I think that Sean Astin's performance in so far in the trilogy has been spectacular. He made his life imitate art, he is a very good method actor, meaning that when he takes on a role he lives that role until the end of filming. I think his performance is one the best out of all of the actors in the LOTR movies.

I loved Sam in the books and I loved him in the movies. He is the character that has changed the least from the movies, too, it seems to me, possibly excepting Gandalf, and maybe that has something to do with it. But I also agree that Sean Astin is a great actor. I saw a movie with him the other day where he was in a private school in Virginia that was taken over by terrorists and he was the best part of that movie too.