I know they used the latest Shake product to do a lot of that scene. There's an article about it at:

http://www.apple.com/shake/stories/lotr/

and

http://www.apple.com/shake/stories/lotr2/

I'm a avid (not AVID) PC user, but dang, I'm really tempted to go Apple for FCP4 and Shake!! It make my heart beat a little faster just thinking about being able to make images look that good.

Shake is available for the PC

Zac

<<<-- Originally posted by Zac Stein : Shake is available for the PC -->>>

Don't confuse me! I thought I had made a decision and you go and say something like that. I want a system that works and works well, the Apple users say FCP never crashes. Are they lying to me. This is a different thread isn't it. I'm calling my therapist.

everything crashes once in a while.

FCP users have had a bit of teething problems with the latest barage of updates on all fronts.

I have used FCP many times... it crashes once in a while. I have seen vegas crash too. And premiere crashes more than working... but that is not your concern... just get what feels good to use for you. Simple as that.

Zac

<<<-- Originally posted by Zac Stein : Shake is available for the PC -->>>

Yes, but this, from Apple's web site, may make you think twice about using it on a PC...

"Shake 3 is also available for Linux for a suggested retail price of $9,900 (US) with an annual maintenance of $1485 (US). Render-only versions of Shake 3 are free on Mac OS X and are available for Linux for a suggested retail price of $3,900 (US) with an annual maintenance of $585 (US)."