Rating: 
Summary: What do you know anyway?
Review: As a book, this is an interesting, if often glowing report of the Digital Domain saga. Anyone who spends that much time around talented, creative and hardworking people is bound to leave biased by that experience...it is a healthy and positive bias born from the atmosphere production engenders.I would caution those who slate authors and their work to use a spell check before running their ill-informed mouths. (see the previous review).
Rating: 
Summary: A rejoinder to a previous review...
Review: As a former employee of Digital Domain, and one of the people who worked with Piers Bizony to develop his book, I find it necessary to respond to the vituperative review posted earlier, entitled, "Digital Campaign - its like 250 pages of add copy!" That rather misguided review calls into question the author's integrity as a journalist. It's a totally ridiculous notion that Piers Bizony was "used" in some kind of marketing scheme cooked-up to repair Digital Domain's image. The book was originally conceived and begun in 1996. It was in development for almost five years. Piers was given free reign in developing the form, theme and tone of the book. He maintained editorial control throughout the process. It was never intended as some kind of tawdry expose of the underbelly of the company. Nor was it EVER envisioned as some kind of "revisionist" history of the company. In point of fact, the book has been embraced by many former Digital Domain employees for the book's balance - and for having refrained from becoming a "revisionist" ode. Based upon his prior interest in visual effects, from working with Stanley Kubrick on his "2001" book, and also his appreciation of Digital Domain's efforts on "Apollo 13," Piers chose to document a portion of the company's work, admittedly its higher profile accomplishments, to give a non-industry, non-technical audience an idea of the processes involved. More than anything, the book is a salute to the hundreds of artists who've worked at Digital Domain. Although it's blood-sport in Hollywood to savage people and companies who've attained certain status, the reviewer in fact reveals a predisposition which one might imagine is informed by either their own personnel bad experiences at the company or a really naive prejudice against the company. No one at Digital Domain has ever failed to honestly admire the accomplishments of the standard-bearers of the effect's industry. You will not find greater appreciation for the accomplishments of both ILM and Pixar anywhere else in the industry. By simplistically citing some of the company's supposed failed efforts, does that call into question Digital Domain's place in the effects industry? I think not. The production problems of two of the cited films are nearly legendary in the industry. They had nothing to do with the film's visual effects. And Digital Domain should not be stigmatized because it was hired to work on poorly conceived projects. Even ILM would be the first to admit they are generally only as good as the projects and scripts they serve. And the reviewer's notion that somehow the company's best days are behind them is equally ill informed. The book covers work up through the year 2000. Since that time, Digital Domain has produced effects work on many of the highest profile films and highest grossing films. "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" was the HIGHEST grossing film of 2000. At the same time, the company handled a large chunk of "X Men." More recently, the company delivered great work for director Ron Howard's "A Beautiful Mind" - the likely Academy Award winner for Best Picture for 2001. It also delivered great work for "Lord of the Ring" - another likely candidate for Best Picture and likely winner for Best Visual Effects. Currently, Digital Domain recently delivered "Time Machine" - some of the most beautiful imagery in the company's history! The reviewer drags out some old news, as it pertains to Jim Cameron's departure from the company. Why is that even remotely of interest or of the slightest relevance? Piers did NOT use Mr. Cameron's name more than to state that he was the director of a number of the company's major achievements. This is a book about the artists. And should one question the accomplishments of Digital Domain's artists one would only need look into the ranks of every other effects company in the industry. If there is a certain patina to the book, it simply reflects the company's desire to work on cool projects. In a de-facto sense, the company has been driven by the directors and studio clients who've brought in challenging projects - director's like Neil Jordan, Ron Howard, Luc Besson, David Ficher, Bryan Singer, the Coen brothers, etc. etc. As to the reviewer's ludicrous Enron comment, Digital Domain is a privately held company that produces some of the best work in the industry - and has been self-sustaining FOR YEARS!! They make money. They are not subsidized by anyone, or anything other than their own ability to stay in business. No one should underestimate the difficult nature of visual effects. Just like the industry at large, it's a tough business. But Digital Domain, like every other company in the industry, is essentially held captive by the forces at work that rule the industry. It's also an incredibly challenging and rewarding part of the business - but clearly not for those with thin skin or easily bruised egos.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended for any involved in film art
Review: Digital Domain has provided some of the finest special effects in the movie world, and this provides the first inside look at the works of a company noted for creating stunning scenes. Their techniques, special effects, and processes are demonstrated visually in frame-by-frame deconstructions which are involving and most illuminating. Highly recommended for any involved in film art.
