gcypert's review
5.0
As a massive fan of all things LotR (especially Jackson’s trilogy), I can’t believe it took me this long to discover this book.
If you enjoyed pouring through hours of the Extended Editions’ appendices and making-of content, think of Nathan’s book as a fantastic expansion of that content.
Fun, interesting, funny, exceptionally well-researched, intimate, personal, and all-around a joy to experience.
If you enjoyed pouring through hours of the Extended Editions’ appendices and making-of content, think of Nathan’s book as a fantastic expansion of that content.
Fun, interesting, funny, exceptionally well-researched, intimate, personal, and all-around a joy to experience.
mattgoldberg's review
2.0
I don’t want to be mean because this book was a thoughtful gift from a dear friend. I love the LOTR movies (The Hobbit trilogy less so).
I gobbled up the first 100-150 pages of this and then once it got into the production, I found my interest waning. By the end, I was grateful to be done with it. So what happened?
I think the book pulls you in because of history and conflict. You’re curious to know how this landmark of fantasy literature was previously attempted and then you have the various studio conflicts of whether or not Jackson can get the movies made.
But once it’s in production, there’s not much conflict left, and so much behind-the-scenes storytelling feels unnecessary when we were blessed with the copious bonus features on the Extended Editions.
The largest problem is that Nathan stops coming across as a journalist and feels more like a publicist. A majority of the book simply feels like reading press notes, the tidy summations you’re given at junkets to let you know how awesome everything was when making this movie. You can definitely feel Nathan smoothing out the ruffles when he gets around to The Hobbit, which probably should have been its own book, but you get the sense that the author now sees himself as a part of the team rather than someone who can provide a sense of objectivity. So major issues like the tax breaks granted and the NZ union steamrolled are quickly passed by.
I love books about the making of movies, and I love the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but this was a surprising letdown.
I gobbled up the first 100-150 pages of this and then once it got into the production, I found my interest waning. By the end, I was grateful to be done with it. So what happened?
I think the book pulls you in because of history and conflict. You’re curious to know how this landmark of fantasy literature was previously attempted and then you have the various studio conflicts of whether or not Jackson can get the movies made.
But once it’s in production, there’s not much conflict left, and so much behind-the-scenes storytelling feels unnecessary when we were blessed with the copious bonus features on the Extended Editions.
The largest problem is that Nathan stops coming across as a journalist and feels more like a publicist. A majority of the book simply feels like reading press notes, the tidy summations you’re given at junkets to let you know how awesome everything was when making this movie. You can definitely feel Nathan smoothing out the ruffles when he gets around to The Hobbit, which probably should have been its own book, but you get the sense that the author now sees himself as a part of the team rather than someone who can provide a sense of objectivity. So major issues like the tax breaks granted and the NZ union steamrolled are quickly passed by.
I love books about the making of movies, and I love the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but this was a surprising letdown.
ailenach's review
5.0
this may be my indisputable lord of the rings bias talking, but i loved this. this is what i was hoping for when i read the previous studio ghibli biography (i didn't intend to read two film-industy-centric biographies back-to-back, but it did end up providing an interesting basis for comparison and highlighted shared experiences in the world of filmmaking): an overall "making of" structure and focus, scattered yet in depth interviews from throughout the whole timeline and across departments and responsibilities, fun behind the scene anecdotes, and with quotes and quips referencing the movie that felt like part of an in joke without being too trite.
i found the overall structure to be engaging, in spite of the sort of erratic way it followed the timeline. i could see the parallels with the story of the production of the three movies themselves with the story of the ring. even though i knew how it all ends (both the war of the ring and the war for public recognition and oscars), i could feel my heart race as it followed the humble underdog beginnings all the way to its triumphant sweep at the 2004 oscars (why am i gasping? i already knew that). i could almost hear the sweeping coronation score during the chapter relaying the experience of the third movie getting its own crowning achievement in hollywood.
sometimes it feels like it puts peter jackson and kiwi sensibilty and the whole country of new zealand on a pedestal (but having actually visited many of the filming locations in person myself, i know that on that final point the perfection of new zealand as middle earth is perfectly spot on), and sometimes it was difficult to keep track of the few unfamiliar names and corresponding roles in the list of interviewees, but that didnt diminish my enjoyment. as a rings fan, and especially a huge admirer of the art direction, practical and even SFX execution, and just creative process in general of the movie trilogy, this was such a fun and informative read.
