Manhattan invaded by Ents!! [View All]

[Shakespeare]

It was 11:45 a.m. outside Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, and the Ents were AWOL.

Two of the Shepherds of the Trees who inhabit J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth were supposed to be roaming New York sidewalks on Tuesday as part of New Line Cinema's celebratory release of "The Two Towers" on DVD.

The merchandising stunts surrounding the three installments of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy have all been dreamily nerdy exercises in Tolkieniania. Two years ago, publicists gave out surprisingly heavy Rings of Power, embossed in letters of the Black Speech, to reporters attending a pre-Oscar "Fellowship of the Ring" lunch. I still carry mine. Last year, at the New York theatrical premiere of "The Two Towers", dissolute-looking Calvin Klein models stood on the snowy steps of the New York Public Library, holding lanterns and posing as sulky Elves.

But Tuesday's DVD launch promised to break all records for hobbity eccentricity.

"Ride the 'Middle-earth Shuttle'!" crowed the press release, which promised that "The Shuttle train's cars -- replete with Middle-earth creatures, vines, moss and stones -- will carry commuters from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m." The shuttle in question runs back and forth between Grand Central and Times Square with no intervening stops. It's one of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's most no-nonsense lines, designed to transport commuters efficiently and without fanfare from one transport hub to another.

The release continued, "Brave travelers will have the opportunity to explore the Middle-earth-themed subway station, accompany Gollum back and forth, stand tall with 12-foot-high living Ents and much more!"

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http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/feature/2003/11/19/ents/index.html