Book Description
From the producers of the acclaimed Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars comes an inside look at the secrets behind the saga’s artful models and sculptures. Lorne Peterson, model and sculpture designer for the entire Star Wars saga, takes us on a journey through the intricate process of crafting and sculpting the models from sketch to screen and the artistry behind the dazzling results.
Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Model Shop features more than 300 full-color photographs and illustrations from the Lucasfilm archives, models from all six films, interviews, images and text with concept sculptors, an overview of the ILM model shop from 1976 through today and numerous gatefolds of the most loved models.
ILM virtually redefined visual effects and blazed a trail into the digital realm, follow behind the camera and into the rarely seen workshops and an amazing look at the creation of movie magic. Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Modelshop takes readers behind-the-scenes for the first in-depth look at these amazing models and the process behind their creation, punctuated by Lorne Peterson’s exuberance and dedication to craft.
This unique visual treat is a must-have for any Star Wars fan.
Customer Reviews:
for the fans.......2007-10-04
The book is great for star wars fans. It has loads of reference photos in a variety of production areas. If you want a good present or inspiration to sculpt this would do it.
Giant coffee table book...mostly a retread.......2007-08-02
For those who have purchased the series of "Art of Star Wars" books, as well as "Star Wars: Sketchbooks" et cetera, this tome is impressive but not novel. Many photos from those earlier books are reused here. The problem is that they have been blown up for this larger format. Consequently, the blown-up recycled photos are slightly blurry. There are some wonderful photos of star destroyer details that have not been seen before...but is that enough to merit this huge new book? That decision is up to you, but I expected heretofore unseen, crisply focused photographs.
Great Content, Defective Copy.......2007-08-01
The actual content of the book is top notch, with many great shots model shots. I also enjoy the accompanying stories, from behind the scenes. The problem is, the binding was already coming apart when I received it. A beautiful book, marred by a crappy binding.
I received a copy of this book as a present, that was purchased on Amazon.
Un livre indispensable à tout fan de Star Wars.......2007-07-19
Le département Maquettes d'ILM est devenu Kerner-Optical, mais le savoir faire n'a pas été dispersé grace à Lorne Peterson.
Ce livre montre en détail toute cette expérience acquise depuis plus de 30 ans, ce livre donne des astuces pour tout maquettiste en herbe.
Un très bon ouvrage.
Bonne lecture
star wars fan.......2007-07-05
If you are a either a fan of star wars or a model builder this is the book for you. It is full for close up pictures not only of the ships but also creatures and settings.
Book Description
While the Star Wars saga is famous for its elaborate sets and for revolutionary visual effects, it also features some of the most unique and ornate costumes in modern film. In this exquisite volume, the intricate and beautiful fashions that have appeared in all six Star Wars films are on display-from military gear to royal gowns and the iconic garbs of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. Every costume is brilliantly displayed in intimate detail, from preproduction sketches to the final creations. Actors, including Natalie Portman and Samuel L. Jackson, provide commentary on their experiences during principal photography, while writer-director George Lucas and producer Rick McCallum contribute their thoughts on this exploration of Star Wars costume design. Accompanied by an exhibition at the The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Museum & Galleries at FIDM in Los Angeles, this unique visual treat is a must-have for any Star Wars fan. An additional limited-edition run of this book will be released with lavish gatefolds, fabric swatches, and a cast replica of a Wookiee belt-buckle, sure to be the ultimate Star Wars collectible.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely Great!.......2007-08-01
This book is a gem. It is a treasure trove of detailed photographs of the wonderful costumes created by Trisha Biggar.
If you are a costume player or just a costume historian, you will find this book a marvel. This is one of the best books I've ever seen as a record of a movie of any kind.
a MUST HAVE book for every Starswars fan !.......2007-03-30
Absolutely wonderful !
Fantastic pictures, you will shock all your Starwars friends showing it !
And Italian fans will recognize all pics taken at italian movies' locations: Como Lake (Villa Balbianello) where the Padme&Anakin wedding cerimony was celebrated, and Lenno village.
A MUST HAVE book for every Starwars Fans.
