Book Description
In The Spider-Man Chronicles, author and Spider-Man 3 producer Grant Curtis provides unmatched insider access to the devoted Spider-Man fan. Curtis has hand selected a phenomenal collection of unpublished concept art, sketches, models, and his own behind-the-scenes photography, and pairs these brilliant visuals with his detailed account of how the film was made from the story and casting to the costumes, production, and special effects. Everything that the serious fan wants is here: early story notes on Vulture, who was later replaced by Venom; shooting locations in Los Angeles, New York, Cleveland, and elsewhere; the real world materials and computer wizardry that brought Sandman to life; transforming Spider-Man's suit into something darker, more sinister, and otherworldly; and much more. Contributions from the key players, including director Sam Raimi, the production designers, costume designers, and visual effects technicians complete this celebration of a groundbreaking motion picture.
Spider-Man, the Character: TM & 2007 Marvel Characters, Inc. Spider-Man 3, the Movie: 2007 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All rights reserved.
Customer Reviews:
great book esp. if you you interested in the film making process.......2007-06-27
bought this for myself and my best friend's birthday gift. Its great for those that like conceptual design, production design and the filmmaking process. The author included his diary for each day of filmmaking so you get a very personalized narrative of the process. Great book; very glad I bought it.
Great Inside Look.......2007-06-13
Most behind the scenes or 'Art of' titles amount to coffee table books with lost of gorgeous production art but little written content. This one is a notable exception. Written by Grant Curtis, director Sam Raimi's former assistant-turned Spider-man producing partner, the book contains great first hand looks at different stages of the Spider-Man 3 production, from early story meetings at Laura Ziskin's house to the casting of Thomas Hayden Church as the Sandman, to the late decision to jettison the villainous Vulture in favor of Venom. It's great to hear the process behind crafting such a massive project from someone who was in the room for all the meetings, who was helping to call the shots. The final section of the book is especially interesting, as it's Curtis' on-set diary- chronicling the day-to-day shooting process of one of the most expensive movies ever made.
PS: The pictures are pretty cool too.
THE MAKING OF A MENACE..........2007-06-08
Face it -- SPIDER-MAN 3 was about finally realizing the popular comic-book character "VENOM" on the big screen; in that respect this book delivers -- there are gorgeous shots of the villain in various stages of his conception in the book along with the development of the "Sandman" and the rest of the cast. The book is wonderfully illustrated and broad, but repeats many of the images often and doesn't really have a brilliant narrative. This is a movie based on a comic book -- it should be light and full of annecdotes...and it doesn't.
Beautiful to look at -- not a great read.
Spidey.......2007-06-08
Awesome book. Grant Curtis did an amazing job with this.
Thumbs up!!
Way up!!
The Spider-Man Chronicles: The Art and Making of Spider-Man 3 by Grant Curtis .......2007-06-01
This book has alot of information on the trilogy of the Spider-Man films. Very illustrative and detailed on how the movies came together. A great buy for any Spider-Man fan.
Book Description
The Man of Steel is back on the silver screen when Superman Returns hits theaters June 2006. Directed by Bryan Singer (X-Men) and packed with explosive action, this blockbuster film documents the super hero's return after a mysterious absence of several years to a troubled Metropolis, where he is compelled to face his destiny in a world that has forgotten what it's like to have a hero. The Art of Superman Returns is an in-depth celebration of the concept and developmental art that served as an aesthetic foundation for the highly anticipated film. Nearly 200 pieces of gorgeous art capture all-new sets a cosmopolitan, art deco Metropolis, a massive, shimmering Fortress of Solitude, and a spectacular spaceship and showcase the film's inventive costumes and breathtaking locations. An informed text that includes interviews with the director, screenwriters, artists, and production and costume designers completes this thoughtfully crafted deluxe hardcover. For the many Superman fans anxiously awaiting his revival, The Art of Superman Returns is a behind-the-scenes tour not to be missed.
SUPERMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of DC Comics 2006
Customer Reviews:
A GORGEOUS BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK.......2006-12-11
One of the best cross-promotional items I've seen based on the new Superman Returns film is "The Art of superman Returns" from Chronicle Books. This 160 page, hardcover book with dust jacket is simply breathtaking as it takes readers behind the cameras of the recent blockbuster film with hundreds of pieces of concept art, storyboards, models and miniatures, paintings, sketches, costumes and photography. It serves to show in vivid depth the amount of detail and planning that goes into making a big budget film like Superman Returns.
The Foreward by director Bryan Singer brings this home right off the bat as Singer is shown standing in the midst of a miniature version of Metropolis, surrounded by buildings taller than he as train tracks and weave all around him. It's a fascinating photo. Full color paintings show Superman's rescue of the stricken jet. Storyboards bring the rooftop standoff sequence to near life as the machine gun pours bullets at the Man of Steel to no avail.
Moving to Smallville, we see the Kent farm recreated in perfect miniature and you can't help but marvel at the skill of the model and miniature artists as no detail is too small for them to include in their work. Once painted, you'd be hard pressed to guess that you were looking at a model, and not a real farmhouse and barn.
One of my favorite parts of the book was a look at Krypton. The Krypton of this film, while similar to the earlier Superman films, is a bit darker and edgier. Superman's Fortress of Solitude gleams compared to earlier films where it was sort of a dull white.
Throughout the book, author Daniel Wallace provides even more detail about the creative process behind the various creations of settings, scenes, and costumes. Metropolis, with all its art-deco accents is truly a sight to behold. Wallace is aided by comments from the film's screenwriters, production and costume designers, not to mention Bryan Singer himself. This is one of those books designed for the avid fan or collector, or even those who might be interested in getting into film work themselves.
Reviewed by Tim Janson
It's well...super!.......2006-11-10
I am amazed with the art department for Superman Returns. The designs for The Daily Planet and Lex Luthor's yacht are simply beautiful. Absolutely pick this up and see just how much went into the design of Superman Returns. It's super!
The perfect accompaniment to the movie........2006-10-15
Fans of the film SUPERMAN RETURNS must have this film book: it covers all the concepts and developmental art which served as the movie's foundation, pairing over two hundred works of art - costumes, locations, sets - with interviews with the director, screenwriters, artists and costume designers involved. Sketches and color stills accompany reviews of the plot's progression and choices in production. THE ART OF SUPERMAN RETURNS packs in the color and the depth and is the perfect accompaniment to the movie.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
My Two Cents........2006-10-03
I really liked this book because it gave you a behind the scenes look into the film through Pre-Production artwork. I especially enjoyed all the artwork where Superman gets into a spaceship on krypton, this scene was cut out of the movie. Over all the Artists did a good job in recreating the Superman Univerise, the book supports there efforts! A must have for your (art of) Collection:)
Matt
Magnificently COOL Book!!!.......2006-08-03
This is a magnificent book. If you were swept away by the artistry of the movie "Superman Returns" like I was, this book is a MUST. Big photographs from the film, sketches, paintings, and storyboards galore abound in this excellent coffeetable edition.
Among my favorites are:
*A full page painting of Superman lying unconscious in a crater in Metropolis Park after falling from space
**An almost 2-page painting of Superman lifting New Krypton out of the ocean, complete with tidal waves and green Kryptonite-laced lightening
***Photos and details about the new Superman uniform - like that it is actually fit for a 9-year old boy, then stretches onto a 6-foot-three Brandon Routh so that there will be absolutely no wrinkles
****Great explanation about Superman's story-opening trip to Krypton and his starship, complete with awesome paintings and photos from deleted scenes
*****Insight about the art deco design of Metropolis - why we just can't take our eyes off of that COOL Daily Planet Building
Superman fans will be happily consumed by the book's artwork and text that will broaden their knowledge and scope of the film. It is a nice size, probably worth more than you'll pay for it, and will definitely become a collector's item! To be re-read often!
