The Complete Visual Dictionary of Star Wars: The Ultimate Guide to Characters and Creatures from the Entire Star Wars Saga

Book Description

Provides a complete, comprehensive overview of the Prequel movies (Episodes I-III) and the Trilogy (Episodes IV-VI), this is the definitive photographic guide to the entire Star Wars saga.

Customer Reviews:

The Complete Visual Dictionary of Star Wars.......2007-09-26

This book is extraordinary. The pictures are sharp and extremely detailed. There are explanations of many characters that are only seen in the background scenes. I highly recommend if you're a Star Wars fan. My 4 year old won't give it up.

My Star Wars fanatic loves this book.......2007-09-26

I bought this for my 6 year old who is a Star Wars FREAK. He sat down with this book immediately and has not really stopped looking at it since. He can barely read, but he loves examining all of the characters, and the way they are broken down and labeled is very exciting to him. He likes to see everything that he's seen in the movies, and video game, in full detail.
I can't comment on how this book is similar or different to any other book, but I can say, it's very detailed, it covers a lot of information and describes alot of the relationships and uses of the characters & items. My 6 year old can identify way more than I can. This book is well set up, with loads of information and LOTS AND LOTS of details full color high quality photos which is just what we were looking for.

Good luck!

A Must-Have for any Star Wars fan.......2007-09-21

My son constantly wants to look at this book, and he is only 6 and has never seen any of the movies. That pretty much says how good this book is. I grew up with the original Star Wars movies, so looking through this book is like looking into the past for me. It is well put-together, very concise with a lot of nice photos and a plethora of Star Wars information. An excellent resource for any Star Wars aficionado.

Star Wars is a Five star choice for the ultimate fan.......2007-09-09

This book is just fantastic, and it is worth every penny. I originally bought it for my friends son who loves Star Wars. The kid walked around with the book under his arm like a bible! He never put it down. I recently bought it for my own two elementary age boys and they love it just as much. This is wonderful gift to get for any Star Wars fan -- Once again DK has cornered the market on wonderful visual books for young children. Their books are so well executed and so wonderfully edited, they know exactly how to appeal to this age group by giving just enough information with out making it too simple. An adult fan would actually love this book too. It's a great purchase.

My 9-year-old loves this book!.......2007-09-03

I purchased this book for my 9-year-old son who has been a Star Wars fan for a few years. He has spent hours looking through the book on his own or alongside his friends. I have never seen the movies and I have little knowledge of the people in them, but I could easily learn A LOT from this book if I wanted to. The pictures of the people and tools/weapons are great! I also like the fact that they show pictures from movie scenes that depict the people or the tools being discussed on that particular page. This was a great price for a large hardcover book with great details and pictures!

Film Directing: Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen (Michael Wiese Productions)

Average customer rating:

Chicken scratches vs. Detailed Storyboards
of moderate interest to readers of video magazines
Mind-opening, even if you aren't interested in directing
Useful, pleasurable
Learning the Rules Before You Break Them

Film Directing: Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen (Michael Wiese Productions)
Steven Katz
Manufacturer: Michael Wiese Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0941188108

Amazon.com

Film Directing Shot by Shot offers a good introduction to the rudiments of film production. Steven D. Katz walks his readers through the various stages of moviemaking, advising them at every turn to visualize the films they wish to produce. Katz believes that one of the chief tasks of filmmaking is to negotiate between our three-dimensional reality and the two-dimensionality of the screen. He covers the number of technical options filmmakers can use to create a satisfying flow of shots, a continuity that will make sense to viewers and aptly tell the film's story. Katz provides in-depth coverage of production design, storyboarding, spatial connections, editing, scene staging, depth of frame, camera angles, point of view, and the various types of stable compositions and moving camera shots.

Book Description

A complete catalogue of motion picture techniques for filmmakers. It concentrates on the 'storytelling' school of filmmaking, utilizing the work of the great stylists who established the versatile vocabulary of technique that has dominated the movies
since 1915. This graphic approach includes comparisons of style by interpreting a 'model script', created for the book, in storyboard form.

