In honor of Hobbit Week, I bring you the Peter Jackson Filmmaker Flashcard. I admit I’ve only seen one of Peter Jackson’s films outside of the Lord of the Rings trilogy: his 2005 remake of King Kong. I enjoyed it, and I’ve read he loved updating his favorite film, but it didn’t make a lasting impression on me. I want to go back and check out The Lovely Bones and Heavenly Creatures (with Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey), to see if my admiration of his LOTR work will extend to non-Tolkien films.
Jackson began as a DIY filmmaker who slowly built a blockbuster career after his first films became cult favorites. I appreciate his audience-first aesthetic. You can tell he’s not trying to be cool or achieve auteur status or win an Oscar (though he’s arguably been successful at all three)…he just wants to tell a good story. I respect that.
What Peter Jackson movies are on your must-see list?
Enter this week’s Gimme Some giveaways!
» Gimme Some Film: Hulu Plus Giftcards Giveaway
» Gimme Some Life: Hobbit Giveaway & 2012 Holiday Book Giveaway
» Gimme Some Oven: “The Baker” Gift Set Giveaway & “The Cook” Gift Set Giveaway
» Gimme Some Reads: Hobbit Gift Set Giveaway & Literary Brass Cuff Giveaway
crazy to think that he’d only made 5 films — and not big ones — before tackling Lord of the Rings!
Heavenly Creatures is disturbing, but good. It’s actually a good insight to how he could accomplish the fantastical creatures & complex characters of LOTR.
I remember you talking about Heavenly Creatures – it’s what made me want to see it in the first place!
Don’t overlook The Frighteners. Great popcorn flick. Heavenly Creatures and Lovely Bones are both a trip. An altogether different Peter Jackson.
I’ll put The Frighteners in my queue, too! Thanks for the rec!