Average customer rating:
- WOW
- A Slight to the Fine Artisans at Disney
- GORGEOUS!!!
- Insightful Look
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Brother Bear (Welcome Book)
H. C. Wakabayashi
Manufacturer: Disney Editions
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Treasure Planet: A Voyage of Discovery
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Atlantis the Lost Empire (Atlantis)
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ASIN: 0786854200 |
Book Description
Rooted in the lore of Pacific Northwest culture, Brother Bear is a tale of the strong brotherhood between all living creatures. It is also about discovering the power of change in our world, whether it be the change from winter to spring, or from small to large, or the transformation of a boy to a man. This epic story combines humor and emotion with breathtaking images of nature and wildlife from a time long forgotten. Dazzlingly illustrated throughout in color and black and white, Brother Bear-A Transformation Tale, captures the remarkable warmth, dramatic story, and heartfelt humor of this visually stunning movie, as well as the behind-the-scenes brotherhood between the talented artists and ingenious technicians involved.
Customer Reviews:
WOW.......2004-02-27
Not only was I glad to see Watercolour backgrounds return to this film like seen in Lilo and Stitch, but it was a great to see lots of animals again (as seen in Lion King). The book was brilliant with artwork to drool over. I love these "art of" books, they're wonderful references.
A Slight to the Fine Artisans at Disney.......2003-12-11
Owning many of Disney's feature film art books my comments are based solely on the format of this recent publication. Shrunken down to less than letter size paper for a broader appeal and obviously reduced pricing, Disney has cheapened what could have been a phenomenal addition to one's collection to yet another disposable. Great art reduced to the size of playing cards and thumbnails serves only to make one want more of the real thing. A bit too verbose for the core audience, the long winded story telling takes over leaving the too few but absolutely beautiful illustrations, inspirational sketches, animation tests & story boards so small that one can only do justice to the work with a magnifying glass.
GORGEOUS!!!.......2003-11-01
WOW!!! What a wonderful book! The artwork is AMAZING!!! If you're really into the art of animation, or are just a big fan of the movie itself, GET THIS BOOK!!! It's one of Disney's best 'art of' books!
Insightful Look.......2003-10-22
Not as fun as Lilo & Stitch's "Art Of" book, but very good, very informative. It's a more serious approach...as the film started out with a more serious story. This is detailed by the creators and writers as they recall the story problems that started plaguing the film, the lives of the team...how the directors were directing for the first time...
This book details the creative process very well, not technically, but emotionally, the process of bringing a story from idea to film. Along the way, we're treated to wonderful production art of the Pacific Northwest, mimicking the American painters of the frontier, but softed to a more impressionistic scale, almost...
Also included are storyboards, stills from the film. The book is very nicely built and designed. It's divided into 9 chapters: Introduction, Creation, Brotherhood, Mythmakers, Vision, Trial, Transformation, Wisdom, Epilogue...
If you collect these books (as I've started to do), are anticipating Brother Bear, or like Disney, this will be a nice addition to your collection. Though less whimsical than Lilo's book (and less whimsical than Lilo & Stitch, as a film), it's an insightful look into the world of cinematic animation...and it whets your appetite for the film itself.
Customer Reviews:
Prepare to be boarded!.......2007-02-22
Know this first: I'm a huge fan of all things Disney, especially POTC the ride.
Imagineer Surrell's book is very well-done. This is one of those (along with his earlier work on the Haunted Mansion) that I go to again and again, like watching a favorite movie or listening to a favorite album. Maybe I'll notice on the 50th reading ONE MORE DETAIL I somehow missed...
I especially enjoyed the look at the other parks' version of the ride. Rock on, Jason!
Con: Woulda liked it in HARDCOVER.