Customer Reviews:

Chicken scratches vs. Detailed Storyboards.......2007-08-19

I have used this book numerous times for my teachings in which students go through the process of making a short film with certain limitations being imposed. It is part of a process that I call "fast filmmaking". I like the examples that Katz presents, specifically that it is not the quality of the drawing, but how the drawing communicates the director's vision to the rest of the crew. I will usually have a student "explain" their storyboard to the class, and it is amazing how a few chicken scratches can give as much details as a fully detailed storyboard. Kudos to Katz for explaining the creative aspect of directing, and Michael Weise Productions for publishing these types of books.

of moderate interest to readers of video magazines.......2007-08-13

as a long-time reader of videographer's magazines, I didn't find much of interest in this book. If I were new to the trade, I'd probably have found it more useful. For that reason, I gave it a rather high rating of 4 stars

Mind-opening, even if you aren't interested in directing.......2007-06-30

I've worked in the graphics design business for years, but more recently I've grown interested in working with video, primarily shorts and documentary work. I was looking for a book that could help teach me the "language" of motion and visual storytelling, and this book fit the bill. In fact, I found it to be incredibly inspiring as a student of art in general. It's extremely well-written, chock full of practical examples, and contains numerous time-worn techniques as well as cutting-edge experimentation. One funny thing: since it was written a few years before the desktop digital video revolution began, it talks about some of the difficult aspects of shooting which are now in many ways moot. But it's good to hear about the history of the craft.

If you have any interest in all in shooting, directing, or producing any kind of motion picture, show, or short, you'll definitely want to buy this book. However, be forewarned: you'll never be able to watch movies the same way again. You'll begin to pick up all the subtle nuances of filmmaking without even realizing it, so don't feel bad if you have to force yourself to re-engage with the actual story as you're watching!

Useful, pleasurable.......2007-05-07

I'm a college student, not at film school, who makes videos as a serious hobby. I thought this book was much better than other titles in the same market, because it's so specific. Instead of telling you what anyone with common sense knows, like "keep continuity" and "composition can affect the mood of a scene," this film lays it all out in detail. I recommend this for everyone who wants to improve. Even if you're not particularly interested in storyboarding, you'll learn how to think about your sequences in advance much better.

Learning the Rules Before You Break Them.......2007-01-13

Even though many of the great filmmakers may have not utilized storyboards, every one of them has pre-visualized their films.

Pre-visualization is the essence of what it means to be a director. A director can only be effective if he/she properly prepares for each scene. Even if one does not have every shot precisely planned out, they will still have an idea of the look and the flow of the process.

There are certainly many people who feel directing should be intuitive, that there should be no structure to the process or else creativity is stifled. This is a valid point from the perspective of the artist.

What is wonderful about this book is that it gives extensive insight into WHY one should cover a scene in a certain way. Directing as a profession requires a certain amount of preparation and PROOF that you have a handle on the film. Producers want reassurance that you have a vision worth pouring tens of millions of dollars into. Armed with the ability to properly express yourself in regard to your vision, you will have a much easier time convincing others to follow you.

So, in the end, if you are interested in studying the language of film and the methodology behind classic film composition and editing, then this book and the accompanying Film Directing: Cinematic Motion are essential.

Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections: The Spacecraft and Vehicles of the Entire Star Wars Saga

Average customer rating:

OUTSTANDING REFERENCE TOOL
5 stars for COMPLETE Cross-sections!!
My 5 year old loves it!
Not What I Expected But Great Nontheless
Star wars

Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections: The Spacecraft and Vehicles of the Entire Star Wars Saga
David Reynolds , and Curtis Saxton
Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Popular Culture | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film (Star Wars)

ASIN: 0756627044

Book Description

This amazing title unites all four Incredible Cross-Sections books in one volume, enlarged and updated with brand-new illustrations-including the TIE bomber, Imperial shuttle, A-wing, and B-wing-along with revised technical introductions, behind-the-scenes pages, glossary, and index. (c) 2006 Lucasfilm Ltd. and TM AUTHOR BIO: Hans Jenssen Hans Jenssen has spent the last nine years in a galaxy far, far away, co-illustrating a total of ten Star Wars books with Richard Chasemore, with whom he has developed a close friendship. They have traveled across three continents, sampled exotic beverages with Boba Fett, and partied with R2-D2. He now lives a quiet life in Devon, England, with his partner and young son. RICHARD CHASEMORE Richard Chasemore has worked as an illustrator and 3-D computer artist in the United States and Europe, most notably on DK's Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections and, Inside the Worlds of the Star Wars series. Lately he has written educational books for budding digital artists. He lives on the south coast of England, where he enjoys sports involving boards and high speeds!

Customer Reviews:

OUTSTANDING REFERENCE TOOL.......2007-09-14

Previously, DK Books has release four volumes in their Star Wars cross-sections series, covering the various Star Wars films. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Star Wars, they've now combines all four of those volumes, along with new illustrations into the massive Star Wars: The Complete Cross Sections. This coffee table-sized hardcover book packs information on every ship and vehicle used in the six films into 152 full-color pages. John Knoll, the Visual Effects Supervisor for episodes I - III, provides the foreword to the book.

