Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 790
EAN num: 9780312331474
ISBN number: 0312331479
Label: St. Martin's Griffin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 320
Printing Date: October 01, 2005
Publishing house: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: September 22, 2005
Sale Popularity Level: 783151
Studio: St. Martin's Griffin
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Product Description:
The fascinating memoir of a Hollywood life and an inside look at a life-changing role and the groundbreaking Lord of the Rings films that captured the imagination of movie fans everywhere.
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most successful film franchises in cinematic history. Winner of a record eleven Academy Awards--a clean sweep--and breaking box office records worldwide, the trilogy is a breathtaking cinematic achievement and beloved by fans everywhere.
For Sean Astin, a Hollywood child (his mother is Patty Duke and stepfather is John Astin) who made his feature film debut at 13 in the 1980s classic The Goonies and played the title role in Rudy, the call from his agent about the role of Samwise Gamgee couldn't have come at a better time. His career was at a low point and choice roles were hard to come by. But his 18-month experience in New Zealand with director Peter Jackson and the cast and crew od The Lord of the Rings films would be more than simply a dream-come-true--it would prove to be the challenge of a lifetime.
There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale is the complete memoir of Sean Astin, from his early days in Hollywood to the role that changed his life. Though much has been written about the making of the films, including the techniques and artistry employed to bring Tolkien's vision of life and the various relationships between castmembers, the real story of what took place on the set, the harrowing ordeals of the actors and the unspoken controversy and backstage dealings have never been told.
Sean's experience and candid account of his time filming in New Zealand is unparalleled. More than a companion guide to the Ring films, There and Back Again filled with stories from the set and of the actors involved that have never been revealed before and is an eye-opening look from a Hollywood veteran at the blood, sweat and tears that went into the making of one of the most ambitious films of all time.
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Rated by buyers 
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There are five-star books and there are five-star books. This is not a five-star, put down that copy of War and Peace or Moby Dick and read this book, book. For movie buffs, though, it is a great read. Astin is extremely frank in describing his career, the inside business of film making, and his experiences in filming the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Here and there the chronology gets a little shaky, and you get the strong impression that this material was dictated into a tape recorder over a period of weeks and then fashioned into a book by Astin's ghost writer Joe Layden. So, we don't always get an easy to follow, linear account of Astin's career. But that's to be expected in a celebrity book of this type, and is not a major problem.
One obvious knock on the book is that its account of the filming of the LOTR movies is exclusively from Astin's viewpoint. So, if you are looking for a discusion of the early genesis of the films, Peter Jackson's decisions on what to include from the books and what to cut out, or any other behind-the-scenes issues that Astin was not a party to, you won't find it. What you will find is a very interesting account of one actor's day-to-day experiences in making a classic movie.
Some people may think that Astin comes off as a little full of himself. But I think he is actually refreshingly candid and self-aware. The crack by the reviewer from Publishing house's Weekly that Astin "tries to portray himself as a major star" is completely off base. On the contrary, Astin portrays himself -- accurately -- as a journeyman actor, and states several times that he would rather be making films as a director/producer than acting in them. Finally, his respect for and devotion to his wife, Christine, which comes through strongly in the book, really is quite touching.
Rated by buyers -
There and Back Again is a book you will either love or hate.
You will love it if:
1. You are a Sean Astin fan, or if you are interested in the actor and his life beyond the LOTR experience.
2. You are aware that this is an autobiography, where it is natural for the author to talk mainly about himself.
3. You can appreciate ultimate honesty, especially from someone who has every reason not to be honest.
4. You are able to read between the lines and see that Sean Astin is actually a good guy.
You will hate it if:
1. You are interested solely in the making of the LOTR trilogy.
2. You expect an objective account of the making of the LOTR trilogy.
3. You are offended by a strong word here and there (to me the language is not really offensive, but well, I'm European).
After reading this book, I feel like I know Sean Astin. He describes the events and his emotions so vividly I could almost feel his joy and pain, both closely intertwined throughout the book. About the most debated issue, my conclusion is that it is not Sean's intention to belittle his co-actors, but is just bluntly honest about the feelings he had during the filming, even though he is often ashamed of them and regrets them. Sean is human, with his share of shortcomings, but also a good deal of positive traits. Writing this book was a kind of psychotherapy for him and publishing it was a courageous decision, but I'm glad he did it. In just over 300 pages he slowly but steadily grows on you.
The only thing slightly wrong with the book is the title, which gives a misleading message what this book is about. It probably attracted many young LOTR fans, whereas this is not a book for children.
I absolutely loved this book. I liked the story as well as Sean's way of expressing himself. I vote for a sequel, if not before, a good oportunity would be when Sean wins an Oscar (which he is more than capable of). I'm really interested to read how the story goes on!
About the audio version:
I listened to the 4 CDs after reading the book. The audio version is abridged, and logically, the LOTR parts are kept, which means that many sections describing Sean's personal life are gone. This is good news for LOTR fans who are mainly interested in the films. However, to me it felt as if the book was stripped of its flavor.
What I like in the audio version is Sean's sweet voice, but it should be stresses that he is merely reading the book, not acting it (except for a couple of short Sam speeches from the films, which are of course not as well delivered as in the films, but the listener gets an idea). Listening to his reading made me think it must be hard to read your own autobiography aloud. Especially one as honest as this.
Rated by buyers -
Sean's book is such an interesting and moving narrative. A frank and charming story behind the actor's involvement in filming of The Lord of the Rings, and also an interesting account of his private life and impressions, and understandings. All told in Sean's sweet voice. You don't want to miss this one, believe me!
Rated by buyers -
As a serious Lord of the Rings fan (both of the books and the films), I eagerly picked up this book by Sean Astin to gain some insight into the filming of the magnificent trilogy. Unfortunately, the actual stories of the movies are few and far between, while we get an overabundance of Sean's observations in a repetitive manner. And while there are some redeeming things about this book, I have to admit that at times I nearly put it down because frankly, I felt like I'd been there, and back, before.
Sean Astin is indeed a gifted actor, and at times his fun personality shines through the writing. It is great fun reading about the little conversations between the actors, and how the filming progressed and changed over time. Sean gives a good view of Peter Jackson's vision, and he is nothing but fair in describing his relationships with his fellow actors. Unfortunately, at times he is over-reaching in his need to show how he really, really, really does have respect for his friends; he says something negative and then spends the subsequent five paragraphs explaining why it's not necessarily true. Sean also spends a good deal of time overanalyzing himself, though this is probably a by-product of his upbringing. A good editor might have helped Sean stay on subject over the course of a few pages and would have added cohesiveness to the story.
True fans of the Lord of the Rings will enjoy this book, and I did. The photos and tales of the filming are indeed a joy, and you do feel as though you are there amid the cast and crew. But the casual reader hoping to increase his/her knowledge of this fantastic cinematic journey will come away disappointed, and even fans may have a hard time pushing through Sean's neuroses. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it.
Rated by buyers 
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After thoroughtly enjoying The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and while taking a second look...(a read of all the good Tolkein books) a secind play of the extended versions, including all the commentaires what a nice find this is, something coming from one if the cast members...a very human telling; something like sitting down at the local Shire Hobbit Pub there and having abit of a good go over chat with the son of the Old Gaffer himself ...SO, all you critics take the weight off, put up a good mug and perhaps even a pipe if one be so inclined and enjoy. And if one o'there them Hobbits ever wats ta have a good chat well then go on and give a a knock on the internet door.
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