Now, as with any OTHER topical subject, some of the info goes out of date the day the book is published, and will continue to "go stale". The 2nd, 3rd, and even talked-about 4th movies are, of course, not included. The much-publicized ride rehabs are not either. This is the same with Jason's earlier Disney's Haunted Mansion book (a good companion piece, by the way). That said, the HM book goes off into a hopeful description of the actually-miserable HM movie, touting it as the best thing since Bela Lugosi. This was written well in advance of the actual public release of the HM movie, I guess, so they were gambling the public would love what turned out to be a huge embarrasment. ( When I need cheering up, I sometimes imagine HM Director Minkoff at what I hope is his new day job, asking people if they want to add a cherry turnover to their order for just 50 cents more ). Okay, here's your soapbox back.
They shouldn't have pushed the HM movie so hard in THAT book.
Not so in THIS book: Because they "got burned" on the HM movie, there's a decidedly less-throat-cramming push for Curse of the Black Pearl, which, of course, in hindsight, they could have laid on thicker, now that the movie has generated some kind of Star-Wars-level cultural shift.
Buy the book. You know you want it.
I know I want more books on CLASSIC Disney attractions, and I only want 'em writ by Jason Surrell. Amen.
Daughter loves it!!!.......2007-01-12
My daughter just loves all the background information. She's very happy with it.
Updated version now available!.......2006-12-12
As of November, 2006, a newer, updated version of Mr. Surrell's book is now available! Look for the version with the compass rose in the upper right corner of the cover.
Cheers!
Beck
BIG BIG BIG BIG fan of the movies :).......2006-10-01
I love Disney world and I love love The Pirates Of The Carribbean! Great if you like both!
Fascinating read for Disneyland fans.......2006-09-13
I really enjoed the first chapter on how the concept translated into the final product of a ride. Amazing how these things come together. The second chapter comparing the ride throughs between the four parks I found a bit frustrating - hard to really picture it unless you're there (for me). I was more interested in the ride portion than the movie chapter myself. Worth the buy (though I bought it used).
Book Description
This invaluable source of wisdom and inspiration for both beginning and experienced meditators sparks enthusiasm for pursuing this practice and its highest goal, self-realization.
Customer Reviews:
It has removed a veil to me.......2007-07-01
One of the best books I have ever read. There are so many teachings and I found many answers to my long unanswered questions.
Too short.......2007-04-28
The book is good but too short and gives you general ideas about meditation no details.
Simple, beautiful, accessible.......2006-10-29
This is a little gem. The essence of meditation (bliss, connection with your highest self/spirit) and its practice are communicated in a straightforward way.
I have read a number of books on meditation, so I am not sure how it would feel to read this one first, but my gut feeling is to agree with the other reviewer who suggested that this not be your introduction to the subject.
I can easily imagine going back again and again to this sweet book for inspiration and encouragement on my meditative path.
Excellent, but not universal.......2004-12-07
This book is an exceptional piece of literature on the subject of meditation, but it's not for everyone. Some may pick this up believing it to be an instruction manual for finding the Self, which it is not. It does have instructions for meditating, but rather than treat it like an aerobics class, Swami Muktananda concentrates on the spiritual application and universal depth of meditation. Basically, if you don't already understand a little bit about meditation and Hindu philosophy, alot of the read will be lost to you. It has many references to texts like the Upanishads and proverbs from Hindu culture that many readers will not understand, especially if they are totally new to meditation.
However, I would most certainly recommend that anyone interested in meditating or in Indian philosophy pick up this book. It should not be the first book you read on the subject, but if you've already studied philosophy and meditation, it will be a profoundly spiritual and uplifting read. Muktananda shares with us the truest and deepest purpose for practicing meditation, awareness and oneness with the Self. It is a must-read for anyone interested in reaching those depths of conciousness.