The book is basically an encyclopedia for Star Wars ships and vehicles. The items are shown in a cutaway art, allowing the reader to not only see the outside, but also see the interiors as well. This gives fans a unique viewpoint as you generally didn't get a chance to see inside many of these ships and vehicles in the films themselves. Most of these are given a full two-page spread which include data files about each one. The data files provide information such as design and manufacture, wingspan, speed, crew capacity, armament, dimensions, ship or vehicle type, and other special features.

The book begins with Episode I, The Phantom Menace with each of the first three episodes getting their own chapter while the original three films are combined into the last chapter. In addition to the data files, a host of other information is provided on each vehicle as well. Text keys with map lines are drawn to each, pointing out important features of each vehicle. These are about the next best thing to the actual ships blueprints. The detail is simply amazing! On the Naboo Cruiser for example we see where the fuel tanks and fuel lines are located, along with coolant ducts, deflector shield projectors, sensor arrays and even mundane things such as the crew lounge and locker areas. These allow the reader to get inside these massive vehicles and ships and almost take a virtual tour through them.

Get up close and personal with Jango Boba Fett's heavily armed Slave I ship with its blaster cannons, laser cannons, missile launchers, and mine layers. Other ships included from the episodes I to III include Padme's Starship, ARC -170 Fighter, General Grievous's Wheel Bike, Pod Racers, and Palpatine's Shuttle.

The final chapter dealing with the three original films has certainly the most popular ships for fans including the Millennium Falcon, AT-AT Walker, Jabba's Barge, and Darth Vader's Tie Fighter. Several of the major ships and vehicles get fold out sections that provide four full pages worth of data. Chief among these is the first Death Star. The Slave I makes a second appearance here that includes the modifications made by Jango Fett's son, Boba.

Hats off to DK Books for also profiling the two artists whose brilliant work is on display here, Hans Jenssen and Richard Chasemore. The detail and effort that went into these drawings is truly phenomenal. This is one of those items that is tailor-made for the hardcore Star Wars fan, a reference tool that can be consulted over and over again.

REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

5 stars for COMPLETE Cross-sections!!.......2007-08-23

People should get Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections.
Here are three reasons why anyone who likes Star Wars should get this book.

1. Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections includes information about ALL six episodes in one book. It's great to have it all in one volume instead of four separate books (Episodes I, II, III, and the Trilogy).

2. Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections has extra content not included in the separate volumes. The Imperial Shuttle, the RZ-1 A-Wing, and the B-Wing Star Fighter are new material in the combined book.

3. Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections is jam-packed with large full color illustrations and tons of fascinating facts. The pages are crowded, but the information is great.

The Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections book rules the galaxy and any Star Wars fan would just love to have a copy. I checked it out of the library, but now it's on my Christmas wish list!!

My 5 year old loves it!.......2007-08-11

I purchased this for my 5 year old because he loves Star Wars. We have a couple of other Star Wars guides. He loves the cross section book because "it shows all the ships and details and that's cool". He loves finding something small that I would have missed. Great book for all ages.

Not What I Expected But Great Nontheless.......2007-07-05

Don't know why but I was expecting technical drawings of the Star Wars vehicles. Instead I get beautiful drawings of the vehicles and some of the characters which was an unexpected plus. Especially for scale comparison with some of the bigger vehicles. The reason this item dose not get five stars from me is because when reading the book things can get somewhat confusing there is so much info on each page it practically spills out from the sides. I would recommend it to anybody who wants more information on their favorite Star Wars vehicles!

Star wars.......2007-06-09

My son has not put this book away since we bought it. It goes on every car ride with us, and even to school for free time reading. The pictures are beautiful. He absolutely loves it.

The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film (Star Wars)

Average customer rating:

Wait, you mean there's stuff I didn't already know?!
Wonderful
A wonderful piece to celebrate this film's 30th anniversary!!
Exhaustively complete, excellently thorough
The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film

The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film (Star Wars)
J.W. Rinzler
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Winston Effect: The Art & History of Stan Winston Studio
Blade Runner (Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition)

ASIN: 0345494768
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Book Description

After the 1973 success of American Graffiti, filmmaker George Lucas made the fateful decision to pursue a longtime dream project: a space fantasy movie unlike any ever produced. Lucas envisioned a swashbuckling SF saga inspired by the Flash Gordon serials classic American westerns, the epic cinema of Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa, and mythological heroes. Its original title: The Star Wars. The rest is history, and how it was made is a story as entertaining and exciting as the movie that has enthralled millions for thirty years–a story that has never been told as it was meant to be. Until now.