i found the overall structure to be engaging, in spite of the sort of erratic way it followed the timeline. i could see the parallels with the story of the production of the three movies themselves with the story of the ring. even though i knew how it all ends (both the war of the ring and the war for public recognition and oscars), i could feel my heart race as it followed the humble underdog beginnings all the way to its triumphant sweep at the 2004 oscars (why am i gasping? i already knew that). i could almost hear the sweeping coronation score during the chapter relaying the experience of the third movie getting its own crowning achievement in hollywood.
sometimes it feels like it puts peter jackson and kiwi sensibilty and the whole country of new zealand on a pedestal (but having actually visited many of the filming locations in person myself, i know that on that final point the perfection of new zealand as middle earth is perfectly spot on), and sometimes it was difficult to keep track of the few unfamiliar names and corresponding roles in the list of interviewees, but that didnt diminish my enjoyment. as a rings fan, and especially a huge admirer of the art direction, practical and even SFX execution, and just creative process in general of the movie trilogy, this was such a fun and informative read.
nicky_brierley's review against another edition
4.0
I have watched the Lord of the Rings films so often, I know the word for word. I've watched all the extras on the extended versions and thought I knew everything possible about the making of this wonderful trilogy.
I was wrong.
In this book, Ian Nathan reveals even more about the making of Peter Jackson's films. I particularly found the parts about Harvey Weinstein interesting. The workings of the Hollywood Studios and how they decide what films get made.
Still in shock to discover that Back to the Future got rejected by so many studios!
Ian Nathan's book is a must read for LOTR geeks like myself. I think I might watch the films for the 1,000,000th time now
I was wrong.
In this book, Ian Nathan reveals even more about the making of Peter Jackson's films. I particularly found the parts about Harvey Weinstein interesting. The workings of the Hollywood Studios and how they decide what films get made.
Still in shock to discover that Back to the Future got rejected by so many studios!
Ian Nathan's book is a must read for LOTR geeks like myself. I think I might watch the films for the 1,000,000th time now
ashleylm's review
4.0
A terrific book that unfortunately dwindles as it goes on (much like a delicious meal with two many courses or portions too large). At first, the author's depiction of the behind-the-scenes drama prior to the movies being greenlit is absolutely riveting stuff, reminiscent of The Late Shift or And the Band Played On (with lesser stakes, granted). The thought of how close this terrific films (I'm a fan) came to non-existence made this gripping reading.
Depictions of how the cast were cast (and how perfect were they!) moved me to tears at points, which is awfully unusually for a backstager. But by the middle of the book we ended up with a lot of information that would already be well-known to aficionados of Extended Edition DVDs' Special Features, and one quickly comes to realise that at this point in the story, the author has been invited to New Zealand and is witnessing first hand. And, oddly, the story becomes less urgent/historical/critical and more puff-piece. It's still very entertaining (esp. if you've only seen the films on screen and not immersed yourself in all-things LOTR) but not as moving as not as necessary.
By the time he gets to The Hobbit movies, of which I was expecting almost as much information, it's swiftly dispatched in one or two chapters, about 5% of the book, which seems a slight disservice given the subtitle. It's not the Making of LOTR, it's Middle-Earth, and the Hobbit movies cover almost as much ground.
So 5 stars for the first half, dwindling to 3, giving us a 4 average.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
Depictions of how the cast were cast (and how perfect were they!) moved me to tears at points, which is awfully unusually for a backstager. But by the middle of the book we ended up with a lot of information that would already be well-known to aficionados of Extended Edition DVDs' Special Features, and one quickly comes to realise that at this point in the story, the author has been invited to New Zealand and is witnessing first hand. And, oddly, the story becomes less urgent/historical/critical and more puff-piece. It's still very entertaining (esp. if you've only seen the films on screen and not immersed yourself in all-things LOTR) but not as moving as not as necessary.
By the time he gets to The Hobbit movies, of which I was expecting almost as much information, it's swiftly dispatched in one or two chapters, about 5% of the book, which seems a slight disservice given the subtitle. It's not the Making of LOTR, it's Middle-Earth, and the Hobbit movies cover almost as much ground.
So 5 stars for the first half, dwindling to 3, giving us a 4 average.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
shashashasha's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
jake_wont_shut_up's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
The full story of how The Lord of the Rings came to be filmed, along with some of the aftermath. Very in-depth and informative, even for someone who thought they pretty much knew everything.
linz's review
4.0
As a massive fan of The Lord of the Rings, both the books and the movies, I was excited to finally get my hands on a copy of this book. Although I knew I didn't know everything about the films and books, I thought I was pretty knowledgable about it and wasn't sure how much I could possibly learn from Anything You Can Imagine. The answer? So much!
Anything You Can Imagine is an incredibly well-researched book. The author is clearly a fan and was allowed into the inner sanctum during filming to see how things worked first-hand, something most fans of the movies would have given their left arms to experience.