Essential!.......2000-07-10
Swami Muktananda was one of the greatest meditation teachers of the century. He came to the West in 70's and became very popular. In this book, Muktananda focuses on the essential aspect of his Yoga, known as Siddha Yoga, that is: Meditation. He said meditation was the most efficient way for all of us - his Yoga is open to all, he says - to re-connect with the divinity that lies in each of us. This path is the path of living an awakened life while living in the world. This little book is a perfect introduction to one of the most simple and yet most mysterious practices of Yoga. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Average customer rating:
- The Timekeeper
- The Timekeeper - Jack Sparrow #8
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The Timekeeper (Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack Sparrow)
Rob Kidd
Manufacturer: Disney Press
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Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack Sparrow #4: The Sword of Cortes
ASIN: 1423103661
Release Date: 2007-07-31 |
Book Description
Jack's got something Davy Jones wants... nope, it's not his soul. It's a very special pocket watch with unique properties. This watch has the power to affect time itself!
Customer Reviews:
The Timekeeper .......2007-09-08
I question whether Rob Kidd actually exists. For the Disney people to have come up with William Kidd would have been too obvious. So they came up with Robert, which is just as 17th century sounding a name as William.
This being said my nephew seems to love these books, which is good. He seems to have little interest in the true literary swashbuckling classic "Treasure Island," which is unfortunate. I do not think, however, that we should blame Disney and its team of Kidd writers for that...yet.
As I said, my nephew loves this series and while they are not R. L. Stevenson they are mildly entertaining and not long, so no a lot of time is consumed reading them. There are some definite holes in the plots and inconsistencies but they are not the kind of thing that 9-year-olds typically tend to overlook.
I would love to be reading something of more literary merit with my nephew but that is not to be, not at this time anyway. In the end it is not the worst book you could choose to bond with a child over.
The Timekeeper - Jack Sparrow #8.......2007-09-01
Both my son and I love this series. Even as a young man Captain Jack is true to himself. He hasn't changed a bit!!!!
Book Description
In a successful action adventure script, there are more than just hot pursuits and hotheaded slugfests. This book investigates the screenwriting principles that define the content and style of the most popular film genre.
Customer Reviews:
Misleading and unorganized.......2007-04-18
This book seems to be written by amatures!
It is unorganized, I could not follow the subject that the author is explaining.
It is a research book rather that intended for eduaction.
If you want to write a film, please ignore this book.
If you are a regular movie goer, take it, if you have a spare of 10 $.Probably you will know more about the dynamics of the action film
Don't Waste Your Money.......2003-06-19
The positive reviews here obviously come from Hicks' pals (check out his website). The book is poorly-written, incoherent, and gives no specific (or recognizable) advice on how to write an action film. It is basically a rambling (and very odd)discourse on the history of war movies.
I can highly recommend Tobin, Epstein, Martell, and Walker if you want to learn how to write action--or any other--films.
A lot of fluff.......2002-12-08
Not a lot of substance here. I did not find this book at all useful, a waste of money over all. A lot of talk about nothing specific, writer wonders around willy nilly, and no real how tos. Information such as formatting of action elements, or just how specific you should be when writing action scenes would have been much better served here, but alas, not to be. Books such as Crafty Screenwriting or Screenwriters Bible go much, much further.
Want to understand the Action Adventure Genre? This is it!.......2002-05-03
If you want to understand the Action Adventure Genre, this is THE book. Great models, insights, rules to use or break.
Neill Hicks is a screenwriter who's written scripts that have been made into successful hit movies -- Rumble in The Bronx, First Strike. There are a lot of books on screenwriting written by people who are still trying to see their script go to production, let alone be a hit. This book's wisdom, insight and practial observations and advice shows why Hicks made it.
He has a very nice across genre model of protagonist characteristics which he also mentioned more briefly in his previous book, Screenwriting 101-- another excellent source.
A straightforward, sensible, "user friendly" primer.......2002-04-09
Writing The Action-Adventure Film: The Moment Of Truth by professional screenwriter Neill D. Hicks ("Rumble in the Bronx"; "First Strike") is a straightforward, sensible, "user friendly" primer for creating a solid screenplay specifically for one of the most popular movie genres in America. Individual chapters specifically address issues of characterization, plot structure, pitfalls, and the strengths of the Action-Adventure film genre, as well as what the audience expects when they go to see the latest action movie. If you are contemplating, or already involved in, scripting an Action-Adventure screenplay, then give Neill Hicks' Writing The Action-Adventure Film an immediate and careful reading.
