Got a chance to see a preview of this fortcoming SW costume book. There's both a limited edition version with all this extra stuff and the plain book with no extras


Some pix of the limited edition Dressing book:

Whole package:


Goodies:


Vader cape packet:


Wookie buckle


Imperial types who warned me to move along:



I have a few promo pieces I can scan another time.

Also got some preview stuff for the Chronicles Prequels.
You can see the cover for it and the SW Posters book here:


Sorry for the glare.

Thanks for getting what you got Probe Droid, I didn't even know this book existed. This thing is going for almost US$200 on Amazon whenever they decide to start shipping it.

That's for the version with all this extra stuff. The book will be available separately for $50.

Here's the cover of a new DK book coming in the October. DK also is publishing The Complete Locations of Star Wars in November :

Thanks for those pictures probe.

Did you get a look inside the Complete Locations book?

What I am wondering is if they have compiled every location that was available in the Separate Books that came before(Locations of...Original Trilogy, Ep I, and Ep II) or made a sort of "Best of"

I know it says Complete, but you know how much that word is worth in the majority of publications.

TheSessler:

The finished book wasn't available yet. The catalog description for the Complete Locations title says "The Complete Locations of Star Wars uses illustrations and text to reveal the planets from every movie in the Star Wars saga, including Revenge of the Sith.

It's 176 pages, which is pretty long for these DK books, and since the other Locations books are 40-50 pages, my guess is that its everything sandwhiched together with some new Sith stuff.

I have a contact at DK. I'll email her and get more info.

Talked to my NY DK contact, who forwarded the query to London. Here's what's in both books:

"Complete Locations is all the previous locations books put together, plus the all new Episode 3 material and some general updates like the complete listing of Star Wars planets etc. It's got a foreword by the Production Designer on the new trilogy films, who loves our locations books and had these out on set of Revenge of the Sith. The new Ep 3 stuff is fantastic and there are a total of 4 gatefold spreads.

Ult Star Wars is ALL new material. Nothing is repeated from the Vis Dicts at all. Also has a great forewod by Ian McDiarmud who plays Darth Sidious. "

There you have it. They sound pretty good.

hey probe did you happen to catch anymore info on the ultimate guide book?

Thanks for the images. I can't wait to see this book. Costumers are going to just swarm this book!

Hey, do you know what the "Vader's Cape" deally-thingy is? Is it by any chance a patern, or what?

I've ordered the Sideshow Weta Version that includes patches of costumes from Padme, Obi-Wan, Vader and others.

just got the ultimate guide today and must say its wonderful, its 144 pages and has awesome illustrations and pictures. Anybody else get it yet?

Kip,

I got both the "Ultimate Visual Guide" and Knoll's "365 Days" yesterday.


-Ryder Windham's Ultimate Visual Guide

I think that the Ultimate Visual Guide is a joke, but that is of course only a matter of taste. It's a collection of drawings taken from Dark Horse EU comics, with a few production stills we have seen a thousand times. 80% of dark horse drawings, 20% of movie stills. Even for the too few movie related pages they chose excerpts from the graphic novels as illustrations rather than pics from the actual movies !!!!!!

The Starwars history told in this book is 90% EU, with only bits and pieces from the movies ! For exemple, the history of the Sith contradicts itself : it compiles everything that has been said on the matter, including pre-prequel comics (outdated) and video games ! Video games ! Which leads to pages and pages of nonsense ! The most interesting aspects of Sith history as hinted at in movies and prequel novelizations are more or less ignored.
It tries to tie *everything* together no matter what, and it really weakens the story imagined by George Lucas.

Quite surprisingly, the movies take a back seat to the EU !! For exemple,the events of "Splinters of the Mind's eye" (with Luke and Leia confronting Vader between episode IV and V) now become part of the official starwars history and take two full pages. Same with Shadows of the Empire. Any little DH series is mentionned and made canon (series about the red guards, tie fighters pilots, ...). The end of the galactic Empire in ROTJ is just another episode in the EU glactic history and the book goes on with Thrawn, Dark Empire, etc, etc ... The problem is that there is no differenciation made between the worst EU fictions and Lucas' vision. It's all mixed together and the movies really get lost in that stinking mix.

