In celebration of the release today of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition Blu-ray…
Continue ReadingIn celebration of the release today of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition Blu-ray and DVD, we have another EXCLUSIVE clip to share with you! From the behind the scenes footage in the Bonus Features, this gives us a little more insight into dwarven armour. (Cosplayers, who will be the first to make Thorin’s unseen ‘Ram’s head’ armour??)
Thanks to Warner Bros. for sharing this with us!
As you know, last week a select group of fans in London were treated to a screening of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition. Some pretty special guests were in attendance – we hope many of you were able to watch via the live stream!
The organisers behind the event have sent us along this report:
“On Saturday, 7th November 2015, a number of the world’s biggest and most passionate fans of The Hobbit film trilogy assembled in London for a very special screening event, where they were joined by a host of special guests, to celebrate the release of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – Extended Edition on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital release, and to commemorate the one-year anniversary of last year’s incredible The Hobbit Fan Fellowship Contest competition. The Warner Bros. Home Entertainment release is the final film in the globally popular The Hobbit Trilogy, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures.
Kyle Pedley of (A)musings Media, who was among the UK-based winners of the global fan competition, organised and hosted the event along with fellow members of The Hobbit Fan Fellowship, with help from Warner Bros. Pictures UK and Tourism New Zealand. International winners flew in from all over the globe – from as far afield as the United States, Mexico and Eastern Europe – to take part in an evening full of surprises and special appearances.
Guests were not only treated to an exclusive UK screening of the Extended Edition of The Hobbit Trilogy’s epic conclusion at Warner Bros. Pictures’ own private screening theatre ahead of its home entertainment release, but were also treated to surprises including a video message from director Sir Peter Jackson all the way from New Zealand, and a Q&A session with a panel of distinguished guests.
These included Royd Tolkien, great-grandson of author J.R.R. Tolkien and long-time advocate and supporter of the film adaptations (who made a cameo appearance in 2003’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), and writer / broadcaster Brian Sibley, who has long been involved in the community celebrating the author’s legacy, having been jointly responsible for the acclaimed 1981 BBC Radio adaptation of The Lord of the Rings and penning a number of official behind-the-scenes books and guides for both of Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth trilogies. Finally, to the excitement and disbelief of fans – met with an uproarious standing ovation – came the surprise appearance of film, theatre and television icon Sir Ian McKellen, known and beloved around the world for his defining portrayal of the Wizard Gandalf in Jackson’s Middle-earth and the only principle cast member to appear in all six films across both celebrated film trilogies.
Other special guests in attendance included a contingent of Middle-earth ‘cosplayers’ – The Galactic Knights, who showcased some of their terrific Hobbit- and Rings-inspired costumes and replicas; Chairman of The Tolkien Society, Shaun Gunner; and Rachel Sprackett of Tourism New Zealand.
Kyle Pedley, The Hobbit Fan Fellowship member and host of the event, said:
“This was an incredible, unprecedented celebration of the impact both these films and also last year’s incredible competition have had on people from all corners of the globe. To have such a dedicated group of fans, who last year formed their own genuine fellowship over the course of a magical week in New Zealand, reunite for this special occasion was just an absolute joy to behold and be part of. To be joined by the likes of Royd Tolkien, Brian Sibley and Sir Ian McKellen, and have such a fantastic personal video message from Sir Peter Jackson over in New Zealand, was an absolute thrill and honour. The guests were not aware or expecting any of it, and their reactions to not only the surprises, but also getting to see one another again, were a moving reminder of how indelible and genuine the bonds of fellowship formed in New Zealand really were.”
The Hobbit Fan Fellowship Contest was an international search conducted in 2014 by Tourism New Zealand, Air New Zealand and Warner Bros. to find 75 of the world’s biggest Hobbit fans. Over 140,000 people registered for the competition, and over a two month period were required to complete a series of tasks and challenges, including testing their knowledge of New Zealand as the cinematic Middle-earth, designing a postcard for Peter Jackson, and also producing their own two-minute videos detailing their favourite memories of Middle-earth and demonstrating why they were the biggest fans of the franchise.
The winners and their +1s were then flown to New Zealand for an incredible, all-expenses paid trip which spanned both Islands and included visits to the actual filming locations from the movies, a special tour of the Hobbiton Set itself in Matamata, a special Maori Cultural welcome ceremony and Hangi Banquet, a visit to Weta Workshop where all of the creatures, costumes, weapons and special effects of the Middle Earth films were made, and finally a private screening of the final film, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, in the company of Peter Jackson himself, over a month before its theatrical release.”
Oh how we all wish we’d been there! We can at least enjoy some photographs from the evening’s festivities; and here’s a highlights video reel:
It is always a good day when Warner Bros. wants to share a little extra content with fans and of course we at TheOneRing are happy to pass it along.
This exclusive clip features a little bonus dialog from Dain Ironfoot and about 90 seconds of enhanced content on the Blu-ray disc of “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.” It features cinema but behind the scenes content as well. Consider it a fun tease.
Just in time for the release of the physical editions of the BOtFA extended edition DVDs, TORn contributor and friend, The Hutt, has provided us with another fabulous international shopping guide. Enjoy!
In mid-November, starting with the USA (Nov 17th), the physical editions of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition will start hitting the shelves of online and retail stores. Once again, there are several different editions released in different countries, which can be interesting for collectors. It is quite a feat to bring some order in this amount of different versions – so we attempted it below. The list is not sorted by countries, but by different versions which may be released to one or several different countries, starting with the (subjectively speaking) most interesting editions.
Continue reading “The Hobbit – BOTFA SEE: International Shopping Guide”
Earlier this week, we told you about a special event happening this weekend, Saturday 7th November, in London (UK), when The Hobbit Fan Fellowship and Warner Bros. are hosting a special screening of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition. A little bird has told us there are going to be some pretty great surprises at this invitation-only gathering!
Fortunately, even if you can’t be in London or didn’t win an invitation, you can still join in! The event will be LIVE STREAMED, and we’re told that those watching over the internet will even be able to join in and interact.
We can’t share any more details of exactly what will be happening in London – we’re keeping it secret and safe! – but we suggest you join the live stream on Saturday if you can. Here are the details:
[Please note, TheOneRing.net is not in any way involved with the planning and streaming of this event. We can’t help fix it if the stream doesn’t work for you! We’re just sharing the news so fans around the world are aware of this fun happening.]
This weekend, Saturday 7th November, in London (UK), The Hobbit Fan Fellowship and Warner Bros. are hosting a special screening of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition. And YOU could join them!
We’re told that the evening will include ‘a couple of surprises’ – and of course it’s a chance to see the final Hobbit movie, in its full extended version, on the big screen; as well as spending time with fellow fans. The competition is open worldwide, but in order to take advantage of the prize, you’d have be to sure you – and a friend! – can get to London this coming weekend!
You can find more information about the competition here; and click here to enter. The contest closes on Thursday at 12noon GMT – so get on over there and sign up! We look forward to hearing about another splendid Fan Moot!