Book Description
In the 1930s the gangster film in the United States coincided with a very real and very sensational gangsterism at large in American society. Little Caesar (1931), The Public Enemy (1931), and Scarface (1932) borrowed liberally from the newspapers and books of the era. With the release of just these three motion pictures in barely more than a year's time, Hollywood quintessentially defined the genre. The characters, the situations, and the icons-from fast cars and tommy-guns to fancy fedoras and fancier molls-established the audience expectations associated with the gangster film that remain in force to this day. As with their Film Noir Reader series, using both reprints of seminal articles and new pieces, editors Silver and Ursini have assembled a group of essays that presents an exhaustive overview of this still vital genre. Reprints of work by such well-known film historians as Robin Wood, Andrew Sarris, Carlos Clarens, Paul Schrader, and Stuart Kaminsky explore the evolution of the gangster film through the 1970s and The Godfather. Parts 2 and 3 comprise two dozen newer articles, most of them written expressly for this volume by Ursini and Silver. These case studies and thematic analyses, from White Heat to the remake of Scarface to "The Sopranos," complete the anthology.
Customer Reviews:
Film libraries will consider it a 'must'.......2007-06-17
The rise of the popular gangster film genre began in the early 1930s to reflect the real history and rise of gangsterism in American society, producing early classics which would be released back to back, were modeled on newspaper and real-life situations, and which would bring gangsterism to the public eye by defining and surveying notorious personalities and groups. GANGSTER FILM READER reviews the genre through reprints of key articles, new essays and critical analysis produced for this collection, and over 200 original photos. Film libraries will consider it a 'must', while many a college-level library on social issues will also find the topic relevant to 20th century American history discussions.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
wonderful.......2007-03-09
This book was so informative and very easy to read! As a movie lover, this book was absolutely amazing in the stories that it told! It's a must read for any gangster movie fan!
Book Description
Since the 1960s, Hong Kong cinema has helped to shape one of the world’s most popular cultural genres: action cinema. Hong Kong action films have proved popular over the decades with audiences worldwide, and they have seized the imaginations of filmmakers working in many different cultural traditions and styles. How do we account for this appeal, which changes as it crosses national borders?
Hong Kong Connections brings leading film scholars together to explore the circulation of Hong Kong cinema in Japan, Korea, India, Australia, France, and the United States, as well as its links with Taiwan, Singapore, and the Chinese mainland. In the process, this collection examines diverse cultural contexts for action cinema’s popularity and the problems involved in the transnational study of globally popular forms, suggesting that in order to grasp the history of Hong Kong action cinema’s influence we need to bring out the differences as well as the links that constitute popularity.
Contributors. Nicole Brenez, Stephen Chan Ching-kiu, Dai Jinhua, David Desser, Laleen Jayamanne, Kim Soyoung, Siu Leung Li, Adrian Martin, S. V. Srinivas, Stephen Teo, Valentina Vitali, Paul Willemen, Rob Wilson, Wong Kin-yuen, Kinnia Yau Shuk-ting, Yung Sai-shing
Book Description
The Modern Amazons: Warrior Women on Screen documents the public's seemingly insatiable fascination with the warrior woman archetype in film and on television. The book examines the cautious beginnings of new roles for women in the late fifties, the rapid development of female action leads during the burgeoning second-wave feminist movement in the late sixties and seventies, and the present-day onslaught of female action characters now leaping from page to screen. The book itself is organized into chapters that group women warriors into sub-genres, e.g., classic Amazons like Xena Warrior Princess and the women of the Conan films; superheroes and their archenemies such as Wonder Woman, Batgirl, and Catwoman; revenge films such as the Kill Bill movies; Sexploitation and Blaxploitation films such as Coffy and the Ilsa trilogy; Hong Kong cinema and warriors like Angela Mao, Cynthia Rothrock, and Zhang Ziyi; sci-fi warriors from Star Trek, Blade Runner, and Star Wars; supersleuths and spies like the Avengers and Charlie's Angels; and gothic warriors such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Kate Beckinsale in Underworld and Van Helsing. In addition, the book is lavishly illustrated with over 400 photos of these popular-culture icons in action, interesting articles and sidebars about themes, trends, weapons, style, and trivia, as well as a complete filmography of more than 150 titles.
