If you have ever wondered what RA frenzy really looks like, see what Calexora is proposing. I just have one thing to say about it. If you go, get some pictures and video for us! :D
But candidly, this is so majestic and lush (click to enlarge photos):
not to mention this:
that Callie might not be that crazy. :D
Hobbit Press Conference screencap courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.com. Hobbit trailer screencaps are mine.
Bccmee just posted on Twitter that the current ranking of Richard Armitage on IMDb has gone up 882 points. He’s now at 52. Phew! That means lots and lots and lots and lots of people are checking him out. I wonder what he’s thinking. No, I can’t help it. I really do wonder how he must be processing this, or if he’s already processed it to be prepared. I’m betting on “prepared.” Yep, he is so anal that he’s more than likely run it through his head a few times since he got the part in ‘The Hobbit.’ Probably just took the reaction from ‘North and South’ and multiplied it several times, and if he’s really thinking ahead, he will take that number and raise it to a power when the movie hits the theaters. LOL!
Yeah, ride off on that horse! We’ll follow. :D
Screencap is mine
Darn! Twitter was overcapacity when I tried to get a copy of bccmee’s tweet. Until I can get it, here’s a partial cap of RA’s pro page. Check out the statistic next to his head shot on the right.
edit: Ranking capped by bccmee for posterity.
Hobbiton! What a wonderful tribute to Tolkien and a magnificent playground for Peter Jackson and his crew. I became tickled at witnessing the descriptions of the village and couldn’t help thinking it a massive toy. But I mean no disrespect. I envy Sir Peter’s ability to do what he loves and bring such affirmation and adulation to a place he adores — New Zealand. And who wouldn’t love what we’ve seen? It’s lush and yet firm — the velvet rolling hills and jagged mountains peeking through at times and then overwhelming to remind of their solidarity and unrelenting pursuit of the sky. How many places on earth have those qualities? It’s a special place. And it struck me that those qualities are often manifest in Richard Armitage. It’s almost as if this place was made for him.
…Waiting for Richard Armitage to give us a message. I still think it would be cool if he did a verbal, and no, I won’t be disappointed if he doesn’t. But wouldn’t that be cool? Seriously? Oh well, maybe next year. :D
A picture for your trouble in coming over here. It just never gets old, and as usual you can click to enlarge:
Screencap from my stash
edit: if you’re new to Richard Armitage, I hope that photo might somehow inspire you to stop and consider what’s going on in New Zealand and give them some help.
When I first started this site, I submitted an instruction to the Google bot to crawl (aka poll) my site only occasionally. Google sent a canned response that they didn’t have to abide by it. Mostly they have respected my request, but something changed about two weeks ago. For the first time ‘rafrenzy’ was not the top search string, and that string being at the top made it obvious I was mostly found by word of mouth. But now the search engines are running about four to one compared to my other referrals and ‘rafrenzy’ is far down the list. If you could see my stats list, it would be obvious more and more are curious about this Richard Armitage who is playing Thorin Oakenshield. What else am I to conclude if a piddly blog like mine and one that has tried to remain under the radar can be generating so many hits lately? Let me put it this way. If I keep going at this rate, I will be getting what amounts to 45,000 to 60,000 hits a month. And I know Nat and Servetus generate much more not to mention all of the other blogs in RA Universe (see the ‘Addict List’ or ‘Tumblr’). Yeah, something has happened.
If you’re new and wanting to know what Richard Armitage really looks like under that beard and armor, a little treat for you so you don’t have to scour this site for such goodness, and you can click to enlarge or snaffle. :D
oh heck! another one,
Usually I say something like Ohcheemama! when I see this. Some people say PHWOAR! or maybe Squeee! If you’re not sure, you’ll have to come along and learn the fine art of appreciating Richard in all his glory. Well, maybe not all of his glory. I do keep this blog safe for work.
I wonder when I’ll tire of publishing these pictures?
Screencap courtesy of the amazing Karima and candid shot courtesy of JJ via RichardArmitageNet.Com.