Nothing really interesting is said about character motivations. The author definitely believes RPG source books more than Lucas' DVD commentaries. If you really try to read it you'll find it's a disjointed, self-contradictory patchwork with horrible illustrations.

The only thing worth the price is, in my opinion, Ian Mc Diarmid's foreword. Too bad he wrote it for that ""book"".

If you're looking for a book tying up everything that has ever been said and told about Starwars into one big story, this is for you. So I understand it might please some. It is all a matter of taste and expectations in the end.

In any case, don't let the advertising or title of the book mislead you : it is not a visual dictionary like those that were released for the OT and Ep I, II, III. It never goes into as much details, and it is much less centered on movies. It's a whole different thing. It doesn't even compare to the visual dictionaries ! I think that's the important thing to keep in mind before to buy this book.


-John Knoll's "Creating the worlds of Starwars : 365 days"


Now that is a great book. Each and every page of this book, each and every pic is worth twice the price you pay for it.

You'll find many, many never seen before behind-the-scenes pics for both the PT and OT. Quality of even the older pics is incredible. John Knoll's notes are a great read and you'll learn many funny things about how these movies were made. It doesn't focus too much on SFX, but really goes into set building, on set shooting, etc. It covers everything.

For those who liked the Making Of documentary on the OT DVD bonus disc this book is a welcome addition : you'll find enough OT behind-the-scene pics to satisfy the hardcore OT fans. And for PT fans it really is an hyperspace set diary printed on paper.

Except for a few screenshots from the movies, I think most of the pics if not all, are rare or new.

Buy it. You won't regret it. I consider buying a second copy of it. It's that good.

Thank you Mr Knoll.

PS : The book comes with a CD-Rom, but I haven't had time to check it yet.

Well, I agree with you that 365 Days is a great book, but I also think the Ultimate Visual Guide is fantastic as well. I thoroughly enjoyed it and think the book is much better than you're giving it credit for.

KLM42, it's not a bad book in itself. Some work sure has been done. It's the greatest tribute possible to the guys over there at Lucasfilm Licensing Ltd.

So if you're really into EU, if you think that graphic novel drawings look better than movie stills, that Darth Nihilus ( what the ... ?????) is as important a character as Darth Sidious, then I admit this book must be a dream come true.


But if you think that Starwars is a six movies saga (with a few serious tie in novels and source books to fill the gaps, Luceno's work come to my mind) and trust Lucas' word more than any other source, then you'll eat your hat.


It's just strange they called it "Starwars Ultimate Visual Guide". Quite misguiding this title is ... I ordered it through Amazon because I live in the middle of nowhere in France. But had I had the opportunity to find it in a shop and have a look at it, meditate on buying it I would have !

I don't like this book. That's my opinion.
It's a EU bible. That's a fact.

It comes down to this : Do you want a EU ultimate guide or not ?



-This book was our last hope.

-No. There is another ...

Please help, what is the Weta version?

Have ordered one of the Numbered Limited Edition (Deluxe) version from Insight Editions

Seems to be a little heavier in covering the PT Costumes (Even one of Padme's cut from Ep.3) with only select ones items from the OT - It'll have to do

Would be nice if (the work of/they were involved): John Mollo / McQuarrie / J.Johnston / Nilo Rodis-Jamero / Reynolds / Barry

Looking forward to:

- 16 plates that include fabric swatches from the actual bolts kept within the LucasFilm archives (mostly from "Sith" costumes) including a swatch of actual costume material that was used for Darth Vader's cape (I would assume Ep.3)
I have experience with the value (both financially & as a fan-collectible) of some of the Pro Sport (Hockey) fabric swatches that they have inserted into the Cards since '95, truely awesome!

- 25-minute DVD
- Behind the Seams insert


Have read that the OS stated Trish Biggar's autograph would be on the Limited Edition's Certificate of Authenticity (which is incorrect), LucasFilm's Licensing Division has stated that it is the President and Publisher's signatures that are on the certificate of authenticity.
Biggar is signing a vellum insert that will go in the first 1,000 copies of the Limited Edition with the assumption that those particular books MAY be sold (they don't seem to know for sure yet) in L.A at the Fashion Exhibit (Oct-Dec '05)

YAY! I got my book today.

