Oh, that IS sad. So much hard, tedious, dedicated work...up in smoke. Thank goodness so much of Nick Park's art is immortalized on film. Bless them.

In local movie news. I ran into Matt Damon twice today as he is in the 'hood making The Good Shepherd, directed by DeNiro and co-starring Angelina.

On our morning constitutional, Bartleby was a huge hit with the extras, all decked out in period (40s?) dress and bored out of their trees. During the afternoon journey, Bartleby was given a tour of the very posh make-up trailer. The make-up lead, who looked sort of familiar (thanks to dvd extras, I'm sure) joked about helping him cover up his spots.

Saw Matt again, in street clothes, signing autographs and looking completely knackered. Had to come home and check imdb regarding his height...cuz really? He didn't look much taller than me (5'0") Imdb says 5'10". Huh.

This is too funny:

The Lord of the Rings, as told through Princess Bride quotes.

It starts with "Prologue: PETER JACKSON: Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up." and just gets funnier from there!

That's frelling brilliant.

[Bwah!]

URUK-HAI: You think your dearest love will save you?
PIPPIN: I never said he was my dearest love, and yes, he will save me. That I know.

I am the sappiest of saps in the history of sapdom:

PETER JACKSON: "The End." Now I think you oughta go to sleep.
AUDIENCE: Okay...
PETER JACKSON: All right. Okay, okay, okay. All right. So long.
AUDIENCE: Maybe we could come over and watch it again tomorrow?
PETER JACKSON: As you wish.

Two great tastes, tasting great together.

LEGOLAS: GAAAH!

Also ...

EOWYN: I admit it, you are better than I am.
WITCH KING: Then why are you smiling?
EOWYN: Because I know something you don’t know.
WITCH KING: And what is that?
EOWYN: I am not a man!

Oh, my favorite bit by far is this:

DENETHOR: I am the Dread Steward Denethor. There will be no survivors!

GUARD 1: Now?

GUARD 2: Not yet.

DENETHOR: My men are here. I am here. But soon you will not be here!

GUARD 1: Now?!

GUARD 2: Light him!

Some good news:

Many of the sets and plasticine characters used for the filming of Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit turned out to be the only survivors of Monday's fire at a Bristol, England warehouse that destroyed the rest of Aardman Animation's sets, props, storyboards, and characters, the company said today (Monday). The Were-Rabbit artifacts, it disclosed, were saved because they were being exhibited elsewhere in England (including the Imperial War Museum) to promote the movie. Director Nick Park said that he had been carrying the Wallace & Gromit characters from the latest film in his suitcase. He told the London Sun: "They have been going with me on a world tour. I keep them safe in a special suitcase. They were with me at my house when the fire happened. ... I rang up the office this morning to find out how the film had done in the US. I was told the great news that it was Number One and then they said there was some bad news as well." In reporting on the aftermath of the fire the London Times observed today: "Not since Ben Hur's chariot went up in smoke when Cecil B DeMille's original wooden studio caught fire has the film world suffered such a loss."

Well, that's some nice good news. I'm also VERY glad to hear that Nick was carrying Wallace and Gromit themselves with him at the time.

I think it also says a little something that this is being compared to Cecil B. DeMille losing all his stuff.

I saw an interview with Nick Park yesterday where he said that he really wasn't all that bothered, and couldn't understand why everyone was making such a fuss, because when measured against what had just happened in Pakistan it was really nothing at all. A lovely and sensible chap, it seems.

That parody totally made my day.

Mount Doom, After It Erupts:

[Screen goes black]

PETER JACKSON: Frodo and Sam don’t get burned up by the lava.

AUDIENCE: What?

PETER JACKSON: Frodo and Sam don’t get burned up by the lava. I’m explaining to you because you looked nervous.

[Movie continues]