3rd January 2007 The toast is “The Professor” 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 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.
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.
By the time it was all over, the 55+ people who made it to the final seconds of “Return of the King” could hardly contain their giddiness. For 14.5 hours they had inhabited TORn’s chatroom where they laughed together, cheered together, and cried, together, while watching the entire “Lord of the Rings” Extended Editions trilogy from start to finish.
They began gathering at 10 a.m. EST, impatient and eager. Tar_Gathalion arrived first, a newcomer to the chat room, and was one of the last to leave. Coriaelleth was wide awake and chipper at the start of “Fellowship of the Ring,” despite it being 2 a.m. in Brisbane, Australia, where she was chatting from. She, too, was still going strong at the end, taking energy from the amazing fellowship that had sprung up amongst the chatters.
And what a fellowship it was. Amidst the appreciation and groaning over the films, these people — of all ages and nationalities — shared how they discovered Middle Earth and their love of Tolkien. In doing so, we learned about each other. Teenagers listened as us old-timers recalled seeing Bakshi’s film in the movie theaters. The older chatters smiled as teens spoke of discovering Tolkien through video games and these movies that Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema gave to us.
So we made our way through the films, remembering anew how much we loved the opening sequence and the amazing Sauron, debating whether the Black Riders were scarier than the winged Nazgul, if the film suffered from lack of Tom Bombadil or Glorfindel, marveling at the horses in the flood at the Ford of Bruinen, discussing how the film’s depiction of Boromir rendered him so much more sympathetic than Tolkien’s. So many things to remark upon: The balrog, is he winged? Why is Lorien blue? Why does Celeborn ………. talk ………. like ………. this? The gifts! Just too much.
And that was only the first movie!
I honestly can’t even begin to recount all the people who contributed to the fun of this day from start to finish. There were Alatariel and justine’s witty comments, Lancelot (aka Sir_Capsalot) and CaptainOfGondor’s infectious enthusiasm. Beth and eRIC’s excitement was equally contagious. EcossElf and Ainulaire, omeron and stavros and nicktheoden. Susanita who hung on despite many computer problems. OBSERVER who was able to join us mid-way through. And Adrian, who thought she’d miss the whole thing, but managed to get home from work in time to see the end of “Return of the King.” I just know I’m leaving out so many more.
Movie Chat seems a simple concept — everyone puts a disc in, it plays, you chat — but in reality it takes a lot of orchestration. PAL and NTSC formats run at different speeds, so breaks are required throughout the evening in order to allow people to synch back up. Managing those pauses, wrangling everyone to press “play” at the same time, informing late-comers on how to catch up with everyone else, and generally making sure that everyone has a great time — these things take great moderators, and the night wouldn’t have happened without the many people who pitched in: starlady and caoil, who managed the countdowns and time-keeping for films 2 & 3; Wingfoot and FayWraith who shepherded the mid-film arrivals; Figgy and Elenya who played backstop by greeting people and pointing them in the right direction, plus making sure that everyone chatted nicely. Bravo and thank you!
By the time “Return of the King” launched, the enthusiasm level was at a fever pitch. Quiddler was shouting, Brandalf85 was hooting blowing up Saurons tower, Goblin was eating all the cookies, and Lancelot’s capslock key WAS PERMANENTLY STUCK!!!
And the conversation continued: Bingo_Bolger_Baggins finding Smeagol and Deagol disturbing; Elerwen and Eureka sniffling over Frodo and Sam’s heart wrenching journey; Elanor G, Will, and Spe debating the merits of Saruman’s expanded appearance; everyone complaining about Gimli the comedian; Figgy and all the ladies sighing over Faramir and the Houses of Healing; and myself — joined by Murazor — complaining all along about Denethor, Eowyn vs. the Witch King, “go home Sam,” and our utter disgust with the green Scrubbing Bubble Army of the Dead. (Hey, someone has to nitpick!)
But the best moment of all came with the Ride of the Rohirrim:
(Figgy) this is the BEST SCENE in this movie
(Figgy) ERE THE SUN RISES
(Eureka) DEATH!!!
(Elanor_G) Death!!
(Brandalf85) DEathhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Lancelot) Shields shall be splintered
(CaptainofGondor) ere the sun rises!
(Beth) love this!
(Brandalf85) ~music~
(EcossElf) ruinnnn and the worlds ending
(Elanor_G) DEATH!!!
