2004 has been a remarkable year for Lord of the Rings and Tolkien in general, it began with an award season no one will forget, and it ended with a DVD release to end all releases. Take a look as we run down the highlights of 2004 in Tolkien. [More]

Toy Biz maintains the three-dimensional legacy of director Peter Jackson's cinematic ode to J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth through a slew of "Lord of the Rings" action figures. The products of computer-assisted digital sculpting techniques to capture the exact likenesses of the actors of the film trilogy, the figures stand roughly 6 inches high, come with appropriate accessories and boast dozens of points of articulation. [More]

Calling all web programmers! This is a call to action for one volunteer who can help make a real difference on our film. The team from "Ringers: Lord of the Fans" seeks an advanced web programmer to help maintain our film's website throughout our Film Festival run over the next several months. Candidates must be proficient with: 1) advanced HTML, 2) Photoshop, 3) cascading style sheets, 4) have a high-speed connection, and 5) working on a Mac system. Please note that this is a volunteer position. If this sounds like you, please email us immediately at: ringers@theonering.net.

Isilnáriën writes: Tol Andúnë, the Hawaii Smial of the Tolkien Society, will be celebrating Tolkien's birthday Monday January 3rd along with others around the world. Our group, many of whom will be in costume, will meet at TGI Fridays at the corner of Ward Ave. and S. King Street at 8 PM and proceed with feasting (but no smoking) and general merriment until 9 PM when we will stand to toast the Professor.

Here is an email we received from a friend at the Indonesian Tolkien Society. As most of us prepare for a New Year celebration, we ask that you remember the countries that have been devestated by the enormity of human lives lost. Take a moment to read the letter from a fellow Tolkien enthusiast. [Click Here] [Relief Organizations]

Fears grow for future of land on 'magical' Shropshire hill linked with Tolkien as seller refuses to lower price to suit wildflife trust's budget. For generations, hikers have torn themselves away from their festive firesides at this time of year and tramped up through the beech and oak woods which flank the Wrekin hill to be rewarded by the wonderful views from its summit. [More]

Today is Brian Sergent's (Ted Sandyman) birthday! Brian was born on December 29th, 1959. That makes him 45 years old today, Happy Birthday Brian!

As time marches on, more and more victims of the horrible events in Asia are being found. Please take a moment to do what you can by helping the relief efforts. We've found a little better link for you at CNN.com of agencies that are providing relief to the area. [Click Here]

For those of you who missed out on the Minas Morgul environment, Sideshow/Weta has discounted their other environments and a few other items on their website. According to their site, only 100 pieces of the Pippin Bust remain to be purchased at the discounted rate of $40. [Click Here]

Going to One Ring Celebration? need a room? Read below!! There are still a few rooms left at some of the Pasadena area hotels and motels. Below is a list of hotels, with the Westin and the Pasadena Inn still holding group rates until this coming weekend. Use either One Ring Celebration or TheOneRing.net as the code word for the group rates, both appear to apply. [More]

Tickets are still available for One Ring Celebration, get yours today!

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LOTR fans worldwide sent along images of themselves with their new Return of the King: Extended Edition DVDs. This is the final gallery of ROTK DVDs we will be posting.

And don't forget to take a look at Gallery I & Gallery II & Gallery III

If you picked up the Sideshow/Weta Collectibles newsletter last week, you saw a brief story about how the Sideshow/Weta products will continue into 2005 with new statues, busts and environments. Additionally, they will be announcing a new product at our very own One Ring Celebration! [Click Here]

Kerrington writes: I called the Fiske Library for more information about Michael Drout's Tolkien-themed speaking engagement on Jan. 11 in Wrentham, Mass. Drout's talk on "Understanding J.R.R. Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings" will begin at 6 pm. The library's address is 110 Randall Rd., Wrentham, MA, 02093. The library expects "many" people to attend (they didn't give me an exact number), so they would appreciate RSVPs. To sign up, call 508-384-5440. [Map]

The December 26th edition of the comic 'Sheldon' featured this refrence to Gollum and LOTR. [More]

Jason writes: I don't know if you've reported this but Andy Serkis appeared as Gollum at Wellington's Tenacious D concert last night (Monday 27th). He and Jack Black sang "You're the one that I want" from Grease. It featured a nice lil bit of Scat between Serkis & Black.