Costume Haute Couture..........2007-02-23
I picked this book up at a local bookstore for a whopping $5.00 . I enjoyed the movies, but they definitely aren't at the top of my favorites list. This book appealed to me purely for the fashion, costume, and design aspects. And it delivers a beautiful display for all those things. I actually found myself reading the book (usually I just dissect the pictures and draw inspiration that way), and found it to be well written as well. The text, gives insight into how a large scale costuming production works for theatrical purposes. It illustrates all of the dynamics of organizing such a production from start to finish. I imagine this would be a good read for someone interested in the theatrical costuming field. Besides that, it is a wonderful coffee table book , or uber bible of clothes for the "Con" participant. Surely worth ten times what I paid!
Simply breathtaking!.......2007-02-09
I finally got this book - now I don't know why I waited! Totally worth it!
Anyone who is a fan of Star Wars and even a casual fan of costumes will truly enjoy this book. The book is filled with exquisitely detailed photos and descriptions of all of the costumes from Eps 1-3, and many from Eps 4-6, but the focus is really on the costumes that dominated the last 3 films - those of Amidala/Padmé, the Emperor, Bail Organa, Obi-Wan, Anakin, etc. Some of the most creative details are illustrated on the numerous characters that only appear briefly at the senate meetings, and their attire reflects their status in society as well as the environment from which they come. There are close-ups of the detailed beadwork, stitching, tooled leather and fabrics used to create each work of art. There is also a visual reference at the back of the book with images of every Star Wars costume, and there are a few foldout pages as well showing the different styled robes and gowns for some of the main characters. The next best thing would be to touch the fabric! (Supposedly you can do that in the limited edition boxed version - complete with fabric samples).
Several character illustrations by Iain McCaig, Dermot Power, and others are shown - which is amazing to see the concept art of the character with their wardrobe, then the final masterpiece by Trisha Biggar.
A must for anyone in love with Star Wars and the imaginative design that set the stage for each character.
Tremendous book.......2007-01-09
Probably one of the five or ten best Star Wars books, up there with the 'Art of' books from the Classic trilogy. This is a terrific look at Trisha Biggar's amazing work, and gets into exquisite detail on many of the sumptuous costumes from the prequels. Whether you loved or hated the films, you must admit, the outfits were out of this world, and this book chronicles all that work and effort. Well worth a purchase.
Book Description
Acclaimed filmmaker George Lucas re-invigorated the science-fiction genre more than 25 years ago with Star Wars, one of the greatest epics and cultural icons of its generation. He has enthralled audiences with his grand vision, mythic narratives, and groundbreaking visual effects ever since, and he remains a pivotal figure in American cinema: Star Wars: Episode II (2002) was the first film to be shot entirely with state-of-the-art digital cameras, and Star Wars: Episode III is set for release in 2005.
Marcus Hearn draws on exclusive interviews-as well as unprecedented access to the Lucasfilm archives-to craft a definitive look at more than four decades of the director's work. Lavishly illustrated, the book features many never and rarely seen images, including stills from Lucas's student films and behind-the-scenes photographs from the first Star Wars, the Indiana Jones adventures, and Star Wars: Episode III. Hearn delves deep into Lucas's achievements in the film industry as a director, writer, editor, and producer. Destined to be the classic illustrated survey of Lucas's career, the book is sure to fascinate not only die-hard fans but also general film and popular culture enthusiasts. AUTHOR BIO: Marcus Hearn is a writer, editor, and publisher specializing in film and popular culture. He is the author of the best-selling Star Wars: Attack of the Clones-The Illustrated Companion. He lives in London. Ron Howard is an actor, producer, and director whose film A Beautiful Mind (2001) won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director.
Customer Reviews:
Explore a mind far far away...........2007-07-29
This guy has got it together - a great look inside the creative process and genius of the modern film maker. Absolute must have for a Star Wars fan or anyone wanting to learn more about the cause and effect this one man has had on the film industry, movie making, motion pictures and the technology to bring them to life - far beyond any one else has ever done before..... travel into hyperspace with this book.
Remarkable!.......2005-11-15
This book is filled with rare and beautiful images from the Lucas archive. If you're interested in George Lucas, there is no alternative. The story is pretty good, although a little limited. If you combined the images from this book with the detailed story in DROIDMAKER (subtitled- George Lucas and the Digital Revolution- which i just read straight through and LOVED), I think you'd have the perfect Lucas book. Still, i highly recommend this.
