Houses of the Hobbit Diaspora

If you think that Hobbits are fictional, do not be fooled a second longer.  Middle-earth once existed, as did all of its various species.  Yet the hobbits found themselves obliged to leave their original home of The Shire. Rescued by the ancestors of a mild-mannered English writer, they have spread across the world.  A spell cast by the Gandalf the White means that the sons of men cannot see them but if you look close enough, there is evidence to be found.  A hobbit has to live somewhere, after all.  Here are just some of the houses of the Hobbit diaspora.

Image Credit Flickr User Sarah Stierch

Image Credit Flickr User Murray Barnes

The first evidence of hobbits goes back hundreds of years.  Sites in Scotland and Finland, to name but two, have shown that hobbits have been living among us for longer than anyone imagined.  In exchange for our hospitality, the Hobbits have sworn to help us thrive.  While you might argue that, globally, they cannot be doing too good a job of that, there are few hobbits to many millions of humans - so the scale of their assistance is not huge.

Puzzlewood – Tolkien’s Inspiration for Middle-earth

Puzzlewood – even the name conjures up images of ancient ents, elves, wizards and hobbits.  

You could easily be forgiven for thinking that you were lost somewhere in Middle-earth.  

Indeed John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was fascinated by the place and it is said to be a major stimulus for the imagination of the man who brought us Bilbo, Frodo and Gandalf.

Image Credit Flickr User Stuart Herbert

Image Credit Flickr User Trubble

You do not, however, have to be transported to another world to enjoy such Tolkien-esque landscapes for yourself.  Puzzlewood stretches over fourteen acres of the Forest of Dean in the English county of Gloucestershire (pronounced Gloss-ta-shire). Yes, it is even in a shire!

Bronze Mischief - The Sculptures of David Goode

Take a walk in an English country garden at this time of year and you never know quite what you are going to come across. One moment you are busy doing nothing and the next moment you are caught up in a world of playful if naughty creatures from a hitherto unseen world. And for sure these are naughty – they are goblins and elves. There is none of the wafty grace of the Cottingley fairies here. These guys are up to mischief.

In fact, this is the work of David Goode (pictured left), a British sculptor based in the English county of Oxfordshire.  After having spent many years studying the human form – he was the youngest ever waxwork modeller for Madame Tussauds – he turned his attention to another world entirely.

Having spent so much time with wax, when he turned his hand to bronze work he determined that he would also make his work as believable as possible in this medium.

Gollum Catches Lunch at Wellington Airport

The muck and pool is nice and cool, so juicy sweet! Our only wish, to catch a fish, so juicy sweet! Well, yes. Exactly.  We all know how Gollum liked his lunch, wriggly and raw, but how would you like to be reminded of the fact while you are having yours?

Image Credit Flickr User ohsarahrose

Very much so. This amazing – and huge – sculpture has just been installed at New Zealand’s Wellington Airport. It has been designed by Weta Workshop which designed props and effects for The Hobbit trilogy of movies coming our way very soon.  It also gave them the opportunity to not so gently remind people that the country was used as the stunning stand-in for Middle-earth in the movies.

Hobbiton Reborn!

Just over a year ago Kuriositas reported on the state of the set of Hobbiton in Matamata, New Zealand. The news wasn't good.

After the filming of the Lord of the Rings, the owners of the farm upon which Hobbiton was created asked if some of the hobbit homes could remain to serve as an additional tourist attraction to the area. And they made it so, but soon things were being taken over by the sheep! Yet there is now good news from The Shire - what a difference a year can make!

Thanks to Sir Peter Jackson and his crew returning to Matamata to film the ‘prequel’, the set has been rebuilt – and how!  Sir Peter Jackson’s company and the farm have entered into a joint venture arrangement to allow movie fans to visit the newly reconstructed film set of The Hobbit. Sir Peter was recently pictured with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key (below) on the set which is now open again to the public - but with the set properly retained this time!

Image Credit Flickr User NZNationalParty

Image Credit Flickr User richhawk57

If you want to see how the set looked before Sir Peter’s return, please click here. However, below is a selection of pictures from the set which you are now able to visit, should you be (handily enough) in New Zealand any time soon! It seems odd, in a way, being able to visit the set of a movie which is yet to be released…

Occupy Mordor!

Image Credit Flickr User Jamison Weiser

The Hobbit in Under 2 Minutes

If you are too busy lazy to read thebook and are listlessly waiting the never ending wait for the Peter Jackson movie version, perhaps you might want to consider filling your Tolkien knowledge in with this short animation by Declan Moran of The Brothers Grim and Grimy. 

It isn't quite like the Wikipedia entry either.  Described by Moran as Valley Girl + Hobbit + Lebowski = Most Concise Summary Ever, that pretty much gives you an idea about how you are going to spend the next two minutes.

As such, you are either going to love this or despise it with a passion.  You can guess my feelings by its presence on Kuriositas - though I must admit to being a fan of Moran's earlier work Dante's Inferno in Under 2 Minutes. It has spiked my interest in the book once again, so much that I can feel a scurry to the book shelves coming on...

