WELLINGTON, N.Z.—Wellington is gearing up for the invasion of the Hobbits, the celebrities and the rabid fans.
While Christmas trees have already gone up in the department stores, it's a different Lord on everybody's mind. In the capital of New Zealand the halls, streets and storefronts are decked with Lord Of The Rings decorations. And Dec.1 looms larger than the 25th.
Next Monday is when Peter Jackson's The Return Of The King, the last of his Lord Of The Rings trilogy gets its world premiere before a select audience. But never mind that the chance of actually getting into the screening is about the same as winning the lottery. Fans will be flocking to catch a glimpse of Elijah and Viggo and Liv (and possibly also some people with normal names) at a pre-screening street parade and on the red carpet. Tickets for the 400 seats in the grandstand, at $100 (N.Z.) a pop were sold out in a flash.
Fans from all over the world — including one who called the Wellington Visitors Centre to ask where the Hobbits live — are congregating and will be celebrating with a party of their own this coming weekend. Called Return Of The Ringers, the venue had to be expanded due to overwhelming interest. Special tours to some of the movie's locations, including Rivendell, are planned.
And it really is a fan's paradise. At Wellington airport, seeing an enormous Gollum reaching for a ring on top of one of the airport hangars, you know "going all out" has taken on new meaning. The airport is filled to the brim with costumes, set exhibits, banners and posters. You half expect an Orc to check your passport.
"Are you here for the movie?" asks a cab driver.
Downtown, the LOTR paraphernalia is everywhere. Banners hang from light poles. A giant replica of a stamp featuring Gandalf is draped on the wall of a high-rise building. Shop owners are taking advantage, selling T-shirts, bags, action figures, key chains, swords and even the occasional book.
In one clothing store, the mannequins have been outfitted with Elf ears. Whether that would make anyone buy a bikini is hard to say. And the piece de resistance: From on top of the newly renovated Art Deco Embassy Theatre, where the premiere will take place, a 6.5 tonne, 20-metre Nazgul is about to swoop down, drawing a crowd of open-mouthed gawkers.
No less than two exhibits of Viggo Mortensen's photos and paintings are on display here.
And should you be arriving on Air New Zealand, you could have been flying inside a display of Aragorn himself, as the airline has painted four of its fleet with images of LOTR characters. As well, coffee is served in Viggo cups on board the plane.
Peter Jackson will be feted by the Prime Minister before the premiere. He's certainly given his hometown something to be exited about and reportedly is planning on establishing a LOTR museum to showcase props, costumes and special effects.
Christmas is going to have to work hard this year to top the LOTR frenzy. |
发表于 2003-11-25 12:09:59
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