Everything You Need To Know About George Lucas.......2005-11-13
By now, most people have seen one George Lucas film, just as they have most likely seen a film by Steven Spieldberg. This wonderfully photographed and informative coffee table book has everything you need to know about the directoral genius and the history of his films. It all began in the late 60's, when he and Steven Spieldberg graduated from USC in Southern California. They would both go on to become leading American film directors. Lucas's first attempt at film was a successful student film- THX 1138, a chilling science fiction film about a futuristic, militant society akin to George Orwell's 1984. Already, there are signs of his most recognizable movie Star Wars as in that film a young man defies the oppressive regime and attempts to rescue himself but fails to do so. In the mid 70's, Lucas had already created the storylines for his Star Wars saga. It is a 9 part saga. We have seen Episodes 1-6. Beginning in 1977 with Episode 4 A New Hope, the film that won him instant fame. The book recounts the making of the film on location, the casting of Mark Hammill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford- actors who at that time were in need of a successful film role. The book even details original scenes that were cut off. In 1980, The Empires Strikes Back was released and it proved to be the highest grossing sequel of a film ever made. 1983's Return of the Jedi, as wonderfully made as it was, has never been as successful as the first two, though it raps the saga nicely. In 1999, Lucas released Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, the first installment of his space opera which tells of the growth and downfall of the young Anakin Skywalker who becomes Darth Vader. 2002's Attack of the Clones dealt with the Clone Wars and the budding romance of Padme and Anakin. 2005's Revenge of the Sith describes the Sith takeover and the destruction of the Old Republic and extinction of the Jedi, all except for Yoda, Obi-Won and Padme's twins Luke and Leia. Lucas had a hand in the making of Spieldberg's popular Indiana Jone series. We have seen how he has become a film-maker who relies on great stories and the magic effects of cinema and computer graphic/digital technology. He is the only director who can point us to the path of how future movies will be made.
A must for all Lucas fans.......2005-08-08
Excellent book about Lucas' life and projects. Special focus is of course on Star Wars and Indiana Jones. The Star Wars (original film) is the best chapter and there is some excellent stuff there - including segments from the first draft of the film and how the story changed from the first and final draft. This tells the real story about Lucas and his incredible path from the shy film student to the man that would change film making forever. A must for all fans of films. This is a truly interesting book with some great pictures and it is very easy to read. Highly recommended.
Chapters chronicle Lucas' life, imagination, and creations.......2005-04-09
The Cinema Of George Lucas is a lavish coffee-table book exploring the production process and cinematic talent behind the classic science fiction phenomenon of "Star Wars". Featuring an inside look behind the scenes of the hotly anticipated "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith", The Cinema of George Lucas is filled cover to cover with full color production illustrations, photographs, concept artworks, and much more. Chapters chronicle Lucas' life, imagination, ideas and creations from 1944 to the present day, in this superb collector's treasure and ideal giftbook for Star Wars fans everywhere.
Average customer rating:
- "a heavy yet wonderful Collector's piece"
- The One that I've been waiting for
- The Fabric of the Galaxy!
- Bar None
- Pricey, yes, but it's a stunning book.
|
Dressing a Galaxy: The Costume of Star Wars Limited Edition with DVD
Trish Biggar
Manufacturer: "Harry N. Abrams, Inc."
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Textile & Costume
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Stagecraft
| Theater
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Fashion
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Direction & Production
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Entertainment Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
All Deals
| Blowout Books
| Stores
| Books
Arts & Photography
| Blowout Books
| Stores
| Books
Entertainment
| Blowout Books
| Stores
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Star Wars Chronicles: The Prequels
-
Star Wars Chronicles
-
Creating the Worlds of Star Wars : 365 Days
-
Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Model Shop
-
The Star Wars Poster Book
ASIN: 081095964X |
Book Description
· While the Star Wars saga is famous for its elaborate sets and for revolutionary visual effects, it also features some of the most unique and ornate costumes in modern film. In this exquisite volume, the intricate and beautiful fashions that have appeared in all six Star Wars films are on display-from military gear to royal gowns and the iconic garbs of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. Every costume is brilliantly displayed in intimate detail, from preproduction sketches to the final creations. Actors, including Natalie Portman and Samuel L. Jackson, provide commentary on their experiences during principal photography, while writer-director George Lucas and producer Rick McCallum contribute their thoughts on this exploration of Star Wars costume design. Accompanied by an exhibition at the The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Museum & Galleries at FIDM in Los Angeles, this unique visual treat is a must-have for any Star Wars fan. This limited-edition run of this book will be released with lavish gatefolds, fabric swatches, a special dvd, and a cast replica of a Wookiee belt-buckle, sure to be the ultimate Star Wars collectible.
