The Art of X2: The Making of the Blockbuster Movie (X2: X-Men United) [Paperback]

Timothy Shaner (Author), Bryan Singer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook | Publication Date: May 6, 2003

Illustrated with over 300 stills and drawings, including the complete screenplay, the only book on the making of the spectacular X-Men 2 and the X-Men film franchise.

Outcasts from society, the X-Men are genetic mutants, born with superhuman powers, who harness their special abilities for the greater good. But the human race they fight to protect rejects and fears—even hates—them.

Initially realized in the Marvel Comic Book adventures, the first X-Men major feature film was released by Fox in 2000, directed by Bryan Singer, who had previously directed Apt Pupil and The Usual Suspects. Its stunning success—theatrically grossing nearly $300 million worldwide, and becoming a video and DVD phenomenon—signaled the current wave of comics to film adaptations and guaranteed the sequel, which reunites the principal cast members and the original's key creative team, including director Bryan Singer, cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel, and production designer Guy Dyas.

The new X2 will feature several surprises, including favorite mutant characters from the vast X-Men comics universe, who are new to the film franchise. 300 color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What would convince a director like Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects) to take on the project of adapting a venerable old comic series like X-Men for film, much less embark on a series of X-Men films, especially considering he had never even read the comics? This handsome volume more than ably provides the answer. It conjures a rich universe where mutants-the next evolution in human history, according to Marvel Comics-with names like Cyclops, Storm, Rogue and Wolverine become less muscle-bound action heroes and more grand, emotionally complex, mythological figures fighting prejudice and intolerance. Not surprisingly, the story attracted A-list talent like Singer and his laurels-heavy cast. The book's chatty opening text (which details Singer's introduction to the X-Men in all their mutant glory), the lavishly detailed art and storyboards, and complete text of the shooting script illustrate well not only the dedication of the members of the film crew to this peculiar mythos, but the ways in which they have expanded on it since the first film. The book will satisfy the desires of raving fans and the more cinematically inclined; it's a coffee-table book that both camps will actually read through, cover to cover; that great two-page spread of Wolverine in action doesn't hurt, either.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Bryan Singer previously directed and co-produced X-Men, Apt Pupil, and The Usual Suspects. He lives in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Newmarket Press (May 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557045771
• ISBN-13: 978-1557045775
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,499,432 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is awesome, January 3, 2004

By 

scotts980 "scotts980" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of X2: The Making of the Blockbuster Movie (X2: X-Men United) (Paperback)

If you are looking for concept art, production stills and behind the scenes photography, this is the book.

The book goes in chronological order, for the most part, and shows the concept drawings and paintings, the storyboard sketches (and text), and places them next to finished photography of the sets and characters, which gives you a great idea of how the concepts are turned into reality.

It takes you into character development for all of the major characters, with concept art to final film stills. The characters covered are: Nightcrawler (with a great full page poster of "the amazing nightcrawler"), Charles Xavier, Wolverine, Jean Grey, Cyclops, Rogue, Storm, Pyro, Magneto, Mystique, Mutant 143, and Lady Deathstrike. Most characters have only 2 pages each, but Nightcrawler, Mystique, Wolverine, Mutant 143, and Lady Deathstrike have multiple pages which show sketches and final photography.

The locations/sets covered in the book are: the White House, X-Mansion, Cerebro, Plastic Prison, X-Jet, Alkali Lake, and Stryker's Base.

This book is 100% filled with great content: drawings, photos, and storyboards, along with a section on the special effects. I wish it were twice as big, but everything in the book is awesome.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Needs just a little more depth, December 21, 2008

By 

Parka (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Art of X2: The Making of the Blockbuster Movie (X2: X-Men United) (Paperback)

Length:: 0:21 Mins

This book is somewhere between "art of" and "making of".

The book starts off looking back at the success of the first X-men movie, and the new challenges and changes to the production. Included is also a very brief story on how Bryan Singer got started in filming, from his schooling days. This book is slightly lacking in depth because all these interesting information are limited to the first few pages.

There are lots of movie stills, storyboards and concept art. Captions are included and there are quotes from the actors who play the individual X-men. The captions tell the obvious and would do better to explain the concept behind the designs as well. Character designs for the X-men comes with a few concept sketches and movie stills. Also included are designs for the X-Mansion and Plastic prison, X-Jet and Stryker's base. The storyboards are on scenes for Nightcrawler's opening sequence, Magneto's escape and X-jet attack.

The book has great page design with the pictures. The author could really use more art to replace the movie stills, but it's really minor as the stills look pretty good. But isn't this suppose to be an art book?

Overall, it's still a very entertaining book to read for fans of the movie.

(More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ar of X2: X-Men United, June 30, 2003

By 

Patricia Huerta (Mexico City, Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of X2: The Collector's Edition, Deluxe Hardcover (X2: X-Men United) (Hardcover)

My first impression was WOW! This book captures the essence of the movie. It's great to see the story boards it just makes you remember every scene of this excellent movie. It's obvious all the crew involved in X2 cared a lot about details and art and this book crowns it. The addition of the movie script is great, i think we fans love to read the original script to see what scenes didnt make it to the final and wonder what they looked like (if they add them in the DVD it would be fantastic). The quality of this book is absolutely great. Beautiful pictures in every page you turn. A must to every X2 fan.