Treebeard's New Wards

Image Credit Flickr User make little sharks

I told Aunt May and Alfred I would keep you safe, and safe is where I'll keep you.

Fellowship Towers - A Home for Heroes

Image Credit Flickr User bunnyhero

Even heroes get old. So, what might happen to the Lord Of The Rings characters age and need a little more help with everyday things than they once did?  Well, there is always Fellowship Towers which will take them in and care for them – in return for a ring or two no doubt.

Unfortunately there was no additional information about where this was on Flickr, so if you have an aging hobbit or elf on your hands at the moment, please do not email me!

Lord of the Rings, Starring The Beatles, Directed by Stanley Kubrick

In March 1965 John Lennon declared about his group The Beatles: "We're more popular than Jesus now—I don't know which will go first, rock and roll or Christianity." People in the UK generally shrugged, used as they were to the Liverpudlian's tongue often being planted firmly in his cheek.

However, a few years later people in the know had to suspect that he really had developed delusions of grandeur - along with the rest of the group. Perhaps they had partaken of one too many illegal substances - it was the sixties after all - but the four (by then former) mop tops reckoned that they could have a fair stab at Tolkien's masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings.

The plan was that Paul McCartney would play Frodo Baggins with Ringo Starr backing him up in the role of Sam Gamgee.  George Harrison would don a hat and grow his beard a little longer to take on the role of Gandalf and John Lennon decided that for him only the role of Gollum would do.

They even went as far as to Stanley Kubrick to direct the film.  Kubrick did consider it, citing the sheer immensity of the book as a reason for his declining The Beatles' offer.  But, what if.... what if the film had gone ahead?  We thank Flickr User Helder Silva for imagining what the movie poster may have looked like.

Shudder.

Has Gollum Finally Found Happiness?

Image Credit Flickr User Gruntzooki

In something of a shock to communities everywhere, not to mention fellowships, everyone's favorite wizened Stoor Hobbit seems, at last, to have found happiness.  No date has yet been set and it is not known under which name the Hobbit formerly known as Sméagol will marry.  Attempts to foil the paparazzi have seemingly failed and it seems that the wedding will be the usual media circus.

Yes, OK.  Not a real newspaper headline but a parody, spotted yesterday in London's Hackney.

Martin Freeman is Bilbo Baggins

Martin Freeman the British actor best known for his role as Tim Canterbury in the UK version of The Office is to play Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s two part adaptation of The Hobbit.  For fans of the actor everywhere this will come as great news – as well (one can only hope) as those of the Tolkien novel.

He may even get the opportunity to film in the UK if the location shoots are moved away from New Zealand because of an industrial dispute.  Although the New Zealanders will make every effort to renegotiate the deal it seems that some part of the UK may well benefit from the action.  Freeman seems to be perfect casting: as well as having delivered a number of Bilbo-like performances in his career he also has a believable likenes to Ian Holm who played the older Bilbo in Jackson’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

The role of Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the dwarves goes to British heart throb actor Richard Armitage.  As well as currently starring in the BBC spy drama Spooks, Armitage can be seen in the new Captain America movie.  He is adept at playing goodies and baddies alike, relying on his dark good looks (as well as acting talent of course!) for both.  As well as the dashing hero in Spooks he most recently appeared as the nast Guy of Gisburne in the BBC's short live Robin Hood reboot.

As many people outside of the UK may not be familiar with the actors who have been chosen for the various roles in The Hobbit, here are pictures of the cast.

Below (top left) is Richard Armitage together with pictures of other The Hobbit actors.  Next to him is Aidan Turner who has been in the BBC3 cult smash Being Human as the vampire John Mitchell.  Underneath we have Rob Kazinsky who played Sean Slater in the BBC soap opera Eastenders.  They both have extensive experience of snarling in their recent TV roles so will be quite at home in The Hobbit as they will both play dwarves.  Turner will play Kili and Kazinsky gets the role of Fili.

Kazinsky particularly must be pleased to death to cast off the shackles of TV soap (however successful and worthy) and must be anticipating doing an Orlando after appearing in these movies.

Middle right is Graham McTavish whose face is (you  have guessed it) also familiar to British TV audiences.  The actor who has been chosen to play Dwalin in The Hobbit has, like the others in this ensemble, been around for quite a while.  His face may be familair to you as that of Warden Ackerman in Red Dwarf  which he played in five episodes of series 8. Mainstream US audiences may possibly recognise him as Ferguson who appeared in 4 episodes of season 4 of Prison Break.

Other dwarves will be John Callen (bottom left).  He will play Óin, son of Gróin.  Next on the bottom row (l to r) is Mark Hadlow  (Dori) and Peter Hambleton who will also play dwarves.  The films will attempt to capture the lucrative Christmas market and will be released in the December of 2012 and 2013.

Freeman has been in many TV shows as a jobbing actor as well as in co-starring roles but is also well known as a theater actor too.  He has appeared in several films, most notably as Arthur Dent in the adaptation of Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.  Other films have included the Richard Curtis comedy Love Actually and Ali G Indahouse.

He also made two very brief cameos in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz (he is a good friend of writer Simon Pegg).   TV roles are too abundant to mention but most recently he surprised and impressed viewers with is excellent portrayal of a modern day Dr Watson in the recent BBC drama Sherlock (picture left, with Benedict Cumberbatch).

