Peter Jackson: From Prince of Splatter to Lord of the Rings

by Ian Pryor

Book Overview

This fascinating look at the now celebrated director tells of the inspiration that have led to the making of the three world-famous "Lord of the Rings" films - and the six other films that preceded them. This unauthorized biography traces the journey of a young movie fanatic, from Sunday afternoons spent fooling around with a camera, through low-budget cult movies, to control of the most ambitious film project ever, on what is probably the best-loved...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312322941
• ISBN13: 9780312322946
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 380 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Keen Insight into Pre-Rings Jackson

I couldn't help but notice this in one of the above reviews of the book..."This book is ridiculous as the writer doesn't even know his subject, Peter Jackson, in person." I find that statement interesting because the book discusses at great length the relationship between the author and Jackson. At various points in Jackson's early movies, the author actually helped out on his movies. As to the un-authorized biography question, the author was given access to write the book on all Jackson films up to the Lord of the Rings. I just can't imagine how you could read this book and come to the conclusion that the author didn't even know Jackson. As for my opinion, I'm often facinated by the early careers of men like Jackson. There's already a ridiculous amount of info out there on Lord of the Rings, but this book gives you a peek at Jackson's beginnings, and I enjoyed that very much. If you're buy this book for some kind of Rings Insider, go elsewhere. If you want to see Jackson before his epic, this book is for you.

Who Is This Guy and How Did He Pull It Off?

Before LOTR,who ever of Peter Jackson?You know the legendary story....a somewhat successful maker of 'B' monster movies(from a foreign land)gets the chance of the century,to make a titanic epic with a titanic budget from an impossible to film book. Certain personal failure is forcast which will not only end his career but will ruin one of the world's largest studios. To the stunned amazement of all,Jackson successfully makes 'LOTR' and is immently successful in ever way that can be measured....a new benchmark that all other films will be judged against. Who is this guy and how is it so few people outside New Zealand knew of him? It's a biography so you learn lots about who Peter Jackson is and where he came from. Surprisingly, the author doesn't spend large amounts of time on LOTR filming technicalities. His emphasis is on how Jackson and his filming companions went about learning film, new technologies and how to apply these to their art. What the author spends a bit of time on is the realities of Hollywood studio politics and how that affects the sort of movies we see. I found that to be fascinating. In the PJ/LOTR saga there are 2 questions for me that never got answered to my satisfaction. The first is why did the first Aragorn,Stuart Townsend, det dismissed 1 week before shooting with no replacement in sight? With all the research that went into casting, it seems like a big mistake to go looking for a new leading character in a week with so much money and chance riding on that choice. Second is the exact reason New Line decided to invest so much of it's company's success or failure into a relatively unknown producer? Usually the reason is stated that the studio head just liked what he heard and saw, but that doesn't sound like solid business practice in America and not a technique a hardnosed CEO would use.Both questions get asked in the book and are sadly glossed over. It's still a good book and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.