(Fellowship of the Ring, image by Jerry Vanderstelt)
The frequent rain and unseasonably cool mornings and evenings have caused my internal calendar to go all wonky and now more than ever I am emotionally convinced that autumn has arrived. It doesn’t matter what my senses tell me, my heart has entered fall mode. I have had the hardest time over the last month not falling into full-on autumnal Lord of the Rings mode as well. While I have resisted actually watching the extended editions in their entirety, I have once again been sampling the extras, listening to Enya (her lovely melancholic voice will forever be associated with Lord of the Rings for me), and journeying around the internet searching for Lord of the Rings news and images to satisfy my yearnings.
I decided that if I was this miserable (I say, tongue firmly planted in cheek), then you ought to be as well. And though it is not yet November (my LOTR month), step into the future with me and take a look at some wonderful new Lord of the Rings treasures.
According to the Tolkien Library, Weta is getting back into the merchandising business well ahead of the release of film one of The Hobbit by creating some new, limited edition collectibles…all of which I cannot help drooling over like a schoolboy, despite the fact that they will no doubt be well beyond my price range, even if I weren’t being good with my money right now.
The one I covet the most is the above pictured image of Anduril. The details:
These blades are created using old world techniques for the sword purist, the way swords used to be made, for fighting. The first sword to be released is Anduril, in a limited-edition of only 10 worldwide. Each sword comes with a 10-minute DVD showing the artistic process and featuring interviews with Richard Taylor, John Howe and Peter Lyon. The video will shortly be made available for viewing on the Weta website.”
You can see the price tag (ouch!) and watch the video of the swords being made here.
Despite the fact that I have a limited edition copy of this very sword I cannot help but wish I had one made by the man himself!
Next up, these ultra cool miniature shields:
“A new range of cast metal miniature shields, built to exacting precision by Weta’s senior model maker, Dave Tremont (who built Grond and many of the miniatures used in filming the trilogy).
They can be displayed as stunning collectibles on their custom built bases, or worn as badges to your next convention.” (These were unleashed at Comic-Con, hence the convention reference)
And finally, the Gandalf the Grey Cloak:
Woven and sewn by our friends at Stansborough, in Wellington, New Zealand, these cloaks are the real thing.”
I love the attention to detail that all three of these items has. In using original creators, the original materials, etc. they are a collectors dream. While part of the reason for doing this is to make a buck and to keep interest alive for the upcoming films, the quality that is going into these collectibles tells me that the genuine passion the folks at Weta had for LOTR the first time around is still alive and well, and I love that about them.
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The image that opened this post, as well as the ones above and below, are painted by artist Jerry Vanderstelt and they are amazing! His ebay store can be found here and I highly recommend visiting. The image below is his latest, representing Return of the King. It is absolutely beautiful. If you click on that image you can see a much larger version, but to truly appreciate Vanderstelt’s talent I suggest you go to the ebay store, open the link to this lithograph, click on the picture to enlarge it and then rest your mouse cursor over the side images which display individual characters in a much larger and more detailed view. You will be awed by his ability to capture their likenesses. I am truly blown away by these.
For work of this quality presented in lithograph format, the prices are actually very reasonable. This is certainly an item going on my dream list!!!
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While perusing the Tolkien Library site I came across this link. China Mieville has, in the past, been an outspoken critic of J.R.R. Tolkien. It seems something of a change of heart…or a little more of an open mind…has came over him and I found this article both fascinating from a Tolkien fan perspective and a great chance to learn new vocabulary words!
What fascinated me the most about this brief article were Mieville’s thoughts on the tragedy in Tolkien’s work. In both the books and the film adaptations I have always been touched by the profound sense of melancholy that lays over the entire epic. It touches a cord in me, the kind of cord that makes any rainy, dreary day become magical to me because it brings forth thoughts of Tolkien and the world he created. At the end of the section on tragedy Mieville writes:
“Whatever we see as the drive behind Tolkien’s tragic vision, and however we relate to its politics and aesthetics, the tragedy of the creeping tawdry quotidian gives Middle Earth a powerful melancholia lamentably missing from too much of what followed. It deserves celebrating and reclaiming.”
