Christopher Lee 2011 Christmas Message

When I was watchin those two videos, which are kindly recorded by Christopher Lee, I smiled the whole time. He is a wonderful man, very talented actor and a kind person, whom I'd like to meet. In the next year he will celebrate his 90th (!) birthday, and I'm glad he still makes appearances in many films.

"When he asked me to do this [Hugo], I said, well it's about time. Isn't it?" - Christopher Lee about Scorsese

He talks about his upcoming films: "The Wicker Tree", "Hugo" and how much he enjoyed working with Martin Scorsese, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", "The Hobbit: There and Back Again", "Dark Shadows". I'm so exited to see all of the above, especially Peter Jackson's duology, where his Saruman will be the good wizard.

"I emphasize again, I don't play long parts. They must be short parts, but they've got to be parts that mean something, that matter. The people will notice when I'm on the screen and will remember the character after they've seen the film."

In the second video, he talks about an honor being a Fellow of BAFTA. He also discusses his second heavy metal album "Charlemagne: The Omens of Death", which will be out on his birthday.

I wish him to have a Happy New Year, strong health and remain being the Great. I hope he knows how much we love him and his work.

Part 1 of the message



Part 2 of the message

"The Hobbit": Fifth Video Blog from the Set

"The main reason for going on location for the project is to capture the scenic beauty of New Zealand."

Peter Jackson presents another video from the set of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey". As he promised in the previous one, he takes us on locations, where they are filming some interesting scenes. You can see the crew traveled a lot (and probably will travel more). I'm again impressed how many people are working on this story - they say there are over a five hundred workers and dozens of trucks were used to take all stuff out of the studio. Looks like everything has been packed (WC cabins; coffee makers; costumes; cameras; actors; fake hair for beards, feet and wigs; giant plants and trees; cows, pigs, ducks etc).

Elijah Wood said such touching words about coming back after 11 years. It must be a great feeling to film there again.

Even Prime Minister of New Zealand came to visit "The Hobbit" team. They say Hobbiton was built for real this time and it will be left untouched for those, who would like to visit this place. I'm first in that row. 

Now this video is my favourite among others, because I'd gave many things to have a chance to work on such a wonderful project and to film on those locations. New Zealand is very picturesque. And I'd like to retire in Hobbiton too, especially if Peter Jackson will settle there. What a neighbour he could be!

Next video from the set will be released early in the next year.

Watch previous videos from the set of upcoming duology "The Hobbit":
1st video,
2nd video,
3rd video,
4th video.

More about "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (2012)! (all pictures, stories, news, set videos, Peter Jackson's statements etc.)



And a few interesting pictures from the set (click on the image to enlarge it):

Peter The Great

Peter The Funny 

Floating dwarves

If some unreleased pictures will leak, guess whose fault it will be...

Andy Serkis is busy gathering flowers

Map of New Zealand magically turns into a map of the Middle-Earth 

Occupying the space of a football field

Sentimental Elijah Wood

Peaceful Hobbiton

Next movie star

Peter and his team are wishing us a "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" - First trailer, poster and many stills

"Bilbo Baggins, I'm looking for someone to share an adventure."

I can't tell you how exited I am that the first trailer has arrived! New and old characters of the Middle-earth promise us something huge, dangerous and breathtaking. Shire looks peaceful, but we know that all adventures begin there. I can go on, but you better watch it with your own eyes.

Directed by Peter Jackson.

See the list of all characters and actors below the trailer.

Release date - December 14, 2012.

Poster (click to enlarge) - iTunes movie trailers








Trailer #1



Let me introduce all main characters (click on the picture to enlarge it):

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman)

Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen)

Fili (Dean O'Gorman)

Kili (Aidan Turner)

Oin (John Callen)

Gloin (Peter Hambleton)

Dwalin (Graham McTavish)

Balin (Ken Stott)

Bifur (William Kircher)

Bofur (James Nesbitt)

Bombur (Stephen Hunter)

Dori (Mark Hadlow)

Nori (Jed Brophy)

Ori (Adam Brown)

Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage)

Galadriel (Cate Blanchett)

Gollum (Andy Serkis) (try to find him)

"The Hobbit" (2012) - New Bilbo and dwarves still

Warner Bros. Pictures released a new still for Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey". It has been a long time since we saw hobbits and dwarves, but they still look great in costumes and with a very complicated make-up. On this picture you can see Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins who is ready for a big adventure; James Nesbitt as Bofur, Stephen Hunter as Bombur, Graham McTavish as Dwalin, William Kircher as Bifur and Jed Brophy as Nori. I hope I'll learn how to tell them apart till I see this film.

