Ian Nathan

A career-spanning retrospective of one of the most successful British filmmakers in Hollywood’s history. ‘If I were pressed to describe my style, I’d have to say it is called reality. No matter how stylized it gets, underneath it’s real’ Ridley Scott Illustrated with images as iconic as they are stunning, and including the author’s first-hand experiences on set and interviews with Scott himself, this book charts the extraordinary journey of Britain’s greatest living director. The stories behind many great films are revealed, from science fiction classics Alien, Blade Runner and The Martian, through timeless thrillers Hannibal and American Gangster, to historical hits Kingdom of Heaven, Napoleon and Gladiator II. The book explores the themes and motifs that unite such different films, and the methods of Scott’s approach to his medium. This is the account of a director who has never been less than stubbornly, brilliantly, unforgettably his own man.

This new and updated edition covers the full life's work of iconic director Tim Burton, including the Netflix phenomenon Wednesday and the start of development on Beetlejuice 2. Tim Burton is one of the most popular and remarkable filmmakers of the last 30 years, being responsible for such films as Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride and Alice in Wonderland. He is famed for the visually arresting style of his films combined with highly original storylines. A truly international filmmaker, Tim Burton has carved a reputation as one of the world's greatest creative directors. This stunning treasury explores the influences on his development as a filmmaker and assesses how he has captured the fruits of his imagination on screen. Illustrated with many behind-the-scenes photographs and stunning film stills, chapters analyze the success and style of films such as Beetlejuice, Ed Wood and Mars Attacks!, and examine how Burton breathed new life into well-known stories that include Batman, Planet of the Apes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice Through the Looking Glass and Dumbo. Tim Burton: The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work is a must for anyone who enjoys the creativity of films and is a fitting appreciation of one of Hollywood’s most dynamic movie directors. It takes you through his films, explaining how he got to where he is and why his films are so revered.

This comprehensive and in-depth study delves into the life and works of one of modern films most celebrated, successful and intriguing auteurs, Christopher Nolan. 'What is the most resilient parasite? Bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm? An idea. Resilient...highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it's almost impossible to eradicate.' - Cobb, Inception How has Nolan become this leading director? Is he the new Kubrick? What do audiences get out of his games? Visually, he offers a steely science-fiction noir with the highlights of big stars and a magician's flourishes, whether he is tackling Victorian London or the far reaches of outer space. In narrative terms, his films twist and turn, provoking as many questions as they answer. This book will look to crack open the magic box of Nolan's twisting universe. As a character, he eludes easy answers. Veteran film author Ian Nathan's research will lean into deciphering his cryptic pronouncements and motivations alongside the history and making of his films. Examining both the making of and the inspiration behind his many, many hit films, from The Prestige (2006) to the hugely successful Batman films, through to his mind-bending science fiction works such as Inception (2014) and Tenet (2020). Filled with fascinating insights and illustrated throughout with cinematography from his visually stunning ouvre, this book offers a unique, important and unmissable insight into the mind of this most brilliant of directors.

Kdo je vlastně James Cameron? Co ho definuje? Jaké jsou jeho filmy? Jak vznikaly? A proč je vůbec točí? Tedy kromě toho, že je v tom přes všechny překážky – nebo právě díky nim? – zatraceně dobrý. Britský filmový publicista Ian Nathan úspěšně nahlíží za kulisu „finančně nejúspěšnějšího“ režiséra, který točí velkofilmy. Na ploše jedenácti kapitol (osm z nich se věnuje jednotlivým filmům od formování námětu až po reakce při uvedení) nás autor provází různými fázemi Cameronova života. A to se zdravým odstupem i dávkou ironie a humoru. Cameronův životní příběh je totiž fascinující a zaslouží si, abychom ho četli pěkně od začátku. Od vyrůstání v industriálním Kapuskasingu a první známky vůdčích a uměleckých schopností přes formativní období v dílně na vizuální efekty, až po vize postapokalyptické budoucnosti, ze kterých se v bolestech zrodí první Terminátor... Jeho filmografie není rozsáhlá, ale filmy jako Vetřelci, Terminátor 2: Soudný den, Titanic a Avatar tnou do živé tkáně popkultury a mají své věčné místo v dějinách světové kinematografie. James Cameron: Retrospektiva vychází příhodně v rok uvedení Avatara 2.

Guillermo del Toro is a complete and intimate study of the life and work of one of modern cinema's most truly unique directors, whose distinct aesthetic and imagination are unmatched in contemporary film. Widely regarded as one of the most imaginative directors working in cinema today, Guillermo del Toro has built up a body of work that has enthralled movie fans with its dark beauty and edge-of-the-seat set pieces. In this book, acclaimed author Ian Nathan charts the progression of a career that has produced some of contemporary cinema's most revered scenes and idiosyncratic characters. This detailed examination looks at how the strands of del Toro's career have woven together to create one of modern cinema's most ground-breaking bodies of work. Delving deep into del Toro's psyche, the book starts by examining his beginnings in Mexico, the creative but isolated child surrounded by ornate catholicism and monster magazines, filming stop motion battles between his toys on a Super-8 film camera. It follows him to film school, where we learn of his influences, from Kafka to Bunuel, and explores his 1993 debut Cronos, the independent horror debut which draws on the religious and occult themes which would recur throughout del Toro's work. It goes on to cover his development as a director with 1997's Mimic, his blockbuster success with the Hellboy films and goes on to study the films which have cemented his status as a legendary auteur, Oscar award winners Pan's Labrynth and The Shape of Water, as well as his sci-fi masterpiece Pacific Rim, as well as looking at his exciting upcoming projects Nightmare Alley and Pinocchio. An enlightening look into the mind of an auteur blessed with a singular creative vision, Guillermo del Toro analyses the processes, themes and narratives that have come to be recognised as distinctly del Toro, from practical effects to an obsession with folklore and paganism. It looks into the narrative techniques, stylistic flourishes and creative decisions which have made him a true master of modern cinema. Presented in a slipcase with 8-page gatefold section, with scores of illuminating photographs of the director at work on set as well as iconic stills from his films and examples of his influences, this stunning package will delight all Guillermo del Toro devotees and movie lovers in general. Unauthorised and Unofficial.

