The OnlineMBA.com has an interesting one minute video illustrating some of the economic and entertainment impact of the The Lord of the Rings series and the recently released movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Check it out and see what you think.

Episode 17 – The Economic Impact of Lord of the Rings from Minute MBA by OnlineMBA.com on Vimeo.

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Viggo Mortenson

Ain’t it Cool News’, Capone chats with Viggo Mortenson about politics, THE ROAD, APPALOOSA, and THE HOBBIT.

In late October, as part of the Chicago International Film Festival’s Closing Night festivities, Viggo Mortensen got himself a Career Achievement Award just before a screening of what will now be his next film to be released in theaters, a strange film that examines the fluid definitions of right and wrong–a movie called GOOD. Set in the early days of the National Socialist moment in Germany, GOOD centers on a professor who wrote a harmless novel years earlier that inadvertently is serving the Nazis as a justification for their theories of racial purity and the killing of the Jewish people. The book serves as such a great inspiration and blueprint that the professor is elevated up through the Nazi ranks almost without any ambition on his part to do so. Now that the adaptation of THE ROAD has been moved into 2009, GOOD is being pushed as Mortensen’s shot at an Oscar for 2008. It’s a quiet, understated performance about a complicated man, who is both far from flawless and far from guilty.

I don’t tend to talk about the circumstances that lead up to any interview I do, but this particular day was interesting. Mortensen only spoke to three journalists during his short time in Chicago–one from a local newspaper, one from a local TV station, and me. Just to add some context to the beginning of our conversation, we spoke about five days before Election Day in November. In addition to his memorable work in THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, THE INDIAN RUNNER, CRIMSON TIDE, THE PROPHECY (he played the motherfucking devil!), G.I. JANE, A WALK ON THE MOON, and a pair of films with David Cronenberg (A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE and EASTERN PROMISES), as well as the criminally overlooked APPALOOSA earlier this year, Mortensen is a fierce activist. For those of you who hate it when actors talk politics, you may be forced to skip huge sections of the beginning of our conversation, which also covers his disappointment at THE ROAD’s release date getting pushed back and whether or not there’s a chance he’ll appear in the two-film adaptation of THE HOBBIT.

Mortensen is without a doubt one of the most engaging people I’ve ever talked to. His answers about any of his films are not prepared or cut down to sound-bite-ready snippets. If the spirit grabs him on any topic, he goes with it, as you’ll see from the beginning of our talk. Enjoy 35 minutes with Viggo Mortensen!

You will have to click on the link below to read this engaging interview:

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At All Movie Replicas, you can purchase movie posters, film cells, and Lord of the Rings statues and figures from various Viggo Mortenson films. Just click on the links below:

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Peter Jackson et al are back to to pen The Hobbit.

The Oscar-winning team behind the Lord of the Rings screenplays will officially reunite for the Hobbit films.

Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who successfully completed the massive job of adapting Tolkien’s epic tome for the big screen and won an Oscar for their work on The Return of the King, are set to turn their talents to the author’s more modestly-sized prequel – and a sequel which will bridge the two projects.

Variety reports that production on the Guillermo Del Toro-directed efforts is set to begin in late 2009, with release dates of 2011 and 2012 set for the films.

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The Hobbit Smaug Ring

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Two new preorders:

• Lord of the Rings Dark Council Diorama – Sideshow Collectibles
• Bruce Lee Premium Format Figure

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We have another fantastic preorder for you movie collectibles fan! Just click on the link below for more details:

• Lord the Rings Fell Beast VS Eagle Diorama – Sideshow Collectibles

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The Gandalf the White premium format figure is a stunning, life-like recreation of the iconic Lord of the Rings character. Made of high-quality, heavy polystone the figure is dressed in an expertly-tailored scale reproduction of the costume. Don’t miss your chance to add this piece to your Lord of the Rings collection.

Just cick on the link below for more details:

The Gandalf the White Premium Format Figure

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Gandalf the Grey Legendary Scale Bust is the fourth piece to be released in the Sideshow’s line of Legendary Scale Lord of the Rings busts. This piece will be sure to sell out quickly so don’t delay. Click on the link below to order yours now:

Gandalf the Grey Legendary Scale Bust

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This is the second, highly anticipated, entry in the series of The Lord of the Rings Dioramas. The Walls of Helm’s Deep Diorama captures Aragorn in the heat of battle, as he turns from one attacker to another with grim resolve. The Uruk-hai berserker is slain, but before Aragorn can dispatch the ladder, he must face a ferocious swordsman. The diorama has been sculpted in approximately 1:9 scale, each figure standing approximately 9.5 inches tall. Each piece is cast in high quality polystone, hand-finished, and hand-painted to exacting standards. The Walls of Helm’s Deep Diorama is complete with a hand-numbered individual edition number on the bottom side of the base. Don’t miss this chance to continue your collection of The Lord of the Rings Dioramas!.

Click on the link below for more details:

Aragorn Versus Uruk-Hai Diorma – Sideshow Collectibles

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A true 35mm collectible, featuring film from all three Lord of the Rings movies. Just click on the links below to purchase your Lord of the Rings film cells:

• Fellowship of the Ring
• The Two Towers
• The Return of the King

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You can now preorder the “Frodo and Gollum Diorama” here at All Movie Replicas. Just click on the link below for more details:

Frodo and Gollum Diorama

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