More about "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (2012)!

Are you waiting for "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"?

"The Fellowship of the Ring" - Magical soundtrack

I hope everyone's having a great day, but if not, it's perfect time for listening to some wonderful music. I accidentally found this video and it reminded me how strongly I love any music written by Howard Shore. Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy is epic, so it is Shore's music. Without this composer it would have been different, that's why I am very glad that he is in charge of the soundtrack for "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" and "The Hobbit: There and Back Again", which are being filmed somewhere in New Zealand right now.

This track is called "Concerning Hobbits" and makes me smile, when I hear its very first notes. I see young Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd before they have started their long and difficult journey. This music is perfect for green, happy, serene Shire. It feels like home and everything is fine.

"The Hobbit": Fourth Video Blog from the Set

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit..."

After some weeks of silence, Peter Jackson surprises us with this new video about making films based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. He shows how action scenes are being made and some rare pictures from the set of the great trilogy "Lord of the Rings". An interesting 'behind the scenes' part is about cameras and other technologies they use to create a realistic 3D.

You can see there Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Martin Freeman, actors who play dwarfs and very talented staff, whose names are not very known. It's left a year before we can finally watch "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", but I can surely say it is going to be not less epic than "Lord of the Rings".

Next video will be set on locations, where they are going to film some scenes for a few months.

Watch other videos from the set of upcoming duology "The Hobbit":
First video,
Second video,
Third video.

More about "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (2012)! (all pictures, stories, news, set videos, Peter Jackson's statements etc.)

Video Blog #4

Andy Serkis in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"

After watching "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" I became sure that my favorite character in the movie, who made me smile and almost cry, is again made by computer. But not wholly. A very talented actor, who had played such unrealistic characters before, showed us again that it's possible to create on the screen an ape with real feelings and very smart eyes. Andy Serkis again was wearing this strange costume with many sensors and was learning how to act like an animal. His previous experience from the filming "The Lord of The Rings" trilogy, where he portrayed Gollum, really helped him this time. Now he's working with Peter Jackson on the two upcoming "Hobbit" movies, playing Gollum again.

More about "Rise of the Planet of the Apes".
More about "Hobbit".

I've found two videos - the first one with scenes from the set and some comments from Andy and another one with an interview, where he talks about how he was creating Caesar's personality.

Video #1



Video #2

"The Hobbit": Third Video Blog from the Set

Peter Jackson returns with a new video from the set of "The Hobbit". He continues speaking with Andy Serkis, whom we can see playing his Gollum. The decorations are really great, especially the Gollum's cave, where thay're shooting scenes with Martin Freeman (young Bilbo). It turns out, Ian McKellen is the only one from the cast, who can name all dwarves. We can see all of them wearing different beards and dressed in different costumes - creators are doing all possible to make every one unique. There are lots of comments from actors, who actually play these dwarves. And John Rhys-Davies (Gimli in "The Lord of the Rings") visited the set and talked to dwarves.

More about "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (pictures, videos, Peter Jackson's statements and other news)

"The Hobbit" - More dwarves from Middle-earth

We've already seen the first photos of the dwarves and now Peter Jackson is exited to give us more. Two new promo pictures were released this week along with short stories about these characters.

More about "The Hobbit". (news, pictures, videos)

Stephen Hunter (Bombur), James Nesbitt (Bofur) and William Kircher (Bifur)
While most of the Company of Thorin Oakensheild is related to the royal and noble line of Durin, Bofur, his brother Bombur and their cousin Bifur most definitely are … not. Born and bred in the West, descendants of coal miners and iron workers, they have joined the Quest for the Lonely Mountain partly to seek their fortune and partly because they were told the beer was free.

В то время как большинство гномов из компании Торина Дубощита являются родственниками по королевской и благородной линии Дарина, Бофур, его брат Бомбур и их кузен Бифур к таковым... не относятся. Они родились и выросли на Востоке, а будучи потомками рудокопов и кузнецов, согласились принять участие в походе частично из-за того, что бы попытать счастья и частично из-за того, что им пообещали бесплатное пиво.

