regards to introducing new music for some time. I'd like to think that people want more than what they're given.

Bunnie - Those were great articles. Thank you for posting them. :k

http://movies.yahoo.com/mvc/top10

Top Rated Movies
Determined by Yahoo! Movies users, updated daily

About our Top Movie Lists
The votes of our most active users are used in generating these rankings, each movie must have a minimum of 500 votes to be included.

Top Rated Movies In Theaters

1. The Pursuit of Happyness
Yahoo! Users: B+

2. Casino Royale
Yahoo! Users: B+

3. Blood Diamond
Yahoo! Users: B+

4. High School Musical
Yahoo! Users: B+

5. Volver
Yahoo! Users: B+

6. Deja Vu
Yahoo! Users: B+

7. Apocalypto
Yahoo! Users: B+

8. Happy Feet
Yahoo! Users: B+

9. The Holiday
Yahoo! Users: B

10. The Nativity Story
Yahoo! Users: B


Top Rated Movies of All Time

1. The Shawshank Redemption
Yahoo! Users: A-

2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Yahoo! Users: A-

3. The Godfather
Yahoo! Users: A-

4. Rocky Balboa
Yahoo! Users: A-

5. Star Wars
Yahoo! Users: A-

6. Raiders of the Lost Ark
Yahoo! Users: A-

7. Schindler's List
Yahoo! Users: A-

8. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Yahoo! Users: A-

9. The Empire Strikes Back
Yahoo! Users: B+

10. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Yahoo! Users: B+

*Note: If you click on the link above, on the left hand side of the page there is an index for the Top Movies of All Times listed by genere.

Action/Adventure
1. Lord of the Rings, Return of the King
5. Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring
8. Lord of the Rings, Two Towers

Animation
18. Happy Feet

Crime/Gangster
27. Sin City

Drama
44. Green Street Hooligans

Kids/Family
28. Happy Feet

Musicals
21. Happy Feet

Sci Fi/Fantasy
1. Lord of the Rings, Return of the King
3. Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring
5. Lord of the Rings, Two Towers
49. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Thriller
45. Sin City

_________________________________________________________________
Here are the numbers from the weekend :
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Wednesday.

1. "Night at the Museum," $37.8 million.

2. "The Pursuit of Happyness," $19.3 million.

3. "Dreamgirls," $15.5 million.

4. "Charlotte's Web," $12 million

5. "Rocky Balboa," $11.4 million.

6. "The Good Shepherd," $11.2 million.

7. "Eragon," $8.5 million.

8. "We Are Marshall," $8 million.

9. "Happy Feet," $7.8 million.

10. "The Holiday," $6.7 million.

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/ap/20061231/116760612000.html

Wishing the Faculty a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year! :k

C4

Happy New Year Everybody
(deposits some shortbread).

There's some more names up for casting for Oxford Murders as both IMDB and wikipedia (so not necessarily true). The only one which looks interesting to me is Burn Gorman who played Mr. Guppy in the BBC's Bleak House and I think he's also in Torchwood. I love this guy. I'm not sure who he will be playing but the cast for this is looking pretty good.

Happy New Year, Faculty!

*eats the shortbread*

I've been truant, I know, but it's good to see you all and get caught up. The Faculty was my first online "group" and I love you all. :k

Txtac, thank you for your very informative posts lately, both the movie listings :cool: and the "protocol" for meeting Elijah in person. It's such good fun. :D

BunnieBugs, Elijah has good taste (natch!): The Daily Show and the Time Traveller's Wife are both excellent. I can't speak to the music, as I don't usually listen to anything past 1987 or so. However, I will take your word on it that his musical taste is also excellent. :p

Hugs all around, everyone! Cheers.

I hope that everyone had a joyous Yule celebration and are currently engaged in our New Year's tradition of watching the complete extended version of the Lord of the Rings! :z:


"The English-speaking world is divided into those who have read The Lord of the Ring and The Hobbit, and those who are going to read them."

Sunday Times

3rd January 2007 Tolkien Birthday Toast!

The toast is "The Professor"

At 9pm (local times) on January 3rd fans around the world are invited to raise a glass and toast J.R.R. Tolkien's Birthday

The Tolkien Society has a webpage ( http://www.tolkiensociety.org/toast/2007/index.html ) where fans across the globe can let other fans know where they'll be celebrating if they're hosting a party, or just what particular tipple they'll be raising. Fans will be able to check the webpage and see who is celebrating where and if they wish to get in touch and join in.

The Birthday Toast event should be understood to consist of the saying of the toast and a drink (not necessarily alcoholic) of an individual's choice. The information posted by anybody on the Birthday Toast web pages will not be sold or passed on to any third party (outside of the context of the web pages and the 'Birthday Toast' event). Further details can be found at the website above.


Borrowed from TORn:
Tolkien Toast in Hollywood

1/01/07, 12:51 pm EST -
Kristi writes: Tolkien Forever's 5th annual Tolkien Toast. Come celebrate The Professor's birthday, Jan 3rd 2007 at The Cat and The Fiddle restaurant in Hollywood, CA (6530 Sunset Blvd.) at 7pm. We Toast "To The Professor" at 9pm. For more info about The Tolkien Forever Fellowship, go to tolkienforever.net

That's right in Elijah's back yard. I wonder if he will attend? Anyone planning on being there?
_________________________________________________________________
ed. 01/03/07

Happy Birthday JRR Tolkien !
Originally posted on TORn:
115 years ago today, the late great Professor John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born. On behalf of your fans around the world, male and female, young and old, we raise our mugs and toast your spirit, your life, and your great good works.

Quoted by Txtac:

Tolkien Toast in Hollywood

1/01/07, 12:51 pm EST -
Kristi writes: Tolkien Forever's 5th annual Tolkien Toast. Come celebrate The Professor's birthday, Jan 3rd 2007 at The Cat and The Fiddle restaurant in Hollywood, CA (6530 Sunset Blvd.) at 7pm. We Toast "To The Professor" at 9pm. For more info about The Tolkien Forever Fellowship, go to tolkienforever.net
That's right in Elijah's back yard. I wonder if he will attend? Anyone planning on being there?
One of my Tolkien friends was there, txtac, the lucky dog. I asked her if she had gone, since I know she lives near L.A. Yes, she did go.

She wrote:
We had a nice turn out, but smaller than last year, which is a pity. It is tied into the whole fan thing (by which I mean the movie-mania). Soon it will prolly be me, sitting with [another fan] on the patio and raising a glass. That's ok, though.

Anyway, it was held at the Cat and Fiddle restaurant, where one can still get a respectable pint (or a black and tan) and some bangers and mash (not as good as the Kings Head in Santa Monica, but, hey....). If [the person who asked about it] wants to know more (after the fact), that event is done ever year by Tolkien Forever. They can find the group under Yahoo groups.

~ Mechtild

Thanks Mech. I was beginning to think that I had run everyone off. :( No one has posted anything in a few days... :confused:

They announced the Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations this morning.
Since no one is talking about them- yet, I will get things started. TOL was nominated :z: but not for his penguin vertuousity :mad: It's another "group thing" much like the LOTR award for the whole cast. Bobby is nominated- for it's whole cast!

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

BABEL - Paramount Vantage
Adriana Barraza - Amelia
Cate Blanchett - Susan
Gael García Bernal - Santiago
Rinko Kikuchi - Chieko
Brad Pitt - Richard
Kôji Yakusho - Yasujiro

BOBBY - The Weinstein Company
Harry Belafonte - Nelson
Joy Bryant - Patricia
Nick Cannon - Dwayne
Emilio Estevez - Tim Fallon
Laurence Fishburne - Edward Robinson
Brian Geraghty - Cooper
Heather Graham - Angela
Anthony Hopkins - John Casey
Helen Hunt - Samantha
Joshua Jackson - Wade
David Krumholtz - Phil
Ashton Kutcher - Fisher
Shia LaBoeuf - Jimmy
Lindsay Lohan - Diane
William H. Macy - Paul
Svetlana Metkina - Lenka Janacek
Demi Moore - Virginia Fallon
Freddy Rodriguez - José
Martin Sheen - Jack
Christian Slater - Timmons
Sharon Stone - Miriam
Jacob Vargas - Miguel
Mary Elizabeth Winstead - Susan Taylor
Elijah Wood - William

THE DEPARTED - Warner Bros. Pictures
Anthony Anderson - Brown
Alec Baldwin - Ellerby
Matt Damon - Colin
Leonardo DiCaprio - Billy
Vera Farmiga - Madolyn
Jack Nicholson - Costello
Martin Sheen - Queenan
Mark Wahlberg - Dignam
Ray Winstone - Mr. French

DREAMGIRLS - Paramount Pictures
Jamie Foxx - Curtis Taylor, Jr.
Danny Glover - Marty Madison
Jennifer Hudson - Effie White
Beyoncé Knowles - Deena Jones
Eddie Murphy - James “Thunder” Early
Keith Robinson - C.C. White
Anika Noni Rose - Lorrell Robinson

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE - Fox Searchlight Pictures
Alan Arkin - Grandpa
Abigail Breslin - Olive
Steve Carell - Frank
Toni Collette - Sheryl
Paul Dano - Dwayne
Greg Kinnear - Richard

http://sagawards.org/PR_070104.htm

Haven't been around much lately. Am having a bit of a fannish crisis! ;)

We had a Trilogy New Year at our house, which sometime during lunch gave me goose-bumps for a second; didn't Middle Earth celebrate the day the ring was destroyed as New Years?

