Toy Fair 2014: A Grim Future For Hobbit Toys

Last year, around this time, we featured the first images of several new figures from The Hobbit toy line from The Bridge Direct for the second installment, The Desolation of Smaug. On display were all the remaining dwarves not yet produced (Nori, Ori, Dori, Gloin, Oin, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur), Radagast the Brown, Azog and his Warg and Bolg (pre-Weta last minute movie make over) for the 3 and 3 quarter inch scale. 6 inch figure additions included Azog and Radagast.

As December rolled around and the film came and went, those action figure release plans didn't exactly come to pass. So what did show up on retailer shelves? A 3 and 3 quarter inch Mirkwood Hero 5 Pack with only 1 new figure (Thranduil), a repackaged 6 inch Legolas and two new 6 inch figures of Azog and Radagast. That's 3 new figures for those keeping score...a little shy of the 19 figures released for the first film. Bolg squeaked by as part of the first film's 2 packs. No dwarves, no smaller scale Azog and absolutely no sign of the Smaug dragon the Bridge crew was encouraging us to shout for in February of 2013.

Anaria Rocks "I See Fire"

For the Peter Jackson faithful, the J.R.R.Tolkien lovers, the Lord of the Rings fanatics and my fondest friends who have already seen Desolation of Smaug 3 times, we present Anaria covering "I See Fire" from the end credits of Desolation. You may know Anaria as the band fronted by Jessica Jackson AKA the awesome cosplayer Mercy Roulette, so even more reason to love this song!

Watch The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug World Premiere LIVE

At this posting, it's 10 minutes til show time and I blame the world of geekery for not alerting me to this sooner. FOR SHAME!! I, myself, am counting the moments til the date when I can sit with friends and watch the film, most definately with the previous film before it. It seems like a lifetime away..but that's how dorky I am for WETA's perfect creations, ie: the Lord of the Rings series and all that take place within that world. Sure, I was a bit underwhelmed with the first instalment, but there were clearly decisions made to make this series a little less intense for little minds to absorb. Over time, I've come to look past the little things, accept that this is NOT Lord of the Rings and just soak up the beauty of every scene. The details will astound you. Nuff said..hit the jump and enjoy..and I'll see you back here on opening day to pick it apart..for this is the way of our people.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Fan Event

Gearing up for the December 13, 2013, release of “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), fans will get a chance to meet new cast members joining the highly anticipated second film in “The Hobbit” Trilogy, including Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace and Luke Evans, as part of a global fan celebration to be held on Monday, November 4, at 5:00 pm EST, and simultaneous times around the world.  At each of the satellite-linked cinemas in four host cities—Los Angeles, New York, London and Wellington—Jackson and members of his cast and filmmaking team will gather with fans to show exclusive footage from “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” and answer questions in front of a live audience, as well as offer a few surprises.