Using his unprecedented access to the Lucasfilm Archives and its trove of never-before-published “lost” interviews, photos, production notes, factoids, and anecdotes, Star Wars scholar J. W. Rinzler hurtles readers back in time for a one-of-a-kind behind-the-scenes look at the nearly decade-long quest of George Lucas and his key collaborators to make the “little” movie that became a phenomenon. For the first time, it’s all here:

• the evolution of the now-classic story and characters–including “Annikin Starkiller” and “a huge green-skinned monster with no nose and large gills” named Han Solo
• excerpts from George Lucas’s numerous, ever-morphing script drafts
• the birth of Industrial Light & Magic, the special-effects company that revolutionized Hollywood filmmaking
• the studio-hopping and budget battles that nearly scuttled the entire project
• the director’s early casting saga, which might have led to a film spoken mostly in Japanese–including the intensive auditions that won the cast members their roles and made them legends
• the grueling, nearly catastrophic location shoot in Tunisia and the subsequent breakneck dash at Elstree Studios in London
• the who’s who of young film rebels who pitched in to help–including Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and Brian DePalma

But perhaps most exciting, and rarest of all, are the interviews conducted before and during production and immediately after the release of Star Wars–in which George Lucas, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Sir Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, composer John Williams, effects masters Dennis Muren, Richard Edlund, and John Dykstra, Phil Tippett, Rick Baker, legendary production designer John Barry, and a host of others share their fascinating tales from the trenches and candid opinions of the film that would ultimately change their lives.

No matter how you view the spectrum of this thirty-year phenomenon, The Making of Star Wars stands as a crucial document–rich in fascination and revelation–of a genuine cinematic and cultural touchstone.

Customer Reviews:

Wait, you mean there's stuff I didn't already know?!.......2007-09-30

The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film (Star Wars)

I was four years old when the original "Star Wars" was released, and like so many kids of that generation, that film and its two sequels defined an enormous part of my childhood. Even though I didn't know it at the time, it introduced me to the "best bits" of classical mythology, while being a visual catalyst for my imagination (and years of subsequent role-play, particularly in Upstate New York, where re-enacting ice planet Hoth after "Empire" came out was all too easy...).

As I grew older (I hesitate to use the phrase "grew up," as I'm not sure it's happened yet), I came to appreciate more than just the adventure and dynamic visuals that "Star Wars" represented; it was my "gateway drug" into wanting to learn more about how movies were made. I remember all of the TV specials of that era that pulled back the curtain on the filmmaking process, particularly with regard to the original "Star Wars" trilogy, and I couldn't get enough information. That hunger became the same kind of obsession that's typically associated with "Star Wars" fans, and I absorbed every scrap of detail I could find, from Ralph McQuarrie's concept art, to model photos, to script pages, and even before the Internet made it only a matter of a few clicks to access such information, there was a wealth of it, when it came to "Star Wars."

Fast forward to 2007; "Star Wars" is 30 years old, a whole separate trilogy has come and gone, and my own children are budding "Star Wars" fans for their own reasons. I figured I knew pretty much all there was to know about this film. I darn well should have, for as much time as I had spent (and continue to spend) over the years actively seeking out new details about it. Then came this book; I didn't know anything.

This is dense, dense reading, covering every minute detail about every aspect of production of the original "Star Wars," from drafting the script, to getting it taken seriously by Hollywood, to assembling the team that would revolutionize filmmaking as we came to know it. This is a wonderful thing. I find myself poring over every word, every image, every caption and footnote, just as I did as a child who was learning about film for the first time. It is an amazing tribute, an insanely detailed reference volume, and most incredible of all, a unique representation of a film that has been covered in so many ways by so many authors, that finding anything new to talk about seemed impossible.

The aspect of this book I personally find most exciting is that all of the interviews that comprise it are taken from the period immediately surrounding the production and release of the original film. There is none of the revisionist hindsight pertaining to the film that has come about as a result of the films that came after; every word spoken by the people involved is "of the moment," and as such, is refreshingly candid about what was going on while the film was in the throes of its conception and execution.