Limited Edition Special Features
Hardcover with French-fold jacket encased in an elegant clamshell box with an Obi Wrap cloth overlay. Special features include six bound-in booklets and eight 6-page gatefolds, a costume index by character for all six films in the Star Wars Saga, 16 additional pages of color photographs and fabric swatches cut from the same bolts as the Saga's actual costume material originating from the Lucasfilm archives including swatches made from the same fabric used for Darth Vader's cape as well as a cast replica "Wookiee Belt-Buckle" symbolizing the valor and loyalty of these ferocious warriors. Also includes a Certificate of Authenticity for the Wookiee Belt Buckle replica and Costume Swatches.
Package Features
*Clamshell box wrapped in Japanese silk
*Wookie beltbuckle replica
*Darth Vader cape material
*Fabric samples (includes piece of Darth Vader's cape)
*Limited Edition Lucasfilm DVD
Edition Features
*Gatefolds (Six 6-page gatefolds)
*1. Jedi council
*2. Royalty: fabric details (embroidery, edgings, beading, sewn-in embroidery sheet)
*3. Military (featuring the Wookiees)
*4. Senators incl. Padmé outfit
*5. Rogues Gallery (Jawas, Ewoks, Cantina, Jabba's place)
*6. Farmers: Padmé outfit
Additional Signature
* Costume Archeology" (antique fabrics and pieces) | "Trisha's Scrapbook" of her travels w/passport stamps; 16 additional pages.
Special Insert (accordion-fold )
"Building 37" - workroom, inspirations, pictures of JAK folders, pictures of fabric samples, etc. of top 20 costumes, fabric samples. This special insert depicts costume evolution inside Trisha Biggar's workshop.
Eight (8) Bound-in Booklets and Inserts (loose)
1. Headresses
2. Classic character costumes
3. CG "Costume Booklet"
4. Footwear (in silhouette)
5. "Dressing Bail Organa"
6. Costume breakdown with transparent overlays
7. Jewelry
8. Darth Vader
Customer Reviews:
"a heavy yet wonderful Collector's piece".......2007-01-09
I was so excited when my package arrived and couldn't wait to open it.
What i got is an unbelievable box that holds a mass of little treasures, beginning with the little piece of Darth Vaders Cape and continuing with the book itself, the fabric samples or the also included DVD.
Everything is done with so much care for the details and you also get a certificate plus a little card with your book's collectors number. I don't regret my purchase at all. Even though it was a lot of money, it's totally worth it for every fan of the Saga who doesn't just like the ships, battles or lightsaber-fights. Also i have a little suggestion - be careful carrying it around - it is really heavy :)
The One that I've been waiting for.......2006-04-02
Ever since I saw Episode One I have been fascinated by the costume designs of the Star Wars universe and finally here is the book that shows just how special these costumes are. With large photographs of the costumes and detailed close ups that show the attention to detail.
Finally my time in a galaxy far, far away has an end?
The Fabric of the Galaxy!.......2006-01-15
This book is above and beyond excellent. From the way that the book is packaged, presented and written, not to mention the tangible supplements that are exclusive to this edition - such as the cloth swatch from Darth Vader's cape - what a thrill it is to actually own something that has literally been a part of the Star Wars universe!
This book is highly informative, insightful and entertaining.
Packed full of sumptuous photographs, illustrations, fold-outs, cloth swatches and an exclusive DVD - ANYTHING a Star Wars fan or those with only a passing interest in film costuming could ever want.
This publication is a must. It is simply an absolute joy to behold and a treasure trove for one and all who read it. I'm sure it is destined to become a crown jewel in many a Star Wars fan book collection!
I cannot recommend Dressing a Galaxy enough - go buy it, and May The Force Be With You!
Bar None.......2005-12-10
You can buy whatever book you want on the Star Wars films, but not having this one is a crime. Photography is amazingly clear and detailed, the inserts are awesome, and the swatches...forget about it...they are priceless.
This is, by far THE package of the Star Wars empire. Destined to be a classic and one "to die for" in the Star Wars ranks. Don't, let it pass you by.
