<DIV>Peter Jackson made cinematic history with the <I>Lord of the Rings</I> trilogy, presenting J. R. R. Tolkien's story onscreen with drama and visual majesty, while shattering box office records. On the surface, his background as a director of low-budget New Zealand splatter movies would seem to make him an odd choice to direct a multimillion-dollar Hollywood film adaptation of a literary epic. A closer look at Jackson's approach to filmmaking reveals why he was the one of the few directors who could successfully meet the challenge. This collection, the sixth title in the <i>Ultrascreen</i> series, includes the best reviews, essays, and features on Jackson's films, plus interviews with Jackson himself, offers a comprehensive examination of his career to date, from humble beginnings as a child filmmaker, shooting movies in his backyard, to early successes like <I>Bad Taste</I> and <I>Dead Alive,</I> to his current position as one of the world's most feted directors.</div>