The Squeee

How would you react if you suddenly got a phone call from Peter Jackson's people, asking you to come out to New Zealand for a potential job offer? I was flown all the way to the other side of the world in order to play the part of Balin in The Hobbit . Despite the fact that they've already finished filming, aside from a few pick-up shots. And, crucially, despite me being a woman without acting experience . I was sitting in a theatre, or I suppose it was a studio set really, where Peter Jackson was going through things, and then he said "this is what I want you to do, Traxy". If I wanted the job, of course. He assured me accepting the job could lead to great things. I could become a kids editor!! My response to this was "kids? Meh", but if it was kids TV, why not?

TUESDAY Hello Thorin. Are you awake? I am always awake. Except when I'm sleeping, of course, but then I am still vigilant. One never knows when orcs might be on the prowl. If it's not orcs, then trolls, wolves and all manner of beasts that roam this land. What, like cats? Admittedly ... yes, fair enough, this version of Middle Earth is a little different than the one I'm usually accustomed to. Do you like it here? I was on my way to fulfil my destiny, slaying the dragon and reclaiming the Lonely Mountain for my people. Now I'm here , wherever "here" is, and I don't see any mountains, nor any dragons to slay. As far as I'm concerned, I have been taken hostage by powers far sillier than anticipated.

It's a bit early in the year to decide on the weirdest celebrity crushes of 2013, isn't it? Every year, Heat magazine makes a list of unconventional-looking men and ask women to vote for who they think is the "weirdest crush". I came across the longlist earlier this year, and was absolutely puzzled as to why many of those men were on the list. I mean, Hugh Bonneville?! Lord Grantham is a dish! What's weird about him?! Anyway. I voted for a few, although I don't remember exactly who they were, but now, the top ten have been revealed. I snaffled the list from Virgin Media .

Greetings, new recruits! I'm Armitage Army [insert faux military rank here] Traxy, and this is my blog. Howdy! I'm posting this a few days ahead of the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , and this is written especially for newly hatched Richard Armitage fans who are now scouring the web trying to find information about that guy who plays Thorin Oakenshield , because he's such a brilliant actor. You know, this guy. Basically, I'd like to welcome you to the Dark Side, where so many of us have been for years. Here, have a cookie! No doubt you now require more information about the actor Richard Armitage and I'd like you to know that yes, he really is a great actor, and he's been around for years. As has his fanbase, nicknamed by someone's husband once upon a time as the Armitage Army. (Please don't ask him about this if you ever meet him. Everyone does it, it's really old.) You're a bit late in joining the party, but the party...

More hot dwarves. Sorry, I meant to say "more Thorin Oakenshield". Sorry, I mean Richard Armitage!! *happysigh* Ehh ... okay, well, just look at this: It does have a tremendous amount of Thorin/Richard in it. Very pleased! And of course, now it's less than three months to go! :D

Holy moly, it's been a year already! Or rather, it's been three. I can't believe I've managed to post regularly on a blog for three years now. Uh-MAY-zing! :) Thank you for reading this blog, and thank you for leaving a comment now and then, if you do. (Lurking is fine, not like I don't do that myself!) I started this blog to have an outlet for all my pent-up fangirliness, and I think I've succeeded in that. Now, I just like to have reviews of films I've seen so that I pay more attention to what's happening. Writing them down also means I remember whether or not I've seen or read something, and maybe, just maybe, it will be useful to anyone out there who loves to watch films just to be entertained and is wondering whether to watch the latest Twilight flick or Tropic Thunder . Or a Jane Eyre adaptation. Things to look forward to for the rest of 2012: The first part of The Hobbit - which is now a trilogy . Not sure I like that or not yet, consi...