Fucking fantastic. Some AWESOME pictures of Natalie that I have never seen before. Glorious.

Now to watch the DVD...

I'd imagine yours is of Deluxe Edition, Can't wait - Have to ask!

Q: Is it with Biggar's autograph?

- How big is the Vader's Cape swatch?

- Is there any work or reference to Mollo / McQuarrie / J.Johnston / Nilo Rodis-Jamero / Reynolds / Barry in the book?

Never thought they'd release a book like this!

The DVD sucked. It was just the web doco's for TPM, AotC, and RotS - and one EPK for RotS.

Meh.


1) Mine is the one with Trisha's sig - no.263.

2) Vader's cape swatch is about 3 x 4.5 inch. There are tons of other swatches too.

3) The book mainly focus' on the PT - although there is a complete costume listing at the back (although not that complete ).

Got mine from Sideshow Thursday, signed number 233-- Wow!

Hey Ternian, were all your swatches inside from RotS?

Err...I don't think so. I think I had some EpI and EpII swatches.

Not all of my 'additional' book was filled with swatches...bit odd.

My book is hit-and-miss with the swatches too. I'm wondering if we all get different ones, or there are a lot of duplicates.

Oh, and my Wookie buckle isn't painted like the photos above.

Cool stuff, I wish I could buy it...

Mine arrived from Sideshow as well, number 303. For my 10 cents, it's actually a bit of a let down. I mean, it presents really well in its package, but many of the photos we've seen before, either on Hyperspace or in press packs, etc. I think I was expecting more detailed photos of specific costume parts.

The fabric swatches seem pretty random - anyone get one of the Jango fabric? (I didn't.)

Have to wait for the PT Chronicles now...

My fabric swatches:

Obi-Wan Kenobi, RotS
Neimoidian Gunner, RotS
Padme, RotS
Neimoidian Aide, RotS
Senator Amidala, RotS
Senator Bail Organa, RotS
Anakin Skywalker, RotS
Palpatine Federation Robe, RotS (yes, it does feel very reptilian :p )
Padme, Peacock Dress, RotS
Motee, RotS

There are a lot of new character names in this book I have never heard of before.

Thanks for listing those swatches Tern. I got the same ones as you.

My Book from Insight Editions has arrived

- Me three on the Costume Fabric swatches in the JAK Prod. Folder and the lack of Green paint on the Wookie Buckle

Some differences from the above pics:
My DVD has Obi-Wan (Prequel) on it's front and there is no image of Vader on the front of his cape's Fabric Packet (Just the Imperial Logo)

- Let down by the DVD
- I do like the 'Cut from a Different Cloth' Digital Costumes Book (Nice pics of Grievous) and 'Behind the Seams'

- The Hardcore Collector in me would liked to have seen more involvement from the OT costume designers for a complete look at the costumes of the 'SW' Galaxy

-The Costume Index could have been more of a Fold-Out style with bigger images

- Quite a few new pic's but poor attempt on the costumes of the Mos Eisley Cantina

- A generous 7.5 out of 10 is my rating

Next on to John Knoll's 'Creating the worlds of Starwars: 365 days'

I just got the book and while it is amazing there are costumes that weren't covered in the $35.00 version. I'm wondering if the more expensive version covered them.

But all in all it is an incredible resource for costumers.

The Advertising Folder that I picked up at C3 states some differences in the two

Trade Edition: 300 Illustrations
236 pages
2 - 6 Pg. Gatefolds

Numbered Limited Edition: 2,500 copies
500 Illstrations
288 pages
Encased in a 16 x 13 cloth clamshell box wrapped with Japanese Obe Silk

Not sure if Trade Edition includes: DVD, Wookie Buckle, Various Insert Booklets, Vader (Ep.3) cape Fabric, Costume Swatches, Behind the Seams Book, CGI costume book