The definitive history of Peter Jackson's Middle-earth saga, Anything You Can Imagine takes us on a cinematic journey across all six films, featuring brand-new interviews with Peter, his cast & crew. From the early days of daring to dream it could be done, through the highs and lows of making the films, to fan adoration and, finally, Oscar glory. Lights A nine-year-old boy in New Zealand's Pukerua Bay stays up late and is spellbound by a sixty-year-old vision of a giant ape on an island full of dinosaurs. This is true magic. And the boy knows that he wants to be a magician. Camera Fast-forward twenty years and the boy has begun to cast a spell over the film-going audience, conjuring gore-splattered romps with bravura skill that will lead to Academy recognition with an Oscar nomination for Heavenly Creatures. The boy from Pukerua Bay with monsters reflected in his eyes has arrived, and Hollywood comes calling. What would he like to do next? `How about a fantasy film, something like The Lord of the Rings...?' Action The greatest work of fantasy in modern literature, and the biggest, with rights ownership so complex it will baffle a wizard. Vast. Complex. Unfilmable. One does not simply walk into Mordor - unless you are Peter Jackson. Anything You Can Imagine tells the full, dramatic story of how Jackson and his trusty fellowship of Kiwi filmmakers dared take on a quest every bit as daunting as Frodo's, and transformed JRR Tolkien's epic tale of adventure into cinematic magic, and then did it again with The Hobbit. Enriched with brand-new interviews with Jackson, his fellow filmmakers and many of the films' stars, Ian Nathan's mesmerising narrative whisks us to Middle-earth, to gaze over the shoulder of the director as he creates the impossible, the unforgettable, and proves that film-making really is `anything you can imagine'.

Through in-depth and informative text written by film journalist Ian Nathan, The Coen Brothers Archive re-examines the brothers' most famous work including Raising Arizona, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, No Country for Old Men and True Grit. Plus, some of their cult films, like The Evil Dead, Paris je t'aime, and A Serious Man. Packed with stunning images from the Kobal archives, this book will also highlight their surprising involvement in recent films like Bridge of Spies and Unbroken, as well as looking at those who they frequently collaborate with.

Become a part of history in this visually stunning exploration of the art and creation of the Assassin s Creed film. Almost a decade after the release of Ubisoft s massively popular action-adventure game, the world of Assassins and Templars now comes to the big screen with Assassin s Creed, directed by Justin Kurzel. With two protagonists separated by centuries of history yet linked by their DNA, the film represents a uniquely intricate filmmaking experience, necessitating the re-creation of a historically accurate fifteenth-century Spain and a technologically advanced present. Assassin s Creed: Into the Animus tells the full story behind the filmmaking journey, from the in-depth research into the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition to the intense shooting process in present-day Spain. Featuring the vivid concept art that helped bring the film to life, this deluxe volume also includes comprehensive imagery of the Assassins signature weapons, behind-the-scenes details on the creation of the Animus, and photography of the death-defying stunts that are a hallmark of the franchise. Also featuring exclusive interviews with Kurzel, the films incredible stunt and creative team, and key cast members including Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard Assassin s Creed: Into the Animus captures the enthusiasm and vivid detail that Kurzel and his team brought to every stage of the film. Complete with removable artifacts such as parkour stunt schematics and Callum Lynch s Animus Report, Assassin s Creed: Into the Animus is the ultimate companion to this historic movie event. "

Tim Burton is one of the most popular and remarkable filmmakers of the last 30 years, being responsible for such films as Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride and Alice in Wonderland. He is famed for the visually arresting style of his films that combine with highly original storylines. A truly international filmmaker, Tim Burton has carved a reputation as one of the world's greatest creative directors. This stunning treasury explores the influences on his development as a filmmaker and assesses how he has captured the fruits of his imagination on screen. Illustrated with many behind-the-scenes photographs and stunning film stills, chapters analyze the success and style of films such as Beetlejuice, Ed Wood and Mars Attacks!, and examine how Burton breathed new life into well-known stories that include Batman, Planet of the Apes and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Finally, the book looks towards the future and his upcoming films Alice Through the Looking Glass, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, and Beetlejuice 2. Tim Burton's entire filmography is presented across a stunning 8-page gatefold in the heart of the book. Packaged in a handsome slipcase Tim Burton - the iconic filmmaker and his work is a must for anyone who enjoys the creativity of films and is a fitting appreciation of one of Hollywood' s most dynamic movie directors. Tim Burton - the iconic filmmaker and his work is a must for anyone who enjoys the creativity of films and is a fitting appreciation of one of Hollywood's most dynamic movie directors.