CW Breaking Out All Over

Sheez I’m gone for one day and an epidemic occurs from this Hobbit Press Conference. But who can blame anyone for being afflicted with Celebrity Worship when the object of our adoration easily makes us break out in a sweat. Even some of the Tolkien fans, who seem to be above that sort of thing, were affected:

Richard Armitage (Thorin) spoke surprisingly little, but when he did he had a notably deep voice, exactly right for Thorin, and real gravitas. He walked into the conference with a kind of testosterone charged lope. I don’t think he’ll have any trouble holding the audience’s attention.

Complete article here.

Uh huh, his “testosterone charged lope,” among other things ;-), is going to hold some attention, and he’s just getting started. LOL! Yeah, I was right — won’t know what hit ’em, and some of these people are just getting a little taste of what’s coming.

All of that aside, I love that he’s just a guy here:

The “guy” almost jumps out of the video and grabs me. Loving this. Yet it seems this “guy” has been hiding. Before when Richard has been interviewed, we’ve mostly seen the sensitive artist, whose tacit message to women was, “I’m a little boy in a man’s body and my inner child hears you and understands.” :D But now he’s revealed a man for all of us to rhapsodize over! ………………………………………………………………. Excuse me I had to put myself back in my chair. All I know is I was fairly smitten by what I saw, and I’ve become rather jaded about these things. I thought. I take heart in the fact that no woman in her right mind could withstand that!

Seriously, it was evident the little boy was almost completely submerged by the man when even the talk about his first time on stage as an elf could not conjure it. The man was firmly in place. However, I wonder if the boy isn’t sensing the new tidal wave of affection that’s coming and shrinks from it. What else am I to make of this picture? LOL!

I feel a letter coming on. Oh, hell yes, this demands a fake fan letter.

Dear Richard:

You’re in my prayers, my friend. You think this Army thing is overwhelming? Get ready. That’s going to seem like a walk in the park. You keep coupling that stare with eyelids at half mast and deep voice with your “testosterone charged lope,” you will not have a moment’s peace.

I’ve long thought that if you catch on in America, you are going to go off the charts, but with ‘The Hobbit’ appealing to a worldwide audience, Ohmygosh! just thinking about this is… I can’t process it.

Back to my prayers for you and especially strong ones when I think that you will not be able to hide behind a beard as some actors are wont to do.

Signed,
One of Your Crazy Fans Who is Almost Fearful for You :D

The journey of the Beard continues.

February 11, 2011
Categories: Interviews, Movies, PHWOAR! . Tags: , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 101 Comments

Captain America Trailer, or Yes, I’ve Finally Gone Nuts


Heather’s download link — HD video.

Richard Armitage at 22 seconds, and I mean only at 22 seconds. So all of this for a one second shot. LOL! But I’m having a blast. I may breakdown and buy some fancy software yet. :D No, no, someone needs to slap me. I DO NOT need another diversion. LOL!

I snaffled a copy of the 1080i size, so the caps would be good quality, but bccmee has a great one without watermark:

I even stumbled across this kid while I was surfing YouTube:

He gives a pretty good run down on the history of Captain America movies.

Check out his channel. He is a hoot, but I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his bio. Check out “books”.

I throw him in because this is Richard’s audience for this movie, or at least the majority of the audience.

February 6, 2011
Categories: Captain America, Geek, Movies . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 42 Comments

Getting Up To Speed on The Hobbit

If you already know all about ‘The Hobbit’ production, then certainly skip this post. But if you want to get up to speed on what’s going on, learn some about the characters and story itself, and maybe have a little fun, then a quick and easy way to do it is watching Rebekah of the Hobbitin5 YouTube Channel, or Hi 5.

Broadcasts are every Friday. This is the most recent:

I have developed a soft spot for Rebekah. Whoever thought to have her do these broadcasts was using his/her head. She is bright and perfect for a novice like me. I actually look forward to watching her! And she inspired me to go over and look around on TheOneRing site. Mulubinba’s posts about Thorin Oakenshield (great stuff by the way) had also piqued my curiosity in the site, but I had still been hesitant to go look as quite frankly my prejudice kept me from it. I thought entering that world would be daunting and just too much work, and my Richard Armitage watching is a respite from my real work, so I certainly didn’t want to pursue anything that felt like work. I was wrong. I’ve enjoyed my time on the site and will continue to read it. I’m also now rereading The Hobbit and will reread the trilogy as well. This is something I never thought to do, but I guess I’m becoming enthralled with Middle Earth, and who knows? I may become a Tolkienologist yet.