SEATTLE, Washington (AFP) - Internet retailer Amazon.com reported record holiday sales, coaxed by hot demand for electronic consumer goods such as the Apple iPod music player...Among the highlights for the holiday period: DVD sales in the week ending December 12 set a one-week record. "Lord of the Rings, Return of the King Extended Edition" made a single-title, one-day record of 13,000 orders on December 14. [More]

With the recent 9.0 earthquake in the Indian Ocean, it is estimated that 40,000 people have been killed by the resulting Tsunami that hit countries in the surrounding area. This immense tragedy deserves the attention of the entire world community, so we ask you take a moment to consider supporting the relief efforts for the area. Please follow this link for a listing of diaster relief agencies that are currently mobilizing efforts to help. [Diaster Relief]

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LOTR fans worldwide sent along images of themselves with their new Return of the King: Extended Edition DVDs. Now YOU can add to the collection!! Send an image of yourself with your DVD collection! [Email us here!]

And don't forget to take a look at Gallery I & Gallery II

Replicas, rubber ears and the sacred ring itself – for Tolkien fans this exhibition is a fantasy come true. Boasting more than 650 exhibits, including a 5m replica of a cave troll, Galadriel's gossamer gown and three of the rings of power, the Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy Exhibition is a sight to behold. Fans can go behind the scenes of the trilogy's special effects, come face-to-face with life-size models of gruesome creatures and hear the cast's insights into the movie-making process. [More]

There was a celebratory mood at the Old Vic during the opening matinee of Sean Mathias's tremendous production of Aladdin...Ian McKellen first appears as Widow Twankey in a psychedelic, neon-bright fur coat, swinging a lime-green, patent-leather handbag. He looks like Edna Everage's blushing English first cousin several times removed. He is a shopaholic with a smile as relentlessly switched on as Regent Street's Christmas lights. [More]

InterActual, a subsidiary of Sonic Solutions(R) and the leading provider of ROM and bonus feature technology for DVD, announced today that New Line Home Entertainment's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Special Extended DVD Edition is shipping with an embedded virtual key that unlocks a special website filled with exclusive online features. Called DVDKey(TM), the technology from InterActual grants viewers access to content online when the DVD is placed in a PC and played back using an InterActual-compatible DVD player. [More]
(Sorry...no gag reel -Xo)

Celebriel writes: Tolkien scholar Michael Drout presents "Understanding J.R.R. Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings" at the Fiske Library in Wrentham, MA on Jan. 11. The event also features a costume contest, so attendees should dress as their favorite character. Lembas will be served! [More]

The Misty Mountains Smial Tolkien Society of Denver is planning a party of special magnificence to celebrate the birthday of J.R.R. Tolkien on January 3rd. Food, drink, readings (bring your favorite to share) entertainment and fabulous prizes for kids and adults alike are all part of the program. The Misty Mountians Smial will host a celebration of J.R.R. Tolkien's birthday on Monday, January 3, 2005 at the Celtic Tavern, 1801 Blake Street, Denver, CO, 303-308-1795. The festivities will start at 6:30 p.m. and last until a little after 9:00 p.m., the traditional time to toast "The Professor." [More]

Celevon writes: Orlando Bloom's next film, 'Kingdom of Heaven', is going to be featured on Monday's edition of Entertainment Tonight. Directed by Ridley Scott, the highly anticipated Crusader epic debuts in theaters next May.

Meanwhile, you can check out the new trailer for the film on Yahoo! Movies. [More]

ProLiteracy Worldwide is auctioning off a pair of the SOLD OUT Wizards Circle tickets to the One Ring Celebration in Pasadena, CA Jan 14-16. These tickets include a two nights stay at the Sheraton Pasadena Hotel, as well as full access to ORC with in person autographs with ELijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, John Rhys-Davies, Bruce Hopkins and more! though your transportation there is not covered. [More] [The Auction]

A high school is offering a class on hobbits, dwarves and elves. Madison High School students have traded Tolstoy for J.R.R. Tolkien's classic "The Lord of the Rings" as part of an elective English class. Their teacher, Lyle Wakefield, says he's abandoned what can be an ordinarily stuffy approach to the language and delved into the adventure trilogy popularized by three recent films. [More]

It has been described as the worst movie ever made, but a Swiss parody of the Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy has been playing to packed cinemas across the country since it opened 10 days ago -- and is set to become Switzerland's biggest box-office hit of the year. The Ring Thing shamelessly draws its inspiration from Monty Python. Instead of Frodo it has Friedo, a bank employee who falls through the toilet of a Swiss aircraft while rehearsing his marriage proposal to his chilly boss, Heidi. [More]