I have to admit that I went into the long day of viewing with trepidations. I always wonder if I'll have watched too many of Elijah's movies, and catch him at acting. But nope, I just saw Frodo again.

Anyhow, a funny thing happend on the way back to Hobbiton: I fell in love with Frodo all over again. The "crisis" part comes in because, right at the moment, I'm not sure I can forgive Elijah for not really really being Frodo. :( Can't look at any of those SAG nomination photos, certaintly can't watch that Robot Chicken thing again. :eek: I just want Frodo to come back from the undying lands...

yours in silly brokenheartedness,
honey!

Hi, Txtac! I was around, but I wasn't getting any notices of reply again. :confused: I hope it's fixed now. :)

Anyhow, a funny thing happend on the way back to Hobbiton: I fell in love with Frodo all over again. The "crisis" part comes in because, right at the moment, I'm not sure I can forgive Elijah for not really really being Frodo.
((((((((((((((((((((((((Honey!)))))))))))))))))))))))))

Sweetie-pie! :k I'm sorry watching the trilogy has made you pine anew that Frodo's actor hasn't lived up to the character he played, lovely as he is as a private person. But I'm happy to hear the performance itself hasn't tarnished with age.

I just watched TTT a couple of days ago and thought the film was better than ever. Mind you, I'm one of those fans who actually liked TTT a lot. Not because of Frodo, particularly, since it's really the "Aragorn movie" of the trilogy.

***
I liked TTT all the better because I am reading Brian Sibley's Peter Jackson: A Film-maker's Journey. I am almost finished with the LotR section, which comes after three hundred densely-written pages. I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about how films are made - or not made - since they can as easily come to nothing, even after tons of work and money have gone into them. How stories get dreamed up, screenplays written (and tossed and re-written), how backers are lost or found or just turn up. How sheer "chance" (good and bad) has such crucial consequences. Or the book can be enjoyed as a story of someone from humble beginnings accomplishing his dreams in the face of huge odds.

As a book of annecdotes about the LotR actors it will be found wanting. There are annecdotes, of course, but that's not the point of the book; and the annecdotes are primarily about the production end, the getting-it-made end, rather than the actors-in-front-of-cameras end. But if you want to read a great "making of" book, this is a good one. But what's being made is a film-maker. LotR is only one -- if the major one -- of the projects involved.

I wrote to someone else that the story of the making of LotR in Sibley's book reminded me of the story it portrayed: the accomplishing of the Quest. Frodo had to do his utmost in order to get the Ring to Mt. Doom. But hundreds, tens of thousands of others had to play their parts, too, in order for him to get it there. Sometimes persons and forces ignorant of or even opposed to the Quest. The films, too, couldn't have been made without Jackson and the rest of the artists doing their utmost to get the films made -- just like Frodo getting the Ring to the fire. But the successful making of the films had just as much to do with forces (people, policies, studios, backers) far beyond their control, some with little interest in the project; on the fringes. Help even came from forces/people opposed to the project, but whose actions in the end helped rather than hindered.

~ M

((((((((((((((((((((((((Honey!)))))))))))))))))))))))))

Sweetie-pie! :k I'm sorry watching the trilogy has made you pine anew that Frodo's actor hasn't lived up to the character he played, lovely as he is as a private person. But I'm happy to hear the performance itself hasn't tarnished with age.


Oh, it's not that I need Elijah to be any different than what he is, which is pretty wonderful and charming, if not all too human. It's just that Frodo is gone. I know I'm not making a shred of sense...again. :rolleyes:

***

I forgot to mention that my husband surprised me with a new Frodo action figure. He'd happened to wander past an action figure store, and had gone in to carefully select a "sword action" Frodo that looked most like movie-Frodo. (Yes, he's a doll, my husband, and he's all mine. :p ) He mentioned his selection criteria to the store manager, who directed him instead to a larger action figure who's face was supposedly designed from laser scans of EJW's face. Funny thing is, he looks less like movie-Frodo to me than my little OAF! I reckon it's partly the painting job, which could have been subtler.

Jeepers, a forty-mumble year-old woman collecting action figures! :rolleyes:

honey!

I know he's not Frodo, honeyelf, but I find myself :o swooning for the penquin. :rolleyes: Really. :lol:

C4

It's just that Frodo is gone. I know I'm not making a shred of sense...again.
You're making sense. I'm just running on "economy" mode. ;)

~ Mechtild

(Which action figure is it? I like my $6.99 Super-posable little TTT Frodo action figure best when it comes to a face that looks like film-Frodo's.)

I know he's not Frodo, honeyelf, but I find myself :o swooning for the penquin. :rolleyes: Really. :lol:

C4

;) ;) ;) You penguin people are SICK SICK SICK ;) ;) ;) :lol:

Just kidding, CeeFour! :k Ever read the posts on Elijah's IMDb page? :rolleyes:

***

Mech, this is the Frodo I have.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/346321069_3a52f1f573_o.jpg

Cute, isn't he? He's my third Frodo action figure including Grey Havens Frodo, but Orc Armor Fro remains my favorite.

honey!

HI GIRLS !!!!!!

JUST POPPING IN TO SAY A VERY HAPPY 2007 AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and i have`t forgotten you i will never do that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :k :k :k :k

LOVE YOU ALL WOOD

Hi, Wood! Great to see you drop in :cool: . Hope the new year is wonderful for you. :k

I spent the time off work between the Friday before Christmas and the day after New Year's glued to my site-building program working on a major update to my "other" website. I was determined to have it finished before going back to work on Jan. 2, and did - but then found a bunch of linking problems I have to go back and fix :rolleyes: .

The point being that I wasn't around here much and didn't watch the entire Trilogy for the holidays. I did take time on Christmas to watch FotR (the theatrical version which, for that movie at least, I think is closer to the book than the extended edition - mostly because of the way Lothlorien is handled).

Now that I have a TV with a DVD player built in, I watched the Movie on that instead of my computer in order to make it a pure viewing experience (staying away from any temptation to hit the stop, step, or screen capture buttons :p .) Maybe because of that, it was a terribly nostalgic experience. I still get goosebumps when the NewLine logo arranges itself silently on the screen, feel a pain in my heart when "The Lord of the Rings" comes onscreen in that perfectly chosen golden script, and catch my breath when "Elvish" becomes a living language with Galadriel's first words (even though they're really Treebeard's words ;) ). The only thing different from my emotions a few minutes after midnight on December 19, 2001, was that I didn't silently scream at "the money shot" because I knew it would be redeemed not long after by "He's gone, hasn't he?" It didn't even really seem that much different not to be surrounded by a theater full of Tolkienites. As the movie went on, it was kind of a strange experience to watch the scenes I have screencapped, as I now mentally recognize each frame as a separate entity.

I found myself thinking of the comments (which I'd made myself ;) ) that it would have been nice if the movies had been made a few years later so Elijah would have been a bit older in the role. But my inner response was, "No - he's exactly right the way he is." Maybe that's partly because I see him after those "few years" and have a hard time thinking of him playing Frodo now. It's kind of a closure, I think, to realize that Elijah's "aged" since then - but Frolijah lives forever on film. And, no, after all the viewings, screencapping, and discussion of all of Elijah's movies, I still don't see him when I'm looking at Frodo. His statement that the way he knows if he's done a good job is whether he can watch a movie he's in and not see himself on the screen says a lot about his acting, and speaks volumes about his playing of Frodo.

-- On the action figures -- Remember that when the first figures were being made, the people doing the computer work said Frodo was the most difficult to capture digitally? So those laser-based ones are not necessarily the best. ;) Side thought that Mumble looks more like Elijah than most of the Frodo action figures do :haha: . I really think "Mumblijah" is a great tribute to the animators; they get freakily close to micro-expressions at times - even without eyebrows ;) . Mumblijah is kind of the reverse of Frolijah in that the wonder of Frolijah is how he doesn't look like Elijah. And the first, of course, will never displace the latter, but he is quite an achievement of animation.

