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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
|
Length:
1:26
Mins
The Art of Thor is a 240 page hardcover art book that comes with a slipcase. The cover has a faux leather texture with the title embossed and a sticker of a piece of art pasted. The paper quality is like thicker magazine paper, just like the Iron Man movie art books, also published by Marvel.
If you haven't watch the movie, the spoilers in the book will come in the form of characters that aren't shown in the trailers. There are lots of designs for the characters, namely Thor, Odin, Loki, Destroyer, enemies and other lesser characters. Each character has several costume variations. The armor and especially the helmets are very beautifully designed. The costumes designs are done really well. Designs for the Destroyer is very cool.
The environment art are on Asgard and its various places like Odin's chamber, palace ground, Heimdall's Observatory, Jotunheim and also the sets on Earth. They aren't digitally painted - touched up definitely - and have a very CGI look with the photo textures. The concepts and design are great, you get the feeling that Asgard is a beautiful place but somehow the style of the art just doesn't bring that out.
The rest of the book have other stuff like designs for the hammer, Odin's horse, photos of the props and actors, movie posters etc. Most of the art are accompanied by commentary providing interesting background information, like why they create runes on the hammer and what they are.
The downside of the book is the less than satisfactory resolution of the art included. The image resolution isn't high enough for the large format book. Some of the pictures look pixelated, especially for those that are scaled over 2 pages, typically the background art.
So overall, the character art is great, but the background art and low image resolution don't quite make the mark for me.
(There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)
If you haven't watch the movie, the spoilers in the book will come in the form of characters that aren't shown in the trailers. There are lots of designs for the characters, namely Thor, Odin, Loki, Destroyer, enemies and other lesser characters. Each character has several costume variations. The armor and especially the helmets are very beautifully designed. The costumes designs are done really well. Designs for the Destroyer is very cool.
The environment art are on Asgard and its various places like Odin's chamber, palace ground, Heimdall's Observatory, Jotunheim and also the sets on Earth. They aren't digitally painted - touched up definitely - and have a very CGI look with the photo textures. The concepts and design are great, you get the feeling that Asgard is a beautiful place but somehow the style of the art just doesn't bring that out.
The rest of the book have other stuff like designs for the hammer, Odin's horse, photos of the props and actors, movie posters etc. Most of the art are accompanied by commentary providing interesting background information, like why they create runes on the hammer and what they are.
The downside of the book is the less than satisfactory resolution of the art included. The image resolution isn't high enough for the large format book. Some of the pictures look pixelated, especially for those that are scaled over 2 pages, typically the background art.
So overall, the character art is great, but the background art and low image resolution don't quite make the mark for me.
(There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
14 reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Good character art
6 May 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Art of Thor is a 240 page hardcover art book that comes with a slipcase. The cover has a faux leather texture with the title embossed and a sticker of a piece of art pasted. The paper quality is like thicker magazine paper, just like the Iron Man movie art books, also published by Marvel.
If you haven't watch the movie, the spoilers in the book will come in the form of characters that aren't shown in the trailers. There are lots of designs for the characters, namely Thor, Odin, Loki, Destroyer, enemies and other lesser characters. Each character has several costume variations. The armor and especially the helmets are very beautifully designed. The costumes designs are done really well. Designs for the Destroyer is very cool.
The environment art are on Asgard and its various places like Odin's chamber, palace ground, Heimdall's Observatory, Jotunheim and also the sets on Earth. They aren't digitally painted - touched up definitely - and have a very CGI look with the photo textures. The concepts and design are great, you get the feeling that Asgard is a beautiful place but somehow the style of the art just doesn't bring that out.
The rest of the book have other stuff like designs for the hammer, Odin's horse, photos of the props and actors, movie posters etc. Most of the art are accompanied by commentary providing interesting background information, like why they create runes on the hammer and what they are.
The downside of the book is the less than satisfactory resolution of the art included. The image resolution isn't high enough for the large format book. Some of the pictures look pixelated, especially for those that are scaled over 2 pages, typically the background art.
So overall, the character art is great, but the background art and low image resolution don't quite make the mark for me.
(There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)
If you haven't watch the movie, the spoilers in the book will come in the form of characters that aren't shown in the trailers. There are lots of designs for the characters, namely Thor, Odin, Loki, Destroyer, enemies and other lesser characters. Each character has several costume variations. The armor and especially the helmets are very beautifully designed. The costumes designs are done really well. Designs for the Destroyer is very cool.
The environment art are on Asgard and its various places like Odin's chamber, palace ground, Heimdall's Observatory, Jotunheim and also the sets on Earth. They aren't digitally painted - touched up definitely - and have a very CGI look with the photo textures. The concepts and design are great, you get the feeling that Asgard is a beautiful place but somehow the style of the art just doesn't bring that out.
The rest of the book have other stuff like designs for the hammer, Odin's horse, photos of the props and actors, movie posters etc. Most of the art are accompanied by commentary providing interesting background information, like why they create runes on the hammer and what they are.
The downside of the book is the less than satisfactory resolution of the art included. The image resolution isn't high enough for the large format book. Some of the pictures look pixelated, especially for those that are scaled over 2 pages, typically the background art.
So overall, the character art is great, but the background art and low image resolution don't quite make the mark for me.
(There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Good overall
27 April 2011
Format:Hardcover
I just received my copy of The Art of Thor and overall my first impression is good. It comes in a slipcase with a nice spot varnish printing. The book is bound in a brown faux leather with gold embossing. This was a very nice aspect to the publication. The paper stock is ok (I've seen thicker) and the printing is good overall, but I noticed that about half a dozen images were enlarged too much and thus pixelated (on a first browsing of the book).
