Rating: 
Summary: More helpful than the photo guide, anyway.
Review: Actually, among the somewhat useless line of merchandise that springs from the idea that eager Lord of the Rings fans (and those who are especially anticipating the December 17th release of the third and final movie) will buy anything, this book is actually a useful tool. It would be the most helpful for the fan who wants to introduce a friend or family member to the series beloved by millions, or perhaps just an individual who wants to know what all the fuss is about. The book gives background for the upcoming Return of the King release mainly, but also gives a short but sweet background of what's happened before. With lovely new pictures of the movie, the text takes the reader from Mordor to Cirith Ungul, and from Gondor, to Isengard, to Rohan, to everywhere in between, explaining the complicated plot and complex characters along the way. The book is so helpful that if a person reads this book a few times, he might conceivably be able to walk in to theaters on December 17th and actually watch the third movie without having watched the first two, though I would not recommend it at all! If you need a refresher (remember, watching the first two movies is the best way!), and don't have time for the movies, just sit down and read up on this book, because it was written for you. If you're already a big fan, you might still get a kick out of the pictures, and you can always keep it handy for when your friends scratch their heads and say "Frodo WHO?" Warning: The book does contain Return of the King spoilers.
Rating:
Summary: A great book to go along side that of Colin Duriez
Review: I agree with the previous reviewer. This is by far the best of the illustrated books on Tolkien - Jude Fisher is the pen name of one of the top experts on Tolkien, Lewis and other such great authors - and if you want pictures, this is it. But if you want intellectual depth and insight, you should also buy the brilliant books by Colin Duriez, who has by now written several on the Inklings, including his new great book on the friendship of Lewis and Tolkien. Go for a Fisher/Duriez combination! Christopher Catherwood, author of CHRISTIANS MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan 2003) and CHURCHILL'S FOLLY (Carroll & Graf 2004)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent visual companion....
Review: I have to hand it to the folks at Houghton-Mifflin. They have done a really wonderful job with the book franchise for LOTR. This visual companion has to be the best by far of the three....and has some of the best screen shots! The picture with Gandalf et.al. staring at the fires of Mount Doom/Mordor (in the center of the book) makes the volume priceless. As the previous reviewer mentioned, the book is laid out in such a way as to give the reader a good understanding of what has occurred previously...and what is going on at the time of RotK. Even if you have not read the books (yet!), this guide will help you become easily accustomed to the names/races/places etc. of Middle Earth and the War of the Ring. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent visual companion....
Review: I have to hand it to the folks at Houghton-Mifflin. They have done a really wonderful job with the book franchise for LOTR. This visual companion has to be the best by far of the three....and has some of the best screen shots! The picture with Gandalf et.al. staring at the fires of Mount Doom/Mordor (in the center of the book) makes the volume priceless. As the previous reviewer mentioned, the book is laid out in such a way as to give the reader a good understanding of what has occurred previously...and what is going on at the time of RotK. Even if you have not read the books (yet!), this guide will help you become easily accustomed to the names/races/places etc. of Middle Earth and the War of the Ring. Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: think twice
Review: if you already bought the visual companion to fellowship and two towers then this book is a disappointment. too many photos from the previous two films. Not enough images from return of the king. especially missing when they shouldn't be are photos of grond, shelob the spider, the king of the oathbreakers and orc general gothmog. the photo guide is better value.
Rating:
Summary: Almost as good as the books by Colin Duriez on Tolkien
Review: If you want depth, get Colin Duriez's exciting new book on the friendship with CS Lewis. If you want a delightful picture book, this one is by far the best.
