SINGAPORE : Singapore's Science Centre is being transformed into Middle Earth, with original costumes, models and weapons from the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy on display.

From Ents, the life-like tree spirits, to Orcs, the evil army of Sauron complete with their weapons, the Lord of the Rings exhibition brings to life some of the original props from the trilogy and showcases some of the secrets used to make movies such a hit.

These include how a life-sized actor is shrunk to Hobbit size.

Visitors will also get to touch some of the costumes -- all painstakingly handstitched -- and be part of the spectacular landscape of Middle Earth.

One village, for example, took over three months to build but enjoyed just two seconds of screen time.

The Science Centre is the exhibition's only stop in Asia. The other cities include New Zealand and London.

The exhibition, which is on till June, costs some S$1.6 million.

Organisers hope to attract some 150,000 visitors.

"The LOTR exhibition and the adjacent Special FX II Exhibitions are the perfect showcase of how science and technology play an important role in the art of movie making. They have a strong educational element and coupled with their interactive and entertaining programme, are sure to attract visitors both young and old," said Dr Chew Tuan Chiong, chief executive of the Science Centre.

"We don't want to affect the magic of people ejoying the movie in a cinema. But people seeing the film are fascinated by how it's made, the props, of being able to see them more closely. And I think this exhibition provides that," added Museum of New Zealand chief executive, Dr Seddon Bennington. - CNA