--Saw a couple of familiar names in the "To the Professor" thread I started in The Green Dragon. :k I've been lax there, too, lately.

it was a terribly nostalgic experience. I still get goosebumps when the NewLine logo arranges itself silently on the screen, feel a pain in my heart when "The Lord of the Rings" comes onscreen in that perfectly chosen golden script, and catch my breath when "Elvish" becomes a living language with Galadriel's first words (even though they're really Treebeard's words ). The only thing different from my emotions a few minutes after midnight on December 19, 2001, was that I didn't silently scream at "the money shot" because I knew it would be redeemed not long after by "He's gone, hasn't he?" It didn't even really seem that much different not to be surrounded by a theater full of Tolkienites. As the movie went on, it was kind of a strange experience to watch the scenes I have screencapped, as I now mentally recognize each frame as a separate entity.
I know I can't go back and recapture this, but how I wish I hadn't been such a stubborn old curmudgeon and gone to see FotR when it opened in theatres (instead of waiting six months and finally watching it on VHS). What I missed!

Honey, that action figure's face is even better than the one I have. I want one! Do you remember exactly what it's called on the box, so I can look for it on the internet?

WOOD!!!!!!! Hi!!!!!!!!!!!!! :k I hope you have been o.k.

~ Mechtild

Hi, Wood! Nice to see you pop in! :k :k :k

Mech, poseable Frodo is available from Amazon HERE (http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-Two-Towers-Figure/dp/B00020LXVS/sr=1-3/qid=1168014039/ref=sr_1_3/104-7658693-5800725?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games) . You could navigate there from TG's site. :)

I was a Tolkien virgin when I saw FOTR the first time. I didn't know the story, and didn't know all the things to look for. So now when I watch the films again it's the little things I missed the first time that choke me up. Like Bilbo saying to himself that "there always will be" a Baggins at Bag End. Or the way Frodo says "Oh, Sam," after he's been stabbed, like he's realizing that he's put this innocent friend in danger even as he lies there in tremendous pain. Sometimes I wish I could go back and read the books first, and then see the movies. Or just see the films all over again for the first time.

Mech, poseable Frodo is available from Amazon. You could navigate there from TG's site. :)

Thanks for the mention, honey :) . If I were at home, I could stick in a link directly to the item, but I'm at work so will have to settle for a link to the page. (http://www.frodolivesin.us/Bywater/id52.htm) Everything on this page is specifically Frodo-related, so you just have to scroll down past the multi-character sets to find the individual Frodo figures.

I haven't had a chance to update that page for awhile, and even for those not wanting to buy anything it's kind of interesting to look at the links. The items that show generic orange "Amazon" ads (even after you refresh the page) are things no longer listed at amazon. Ones that show a picture but not a price are things that are still listed at amazon but none are currently available. Ones that list a "best price" but don't give a price after "or buy new" are ones that can be bought only through third party sellers. Check out the Grey Havens gift set - with a "best price" of $100.00 :eek: ! If there is a price after "or buy new" you can buy it directly from amazon - there aren't very many of those anymore for the action figures. (No mini-mates available *sigh* - I still don't know why I love those things. :confused: )

The figure honey posted looks like the one that has a "best price" of $29.99 but no "or buy new" price. Notes: This doesn't necessarily mean those available are used; many of the third-party sellers are selling new items. Also, as long as you stay within amazon's shopping cart system, you're covered by amazon's guarantees and policies even if buying from a third-party seller. (If anyone selling on amazon ever offers you a "great deal" on a normally high-ticket item if you'll email them privately, it's most likely a scam - they're trying to get you to leave amazon's system.)

I was a Tolkien virgin when I saw FOTR the first time. I didn't know the story, and didn't know all the things to look for.
LotR-FotR had more of the "little things" from the book than the other movies, I think. At least partially in an effort to placate readers. Several of the chapter titles show up in dialogue or visuals - "A shortcut to what?" "Mushrooms!" especially gave readers a smile not only because of the allusion to the chapter title, but also because the elimination of the Conspiracy was quite controversial and the joke seemed to at least acknowledge that PJ & Co. realized that. If I started listing things, this would spill over into several posts... :p

Something I found even more interesting were the book-related things that the FotR movie didn't mention that were referred to in the other two movies as if the viewer was expected to know what they were: Frodo talking about the Party Tree when he's on Mount Doom, for example. And the fact that in FotR it's Amon Sûl but in the other movies it becomes Weathertop with no explanation of the name. D'you think they figured most people had read the book by then? ;)

Putting this discussion together with the posts about the Tolkien gathering in California - Things have turned out pretty much as I thought they would 6 years ago. The movie hype has died down, and people who were only "into" LotR for the movies have left the building (Legolasses, anyone? :haha: ). But the movies led a lot of people to read the book, and the ones who resonated with it are still around, which was my fondest hope for the movies from the beginning.

TG wrote: ...Things have turned out pretty much as I thought they would 6 years ago. The movie hype has died down, and people who were only "into" LotR for the movies have left the building. But the movies led a lot of people to read the book, and the ones who resonated with it are still around, which was my fondest hope for the movies from the beginning.
"The English-speaking world is divided into those who have read The Lord of the Ring and The Hobbit, and those who are going to read them."

Sunday Times

Yes, Virginia, Frodo Lives!


;)

The movie hype has died down, and people who were only "into" LotR for the movies have left the building (Legolasses, anyone? :haha: ). But the movies led a lot of people to read the book, and the ones who resonated with it are still around, which was my fondest hope for the movies from the beginning.
... or led *some* people to draw Frodo portraits. Frodo, Frodo, Frodo all the time. And I'm still not done with him!! ;)

-------

HI, Wood!!! *hugs you to pieces* :k

Whiteling wrote: ... or led *some* people to draw Frodo portraits. Frodo, Frodo, Frodo all the time. And I'm still not done with him!!
...and led *other* people to print-out Frodo portraits. Over, over, over all the time. And we're still not done with him!! :D


Whiteling, you've drawn Frolijah and Angelijah. Do you remember the logo that Elijah was using for his Simian Records website?
Can you try Elimian? If you can do a good Elijah as simian, I will give it to him at the Simian Records booth at SXSW this year! :lol: Yes, I am still volunteering to be "booth monkey." Simian suit, or not! :haha:

Great posts, everyone! :)

Honey, I think I know what you mean about not wanting Frodo to be gone. That's why I'm such a bookaholic; I loved the book thoroughly and intensely. It was a shock and surprise to encounter such a young and lovely Frodo in the movies, but for me the pleasure remains evergreen. I will always have otherworldly beautiful brave Frodo in Bag End with spectacular lighting vowing to take up the Quest, just as I will have the weary, enlightened, purified Frodo sailing through the glass curtain to the Undying Lands in the book. The joy of Tolkien's subcreation never fades.

But the movies led a lot of people to read the book, and the ones who resonated with it are still around, which was my fondest hope for the movies from the beginning.
Gorgeous thought. Thanks for quoting it also, Txtac!

Mumblijah is kind of the reverse of Frolijah in that the wonder of Frolijah is how he doesn't look like Elijah.
Oh, this is BRILLIANT! :D What a terrific observation, and it's absolutely true. *awards you a Faculty grant to pursue this topic in full*

I found myself thinking of the comments (which I'd made myself ) that it would have been nice if the movies had been made a few years later so Elijah would have been a bit older in the role. But my inner response was, "No - he's exactly right the way he is."
I agree. As a book purist, I was naturally annoyed at this CHILD (pah!) that they brought in to impersonate MY FRODO. But that initial response didn't last past Bag End. Then Frolijah had me, heart and soul. I do think, for PJ's LOTR (as distinct from Tolkien's) that the younger Frodo not only worked, but was indispensible to his themes. And besides, it spun off all that lovely fanfic that kept me intensely glued to my screen for 3 years. Oh no, I wouldn't change it. Not for worlds! :) :k

OT: Tg, I've been going through your site to access Amazon to order things lately. Do you really get credit even if I order completely different things (music, in this case)? Just curious.

Great to see everyone--Mechtild, Wood, C4 (you kinky thing!), Whiteling, et al! Thanks for the notice, Txtac, to raise a glass for the Professor. I love that man! Cheers.

http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/8/1168118986

Peter S. Beagle is known worldwide for his novels, non-fiction, and screenplays. His most famous work, The Last Unicorn, has sold more than six million copies and routinely polls as one of the Top 10 fantasy novels of all time (Its follow-up, "Two Hearts," just won the 2006 Hugo Award). Peter is deeply involved in Middle-earth, having written the famous introductory page in Ballantine's LOTR paperback editions and the screenplay for Ralph Bakshi's Lord of the Rings. This coming February 6, 2007, Lionsgate Entertainment will release a special 25th Anniversary DVD of The Last Unicorn, with a screenplay by Beagle [FANS: help Peters cause by purchasing your autographed DVD exclusively from Conlan Press!].

