The Return of the King Photo Guide (The Lord of the Rings) [Paperback]

David Brawn (Editor)

Book Description

The Lord of the Rings film trilogy reaches its phenomenal conclusion as Frodo, Sam, and Gollum struggle toward the fires of Mount Doom through Shelob's Lair. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli must choose the Paths of the Dead to bring desperate aid to the besieged city of Minas Tirith in Gondor, where Gandalf and Pippin have gone to rally the steward Denethor. Merry, forbidden to accompany his friends or the army of Rohan in their long march to war, joins a mysterious rider banished to a similar fate. Spectacular imagery illuminates the story as it proceeds to the Battle of Pelennor Fields and beyond.

Product Details

• Paperback: 47 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (November 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618390987
• ISBN-13: 978-0618390984
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #711,232 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Passage picture book, January 18, 2004

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Return of the King Photo Guide (The Lord of the Rings) (Paperback)

"The Return of the King Photo Guide" is a treat for those wanting to revisit the rich Middle-Earth depicted in Peter Jackson's movie adaptation of "Lord of the Rings." The pictures are excellent, and if anyone has problems following the complicated storyline, this is something for them to check out.

In "Return of the King," the treacherous Gollum is leading Sam and Frodo into the Dark Lord's land of Mordor. With the fate of Middle-Earth -- and his beloved Arwen's life -- on the line, Aragorn fully accepts his fate as Gondor's future king, and recruits the help of a long-dead army. And Gandalf takes the hobbit Pippin to the ravaged land of Gondor, the last stronghold against Sauron.

The actual climax and precise endings of the film are left up to the readers' imaginations (this isn't exactly a storybook), although the final sentence hints at the bittersweet events of the ending. The prose is fairly standard, nothing special; quotes from the film are littered through it, some directly from the books.

The pictures are what make this book stand out, with phenomenal shots of Minas Tirith, Pippin in his silver and black Gondorian armor, a helmeted Gondorian guard, an angelic shot of Eowyn, two Elven smiths reforging Aragorn's sword, and Frodo fending off Shelob with the phial Galadriel gave him. What's more, there are scenes that never made it to the final film, such as Aragorn tending the wounded Faramir in the Houses of Healing, or Frodo and Sam looking at a broken statue crowned with flowers. (Somewhat disappointing are the lack of pictures of the monstrous spider Shelob, or the ghostly army of the dead)

While it won't satisfy those longing to know the grand finale, "The Return of the King Photo Guide" will be eagerly devoured by fans of the films, with its wonderful pictures and semi-storybook outline. Definitely should be purchased for the photographs, and newbie fans may find it helpful too.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvellous item for your Rings fan!!, November 11, 2003

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Return of the King Photo Guide (The Lord of the Rings) (Paperback)

The book is thin, but pack a lot of beautiful photographs for the final instalment of the Rings Trilogy. Thing along the lines of a sketchy "Cliffnote", with pictures, it maps the last saga step by step with pictures and captions so you know what is going on in the pictures. They wonderfully cover the highlights of the story, without really ruining the plot for those who has not seen it. Only leaves, you hungry for the film! Over 70 gorgeous photos, in super quality.

For the price...this will make a nice stocking stuffer this Christmas for that Ring Addict that cannot get enough.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A post-ROTK release book review, February 19, 2004

By 

Ela "hobbit fan" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Return of the King Photo Guide (The Lord of the Rings) (Paperback)

I wanted to review this book for people who have already seen the theatrical edition of Return of the King. The biggest thing that this photo guide adds is a major clue into what may be in the extended edition DVD of Return of the King, which will be released sometime in the fall of 2004. For example, there are some wonderful pictures of Sam and Frodo, and of Pippin and Merry, that are not in the final theatrical cut of the film, and therefore, it seems that we can expect these in the extended cut. The only criticism I have is simply that, other than these new pictures, it is of course a rehashing of the story, written somewhat like a children's book. But, like I said, it is worth it for the new photos.