The "Lord of the Rings" Official Movie Guide

This official souvenir book is a beautifully illustrated behind-the-scenes guide to the making of the spectacular trilogy of films. J R R Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is one of the greatest books ever written, an epic work of incredible imaginative detail which has been voted in several worldwide polls as the book of the 20th century. It is the story of Frodo Baggins, a young hobbit who must make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom and destroy the Ruling Ring of Power. Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring, his faithful band of friends, must evade the ever-watchful eye of Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor, who is desperately seeking to recover the mighty ring he lost thousands of years ago. The sheer range and depth of the characters is amazing in this utterly gripping tale of courage and determination. Brian Sibley has documented this ambitious project, from the initial idea to make the film to its development into an epic trilogy dedicated to capturing as closely as possible the essence of Tolkien's work. The wide-ranging interviews with the principal cast and key production members powerfully convey their commitment to Tolkien's vision and their desire to produce a film worthy of the book. Everyone is incredibly passionate about the project and this shows in the painstaking attention to detail. Director Peter Jackson read the book hundreds of times since starting the movie and referred to it constantly during filming. The three films were shot simultaneously over five years, an amazing undertaking involving incredible planning and enormous special effects support. Heavily illustrated with shots from the film itself, the guide provides a wealth of background, facts and figures about the trilogy's production. This is an easily accessible introduction to Tolkien's world and a fascinating insight into the art of epic filmmaking. It lacks sufficient depth or detail to bring anything really new to dedicated fans, but it is a lovely book that will add to the enjoyment of a magnificent film. (Kirkus UK)