Movie Chat this weekend features the delectable double bill of Johnny Depp and our very own Orlando Bloom in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl!" Join us Saturday on our IRC server at 5:30 pm EST when we pop our copies of the movie into the DVD player. After the usual confusion we'll all press play on our individual players and proceed to cheer and jeer (or discuss and argue, if you like!) the finer points of the film. We plan to take a break midway through the film, to allow for stretching of fingers and backs. Barliman will be on hand to serve drinks and snacks (and to enforce the house rules). [More]

Also, please check out our tentative Summer Schedule, as voted on by the fine folks in Barliman's chat room. Upcoming featured films include: a double-feature of 'Alien' and 'Aliens,' 'Galaxy Quest,' 'Ghostbusters,' and 'Princess Bride.' [The Schedule] [About IRC chat]

Acting legend Christopher Lee calls The Wicker Man his best ever film and has branded the remake "desperate". Celebrating his 60th year as an actor this year and having made over 300 films and television productions, he has also recently appeared in blockbusters The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, which proves that the 84-year-old is still on top of his game. He is also the world's best known Dracula and played one of the ultimate Bond baddies, Francisco Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun. [More]

Daniel from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra writes: For the first time in Scotland, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) will perform Howard Shore's symphonic version of the Oscar-winning soundtrack to The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Conducted by Markus Huber, the RSNO will perform the symphony-in-six-movements with vocal and instrumental soloists, the RSNO Chorus and Junior Chorus, all accompanied by large-scale visual artwork projected onto the back of the stage. There are two performances at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - Saturday 24 June and Sunday 25 June, both start at 7.30pm. For more information go to rsno.org.uk or to book tickets log onto grch.com.

Ramen, Community Relations Specialist for The Lord of the Rings Online writes: Today's LOTRO update is big news – a new “Game Systems” section under Gameplay, where you’ll find an introduction to the LOTRO Trait System! Wondering about how you'll customize your character's skills and abilities beyond your choice of Race and Class? Why, with Traits, of course! Head over to the Gameplay section for an introduction to the LOTRO Trait System! [More]

Garfeimao writes: The schedule just came out for the film festival at San Diego Comic Con. On that schedule, a documentary about John Howe will be screened. It's called "John Howe: There and Back Again" and will screen on Sunday, July 23 at 2:05pm. [More]

Lord of the Rings star Billy Boyd will play his first live music gig in Scotland next week. Billy has got together a posse of his bandmates from the Eighties to form new group, Angels Share, and he says he can't wait to perform to an audience of 500 as part of Glasgow's West End Festival. The actor has spent the last eight months rehearsing and writing with drummer John Crawford, guitarist Billy Johnston and bass player Ricky Martin for his surprise appearance at Glasgow's Oran Mor pub and nightclub this Monday. [More]

Pipkin Sweetgrass writes: I just wanted to let y'all know we have a cookbook in the works for Billy's Loons Charities. it's to be called Recipes for Disaster, and the proceeds will be donated to help victims of natural disasters. I'd like the community to send recipes as well. I have an email account set up for just this purpose. It's recipes_for_disaster@yahoo.com

This way, everyone who wishes to help can do so at no cost, and very little effort. I hope to repeat this project in the future so as to be able to continue lending a hand, so the more recipes, the better! The deadline for this book is July 1st. Pet treats, foods for birds and other wildlife, as well as any other kitchen projects, such as the recipes I have for sidewalk chalk and face paint are also more than welcome. Kid friendly recipes are also good.

Curt writes: Since I haven't seen this video clip posted anywhere else. I thought I should. It is Stephen Colbert (huge Tolkien fan) talking about the difference between Balrogs and Devils on 6/6/06. [More]

Brian let us know that one half of the famous "Hildebrandt Brothers", known worldwide for thier LOTR works and many other drawings, passed away Sunday, June 11. [More]

Evie writes: German movie mag 'Cinema' asked their readers to send in their 10 suggestions for the "100 Best Films of all Times", as they do so every six years. Back in 2000 the winner was "Schindler's List", followed by "Titanic". Interesting enough, no German film has made it onto the list this time. Results were published in print issue #338, July 06. Online version will be updated in a few days. Here is an excerpt from this list, mostly with members of the Fellowship involved:

#43 King Kong (2005)
#27 Star Wars Ep. 2
#18 Satr Wars Ep. 1
#14 Sin City
#12 Star Wars Ep. 3
#4 Matrix
#3 Pirates of the Carribbean
#1 The Lord Of The Rings trilogy

A Wellington tour allows Leeane Templer to follow in Peter Jackson's footsteps. I gaze at the abandoned industrial site in amazement. How could New York's sprawling cityscape have been squeezed into this tiny section? But tour leader Ted reassures me this is where King Kong's New York scenes were filmed. This is the first stop of a Wellington movie tour. Like Gollum to the Ring, my fellow travellers and I are drawn to the sites where The Lord of the Rings and King Kong were created. The set on the Seaview industrial area was only four blocks long and one storey high, and the film background was added digitally, Ted explains. Pedestrians and cars were doubled or even tripled in large scenes. Digital New York was so detailed it contained 90,000 separate buildings. [More]