The book starts from the very beginning, leaving almost no stone unturned during the journey of the making of these films. He delves into Peter Jackson's humble filmmaking beginnings and works up to Peter and Fran Walsh's decision to attempt turning The Lord of the Rings into a movie.
Things got a little slow during the first few chapters, which talked about all of the Hollywood politics that swirled around the rights before Peter was allowed to tackle the ambitious project, but it picked up as soon as he returned to New Zealand and we were allowed to jump into the actual making of the movies.
The interviews with the cast were interesting and even though I've watched the DVD extras on the Extended Editions of the movies and thought I'd read pretty much every interview available, there were things I didn't know, and I was ecstatic to learn even more about these films.
Things slowed down just a bit again after The Return of the King's triumph at the Oscars when the book again turned to Hollywood politics about trying to get The Hobbit films made, but it was nice to see a little behind-the-scenes of those movies, as well.
Getting to see behind the scenes of the making of my all-time favorite movies was definitely a treat and I have a greater appreciation of them than I did before, which I didn't even think was possible. If you're a fan of the movies and want to know more about how they were made, this is a book you definitely don't want to miss!
Anything You Can Imagine is an incredibly well-researched book. The author is clearly a fan and was allowed into the inner sanctum during filming to see how things worked first-hand, something most fans of the movies would have given their left arms to experience.
The book starts from the very beginning, leaving almost no stone unturned during the journey of the making of these films. He delves into Peter Jackson's humble filmmaking beginnings and works up to Peter and Fran Walsh's decision to attempt turning The Lord of the Rings into a movie.
Things got a little slow during the first few chapters, which talked about all of the Hollywood politics that swirled around the rights before Peter was allowed to tackle the ambitious project, but it picked up as soon as he returned to New Zealand and we were allowed to jump into the actual making of the movies.
The interviews with the cast were interesting and even though I've watched the DVD extras on the Extended Editions of the movies and thought I'd read pretty much every interview available, there were things I didn't know, and I was ecstatic to learn even more about these films.
Things slowed down just a bit again after The Return of the King's triumph at the Oscars when the book again turned to Hollywood politics about trying to get The Hobbit films made, but it was nice to see a little behind-the-scenes of those movies, as well.
Getting to see behind the scenes of the making of my all-time favorite movies was definitely a treat and I have a greater appreciation of them than I did before, which I didn't even think was possible. If you're a fan of the movies and want to know more about how they were made, this is a book you definitely don't want to miss!
nuffy375's review
5.0
4.5 stars bumped up to 5 for the sheer giddy joy I felt reading this book. For true LOTR fans.
It’s not perfect - as other reviewers have commented, the organization is a bit flawed. I wasn’t confused ever while reading it, but a couple anecdotes seemed repetitive as timelines were established for context. Nathan’s word choice can get noticeably confounding and I stumbled occasionally, trying to decipher his meaning, but ultimately the genuine love the author feels for the movies shines through and is contagious. The book is jam-packed with information (granted, most of it is known by die-hard fans already, available on the internet or the extensive volumes of behind the scenes features offered on the extended DVDs, but it’s nice to have them collected in one place so lovingly), and I genuinely felt elated while reading this book. I fell in love with cinema and LOTR/Tolkien since I watched The Fellowship of the Ring in theaters - and I now might have a Tolkien book problem as I slowly fill a whole bookshelf with only Tolkien books - and this book tugged at those fan-strings so exquisitely. Now I must go watch my DVDs!
This book did reinforce to me that the movie business is not for me though. All that insecurity and lack of a sure-footing? No, thank you.
It’s not perfect - as other reviewers have commented, the organization is a bit flawed. I wasn’t confused ever while reading it, but a couple anecdotes seemed repetitive as timelines were established for context. Nathan’s word choice can get noticeably confounding and I stumbled occasionally, trying to decipher his meaning, but ultimately the genuine love the author feels for the movies shines through and is contagious. The book is jam-packed with information (granted, most of it is known by die-hard fans already, available on the internet or the extensive volumes of behind the scenes features offered on the extended DVDs, but it’s nice to have them collected in one place so lovingly), and I genuinely felt elated while reading this book. I fell in love with cinema and LOTR/Tolkien since I watched The Fellowship of the Ring in theaters - and I now might have a Tolkien book problem as I slowly fill a whole bookshelf with only Tolkien books - and this book tugged at those fan-strings so exquisitely. Now I must go watch my DVDs!
This book did reinforce to me that the movie business is not for me though. All that insecurity and lack of a sure-footing? No, thank you.