tv review

Television reviews on workplace, corporate, and business driven films.

The Untold Aspects of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Pt.1
Imagine a group of friends deep in discussion about the greatest fantasy franchises in the world. Naturally, names like Harry Potter, The Witcher, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Narnia, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Marvel/DC Comics would come up. However, one name that must also be mentioned is J.R.R. Tolkien's immortal creation — The Lord of the Rings. Whether in books or on the silver screen, this franchise remains unforgettable. Formed with a unique blend of friendship, love, vengeance, lust for power, magic, and diverse races, the fantasy of this franchise can easily rival reality. In 2001, renowned director Peter Jackson brought this trilogy to the big screen with the first installment The Fellowship of the Ring. It garnered immense acclaim from critics and audiences alike, essentially immortalizing the franchise. This article dives into some lesser-known aspects of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. 1. The Production Struggle Initially, it was decided that the film would be produced under the Miramax production house, split into two parts. However, due to budget constraints, the studio informed Peter Jackson that the entire story must be condensed into a single film. Knowing this would result in a disaster due to the vast plot, Jackson stood firm. Eventually, New Line Cinema, under Warner Bros., came forward to realize the dream, greenlighting the full trilogy. 2. Casting Surprises Christopher Lee, who played Saruman, originally wanted to play the powerful wizard Gandalf. He was the only cast member who had read the entire book series multiple times—every year, in fact—and even memorized large portions. A true fan of the franchise, he was also the only cast member to have ever met J.R.R. Tolkien. Upon hearing that a film adaptation was in the works, he personally wrote to Peter Jackson requesting to play Gandalf. However, Jackson suggested he take the role of Saruman instead. Interestingly, Scottish actor Sean Connery was offered the role of Gandalf and even promised 15% of the total box office revenue. But he declined, saying he couldn't grasp the complexity of the character. Eventually, the role went to Sir Ian McKellen, who brought Gandalf to life brilliantly. For the role of Aragorn, actors like Nicolas Cage, Stuart Townsend, and Russell Crowe were approached but declined. Ultimately, it went to Viggo Mortensen. American actor Jake Gyllenhaal auditioned for Frodo, but Elijah Wood was chosen instead. 3. Helicopter Fear on Set Sean Bean, who played Boromir, had a severe fear of helicopters. The mountain scenes in the first film were shot in New Zealand, and most cast and crew were flown in by helicopter. But Bean refused to fly, so he would hike for nearly two hours to reach the shooting location. As a result, the entire crew had to wait for him every day on the mountain. 4. Differences Between the Book and the Film While four hobbits accompany Frodo in the films, there were five in the book. The missing one was Fredegar “Fatty” Bolger, who stayed behind in the Shire. He played a role in defending the Shire when Saruman attacked later. He briefly appears in the extended cut. Sauron is only shown as a giant eye atop a tower in the films, but in the book, he has a full physical description. His hunt for the One Ring was aimed at world domination. While the film shows Frodo setting out shortly after Bilbo gives him the ring, in the book, his journey begins 17 years later. Saruman’s death also differs. In the book, after the ring is destroyed in Mount Doom, the hobbits return to find that Saruman has taken over the Shire. They fight him, and eventually, Gríma Wormtongue kills Saruman by slitting his throat in a place called the Scouring of the Shire. 5. Epic Runtime Binge-watching this trilogy is no easy task. Each movie runs for nearly 3.75 hours on average. The original theatrical cuts total 9 hours and 18 minutes, while the extended editions stretch to an astounding 11 hours and 55 minutes — a record-setting runtime for a trilogy. 6. Groundbreaking Effects When the first film was released in 2001, CGI and VFX were just emerging technologies. Many new techniques debuted in this trilogy. To maintain realism, the director heavily used practical elements. Astonishingly, around 18,000 costumes were used, with 30–40 duplicates for each main character. There were also 2,000 unique weapons and about 10,000 arrows used, along with nearly 300 horses. The differences in character heights were achieved using clever camera angles and new visual effects. 7. Editing Nightmare The three films were released in 2001, 2002, and 2003, respectively. The editing team was pushed to their limits managing such large-scale productions. At one point, editing for The Fellowship of the Ring had just finished while The Two Towers was in production, and footage for The Return of the King was already being cut. Even after the theatrical release of the final movie, Peter Jackson shot additional scenes for the extended edition.
By Riham Rahman 10 months ago in Journal
Revisiting The Four Seasons: From Misogyny to Empowerment in Netflix’s Bold Remake. AI-Generated.
Alan Alda has been famous for decades as one of Hollywood's earliest male feminists. He campaigned for the Equal Rights Amendment, popped up on the iconic Free to Be. You and Me record, and used his fame to take a stand for women's rights during a time when many of his peers held their tongues. In 1981, Alda wrote, directed, and starred in The Four Seasons, a bittersweet comedy of midlife marital angst. While the film was popular when it was first released, a contemporary re-viewing has disturbing undertones that, upon reflection, appear radically misogynistic. The new Netflix remake this year, however, offers a significant re-consideration of the original piece, bringing much-needed feminist lenses to the story.