The special effects wizards at Wellington's Weta Workshop have picked up another top international honour, this time a Banff Rockie award for television programme animation. Weta, along with Canadian co-producers Nelvana, won the animation prize at the Banff World Television Festival in Alberta, Canada, for Jane and the Dragon: Shall We Dance. The Jane and the Dragon children's series is based on Martin Baynton's books about the adventures of a 13-year-old girl and her pet dragon in medieval times. Weta boss Richard Taylor has won five Oscars for work on the Lord of the Rings and King Kong film productions. [More]

TheOneRing.net would like to offer our condolences to the Hildebrandt family for the loss of Tim Hildebrandt this week to diabetes. Please take a moment to think of Tim and his resounding life's work, including many Lord of the Rings masterpieces. [More Info]

This week we have a few selections for you to choose from, and not just from the LOTR Alum, take a look at details and order links for the NZ made 'The World's Fastest Indian', actioner '16 Blocks', 'Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang', 'The Pink Panther' and Elijah Wood's film 'Green Street Hooligans'. [More]

Natasha from Treasure HD TV writes: Upon the recommendation of those at the NY Tolkein Society, I m passing you some information about our new HD TV series called Collector Showdown. We are currently seeking participants for our upcoming episode on LOTR and Narnia Collectors. As the show’s researcher, I would be thrilled if you could send out our ‘casting call’. [More]

THE LORD OF THE RINGS SYMPHONY is Howard Shore’s compilation in six movements of his two-time Academy-award winning score for the popular and epic movie trilogy based on Tolkien’s internationally beloved fantasy novels. “Music is responsible for over 30% of an audience’s response to a film. There is no more exciting example of the profound support music gives to film than Howard Shore's score for The Lord of the Rings films,” says noted composer Christopher Dedrick. [More]

Daniel Reeve will be coming to ELF 2006 - Daniel is most well known for the calligraphy and cartography on the The Lord of the Rings, but has also worked on Van Helsing, King Kong, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Dead Letters (not yet released). His work also extends to the merchandise side of films, where, for example, Daniel has just completed a set of illustrations for a Pirates of the Carribbean game. Check out the details on Daniel's appearance at ELF! [Click Here]

The Lord Of The Rings director Peter Jackson is reportedly close to signing a deal with celebrity spoon-bender Uri Geller to turn his novel into a movie. Ella, which charts the story of a young teenager who discovers she has psychic powers, will be a low-budget British-based project, Geller hopes. The psychic met the New Zealand film-maker last month (MAY06) to discuss the venture, and wowed the director with his trademark metal-bending powers. [More]

Everon Gamgee writes: I write to you now, in a desperate appeal for your help. I recently forwarded a message to you that had nearly broken my heart, in which I had been advised that there is a very good chance that the "Gathering of the Fellowship" which was planned for the end of this month, here in Toronto may be cancelled due to low advance registration. I cannot believe that we may lose this incredible opportunity to gather together with such folk as John Howe, Ted Nasmith, Mike Foster, Verlyn Flieger, Cliff Broadway, Carlene Cordova, Bruce Hopkins, Kiran Shah, Craig Parker, Greg & Tim Tozer (of Weta Workshop) etc, etc (the list is long and distinguished),to celebrate and discuss the world and work of JRR Tolkien.

I am appealing to you now to please find a way to insert just a couple of lines about this great event and a link to their site; www.gatheringofthefellowship.com . I know it is a great deal to ask and that I am only one small voice, but we both know two things: first, there is always hope and second, that even the smallest person may change the course of the future. [www.gatheringofthefellowship.com]

Washington, June 8 (ANI) 'The Lord Of the Rings' star Billy Boyd is taking a break from acting to pursue a career in music. The Scottish actor, who played Pippin in the blockbuster trilogy, insists music has always been his number one priority. Now, following the April (06) birth of his son Jack, Boyd is keen to stay at home to write new tracks for his band Angels Share. "I've always been in bands and written songs, even before I was an actor. That was my first love and still is," he was quoted by Contactmusic, as saying. [More]

David Bowie, Orlando Bloom, Coldplay singer Chris Martin and Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe are set to appear in the next series of Ricky Gervais' comedy Extras. Gervais, 44, started filming the second series of his follow-up to The Office on Monday. Sir Ian McKellen, 67, has also signed up for the BBC comedy, along with veteran actor Richard Briers, Stephen Fry, Ronnie Corbett, Diana Rigg, Moira Stewart and Germaine Greer. [More]

The Da Vinci Code actor Sir Ian McKellen is hoping to star in two more soap operas after wowing TV fans with his star turn in Coronation Street last year. The 67-year-old realised a life-long ambition when he played artist Mel Hutchwright in nine episodes of Coronation Street - and now he wants to play the same character in rival shows Eastenders and Emmerdale. [More]

Peter "TheHutt" Klassen writes: In Germany, all major events around “The Lord of the Rings” attract attention from a hard-core group of fans. Any time something big happens about the “Rings” movies, a regular troupe of enthusiasts gets summoned from all around Germany. They usually know each other from other LOTR events; and for a day or a weekend they get together to demonstrate their costumes, meet their mates and, well, probably also to see the event which summoned them in the first place. [More]

The joyous news is here: ELF: THE LORD OF THE RINGS East Coast Convention journeys to the New York/New Jersey area for the very first time! Join TORn, Creation Entertainment and New Line Cinema as we welcome Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd, John Rhys-Davies and score of other guests and scholars for one magical weekend. And lets not forget partying down with everyone's favorite Oscar Party band - Emerald Rose! Get the full details through the following link. [Click Here]