Rating: 
Summary: Reinventing Hollywood and the Movies -- techno-media
Review: Digital Domain is James Cameron's special effects firm in Venice, California. The book is a story of their challenges and success in creating the new worlds of techno-media where we are immersing ourselves within the story because of the power of special and visual effects. Titanic, Terminator and more -- are used as examples. Visually gorgeous, great cover and lots of terrific information. Focuses JUST on Digital Domain but does introduce us to the world of visual effects that is being created as you read this by the melding of art and science in the new multimedia environment. Beyond the technology there is a brilliance that is influencing all of our communication today -- from the rise of the SCREENAGER who uses multiple communications devices and techniques to the interactive experience that even shopping has become. Shoppertainment, infotainment, edutainment and more -- all are being changed by firms and innovators like Digital Domain and ILM of course. Not easy to read but great to thumb through and then focus on later.
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Summary: friggin awesome
Review: digital domain rocks
buy this book they should hire me!
Rating:
Summary: Good book for Visual Effects Fans, but...
Review: If you know anything about visual effects this book isn't going to open some secret doors of knowledge. With that said, this book has some wonderful photos and shot breakdowns. Even knowing "how" they did it it's still nice to enjoy the craftsmanship that's been put into these shots. If you own The Art of the Matrix, or either of the ILM hardcovers this book would be a nice addition to your collection.
Rating:
Summary: Nice coffee table book
Review: If you know anything about visual effects this book isn't going to open some secret doors of knowledge. With that said, this book has some wonderful photos and shot breakdowns. Even knowing "how" they did it it's still nice to enjoy the craftsmanship that's been put into these shots. If you own The Art of the Matrix, or either of the ILM hardcovers this book would be a nice addition to your collection.
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: It's a great book, (sure for one who does the job, or who got fired after Titanic, funky George, it ain't a manual) They explain basics as 8 and 32 bit images, why green and why blue, motion control, 3Dskeletons, modelling etc... very clear and simple
BUT with bloody great pictures, loads and loads and that's what we all want to see, my boy loves the book, the singing baby,(cfr SIRevolv)is missing, frontcover is very nice, Peolpe making these 'Company Books' should put a (multizone)DVD
with interesting making-offs, with interesting making-offs, with interesting making-offs , with interesting making-offs.... .
Rating: 
Summary: Buy a Special EFXs Mag Instead
Review: This book is just another way to make money off of wan-a-be Animators still in high school. It's a walking billboard for the company but your better off buying a magazine on special effects if you really want to know how things are done. About the same amount of content anyway. They spend most of time patting themselves on the back, name-dropping and high 5-ing each other instead of actually revealing any new techniques. Gee, how long has blue screen been around, like 50 years? Oh, I'm sorry, you use green instead, how innovative.
Rating:
Summary: Digital Campaign - its like 250 pages of add copy!
Review: This book is nothing more then a transparent attempt to divert the public's attention away from Digital Domain's second rate status in movie making by masquerading as a book on special effects. Probably a slick media campaign by their marketing department. From stinkers such as SUPERNOVA to LAKE PLACED, ISLAND of DR. MOREAU, Digital Domain has quickly become the B movie maker of the CG industry! They lost their edge a long time ago ever since they started producing theses types of stink bombs and then try to disassociate themselves from them when they tank at the box office. Perhaps that is why the most famous of its founders James Cameron "abandoned ship!" long before this book was written. Yes, that's right, he has not done any more work with them for years ever since they burned him during Titanic yet, they still use his name to sell this book! Maybe this smoke screen will hide the constant state of turmoil, infighting or turnover going on behind the scenes but as a book your better off saving your money. What the author of this book fails to mention is that even Titanic had half a dozen other CGI companies contributing digital effects to this film. I would have rather seen a new book on more top-notch companies such as ILM or Pixar. Even a book on James Cameron would have been much more insightful since he is really the one who wins the Academy Awards no mater which CG company he uses. My advice is don't throw away your money on this book just because you like special effects. There are no big secrets revealed and they spend most of the time talking about how great they are and dropping names instead of how the CG effects really work. Try a book on the MATRIX instead. At the rate there going I wouldn't be surprised if Digital Domain ends up as the Enron of the Digital Effects Industry... now that would be an interesting book!
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