The hardcover volume is worth the extra cost, because of its additional supplemental material, not found in the softcover edition. There are 45 pages of storyboard reproductions, as well as Lucas' first-ever references to the larger world beyond what was shown in the original film, in the form of interview excerpts taken in 1977, which involve Lucas describing character and environmental background information. As author J.W. Rinzler explains in the opening to the section, "Many of these ideas...[have since been] modified to a greater or lesser degree. They are presented here...[as] an idea of how he first began [the process of expanding the "Star Wars" universe]." Given the amount of tweaking that the backstory has undergone in the decades following "Star Wars," the inclusion of Lucas' first impressions of it in this volume are incredibly valuable to anyone who, like me, has wondered if the second trilogy of films was truly borne from his original ideas, or was more a product of his later experiences.

This book is exactly what its title promises: the definitive history behind the original film. And for someone who has spent most of his life feeling like there was nothing new under the suns (not a typo) when it came to the story of how "Star Wars" was made, that's saying something.

Wonderful.......2007-09-22

I think I've been waiting 30 years for this book. It is excellent and packed with really cool behind the scene photos and notes. It is exactly as it should be given the lack of "marketing" tools of movies back in the late 70's. It has a lot of information and will add nicely to any Star Wars collection for years to come.

A wonderful piece to celebrate this film's 30th anniversary!!.......2007-08-24

Before this book came out, the greatest making of book in star wars lore was Once Upon A Galaxy. Now it has a partner!!! This book is amazing; truly a magnificent look at what it took to get this film on the screen. Not only do you get hundreds of never before seen and priceless photos, the sheer amount of text is incredibly impressive. This was very hard work to put together. There isnt much more I can add about this book. So.......go buy it; and Happy 30th Star Wars!!!

Exhaustively complete, excellently thorough.......2007-08-23

This book goes into more detail than anyone but a die-hard fan would want to know, in all honesty; but as it's one of the greatest movies ever filmed, Star Wars has more than its fair share of die-hards. The book is thoroughly researched and excellently presented and covers every aspect of the film's genesis from the very first words scribbled on George Lucas' yellow legal pads to the opening day. This book is, as the title states, the definitive story behind the making of Star Wars. Again, fascinating for the die-hard, but may be a bit detailed for the casual fan.

The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film .......2007-08-13

For all those you loved the first Star Wars experience this book is a must have. The hard copy has many extra pages and it worth the additional price. The pictures and details included makes this a fun, informative and exciting book to read and re-read.

Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Model Shop

Average customer rating:

for the fans
Giant coffee table book...mostly a retread
Great Content, Defective Copy
Un livre indispensable à tout fan de Star Wars
star wars fan

Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Model Shop
Lorne Peterson
Manufacturer: Insight Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Direction & Production | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars
Creating the Worlds of Star Wars : 365 Days

ASIN: 1933784032
Release Date: 2006-11-14

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.

Average customer rating:

very enjoyable
the gift
Four-Year-Old's Dream
A book for hard core fans and anyone new to Star Wars
what every fan needs

The Ultimate Visual Guide to Star Wars
Ryder Windham
Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Popular Culture | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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The Visual Dictionary of Star Wars, Episode II - Attack of the Clones
The Visual Dictionary of Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

ASIN: 0756614201

Book Description

Providing fans and newcomers everything they need to know about the highest-grossing movie saga ever, this is the first-ever visual guide to the entire Star Wars franchise

Customer Reviews:

very enjoyable.......2007-08-16

bought this for my son. he is just crazy about star wars. he loves this book because of all the great pictures.

the gift.......2007-07-22

I bought this as a gift for my sister who is a major Star Wars fan and she absolutely loved it. It was in excellent condition when it arrived and t came on time.

Four-Year-Old's Dream.......2007-05-13

My four-year-old boy talks day and night about Star Wars, even though he's never seen the movies. With a few beginning-to-read books, and this great, comprehensive one, he is a true Star Wars geek (in a good way!). We first saw this book at the library, where my son's eyes just about popped out of his head. It's appropriate for any age, from child to adult, because the information is robust but broken down in small parts on each page, making it suitable for reading small chunks to a kid.

A book for hard core fans and anyone new to Star Wars.......2007-05-08

Some books just have an appealing to die hard fans of the Star Wars universe. If you are new, or happen to be a little overwhelmed; then this is for you! Great insight about places, characters, and a very neat time-line and map that illustrates where every planet is located. This is a formidable add to my collection. I liked how it covered events and characters from the expanded universe, since it gives you an idea about n how many events took place before and after episodes I-VI. The hard-cover depicting Lord Vader is second to none. This book is really a "must have".

May The Force be with us, all.

what every fan needs.......2007-05-07

This is a great source to just go over a timeline of the star wars galaxy span over 25,000 years worth of star wars history from the formation of the Republic to formation of the Galactic Alliance and everything inbetween

Average customer rating:

gift for a 9 year old
Perfect for any illustrator Star Wars fan who wants to learn from his heroes.
A must have for any Star Wars Library
worth money !!
You can draw yes! But some work is involved.

You Can Draw Star Wars (You Can Draw)
Bonnie Burton
Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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The Complete Visual Dictionary of Star Wars: The Ultimate Guide to Characters and Creatures from the Entire Star Wars Saga
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Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Model Shop
The Ultimate Visual Guide to Star Wars

ASIN: 075662343X

Amazon.com

From droids and wookies to Darth Vader, this step-by-step guide teaches budding artists everything they need to know to draw characters from the amazing world of Star Wars. For a live demonstration of the book's drawing techniques, watch these three dynamic video guides featuring Matt Busch, one of the illustrators of You Can Draw Star Wars. (Click on each image to launch the video.)

Episode I: Preparation

Episode II: Light and Shadow

Episode III: Drawing

Customer Reviews:

gift for a 9 year old.......2007-08-27

I gave this book to my 9 year old grandson, who loves to draw Star Wars figures. The text is quite a bit above his reading level, but he's already been using the book to draw!! He loves this book.

Perfect for any illustrator Star Wars fan who wants to learn from his heroes........2007-04-19

The foundations of the penciling and drawing techniques needed to draw Star Wars characters is explained in an easy beginner's guide YOU CAN DRAW STAR WARS. Tutorials show how to draw all characters from droids to heros Obi-wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker, while foldout pages, overlays and stencils enhance the instruction. Perfect for any illustrator Star Wars fan who wants to learn from his heroes.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

A must have for any Star Wars Library.......2007-04-12

This is my favorite Star Wars book since "The Ultimate Visual Guide" came out a year or so ago. The books is a good introduction to drawing, and even provides helpful suggestions about different tools professional artists use to make their work look so great.

I'm a novice drawer myself, but that's ok because the book can be used by artists of all levels who want to draw better Star Wars works of art. It gives you basic advice about how to draw the human figure, and, once you are ready, more advanced suggestions to really give your work a professional, comic-book quality look.

I'm really looking forward to using this book, along with the Visual Dictionary series from DK to start drawing Star Wars again, and drawing Star Wars better than ever. In my experience, everything from DK is top notch, especially their Star Wars series. You seriously can't go wrong, the quality of work they put into their products is simply amazing.

worth money !!.......2007-03-09

Very nice book, worth the money,good explained "how to", hard to find in shops,but Amazon deliverd
very quick.Thanks

You can draw yes! But some work is involved........2007-02-20

I have taught drawing classes at our public libraries in my city. Some of the topics were Star Wars related. Although this book has a wealth of information and the artists are really first rate it is my experience that pre-teens and young teens may have a tough go of some of the practices and trying to imitate the artists of the book. It is somewhat of a drawing crash course and I have found trying to tell students "practice and most of all have fun" does not really communicate the time it takes to make a polished drawing as shown in the book. I am not saying it is bad but it is also not a step by step book exactly. Case in point: Jabba The Hutt. The book shows a build up from basic, to middle, to detailed stage. I have found students will have a lot of problems with the middle phase because they look so great in the book. The break down into smaller steps is needed. Since the publisher is aiming this at kids I think parents and teachers should be aware that yes it will teach them to draw Star Wars but it may be more work involved than a standard drawing-for-kids book would be like. I recommend the book but be prepared it is not exactly easy. I also would warn parents and teachers that the spiral bound pages are easy to get snagged and tare. A little extra care is needed in turning the pages but this also allows the book to stand up with the hardback binding and it also allows the pages to lie completely flat. Well worth the asking price for any Star Wars fan young or old.

Average customer rating:

An American Icon
As a glamour photographer myself...
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL
Hurrell's Hollywood Portraits
EXCELLENT BOOK! Vieira's mastery of the written word brings that era to life.

Hurrell's Hollywood Portraits
Mark A. Vieira
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Hollywood Portraits
Movie-Star Portraits of the Forties
Hollywood Glamor Portraits
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Film-Star Portraits of the Fifties: 163 Glamor Photos

ASIN: 0810934345

Amazon.com

They had faces then, in the golden age of Hollywood when a publicity photo could make or break a star. The visual power of George Hurrell's portraits, with their Rembrandtesque lighting and dramatic poses, shaped the careers of such stars as Joan Crawford, Jean Harlow, and Jane Russell, and did as much or more to establish them as their film performances. Mark Vieira, who adopted Hurrell's techniques and uses them to this day, explains how the master portraitist lit and retouched his photographs--a portrait of Crawford before and after retouching reveals what an artist the one-time painter really was--and analyzes their impact.