Before I forget, be sure to check out Rebekah’s t-shirt from the second broadcast. :D

February 4, 2011
Categories: Movies . Tags: , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 7 Comments

Captain America Kicking Into Another Gear

I’m seeing more and more press on the ‘Captain America’ movie, and I’m actually getting excited. Something I thought was impossible — even if Richard Armitage is in it. I am not a comics kind of person (I need to say that 50 times slowly), but then I didn’t think I was a period drama person either. So much for my convictions.

This week the movie is featured in Empire Magazine. I enjoyed looking at the article, but of course this was the most interesting piece:

Ali has the whole article at RichardArmitageNet.Com.

February 3, 2011
Categories: Captain America, Movies . Tags: , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 49 Comments

Where in the World is Richard?

I read Maria Grazia’s post which talks about the coming dearth of things RA, and she mentioned he’s somewhere in New Zealand getting ready for the filming of ‘The Hobbit.’ Hmmm. I wonder. I realize some cast members have already headed there, but if RA is a creature of habit, which he more or less keeps telling us he is, I think he’s possibly in Europe getting in a little slope time before he reports for Dwarf Camp. Unfortunately, February is probably the best month to ski in Europe as the conditions are usually warm enough for making snow regularly and cold enough to maintain a nice pack, but maybe he can get in a little skiing at the end of January.

Or maybe the skiing that RA talks about is just something innocuous to discuss during interviews? A bone for his fans? I don’t believe that. I live in ski country and know how addictive it can be. It has a thrill unlike anything else, and if you’re skiing in a place that has lots of powder, oh man! phew! indescribable.

But the control freak in me demands this fake fan letter:

Dear Rich,

I hope you are enjoying the skiing, and if you ever made it to my part of the world, you would have to bring a pair of fatties for all of this powder.

Oh, yeah, I know the age old argument of hardpack vs. packed powder, but most people who experience packed powder, and especially champagne powder, never want to go back to that crap that is hardpack. Some skiers I know think it’s better than sex. I’m not sure I agree with that, but then I don’t get to the steeps too often. Like never.

Nearly twisting my foot off the end of my leg, and now having an ankle that looks something like this is probably the reason. LOL! Let me put it this way. My knee was straight, and my foot was pointing left between a 45° and 90° angle. I’m not kidding (picture me with my tongue hanging out). They gave me laughing gas in the ambulance, but I never did laugh. LOL! So glad I can laugh now ’cause it was more painful than natural childbirth. The end result is I haven’t been downhill skiing in awhile. I stick to cross country skiing, which has enough challenges, but there are no thrills like downhill. It’s just sheer, cussed work.

The first time I did cross country after my accident, I fell over halfway through the track. A friend of mine, who is an avid skate skier, came skidding to a halt near me, and offered to help me up. I just whimpered and said, “No…no, I need to wallow here for a bit.” Eventually I stood up, and things got easier each time after that, but it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever forced myself to do! So whenever I think of you skiing, I say a little prayer for you, my friend. I hope you never have to endure rehab.

Sincerely,
The Gimp (aka One of your crazy fans)

Picture courtesy of my garbled imagination, Faceinhole and psst! a Photobucket picture that belongs to God knows who. You can blame Nat and Phylly for “inspiring” me. :D

edit: I was wrong about Richard’s whereabouts, but it’s always fun to speculate.

January 21, 2011
Categories: Movies . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 21 Comments

Dear Mr. Jackson

My spate of fake fan letters to Richard Armitage a while back inflamed my control freak and exacerbated my need to give an opinion on matters whether I know jack about them or not. Frankly, it’s been hell to keep that urge tamped down, but today, I couldn’t hold it back any longer.

January 13, 2011

Dear Mr. Jackson,

I put myself on the receiving end of #thehobbit via my Twitter account, and I’ve learned all kinds of interesting things. Phew, man, I thought I was passionate about Richard Armitage! I have nothing on those “guys” at TheOneRing site. My zeal for RA is a school girl crush beside their passionate love affair with Tolkien and with you. I guess I can respect them for that, and I wasn’t so much surprised by their ardor as I was at how much credence they are given by the press.

