The Fellowship of the Ring Visual Companion (The Lord of ... (ISBN 0618154019)

Amazon.com Review:
Jude Fisher's Lord of the Rings Visual Companion is a real treat for Tolkien fans and brings readers up close to some of the amazing detail they will find in the big-screen version of this fantasy classic. Not just a straightforward movie guide, this is more of a Middle-earth encyclopedia with information on the people and places to which moviegoers will be introduced. The text is informative and never presumes any level of knowledge, making this book more than accessible for Tolkien fans or those who have yet to discover his work. The pictures are full color and quite simply superb, showcasing the movie's epic scope and exciting special effects. There is even a foldout map of Middle-earth in the center pages using shots from the movie to illustrate key locations, giving it a more realistic feel. Not an average movie tie-in book, Fisher's wonderful guide has been as lovingly put together as the movie itself and has "quality" stamped all over it. This is definitely one to add to your collection. --Jonathan Weir, Amazon.co.uk

No Balrog. Only four stars. Give us the BALROG:
Despite the excellent visual imagery and quality of this book and the companion to the first movie both books lacked one extremely important and somewhat pivotal villain from the first movie, The Balrog. The Balrog also makes an appearance in the second movie and should have been given more detailed treatment. Jude Fisher are you listening. Hey why not add the Balrog in the third book.

An exceptional book:
I have loved Lord of the Rings forever so when I saw this book, I HAD to have it. My impulses were right, this book was fantastic! It had incredible pictures, wonderful character analysis, and cool, interesting movie tidbits. For a movie as unforgettable as the Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring visual companion is the only book that could possibly do it justice is The Fellowship of the Ring Visual Companion. This book is a must for any Lord of the Rings Fan!

Beautiful:
Another beautiful Visual Companion. Personally, I would have enjoyed more details in the text. But for pure visual appeal it is great.

A great visual foundation:
I actually purchased this book after having received the visual companion to the Two Towers for Christmas last year. As with the second book, the LoTR book provides an excellent overview with pictures of all of the major characters from the first film, giving you a little more insight into the nature of each of the different creatures. A fun book for the whole family, and a great edition for any collector.

A great book to cuddle up with:
This book was literally my companion while I waited for the DVD to be available for purchase, allowing me to get my "LOTR fix" whenever I needed it. The pictures are wonderful, as are the descriptions of the characters. There were several references and pictures to scenes that weren't in the theatrical version (but were in the extended version). This may have been confusing or irritating to some, but I found it exciting as it gave a hint of what I had to look forward to in the extended version. I prefer it to the "making of...." books, because it portrays the characters instead of the actors. You can really become immersed in the story, and in Middle Earth, by cuddling up with this book.