Here's what we're going ga-ga over today on Facebook! A new picture (from Entertainment Weekly, I believe) of Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit . [Source: RichardArmitageNet.com ] Hawt dang. Like a friend of mine commented: I really didn't think he was going to be hot as a Tolkien-dwarf but omg, he is hotness no matter what he looks like ♥ I concur! And at the same time note that he seems to be sporting his very own beard and not that fake fuzz we've seen previously. A little over five months to go now! :D

Peter Jackson and pals in New Zealand post production diaries from The Hobbit every now and again. The seventh one in the series has just been released. Was happily surprised to realise Billy Connolly has been cast as Dain, and the surprise cameraman in the end is pretty cool. :D There's no interview of Richard Armitage, and we only see him briefly, but oh, those moments are worth their weight in gold. Feast your eyes on this:

Just in time for Christmas. Thanks, Peter Jackson! Spontaneous comments: OMG, Richard Armitage sings!!!! Other than that? It looks great. Can't wait for it to come out. :D Oh, should the above video stop working, it'll still be available on the official website for The Hobbit .

Dear Richard, You have delighted us much recently by posing for pictures with a beard and then there were those Captain America shots as well and the film opens tomorrow in the US (next Friday in the UK) and you attended the red carpet premiere in Hollywood and everything. Great to see you looking so well and sounding so well too. I particularly like this one. (Screencap by RichardArmitageNet.com ) However. We need to have a talk about that new beard of yours.

Entertainment Weekly have released three pictures from The Hobbit . The one I’m most excited about is this one, because it has dwarves on it: The dark-bearded fellow in the middle of the picture is bound to be Thorin (Richard Armitage). :D Also: Dame Edna has been cast in the film. Or, rather, her actor Barry Humphries has. One of the blokes from Jackass has died in a car crash, says BBC News . Ryan Dunn, for reference. I have no idea who he is, I’ve just heard of the show … and it doesn’t make me inclined to watch it. David Suchet has got a CBE and the Beeb are going to dramatise the big rows around Monty Python’s Life of Brian . Should be interesting. I’m intrigued to learn that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest musical, Love Never Dies (the one that isn’t a Phantom of the Opera sequel, except it is), is due to close in August . The part that intrigues me most was this:

...has put this song firmly back in my head: Cheers for this, Erwin Beekveld . You legend, you. Also, I've started re-reading The Hobbit . Bilbo is whiny, Thorin is a know-it-all and the dwarves are generally incompetent buffoons so far, and they have just encountered some trolls.

News media reports another quake has hit Christchurch (New Zealand), which is of course where the filming of The Hobbit is taking place. Not in Christchurch per se , but New Zealand. Home of brilliant people like Sam Neill and temporary home of brilliant people like Richard Armitage. Not too long ago, I wrote about how the Richard Armitage fandom went into their pockets for the Rise Up Christchurch telathon . To be perfectly honest, I think Tolkien fans in general - or actually just people in general, regardless of their fandoms - should do the same. Dig into pockets, that is. You can donate to Rise Up Christchurch here (VISA/MasterCard only - 1 NZD = ca £0.50 GBP or $0.80 USD/CAD) To reward your generosity, have a look at this clip from a trailer inhabited by a group of handsome dwarves, courtesy of RACentral: Now go be generous, aaight? :)

Recently, I wrote about the Tobathon arranged for charity by the Toby Stephens fandom . In the same post, I also mentioned the generosity of the Richard Armitage fandom. Time for an update on that one, because the Armitage admirers have found another way of backing charitable purposes and it must not go unreported! At 9pm/21:00 GMT (for easy reference, for UK add +1, for western Europe +2), there will be a telathon in New Zealand in support of rebuilding Christchurch in the aftermath of the earthquake there earlier this year. Even before the event has started, the Richard Armitage fandom has already raised about NZ$1000. Well done! To begin with, Servetus said she would donate money for everyone commenting on a particular post on her blog , up to a certain amount. RAFrenzy countered with matching her amount , and judiang and others have offered to do the same ! How kind of them! Very admirable ladies, all of them. :)

Spotted this on a few blogs at the end of last week and said "I'll have to watch that when I get home!" and ... still haven't, as I've been either knackered or away or both. (Thank you so much for the reminder, Tara!) Maybe if I post it here, I'll remember to watch it and not just browse through it quickly and wish I could see it with the sound on? :) (Also, I have told myself I'm going to post about Richard Armitage every Wednesday, and I haven't written anything for today. So this is me writing about him today! :D I might just update this post when I've seen the clip and can comment on it properly.)