Customer Reviews

Industrial Light & Magic: Into the Digital Realm

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4 star:		(3)
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If you know about visual effects, you know about ILM. And this book describes their work over the last ten years in great detail. The illustrations are superb, and the pullouts are simply spectacular. If i do have one gripe, it is the fact that they really don't go into the real process of the digital effects. They do to a point, but since i work with these type of programs, i would like to see how the masters do it.

For 25 years Industrial Light and Magic has woven magic into countless films, either subtle images through `invisible' effects such as matte paintings or through eye-popping visuals that stand out vividly against the film backdrop. ILM has made it's mark on history, for not only have they been and still are the premiere effects house in Hollywood, they have innovated and invented more technology than any other studio, additionally they have won awards for the processing and compositing technology they have created. ILM had to be the best at special effects, because their flagship title - STAR WARS - demanded the best, because that's what Lucas wanted.

`Into the Digital Realm' isn't so much an abandonment of ILM of the traditional methods of special effects, rather a point of departure for the new technology and all of things that led up to it. Indeed, ILM's work on `The Hunt For Red October' submarine work involved flying the submerged vessels from wires in a smoky room - effects do not get any more traditional than that. Released in 96, the book doesn't mention that Phantom Menace or even that the film is in production. It does have some revised images from the Star Wars special edition. As with the previous tome, this one is packed with hundreds of color photos, plus the same beautiful gate fold images.

If the center piece for the previous book was Star Wars, Digital Realms' focus is obviously Jurassic Park, because it was the first film to use CG on so large a scale, even more than Terminator 2, which ILM also did. Jurassic Park was also the test bed and showcase piece that convinced Lucas that computers had finally matured enough to bring what he had in mind to the screen for the new Star Wars films. More is the pity, because I came to loathe most of the aliens in the Phantom Menace. Digital Realm clearly explains in easy to understand terms how effects - both new and old - are accomplished, be it something as simple as making it appear as if buildings are actually much taller than they or having a velociraptor walk _behind_ a plant situated in the foreground. I have both of these wonderful books, and I strongly recommend them to anyone who is curious about ILM's history and the process of how effects are made.

One of the greatest 'making of' writers Patricia Rose Duignan's Industrial Light & Magic: Into the Digital Realm is one of my all-time favorite books, charting the journey of ILM from fledgling company in George Lucas' garage to the No.1 Special Effects company in the world. Insightful and comprehensive, this is flawless reading and has some great accompanying images from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and surprisingly some of their lesser-known movies like Willow and Hook. An essential movie book, I just love every page, so carefully written, so rich in detail, it leaves the reader feeling that they have experienced something very special. Fantastic and brilliant. BUY IT NOW!

After having read the book "The Art of Special Effects" about ILM first decade it was out of the question for me not to buy this book. The book first gives a look back at the good old days at ILM. While reading the text, which is perfectly illustrated with hundreds of color pictures and drawings, the reader comprehends very quickly that the transition from optical, traditional special effects to the state-of-the-art digital effects of blockbusters like "Jurassic Park" was more than just switching on computers. An era ended and a new one started, giving the specialist at ILM more power to fulfill their dreams - and those of million moviegowers.

The author uses a different approach to explain the special effects. In "The Art of Special Effects" the tricks were explained by introducing the different departments. Here the author uses different movies which have been milestones for ILM.

Although the book is very detailed and informative it lacks the thrilling writing of its predecessor "The Art of Special Effects". Never the less a must for every movie buff and everyone interested in the making of movies.

ILM performs the significance change of cinematography and ILM is the pioneer of digital movie production. This book contains the ideas of movie-making which is the atractive material today.

An extraordinary book about an extraordinary company. You will know all you want to know about special effects wizardry. The book is well published, even watching its pictures is joyful.

Book deep dives into ILM and their evolution in cinema. A very insiteful and inspiring read for any aspiring filmmaker! I have over 35 filmmaker books on different crafts and elements, and this book in on my top 5.

First there was ILM, covering the 1st decade of this fantastic Special Effects Company.
This is the second book of the series, covering the main movies from the second decade of existence of this company.
An execelent finishing, great value book (although it is a litle expensive, the book quality is exceptional).
Essencial to all Special Effects lovers.

The book is huge and heavy. Every single page has at least several great color photographs and it is a big book. You will love to read about ILM's ventures into the digital realm. It is very technology orientated, but not too much and does talk about the film making process and ILM in general. This is well worth looking at especially for fans of ILM or those who want to see what goes on behind the scenes or for those looking for a career in this direction. This is a good place for inspiration.

Although it does not cover the more recent movies you will still get the picture here. It starts by talking about go-motion and then moves onto the first ever digital sequence and how much people slaved over it before going into detail with the evolution of that process and of the special edition of Star Wars and Speilberg's "J. Park".

The book looks fantastic. Keep it for your grandkids. I am sure they will love you for it. This is the kind of book that you will turn to time and time again just to see "how they did that".

If you want to know about special effects, this is the book. Simple as that.