[Andie]

Post all news here

[Nad]

Just stumbled upon this:

Director Peter Jackson's surgery to delay "Hobbit" filming (Reuters) - Filming of the widely-anticipated "Hobbit" movies will be delayed because director Peter Jackson is recovering from surgery for a perforated ulcer, a spokeswoman said on Thursday. Jackson, 49, who directed the hit "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy in his native New Zealand, was admitted to a hospital in Wellington on Wednesday evening with acute stomach pains. "Sir Peter is currently resting comfortably and his doctors expect him to make a full recovery," spokeswoman Melissa Booth said in a statement. "The surgery is not expected to impact on his directing commitment to the Hobbit beyond a slight delay to the start of filming." Filming of the two movies of "The Hobbit," based on the J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy novel, had been expected to start around the middle of February. The first movie will be released in December 2012 and the second is expected a year later. The movies have been beset by a succession of problems, most notably the threat last year by Time Warner Inc unit Warner Bros. to move production overseas because of fears unions would impose a boycott to back demands for a collective contract. The move could have cost New Zealand an estimated $1.5 billion and threatened the country's fledgling film industry. In response, the government last year changed labour laws to keep the estimated $500 million production and increased tax breaks for Warner Bros. "The Hobbit" is based on the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who lives in the land of Middle-earth and goes on a quest to find treasure guarded by a dragon. The book, first published in 1937, is the precursor to the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, which also takes place in Middle-earth. The cast for the movies includes Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Ken Stott and Martin Freeman. (Reporting by Gyles Beckford; editing by Elaine Lies)

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Here's hope he makes a speedy recovery

[Andie]

Thanks for sharing the article with us, Nad

That's sad Here is hope to a speedy recovery *fingers crossed* I can't wait for them to start filming!

[Andie]

Attention Canadians - Wanna see a triple feature of LotR at the movies? Here is your chance:

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring Sat, Feb 05: Tickets 12:00pm The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers Sat, Feb 05: Tickets 3:30pm The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Sat, Feb 05: Tickets 7:00pm @ the Scotiabank Theatre Toronto Scotia Bank Paramount Theatre Toronto 259 Richmond St West TorontoON

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on the big screen again - man I'd love to see that!

[Jazz]

I saw that in the papers, it's part of the Digital Film Festival. I might just have to do that.

[Andie]

Originally Posted by Jazz (View Post) I saw that in the papers, it's part of the Digital Film Festival. I might just have to do that.

Jazz - You totally have to! I am really jealous - I'd love to see that at the movies

[Nad]

Jazz, have you made a final decision about seeing the movies?

[Nad]

Cross posting this here:

'The Hobbit': filming begins March 21 by Jeff Labrecque After numerous hiccups, The Hobbit officially has a start-date. The film’s production company, 3Foot7 Ltd, announced today that shooting of the Lord of the Rings prequel will begin on March 21 at Stone Street Studios in Miramar and on location around New Zealand. “Despite some unavoidable delays we are fully back on track and very excited to get started,” said director Peter Jackson in a statement.

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[looking at the stars]

Oh glad to see a date now

[Jazz]

Originally Posted by Nad (View Post) Jazz, have you made a final decision about seeing the movies?

I saw Fellowship of the Ring last Friday. I think the TTT and ROTK are coming up this weekend.

I also posted some of my photos I took on the fan encounters thread if you want to peek. Just some I took while I was sitting waiting for them to come to the press box.

[Andie]

Finally a date! Makes it way more real - thanks for sharing Nad

[Nad]

More The Hobbit casting news - looking for tall extras this time:

Elven Casting Call for The Hobbit Tuesday, February 15th 2011 For all those taller actors who felt discriminated during the early rounds of hobbit casting that took place, in which Hobbit casting directors were only looking for actors under 5’3″, now is your chance to be in the movie. Hobbit production just released the latest casting call, in which they are now casting for Elven horse riders as well as Elven extras. The requirements they are looking for is as follows: * MEN – aged 17 – 40, Height 6ft (183cm) and taller * WOMEN – aged 17 – 40, Height 5ft 9″ (175cm) and taller Those fitting the above description and are in the Wellington area, the audition will be held at Te Whaea – National Dance and Drama Centre, 11 Hutchinson Rd, Newtown, Wellington and will take place on Saturday 26 February 2011 between 9.30 – 12pm and 1.30 – 3pm. We hope that many of you Hobbit faithful will be able to attend and we wish you the best of luck. Please take pictures for those who are able as we would love to share them with The-HobbitMovie.com community.