(CaptainofGondor) Stay with me
(maegwen) DEATH
(Figgy) RIDE NOW
(Stavros) ride now!
(Edendil) death!!!
(Quiddler1) Ride now!
(Brandalf85) Forth EorlingTORNS
(EcossElf) deathhhhhh
(Figgy) RIDE!
(Figgy) FOR RUIN!
(Quiddler1) Ridenow!
(Lancelot) Ride for ruin!
(Figgy) AND THE WORLD’S ENDING
(Spe) death!
(Stavros) DEATH
(Adrian) death!
(Figgy) DEATH!
(Spe) death!
(omeron) Death! Death! Death!
(ZeeWarthog) DDDEEEAAATTTHHH
(Lancelot) And the worlds ending!
(Figgy) DEATH!
(CaptainofGondor) ride for ruin!!!!
(Stavros) DEATH
(Brandalf85) ~gets on horse~
(Lancelot) DEATHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
(Spe) death!
(Figgy) DEATH!
(Adrian) DEATH!!!
(Bingo_Bolger_Baggins) Death!!
(CaptainofGondor) DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Eureka) DEATH!!!
(Elanor_G) DEATH!!!
(ZeeWarthog) death
(Quiddler1) DEEEEEEEEEATH!
(Stavros) DEATH
(Spe) death!
(Figgy) DEATH!
(Lancelot) DEATHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(EcossElf) daethhhhh
(Elanor_G) DEATH!!!
(Spe) death!
(Stavros) DEATH
(CaptainofGondor) Death!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!S
(Adrian) Death!!!
(Pk) death!
(Eureka) Theres that violin again
(Spe) death!
(Stavros) DEATH
(Figgy) DEAAAATH!!!!!!!!!
(Quiddler1) Death!
(omeron) Death!
(CaptainofGondor) Death!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(ZeeWarthog) dddddddeeeeath
(Lancelot) DEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Adrian) death!!
(Guest) Death!!!!!
(CaptainofGondor) DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Lancelot) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
(Figgy) CHILLS
(Stavros) DFAETH
(Lancelot) DEAAAAAAAAAAAAAATH
(Beth) DEATHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
(Bingo_Bolger_Baggins) What’s happening
(Figgy) FORTH EORLINGAS!
(Gondhir) WOO, HORNS
(Beth) death!!!!!!!!!!
(CaptainofGondor) DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTHHHH!!!!!
(Brandalf85) DEATHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Lancelot) FOR EORLIGAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Spe) yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh
(Beth) death!!
(CaptainofGondor) .Forth Eorlingas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(FayWraith) *horns*
(Adrian) Death!
(Stavros) DEAF!!!
(Lancelot) DEATHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
(Beth) deaaaaaaaaaath!
(Brandalf85) lol
(Lancelot) DEATHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHD
(CaptainofGondor) Rohan music!!!!!!!!!!!
(Lancelot) DEATHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
(Figgy) YEAAAAAAAAH
(Gondhir) the Rohirrim are the best part of the movie
You just can’t do that in a movie theater 😉
As we reached the Grey Havens, we too sensed the enormity of the 14.5-hour road we’d travelled. And, like our beloved Hobbits, the chatters were reluctant to part. But, all good things must come to an end — for a time. I’m sure we’ll all meet again for another LoTR Movie Chat some time in the near future!
If you would like to know the next time we plan a LoTR chat, please e-mail me to be added to the mailing list.
* * *
I’d like to thank all of the chatters who made the Marathon such an enjoyable experience:
Celebrity sparkle will help to raise money for less fortunate children this Christmas. Between the 11th- 18th December, Christmas tree baubles customised by stars such as Andy Serkis, Dame Shirley Bassey, Lemar and Jacqueline Wilson will be auctioned on e-Bay to raise funds for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.
Each celebrity has included special gifts inside their bauble including limited edition Lord of The Ring and King Kong merchandise inside Andy Serkis’ signed bauble and signed tickets for Lemar’s UK tour. Proceeds from the e-bay auction will go towards Barnardo’s work with young carers looking after a sick or disabled relative, and giving them a special Christmas to remember.
Speaking on the initiative children’s author Jacqueline Wilson said: ‘I had a lot of fun customising a Christmas bauble for Barnardo’s and including one of my trademark rings. This is just a small gift from me to Barnardo’s but it is a huge contribution from whoever places the winning bid in making a young person’s Christmas wish come true’.
