The Lord of the Rings Official Movie Guide

by Brian Sibley and J.R.R. Tolkien

Book Overview

An introduction to the talented actors and filmmakers who have labored for years to bring Tolkien's work to the screen. For several years, a huge team of dedicated moviemakers has been transforming... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618154035
• ISBN13: 9780618154036
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 120 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.7" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent source of movie info

Perhaps the best movie I've ever seen is the movie adaptation of "Lord of the Rings." This book by Brian Sibley is a gold mine of info on the production and background of the movie -- and the exquisite care taken with every part of it. The book begins with background information on, well, "Lord of the Rings" the novel; it then proceeds to the events leading up to Peter Jackson getting the budget and green light to make a movie trilogy - the bulk of which was shot in one big lump, not spaced a few years apart. Then a chapter on the choosing of New Zealand as an ideal shooting country, and the artists they hired to help them; then to the cast of characters and how they were hired. (Elijah Wood's story is particularly memorable)We then have a one-page brief bio, filmography, and clips of interviews for each cast member (even Marton Csokas, even though he has one line in the whole movie). Then it's an extended talk on the stunning special effects -- including how they shrunk 5'6" actors down to child-size, and Orlando Bloom's memorable description of fighting a CGI troll; about how they made Hobbiton and the Shire look like hobbits had lived there for hundreds of years; the weaponry and armor of Middle-Earth, including the stunning Elf plate armor; costuming, why Frodo's outfit is different from the other hobbits, the nightmares of costuming Gandalf, and why Legolas and Gimli are polar opposites; the effects of wizard beards and hobbit feet, and a great deal more!There are utterly delightful pictures sprinkled throughout it -- some never made it to the screen, though (Galadriel lecturing Arwen in Lothlorien, hobbits herding sheep, and Frodo sitting in a tree with a pipe). Most of the best pictures include Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortenson and, of course, the man at the helm. One particularly memorable pic has Jackson sprawled in front of the four laughing hobbits.This is overall a warm and insightful movie guide, a must-read to know anything about what happened behind the scenes!

Great book, but has spoilers!

If you can't wait one more minute for the movie, I recommend having this book FedExed to help you get through the remaining days. It's got solid content (which includes some film spoilers, so be warned) and images you won't have seen in magazine articles or other publicity. It's very much from the actors' perspective. I particularly enjoyed the revelation of in-character asides between Viggo and Orlando, tucked into the text: when Viggo casts aspersions on the overly-excellent grooming of the Elves, Orlando's comeback is, "Oh yeah? Well, I'm going to live forever. Got that? Live Forever!"The sole disadvantage is that after reading it, I can't wait one more second for the movie.

Wonderfully Reassuring

Quite a few long term Tolkien readers were ill at ease at the thought of putting his masterpiece on film. How could a work of such majesty ever translate to film? Would it not inevitably be a shallow and weak travesty? Brian Sibley's Official Movie Guide will go a long way towards setting such fears at rest.My first emotion as I read the Guide was relief that so much care had been taken by the designers and director. Hobbiton was built a year before it was needed in order to let the paths and plants settle in for a more natural look. Copies of the books were read to pieces as each scene was planned, and Tolkien's own words were used in many cases.Secondly, I was happy to see that the actors were mostly long time Tolkien fans themselves. These are people who love The Lord of the Rings almost as much as I do, apparently. They care about their characters and the story. Their pictures and interviews reassure me that this is not just another part in another film, but something which demands their best work.While I will still watch the film with some concern that some of Tolkien's magic will be missing, at least this book lets me know that Peter Jackson and his cast and crew have done their utmost to catch it all.

An impressive book about an impressive movie project

This book gives great insight into the amazing detail that has gone into the production of the "Lord of the Rings" movies, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's bestselling novels. It conveys the incredible dedication, enthusiasm and even fanaticism of all people who have been involved in this project. Many aspects of the movie-making process are covered, from the script writing to the creation of the costumes, and the reader gets an impression of the unbelievable detail in the design of the many many movie props which were created for the movie. It also describes how many distinguished actors and artists became involved in this project and how even those few who were initially reluctant (like John Howe, who was not sure if such a huge project could succeed) were engulfed by the enthusiasm of the film crew. The book gives the reader a very good feeling of the size of this movie project and what it means to film three movies of epic proportions at the same time. Also, anyone who reads this book will develop a deep respect for Peter Jackson, a director who still cares about the character development, the story line and the actors and who is able to coordinate such a huge project.This book can only enhance the experience that the Lord of the Rings movies are probably going to be, as it not only gives the reader a "behind-the-scenes" look, but it also shows a lot of detail which the movie-goers will most likely not notice consciously, but which was instrumental in creating a realistic atmosphere.My only criticism is that the book is too short, as I may have expected even more detailed descriptions of different aspects of the filming process. However, many of these issues are probably better described in making-of specials on TV or on the DVD.I would recommend this book to any Tolkien enthusiast who is already looking forward to the movies (or later to those who have seen the movies and liked them) and who wants to get more information about the filming process. The many high-quality pictures (which are often funny, for example when you see Peter Jackson next to Gandalf and Saruman) are already worth the price of the book. To those who do not know Tolkien's world yet, I would probably rather recommend the "Fellowship of the Ring Visual Companion", though sooner or later you will want to buy this book as well.

An absolute treat for Lord of the Rings fans!!

As a long time fan of Tolkien's magnificent novel and as one highly anticipating the upcoming Peter Jackson trilogy, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. And, I would have to say, I was not disappointed! This amazing book offers an extensive and informative background to the making of the trilogy - with specific emphasis on the first film, "The Fellowship of the Ring." Brian Sibley's book has 120 glossy pages and includes beautiful colored pictures that gives us behind-the-scenes glimpses as well as shots from the film itself. The many topics covered include: "From Book to Script" which covers the process of adapting the complex novel into a series of 3 films; "Speaking the Languages of Middle Earth" - incorporating Tolkien's different languages in the film; "From the Director's Chair" - Peter Jackson's perspective; "The One Ring" and "Of Wizard Beards and Elf Ears" - a look at the props and costumes; "A Workshop of the Fantastic" - WETA's special effects role; "Seeing Tolkien`s World" and "Fantasy to Reality" - artists Alan Lee and John Howe's significant contributions to the film visuals, characters and sets as well as the role of the art department; and, most significantly, "The Fellowship, Friends and Foes" - casting info and an introduction to the principal actors of the first film. I do have to point out that Tolkien's notable creatures - such as the Balrog and Gollum - are not shown anywhere in the book. I'm sure they were purposely (understandably) omitted to preserve the element of surprise for the first film. It also appears that this book may just be the first of a series by Brian Sibley, primarily since it only covers topics relevant to the first film (for instance, pictures of Bernard Hill who plays "Theoden," Miranda Otto who plays "Eowyn" and other actors and locations from the 2nd and 3rd books are absent in this book). Though it is not explicitly mentioned, I would have to assume that there will be similar movie guides released in 2002 and 2003.These points noted, I have to stress that this is a thoroughly enjoyable and informative book and I could not recommend it highly enough. This is a book that any Lord of the Rings or film fan should be without!