Dean O'Gorman (Fili) and Aidan Turner (Kili)
Two of the youngest Dwarves, Fili and Kili have been born into the royal line of Durin and raised under the stern guardianship of their uncle, Thorin Oakensheild. Neither has ever travelled far, nor ever seen the fabled Dwarf City of Erebor. For both, the journey to the Lonely Mountain represents adventure and excitement. Skilled fighters, both brothers set off on their adventure armed with the invincible courage of youth, neither being able to imagine the fate which lies before them.

Два самых младших гнома, которых зовут Фили и Кили, являются потомками Дарина и выросли по строгой опекой своего дяди Торина. Никто из них не путешествовал далеко и даже не видел известного города гномов Эребор. Для этих двоих путешествие означает лишь захватывающее приключение. Опытные воины, оба брата выступают в поход, вооружившись отвагой, совершенно не подозревая, что их ждет впереди. 

Source - IGN movies

"The Hobbit" - Dwarves ready for the unexpected journey

And one more "The Hobbit" update - now we know how the dwarves look in Peter Jackson's imagination.

More about "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"! (news, pictures, Peter Jackson's statements)

Nori (ex-Orc Jed Brophy), Ori (Adam Brown) and Dori (Mark Hadlow) (picture source - Empire magazine)
These three brothers, all sons of the same mother, could not be more different from each other. Dori, the oldest, spends much of his time watching out for Ori, the youngest; making sure hes not caught a chill or got himself killed by Wargs or Goblins. Nobody quite knows what Nori gets up to most of the time, except that its guaranteed to be dodgy and quite probably, illegal. Dori, Nori and Ori are intensely loyal to each other and whilst they are perfectly happy fighting amongst themselves, woe-betide anyone who means harm to one of these brothers. (Yahoo! movies)

Эти три брата, сыновья одной матери, не смогли бы быть более непохожими друг на друга. Старший Дори большинство времени присматривает за младшим Ори, проверяя не подхватил ли он простуду или не убили ли его гоблины или варги. Никто точно не знает что же делает Нори в свое свободное время, только его занятие является рискованным и наверняка нелегальным. Дори, Нори и Ори хорошо ладят между собой и очень рады побороться друг с другом, но горе тому, кто захочет обидеть одного из этих братьев.

Oin (John Callen) and Gloin (Peter Hambleton) (picture source - Yahoo! movies)
Distant cousins of Thorin Oakenshield, these two doughty Northern Dwarves join the Company out of a sense of loyalty to their kin, and also because they have a substantial sum of money invested in the venture. Along with Bombur, Gloin is the only other married Dwarf in the Company (there being a shortage of female dwarves in general). His wife is an acclaimed beauty with a particularly fine beard. Gloin is the proud father of a young son, Gimli, who will go on to become part of the famous Fellowship of the Ring. (Yahoo! movies)

Дальние родственники Торина Дубощита, эти два отважных северных гнома присоединяются к компании из уважения к своей родне, ну и потому что они инвестировали в это рискованное предприятие кругленькую сумму денег. После Бомбура, Глоин - второй и последний женатый гном в компании (ведь женщин-гномов осталось не так уж и много). Его жена является настоящей красавицей с превосходной бородой. Глоин также приходится гордым отцом своему младшему сыну Гимли, который в будущем станет одним из знаменитого Братства кольца.

"The Hobbit": Second Video Blog from the Set

We've got one more video from the set of the upcoming  movie, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey". Peter Jackson and his wonderful team finished the first blog shooting and everybody, of course, except the director, is having a break, because Peter is concerned about discovering proper places for epic battles shooting. Actors tell what they are going to do and how they will enjoy this pause. Also we can see in this video Peter and Andy Serkis talking about upcoming second block of hard work. Personally, I was glad to see sir Ian McKellen, who plays Gandalf the Grey.

More about "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"! (news, pictures, Peter Jackson's statements)

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (2012) - Two pictures from Empire

As you know, Empire magazine is the first one, which dedicated the cover to the upcoming movie by Peter Jackson, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey". And it gets better - they published two new pictures with Bilbo and Gandalf the Grey.

