Of Thorin Oakenshield and The Hobbit - a perspective from across the Tasman

The Hobbit Fan Fellowship Journey

The Hobbit Fan Fellowship Journey.

We are invited to follow the journey online. Very exciting. I hope they all have as wonderful a time as we have had visiting New Zealand over the past four years!

 

 

The World Premiere of BO5A - further info

This was posted on John Callen's Facebook page an hour ago. Frankly I'm shocked!

John Callen

1 hr · 

"Lots of people asking if I and the other dwarves will be at the London premier of Hobbit 3. Don't know. Nobody has told us - yet. So we cannot say one way or the other. Sorry. If you hear anything please let us know. Cheers and love to you all."

It's official ... World Premiere of BOTFA in London. Dec. 1st

 

This is a little bittersweet but predictable. I hope they have more than just the Hobbit Fan Contest in New Zealand, but somehow I doubt it given the fact that the NYC Premiere coincides practically with the first midnight screening.

In truth I was willing this announcement not to come out while things are so haywire here, but my experience of World Premiere red carpet events has been of an ambivolent nature and I saw more in the livestream last year than at the barriers in Wellington the year before. I will therefore set my alarm and watch on December 1st and most likely miss gym ...lol!!

MTA: For any of you who have, like me, planned a trip to NZ, I have it on extremely good authority that there is nothing official happening in Wellington for BOFTA. I think I had suspected this anyway, but my friend who lives there has confirmed it. She used more colourful language than I have ...lol!!! Needless to say she is highly unimpressed. (Of course, we do have the Red Carpet Tours Wellie week to look forward to, and often the smaller events are more fun. William Kircher I assume will be playing in his band for us on that night).

MTAA: Looking at a news article in Stuff.co.nz I missed the following paragraph:

"Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean said the council was in discussions about a possible event to mark the first New Zealand screening.

Jackson's spokesman Matt Dravitzki said details of a preview screening in Wellington would be announced soon."

So I now wonder what might be in the wind. I will be at one party in Miramar but maybe there will be official celebrations in another part of the city???? Complicated!!

Thorin from New Zealand Post Presentation Pack

I accidentally ordered the presentation pack for 'Desolation of Smaug' instead of 'Battle of the Five Armies' from New Zealand Post. Very glad I made the mistake however :-)

via mulubinba.typepad.com

Hobbit and LOTR Special in Total Film.

I want a copy .... wonder how I can get it :-)??

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Battle of the Five Armies Posters

A full set of character posters can be found over at Screenrant.com if you would like to take a look. They are wonderful. 

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Battle of the Five Armies Poster with multiple characters

 I found this over at the ComicBookNews site. (With thanks for sharing)

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Battle of the Five Armies First Day Cover Stamps

BOTFA first day cover and miniature stamps arrived yesterday.

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Another Air New Zealand Safety Video

I love this!!

 

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Second Letter from Ori in Ered Luin.

31^st March 2941 (3^rd Age)

Halls of Ered Luin. 

Dear Mulubinba,

I’m feeling tired and sore and miserable tonight. Today Nori made me work at the anvil for four hours, then run up and down the steep paths inside the mountain for an hour. Not happy with that, we had to do some wrestling training with Dori as referee. Nori repeatedly tossed me over his shoulder so that I kept landing flat on my back. The worst of it was that Kili and Fili arrived to see me tossed for the third time, and they just stood and laughed at me. I felt like hiding, but Balin told me to hold my head up high and not let them see that I felt defeated. I managed to slip a punch under Nori’s guard, which made me feel a little better, but I would have loved to have punched Fili and Kili instead.

After that, I was so hungry I crept down to the kitchens to see if I could find something good to eat. (I needed a treat). Grikka, one of the women who works there has a soft spot for me – she has six sons of her own, big strong dwarves, but she always has a treat for me particularly if I show her my drawings. I was sitting eating seed cakes, buttered scones and drinking ale when I heard three dwarf maidens giggling and sighing. I looked up and too late I saw them curtseying to Thorin. Of all times for him to come to the kitchens Mulubinba! I wished the hall floor had swallowed me up.

“So, you think that reading and eating will make you strong enough to fight a dragon, Ori, younger brother of Nori?”

“No my Lord … I was taking a quick rest merely” says I.

“If I deem you fit to accompany me on the Quest, rest will be scarce, Ori! You will come with me now and show me how you wield a sword.”

There was no getting out of it – I had a two-hour swordsmanship lesson with him. Nori had taught me well however. I may not have any aptitude with his knives, but I don’t think I did too badly with the sword. Thorin of course got past my guard on several occasions, but I don’t think he was displeased with my progress. Kili and Fili however thought I would make good orc meat. I’m happy to say Thorin glowered at them and told them to go about their business.

Thorin is preparing to journey to meet with some of our kin to see if they will help him reclaim Erebor. I have therefore two more weeks to prove to him that I can be useful as he will set out after that. (Much to the dismay of several of the dwarf maidens who have hopes of winning his favours). He will meet the Company of Dwarves somewhere in The Shire. (I don’t know why he picked that place, but the food would be good). So far Kili, Fili, Balin, Dwalin, Bifur, Bofur, my brothers Nori and Dori, and Bombur (!) have all been chosen to go. I hope I can be battle-ready in time!

Ori