From Star Wars to Indiana Jones: The Best of the Lucasfilm Archives

by Mark Cotta Vaz

George Lucas has produced some of the most popular movies ever, including the classic "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" trilogies. Thanks to Lucas's foresight and the dedication of Lucasfilm archivists, the artifacts used in the making of his films have been painstakingly preserved. "From Star Wars to Indiana Jones" presents some of the best of Lucasfilm's enduring creations, from Yoda and R2-D2 to the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail. Now readers everywhere can take a tour of the marvelous world of the Lucasfilm Archives, with its incredible collection of costumes, props, puppets, models, and matte paintings used in the making of both the "Star Wars" and Indiana Jones movies. Veterans of the legendary first Industrial Light & Magic effects team that created "Star Wars" share their secrets, along with an astonishing array of behind-the-scenes production illustrations, storyboards, and prototypes--many appearing for the first time in book form--all accompanied by a lively text that tells the fascinating stories behind the art of movie-making. Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of full-color photographs and illustrations, this treasury captures the remarkable imagery, as well as the wonder, of the Lucasfilm universe in an essential acquisition for countless fans the world over.To the Official "Star Wars" Web Site
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Genres: Star Wars, Nonfiction, Art, Media Tie In, Reference, History, Film

216 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1995

About the author

Mark Cotta Vaz is the author of over twenty-one books, including four New York Times bestsellers. His recent works include Mythic Vision: The Making of Eragon, The Spirit: The Movie Visual Companion, and the biography Living Dangerously: The Adventures of Merian C. Cooper, Creator of King Kong, which was a Los Angeles Times bestseller.

Reviews

[Parka · Rating 4 out of 5]

(More pictures at parkablogs.com)

Here's a book for all those Star Wars and Indiana Jones fans. This book showcases the models, creatures, props, costumes, matte paintings and art used for the movies, the Star Wars prequels and the three Indiana Jones.

There's not a lot of writeup but they are always interesting to read. It's a great look behind the scenes are all the props used during filming. Sometimes the models are miniatures, sometimes they are life size, like Jabba the Hutt. There are a lot of close up shots on the miniature spaceships which shows details (or in-jokes) like tiny Star Wars and Playboy posters hanging on the cockpit. The book really features too many items to mention.

The matte paintings for backgrounds are pretty spectacular. It will definitely make you see the movies differently on re-runs, wondering what's real and what's not.

This is a nice archive that will sure to delight the fans. However for the comprehensive definitive guides, check out Star Wars Chronicles, Star Wars Chronicles: The Prequels and The Complete Making of Indiana Jones.

[Davide · Rating 5 out of 5]

E' una raccolta commentata di schizzi preparatori, storyboard, mock-up, giornaliere di regia, fondali, armi, oggetti di scena e tanto altro della trilogia "classica" di Star Wars (episodi IV-VI) e dei tre film di Indiana Jones. Tanto per fare un esempio, ancora non c'era la computer grafica all'epoca, e tutti i fondali da utilizzare in bluescreen erano rigorosamente dipinti a mano... Vere opere d'arte! Il volume è in lingua inglese.

[Dennis Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Released in 1994, this covers SW IV-V-VI and IJ I-II-III. Beautifully illustrated with storyboards, production art, matte paintings and photos of props, miniatures and sets. Many detailed images that were new to me.

[Andrew Shapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great souvenir from a place I’ve never been…but would certainly like to go to…

[Pedro Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A jewel for the hardcore fans of the original trilogies of Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

[Andrew Ives · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a game of two halves - Star Wars + Indiana Jones. The first half, as one might expect is the interesting half, with a brief story of how George Lucas started out, details of what were state-of-the-art cinema techniques and out-of-this-world props/models. There isn't much text, but the pictures are very good.

The second half is similar in style, only I've never much liked Indiana Jones, haven't seen any of the films fully, so props like a whip, a pocket watch, an old diary, are not in the same league as TIE fighters and AT-ATs. Spielberg's sketches and crude maquettes are extremely underwhelming too.

N.B. The assumption is that the reader has seen all the films mentioned herein, and is consequently full of spoilers, so if you haven't, you either won't understand what they're talking about or you'll have the films ruined for you. An enjoyable quick read, but I'd prefer a Star Wars-only version of this book. 4/5

[RumBelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing look inside one of the most prolific, and imaginative, movie companies of all time. The book detailed many of the artifacts we know and love that have been preserved from George Lucas's most loved movies.

[Sean Chick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books like this make it clear why the prequels suck.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the Art Work and all of the info about both franchises.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

[Willkindrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that inspired me to be a filmmaker when I was a kid.