Source - http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=31352

More about "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"! (news, pictures, Peter Jackson's statements)

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman)

Gandalf the Grey (Sir Ian McKellen)

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (2012) - Gandalf on the Empire cover

I love Empire magazine and you are going to find 'why'... They are the first ones, who dedicated the issue to the upcoming Peter Jackson's movie, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey". Gandalf the Grey (played by talented Ian McKellen) is smoking his pipe and smiling to us from its cover. And inside there are a couple of articles about how it's being made with interviews and pictures.

I can't wait for this movie, it's going to be as great as a trilogy.

More about this issue - http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=31328

"Your return to Middle-Earth starts here."  

("Baше возвращение в Средиземье начинается здесь.") 

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (2012) - First movie stills!

Peter Jackson is great at making his audience more and more exited with some interesting news from the set of his "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey". We got three new photos with Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey and with Peter himself. Also the director has told the EW magazine about this characters.
 
For more information visit - http://www.ew.com/

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins
 

'

'He fits the ears, and he's got some very nice feet,'' Jackson says to the EW. ''I think he's got the biggest hobbit feet we've had so far. They're a little bit hard to walk in, but he's managed to figure out the perfect hobbit gait.''

Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey

 

''He's in fantastic form,'' Peter Jackson says of McKellen to the EW. ''In a way, his role in The Hobbit has more technical difficulties than Lord of the Rings did, because he has scenes with 14 smaller characters — obviously the dwarves and the hobbit are shorter... I remember saying to him, ''Look, this isn't Waiting for Godot or King Lear. This is The Hobbit. This is the real thing.''
 
Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Peter Jackson

"The Hobbit" - Evangeline Lilly, Barry Humphries joined the cast

The director Peter Jackson announced that some new actors joined the cast of his upcoming epic movie "The Hobbit". Actress Evangeline Lilly, who is famous because of her role in TV show "Lost", will be playing a woodland elf named Tauriel. She will have some romantic story with elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom). Actor Barry Humphries will portray the Goblin King. More information you can discover from the official Jackson's statement (below photos), which he published on his Facebook page.

Evangeline Lilly

Barry Humphries

The official letter from Peter Jackson about cast additions: 

"Yikes! I can finally get back to some postings! We've finished our first block of shooting and moved straight into location scouting. More on that soon... But today, I'm thrilled to announce two new cast members who will be joining us for our second block of shooting.

Evangeline Lilly will be playing a new character—the Woodland Elf, Tauriel. Her name means 'daughter of Mirkwood' and, beyond that, we must leave you guessing! (No, there is no romantic connection to Legolas.) What is not a secret is how talented and compelling an actress Evangeline is; we are thrilled and excited she will be the one to bring our first true Sylvan Elf to life.

I'm also highly excited that Barry Humphries will be portraying the Goblin King, in much the way Andy Serkis created Gollum. Barry is perhaps best known for his business and social connections as the long-time manager of Dame Edna Everage. He has also been an ardent supporter of the rather misunderstood and unfairly maligned Australian politician, Sir Les Patterson. However, in his spare time, Barry is also a fine actor, and we're looking forward to seeing him invest the Goblin King with the delicate sensitivity and emotional depth this character deserves.

Evangeline and Barry, along with Welsh actor Luke Evans as Bard and Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug, just about rounds out the major casting. I cannot wait to get stuck into these new scenes!
More soon, including a flurry of answers to your questions. Sorry for the delay!

Cheers,
Peter J"

“THE HOBBIT" - Dates and Titles

Three movie studios, New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures and MGM, have announced the final titles and release dates for filmmaker Peter Jackson’s two-film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s popular masterpiece "The Hobbit". The first film, titled “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” will be released on December 14, 2012. The second film, titled “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” is slated for release the following year, on December 13, 2013.

Три киностудии сегодня объявили официальные названия и даты премьер для нового проекта Питера Джексона, который является адаптацией широкоизвестного шедевра английской литературы Дж.Р.Р.Толкиена "Хоббит".  Первая часть названа "Хоббит: Неожиданное Путешествие" и будет представлена 14 декабря 2012 года. Второй фильм назван "Хоббит: Туда и Обратно" и будет представлен ровно через год, 13 декабря 2013 года. Видимо, еще несколько концов света придется отложить.  