By MD NAZIM UDDIN 10 months ago in Journal
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever
Life is a fragile and fleeting gift, one that often gets taken for granted amidst the routines and distractions of daily living. The quote "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever" serves as a profound reminder that living fully and embracing continuous learning are not separate pursuits but deeply intertwined aspects of a meaningful existence.
By Nora Ariana10 months ago in Journal
Milton Jones Reveals Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment and Surgery Hits Pause on Tour. AI-Generated.
Beloved British comedian Milton Jones has revealed he is battling prostate cancer. Comedian Milton, 60, who is widely recognized for his sharp one-liners and his work on the panel shows including Mock the Week, made the revelation to supporters in an emotional social media announcement. As a result of the diagnosis, Jones has made the difficult decision to reschedule various dates from his ongoing UK tour to focus on treatment and rehabilitation.
By MD NAZIM UDDIN 10 months ago in Journal
What is P Diddy’s Net Worth Currently?
Who Is P Diddy? Sean John Combs, better known as P Diddy, is a popular American rapper, music producer, and businessman. He was born in Harlem, in New York City, on Nov. 4, 1969. He has also been known as Puff Daddy, Diddy and Love over the years.
By Lightbringer 10 months ago in Journal
Unpacking White Lotus Season 3: Gorgeous Scenes and Frustratingly Familiar Tropes
For the last eight weeks, my morning routine has been to get up, make coffee, and mentally get ready for the upcoming episode of HBO's The White Lotus. It has evolved into a weekly immersion in opulence, dysfunction, and mortality rather than merely a viewing experience. I was optimistic, high, caftan-clad, sun-kissed aspirations about the upcoming show.
By Hridya Sharma10 months ago in Journal
Fear of horrific war is the world's military spending rise!. Content Warning.
In the world, the world's military expenditure is overwhelming in fear of a horrific war. In the midst of the ongoing global economic crisis and downturn, the Ukraine-Russia war and the heated situation in the Middle East are increasing the expenditure of most countries in the world unprecedentedly. The adverse effects of this trend have begun to become clear from the last 2022. Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East, especially in the Middle East, have increased the military budget from 5% to 5% in recent years. Moreover, the approximately 3-5% of the global arms trade is going straight to the Arab countries in the Middle East.
By Aronno Das10 months ago in Journal
Ryan Coogler breaks down "Sinners" and explains how the big-budget filmmaker changed the vampire movie in a way that was almost impossible to do. (part 1)
Ryan Coogler is explaining how he pulled off a magic trick. He is not referring to his efforts to persuade Warner Bros. to approve "Sinners," a $90-million blues-infused thriller about vampires invading a 1930s Southern town. He also doesn't talk about the almost-unheard-of agreement with the studio that gives him the copyright to the movie after 25 years. He’s explaining how they managed to make this movie at all — and on a near-impossible timetable, going from pitch to production in three months. It will have been nearly a year since Imax cameras started shooting on location in Louisiana when "Sinners" opens in theaters on Friday.
By Md Ariful Islam10 months ago in Journal
Blue Origin Launches Star-Studded Crew on Space Tourism Rocket
On a bright morning in Texas, something amazing happened. A rocket from Blue Origin, the space company started by Jeff Bezos, launched into the sky. But this was not just any space trip. It was special because all six people on board were women. And not just any women — they were famous and powerful in their own ways.
By Tahir khan10 months ago in Journal
Trump Administration News:
The Trump administration is facing mounting legal and ethical scrutiny after the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego García, a Maryland resident and father of three U.S. citizen children. Abrego Garca was deported in what officials later described as an "administrative error," despite a 2019 court order prohibiting his removal due to credible threats from El Salvadoran gangs. He is now imprisoned in El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, with the U.S. government offering no clear plan for his return.
By Raju Ahmed 10 months ago in Journal
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 7 — Steel Ball Run Anime Officially Announced
Warner Bros. Japan has just announced an anime adaptation of the seventh part of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series, Steel Ball Run, at the end of the JOJODAY STAGE event on April 12, 2025. This time, the anime is titled Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (スティール・ボール・ランジョジョの奇妙な冒険).
By Omasanjuwa Ogharandukun11 months ago in Journal
Virtual Side Hustles: Navigating the Freelance Revolution of 2025
In 2025, the freelance revolution is reshaping the way we work and earn money. The digital landscape has evolved beyond traditional employment, opening up a realm where remote work and gig platforms empower individuals to pursue multiple income streams simultaneously. This article explores how emerging freelance opportunities are setting the stage for a modern work-life balance, highlights success stories, spotlights the skills in demand, and offers practical tips for navigating this rapidly evolving landscape.
By Mysteries with Professor Jahani11 months ago in Journal