That knowledge compelled me to read their “about” page where I discovered their close relationship with you, and this has me wondering how much you are affected by what is said there as well as effect what is said. I’m envious of the relationship you seem to have worked out with this bunch of fanatics. Richard has a sort of arrangement with his fanatics too, but it doesn’t appear to be as comfortable as yours. Maybe you can give him some pointers? ;-)

By the way, it had been a while since I’d seen a picture of you, so imagine my surprise when I started reading up on ‘The Hobbit,’ and found this:

Wow!

If you ever read this blog or almost any of the other blogs on Richard Armitage, you would know that we do a bit of fangirling at times. Well, we try not to do it so much we look like bimbos, but then bimbo is a relative term. However, when we do fangirl, there is usually a PHWOAR! heard from someone. So in honor of your recent fitness, I give you a decided PHWOAR! Seriously, you look pretty sexy in this picture, and I already thought your mind was sexy. Phew! Can I get an amen from anyone? By the way, I adore your hair. Truly. I love it! And maybe that is a hairstyle you’re just partial to anyway? I know I am. A certain warrior and lieutenant are coming to mind.

Have a wonderful day, and I hope your wife is aware that she may have to beat the women off with a stick.

Signed,

A crazy fan of Richard’s

P.S. Thought you might be interested in this very well done treatment of your latest activities.

Note to Action Fans: yes, this is mostly bullshit although I do respect Peter Jackson’s abilities, and I think he looks pretty hot in that picture.

Note to Nat: I’m working on my piece.

Edit: yes, I know it’s Sir Peter and not Mr. Jackson; I have since apologized. :D

January 13, 2011
Categories: Fandom, Movies, PHWOAR! . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 45 Comments

The Bond Question

The question of whether or not Richard Armitage would make a good James Bond has come up countless times in the fandom, and it happened again the other day with DEZMOND’S poll. I didn’t vote because I’m conflicted, but I want to go on record as saying that he would make a marvelous James Bond. I’ve never doubted it. The question for me is whether or not he should indeed play Bond. I know I would love whatever he chooses, but from the first time I heard the suggestion of him being Bond, I’ve had my reservations.

The character is fairly one-dimensional. At least he is in all the Bond movies I’ve seen, which is all of them except Daniel Craig’s Bond (need to rectify that in the near future). Maybe Craig has changed things up? Somehow I doubt it, and that’s no aspersion on him. It would take a mega star to change up the Broccoli Machine, and then maybe even that wouldn’t happen because the Broccolis are not going to hire anyone who is going to mess with their cash cow. I’m sure their thinking is “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

That’s a good rule of thumb if it’s only about money. If it’s about art, then there’s no such thing. Well, money is still involved, but hopefully it doesn’t dictate everything. Last time I checked, and again, I haven’t seen Craig’s portrayal, Bond was not about art, and certainly not about any real thought. About as deep as Bond usually gets is sexual innuendo via the liberal use of double entendre. I can watch Sean Connery for that ’cause he does it so well, and really, I don’t want to see RA being a Sean Connery retread although I’m sure he could pull off some great stuff.

But let’s say RA did play Bond. What would that mean for his career? I’m inclined to think it would not bode well. All of the actors who have played Bond including Connery have not done much of note. One reason is most of the actors chosen for the part are not the best actors or even close, and I would bet it’s almost an admission that an actor is second tier to be chosen. I could be wrong about that, but my common sense says this is not considered a plum role if someone thinks of himself as a serious actor. I would hate to see RA in that group.

Another reason for my hesitance is Bond is such a larger than life character (bigger than any actor’s portrayal) that the typecasting which comes with it makes accepting the part maybe a bit daunting later, and especially if the actor plays the part really well as Connery did. Is there any doubt RA would play this well? Ohmygosh, just thinking about him being Bond, well, I need to keep this blog safe for work. Suffice to say that PHWOAR! would probably roll off my tongue so often it would be sore.

All of that aside, the only thing that really gets me excited about RA being this character is imagining how he would deal with the back story, and yes, of course some gratuitous shots for objectification edification. Speaking of which, here is a shot that in my opinion screams James Bond:

And just for comparison purposes:

Oh, heck a few more.

When I saw this…

I quite naturally thought of this…

And when I think of this…

It’s easy to think of this…

Definitely need a cool drink, and maybe I need to speak to Hunkess. I could do with a little celebration of masculinity of this historic Hunkie.

That Sean Connery has got to be one of the sexiest ever! The dude is even sexy as a graying, balding man. Phew!