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

As a fiction writer with some experience with the film world, I'm very clear on at least one aspect of the business: you never know the whole story. That applies to other people, as well as writers -- it's entirely possible that Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh don't really know the deepest motives behind New Line's behavior, and never may. I think it's been so from the days of The Great Train Robbery.

Once, long ago, I said lightly to Ralph Bakshi, "Of course, everybody down there in Hollywood keeps three separate sets of books." To which Bakshi replied, "Hell, yes!" I was joking. He wasn't. I learned all about that when it came time for me to collect the last half of my own miserly $5,000 pay for writing the animated version of Lord of the Rings, only to find that I had to threaten to sue Saul Zaentz in order to get it. (And I am still fighting, all these years later, to try and make him live up to his other promises. Click here if you are curious.)

I am far less knowledgeable and opinionated about directors than I am about scripts and screenwriters. But I do believe that, certain flaws aside, Peter Jackson made as good a Lord of the Rings as we are ever likely to see outside the multiplex of our minds. Someone else quite possibly might have made it as well -- as someone else may well make a perfectly good film of The Hobbit -- but I know something of LOTR's nearly-half-century journey to the screen, and I don't believe that anyone else could have gotten it made. We're not talking about special effects unavailable twenty years ago, but about obsession: about a certain kind of madness, if you like. Madness allied to talent, to commitment, to love... as George Gobel, a comedian of my youth, used to say, "You can't hardly get them kind no more."

And you can't.

Peter S. Beagle

http://www.peterbeagle.com

The problems that the first Peter (Beagle) had with Saul Zaentz in getting the first Lord of the Rings movie made can be found here:

http://www.conlanpress.com/youcanhelp/

The background information and chronology of events can be seen here:

http://www.conlanpress.com/html/zaentz_b.html

Thanks, Txtac, that was really interesting! (Beagle's quote.)

Honey, tg, thanks so much for the link to the action figure. It's a beaut!

~ M

TG wrote earlier: ...Things have turned out pretty much as I thought they would 6 years ago. The movie hype has died down, and people who were only "into" LotR for the movies have left the building. But the movies led a lot of people to read the book, and the ones who resonated with it are still around, which was my fondest hope for the movies from the beginning.
This just popped up. When the 'interest' finally hits the massive video game market, you might want to take a look at what is going on...
EA Disbands LOTR: The White Council?

From: 1up.com: Under the condition of anonymity a source revealed to 1UP that the ambitious, licensed, RPG that was to be Lord of the Rings: The White Council is no more. The RPG, a game that was titled Project Gray Company before the Lord of the Rings' veil was lifted in July, was to be a game where players participated in the battle for Middle Earth, but not as one of the Tolkien-series' main characters. At the time of the game's announcement, executive producer Steve Gray offered the following:

'Our extremely talented and dedicated team is committed to creating an incredible new experience for fans of The Lord of the Rings and role playing gamers. With its next generation gameplay and epic new storyline, we think The Lord of the Rings, The White Council will be a huge success.'

EA had "no comment" on whether or not the lights in the White Council team's offices had gone dark or not.
http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/3/1168117875

Beautiful and sometimes moving posts everyone :(

Tg wrote:

Things have turned out pretty much as I thought they would 6 years ago. The movie hype has died down, and people who were only "into" LotR for the movies have left the building. But the movies led a lot of people to read the book, and the ones who resonated with it are still around, which was my fondest hope for the movies from the beginning.

Yes the fandom has dwindled *sniff *. Thank goodness we still have the book. :k


"It seems almost like a dream that has slowly faded." Merry says. "Not to me," Frodo answers "it feels more like falling asleep again."

-Estë

"It seems almost like a dream that has slowly faded." Merry says. "Not to me," Frodo answers "it feels more like falling asleep again."
That says it perfectly for me, Estë. Like Frodo, I think I'm going to need to sail into the West in order to be healed.

Which way to the Grey Havens?

~ Mechtild :(

Mech wrote: Which way to the Gray Havens?
http://2007.sxsw.com/market_at_sxsw/sales/exhibition/ ;)

http://2007.sxsw.com/pdf/07music3.pdf

The Stooges are gong to be one of the featured bands in 2007.
Who do we know that is going to be playing the part of Iggy Pop in a few months?
Don'tcha think that somebody special might show up for the Stooges performance?
Frodo just didn't sail away. He came to Texas. :D

Awww, your cute, Txtac. I opened the links. Looks like a darned noisy Grey Havens! ;)

~ M

Yes the fandom has dwindled *sniff *. Thank goodness we still have the book. We do, Este, and there is still some diehards among us, even here at The Faculty, that are still playing the Quote Game over at The Green Dragon. :)

Grab your books and come on over and play! ceefour could really use some help about now!! :p

*waves to ceefour, then ducks behind the Party Tree to avoid flying apples*

Mech wrote: ...Looks like a darned noisy Grey Havens!
Well, what else are you going to do in the 'Undying Lands!' The place would get rather boring after a bit. Eventually someone is going to have to throw a party and ROCK the house! Do we remember what Gandalf said to a young Mr. Frodo when the master would crank up the music TOO LOUD in the make-up trailer at 4:00 in the morning? Being the youngest and only Hobbit in Valinor, you just know that Frodo is going to Rock the Undying Lands! :eek:

*sniffs indignantly* Frodo did not play loud rock music in Bag End. He listened to the sounds of Nature. If he listened to anything, it was Mozart quartets while lingering over a glass of Old Winyards. :D

~ M

Mech penned: He listened to the sounds of Nature.
The Bee Gees, The Birds, The Ponies, The Turtles, The Who, The Lovin' Spoonfuls, Journey, Night Ranger, Whitesnake... Yeah, there are a lot of bands to listen to 'In Nature.' :lol: It is in the nature of the young Hobbit to visit the local tavern, sing a song, or two and lift a pint, or three at the end of the day. I just hope that Valinor laid in a goodly supply of Ol' Toby. ;)

OK, Tx, in taverns they might not sing Mozart, although they did, apparently, in Mozart's day. (Songs from The Magic Flute were a big hit in bars.) But they still might have got drunk to tunes pre-rock. Maybe they sang, "I'll Walk You Home Again, Goldberry" or "West-Farthing Woman" or "When Halfling Eyes Are Smiling"?

P.S. Shelbyshire: I looked in at the Quotes Game. How do you find the quote people are looking for? Are they flagged in anyway? There are a lot of guesses and clues.

~ M

ETA: I believe "The Man in the Moon Came Down too Soon" was a popular drinking song in Bree for awhile." :D And, of course, there had to be music fitting for the springle-ring, which, we know from historical records, was a pretty dance but quite vigorous ;) .

________________

Thanks for the Peter Beagle info, txtac. I'm not only something of a Bakshi apologist but also an avid reader of Beagle's writing. He has a similar habit to Elijah's in that he always tries to write something completely different from what he wrote before (in fact, the further it is from "standard" fantasy, the more I tend to like it). When I want to be envious, I just have to remember that he published A Fine and Private Place when he was nineteen!

________________

Okay, I assume most people realize it's dangerous to wax nostalgic with me around, so I won't give any warnings :haha: :

"It seems almost like a dream that has slowly faded." Merry says. "Not to me," Frodo answers "it feels more like falling asleep again."

-Estë
I think I'd back up one line:
'Well, here we are, just the four of us that started out together,' said Merry. 'We have left all the rest behind, one after another.'
Although, of course, there are some "we's" now that weren't part of "us" before the movies. :k

Actually, my prediction six years ago wasn't meant to be negative but hopeful. Back then, it was, indeed, "just us" - Tolkien readers, that is - who were concerned about them, and one of the fears was that Middle-earth would end up like Yosemite: a beautiful, pristine, natural place that attracts so many people it's no longer pristine and not as beautiful as it used to be. For some kinds of geeks (and Tolkien geeks, in general, are among them), there's a strange tension between moaning that the beloved object of obsession isn't more widely appreciated, and fearing that it will become too popular to remain satisfyingly geeky. One of the Foxtrot comic strips published between the TTT and RotK movies has Jason (wearing his hobbit cloak, of course) complaining to his mother that even his sister has become a fan. The mother doesn't see the problem with this. Jason hides his face in his hands and wails, "But what if being a fan of The Lord of the Rings becomes... Mainstream?!" :eek: There are more strips along the same line, but that one pretty much captures the essence, I think. The name of the book some of these are collected in, BTW, is Orlando Bloom Has Ruined Everything -- 'Nuff said? ;)

So it was meant to be reassuring to say that, as with all movies, this hype, too, shall pass, and those who are interested in it only because it's the thing of the moment to be interested in will soon be focused on something else.

