The Art and Making of Hercules (Pictorial Moviebook) - Hardcover

Sunshine, Linda; Ratner, Brett

9780062358356: The Art and Making of Hercules (Pictorial Moviebook)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062358359 ISBN 13: 9780062358356

Publisher: Harper Design, 2014

With more than 200 photos and drawings, the official full-color illustrated companion book to Hercules, the live-action adventure tentpole film from MGM/Paramount starring Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson, directed by Brett Ratner, based on the bestselling graphic novel.

Fate has not been kind to Hercules. The legendary hero-warrior has endured the twelve harsh labors and the loss of his family, and he is now a world-weary mercenary with a loyal band of fighters, all seeking redemption for past misdeeds. In this new adventure, he agrees to help the King of Thrace build an army to fight a tyrannical warlord, then finds himself tested once more when he discovers unexpected treachery and betrayal. But for good to triumph and justice to prevail, Hercules must face the sins of his past—and embrace the hero he once was.

An epic film of gigantic scope and complexity, the film Hercules was shot live entirely on location in Budapest with locations, sets, kingdoms, battles, weapons, warriors, and horses replicating the world centuries ago. This spectacular book fully details the challenging behind-the-scenes creative accomplishment, with details on the sets, costumes, battle sequences, with storyboards, concept art, commentaries from the cast and crew, and extracts from graphic novel and comic book script.

The film stars the hugely popular “The Rock,” Dwayne Johnson and distinguished British actors Rufus Sewell, Ian McShane, John Hurt, and Joseph Fiennes. Director Brett Ratner assembled a top crew to create the film, including Production Designer Jean-Vincent Puzos, (300; Amour; 10,000 BC); Costume Designer Jany Temime (Skyfall and all 10 Harry Potter movies); Art Directors Robert Cowper and Jason Knox-Johnson, (Saving Private Ryan, Inception; Skyfall); Cinematographer Dante Spinotti (X-Men: The Last Stand; The Last of the Mohicans); and Visual Effects Supervisor John Bruno, (Avatar; Titanic; Terminator 2.)

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From the Back Cover:

For fascinating insights into how a major Hollywood action film of gigantic scope and complexity is made—especially one shot entirely on location in Hungary with sets, kingdoms, costumes, weapons, horses, chariots, and warriors that transport us to a world never before seen on film—go to The Art & Making of Hercules, which celebrates the artists, actors, and filmmakers behind the Brett Ratner epic film, starring the incredible Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson and featuring distinguished British actors Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Joseph Fiennes, Peter Mullan, and John Hurt.

Lavishly illustrated, the book features more than 300 production photos, sketches, storyboards, pre-visualization stills, computer graphics, costume drawings, 3-D renderings, set decorations, digital photo compositions, Weta Workshop concept paintings, and comic book panels and artwork. Laced throughout are cast and crew commentaries, script excerpts, and extracts from the Radical Studios graphic novel that became the inspiration for director Brett Ratner's new vision.

"Every aspect of our movie was meant to deemphasize the use of visual effects and focus instead on tangible in-camera execution....Visually, we wanted to demystify ancient Greece.... Our tale is different from any prior incarnation of Hercules," Ratner explains in his introduction. "No gods. No overt superhuman powers, a complete deconstruction of the myth...Our Hercules is mortal. He is not alone. He wanders about ancient Greece, a world-weary mercenary, haunted by his past, joined by five loyal companions with individuality, specific skill sets, and, most importantly, purpose."

The making of Hercules was as unprecedented as the 3,000-year-old legend itself, and all that excitement is brilliantly captured here for fans and collectors alike.

About the Author:

Linda Sunshine is the author of more than sixty books, including novels, humor books, and other Newmarket Pictorial Moviebooks on the films How to Train Your Dragon 2, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, The Mummy: Tomb of the Emperor Soldier, Angels & Demons, and Saving Private Ryan. She lives in Los Angeles.

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