Pricey, yes, but it's a stunning book........2005-12-09
I was beginning to think this book wouldn't come, because the release was put back twice and then it seemed to be unavailable. Well, I guess with limited editions of this price band it's understandable. I was kind of starting to not care, because at this price I was starting to think I should save my money. Then today, my other half called me at work to say this huge parcel had been delivered. Yes!
I got home an hour ago and, well, it IS huge. Extremely well packed, a box inside another box, and then the fabric-covered clamshell box with the fastended silk wrap. Lovely. I almost didn't want to unseal it any further, but carefully I did. The fresh print smell hit me first, and within seconds I got a headache from it. Opening the box gave me that geeky excitement I haven't had since, I don't know when. I'd made sure to wash my hands first. Then I opened it. The book is outwardly the same as the regular version, set into the right-hand side of the clamshell with a red silk pull underneath to help lift it out. On the other side, there was the replica wookie belt buckle, a certificate of authenticity, a companion DVD, and a special sealed sample of Vader's cloak fabric. All looked pretty good.
I lifted out the book with the pull, and noticed it's thicker than the regular version, with lots of the special inserts I'd read about. Nice and weighty, I put it aside, because underneath is a gatefold supplement containing a dozen or more fabric samples from the costumes pictured next to them. Lovely. Really lovely. And then, underneath that, a thicker booklet showcasing digital creatures from the prequels and their costumes. I then opened the main book to find the limited edition number. There are 2,500 of these books, and I got number 2,479. I think I was lucky getting this!
So often these collectors pieces are disappointing, but I have to be completely honest with this. It's a beautiful book, and I haven't even started reading it yet, which isn't going to make a lot of difference because of the quality of the whole package. If you can get hold of a copy, do it. I know it's pricey, but you'll get over that soon enough, and you'll have what I think is one of the best pieces of Star Wars memorabilia ever made.
Book Description
George Lucas is best known as the man behind the Star Wars trilogy, three of the most popular feature films of all time. He developed new technology and filmmaking techniques that revolutionized Hollywood--and the phenomenon continues with six much-anticipated new movies, including Episode I. When he was young, Lucas didn't take school--or anything else--seriously. But when he enrolled in film school, it was clear he'd found his calling. His first successful film was American Graffiti, followed by the Star Wars trilogy and the popular Indiana Jones movies he made with Steven Spielberg. He now owns five companies, which are involved in a variety of creative entertainment projects. This Biography is an intriguing story about a creative and talented man.
Customer Reviews:
Good Biography for Young Adults! .......2005-02-23
This is a biography for all those Star Wars fans out there. If you want the understanding of a young Star Wars fan to expand, here's one way you can do it. Begin with an easy to read, interesting biography of George Lucas. It covers his early years (not doing well in school) and a growing interest in film in college. George Lucas also had to study film and find out about its history. The book is an eye opener for many youngsters dazzled by the glitz and confused about the hard work in the movie making world. This book provides an easy but necessary dip into the pool.
Not very deep or profund.......2003-08-01
I thought that because having the name A&E associated with it, the book would be an in-depth review of the man's life. Needless to say, after reading the book in one day, I noticed that my knowledge on Lucas had not improved.
Very few is added to what fans already know (that he almost got killed in a car crash, he struggled to make American Graffitti, and Star Wars was a surprise success to him)
This book lacks the depth a figure of Lucas' status should be given. I wanted to know personal data as family members, how was the relationship with his father (rumored by many to be represented in Darth Vader) if he was the geek in school or not, etc, etc.
Good for non-fans or persons that know almost nothing about him, pass if you have read or learnt something about this modern myth-maker.
Average customer rating:
|
Star Wars
George Lucas
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton Audio Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Lucas, George
| ( L )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Star Wars
| Media Series
| Series
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Books on Cassette
| Audiobooks
| Formats
| Books
General
| Books on Cassette
| Audiobooks
| Formats
| Books
Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
ASIN: 1859981453 |
Average customer rating:
|
Monsters and Aliens from George Lucas (Abradale Books)
Bob Carrau
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Conceptual
| Other Media
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Film
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Music
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0810981394 |
Customer Reviews:
Interesting, but there is... a ... better... Skywalker..........2005-11-15
I read the older edition and loved it, but the "revised" edition is lacking. I believe that the more accurate, and far more interesting tale is spun in the recent book Droidmaker: George Lucas and the Digital Revolution. That book has a technical edge that Skywalking does not (both good and bad news, I suppose), Droidmaker smacks of deeper truths and less sensationalistic noise. Skywalking covers Lucas' youth very well, and stories of the production of his early films, but I don't think it's really that good a book. I suppose it's a must-have for the fan, but take that with a grain of salt. There are better and more current books now available -- in particular, Hearn's Cinema of George Lucas and Rubin's Droidmaker.
