This is actually a joint review of two websites from the same creator/owner:
Website Name: Star Wars Helmet Archive
Website URL: http://www.starwarshelmets.com
Website Description: “Welcome to www.StarWarsHelmets.com the helmet, armor and costume archive from the Star Wars galaxy. This site is a showcase of the very best Star Wars props; Original, Licensed and Fan-made.”
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Website Name: The Sci-Fi Movie Helmet Archive
Website URL: http://www.moviehelmets.com
Website Description: “This site dedicated to helmets and costumes from the Sci-Fi movie universe including the Alien Movies, Dr Who, Predator and Terminator movies. Like our sister site this is a showcase of the very best out there, Original, Licensed and Fan-made.”
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Website Owner/Admin: Jez
Type of Website: Archive Resource & News
Subject Matter/Focus: Identification and discussion of helmets (and to a lesser extent costumes/armor) featured in the Star Wars films as well as additional sci-fi films on the sister site (Alien, Dr Who, Predator, Terminator)
Cost: None
Access/Membership/Participation Requirements: Registration not required
Participant Overview: The website and material is geared toward replica hobbyists, but there is a wealth of material that is of interest to original prop hobbyists as well as fans of the films, and general memorabilia collectors
Content/Functionality: The website provides information regarding the helmets and armor/costumes featured in the aforementioned films – this includes details, photos, and analysis related to original, licensed, and fan-made pieces
Presentation/Quality: The two websites features a simple layout and functionality and is very easy to use and well as pleasing in design
Time in Service: StarWarsHelmets.com Early 2003 and MovieHelmets.com Early 2007
Updates/Activity: These websites appear to be updated fairly frequently
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My Experience & Personal Review:
These websites are a great resource for original prop collectors, fans of Star Wars and a few popular sci-fi franchises, and especially replica prop collectors.
While these websites and the content are presented with replica hobbyists in mind first and foremost, I’ve found them to be very interesting and a highly valuable resource.
The information is both well presented and comprehensive. The Star Wars site has a great deal of information about many of the original key props from the two trilogies. The research and analysis presented, with accompanying photos, is truly impressive and invaluable. Even non collectors students of film will appreciate the history and evolution of the various iconic helmets from the films. The various differences and nuances reflect a love of and interest in these films that is quite apparent.
Even as one who does not currently collect replica props, it is always of interest to me to know “what is out there” as well as helpful, from time to time, in identifying replicas openly marketed elsewhere as something from the production.
I’ve gotten to know Jez a little over the years, and I truly appreciate the amount of time and effort he has dedicated to memorializing and archiving a great deal of information that might otherwise be, as best, hard to find, at worst, lost.
I’ve found the Star Wars Helmet Archive site to be a great, informative resource and very interesting and entertaining reading. As an always growing archive of information, and I think original prop hobbyists might find it to be of particular interest. The sister site, The Sci-Fi Helmet Archive, currently includes far less content, but I look forward to seeing it grow over the years.
Recommended.
Jason De Bord