Customer Reviews:
A fun, wide-ranging survey of strong women in popular culture.......2006-10-29
What this fun, engaging book lacks in depth, it makes up for in breadth. I did not find this especially helpful in gaining a deeper understanding of the changing roles that strong female characters have been playing in popular culture in the past several decades, but no book I know can match it for its range and scope. I've done a great deal of reading about women in the movies and on TV, but this books goes way beyond that to show how women have appeared in a vast array of media during recent years. I give the book 4 stars instead of less simply because it provides an incredible services by calling attention to strong women in a number of areas that have been neglected in previous surveys. Nonetheless, I think the book can at best serve as a jumping off point for further work. But by helping map out the areas where strong women can be discerned is an invaluable service. It was very close to being a near complete cataloging of the most important female figures in popular media. There were a few minor omissions, but as far as I can tell only one major one: the inexplicable failure to mention FARSCAPE, the show above all others that not only features multiple strong female characters but places these in a non-patriarchal universe. No show I know engages gender issues so interestingly and few female characters on TV are as pertinent to the authors' discussion as Claudia Black's character Aeryn Sun.
This is also one of the more lavishly illustrated books that you can ever hope to own. There are photos on nearly every page of the book, many of them full page.
There are, however, a number of problems with the book. First, the sheer breadth means that nothing can be discussed in much depth. I was ecstatic when the authors bring up Third Wave Feminism (many TV critics look at shows like BUFFY or DARK ANGEL and describe them as post-feminist, when in fact they are better understood in the light of the Third Wave), but not much more than that is done with it. Still, kudos for bringing that up at all! More troubling is the utter lack of critical distinction in bringing up all the various "Amazons." The brute fact is that many of the shows and movies mentioned are just flat out awful. CHARMED is discussed as well as BUFFY, with no indication that CHARMED is critically reviled while BUFFY is by consensus one of the masterpieces of television. BLADE: TRINITY, ELEKTRA, and CATWOMAN are mixed in with THELMA AND LOUISE and BLADE RUNNER, with no mention that the first three were universally trashed. There is a long discussion of Linda Carter's turn as WONDER WOMAN, but no mention that 1) the show is bad and 2) Wonder Woman on the show is distressingly subservient to men and spends most of her time trying to make her boss look good. I can fully understand a discussion of Xena in a book like this, but there is no acknowledgment that the show has always been a cult favorite, but has been universally considered a not very good show, while she doesn't by contrast bring up the enormous critical acclaim of BUFFY, ALIAS, and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.
Finally, there is that term "Amazon." The book wants to celebrate the various warrior women in popular culture, but roping the majority of the women into that category is a bit of a stretch. I absolutely love Emma Peel in THE AVENGERS, but I have a lot of trouble viewing her under either the category of a warrior woman or an Amazon. A very strong female character? Absolutely. But I think the book stretches conceptual categories a bit more broadly than is advisable.
