Articles written by: Valdis

Valdís is a classic nerd, with many geeky interests, but her life-long love of Tolkien rules them all. She was completely hooked the first time that she read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings at age 8. Since then, she has read the books at least once a year, and delves into Middle-earth at every opportunity with a fervor that would make any dwarf proud. She also deeply loves Peter Jackson’s films, and defends them staunchly when need arises. When reality forces her out of Middle-earth, Valdís is a university professor, a wife, mother of two daughters, and servant to two cats.

Tolkien: The Battle of the Two Biopics

With the final installment of The Hobbit film trilogy due to hit cinemas in December 2014, the time of Middle-earth films is ending, at least for the present. But as the last Middle-earth film fades […]

Deck the Halls with the Heir of Durin

You can make your home feel fit for the Lord of Silver Fountains with this Thorin Oakenshield ornament by Hallmark. This new for 2014 design is arriving in stores this July, with a price of $17.95 […]

Richard Armitage and Andy Serkis Talk ‘Hobbit’ in BBC Interviews

Richard Armitage and Andy Serkis had a bit of a reunion on July 14, 2014, when the two Hobbit stars appeared on BBC Breakfast to promote their latest projects. Both men talked about a variety […]

Book Review – ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Chronicles: Cloaks and Daggers’

My most vivid memory of the experience I had watching Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring for the first time was thinking, with each new set, each new location, […]

Martin Freeman: ‘It’s like Shakespeare invented Gollum’

Martin Freeman’s screen credits show a lot of variety — The Office, The Hobbit films, Sherlock, and Fargo, to name a few. But this summer marks the actor’s first professional foray into Shakespeare. Freeman is […]

Richard Armitage from ‘Hobbit’ to ‘Crucible’

Richard Armitage is well known to fans of The Hobbit films as Thorin Oakenshield, leader of the exiled Dwarves of Erebor and heir to the throne of Durin. The actor is currently appearing in the […]

Peter Jackson to Receive Blake Medal for Leadership

Sir Peter Jackson has been named as the 2014 recipient of the Blake Medal, an award that recognizes outstanding contributions to the culture or economic success of New Zealand. The Sir Peter Blake leadership awards, started […]

Andy Serkis Channels Gollum and Caesar the Ape

Andy Serkis appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien on June 25, 2014, to promote the upcoming release of his new film, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. In the film, Serkis reprises his role of […]

Richard Armitage: “I think I’m quite a frightening person.”

Fresh from a rehearsal for the current production of The Crucible at London’s Old Vic, actor Richard Armitage recently spoke with the Telegraph. The interview ranged over several topics, including The Crucible and Armitage’s career […]

Sean Bean to Star in New Series on TNT

Sean Bean will appear in a new series, Legends, set to debut on August 13, 2014, on the TNT television network in the USA. The series is based on the award-winning book of the same title by Robert […]