The Making of Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (Paperback)

by J.W. Rinzler (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
'Contains everything anyone could ever want to know about the pre-production, filming, post-production of Episode III...absolutely riveting 4*', Heat .'The text is accompanied by some eye-popping illustrations, an array of behind-the-scenes shots. Immaculately presented on top quality paper, this all-encompassing diary will be a must have for Star Wars addicts', Film Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
This is it–the climax of the greatest science fiction movie epic of all time, and Star Wars fans can venture behind the scenes for all the fascinating details. From the first story discussions to the final stages of post production, The Making of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is an exclusive, unprecedented look at the crafting of the most anticipated and perhaps the most important Star Wars film ever.

Packed with hundreds of never-before-seen photos and interviews with the visual-effects teams, cast, and crew–including writer/director George Lucas and producer Rick McCallum–this outstanding volume offers a rare insider’s look at the complete creative process. Granted unprecedented access to all those involved at every stage of the film, author and Lucasfilm senior editor J. W. Rinzler captures in riveting detail the intense drama and cliffhangers that occurred as production worked day and night for three years to bring their monumental undertaking to conclusion. Readers will uncover

• details on how the art and animatics departments teamed up with ILM to create the spectacular opening sequence, perhaps the greatest Star Wars space battle ever produced
• revelations on the genesis of archvillain General Grievous within the Episode III art department
• accounts of how George Lucas and Rick McCallum reached critical decisions in often pressure-laden situations
• exclusive interviews with Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor on how they prepared for their thrilling lightsaber duel as Anakin and Obi-Wan
• An eyewitness account of the reappearance of Darth Vader on the set in Sydney, Australia

Finally, there’s the film editing–Lucas’s favorite part of the moviemaking process. This portrait of the legendary director captures the down-to-the-wire tension encountered in getting to the final cut.

Fueled by his imagination and his beginnings as a documentary filmmaker, Lucas makes films the way some painters create canvases, building layer upon layer in each frame of the film. And this book takes the reader along for the ride.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (April 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345431391
• ISBN-13: 978-0345431394
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #570,456 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic and Mayhem behind the scenes...., April 25, 2005

By	Fruit Loop (Down South) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

As thrilling as the movies themselves, these accounts of making them add to any hardcore "Star Wars" fan's enjoyment. Mishaps, inside jokes, the pressure of deadlines, meticulous attention to detail, the intricate choreography of the space battles and duels, and how those fabulous special effects are done are almost as exciting as the finished product. The demands placed upon the actors, who must "interact" convincingly with characters and weaponry that isn't even there (added later by special effects artists and computer animators) is astounding. The reader gains a new appreciation for the genius of George Lucas and crew...as well as a hope that this won't REALLY be the last of this magnificent saga. I also recommend the excellent "Once Upon a Galaxy" which is the making of "The Empire Strikes Back."

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Casual and Die-Hard SW fans- -as well as Filmakers!!, April 6, 2005

By	Shawn Michaels "The Heartbreak Kid" (from every girls dream) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Making of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (Hardcover)

Like everyone else has written, this book is just so full of great things related to Star Wars, not just Episode 3.

George Lucas will always be "The Man" who got me into filmaking(Robert Rodriguez is a close second), and its great to read about his thought process of concluding the Star Wars saga and the saga as a whole. I love the excerpt when he said something to the extent of Hollywood would never let Episode I be Episode I, but Episode I be made like Episode III for 3 WHOLE MOVIES. As much as unpopular Episode I was, he stood by his conviction of telling the first 3 stories the way they had to be told, arm-chair quarterbacks and critics who will never have 1/1000th of his success, be damned.

Written in logs, this book is a diary of the start to finish of making Episode 3, along with side notes, trivia, conceptual art, etc. What I like most about the book, is that I learned more about filmaking from an on-set insider POV with all parties involved(Lucas himself, Cinematographers, Producers, Assistants, Art Teams, Actors, Editors, etc.)than reading "filmaking" books or taking film classes.

I'm not really fickle about spoilers, but keep in mind this book has many. If you want to get the book AFTER watching the movie, by all means, do that, just get the book!! Just when you want to put the book down, you find something new and interesting!!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb eyewitness account of a technological masterpiece, May 22, 2005

By	Derek G (Las Vegas, Nevada) - See all my reviews

If you're the type of person who enjoys the behind-the-scenes documentaries of moviemaking, this book will make you feel like a Hollywood insider. Regardless of your opinion of the movie itself, most can successfully argue George Lucas has once again managed to raise the bar in the realm of visual effects and digital production.

You may be surprised to know the entire movie was shot in less than two months. The book is laid out like a diary, with day-by-day discussions of the various scenes and what the actors and crew were going through as the movie was being shot. Considering over half the movie was digitally animated, the book is also chock full of art and photographs from initial concept to finished product.

Beware, this book covers the movie inside and out, so there are plenty of spoilers. However, once you've seen the movie, this book will likely make you want to see it again to catch everything you missed.