For six films, New Zealand has played host to the denizens of J.R.R. Tolkien's tales, its lush country landscapes providing the fantasy setting of Middle-Earth. While the first film in Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy doesn't land until December 14, you can land in Middle-Earth today, courtesy of Air New Zealand, who provides this pre-flight instructional video:
This is no indie work — it features cameos by both director Peter Jackson (who turns 51 today!) and Gollum. Impressive!
I have flown seven flights in the last two weeks, and many more than that every year. Not once have I ever found an instructional safety video that gripped my attention like this one. When else have you ever found yourself indulging in this genre on YouTube?
Well done, Air New Zealand! I look forward to visiting Middle-Earth soon.
(Hat tip: Gina Serpe via Gene Demaitre)
*jaw dropped*
That is worth just getting a ticket to New Zealand to see!
The cast list gets even more interesting, as reported by a quote from this Web page:
http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/travel/Air+New+Zealand-264438.html