Before he shot to international notoriety with "The Lord of the Rings", New Zealand director Peter Jackson was known to world film aficionados as the auteur of such twisted, odd, and varied projects as "Heavenly Creatures," "Meet the Feebles," and "Bad Taste." Here are the can't-miss movies by the man who directs Frodo, Gandalf and Sauron.
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
I'm hopelessly enchanted by this lush, epic film that does not require another word of hype. Jackson has done a terrific job bringing Tolkien's Middle-Earth to the screen, pleasing both fantasy geeks and mainstream audiences. This equally horrifying and gorgeous three-hour trip to a world of magic will remain the jewel in Jackson's crown--at least until "The Two Towers" comes out.
2. Dead Alive
This demented horror flick, originally released as "Brain Dead," is the most hilariously bloody thing I've ever seen. A zombie film to end all zombie films, "Dead Alive" features rat monkeys, zombie mothers, and superlatively fiendish gore. My favorite scene involves a lawnmower. Not for the squeamish, but required viewing for anybody who truly wants to understand Jackson's warped mind.
3. Heavenly Creatures
This 1994 coming-of-age tragedy marks the big-screen debut of Kate Winslet. Peter Jackson shows off his uncanny knack for marrying free-wheeling fantasy and special effects with excellent performances and a solid grasp of real human emotions, something that would come in handy for the Tolkien trilogy.4. Bad Taste
The debut film that made Jackson into a cult director, "Bad Taste" is a wicked, sensationally bloody horror production. The budget constraints keep it from achieving the same giddy gory heights as "Dead Alive," but that won't keep a real splatter fan away.5. The Frighteners
A spooky comedy starring Michael J. Fox, "The Fighteners" is somewhat underrated because audiences were confused by its imaginative blend of humor and horror. Give it another try--you may find yourself pleasantly surprised.6. Meet the Feebles
"Meet the Feebles" is "The Muppet Show" on crack: sex, drugs, violence and musical numbers performed by puppet critters, all doused with a healthy helping of profanity. As a life-long fan of Kermit the Frog, I must admit I was shocked by this nightmarish puppet show--which was just what Peter Jackson intended. The competition for his sickest film is tough, but "Meet the Feebles" might be it.