Well written, bot not accurate..........2005-05-20
An extremely well written book but I find some of the information within to not be entirely true. I have researched Lucas' achievements for nearly the last 20 years and Skywalking paints him to be egomaniacal, something that Lucas is far from.
To add, Lucas pulled his support for the book due to that very issue. Pollock is no doubt a talented writer, and there is some very good info within, but the author should go get a position at The Enquirer if he wants to spread gossip, which is just what he does in the updated version of the book, after Lucas expressed his concerns. Pollock takes several cheap shots at Lucas in a new chapter, unwarranted snips that are obviously meant as retaliation by Pollock. He gives Lucas an unwarranted suckerpunch by mentioning the obviously painful divorce from his wife Marcia. This is a real low blow that you would not suspect from a man of Pollock's stature in the industry.
Moreover, Pollock also mentions that Lucas is sue-happy, threatening to sue anyone who attempts to even mention his Star Wars franchise. This is simply not true. I myself wrote a book about the Star Wars films, and I was in contact on two different occasions with Lucasfilm representatives. Never once did they try to hinder my efforts or threaten me. In fact, they were even encouraging and thankful and always remained professional and courteous.
To add more negativity, Pollock paints incorrect images in his book. He makes it sound as if Harrison Ford considers Lucas to be like a plantation owner. "Master George," so Pollock would like readers to think. This could not be further from the truth. Harrison highly regards Lucas as one of his most admired filmmakers and friends. Ford has said in many interviews that the success of his career came largely from his association with Star Wars. Ford also only signed on to do three Indiana Jones pictures because Lucas was involved. Harrison stated in an interview that he signed on because he "knew the character and abilities of the filmmakers (Lucas/Spielberg) involved." Also, Ford stated in front of millions of viewers at the AFI Lucas award ceremony "I love you man." Doesn't sound to me like Harrison dislikes Lucas.
Furthermore, Pollock states that Lucas is like a hermit, hiding inside the walls of his ranch and secluding himself from the world. However, in another paragraph, Pollock mentions how Lucas must meet and greet over a hundred people a day, per Lucasfilm's daily operations. If I had to do that I'd want to be left alone for some quiet time, too.
Pollock then includes comments by movie critics who feel that Lucas has ruined big budget action films by inspiring other filmmakers to direct "all action" and "no story" films, leaving the movie-goers of today with lackluster action and sci-fi films. This is the biggest error of all. Lucas made Star Wars, a film that touched viewers across the globe -- because of its story and likeable characters -- and brought in the biggest fan explosion that Hollywood has ever seen. Lucas made a good movie that, at the time, was cutting edge and risky. If filmmakers of today can't match Lucas' ability to make a good film, like Star Wars, how can that be blamed on Lucas? Lucas made a good film and it struck a chord then as it does now. Blaming Lucas for ruining films of today is like going to an eatery on the north side of town, getting served a crappy meal, but instead of getting angry with the person who served your meal, you go to another eatery on the south side of town, who had nothing to do with your meal, and blame them. Ridiculous.
Sounds like Pollock is just jealous. He has an impressive career in the film industry, but he'll never match the iconic status that Lucas has achieved. Really, when you say Dale Pollock who perks up? When you say George Lucas people know what he's done. And this book just makes Pollock seem bitter. Pollock set out to write a controversial book about Lucas, and that's just what he did. Now Pollock bashes Lucas in interviews and has become the mascot for all Lucas-haters. What a shame.
Lucas' reputation as an integral man abounds with those who know him and have seen his efforts. It is a shame that this book doesn't focus on the positives.
A good book but be cautious of what you read...some of it is not true.
Great read.......2002-09-19
Haven't read a bigraphy so interesting since I browsed through richard branson's 3 years ago. it's always great to read about a rollercoaster life, especially one as up and down and then up up up as george Lucas...
Really Well Written... top marks
Excellent, just needs to be updated.......2002-04-28
I'm a Star Wars fan, and always wondered what kind of person George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, was. This book pretty much answered any and all questions I had about the Master Jedi himself.