It seems that if you are a fan of the BBC’s output then you will recognise a good number of the actors in The Hobbit.  If they can be trusted to do one thing it is to hire calibre actors.  At the very least it's that part of The Hobbit sorted: if the movie is half as good as its casting it's going to be wonderful.

Lego Lord of the Rings Mix and Match Minifig Set

Image Credit Flickr User Mr Spilelbrick

Lego do not have a Lord of the Rings minifig set – even if it does sound like an odds on money spinner.  However, that did not put off one diehard fan of both the book and the brick.  With time, patience and more than a little mix and match ingenuity using many other Lego sets, the Fellowship and its enemies slowly took shape.

Image Credit Flickr User Mr Spielbrick

Let's start with one of the most popular members of the Fellowship of the Ring. Gimli, the representative of the Durin's folk looks magnificent with his helmet and beard.  His axe may be a tad too large but he is an uncanniy accurate rendition.

Image Credit Flickr User Mr Spielbrick

Should I make the obvious pun?  I can't resist it.  Here is the appropriately named Legolas. An Elf from the Woodland Realm he is widely considered to be the prettiest of the nine members of the Fellowship.  Is that perhaps Robin Hood's bow and arrow he has borrowed for the day?

Image Credit Flickr User Mr Spielbrick

Tme for one of the bad guys - you've guessed already who it is though, I am sure.  Gríma Wormtongue - toady, creep (and creepy), impostor, and arch manipulator he almost did for King Théoden of Rohan due to his lies and persuasive tongue.  Thief too - I could swear that is Darth Vader's cape he has on.

Image Credit Flickr User Mr Spielbrick

No real chance of a spoiler here - most people know how the trilogy ends.  When Sauron was finally defeated, Aragorn got the girl - and the crown.  Here he is as King Elessar.  Has a medieval Lego knight lost his breastplate recently?

Image Credit Flickr User Mr Spielbrick

OK, guys.  Group Shot.  Smile.

Image Credit Flickr User Mr Spielbrick

Time for some Hobbits. First. Frodo and yes, that is The Ring you can see on his hand finger. The best known Hobbit of the Shire even retains his freckles and worried expression.  He needs some help from Sam, obviously.

Image Credit Flickr User Mr Spielbrick

Sam. Good old Samwise Gamgee who was later known as Samwise Gardner but only after he had been made Mayor of the Shire seven times.   Is that a dagger in your hand, Sam - or a Lego knife?  Either way, Sam's naturally portly physique lends itself to Lego very well.

Image Credit Flickr User Mr Spielbrick

Unlike Galadriel. Lego just does not do justice to the lovely (and slim) royal elf that Gimli lost his heart to forever.  Yet if you are going to have a Lego Galadriel, this is as good as it is going to get - and it is.

Image Credit Flickr User Mr Spielbrick

The one you have been waiting for? Gandalf the grey - or if you prefer to call him by one of his other names, Olórin, Mithrandir, Gandalf Greyhame, The White Rider, Stormcrow, Incánus, or Tharkûn. He is perfect in Lego - even down to his blue wizard's hat.  Of course he was known by one other name too..

Image Credit Flickr User Mr Spielbrick

Gandalf the White. Healed in Lórien and reclothed in white garments by the grandchild of both King Finwë and King Olwë, the Lady of the Galahdrim, Galdriel, the successor of Saruman took on his new guise.   It may not have been a wizard's staff in its original Lego set, but it most certainly is now.

Kuriositas would like to thank Lego genius Mr Spielbrick for his very kind permission allowing us to reproduce these pictures.  Please visit his Flickr stream where you will find many other Lego creations.

Treebeard is in the Car Park

There has been something slightly bothering me when I get to the car park for a for a while now. You know how it is - something at the back of your mind that makes you think that somehow you are being watched?  Well, I finally realised today what it was that had been bothering me for so long. Treebeard is in the Car Park.

Hobbit botherin'?  Not today.  Fast asleep is old Treebeard.

Look, there he is, in the center of this picture, as clear as day.  Ancient, sleepy and venerable, he has been there all this time, while I stagger in to work in a somnambulistic state.  I won't tell you how long I have worked there, but not to have noticed him before is a little shameful, to say the least.

Treabeard, perhaps I should explain, is from the Lord of the Rings.  He is the oldest of the species of trees called Ents and usually lives in the Forest of Fanghorn, when he isn't enjoying a sleepy sojourn in Lewisham, South East London.  And why not be sleepy?  After all his own motto is don't be hasty.

I can think of a few Orcs he can squish, right here, right now - if he would just wake up!

Still can't see the similarity?  OK, I don't do Photoshop (you will soon see why that statement did not really have to be made) but when Treabeard awakes, you may recall his features....

Bad?  What about this then?

OK, that is as good as it gets this end... can you do better?  I think so!  Crikey, I hope so.  All of you Photoshop experts out there - want to do something with Treabeard here?  Do what you will and email them to me - and they can take pride of place below!

Small hobbit sized prize to the best entrant!