One of the reasons I keep the archives on my website is so that I can be sure that, yes, I really did say those things back then; I'm not just projecting current realities onto my memory. From early 2001:
My biggest hope for the upcoming movies is that (even though they won't be perfect), they'll entice a lot of people into taking that first step onto the Road, and that those people will get swept away by it--right into the pages of the book.

And, per Mariole's comments ;) , I lost count of how many times I pointed out in various online discussions that Fallohides aren't "stocky" and that, because Frodo received the Ring on the day he came of age, an 18-year-old Elijah was exactly the right age physically for the role (to say nothing of the fact that I wasn't aware of any actor of any age at the time who'd have been able to do it as well). I do still think it's too bad that the writers didn't give him the opportunity to play a middle-aged hobbit (mentally and emotionally) in a young hobbit's body, because he would have been able to do that, too. In those days, the only Elijah Wood related material on my site was one page of short reviews of the dozen or so of his movies I'd seen, solely to let other Tolkien readers know I had some evidence behind my belief that he could do justice to the role.

OT -- And, yes, Mariole, as long as you go to amazon through a link on my site, I get a commission on whatever you put into your shopping cart during that visit (as long as you actually purchase it within 30 days), no matter how unrelated. That includes most used and new items being sold by third-parties. (As far as I know, this is the only source of funding for my Faculty research grants ;) .) Amazon used to give a slightly higher commission if someone bought the specific item that the ad was linked to, but they've even stopped that practice. And, although I get a report on what's been bought, amazon's privacy policy keeps me from knowing who bought it, so the purchaser of the belly dancing video doesn't have to worry about that :haha: .

--At the moment, I feel as if I'm just digging myself in deeper on redoing my other website, but I'm determined to have something new posted for Frodo by February.

Pick up a copy of "FLM Magazine- The Voice of Independent Film" from your local Landmark Theater chain. It is a free magazine. If you do not have one in your area, pm me and I can mail you a copy.
Page 16-17 is a two page spread on Paris Je T'aime with a picture of TOL talking with Maggie Gyllenhaal! The article lists all of the directors and why they made their particular film. Vincenzo Natali, who I believe directed the snippet that Elijah is in, says:

Spoilerish
"When I was a little kid, I liked the fact that my first name begain with a V as in Vampire. I wanted to create my ultimate adolescent fantasy of what a beautiful vampire would be."

(* Too bad Vincenzo's adolescent fantasy of a beautiful vampire wasn't about Elijah Wood being the vampire. After Sin City, I think that TOL would have liked that. ;) )

On page 63, Independent Film Guide, it gives a paragraph explaining the movie.
SPOILERY
Paris Je T'aime
Directors: Various
Over 20 celebrated directors from around the world, including the Coen Brothers, Gus Van Sant, Gurinder Chadha, Wes Craven, Walter Salles, Alexander Payne and Oliver Assayas, come together to show Paris in a way never before imagined. Through a kaleidoscope of stories about joy, seperation, unexpected strange encounters and of course - love - their films capture both the reality of contemporary Paris as well as the enchantment one feels as a visitor. International cast includes Natalie Portman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Fanny Ardant, Elijah Wood, Nick Nolte, Bob Hoskins, Juliette Binoche, Emily Mortimer, Rufus Sewell, Barbet Schroeder, Ludivine Sagnier, Gena Rowlands, Miranda Richardson and Steve Buscemi.

_________________________________________________________________
ed. 8:22pm
TG wrote: ...So it was meant to be reassuring to say that, as with all movies, this hype, too, shall pass, and those who are interested in it only because it's the thing of the moment to be interested in will soon be focused on something else.
Timely too. Happy Feet has finally dropped from sight out of this weekend's Top Ten Movies, only to be picked up by the Sunday Comics! :lol:
If you haven't read them yet, get hold of Sunday's newspaper comic section.
OPUS, by Berkeley Breathed has discumbooberated our beloved socio/economic/political pundit penguin with Happy Feet!

I didn't know Opus was still around! But I take it that's the name of the strip - no longer "Bloom County". I obviously don't know of any newspapers around here that run the new one. :(

TG wrote: I didn't know Opus was still around!
Modern syndication at it's best- "you only get it if you pay for it..."
'They' finally got it online. You can view the comic strip here:
http://comics.com/wash/opus/index.html

Berkeley Breathed's site is here if you want to keep up with him and your local newspaper does not carry 'the Penguin.' :lol:
http://www.berkeleybreathed.com/pages/index.asp

Off-topic... P.S. Shelbyshire: I looked in at the Quotes Game. How do you find the quote people are looking for? Are they flagged in anyway? There are a lot of guesses and clues. Mechtild, I'm sorry I took this long to respond to your question. The quote being looked for is usually in a quote box. There is some guessing, clues, and such that also get put in boxes. The best thing is just to scroll up in search of it. Most of the time, "next" is put right before it. Hope that helped.

Yes, Shelbyshire, that was helpful. Thanks for answering. :)

~ M

I was so surprised to find out that Opus was alive and well [?] in syndication-land that I forgot the main part of txtac's post. :eek: -- We don't have any Landmark theaters around here, but the appearance of the story raises some hope that we may actually see the movie. :z:

Happy Birthday, Ereshkigal!

C4

TG penned: We don't have any Landmark theaters around here Well- that gives you another excuse to move to Texas! The land west of the sun and east of the moon... :p TOL's home away from home... when he's not in London, or New Zealand, or Prague... ;)

Seriously, you can check Landmark theaters here: http://landmarktheaters.com/

and their online edition of FLM magazine here:
http://landmarktheaters.com/FLM/flm_frameset.htm

Naturally they do not have the Paris Je T'amie article online, but you can check out some of the other films. If you want the PJT article, I can always send you a hard copy. ??? I went ahead and picked up some extras :D

but the appearance of the story raises some hope that we may actually see the movie. Just pray that it doesn't go straight to DVD in the US like Chain of Fools did. PJT sounds like the artsy-fartsy type of movie that Landmark would show, so keep an eye out on the Landmark Theater's movie schedule. It should be playing in the US sometime this year. :z:

Mechtild wrote:
That says it perfectly for me, Estë. Like Frodo, I think I'm going to need to sail into the West in order to be healed.

Which way to the Grey Havens?

~ Mechtild :(

Oh Mech!

I think I’ll join you. I’ve got a bad case of Middle-earth melancholia. It may be the time of year or the fact that we haven’t any snow yet. I mean, it is supposed to be winter. *goes into a sulk*

I do miss all the excitement :( but I’m grateful to Tg for pointing this out:

"But what if being a fan of The Lord of the Rings becomes... Mainstream?!" :eek:

I remember looking at the LOTR visual companion, in a large bookshop in October 2001. A man who looked to be in his late 40’s picked up a copy, sneered at the pile of books in disgust, went off into a rant for his companion (the woman by his side), and almost threw the book to the floor. :eek: - But I was not perturbed – I bought a copy anyway. :D

Shelbyshire, apropos Books – I thank you for the invitation to grab my books and come on over and play. I’ll pop over and have a look. :)

-Estë

Honeyelf , Mechtild, Tgshaw and Este

*Okay hope this doesn't sound too cheesy*

Those posts just went right to the heart. I could find myself in it many times.
Like Honeyelf I was also a Tolkien dummy first and hadn’t a single clue of the books and themes. It was my father who had noticed the FOTR and dragged me to the cinema cuz I felt a bit unsure about it (I am a doubty nature :rolleyes: ) Little could I know it would strike me down like a lightning flash *kazing*A whole dazzling new world entered my mind and my interest began to grew.Some many questions needed answered …
-oops didn’t mean to quote here- :p

Now 6 years later...Yeah I know it all slowed down.
I used to look forward to the next December each time with great enthusiasm. But it’s like tgshaw said:” The movie hype had died down. But the movies led a lot of people to read the book” That counts for me too. Each time a Lotr movie came in cinemas I read the book afterwards, clearly avoiding spoilers’ haha :haha: well almost cuz the two towers book ended with Shelobs lair and I just hadn’t the courage to stop reading. Also from tgshaw: “Although, of course, there are some "we's" now that weren't part of "us" before the movies."
Yeah and isn’t that just great? :) *waves at all the nice people here*

And Lotr lead also to… Elijah fandom.
For me it was Frolijah first.Major Frodo crush I had as a 15 year old and still have*duh*I wouldn’t be posting in that brilliant neighbor thread ;) otherwise.Then I began starting to figure out who this remarkable man really was and little by little became fan of Mr. Wood. I hope to discover some newbies of him in future *sees Bobby's on the list for this month*And well Elijah and Frodo may have grown apart “But the performance hasn’t tarnished “like Mechtild said. Film Frodo will remain ageless forever and that’s the way I’ll remember him.