Pollock's narrative of Lucas's life begins with George's childhood, then proceeds into his rebellious teen years--which was the inspiration for American Graffiti--then straight onto Lucas' student filmmaker years and finally to his highly successful movie career. The latter of which is when Star Wars and its sequels were produced and established Lucas as one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of the medium.
The book offers a balanced, journalistic account of Lucas' life, with very little opinion injected into the book. Some places Pollock seems to praise Lucas too much, but it's nothing too extreme.
The only real problem is that the book was written during the production of Return of the Jedi, when Skywalker Ranch wasn't finished, George was still married to first wife Marcia, and before the flops Willow and Howard the Duck. I read the revised edition which has an intro mentioning these things, but the book's main narrative is about what's happened to Lucas up to 1983.
I'd recommend this book to any fan of Star Wars, and anyone else curious about Lucas himself.
The reluctant director.......2000-12-28
In times past the function of biographies was generally to elevate their subjects to noble heights and focus on the individuals accomplishments. In modern times the function of biographies often seems to be to tear down their subjects, ruthlessly exposing every flaw and possible past transgression of the person under examination. This biography of film director/producer George Lucas is an evenhanded look at his life and work, even if some of the conclusions it's author arrives at are necessarily personal rather than certifiably factual in nature.
The book is peppered with many quotes from Lucas himself as well as Spielberg, Coppola, Milius and others which lends it a feeling of legitimacy which I believe is probably lacking from other, less sympathetic biographies. Lucas himself is quite forthcoming about his feelings on his own work and what he sees as his limitations as a director. His comments on Hollywood were amusing if understandably bitter, especially for someone who has worked there in the past.
If one omits his earliest film shorts such as the student version of THX 1138 and the documentary Filmmaker, Lucas has only directed three films in his career, THX 1138, American Grafitti and Star Wars. His function since that last mega-smash has primarily been as producer and head of the state-of-the-art Skywalker Ranch production facilities up in scenic Northern California. He has also helped finance a number of less "mainstream" works such as Kurosawa's Kagemusha. It's unfortunately probably true that Lucas has never been taken seriously by many critics ever since Star Wars because that film was so consciously intended as a "kids movie". Despite the fact that it was embraced by popular culture around the world due to its quality and mythic resonance it does tend to overwhelm his early, more adult-oriented films. Lucas himself is quite skeptical of some of the intellectual critical analysis that has been produced on what was intended to be an innocent hommage to 30's style action movie serials and not a "think piece". It's also surprising that so many people continue to consider the Star Wars films science-fiction when they really fall much more into the fantasy genre despite all the high-tech trappings.
Of course this book includes reams of trivia on the films, from the origin of all of the characters names in Star Wars to the details behind preview screenings and loads of very funny anecdotes that could only have been provided by an industry as crazy and high-stakes as Hollywood. Mostly however this is the story of a man from modest origins who managed to beat Hollywood at it's own game and achieve financial independence from "the system" through a combination of very savvy business choices, luck and a personal vision that happened to coincide with what a large number of the paying public wanted to see on screen.
This review refers to the original 1983 hardcover release of this book.
Books:
- Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice and Sound Effects in Cinema
- Spike, Mike, Slackers, & Dykes: A Guided Tour Across a Decade of American Independent Cinema
- Star Pilot (DK READERS)
- Steve McQueen The Last Mile
- Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting
- Study Guide for American Cinema
- The Art of The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings)
- The Artist as Monster: The Cinema of David Cronenberg
- The Developing Person Through the Life Span (paper)
- The Devil's Candy: The Anatomy of a Hollywood Fiasco
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook: A Quick Reference Guide to 100 Tools for Improving Quality and S
- McDuff Saves the Day
- Insatiability: A Novel in Two Parts
- History: Fiction or Science
- Know-How: The 8 Skills That Separate People Who Perform from Those Who Don't
- The Aeneid
- On Gold Mountain: The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family
- Shiftwork: Problems and solutions
- Going Public: Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Turn a Private Enterprise into a Publicly
- The Politics of Pension Reform: Institutions and Policy Change in Western Europe
The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film (Star Wars)
The Winston Effect: The Art & History of Stan Winston Studio
Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections: The Spacecraft and Vehicles of the Entire Star Wars Saga
Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars
