Synopses & Reviews
and#160; C
rab Monsters, Teenage Cavemen, and Candy Stripe Nurses is an outrageously rollicking account of the life and career of Roger Cormanand#151;one of the most prolific and successful independent producers, directors, and writers of all time, and self-proclaimed king of the B movie. As told by Corman himself and graduates of and#147;The Corman Film School,and#8221; including Peter Bogdanovich, James Cameron, Francis Ford Coppola, Robert De Niro, and Martin Scorsese, this comprehensive oral history takes readers behind the scenes of more than six decades of American cinema, as now-legendary directors and actors candidly unspool recollections of working with Corman, continually one-upping one another with tales of the years before their big breaks.
Crab Monsters is supplemented with dozens of full-color reproductions of classic Corman movie posters; behind-the-scenes photographs and ephemera (many taken from Cormanand#8217;s personal archive); and critical essays on Cormanand#8217;s most daring filmsand#151;including The Intruder, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Big Doll Houseand#151; that make the case for Corman as an artist like no other.
Praise for Crab Monsters, Teenage Cavemen, and Candy Stripe Nurses:
and#147;This new coffee table book, brimming with outrageous stills from many of Cormanand#8217;s hundreds of films, looks at the wild career of the starmaker who was largely responsible for so much of the Hollywood we know today.and#8221; and#151;New York Post
and#147;Vividly illustrated.and#8221; and#151;People
and#147;An enthusiastic ode to colorful, seat-of-your-pants filmmaking, this oneand#8217;s hard to beat.and#8221; and#151;Booklist (starred review)
and#147;It includes in-depth aesthetic appreciations of ten of Cormanand#8217;s movies, which, taken together, make a compelling case for Corman as an artist.and#8221; and#151;Hollywood.com
and#147;Author Nashawaty deftly describes how Cormanand#8217;s legacy is far more nuanced than most realize.and#8221; and#151;American Way magazine
and#147;Outrageously entertaining . . .and#8221;and#160; and#151;Parade magazine
and#147;Endlessly fascinating.and#8221; and#151;PopMatters.com
and#147;Youand#8217;d think itand#8217;d be impossible for any writer to put together a Roger Corman biography that's anywhere near as fun as his movies, but Entertainment Weekly writer/critic Chris Nashawaty has done just that.and#8221;and#160; and#151;Complex magazine
Review
andldquo;The massive tome from the fine folks at Abrams Books takes the readers through the directorandrsquo;s entire career with never-before-seen images, anecdotes, and input from the master himself. Itandrsquo;s a must-have book for any cinema lover and should find its way onto plenty of Christmas lists this year.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;A new book called Star Wars Art: Posters collects some of the most iconicandmdash;and stylistically diverseandmdash;broadsides.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Abrams Books is coming out with a new book collecting the best posters from around the world . . . Some are a little weird, but all are incredible and tap into that old sense of wonder. Donandrsquo;t worry, though; Darth Vader wonandrsquo;t silence you for liking these.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Yes . . . the Force is strong with this book.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;From 1970s concept sketches to more recent limited-edition prints, the art is a testament to the enduring force of the franchise.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Full of sumptuous, jaw-dropping visuals . . . a feast for the senses.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Absolutely awesome.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;A must-read for cinephiles of all ages.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Star Wars Storyboards: The Original Trilogy shows just how much pre-planning went into the original iconic trilogy.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Star Wars fans, take note . . . the book offers a glimpse into the detailed planning and rounds of story revisions that went into the original films.andrdquo;
Review
andquot;Star Wars fans, rejoice andmdash; today is the big dayandnbsp;that Lucasfilm opens up the archives and bestows upon you Star Wars Storyboards: The Original Trilogy.andquot;
Review
andquot;The book contains fantastic insight into how the filmsand#39; stories and characters were conceivedandhellip;andquot;
Review
andquot;Nerd out over how Star Wars might have been.andquot;
Review
andquot;Every Star Wars fan should get this Star Wars Storyboards book.andquot;
Review
andldquo;The promotional images for the Star Wars movies unquestionably hold a hallowed place in film and cultural history, and theyandrsquo;re all beautifully reproduced in Star Wars Art: Posters, the fifth and final volume in the George Lucasandndash;curated series.andrdquo;
Synopsis
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.
Synopsis
Martin Scorsese is one of the most respected names in cinema, with a track record that puts him firmly among the all-time greats of filmmaking. Scorseseandrsquo;s directorial debut was in 1963, with a movie he made while still a student at New York University. He achieved superstar status, not just for himself as a director but also for Robert de Niro as an actor, with the classic
Taxi Driver in 1976. Since then, Scorseseandrsquo;s name has become synonymous with movies that make the spine tingleandndash;
Raging Bull,
Casino,
The Departedandmdash;and of course,
Goodfellas. From his debut feature to
The Wolf of Wall Street,
Martin Scorsese: A Retrospective charts the directorandrsquo;s glittering 50-year career at the helm of filmmaking. Movie by movie, this stunning monograph provides the definitive celebration of one of cinemaandrsquo;s most enduring talents.
and#160;
Synopsis
For decades, Robert Altman fascinated audiences with pioneering filmsandmdash;among them M*A*S*H, Nashville, and Gosford Parkandmdash;that combined technical innovation with subversive, satirical humor and impassioned political engageandshy;ment. Altman, a visual survey of this quintessentially American artist, brims with photographs and ephemera from Altmanandrsquo;s archive. His widow, Kathryn, contributes recollections of family life, while film critic Giulia Dandrsquo;Agnolo Vallan places Altman in the context of the public intellectual. Featured are contributions from Altmanandrsquo;s collaborators and contemporaries, including Frank Barhydt, E. L. Doctorow, Roger Ebert, Jules Feiffer, Julian Fellowes, James Franco, Tess Gallagher, Pauline Kael, Garrison Keillor, Michael Murphy, Lily Tomlin, Alan Rudolph, Michael Tolkin, and Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Synopsis
Few pieces of artwork distill the passion for Star Wars as do posters. From Tom Jungand#39;s iconic one-sheet for Episode IV to Roger Kastelandrsquo;s Gone with the Windandndash;inspired painting for Episode V and beyond, Star Wars has enjoyed nearly four decades of poster art from some of the most renowned artists working in movies. The fifth book in the George Lucasandndash;curated Star Wars Art series, Posters collects the best artwork from all six Star Wars films, the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated television series, and limited-edition prints. This collection unites all of the action, artistry, and drama of a galaxy far, far away into one lavishly produced tome.
Synopsis
In 1997, as George Lucas worked to complete early drafts for
Star Wars: Episode I
The Phantom Menace, he enlisted the talents of some of the greatest storyboard artists of the modern era to illustrate conceptual storyboards that would inform the development of the final shooting script, as well as the finished film. Working from Lucasand#8217;s ideas for scenes and sequences, these artists produced beautiful drawings that helped lay the foundations for the worlds, characters, and shots of the
Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. Together, these conceptual storyboards show early takes on favorite scenes; alternate, unused approaches to character designs and environments; and entirely different approaches to key moments. Like wordless comic books, they have an energy and rhythm all their own that is fascinating to explore.
Now, for the first time, Lucasfilm has opened its archives to present the best of the conceptual storyboards for Episodes I, II, and III. Star Wars Storyboards: The Prequel Trilogy collects the best storyboards from all three films together in one striking volume. Throughout this book, readers will find insight into how these conceptual storyboards helped to contribute both to the creation of the Prequel Trilogy and the expansion of the Star Wars universe.
Praise for Stars Wars Storyboards:
and#147;We had no idea the Star Wars prequels could have been this good! Overall, the book gave us a new appreciation for what could have been . . . Plus itand#8217;s exceptionally gorgeous, and you should check it out.and#8221; and#151;i09
Synopsis
For the first time, Lucasfilm has opened its Archives to present the complete storyboards for the original
Star Wars trilogyand#151;the world-changing
A New Hope and its operatic sequels,
The Empire Strikes Back and
Return of the Jediand#151;as well as never-before-published art from early conceptual and deleted scenes.
From the opening chase above Tatooine in A New Hope to the Battle of Endor in Jedi, this book presents the visual inspiration behind now-iconic moments. Readers can finally see a full set of storyboards by legendary artist Joe Johnston, as well as early boards for Episode IV by Alex Tavoularis and for Episode V by Ivor Beddoes, rarely seen Episode VI boards by Roy Carnon, and Ralph McQuarrieand#8217;s never-before-seen storyboards for Episode V.
Synopsis
Four-time Academy Award recipient Clint Eastwood is one of the most renowned film directors in the world. This authorized volume offers a revealing in-depth exploration of his influential filmmaking methods, comprehensively illustrated with unit photography, key art, production design sketches, and film frames. Covering all of Eastwoodand#8217;s 32 films, including The Outlaw Josey Wales, Unforgiven, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, and Letters from Iwo Jima, the book is a full-career retrospective. To portray the maverick behind the camera, author Michael Goldman interviewed Eastwood; his longtime crew of award-winning cinematographers, editors, and production designers; and many celebrated actors, including Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gene Hackman, Sean Penn, Meryl Streep, Hilary Swank, and Forest Whitaker.
Praise for Clint Eastwood:
and#147;A comprehensive, and often surprising, biography of collaborative craft rarely found in books of this kind.and#8221; and#151;Studio Daily
Synopsis
Industrial Light and Magic: The Art of Innovation is an extensively illustrated oral history of the multiple-Academy-Awardand#174;-winning visual effects company founded by George Lucas in 1975. Its tale begins with a small team of craftspeople, engineers, and artists who pioneered analog effects that had never before been attempted or realized on the screen for
Star Wars. Industrial Light and Magic continues their story through the effects facilityand#8217;s mind-bending work, over the following three decades, on more than three hundred filmsand#8212;from optical printing to the digital and computer-generated-effects era. A behind-the-scenes record of the state-of-the-art innovations that have driven moviemaking magic, the book features candid stories from the filmmakers, artists, and technicians who were there, breaking barriers and changing the history of cinema with their early work on cultural landmarks, such as the
Star Wars saga, the
Indiana Jones series,
E.T.,
Terminator 2, and
Jurassic Park.
Industrial Light and Magic: The Art of Innovation is the first and only book to focus on the companyand#8217;s work during the last sixteen years, detailing its creative and technological innovations on dozens of blockbuster films. Through firsthand accounts of the problem solving that has pushed the art form of visual effects to its limits and created visual experiences that could only have been dreamed of in the past, the book features extensive commentary by George Lucas, Dennis Muren, John Knoll, Scott Farrar, Roger Guyett, Ben Snow, Rob Coleman, Lorne Peterson, and many others. Their accounts are supplemented by more than 400 images from many of ILMand#8217;s breakthrough movies, such as the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Transformers, Iron Man, and the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, offering a crash course on the most groundbreaking visual effects created today.and#160;
Praise for Industrial Light and Magic:
and#8220;If you loved the movies, chances are good youand#8217;ll love this book.and#8221; and#8212;Georgia Times-Union
Synopsis
Woody Allen is one of the major talents of modern cinema. From slapstick films to romantic comedies to introspective character studies and crime thrillers, Allenandrsquo;s output has always been prodigious; with nearly 50 movies to his credit, heandrsquo;s made more or less a film a year since the early 1970s. With that quantity has come almost uninterrupted quality, including contemporary classics such as Annie Hall, Manhattan, Hannah and Her Sisters, and Midnight in Paris, as well as three Academy Awards and 24 nominations. Author Tom Shone traces Allenandrsquo;s entire professional life as an entertainer and director, weaving in archival and original interviews, and accompanying this new critical monograph with more than 250 behind-the-scenes stills, photographs, posters, and ephemera.
About the Author
J. W. Rinzler, executive editor at Lucasfilm Ltd., is the author of the
New York Times bestselland#173;ers
The Making of Star Wars and
The Making of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. He lives in Petaluma, California.
Joe Johnston served as a storyboard and concept artist on the original
Star Wars trilogy. He has since directed
The Rocketeer,
Jumanji, and
Captain America: The First Avenger. He lives in Los Angeles.
Nilo Rodis-Jamero served as the assistant art director of visual effects for
The Empire Strikes Back and as costume designer for
Return of the Jedi.