Este that Rotk quote was beautiful and sad :(
And you’re not the only one stuck with the phenomena called ME melancholia
It tends to hit hard these days, and the weather outside isn’t going to make it better- Looks through the window where wind and rain reign-
*Hugs to you* :k

No Lotr will never be the same. But I won’t let it go entirely
Though its way more on the background I still have my “bursts” as I call it. :)
I will always be a dreamer and a muser who likes to linger with head in the clouds. But I need to get my feet back on the ground in time. That’s for sure!
My weary ramblings soo far...

Hi, Wispy! It sounds like you share a lot with all of us. :)

I'm actually here to post this comment, though, which comes from Creation Entertainment's site, the page for the March 2007 ORC event. :(

Here's the link to the actual page:

http://www.creationent.com/cal/one_ring.htm

If you don't want to bother opening it, this is the part that pertains to EW:

Jan. 11: We have been informed by Elijah Wood's representation that he will be filming in Europe on a job he just got. He therefore will be unable to attend this year's convention, unfortunately. We look forward to working with Elijah again soon and wish him well on this new film!

All guests and events are tentative and subject to change. All guests have the right to cancel their appearance if film or television work will not allow them to make the convention.
Oh, well.

~ Mechtild

Such a bummer for all those people going to the ORC convention! So unfortunate... I don't think they even have any other major guests lined up! :(

I wonder what this will mean for his trip to SXSW -- do you suppose he'll rely on others to run his booth? Or maybe he'll make it there before the end.

Such a bummer for all those people going to the ORC convention! So unfortunate... I don't think they even have any other major guests lined up!
Yeah, Bunnie, it's a shame, but I suppose it can't be helped. :confused: I can't begrudge EW having a good job! Well, I'm glad I hadn't bought any tickets yet (event or airline), judging it best to wait and see. I'm not the only one who has had a "wait and see" attitude, I am guessing. I have heard from an L.A. friend that has attended these every year that the sales for this year's event had been very sluggish, which was why they hadn't offered the lower-price tickets or day passes yet. People must have been anticipating this sort of thing, especially since no other LotR actor had been signed on, perhaps based on last year's cancellation.

I wonder what this will mean for his trip to SXSW -- do you suppose he'll rely on others to run his booth? Or maybe he'll make it there before the end.
I think we will require txtac's opinion on this one. He's our SXSW consultant. :)

~ Mechtild

(P.S. Thanks, Honey, for the editing note. :o )

OH--biggest sympathies to those who were/are going to Orc. :(

Oh, and hi Wood!! Nice to see you again. Everything okay in your neck of the woods (so to speak) ?

And Wispy, nice entry!! And love can last forever!! *smirk* and that's not bad. And being a dreamer isn't so bad either. Usually dreamers develop understanding of things and people beyond their own experience--because they spend time imagining. It's true that it sometimes means you have to make the effort to balance the dreaming so you can apply it to real life, but dreaming can give you a good foundation to see more angles to real life. NIce to see you here.

From recent LiveJournal posts...DVD news.
I believe we have a DVD release date for Happy Feet in the UK for March 26, and it appears that the US will get it one day later.

Extras will include: "Two new fully animated sequences (Mumble Meets a Blue Whale and A Happy Feet Moment)," a "Dance Like a Penguin: Stomp to the Beat feature," "Two music videos (Gia's Hit Me Up and Prince's The Song of the Heart)," and the classic cartoon - "I Love to Singa."Paris je t'aime available on DVD in France.
I discovered that Paris je t'aime has just been released on DVD in France - you can find it at Amazon.fr for example. It's a 2-disc collector's edition and according to the listing, it includes among other things a 2-hour Making Of, as well as a featurette on Elijah's segment - from what I get it's about the special effects though (Séquences animatique de "Quartier de la Madeleine" réalisé par Vincenzo Natali - someone who speaks better French than me correct me if I'm wrong), so I have no idea how much Elijah might be in it. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Shelbyshire/B000KC83SE_01-A1X6FK5RDHNB96__AA240.jpg

This next one may be controversial, but... :) Paris Je T'aime clip

It's a good night for elijah_finds

For those who think they may never see Elijah's five minutes in the film, it's up on You Tube.

For those who don't want to be spoiled, don't, don't, DON'T click the link. I did not include the link but I'm sure those who want to can search You Tube or the LJ community, elijah_finds, and find it. The ending of the entire movie (a wrap-up of all the segments) is also at You Tube.

Disclaimer: By no means am I endorsing the viewing and/or saving of the above clip but as Faculty Librarian, I snagged it just in case. After all, are we guaranteed it will show here in the US?

Hi and goodbye, guys. Don't worry, I'm not leaving in a huff or anything, but it has occured to me I never post anymore. You've been good friends and a great place to chat.

Sorry I've been so busy. I'm still revising my novel, and it takes a lot of time to work with so large a text. If any of you still remember me, you may also remember that I was writing a novel that, in the rough draft stages, had TOL as a muse for a character. According to my readers, though, that character came off rather weak. In revising, I had to use a new muse (I wish I didn't have to write like this, but I've always done it this way), who is, sadly, not TOL. So, I guess I have to say the major reason why I don't visit these boards much any more is that I've moved on, become unfaithful, as it were, and replaced our lad with another.

Nooo! Don't throw eggs or anything. I'll still keep up with his career (in fact, I dropped by to post the Paris Je'taime segment I found on Youtube, but I see BB beat me to it), but the majority of my passion is being used elsewhere while I'm revising.

Hey, if it's any consolation, I think that TOL could still play this role, but it's not one I can immediately connect to his personality or something he'sl played before. Perhaps if the Iggy Pop movie ever gets made I can return to TOL as a muse, since the character he once inspired has become rather a punk rocker, in many ways.

Thanks for all the fun we've had. I'll think of you all when I see TOL's movies.

With apologies to Douglas Adams,

Ereshkigal
(AKA Sandra)

P.S. If you're wondering, the other man is now Billie Joe Armstrong.

P.S.S. If I ever get this novel finished and published, I'll put a thank you to these boards in the credits, so you guys will know. Right now, if I don't stop trying to be the volunteer queen, I'm despairing I'm ever going to finish revising. Still, it's getting better with each version.

*C4 waves to Ereshkigal as she goes off on another adventure.*

Pelagia and I are off to see Happy Feet in IMAX (again! :rolleyes: Achila thinks we're daft. :lol: ). We both love the score, which is nominated for a Bafta, as is the movie. What can I say? If you blink, you'll miss his part in Paris, Je T'Aime, cough and you'll miss his part in Bobby, so this is the best we have right now. So, he's a penquin. Is that so wrong? ;)

OT1--Watched TTT in HD yesterday and Haldir's Helm's Deep armor is :cool: :eek: absolutely gorgeous. Knowing the score better because of listening to Complete Recordings made viewing the movie a different and better experience. Only 11 months until ROTK-CR!

OT2-I was trying to explain Valinor, how and why the Elves and Numenoreans were in M-e and why Frodo sailed to Mr. ceefour last night, but I think I muddled it up a bit. Anyone know of a Cliff's notes version of the Silmarillion I can read to explain it better?

C4

So, he's a penquin. Is that so wrong? ;)
:lol:

OT2-I was trying to explain Valinor, how and why the Elves and Numenoreans were in M-e and why Frodo sailed to Mr. ceefour last night, but I think I muddled it up a bit. Anyone know of a Cliff's notes version of the Silmarillion I can read to explain it better?

C4
For why Frodo sailed: Tolkien's letter #246.

For the other: Does whatever LotR appendix has the "Tales of the Kings" or whatever-it's-called help? [ :rolleyes: not on the tip of my brain as it involves those boring Men :haha: ]

If it's any consolation, Tolkien was still researching the Elves' exile when he died; Galadriel's story was turning out to be quite different than he'd originally thought. All he had to work from were historical tales and legends, after all - and those had been translated by a hobbit. It's not as if he was making it all up!! :eek:

BTW, the Silvan Elves, e.g. Legolas' people, had never left Middle-earth. Only the High-Elves had been in Valinor.

This sounds like a topic for the Green Dragon - but I have to do some work :eek: first.