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[Chrissy]

They are looking for pretty tall people.

[Crystaline]

'Lord of the Rings': Extended editions will screen in AMC Theaters in June | PopWatch | EW.com

I have a sickness, PopWatchers. Yes, I’m a cat lady, but there’s more: I have watched every single second of both the regular DVD cut of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the extended edition DVD — and that includes all the special features. I am that obsessed with this franchise. Perhaps it’s because I harbored a weird, secret crush on Elijah Wood… in his hobbit form. (PopWatch is a no-judgment zone, people.) Or maybe it’s because, oh, I don’t know, the trilogy presented the best filmmaking the 2000s had to offer?! So, imagine my joy upon learning that AMC is screening the extended editions of all three films this summer in anticipation of the Blu-ray release of the extended editions of Lord of the Rings. The schedule: The Fellowship of the Ring will screen June 14, The Two Towers on June 21, and The Return of the King on June 28. This is one Lord of the Rings screening to rule them all, people. And quite a homecoming: Some of my fondest memories of the Lord of the Rings movies involve the theater-going experience. I waited in line at midnight for all three of them, hushed my friend as he scolded Two Towers for deviating from the J.R.R. Tolkien book, and sobbed through all 201 minutes of Return of the King. (No joke. And I’d say about 50 percent of the tears were dedicated to the fact that the trilogy was ending, giving me nothing to look forward to in 2004.) And while I enjoyed devouring every special feature on the DVDs, I missed Lord of the Rings‘ breathtaking big-screen event. So you best believe I’m going to park my bum, elven cape and all, in the theater seats come June 14 — and, yes, bawl my eyes out. There are only a few films that have made me cry. And it’s an eclectic list: Glory, Remember the Titans, Monsters, Inc., Big Fish, and The Wedding Singer (unconventional, I know, but the airplane scene gets me every time) are among them. But The Lord of the Rings trilogy has the distinction of being the only films that have made me cry during more than one scene. And I’m sure I’m not alone. So, I’d like to ask, PopWatchers, which Lord of the Rings scenes still make you cry? The two that stand out during Fellowship of the Ring are, naturally, Boromir’s death and Gandalf’s speech to Frodo in the Mines of Moria about evil after the hobbit says he wished “none of this had happened”: “So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil.” The latter scene might not seem quite as emotional as others, but I have such a distinct association with it: After 9/11, New Line Cinema put out an ad in The New York Times encouraging optimism during tough times, and excerpted this quote from Fellowship. And, after that day, these were the only words that actually lifted my spirits. (The power of Tolkien!) As for The Two Towers, I couldn’t help shedding a tear watching Treebeard discover the fate of his people, the women and children hiding in the fortress at Helm’s Deep, and an optimistic Sam’s wondering about whether he and Frodo will be the subject of tales. And then there’s Return of the King. (It’s hard enough for me to even write the title without sobbing halfway through.) The movie was a bloodbath and a tearbath. Scenes that made me cry: Merry and Pippin parting ways, Gandalf’s speech to Pippin about death, Eowyn epically killing the Nazgul who killed Théoden, all the fake-out ending scenes, the Hobbits enjoying a pint at the pub back in the Shire, Frodo leaving Middle Earth, and last but most definitely not even close to being least, Sam lifting Frodo and the ring up Mount Doom: “Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you!” The latter scene so touched me, I sobbed uncontrollably my the third time seeing it in theaters before the scene even began. Even then, the anticipation killed me. But now I toss it over to you: Fellow Lord of the Rings devotees, will you be seeing the films on AMC’s big screens once again? And which scenes still make you cry?

Oh, yes. I will be braving the crowds of Times Square all three nights for this.

[Nad]

That sounds awesome! I wish I could go

Have fun Crys