This volume serves as an official visual guide to the production and narrative world of Peter Jackson's film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic fantasy work. Author Jude Fisher provides a curated look at the cinematic interpretation of Middle-earth, utilizing behind-the-scenes photography and production notes to bridge the gap between the source material and the screen. The text functions as a companion piece, detailing the character designs, settings, and key plot points of the first installment in the film trilogy.

The book functions as a standard promotional companion, offering fans a structured overview of the film's aesthetic and narrative choices. Its reliance on visual assets and production-focused text makes it a useful reference for those interested in the cinematic realization of Tolkien's world.