It’s been nearly ten years since Middle Earth unfurled across the screen, and in that time, the Lord of the Rings films have cemented their place in cinematic history. The actors have aged, technology has evolved, and the influence of Peter Jackson’s trilogy is evidenced in all the three-plus-hour epics we’ve seen over the past decade.

Jackson slips back into this world seamlessly, elevating the grandeur but also reigning it in; instead of army battles and global chaos pitting kings against wizards and demons, this is a merrier tale of Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, and a band of dwarves hunting a lost treasure guarded by the fierce dragon Smaug.

Smaug, we’re told (and cleverly not shown until the very end) attacked the thriving dwarf city of Erebor years ago, evicting dwarven kind from their homeland (writing that I’m starting to wonder if there’s a parable here, big noses and all…) and forcing them to have it out with every other race in Middle Earth, from the orcs at Moria (the chief of whom kills the leader dwarf, Thorin’s, grandfather and becomes the main antagonist) to the elves at, uh, Elvania (the elves chose not to help the dwarves in the battle against Smaug).

Well, if the Wachowski Siblings ever wash out of the movies, they can always turn to knitwear. Their inimitable line of deconstructed post-Apocalyptic Steampunk sweaters, wraps and bodysuits made a big impression in its debut—1999’s The Matrix—and continues strong in their brand new Cloud Atlas collection. Fans will find the irregularly rustic stitches, bold asymmetry, and moody hand-dyed Neo-Gothic palette they love, cast in intriguing new shapes. Tom Hanks’ hooded cape and Susan Sarandon’s stone- and macrame-ornamented dress with matching fingerless wristlets are particularly arresting.

Which is to say that Art Direction is as important in the epic, sweeping, wildly ambitious Cloud Atlas as it has always been in the Wachowski oeuvre, as obsessively thorough and as effectively world-making. The movie is based on a 2004 novel of the same name by David Mitchell, a book so bulky and complex it took several years for the movie’s three directors—the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer of Run Lola Run—to work out the script and logistics.

A little while ago we showed you a long form debut trailer for the film Cloud Atlas, directed by the Wachowski’s and Tom Tykwer. The film looks stunning and has an incredibly talented cast, but the story looks to be rather complex and even in over five minutes of trailer time many were left confused.

Thankfully the theatrical trailer has finally made its way to the internet, which attempts to sell a more wide audience on a story that has layers on top of layers on top of layers. The new trailer has been essentially cut in half from the previous internet clip, but it still manages to shove in a few new stellar shots to intrigue those who already caught the first preview.

Of course losing two and a half minutes of time means certain elements will be lost on the general public. Few people will probably be able to tell the basic narrative structure, which the long form preview only just barely was able to convey. Also potentially under sold in this version is just how many good actors are in this movie, I mean Hugh Grant and Hugo Weaving are barely even in the trailer at all.

Still, it is smart to get a more digestible version of the trailer out there, and you can check it out after the jump.

After watching this five-minute long trailer the question still lingers, what is Cloud Atlas? We do know that it is the new film from co-directors Lana & Andy Wachowski and Tom Tykwer, and it is based on the novel by David Mitchell. Other than that, the whole thing still seems undefined, unless of course you read the book.

Mayhaps the official synopsis can help shed some light on the this very interesting looking new film:

“Cloud Atlas” explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery and romance weave dramatically through the story as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution in the distant future.

So it is sort of like The Fountain, but just much more broad in scope, and make no mistake, the trailer promises some incredible scope. We mentioned yesterday when discussing the Life of Pi trailer that 2012 is shaping up to be an incredible year. Having a film like this blind side us the very next day seems to cement that point.

Check out the absolutely stunning trailer after the jump, and you can find out for yourself exactly what Cloud Atlas is October 26th.

It’s not a secret that The Hobbit is one of the most anticipated films coming out this year. While we wait for it to be relased Peter Jackson and company have been kind enough to share some making of and behind the scenes videos with us.

A new one has arrived and it’s pretty cool. This one is a tour of the New Zealand sets where the movie is being made and shows some of the actors at work.

This is another in a series of videos that helps people understand all that goes into the making of giant spectacles like Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Let’s hope it helps build the appreciation for all the work that goes into them and all the people, especially those not in the spotlight, who do that work.

Check out the video after the break.