Rating:
Summary: The Return of the King Visual Companion
Review: More interesting and informative than the younger reader movie novelisations, THE RETURN OF THE KING is a great book for LOTR fans and helpful companion to the film. With both in-depth character exposition and battle updates incorporated throughout the relating story points, the writing itself is imaginative and enthralling. The main focus is on Rohan and Gondor, with other areas left to previous exposition (Fellowship Of The Ring). The movie photos are numerous and impressive, unlike the standard pre-production movie book shipped out before the movie is released with subsequent limitations (No completed CGI shots and the storyline is compromised for 'easy reading'). Another great LOTR book from HarperCollins and a must-have for the film enthusiasts.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Trilogy Summary or Introduction for Newcomers
Review: The book summarizes the entire triology from beginning to end, and yet does not give away any tidbits that would ruin the enjoyment of the movie if a reader has not yet seen it. The photos are great, summaries are descriptive yet not revealing, and the sections are well organized. The problem some people have had with going to see Return of the King (RoTK), is that if they have not seen the other two movies they are lost in the third and final one. This book is a great introduction to the trilogy. If one were to read this book before going to see RoTK, they would at least have a grasp of what is going on and who the main characters are, and yet not have the ending ruined for them. Of course, I would suggest actually seeing the two previous movies first to get the full effect of the third and final leg of the trilogy. But then again, I'm a huge Tolkien fan and now I'm a Peter Jackson fan as well! His movies are by far the best ever made! The only reason I give the book four stars rather than five is because I'm a hardcore LoTR fan and I miss the details of the story, including what would be spoilers for those who have not yet seen the movie. It would be great to have a more inclusive, detailed book that included photos and more descriptive summaries of the RoTK, including the outcome of the story. Nonetheless, it's a great book that all LoTR fans as well as newcomers will love!
Rating:
Summary: Final film, final Visual Guide
Review: The movie adaptations of "The Lord of the Rings" end with "Return of the King," an epic and heartbreaking movie that is set to surpass its predecessors. And with "Fellowship" and "Two Towers," Jude Fisher offers a window into what the movie's going to contain. In it, she outlines what happens to the increasingly splintered band of heroes as the battle for Middle-Earth revs up. She not only talks about what they do, but how they've changed over time (such as Sam's growing inner strength, or Frodo's deterioration). And it has some fantastic pictures to boot. The photos for this book are nothing short of phenomenal, especially for fans of Minas Tirith; plenty of pictures from all angles, the White Tower, Denethor's hall, archers on the walls, and a close-up of a guard near the Tree. There are also shots of Fell Beasts, Osgiliath, the Paths of the Dead (very creepy), Gandalf looking out at Mount Doom, and Frodo and Sam struggling up the slopes of said volcano; the one disappointment is the lack of Shelob pictures. The final shot of Frodo staring at the Ring is hauntingly ambiguous. Jude Fisher includes a recap of the previous two movies, just in case any details are forgotten. And her descriptions of movie action have gotten a bit more flowery, as if she's really gotten swept away by the story; thankfully, this doesn't really obscure what's going on, even if does get a bit distracting. There are more spoilers (especially the death of one character, and the secret identity of another) but the climactic events are kept mysterious. Longtime fans and newbies alike will find "The Return of The King Visual Companion" a good source before heading into the film. Today, we fight! Tomorrow, we go to the movies!
Rating:
Summary: Final film, final Visual Guide
Review: The movie adaptations of "The Lord of the Rings" end with "Return of the King," an epic and heartbreaking movie that is set to surpass its predecessors. And with "Fellowship" and "Two Towers," Jude Fisher offers a window into what the movie's going to contain. In it, she outlines what happens to the increasingly splintered band of heroes as the battle for Middle-Earth revs up. She not only talks about what they do, but how they've changed over time (such as Sam's growing inner strength, or Frodo's deterioration). And it has some fantastic pictures to boot. The photos for this book are nothing short of phenomenal, especially for fans of Minas Tirith; plenty of pictures from all angles, the White Tower, Denethor's hall, archers on the walls, and a close-up of a guard near the Tree. There are also shots of Fell Beasts, Osgiliath, the Paths of the Dead (very creepy), Gandalf looking out at Mount Doom, and Frodo and Sam struggling up the slopes of said volcano; the one disappointment is the lack of Shelob pictures. The final shot of Frodo staring at the Ring is hauntingly ambiguous. Jude Fisher includes a recap of the previous two movies, just in case any details are forgotten. And her descriptions of movie action have gotten a bit more flowery, as if she's really gotten swept away by the story; thankfully, this doesn't really obscure what's going on, even if does get a bit distracting. There are more spoilers (especially the death of one character, and the secret identity of another) but the climactic events are kept mysterious. Longtime fans and newbies alike will find "The Return of The King Visual Companion" a good source before heading into the film. Today, we fight! Tomorrow, we go to the movies!
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