Immortal Midlife Crisis

Gimli doesn’t know where to look…. #ElfProbs

I used to know all my passwords….

Hobbit

One week left…And for those who aren’t aware, a medley of the soundtrack is streaming on their website, here.

 

~AoB

The Guild Companion

In my email today, I got my monthly notification that The Guild Companion is out. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, the Guild Companion is a free online publication that supports Rolemaster, HARP, MERP, and Spacemaster (all Iron Crown Enterprises products). Though submissions have been low for some time now, they keep chugging along. For a free, unaffiliated publication, I think they do rather well. If you’ve ever had any interest in those games, take a look. Lately, I’ve felt a little nostalgic for my Rolemaster/MERP days so I’m going to flip through the latest installment (#129) during my lunch.

 

Greetings from the Guild Companion,

The November issue (#129) is now available at http://www.guildcompanion.com

In this month’s issue, Dan Henry’s epic work on analysing the social
implications of Spell Law concludes with a look at Evil Mentalism,
plus we have two “alien” races in Rolemaster terms and new Bardic
items, plus musings from the Editor on Something Wicked and other
matters.

Best wishes,
Nicholas

—
Dr Nicholas HM Caldwell, CEng CITP MBCS FRMS
General Editor for The Guild Companion
http://www.guildcompanion.com
Author: Mentalism Companion, GURPS Age of Napoleon, Construct
Companion, College of Magics, HARP Sci Fi

———————————————————————
To unsubscribe, e-mail: merp-unsubscribe@merp.com
For additional commands, e-mail: merp-help@merp.com

~AoB

Ian McKellen wants it bad

I saw this article on the long-awaited, and waited, and awaited movie of J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”.

McKellen hopeful of end to Hobbit rift Staff and agencies
Tuesday October 16, 2007
Guardian UnlimitedSir Ian McKellen would be “very pleased” to reprise the role of Gandalf the wizard in the long-awaited adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the actor has said. US reports suggest the ongoing negotiations over the Lord of the Rings prequel may be close to being resolved. Firstly, it is understood that New Line, which backed the original trilogy, only part-owns the rights to The Hobbit, with rival studio MGM also maintaining an interest. And then there is Rings director Peter Jackson’s separate legal dispute with New Line, this time over profits from the franchise.

Sir Ian has therefore taken the opportunity to restate his claim on the wizard’s weatherbeaten hat, whether Jackson, who was at one point effectively blacklisted by New Line over the legal dispute, is able to return for the new film or not.

“I am glad to read that [The Hobbit] is looking more and more likely,” said the 68-year-old actor. “I would be disappointed if they didn’t want to have the original Gandalf. I suppose if I am still functioning and working well, it is very likely I would be asked to do it and if I were, I would be very pleased to do it.”

Sir Ian said he hoped Jackson would direct the movie, but said he had the director’s blessing to play Gandalf for someone else. “When Peter announced he had withdrawn from The Hobbit, he sent me an email saying ‘Because I am not going to do it, it doesn’t mean you have to do the same. Of course, you must play Gandalf whether I direct or not’,” said the Shakespearean actor.

Sir Ian portrayed the character in the three Lord of the Rings movies, one of the biggest box-office successes of all time, and earned a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for the part in 2002.

The Hobbit, first published In 1937, describes the adventures of Bilbo Baggins as he joins Gandalf and a group of dwarves in a quest to slay a dragon. During the quest, he discovers the powerful ring that plays a central part in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007The Hobbit had been slated to be made shortly after Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings movies were released (relatively speaking). However, due to some disagreements with regard to funds between New Line and Peter Jackson, there’s been some delay. The situation is pretty complicated, I’m sure, but I’m finding it difficult to keep interested in the legal wrangling. Just make the freakin’ movie already.

Anyway, Sir Ian McKellan, who played Gandalf in the LotR series is still very amenable to reprising the role in a Hobbit movie….even without Peter Jackson Directing. Sir Ian, in my opinion, did a pretty good job in the role for LotR’s. Still, I can’t help but wonder how the first choice for the role (Sir Sean Connery) would have worked out. Apparently, Connery didn’t relish the idea of living for a LONG stretch of time in New Zealand (they filmed all three movies together)…I suppose the alure of Scottland kept him home.  My brother and I have discussed this at length and have come to the conclusion that barring any other major changes in casting (or directing), Connery would have stolen the show.

 EVEYBODY STAND BACK….I suspect that the hordes of McKellan fanboys (and girls) will be pelting me with rotten produce straight away. Its not that I don’t appreciate McKellan’s performance as Gandalf, I guess I just always saw Connery in the role (even before it came out that he’d been asked)…..I suppose that makes me a bit of a Connery Fanboy…ah well, so be it. It may interest some that Jackson seems to have agreed with me.

~Adaen of Bridgewater