Customer Reviews:

An American Icon.......2007-08-25

George Hurrell is universally acknowledged THE Hollywood portrait photographer, the man who recreated during the talkies much of the mystery of the silent stars through his breathtaking photographs. At a time when the finest still photography was becoming more incisive and natural, Hurrell managed to balance this new naturalism and directness in highly manipulated ways, producing in his best work iconic images of the great stars of MGM. After the second World War his work became largely passe, appearing too contrived and built up for an age demanding grit and spontaneity and an off-hand naturalness.
This work seeks to both show and tell the story of Hurrell's highwater era as not only the major photographer of the stars, and MGM in particular, but also his development as artist. Hurrell's flamboyant personality, his novel and sometimes off-putting behavior during shootings, seems now unfortunately taken as role template by many lesser fashion photographers. In his day and at his height during the late twenties through the beginnings of World War II Hurrell dominates a demanding and highly accomplished professional field.
Whether you live in a sumptious penthouse overlooking Central Park, need a single book for the coffee table in the living room of that restored Neutra you just purchased, or just enjoy reasonably priced fashion books, Hurrell's Hollywood Portraits fits the bill. At a significantly reduced price its a lovely reminder of one of the nicer advantages of democratic publishing: not every fine art book is a prohibitively expensive limited edition printed by a small press.

As a glamour photographer myself..........2007-04-13

As a glamour photographer myself, this is a book I own and use for inspiration. I love the way Hurrell not only captures the inner-beauty of the subjects, but his photojournalistic approach. I often graze through this book as I've read it many times over--the grazing gets me going when it comes to my own glamour photography. I recommend anyone interested in this book, buy it now! If you'd like to see how it's affected my career, also check out the following books, Garage Glamour: Digital Nude and Beauty Photography Made Simple, Rolando Gomez's Glamour Photography: Professional Techniques and Images and even a book where I have a chapter, Professional Portrait Lighting: Techniques and Images from Master Photographers (Photo Pro Workshop series) This book should not only be on a collector's list, but for any student of photography--we're always learning no matter what level your photography. ---Rolando Gomez, contributing writer, Studio Photography magazine

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.......2006-08-19

This book -- how beautiful. I have photography books by several of the great portrait photographers of the 20th Century, and this one is the best. There are a wealth of photographs, and the story of Hurrell's life is also interesting. If you ever thought about seriously learning about photography and taking some good pictures, this book will take any hesitation out of your mind. Gorgeous!!

Hurrell's Hollywood Portraits.......2006-07-25

This book is everything I expected. The pictures are great and the text very informative. I am enjoying it very much and it is a valued addition to my film library.

EXCELLENT BOOK! Vieira's mastery of the written word brings that era to life........2005-12-03

I thoroughly enjoyed browsing through and then reading this beautiful tribute to the legendary work of George Hurrell. As compelling as Hurrell's photos are it is the author's indepth knowledge and understanding of Hollywood and Hurrell that set this book apart.

Mark Vieira's own photographic artistry is based on Hurrell's techniques, providing current-day enthusiasts with authentic glamour photography of their own.

The Complete Locations of Star Wars: Inside the Worlds of the Entire Star Wars Saga

Average customer rating:

Where you've always wanted to go
A great source for background information
Great visual drawings!
Hypnotic Journey into Star Wars
awesome buy for Star Wars Fanatics

The Complete Locations of Star Wars: Inside the Worlds of the Entire Star Wars Saga
DK Publishing
Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Popular Culture | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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Incredible Cross-sections of Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith: The Definitive Guide to Spaceships and Vehicles

ASIN: 0756614198

Book Description

The dramatic culmination of DK's best-selling Inside the Worlds of Star Wars series, The Complete Locations of Star Wars uses breathtaking illustrations and insightful text to reveal the planets from every movie in the Star Wars saga, including the hotly anticipated Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

Customer Reviews:

Where you've always wanted to go.......2007-09-03

This book is great!! I love how it approaches Star Wars as if it where real in the telling of each local or spot. It makes you feel even more apart of what's going on in the Saga and only improves the feeling of the movies for me anyways. If you've always had questions about each place you've seen on screen then this is the book for you!!

A great source for background information.......2007-08-30

The complete locations is a great source that brings all the locations together. One does not have to buy book after book of each movie to see their perspective location. As always, the schematics are detailed and will aid anyone who like to build diorhamas. I do recommend this book.