Amen!
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For purely financial reasons I have resisted the urge to step up to the next level of technology: blu-ray and all the equipment needed to truly take advantage of it. A few months ago I was worried that my resolve would be broken due to the release of the LOTR trilogy on blu-ray this fall. Then my worries dissipated when I read that these were only going to be the theatrical cuts of the film and that the blu-ray Extended Editions would not be released until right before The Hobbit hits theatres. I was saved! I had a few years!
Well, things have changed:
According to Jackson, the studio has already spoken to him about developing additional extra content for the ‘The Lord of the Rings: Extended Edition Trilogy’ Blu-ray release. This new content would presumably be added to the content available on the existing 12-disc DVD box set for the Blu-ray release.”
Yet another reason to try to become debt free by next year!!!
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The biggest geek event in the world, San Diego Comic-Con, recently ended. While there were plenty of soon-to-be-released films vying for attention, the LOTR fan was not left out in the cold. It sounds like the script for The Hobbit is only a few weeks away from completion. Once green-lit by the studio it shouldn’t be long until we hear about casting choices. The One Ring dot Net site is a great place for regular updates about all things Tolkien. If you would like to hear a bit of what Peter Jackson had to say about The Hobbit, check out this link.
Well, that is all of my Tolkien temptation for now. I think I’ll print this post off now and send it to Santa Claus so he can get working on my Christmas list early.
small world is right Carl lol..what are the chances we’d both be mentioning the same artist in the same week??
I had noticed when I went to his website that he had LOTR paintings which is part of the reason I had linked his name to this website.
If you want to get out of “fall mode” come visit me for a few days.. hot and humid in the 90s should cure you pretty quick
Deslily: No thanks! I love fall mode. I’ll be disappointed when the weather warms up again and I fall out of the fall mode, pun intended. Actually it feels like early summer during the day, but in the morning and at night it is wonderfully autumnal.
Cant find it now, but I came across a site that sold replicas of the One Ring. Seemed very disturbing to me 🙂
Swords and clothing are one thing. But the Ring itself? Scary stuff…
Masha: Although I do not have a true replica of the one ring, in that mine isn’t gold, I do wear a one ring on the middle finger of my right hand every day and have for a number of years. You can see it here:
http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/?p=238
I’m in a position of authority in my company…shouldn’t I have ‘one ring to rule them all’? 😉 Wish it was that easy!
Woo! What a LOTR geek-out post! I love it. I’m a big fan of LOTR (books and movies). I like how authentic everything looks. Fun stuff. I always like to re-read the books in the fall, too.
Daphne: I just couldn’t resist any longer, I was in the mood. I end up reading parts of the novels and/or nonfiction books about Tolkien during different parts of the year, fall being the most prevalent.
Ooh the cloak is positively delicious!
Oh … look at the LOTR pretties … sigh
Did the book get to you?
Great post! I have been planning to rewatch the movies for a while now and think I probably will to resist spending money…
Kailana: Resisting spending money is a good thing! Actually all of these items are quite expensive (even the DVDs if you don’t have a blu-ray player to play them!) so while I want them there is no real temptation that I will go buy any of these items.
Maree: Yes it did, I thought I sent you an email. Ugh, the memory!!! I am planning a wonderful post about goodies I have received recently and your generous gift is one of the treasures.
Mariel: It does, doesn’t it? I’d love to try one on.
I think the cloak is my favourite. We have a long wait ahead of us, I know, but I’m so looking forward to The Hobbit. And yes, Mieville’s essay was a great one 🙂
Nymeth: I enjoyed his essay as well. I don’t honestly think he has suddenly become a Tolkien fanatic, but to see him be able to evaluate Tolkien with a more open-minded eye made it an interesting essay to read. I’m both looking forward to The Hobbit and terrified of it as well. To be really successful, in my mind, it has to fit seamlessly into the other LOTR films while also being new and interesting enough in and of itself that fans and non-fans don’t feel like this is just studios going back to the well. Its a task that I don’t envy the film makers having to take on.
