Tolkien

The trials and triumphs of the man who would create Middle Earth

"...biopic charting the formative years of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, aka J.R.R. Tolkien, who would write one of the..."

May 10, 2019 Movie Review by Josh Kupecki

All Aboard for Middle Earth

Fans of J. R. R. Tolkien needn't wait until the December 12 opening of the film of Lord of the Rings to take a journey to Middle Earth. Second Youth Family Repertory Theatre, an Austin arts company acclaimed for its intelligent, highly theatrical stage shows for family audiences, will ferry you there this weekend via its production of The Hobbit.

"...Jackson's highly anticipated screen adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's epic trilogy. Of course, for many of the Tolkien..."

Nov. 9, 2001 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

The concluding chapter of Peter Jackson's Tolkien tales brings us full circle.

"...should have been a tight, two-film take on J.R.R. Tolkien’s 320-page prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy..."

Dec. 19, 2014 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The first film in Jackson's Tolkien trilogy stays true to the spirit and logistics of the novels, but is also a breathtaking and beautiful work of art on its own.

"...of the Ring, the first in Kiwi director Jackson's Tolkien trilogy (the other two films will be released on..."

Dec. 21, 2001 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Superior in nearly all ways to its predecessor, this second film in the prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a welcome surprise.

"...this second of Peter Jackson’s epic adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s not-nearly-as-massive prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy..."

Dec. 13, 2013 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The saga ends (and ends) back in the Shire where it began.

"...his epic, sprawling, and positively miraculous adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s equally massive fantasy trilogy has finally, like the eye-opening..."

Dec. 19, 2003 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

At once a fanboy's wet dream and an engaging, emotionally supercharged epic adventure

"...those who consider the swords-and-sorcery storyline of the J.R.R. Tolkien mythos to be somehow less than deserving of praise..."

Dec. 20, 2002 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Resetting Middle-Earth

As The Lord of the Rings journey ends onscreen, Austin game developer Inevitable Entertainment rewinds to The Hobbit.

"...Rings installment, the media have had three years of Tolkien synergy at their fingertips. From 2001's The Fellowship of..."

Dec. 19, 2003 Screens Feature by Courtney Fitzgerald

The Hobbit

This 1978 animated Rankin & Bass production of Tolkien's The Hobbit works successfully on both a children's and a universal level.

"...and sword-and-sorcery mythologies were at their peak, with J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy at a popular..."

Dec. 28, 2001 Screens Review by Michael Chamy

Wintry Mix

The holiday film forecast

"...Hercules for the past six years to turn J.R.R. Tolkien's popular fantasy saga into a trilogy of major motion..."

Nov. 23, 2001 Screens Feature by Robert Faires

10 Austin Acts to Catch at Free Week 2020

Free Week bands you’ll be hearing more about in the coming 12 months

"...for me to find my own voice." – Doug Freeman Tolkien TributeFri. 3, Mohawk, 8pm..."

Dec. 27, 2019 Music Feature by The Music Staff

The Q&A Hole: What Got You Hooked On the Weird Stuff?

Waiting for the manlike creature with the glowing eyes

"...Both of my parents were SF fans; I had Tolkien and Heinlein as bedtime stories before I started reading..."

July 13, 2017 Arts Post by Wayne Alan Brenner

Calling All Bilbo Brainiacs

BookPeople hosts Tolkien Trivia Night

"...That would be BookPeople's upcoming Tolkien Trivia Night, also conveniently timed to the 75th anniversary..."

Aug. 27, 2012 Books Post by Kimberley Jones

Inside Austin’s Fantasy Roleplaying Speakeasy With Oakda Malkuth

Straddling two worlds with Tiny Minotaur's bartending orc

"...comic books, always face-deep in Brian Jacques' Redwall, and Tolkien, and of course Octavia Butler. Speculative fiction, obviously, was..."

Nov. 12, 2021 Food Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

Dune

The science-fiction epic gets the screen treatment its scale demands

"...Yet, just as Peter Jackson finally conjured up Tolkien's mythology, so Denis Villeneuve (who dared to tread on..."