Originally Posted by ceefour
So, he's a penquin. Is that so wrong?
I was going to answer this, but TG answered it better. :D

If it's any consolation, Tolkien was still researching the Elves' exile when he died; Galadriel's story was turning out to be quite different than he'd originally thought. All he had to work from were historical tales and legends, after all - and those had been translated by a hobbit. It's not as if he was making it all up!! :eek:
*sigh* I love the creative process. This is exactly how I feel the best stories come about. They are researched, not invented.

Shelbyshire, thank you for the Paris, Je T'Aime info. You are a sweetheart. :k

Goodbye, Ereshkigal! Good luck with your book; follow your muse.

Sympathies to the people who are going to ORC, but we aren't really surprised, are we? Heck, the LOTR buzz is fading everywhere. But I'm sure everyone will value it as a special memory. Cheers, all.

Bye-bye, Eresh! Have fun with your writing!

Someone at LJ posted a bit from the blog of director Alex de la Iglesia regarding rehearsals for The Oxford Murders. It's in Spanish, with a bit of colloquial cursing which I've expunged. Her attempt at translation follows.

TxTac, you're a near neighbor with Mexico. How's your spanish, amigo? :k

Elijah ES DE P*** M****. Esa es la sensación que da, después del primer dia de ensayos. Igual es que es SUPERPROFESIONAL, y controla hasta el ultimo gesto que hace al hablar, pero da igual, en cualquier caso, sea auténtico o no, es un monstruo, es realmente fácil trabajar con él, es UNA AUTÉNTICA GOZADA, me sigue el rollo y controla perfectamente el guión, el personaje y sus motivaciones. Un DISFRUTE, una autentica lección. Pocos conozco, vive Dios, que sean tan maleables y tan dispuestos a hacer EXACTAMENTE lo que uno les pide. Sólo Carmen Maura, quizá. Y Alex Angulo. Por algo lleva el bueno de Elijah currando desde los 8 años.

The poster's translation was:

Elijah IS SUPER-AMAZING. That’s the sensation he gives, after the first day of essays. Perhaps he’s a SUPER-PROFESIONAL, and he controls until last gesture who he does when speaking, but isn’t important, in any case, authentic or not, he’s a monster, it’s really easy work with him, it’s an AUTHENTIC ENJOYMENT, he follows my mind and he controls perfectly the script, the personage and his motivations. A BENEFIT, one authenticates lesson. Few I know, lives God, so maleables and so arranged to do EXACTLY everything one requests them. Only Carmen Maura, perhaps. And Alex Angulo. For something the good Elijah is working from 8.

Always good to see praise for Elijah's ability to take direction. Although an abler translator could perhaps make sense of "he's a monster, it's really easy to work with him..." :confused: :lol: (I'm gonna assume that's something like "he's great...")

honey~

crossing my fingers - my first attempt at this post got eaten

From the director's blog (http://blasfemandoenelvrticedeluniverso.blogspot.com/), Lorna is Julie Cox (the girlfriend) which means Leonor Watling is Beth. The police guy is Jim Carter. Maybe Burn Gorman is Johnson?

Also, my pet worry of tennis is partially resolved: they look like they are going for squash instead. Which is a lot warmer and more viable at this time of year. ;) Especially if one happened to be in a state of partial undress or something like that.

A photo from the set. That's Julie Cox with Mr. de la Iglesia, and Mr. Wood. :)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/359719225_5f81fea244_o.jpg

honey!

appropos of absolutely nothing, my husband used to have a leather jacket just like that one... only several times larger

I think this film may kill me, he looks that good.

Retreating into faculty level seriousness, there's a load of stuff in that blog. Not specifically Elijah, but on the film, locations etc. The director clearly has a very quirky sense of humour (or at least, that's what it looks like from the babelfished translations).

Hi, Ereshkigal! Thanks for posting and giving a gracious goodbye. The Valar, the Force, grace, and the muses be with you as you complete your novel. Woo hoo! :)

~ Mechtild

The director clearly has a very quirky sense of humour (or at least, that's what it looks like from the babelfished translations).
That's also the impression I got from the list of his previous films. This seems to be the most "normal" movie he's ever made - I can see why Elijah'd want to work with him.

---Great jacket! Can't you just feel that soft, buttery, worn-in leather? :cool: :cool:

Wow!! Beautiful pic, Honey!!

And I forgot to say before, Ereshkigal, that I wish you the very best in your endeavors. HOpe you stop in and let us know how it goes.

*C4 waves to Ereshkigal as she goes off on another adventure.*

Pelagia and I are off to see Happy Feet in IMAX (again! :rolleyes: Achila thinks we're daft. ).

No, I don't! Hello Faculty -- long time no see! :k

ETA -- Had to come back in to get rid of that rolling thing that WAS making me daft! I hadn't realized that The Oxford Murders had started already -- doesn't Elijah look great, and does it seriously surprise anyone that the director's already in love with him (yep, the Spanish translation was pretty good -- I would smooth it a bit but that's basically what it says)? So wonderful to see him in a big part for a change!

Best of luck, Ereshkigal -- yes, I'm quite familiar with what happens when your muse changes (shush, Pelagia and ceefour). It can be somewhat traumatic.

Happy Birthday, ylla! :)

Pelagia and I saw Happy Feet yesterday. Such fun! There were 6(!) others in the theater at a late morning viewing in the middle of the week for a movie that has been out for 2 months (and isn't LOTR or Titanic)!! Since we had company, this squelched our idea of singing along, although each of us did spontenuously burst into song a couple of times, because well, how can you not? The other audience members were all female: three women (of a certain age) and one mother with her two small daughters. This seems significant to me; I am still thinking it through.

C4

Yes indeed, Happy Birthday, ylla! :k

Happy Birthday, YLLA! :k :k :k

I thouht I'd share some of the fun stuff folks in LJ have been finding in director Alex de la Iglesia's blog.

Firstly this is a lovely picture in which Sr. de la Iglesia talks with his hands. Wouldn't it be funny to be in a room with the two of them talking? Hands flying everywhere... You might want to bring a sweater, as there'd be a breeze. (Elbow patches optional.)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/362683012_bfa4b39d79_b.jpg

And then there are the journal entries.

Sr. de la Iglesia is pleased with his cast...
Today I have been happy trying with the actors, because they are extraordinary.

He grows fond of them all...
In short, I finish this absurd digresión: what magnificent tests. John Hurt is my father, Elijah my brother. God, socórreme: Who will be my mother-in-law?

Not that there aren't moments...
Petersen is so good that he is right, Hurt also is right in what he says, although it hurts as if they cut my ears off with dull scissors, and it is certain that they have got me by the balls. That causes me to get upset, and Elijah notes this and gives me a hug, a strong and sincere hug, because he understands my feelings EXACTLY. That calms me and touches me.

Love that "cut my ears off with dull scissors"! :)

But the cast seems to be bonding, and becoming a "happy family"...
We went to the Union Club, that club of the wonderful Soho of which I became member. We had supper in a very cosy pequeñita room that seemed the small drawing-room of your house, with books and everything. Good, the food was not thing of the other world, (formidable to be English) but nobody spoke of the film in itself, thing that made everything much more pleasant. Elijah was warm, open and likeable, like always, it also came Pamela, Julie, John, Jorge, X, my producer, and R...

And then there was an accidental revelation with comedic results. Apparently Alex had mentioned in a previous entry his fondness for a mysterious shapely woman...
First: Elijah has discovered the blog. Good, I told him, it is certain, but I did not think that he was going to read it. And he has a program to translate the Spanish, and he has asked me who was the woman of the generous ass. I have had to tell him who it was, and I HAVE DIED OF the SHAME. But because Elijah is simply wonderful, he has promised me that he is not going to give it away. But, who's to say that Z is not going to do the same? By the way, Elijah, if you read this, please, pardon the FIZZLES that I am. My mouth is like the mouth of Pinocchio´s whale.


But best of all...
the Hurt-Elijah pair is dynamite

Oh I do hope Sr. de la Iglesia keeps posting these little tidbits! It's so fun watching yet another director fall under the spell!

All above quotes are from HERE (http://blasfemandoenelvrticedeluniverso.blogspot.com/)

ETA: I just got that bit about "the food was not thing of the other world, (formidable to be English)" :lol:

honey!

Thanks for the update, honeyelf. I rely on KD for EW news so your postings are much appreciated. :k

C4

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y121/Blossom10/Birthdays/Ylla.jpg

Sending hugs and :k

Honey - Thanks for posting the blog entries - and the beautiful pics. :) Sr. de la Iglesia seems delightful - and so enamoured of Elijah. :)

the Hurt-Elijah pair is dynamite

That is good to hear. :cool:

Congratulations to Eandme and Brummie, for being selected as extras on this production. Brummie has just posted some very exciting news in the Hugs Haven. :)

Eresh - Goodbye, and good luck with your novel.

