MOVIES CAPTURE ROYAL ARMOURIES

One of Britain's biggest museums has been taken over by a clutch of stunning fighting props from those wonderful films The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.

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Yes, the Royal Armouries in Leeds, the official home of Britain’s collection of real life arms and armour, including artillery, has been captured by weapons and gear worn and carried by such warriors as Aragorn, Legolas and Sauron, temporarily bringing fresh colour to the permanent displays.

Clumped together they form part of a free exhibition titled Arms and Armour from the Movies: The Wonderful World of WETA (the WETA bit referring to the company of craftsmen in New Zealand who created the star items in the first place).

The exhibition runs from 12 July to 16 November.

Among the highlights of 230 props in the exhibition – many of which have never been displayed beforer - are Aragorn’s sword, Legolas’s back rig, Sauron’s helmet and, a killer, the gun that slew King Kong.

Far more than cheap knock offs that look good on camera, many of these weapons and the armour are faithfully based on medieval European designs and built to battle-ready standards by craftsmen in New Zealand.

The Armouries display is the only opportunity for movie buffs and the general public to see these exquisite items in the UK.

Other films contributing items to the exhibition include The Last Samurai and Hellboy .

For further details, visit the Royal Armouries site.

Posted June 17, 2008.