The book is divided into 8 chapters:
1. Forging a Hero
2. Gods and Monsters
3. Brothers in Arms
4. Brave New Worlds
5. Tools of the Trade
6. Closer to Home
7. Bringing the Thunder
8. The Legend Debuts
For better or worse this book isn't text-heavy. It is an Art of book so it really does showcase the art. Maybe they will also release a making of book in the future. I did enjoy looking at all of the concept artwork, particularly the Brave New Worlds chapter, but I have a particular interest in conceptualizing environments/architecture etc. I also enjoyed the content (i.e. Norse myth and narrative) and following the process from concept to visualization.
My only real complaint is that some of the images are enlarged too much and are pixelated.
The book is divided into 8 chapters:
1. Forging a Hero
2. Gods and Monsters
3. Brothers in Arms
4. Brave New Worlds
5. Tools of the Trade
6. Closer to Home
7. Bringing the Thunder
8. The Legend Debuts
For better or worse this book isn't text-heavy. It is an Art of book so it really does showcase the art. Maybe they will also release a making of book in the future. I did enjoy looking at all of the concept artwork, particularly the Brave New Worlds chapter, but I have a particular interest in conceptualizing environments/architecture etc. I also enjoyed the content (i.e. Norse myth and narrative) and following the process from concept to visualization.
My only real complaint is that some of the images are enlarged too much and are pixelated.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
For Asgard and Honor Eternal
28 July 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am not an aficionado of "Art of ..." books as The Art of Thor is only the fourth one I have purchased in 40 years. I was, however, a big fan of Marvel's long-haired hammer thrower back in the Jack Kirby days and getting this book was really a no-brainer for me. I was curious as to the evolutionary process by which director Kenneth Branagh transferred Kirby's artwork perfection onto the silver screen.
Like the movie, this book does not disappoint. It features many concept drawings that show how Kirby's Thor costume and helmet designs went from the 2-D comic book page to the 3-D world of cinema. As most of us know, just because it looks great on paper does not mean that it will look equally great on a live actor. Thor's helmet is an example. On paper, Thor shouldn't be without it, but in the movie one realizes just how much of Thor's face it hides (as a battle helmet should). Wisely, the movie establishes that Thor does indeed wear the helmet, then promptly drops it so we can see the actor act. It is also interesting to see actor Chris Hemsworth posing in various rough-design costumes (everyone knew that the placement of the six discs was critical to audiences accepting the costume) and realize how much he bulked up for the role. The text describing Thor's cape is very informative as capes are notoriously difficult to manage in the real world. Of course very few Marvel superheroes need worry about them, but just ask Superman or Batman!
Of particular interest is the design of Mjolnir, Thor's hammer. Branagh did not feel bound to use Kirby's design and had the art department generate about 200 versions, 27 of which are shown in the book. Then, Branagh went back to basics and used Kirby's original design (which is nowhere near what is depicted in ancient Norse texts) with some small embellishments.
Of course the other characters (along with their costumes and weapons) get similar treatment, but at a lower page count. I would have liked to see more about the Gort-like Destroyer, including a shot of the life-size version. The section about Laufey and the Cask of Ancient Winters are just perfect.
There are many drawing and shots of the sets and other props too. All the pictures are high quality, with good contrast and sharpness. The book paper is obviously glossy and also high quality.
But the book is not perfect. The most annoying feature is the page numbering. One can flip through many pages and not find a page number, then they appear and disappear. The art being depicted determines if a page number is present. Some art is so good that a page number would distract from its beauty. Still, it is annoying to not know where one is in the book.
The other gripe is that Wen's wonderful rendition of Thor battling Loki on the bifrost bridge appears only on the cover. It should have been included as a large foldout.
Bottom line: If you liked the movie, this book is a "must."
Like the movie, this book does not disappoint. It features many concept drawings that show how Kirby's Thor costume and helmet designs went from the 2-D comic book page to the 3-D world of cinema. As most of us know, just because it looks great on paper does not mean that it will look equally great on a live actor. Thor's helmet is an example. On paper, Thor shouldn't be without it, but in the movie one realizes just how much of Thor's face it hides (as a battle helmet should). Wisely, the movie establishes that Thor does indeed wear the helmet, then promptly drops it so we can see the actor act. It is also interesting to see actor Chris Hemsworth posing in various rough-design costumes (everyone knew that the placement of the six discs was critical to audiences accepting the costume) and realize how much he bulked up for the role. The text describing Thor's cape is very informative as capes are notoriously difficult to manage in the real world. Of course very few Marvel superheroes need worry about them, but just ask Superman or Batman!
Of particular interest is the design of Mjolnir, Thor's hammer. Branagh did not feel bound to use Kirby's design and had the art department generate about 200 versions, 27 of which are shown in the book. Then, Branagh went back to basics and used Kirby's original design (which is nowhere near what is depicted in ancient Norse texts) with some small embellishments.
Of course the other characters (along with their costumes and weapons) get similar treatment, but at a lower page count. I would have liked to see more about the Gort-like Destroyer, including a shot of the life-size version. The section about Laufey and the Cask of Ancient Winters are just perfect.
There are many drawing and shots of the sets and other props too. All the pictures are high quality, with good contrast and sharpness. The book paper is obviously glossy and also high quality.
But the book is not perfect. The most annoying feature is the page numbering. One can flip through many pages and not find a page number, then they appear and disappear. The art being depicted determines if a page number is present. Some art is so good that a page number would distract from its beauty. Still, it is annoying to not know where one is in the book.
The other gripe is that Wen's wonderful rendition of Thor battling Loki on the bifrost bridge appears only on the cover. It should have been included as a large foldout.
Bottom line: If you liked the movie, this book is a "must."
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