Oct. 22, 2021 Movie Review by Richard Whittaker

Warcraft

No fun storming the castle in this lousy adaptation of the hit video game

"...Lord of the Rings, or even, heaven forfend, J.R.R. Tolkien’s as yet unadapted Middle-earth offshoot The Silmarillion, and trying..."

June 10, 2016 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Seventh Son

Fantasy film about an apprentice Spook battling Julianne Moore's evil witch.

"...you’re looking for mythopoetic resonance on par with J.R.R. Tolkien, you might as well just keep on waiting for..."

Feb. 13, 2015 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

From Westeros to College Station

George R. R. Martin to give milestone book to Texas A&M

"...to present a a first edition of the J.R.R. Tolkien classic to the University Libraries in a ceremony in..."

Jan. 29, 2015 Books Post by Robert Faires

All Your Plate Are Belong to Us

Chris-Rachael Oseland seeks world domination, one geeky recipe at a time

"...inspired by the historical contexts and tastes of J.R.R. Tolkien, whose descriptions of food are saturated with nostalgia for..."

Oct. 3, 2014 Food Feature by Melanie Haupt

I Am Number Four

This filmed adaptation of the first book in the proposed Lorien Legacies series follows the tribulations of an alien refugee on Earth.

"...– from the minds of a L'Engle, Lucas, or Tolkien – has a way of ripening in the collective..."

Feb. 18, 2011 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

A wisecracking preteen keeps a diary about the torments of middle school in this true-to-life story.

"...who chose to spend our lunch periods perusing J.R.R. Tolkien, playing Dungeons & Dragons, or just hiding out in..."

March 26, 2010 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

MirrorMask

The work of fantasist Neil Gaiman finally makes it to the screen with its innate sense of wonder intact, despite this sporadically overstuffed package of magic, mystery, and masked madwomen.

"...that transcends genre boundaries and places him further from Tolkien, Bradbury, and Lovecraft and closer, in spirit if not..."

Sept. 30, 2005 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Going Postal

The joy of reading Pratchett's skillfully constructed artifices is in the discovery of his endless fascination with How People Work, and Going Postal, puns aside, is practically an instruction manual

"...readers to a time and place that feels suspiciously Tolkien-esque – if Tolkien had been raised on The Goon..."

Feb. 4, 2005 Books Review by Marc Savlov

Short Cuts

Robert Rodriguez vs. the DGA and Paramount

"...the Burroughs series runs to 12 volumes over J.R.R. Tolkien's measly three. "There was a lot of talk about..."

April 16, 2004 Screens Column by Marc Savlov

TCB

Rollergirls, Greencards, Tolkien, and rock & roll for credit at UT. What more is there?

"...for a gig? Austin traditional Celtic duo and unabashed Tolkien-lovers the Brobdingnagian Bards have already released the Lord of..."

Feb. 13, 2004 Music Column by Christopher Gray

Whale Rider

This quietly powerful tale of youthful female empowerment in New Zealand is based on a cornerstone Maori myth.

"...Rider is at least as gripping and evocative as Tolkien's imaginary milieu – you don't need armies of darkness..."

June 27, 2003 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Look Ma, No Wrapping

DVD boxed sets, no assembly required

"...from the book between Brandybuck Ferry and Bree, including Tolkien's deliberately enigmatic leprechaun-like sprite. Beyond this, the Platinum Edition..."

Dec. 13, 2002 Screens Feature by Michael Chamy

Dancing About Architecture

Fastball gains velocity, Herring swims upstream, and Spoon's new single is ripe for consumption

"...out, he'll be adding material from their upcoming J.R.R. Tolkien tribute album to his playlist as well... Shearwater has..."

Aug. 9, 2002 Music Column by Ken Lieck

The Hobbit

Second Youth Family Theatre's production of The Hobbit offers much that is magical, but awkward staging and inexperienced actors keep the show from achieving true enchantment.

"...actors in establishing the older, fantastic characters of J.R.R. Tolkien's novel. J. Richard Smith's scenic designs also work smoothly..."

Nov. 16, 2001 Arts Review by Barry Pineo

Autumn Tale

What Movies Look Like This Fall

"...and how couldn't you with the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring ready for release? The..."

Sept. 21, 2001 Screens Feature by Shawn Badgley

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