Psst, Santa, I’ll take one of everything Carl want’s as well. I promise I’ll be good this time. 🙂
Love the sword, the cloak, the Blue Ray DVD’s. One day I will have a Blue Ray player. One day…
Interesting article as well from Mieville. I read it or atleast tried to as there were so many words that are just beyond my education level for me to fully understand it. I have no doubt the Mr Tolkien would have loved it though.
Jeff: Santa can only bring you one if I get them too! I don’t want to be competing and end up with the coal!
Excuse me while I drool all over this post…
Great news about the blu-ray too, watched some of Hellboy on blu-ray and it is fabtastic. I think for most films you don’t need it, but with so much details going into certain films the blu-ray does make thinks an awful lot more “oooohhhh” 🙂
Fence: I’m definitely jealous of you seeing Hellboy on blu-ray.
Someday…
Ah … I didn’t see an email, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t get one 🙂
I possibly deleted it by accident. I’m glad you got it 🙂
You know I bet even ” coal ” from the Weta workshop would be damn cool ( and really expensive 🙂 )
Jeff: It would be, because it would be coal from a Balrog!!! 🙂
Maree: I can understand deleting one of my emails sight unseen! Kudos to you! Ha! I’ll make sure you get a proper one and thanks in the upcoming post.
true.
I am very glad that China Mieville has changed his mind. What I love about the Weta mrchandise is that it isn’t cheap tacky stuff that will fall apart from a couple of weeks. Shame it means it is so expensive though. One day I may be able to afford something…
Rhinoa: I agree. Even the few collectibles I have from the Noble collection and the limited edition sword that I have are of excellent quality. I love the steampunk weapons the Weta workshop has been putting out as well. They are also very tempting to me! 🙂
Funny you should discuss this; I too have been thinking that it feels like fall here in Lincoln, Nebraska (My Pin Oak tree has even been dropping leaves!) Just two days ago I checked out the Fellowship of the Ring on CD from the library. Stange coincidence.
Indiapaintbrush: That is a strange…and wonderful…coincidence. I’m sure it has felt like autumn in Nebraska since its been feeling that way here as well. Of course I think summer is going to return this coming week, but hopefully we can maintain cool nights and mornings for the duration. That would be a blessing.
Those are some pretty awesome toys! I studied abroad in Spain a few years back right when the final movie had been out for a while and man, were those LOTR swords popular over there. But for whatever inexplicable reason, WAY more expensive than any of the other swords available in Spain.
My husband would totally love to use the excuse of the LOTR on blueray to buy a blueray player. I better not get that idea into his head 🙂
Kim: That will be my excuse for finally buying blu-ray when the extended editions come out sometime next year. I cannot imagine not being able to watched these beloved films in the best format available.
I want those posters/artwork1 they are truly fabulous! I can drool at all the actors all the time then, and have the feel of LotR without having the movies on! I’m like you, Carl, I have to watch them once a year, and I did last year, I’m happy to say. Due again this fall, and like you, we have a fall feeling in the air already. I’ve seen leaves begin dropping! I almost screamed….I love autumn, but dread the coming of winter. And maybe that’s what part of the melancholy in LotR is about, that all things must pass. Wonderful post, Carl! Thank you.
“And maybe that’s what part of the melancholy in LotR is about, that all things must pass”…I couldn’t agree more. In winning the battle but seeing the third age end and the elves leave and the world make a profound change, there is a lot of melancholy in the saga of LOTR. I don’t dread winter much, but I do want autumn to come and to stay for a good loooong while.
I’m not the LOTR fan that you are…I did love all three movies, but I must say that I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks it is fall. I think a couple of weeks ago I sniffed Fall in the air and I haven’t gone back. I want to burn my pumpkin candles and drink hot tea. Love this season!
Oh, me too Karen, me too. I’m in the mood for Mary’s friend Nick to make the pumpkin ice cream that she makes for us every year. I’m ready to burn fall scents and have the windows open, etc.