Photos courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.com, Public Domain, and my stash.

What woman could resist someone that manly looking and with that beautiful, deep burr? Oh yeah, Connery has ‘it’, and obviously, so does RA. I think I’ve just convinced myself that Richard should NEVER play Bond. He is the only one I’ve ever thought could eclipse Connery. RA doesn’t need that baggage!

Side note: I think it’s a hoot that Ian Fleming based the “sophisticated persona” of Bond on Hoagy Carmichael. I love Hoagy! Love to play Hoagy, and yeah, his music is sophisticated. But his persona? I’m not seeing it. LOL!

Then again, Wikipedia could just be having us on. I’m not a Bond aficionado so I wouldn’t really know, and I don’t have time nor inclination to become one. I’m doing well to write this blog. Better stop now since I feel a strong urge to go on a tangent about Hoagy.

Oh, what the hell!

One of the all-time great songs, and a real pleasure to play as well as hear:

Another one I love to play:

And by the way, I love 7notemode. He is a helluva player, but then this is my kind of music. If you ever think of me playing anything, this would be it! And maybe a little Brubeck and Duke Ellington as well. :D

Oh, and as much as I love 7notemode, I wanted to post Oscar Peterson playing Skylark but couldn’t find it. Oscar is fantastic. If you’ve never heard him, you’re missing out!

January 5, 2011
Categories: Movies, Musicilove, PHWOAR! . Tags: , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 37 Comments

Here Comes Cate

Saw an announcement today that Cate Blanchett will reprise her LOTR role in ‘The Hobbit,’ and I chuckled. Then I thought maybe my memory wasn’t so good concerning the book. It has been at least a couple of years since I read ‘The Hobbit.’ I think I was 15 and dare not say how many years ago that actually was. Enough to make me unsure of the character list but not enough to forget it was male dominated.

For those who may not know, this casting is probably a treat for Richard Armitage. Cate Blanchett is one of his favorite actresses.

‘The Hobbit’: Cate Blanchett joins the cast as Galadriel
by Josh Rottenberg
Cate Blanchett had better start brushing up on her Elvish. The Australian actress has signed on to the cast of director Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy epic The Hobbit, reprising the role of the ethereal elf Galadriel that she played in Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. The announcement of Blanchett’s casting comes as something of a surprise, since the character of Galadriel doesn’t actually appear in Tolkien’s novel. Then again, there are virtually no female characters in the book whatsoever, so Jackson is clearly looking to balance out the two-part film somewhat in terms of gender.

Read the rest here.

December 7, 2010
Categories: Movies . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 20 Comments

So Now We Wait

I’ve always thought Twitter was aptly named, but today, it was palpable. A tweet popped up about Richard Armitage that literally has us fans atwitter. It really feels like we’re in a hen house and someone startled us. Here’s the tweet so you can be startled too:

Didn’t many of us think this might be a dead possibility? Well, I guess we were wrong unless this ETTtweet is having us on. I don’t think so. They look legit.

So now we know Richard Armitage is somehow preparing for The Rover. But I want to know when it will be?! Yes, I’m impatient and spoiled to getting information quickly. I can’t lie. I am indeed spoiled, and Twitter has something to do with it. It may be one of the most addictive tools I’ve used since my first IT job, and that’s going some. I’ve been privy to some pretty cool things over the last, uh, I’d rather not say. Suffice to say this tool is phenomenal for information. I’ve learned more from Twitter in a shorter period of time than I ever have from a newspaper or the radio or tv. Even my Google Reader is not as forthcoming, and it’s pretty good.

Back to Richard. I would so love to see him live on stage, and I’ve been wanting to go back to the UK. There are other things I need to do there that have nothing to do with RA, but it would be great to make it coincide with one of his performances. Wonder how many there will be. I was looking at the other productions from ETT and most seem to be about three months for touring. This has me wondering if RA is really going to be tied up so long on The Hobbit set. Surely, Peter Jackson doesn’t need him standing around in New Zealand for the duration of filming. What actor would submit to that? Even if it is a huge break? It seems risky to be off the radar that long. But then what do I know about the acting business. Then again, perhaps RA will be touring before February, or he is not required at the beginning of The Hobbit’s filming in February?

In the meantime, I’m sure you can check out RichardArmitageNet to keep up, or you can get a Twitter account. Yes, I hope to entice some of you to join Twitter, and I promise you that it does not make your IQ go down a few points just by doing so. :D Maybe I can even get some of you to use an app like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck before I’m done. MUHAHAHAHA.

