Hobbit News Issue 6 Now Online

If you have been following our (almost) weekly publication schedule for the Hobbit News newsletter then you'll be glad to know that the 6th issue is now available online.

Stories in this issue include:

• Judge sanctions New Line Cinema in Peter Jackson lawsuit


• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt announces new Tolkien book


• C.S. Lewis Society sponsoring UK tour in May-June


• Author seeks sales by insulting Tolkien fans


• Historians feature Tolkien anecdote in WW I book


• Weta Ltd. launches new Web site

Read HOBBIT NEWS, Volume 2009, Issue 6, February 22.

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.

SF-Fandom relaunches Middle-earth movies forum

We have renamed our "Lord of the Rings (movies)" forum to the Middle-earth Movies Forum in recognition of upcoming movies such as "Born of Hope", "The Hunt For Gollum", and the two Guillermo del Toro "Hobbit" movies.

The SF-Fandom moderators discussed this renaming with an eye toward future fan film productions, even though we anticipate a growing interest in "Hobbit" movie news and discussions over the next couple of years.

We applaud the efforts of the fan film groups who have come forward to tell portions of Tolkien's Middle-earth epic in special made-for-Internet movies while adhering to the highest possible production standards.

Xenite.Org and SF-Fandom have been supporting Tolkien movie projects since 1997 and expanding the scope of our forum to formally encompass all movies set in Middle-earth seems like the right thing to do.

We hope you'll join us there.

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.

Cool "Watchmen" featurette offers sneak-peak

If you're a fan of the Watchmen graphic novel you have an idea of what to expect from the movie. But people who have not yet been introduced to the pulp-era world of "Watchmen" will enjoy watching this video.



SciFi Wire compared the graphic novel to scenes from the movie. It looks to me like some serious consideration has been made for following the graphic novel's look and feel.

Stay on top of the latest "Watchmen" discussions in SF-Fandom's Super Hero Movies Forum.

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.

The Tolkien Forum and The Tolkien Forum

Xenite.Org has the distinction of being the home for the Web's oldest dedicated Tolkien discussion forum. We have long since moved our old message boards to the SF-Fandom domain (which is part of the Xenite.Org network). Today we maintain two Tolkien discussion groups and one archive.

The original Tolkien Forum was named The White Council when it was hosted on Xenite.Org. We renamed it to the Tolkien and Inklings Forum and that remains its official name today.

But though we still discuss many C.S. Lewis-related topics (and some occasional Inklings news), the SF-Fandom forum remains one of the Web's premier Tolkien Forums because we continue to host new and interesting discussions, as well as track news you won't find elsewhere. We follow plays, lectures, university studies, and many other topics that touch on the literary world of J.R.R. and Christopher Tolkien (as well as C.S. Lewis and the other Inklings).

Fans of Tolkien also enjoy subscribing to the Endor discussion group. Originally known as the Middle-earth Mailing List, I moved it to Google Groups and set up Endor as an alternative Tolkien Forum. Although subscriptions have grown discussion is more subdued. I'm not sure of what people expect from the discussion group, though many regular posters have claimed their lives were becoming busier.

Both the SF-Fandom and Google Groups Tolkien forums are moderated. We don't permit flame wars or off-topic advertising. We do cover many topics in depth. For example, we've hosted lengthy discussions of "Beowulf" (in SF-Fandom's Medieval European Studies Forum as well on Endor) and "The Iliad".

Okay, most fans probably don't get the "Iliad" connection to Tolkien but I thought I'd give it a try. Tolkien acknowledged considerable Greek influence, though you see little mention of that in modern Tolkien critical research.

I invite you to drop by and browse our archives. You have to apply for membership to Endor but most people are accepted. Unfortunately, we've had a few too enthusiastic self-promoters show up on Endor so the list is now restricted to protect members from unwanted commercial postings.

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.

Super Capers Trailer and Preview

I just found out about this movie. I'm not sure I want to see it in theaters but I'll probably catch it on DvD at some point. Then again, maybe I'll see it in theaters. The movie is scheduled for general release on March 20, 2009.

Justin Whalin ("Dungeons and Dragons") stars as Ed Gruberman, superhero. He ends up on the wrong side of the law, however, and finds himself sentenced to a halfway house for super heroes. The previews make it look like there are plenty of stunt gags and dumb jokes, so the humor will depend on the execution of the low-brow material rather than on any inherent funniness in the gags.

Here is the trailer for "Super Capers":


This is Part 1 of "Behind The Scenes of Super Capers":


This is Part 2 of "Behind The Scenes of Super Capers":


I guess I'll start a discussion in SF-Fandom's Super Hero Movies forum but you're all perfectly welcome to share your thoughts right here.

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.