Both films are set in Middle-earth 60 years before Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.” The adventure of “The Hobbit” follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug.

Действия обоих фильмов разворачиваются в Средиземье за 60 лет до «Властелина Колец», который Питер Джексон оживил на большом экране в виде трилогии, чьей кульминацией стал «Властелин Колец: Возвращение Короля» (получил 11 оскаров). В новых фильмах приключения находит на свою голову хоббит Бильбо Бэггинс, который отправляется в невероятное путешествие в заброшенное Царство Гномов Эребор.


Under Jackson’s direction, both movies are being shot consecutively in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Filming is taking place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand.  

Под чутким руководством Питера Джексона обе кинокартины снимают в формате высококачественного 3D, с использованием последних технологий. Съемки ведутся в Stone Street Studios в Веллингтоне и в Новой Зеландии.

Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, the character he played in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, and Martin Freeman, who just won a BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the BBC series “Sherlock,” takes on the central role of Bilbo Baggins. Also reprising their roles from “The Lord of the Rings” movies are: Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Orlando Bloom as Legolas; Ian Holm as the elder Bilbo; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Elijah Wood as Frodo; and Andy Serkis as Gollum. The ensemble cast also includes (in alphabetical order) Richard Armitage, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, Mike Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott, Jeffrey Thomas, and Aidan Turner. The screenplays for “The Hobbit” films are by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson. Jackson is also producing the films, together with Fran Walsh and Carolynne Cunningham. The executive producers are Ken Kamins and Zane Weiner, with Philippa Boyens serving as co-producer.  

Иэн МакКеллен возвращается в образе Гэндальфа Серого, а актер Мартин Фримен, который недавно получил премию BAFTA за BBC сериал «Шерлок», играет главного персонажа Бильбо. Вновь на экране после трилогии появятся: Кейт Бланшетт как Галадриэль, Орландо Блум как Леголас, Иэн Холм как пожилой Бильбо, Кристофер Ли как Саруман, Хьюго Уивинг как Элронд, Элайджа Вуд как Фродо Бэггинс и Энди Серкис как Голлум. Основной актерский состав включает в себя таких актеров: Ричард Армитэдж, Джед Брофи, Адам Браун, Джон Коллен, Стивен Фрай, Райан Гейдж и другие. Сценарий для фильмов написали Фрэнсис Уолш, Филиппа Бойенс, Гильермо дель Торо и сам Питер Джексон, который вместе с мисс Уолш и Кэролинн Каннингэм также и продюсирует фильм. Исполнительными продюсерами являются Кен Каминс, Зейн Уэйнер и Филиппа Бойенс, как сопродюсер.

“The Hobbit” films are productions of New Line Cinema and MGM, with New Line managing production. Warner Bros Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television licensing being handled by MGM. (Facebook official TheHobbitMovie page)

Фильмы «Хоббит» создаются с участием студий New Line Cinema и MGM, менеджментом занимается  New Line. Warner Bros Pictures занимается всемирным прокатом, отбором территорий для демонстрации фильмов, также как MGM будет распоряжаться телевизионными лицензионными показами. (перевод анонса сделан лично, не копировать без соглашения автора)

"The Hobbit" (2012) - on the set news - Orlando Bloom

Peter Jackson had confirmed that actor Orlando Bloom joins upcoming Middle-Earth story "The Hobbit". The director wrote on his own Facebook page this statement:

"Ten years ago, Orlando Bloom created an iconic character with his portrayal of Legolas. I'm excited to announce today that we'll be revisiting Middle Earth with him once more. I’m thrilled to be working with Orlando again. Funny thing is, I look older—and he doesn’t! I guess that's why he makes such a wonderful elf."

I'm very glad to hear it! I like very much Orlando's character and hope he will make this story more interesting (if it's possible for such amazing adventure).

"The Hobbit" - On the set (21.03.2011)

Due to th site deducated to "The Hobbit" movie - The Hobbit Blog - Peter Jackson has just launched a new Facebook profile (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Peter-Jackson/141884481557), and will be posting comments and updates on the production of The Hobbit there. For starters, he’s included two new photos from the set, the official Start of Production announcement, and a photo gallery from some of his past productions.

And first photos from the set!