 Ring Ping!! |
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Posted on 12/08/2003 1:59:41 PM PST by KantianBurke
BERLIN (Reuters) - New Zealand film director Peter Jackson (news), tipped to win an Oscar for his "The Lord of the Rings" epic, said Monday he would like to make "The Hobbit" prequel to the trilogy and work with some of the same actors again.
Speaking to journalists in Berlin ahead of the European premiere of the last part of the "Rings" trilogy -- "The Return of the King" -- Jackson said he was sad but also relieved that the mammoth project he has worked on for seven years was over.
"I'm glad there's not a fourth Lord of the Rings film next year," he said. "I feel very tired and exhausted."
"I've been working very hard this year. It was the hardest year of the whole seven really," he said, adding that the last part had twice as many computer-generated shots as the second, "The Two Towers," which won an Oscar for digital effects.
"It's my favorite because it has a stronger emotional depth than the other two films, it has a sense of closure," he said.
Despite his exhaustion, Jackson is not resting on his laurels and said if complex rights issues can be resolved he would like to direct "The Hobbit," J.R.R. Tolkien's prequel to the "Rings" trilogy set some 50 years earlier.
"I'd be interested in doing it because I think it would give continuity to the overall chapter," he said.
While many of the lead "Rings" characters do not appear in "The Hobbit" story, the wizard Gandalf, played by Ian McKellen (news), and Gollum, the cave dweller corrupted by the powerful ring, do and should make a comeback. Arwen, the elf princess played by Liv Tyler (news), could also feature again, Jackson said. (UGH! WTF?)
STAND TEST OF TIME
Jackson made movie history by filming all three parts of the "Rings" trilogy simultaneously. The first two films have earned a combined $1.8 billion and won a total of six Oscars (news - web sites).
Barrie Osborne, the producer of the trilogy, and Philippa Boyens, the writer, both said they hoped for more Oscars for the third installment, especially one for Jackson's directing.
"The film is a memorable film that will stand the test of time and be around forever and ever. However winning depends on what's happening in the world, what other films are out there that you're competing with," Osborne said.
Boyens added: "Peter didn't make these films to win an Oscar...It's always been really hard for fantasy films or films perceived as fantasy to get that kind of acknowledgement."
Jackson, 42, has certainly not let fame go to his head. He met journalists in an upmarket Berlin hotel barefoot and wearing a faded shirt and threadbare shorts. While he said "Rings" was the hardest thing he would ever do, more challenges await.
"I just love making movies. I have done since I was seven years old," he said.
Jackson will take a few weeks off over Christmas and then start writing the script for his next project, a remake of the classic "King Kong" which, like the "Rings," he will also film in New Zealand, using the same team of special effects experts.
Richard Taylor, whose special effects workshop made 48,000 props for the trilogy and whose work earned two Oscars, says "King Kong" will be even better than Lord of the Rings.
"I have every aspiration to make King Kong much cooler," he said. "It's going to be a very beautiful film."
Ring Ping!! |
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From the www. pabaah.com site.
"Obviously there are lots of Lord of the Rings (12/17 release date) fans out there...We wonder how many of them realize who they are supporting with their entertainment dollars? Viggo was one of the speakers at the ANSWER rally in Washington, DC in October and has been highly critical of the United States (Nice shirt--you get a free bowl of soup with that?). Does he deserve our entertainment dollars? Our money affords these celebrities the platform from which to attack America".
"There's nothing wrong with responding [to terrorism]. It's how do you respond...our government is incredibly violent and aggressive and rapacious. And we want to control those regions. It's beyond a response."
"...we [the United States] are not the good guys..."
--Actor Viggo Mortensen
First, Aragorn doesn't even appear in the Hobbit... I can't imagine why Viggo is relevant to this thread.
Second... we don't care to boycott a work that is the genius of literally THOUSANDS of very talented people over ONE of the actor's hobbies.
Good thing he's wearing pants. That shirt would have clashed with his red diaper. What a pantload.
Political activism is no more a hobby than preaching religion is.
Just finished the Director's commentary on my TTT extended DVD. Jackson & Co. defended their choices quite well. Dunno, following the book word for word would have made for a more boring movie IMO. But then, I loved TTT anyway.
I won't.... It is a great bit of work they did, and a fine story that personifies all the values we are fighting for. I support the troops where it matters, and I don't think boycotting Lord of the Rings is one of those places.
'Celebs' Use Stardom to Promote Army...
"There's a lot of different people and voices in America, and I don't mind letting my voice be heard," Astin said during an interview conducted at the Pentagon. "I learned from reading about Vietnam that no matter what you think politically about certain deployments, as a good citizen and a patriot it's your duty to appreciate that there are soldiers using their lives on your behalf as a citizen."
Although many may know that Astin has appeared in more than 25 motion pictures, few know that he has served as a civilian aide to the secretary of the Army since 1995. He served under Togo West, Louis Caldera and now the current Secretary of the Army Thomas White.
For protocol purposes Astin, as a civilian aide, is ranked just below a three-star general and is considered to be the secretary of the Army's personal representative in the California region. Part of the basis of a CASA's appointment is his ability to increase the public's understanding of the Army, and Astin said he tells the Army story to anyone who wants to know it.
"I'm in a position where I do whatever I can to support the Army," Astin said. "I've visited installations, and took the time to write 'thank-you' letters to business who had reserve-component soldiers to be mobilized."
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