Great visual drawings!.......2007-05-18

See beyond the locations of the places where all the events take place. You can explore the little sections of what rooms are in the Jedi Temple, the routes from the pod race and more.

Hypnotic Journey into Star Wars.......2007-04-19

Star Wars fans will easily get lost in the fantasy worlds so brilliantly evoked in this book. Thousands of hours have been expended by hugely talented artists and writers to bring to life the small and large details of the Star Wars galaxy.

I'm grateful that someone in the Lucas creative hierarchy gave these artists the go-ahead to add new story exposition and perspective that was never in the movies. Fascinating new detail - did you know that Ben Kenobi had a secret basement in his house on Tatooine? Its shown here, along with what he hides in it. Did you know the Cantina in Mos Eisley was owned by a Wookie who bugs his customer's conversations? Did you know the carbonite freezing chamber in the Cloud City on Bespin was inside the gas processing vane? These and a thousand other details provide the essential Star Wars backstory and immersion craved by true fans.

This a a book to be read and examined slowly, preferably at night before sleeping, because your dreams will be of Star Wars.

awesome buy for Star Wars Fanatics.......2007-01-19

I bought this item for Christmas for my Star Wars fanatic husband. It turned out to be the hit for him and my 2 fanatic boys ages 5 and 8. They haven't stopped looking it over and discovering new trivia.

Average customer rating:

Cool Book!
Dissappointed
A Great Book
"Impressive.....Most impressive, but you are not Jedi yet," until you buy this book.!
The bible of Star Wars

Star Wars Chronicles
Deborah Fine , and Aeon Inc.
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Star Wars Chronicles: The Prequels
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ASIN: 081181498X

Amazon.com

This is the ultimate must-have for the Star Wars fanatic. Spendy, but definitely worth it, the Star Wars Chronicles is a big, beautiful book that comes in a gold and black box--it will look great on your coffee table next to your Star Wars Logbook. The Chronicles cover the beloved trilogy of movies in thousands of behind-the-scenes and up-close photographs, many you've never seen before. From the creation of all the aliens to the details of Boba Fett's jet pack, you'll find fascinating facts, drawings, paintings, and photos to pore over endlessly. Each detail is lovingly presented for the appreciation of serious fans, and the whole package will be a delight to collectors.

Book Description

The most spectacular tribute to the Star Wars phenomenon yet, this deluxe limited edition features the most comprehensive collection of photographs, production stills, sketches, and outtakes ever assembled. Nearly the entire Lucasfilm archives, with hundreds of never-before-seen images and dozens of creatures, and sections on Star Wars TV specials that have never been published in book form, are brought together in this luxurious, slipcased volume. With its enticing size and elegant design, Star Wars Chronicles is the ultimate collection for serious Star Wars fans.

Customer Reviews:

Cool Book!.......2007-05-18

If you love Star Wars & love nice books, this is the one for you. Lots of info & pictures. Huge book, and heavy!

Dissappointed.......2007-01-18

Very dissappointed with the product. It showed up in several pieces when I open the box. The sleeve is all torn up and falling apart. 2 bottom corners of the books is all smashed up. Not sure who's to blame - the packaging guy or the delivery man. Informed customer service about getting a replacement - unsuccesful - all I got is a freaking $10 credit on me next purchases. After this disaster, not sure if there is a next purchase.

A Great Book.......2006-01-20

A great Star Wars reference book. As others have said the amount of information is staggering. Well worth the price. And a special thanks to the special girl who bought it for me.

"Impressive.....Most impressive, but you are not Jedi yet," until you buy this book.! .......2006-01-18

A STAR WARS FANtastic book!! I'm pretty curious about things, how things work, how to do this and that, and how movies are made. If you are like me and love Star Wars, you will love this book! A little pricey, but worth it! This is a definite must have for all Star Wars fans!! It has alot of rare and exclusive photos, and information on the making of the movies. It is all together a beautiful book to be displayed, and is great for any fan who is curious about the movies!

The bible of Star Wars .......2006-01-11

Star Wars related books are legion, but the hands down best-and the champion film-tie-in book period-is the [massive (15"x10.5")] Star Wars Chronicles. Just mentioning the book's title can make diehard fanboys cream their trooper armor. Yeah, it's that good. Home costumers, model makers, artists, and prop geeks especially lust after the Chronicles for its rich mine of simply stunning and often unique OT reference photos. Next to a genuine Graflex or MPP lightsaber hilt, the Chronicles is any Star Wars fan's most prized possession.

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