Happy birthday, Ylla!

A recent shot of a somewhat scruffy and under-the-weather but still beautiful fellow:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v32/bunniebugs/Elijah%202/DailyCeleb428595.jpg

Happy Birthday, YLLA!:k


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/whiteling/rand_famd_07.jpg

"Oh, there's a birthday! And I will with work with members of the erudite Faculty Lounge! Wow. That's awesome!"

(Picture by courtesy of Random Fandom)


Ereshkigal, be well and good luck for your novel!

http://www.theonering.com/articles/20058,1.html
New Line Head will "Never" Work With Peter Jackson on The Hobbit
January 10, 2007
Submitted By Jonathan

Robert Shaye, the head of New Line Cinema, has made clear New Line Cinema's position on the expected timeframe of working with Peter Jackson again.

Never.

Yep, there's not a human's chance in the Halls of Mandos that Jackson will ever work with New Line on The Hobbit (as long as Shaye's in charge). Here's what he said in an interview promoting The Last Mimzy:



"I do not want to make a movie with somebody who is suing me. It will never happen during my watch."

"There's a kind of arrogance. Not that I don't think Peter is a good filmmaker and that he hasn't contributed significantly to filmography and made three very good movies. And I don't even expect him to say 'thank you' for having me make it happen and having New Line make it happen. But to think that I, as a functionary in [a] company that has been around for a long time, but is now owned by a very big conglomerate, would care one bit about trying to cheat the guy, ... he's either had very poor counsel or is completely misinformed and myopic to think that I care whether I give him [anything]."

"He got a quarter of a billion dollars paid to him so far, justifiably, according to contract, completely right, and this guy, who already has received a quarter of a billion dollars, turns around without wanting to have a discussion with us and sues us and refuses to discuss it unless we just give in to his plan. I don't want to work with that guy anymore. Why would I? So the answer is he will never make any movie with New Line Cinema again while I'm still working for the company."

"I'm incredibly offended. I don't care about Peter Jackson anymore. He wants to have another $100 million or $50 million, whatever he's suing us for. He doesn't want to sit down and talk about it. He thinks that we owe him something after we've paid him over a quarter of a billion dollars. ... Cheers, Peter."


Now, when all is said and done, New Line doesn't have the absolute final say on what happens with The Hobbit. As MGM (who owns the distribution rights to the film) says, "the matter of Peter Jackson directing the Hobbit films is far from closed."

There is, to me, no uncertain irony that it is the greed of men that has gotten between the formerly good relationship between Jackson and New Line; the sort of greed that Tolkien made clear was the doom of humanity.


http://www.theonering.com/articles/20059,1.html
Peter Jackson Responds to New Line Cinema
January 11, 2007
Submitted By Jonathan

Peter Jackson has responded to (New Line Cinema Chief) Bob Shaye's comments about the absolute status of the end of their current relationship and future relationship. Here's what he told the trade magazine Variety:


"It is regrettable that Bob has chosen to make [the argument] personal. I have always had the highest respect and affection for Bob and other senior management at New Line and continue to do so."

"Contrary to recent comments made by Bob Shaye, we attempted to discuss the issues raised by the Fellowship audit with New Line for over a year, but the studio was and continues to be completely uncooperative. This has compelled us to file a lawsuit to pursue our contractual rights under the law. Nobody likes legal action, but the studio left us with no alternative."


He also took issue with Shaye's intimation that Lord of the Rings cast members won't take part in New Line's 40th anniversary because of the lawsuit saying, "In light of these circumstances, I didn't think it was appropriate for me to be involved in [an anniversary video]. I have never discussed this video with any of the cast of the LOTR. The issues that Bob Shaye has with the cast pre-date this lawsuit by many years.".

So, the drama continues.... It seems to me that the only way The Hobbit will get made now, is for New Line to lose the rights to filming by not exercising them this year (in starting production on the film).

Happy Birthday, Ylla!
I gave in and let Elijah borrow Sting for the evening. He wanted to bring it to your party.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Shelbyshire/Elijah%20Wood/23917535-1.jpg

Dear Faculty, :k love to you all!
I am sorry to have been absent for some time. Now I am back and I intend to make this an oliphaunt of a post, ok, so put the kettle on and get comfy, or scroll down... ;)

First of all I have to mention to those of you who don't already know it that I have had the mindboggling luck to have been cast as an extra in the Oxford Murders. :D Filming will take place in London on Feb 14, and if you are interested I'd be happy to share here what the whole thing was like after it's done. (Yes, Elijah will be in the scene ;) )

I have read all the posts I missed during the last month or so, especially enjoying this:
(Originally Posted by tgshaw)
Mumblijah is kind of the reverse of Frolijah in that the wonder of Frolijah is how he doesn't look like Elijah. :D

and I was so touched by what Ëste, Shelbyshire, Mechtild, tgshaw, Mariole and Honeyelf wrote in regards to looking back at the past six years and in regards to watching LotR over the holidays. I too, did that. I have never really been able to put down in words in any meaningful sort of way what LotR has meant to me. I think now is the time to try and do that, in honour of your heartfelt, beautifully sad, sweet, funny, intelligent and thoughtful posts.

I was a Tolkien virgin when I first watched FotR. But my story really began with RotK.

I believe every person has a story, infact it could be said that every one of us is a story. Humankind as a compilation of stories, winding into one another, crossing paths, veering out left and right, returning, merging, swelling, reaching far into the unknown. My story will be about love.

I don’t mean to say that I’m a very loving person. I could certainly do with an upgrade in that department ... but I have experienced love, and at a crucial time in my life love came to me, much like Gandalf on his cart, bearing news of a great big world outside my little Shire. Except it was a Shire laid barren, a wasteland, and news of the Love that Exists was like a spring rain on the caked mud floor of my soul.

But let’s step back in time for a bit. Some of you know that I am a priest. I was ordained three years ago, and work did not turn out the way I had imagined. I disovered I had lost faith during my years at university. Anyway, the first six months of working were awful, simply awful. It was nothing like I had expected. I could get along with nobody, and I felt extremely out of place. I had moved away to a new place and I was isolated from friends and family. I cried every single day, until I couldn’t cry any more and I started to go numb. I loathed everything, even myself. Especially myself. Life had lost its meaning. The idea of suicide was lurking in the back of my mind.
I was in Mordor, where the shadows lie.

One night I went to the cinema to see Return of the King. I had seen FotR and TTT, but I had not yet read the book, and even though I was amazed by the whole thing, it had not yet had that irreversible, life-changing effect on me.

I came out of the movie theatre that night a different person. Something had taken place. Perhaps it was Frodo and Sam struggling up the mountainside. Perhaps it was Aragorn or Eowyn or Theoden or Gandalf. I don’t know. But love for these characters, love for Middle Earth, and the love of all things good and wise that I had known and long since lost, burst open like a blossoming red flower in me, spreading its warmth and its scent in my body and in my soul. Slowly colours returned to my life, and music, and meaning. And with meaning - hope.

It was like that John Henry Newman hymn: "...and with the morn those angel faces smile, which I have loved long since and lost awhile".

I was never comfortable saying the words “I love” because I see Love as a force in itself that can take hold of you. It’s Frodo’s acceptance of his role as Ringbearer. It’s when people embrace their own lives and the lives of others. It’s me being able to laugh again, it’s the sense of awe that we share, we – the people who love Middle-earth. We do not create it, we become part of it.

Knowing the secret of Love is knowing how to find it. You will not find it if you go in search of someone who will love you. The only way to find it is by loving others. Then you will become part of the Love that Exists, and you will know that it was always there, and it will continue to exist until the ending of the world.

That is my comment on the topic of "the hype dying down", I guess. While some things must change, there are some things that reflect the Eternal. I was fortunate enough to have my faith and hope renewed by Tolkien's subcreation. But you have to look a little deeper... some people only see the puddle of water, others see the heavens reflected.

Don't be sad, Honeyelf. Frodo lives.

Quote Eandme:I intend to make this an oliphaunt of a post, :D

Thank you Eandme for such a beautifully touching post. It brought tears to my eyes. My life too was changed by my Lord of the Rings experience. Reading it for the first time, in August 2001*, gave me the strength I needed to do something about a negative influence at work. Oh yes I have been to Mordor. Fortunately I came back again with the help of my faith and the help I got from Tolkien’s characters. ‘There is always hope.’

Cheers! Eandme. Looking forward to hearing all about your Oxford Murders adventure.

*When I heard that there was going to be a film I decided to finish the book, before seeing the films.