Nonetheless, I definitely recommend the book. The panoramic scope outweighs weaknesses. At the very least it has mapped out the terrain to be explored in any discovery of strong female characters in popular culture.
popular, illustrated overview of varied images of archetype of woman warrior in movies.......2006-05-02
After briefly citing some references to women warriors in ancient mythology and history, the authors with broad backgrounds in film studies and popular culture note their book does not speculate "about the possible existence of Amazon women in the past, but rather document[s] the proliferation of the warrior woman archetype in popular culture, film and television in particular." An encyclopedic filmography and another back section on women warrior movies and television series records the varieties of this proliferation. Used loosely, the term woman warrior encompasses not only women warriors like men soldiers, but also women detectives, science-fiction characters, prehistoric humans, cowgirls, spies, martial arts experts, athletes (e. g., "Million Dollar Baby"), and more or less ordinary women who at moments accomplish extraordinary feats such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Though such extraordinary women characters transgressing the conventional image of women can be found in films from its beginning in the early 1900s, the overwhelming majority are from the post-WWII years with the numbers of films increasing exponentially in recent years as gender roles have weakened and popular interest in the potentials for women has grown. The approach is to classify the categories of "warrior women" and discuss the women characters and the films or TV shows in each category. Like the term "warrior women" itself, the categories are loose. But the aim is not strict definition, rather recognition of the expansion and diversity of this genre involving unconventional, in many cases quite imaginative women characters. Photographs on almost every page picture the women in their various costumes or engaged in their exploits.
Pop-Culture from a Warrior Woman viewpoint.......2006-04-12
The image of the warrior women has been a staple of the movies almost from the beginning. Scantly clad, or perhaps in a skin tight suit, these women have fought the bad guys (or been the bad girl) in movie after movie. Here is a profusely illustrated (400+ pictures) description of the female in some 150 (many not well known) films. Here is Wonder Woman and Batgirl, Princess Leah and lots of pictures of Xena.
Along with the pictures is a discussion of warrior women in history, myth and literature, and a from this a discussion of how they have been portrayed in film over the past forty years or so.
This is a discussion of an aspect of pop-culture that has not been covered very well in the literature. It's most interesting to see this aspect of films covered in a serious way. And the ways that the depiction has changed over the years.
A profusely illustrated compendium of the actresses and the roles they played as fighters, warriors, and combatants .......2006-04-07
Co-authored and compiled by Hollywood film experts Dominique Mainon and James Ursini, The Modern Amazons: Warrior Women On-Screen is a profusely illustrated compendium of the actresses and the roles they played as fighters, warriors, and combatants in the past fifty years of filmmaking. Ranging from iconic image of Raquel Welch in the prehistoric adventure fantasy "One Million Years BC"; to Pam Grier as the first African-American woman in such films as "Coffy", "Foxy Brown", and "Sheba, Baby"; to Lucy Lawless' six-season portrayal of "Xena: Warrior Princess"; to Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft in two "Tomb Raider" movies; to Sigourney Weaver as Ripley in the sci-fi "Alien" adventures, to the women who have played vampire slayers, superheroes (and villains), as well as assorted television, cartoon, comics, and video game fighter characters in the various movie action/adventure genres. The Modern Amazons is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, film school, and community library Film Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
Whoa baby........2006-03-31
This is really a fun book to look through...lots of photos and interesting history on the development of 'power girls' in TV and film. It covers old TV shows (Sheena, Queen of the Jungle), movies (One Millions Years BC) all the way up to 'Kill Bill' and 'Xena, Warrior Princess.' An illustrated filmography and alphabetical list of warrior women finish off the book. In some ways, this is more of a 'guys' book - chock full of scantily clad women. But interesting nonetheless. Also Fun to see how each decade's fashion/style influeneced the wonder-woman look. Female superheroes were definitely a little meatier back in the day.
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- The Tabernacle : Shadows of the Messiah (Its Sacrifices, Services, and Priesthood) (See How the Tabernacle Relates to Jesus)
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- The Vision A Two-in-one Volume Of The Final Quest And The Call
- The Way We Lived Then : Recollections of a Well-Known Name Dropper
- The Writer's Guide to Writing Your Screenplay: How to Write Great Screenplays for Movies and Television
- There's No Business Like Soul Business: A Spiritual Path to Enlightened Screenwriting, Filmmaking, and the Performing Arts
- Think and Grow Rich
- This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession
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