[note: mp3 download at bottom of the post]
Who knew the dwarves singing would be absolutely wondrous by evoking such a keen sense of adventure? It’s telling how the song pervades my spirit and immediately demands an identification with 13 guys from a fictional place. At less than one minute, I’m hooked and ready to go with them. Bravo! Peter Jackson and Howard Shore and Tolkien of course! Bravo! But then comes the let down that the wait will be a year. Thankfully, a few things are occurring to alleviate the withdrawal. I’m reading Tolkien. Read The Hobbit again a few months ago, and pictured Richard Armitage marvelously as Thorin. Thank you again, Peter Jackson! I’m also starting the trilogy and heck, I’ve purchased all of Tolkien’s works including the non-fiction (more on that later) and some of it in more than one format. Several are duplicated on my Kindle. Yes, sometimes I really am insane. Oh, and I’ve purchased this as well as reading lots of excellent sites which give literary analysis of Tolkien.
As if that weren’t enough, I’ve downloaded Over the Misty Mountains Cold (a longer version) to my iPod where I will listen to it until I have learned every measure and their dynamics, and hopefully, get tired of it and then grow to love it again before the movie is released. And I found this video of it on YouTube. Phew, is it fun to surf around today! If you haven’t tried it, go for it. Lots of interesting things to read and watch about ‘The Hobbit.’ Good thing I’m on vacation. Just don’t get caught up on stuff like this as I did.
Tolkien obviously loved music, and his passion abounds even now. He’s inspired countless others with his sense of the epic. Here’s another site I found surfing around awhile back. Wonderful! And be sure to check out the last guy on the list. He and his band are an old favorite — Tolkien inspired songs or not. If you don’t know him, check this out, and I’ll stop there as I feel a tangent coming on. Yeah, I know some of you remember that song. :D
In the meantime, here is an mp3 version for those who need a regular fix.
edit: bccmee made a version of this that I love:
Is this a fake fan letter? Yes, since I won’t be sending it to the man. But it is sincere.
Dear Sir Peter,
You have great taste and should be commended for it. I know many others more important have said as much, but I had to say it too. There are so many things lacking in taste, lacking in good judgment. So many things that leave me dissatisfied. But you came with your good judgment about quality, and I feel wonderfully refreshed. Every detail of that trailer was perfectly done, and thank you for recognizing that Richard Armitage belonged there. Many of his fans have long recognized he is quality, and it’s such a joy to know someone of your position recognizes it as well.
And may I say as someone who has been a fairly tepid Tolkien fan, you are pulling me into that madness. I was not prepared to go willingly, but I find myself continually wanting to delve in deeper to the point I may become proficient in Sindarin.
Guren glassui,
One of Richard’s fans, who is not as crazy as she appears and fast becoming appreciative of Middle-EarthP.S. My apologies for not observing the proper protocol before when I called you a mere Mr. :D
And it was well worth the wait:
And some caps…
Still looks good on a horse:
Singing!
Caps are my stash. I may have to post some more later. :D
I thought I knew about teasing, but the building of expectation for ‘The Hobbit’ trailer has taken teasing to new levels. The last time I was this tightly bound, I was watching a pregnancy test stick but that never gave me a tic! Now if I even hear or see a word that looks or sounds like trailer, I jump. Early this morning I was working on some business issues and reading about possible marketing strategies. I caught site of the word trailer, uh, I mean mailer, and my heart sped up. A few minutes later, one of the kids said they were going over to see trailer, uh Taylor, who lives next door. Phew! I’m not sure how much longer I can stand it. And really I don’t understand why I’m so jumpy since the trailer won’t be shown until this evening. Won’t it? Yes, I’m paranoid I may miss it, and I want to see it as soon as it comes out!! I dare not tell you how many times I’ve visited various websites. My poor browser has never worked so hard trolling the web. ;-)
And I want to hit something! Which puts me in good company since the comments I’ve read around the web have threatened bodily injury to someone if the trailer isn’t shown soon. Not being the violent type, I would never threaten bodily injury — not verbally anyway. In my head, there are all sorts of violent things going on.
Stress reliever courtesy of Harry Knowles.
Until further notice, this is a possible link for watching the trailer.
I’m contemplating seeing this movie. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a movie theater, and it would be nice to get out of the house. SO was talking about taking our eleven year old to see it, and my extreme eagerness was duly noted with a look askance that said, “What is going on?” My look back, “Nothing. I just thought _________ might love this movie, and it is the holiday season. Maybe we can go on opening night?”
I refuse to believe Richard Armitage is corrupting my reputation. What is it to me that I’ve watched the cheesy Robin Hood, then more cheesy Captain America, and now… But I’m doing it so my kid will have some entertainment, and I’m sure she would love the trailers:
Promo courtesy of TheOneRing.Net
RAFrenzy 