Yeah, Rich, that’s how I’m going to feel until I know something:

Screencap courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.Com

Aren’t you glad my tangents are over? For now? :D

November 26, 2010
Categories: Movies, Rumors, Stage Productions . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 34 Comments

The Next Day

In my last post I mentioned my gut is rarely wrong, and iz4blue wanted to know what I was talking about. Below is a post I was planning to make the day after RA’s birthday but didn’t because I really am trying to stay out of the guy’s head, and I just never got around to finishing it to my satisfaction. Then I was reading Peter Jackson’s “defense” of RA being cast, and it came to me that Peter Jackson and I may have the same “gut.” :D

My previous, unpublished post:


RA’s Diary

Entry — August 23, 2010:

40 is less than a year away, and I got a late start. That’s what everyone keeps saying, and I’m tired of hearing it, but I understand. Thankfully 40 is practically the new 20. But in this profession 30 is sometimes the new 40. I get it but it’s a distraction.

End of Entry


It seems we’re continually told that actors in their 30s just coming to our attention are late bloomers. If it is not always said expressly, the media’s attention on actors in their 20s seems to send a strong message. I was thinking about this and glanced up at my blog’s header picture, which has always reminded me of another actor whom I really like, and he was not a spring chicken when he first made it big. He was 43.

The whole issue of the late bloomer is fascinating. No one sets out to be a late bloomer but rather circumstances conspire against them. However circumstances may frustrate their desires, oftentimes they are so intent on something else, that circumstances be damned and sometimes conventions flouted if need be. It is this sometimes maniacal focus on something else which usually makes them so beautiful. For Viggo Mortensen it’s about artistic expression. He reminds me so much of RA, or I guess out of respect for Viggo’s age and success, I should say RA reminds me of Viggo.

Viggo makes an excellent point about artistic expression. “It’s a way of living,” and it should be honest like a child. For me it’s the continual succumbing to the need for honest expression that’s so splendid to watch, and yes, everyone has the potential to be an artist. Getting at the truth is the key, and that requires a fearlessness that always gets my respect. This demand for honesty is certainly what makes RA’s performances so compelling and sometimes startling. The ring of truth is always sublime.

I love that he is also so startlingly honest when interviewed:

‘I don’t put it about. Never have. I’m a late developer in everything. I have a fast mind and fast metabolism, and I’m an intense worker, but in terms of life development I’m way behind.’

You know, I wonder if being a late starter isn’t the key to Armitage’s vast appeal. By the time we first clapped eyes on him as John Thornton, he was already a proper grown man, in sharp contrast to all those snub-nosed pretty boys who pass for movie stars these days.

Read the rest here.

Yep, Allison, I’ll take the man who has found his voice over the boys who have yet to say anything interesting, and I thought this when I was 20.

If anyone reading this is an RA fan and has not read Allison’s article, get over there quickly and do so. It’s a real treat and is definitely one of my favorite articles on him. I also just happen to love many other articles of Allison’s even if she’s not politically correct for some of you. LOL!

Until someone comes along who has the ability to bring Richard Armitage to the attention of the rest of the world, I’m content for RA to focus on what he will.

Enter Peter Jackson, who apparently recognizes the kindred spirit of an artist. So it’s not just about eye candy. Although I give Peter Jackson credit for understanding how to get a movie made. It requires energy and money. You don’t make such big budget pictures unless you understand how to generate both. In an Entertainment Weekly interview he “defends” his selection of Richard Armitage. Oh brother. I say that affectionately! Anyone who thinks that’s actually a defense needs to think again. RA is almost a virtual unknown outside the UK. Peter has to do something to get his name out and in a way that creates buzz. How better to do it than to respond to doubts from LOTR fans about him being cast. Pardon me if my jaded self isn’t buying the “controversy.” But hey, whatever it takes, Peter. Whatever it takes! I’m behind you.

And I assume RA is taking notes for his future big budget project. :D

note: I only have two problems with my gut: 1) I don’t heed it enough; 2) when it’s wrong, it’s very wrong. LOL!

edit: In case it’s not clear, the RA Diary entry is a fake. Yes, my friend, it’s about as fake as it gets. That’s why I have a tag called “Fake Diary.” But I put this edit here for the action fans who may need it spelled out. ;-)

October 31, 2010
Categories: Interviews, Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 23 Comments

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