Lemar, a double MOBO award winner said: ‘Inside my autographed Barnardo’s Christmas bauble are tickets for my Spring 2007 tour and one of my favourite vests that I’ve signed especially for you! All bidders will be generously helping to raise money and awareness for young children dealing with the enormous challenge of caring for a sick family member’.
For the chance to bid for these and other celebrity baubles, log on to www.ebay.co.uk after the 11th December and search for ‘Barnardos Christmas Baubles’ (there is no apostrophe in Barnardo’s).
The Hospital, the private members’ club in Covent Garden, will be displaying the bespoke baubles on their Christmas tree for the duration of the auction.
There are around 175,000 young carers in the UK, who will be looking after a sick or disabled relative at Christmas. Barnardo’s runs 14 young carers projects to support young people at this time. Barnardo’s believes that the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children deserve a better start in life and the chance of a better future. Barnardo’s works with 110,000 children young people and their families through 383 projects. This includes work with children affected by today’s most urgent issues: poverty, homelessness, disability, bereavement and abuse. For more information about Barnardo’s visit our website at www.barnardos.org.uk.
All the other Movie Chats we’ve done before were just rehearsals for this one, the big one, the one you never thought we’d have the stamina to try: Yes, the LOTR EE TRILOGY MARATHON!
That’s right, we will be chatting our way through 11 hours of non-stop Tolkien action. (Don’t worry, we’ll take breaks!)
Join us in TORn’s chat room on Saturday, December 2 at 11 a.m. EST and see if you have what it takes to chat through Peter Jackson’s three-film masterpiece, “The Lord of the Rings.” (See below for the approximate scheduled time of each film)
P.S. Make sure you have plenty of water, snacks and sustenance on hand! You’ll need the energy!
THE DETAILS
When: Saturday, December 2
Where: On TORn’s IRC server, in the #moviechat channel. After joining the server, type /join #moviechat to get there.
How: 1) Have your DVDs readily available, with the first disc of FOTR in your player and set to the main menu. 2) Sign on to the IRC server, it’s easy! (see directions above) 3) It’s best to arrive early, but if you’re late, don’t worry — we periodically announce the time-marker that everyone should be near. Plus, we take breaks midway and at the end of each film. 4) Once everyone is ready, the Op (those people with the @ in front of their name) will start a count-down. When they type “play,” we all press PLAY, and we’re off! Pretty simple, eh?
Why: Because it will be fun! And exhausting! But fun!
THE SCHEDULE (All times are approximate. We hope to stay on schedule!)
Below are the run-times for each film, our projected starting time, and links to how you can determine the time in your own time zone. The title of each film is linked to a “pause schedule” that we hope to stick to. Pauses last little more than 30 seconds, and serve as pick-up points for people experiencing DVD burps. We will take a 20-30 minute break between each film.
Last week TheOneRing.net asked you, the fans, to show your support for a Peter Jackson-directed adaptation of ‘The Hobbit’ in a funny and creative way. And you responded! Take a look at the first gallery of photoshop creations and caption contest-entries by clicking on the posters below!
Gallery 1:
Gallery 2:
Not all of the entries for the caption contest came with an apropriate picture though, so be sure to check out some of these other suggestions we received!
“New Line shall not pass!”
“Oh, well. This happened to the Beatles too, so I’m in good company”
“So Ordesky says ‘You’re not doing the Hobbit – put that in your pipe and smoke it!”
“If I made the Hobbit I would just get more complaints from the actors about their fuzzy feet”
“Who do they think they’re going to get? Frank Oz? ‘A Muppet Hobbit’ with Kermit Froggins, Piggy Sackville Froggins, Fozzie Okenshield, Gandrolf the Gray and Gozzum?”
“This is where I belong. Just let ’em try to move in!”
“Squatter’s Rights! I was here first!”
“It took the Five Armies and the talents of Weta Digital to put these shoes on my feet.”
“Will he never cut the cake?”
“..I suppose if I’d just done a better job with the Lord of the Rings..”
“Hm, Fran and Phillipa told me I should just sit here and look interesting. I say show me The Precious”
“Oh well, at least I have the Simarillion trilology to work on…”
Now it could well be that you think you have a better, edgier or funnier caption, or that your Photoshop-skills surpass anything seen before on this website. In that case, be sure to keep sending us your entries! [Show Your Support!]
Press Release for Immediate Release
