The Encyclopedia of Stanley Kubrick (Library of Great Filmmakers)

Customer Reviews:

For the Kubrick fan.......2003-08-22

This is a book of Kubrick facts and trivia, arranged in easy-reference format. The authors are opinionated about their subject, which is good --- they clearly love writing about these movies and everything that went into them. For the non-fan, this book could be tedious. Entries on actors veer off into complete discussions of the Kubrick movie in which they starred, minor details are repeated, and a few entries seem to be too technical or industry-based to be worth mentioning.

(For example, Kubrick says that at the end of Lolita, Humbert realizes that he loves her --- he's not just feeling lust for her. Kubrick calls this the most poignant moment in the story. This particular quote is repeated in the book at least five times.)

If you've read every other book about Kubrick, get this one. If not, read the books by Ciment, Walker, Herr, LoBrutto, and Baxter first.

Well, why not?.......2003-06-20

Bronx-born Stanley Kubrick spent much of his professional life in England where he made some of the most controversial and original films ever to grace the silver screen. This uneven but fascinating book is in a sense a tribute to the man and his work. This is not the first encyclopedic treatment of a top movie director published by Facts on File--they have also done Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles. Perhaps this format--an "encyclopedia"--will catch on. At any rate, it is fun to leaf through randomly or perhaps one could actually proceed alphabetically.

The entries of course all have some connection with Kubrick. Included are actors who played in his movies, and people related to him and his friends and other people he worked with. There are also entries on movie business phenomena like "antiwar themes" and "censorship." There is an interesting entry on Steven Spielberg's Artificial Intelligence (2001) in which I learned that the original conception came from Kubrick. There are a number of black and white photos spread throughout the text and some line drawings, mostly of Kubrick and the actors who played in his films. Often the photos are stills from the movies. It is interesting to see Kubrick at various stages of his career and how time changed his appearance. My favorite photo is of George C. Scott and Stanley Kubrick playing chess on the set of Dr. Strangelove underneath the "War Room" mock up. By the way, Scott is reported to have gained respect for the younger Kubrick when Kubrick beat him at chess.

There is rather a lot of repetition in the entries, some of it unavoidable of course because entries overlap in content. However the entry for Sue Lyon, for example, who was Kubrick's Lolita, contains a summary of the plot of Lolita to the exclusion of the rather sparse information about Lyon. Also the editing and proofreading of the entries is not first rate. The text was begun by Rodney Hill and then taken up by Gene D. Phillips, which may account for some of the avoidable repetition. Some of the entries were written by John C. Tibbetts and others tagged with initials and identified as "Contributors" near the back of the book.

Clearly the strength of the book is in the light it sheds on Stanley Kubrick and his life in film. The detail is fascinating and the writing, in spite of the repetitions, is engaging. There are nice pieces on George C. Scott, James Mason, Peter Sellers, Malcolm McDowell, Nicole Kidman, Shelley Winters, Arthur C. Clarke, etc. as well as essays on all of Kubrick movies. Included are behind the scenes information about what went on during the shooting of the films, how the films were conceived and how they progressed. I was intrigued to learn that Kubrick was able to get a fine performance from the otherwise undistinguished Sue Lyon partly because he sometimes allowed her to use her own vernacular instead of words from the script. Also interesting was the difficulties that Shelley Winters experienced (from her viewpoint!) in working with James Mason and Peter Sellers in Lolita (1962). The relationship between Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, who wrote the novel 2001: A Space Odyssey and worked with Kubrick on the screenplay for the film, is interesting to follow. One realizes again that at the base of Kubrick's film creations is an abiding interest in science and human psychology.

Customer Reviews:

Outdated........2006-10-23

This book was great when I got it...10 years ago.

Although Mr. Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia is enjoyable to read, it is extremely outdated and there needs to be a new edition. For readers looking for some info on their favorite classic movie star, chances are you'll probably find a bio on him/her. But for recent actors, no luck.

Great Book - but old.......2006-03-01

Note when ordering that there is only one version of this book - and it was first printed in 1994. And this is not apparent from the writeup on Amazon. I already had this book - but recently ordered two copies assuming it was a new version. I was very disappointed that it was the same book I already had. The fact that the book is so old and missing all movies and information from the past 10 years makes this not as worthwhile as one would expect from Maltin.

TERRIFIC and CONCISE.......2004-08-06

As a confirmed habitual movie watcher, this book was a much-welcomed addition to my library. Actually, it never made it to my library, as I have it next to my favorite TV chair, right under the TV Guide. I've never seen anything else with such concise thumbnail bios, just the facts. Yes, many stars are not included, such a book would be impossible to pick up. I did miss some oldies such as Marge & Gower Champion. The content is 5-stars, but I deducted 1-star for the book's dire need of updating: additions such as Chris Cooper, Matthew McConaughey, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam, etc. But I wouldn't want to be the one to decide who gets removed to include these new additions!

Great info on the stars.......2002-11-13

Leonard has done a great job on this. Tasty tidbits on the stars of yesterday and today. I have only one complaint, there are many of the old stars he did not include. Too bad.

Not perfect, but indispensable.......2002-08-17

Initially about a year ago I made the mistake of following the other reviews which panned the book, and did not buy it. I then gradually realized that some of my favorite short bios on IMDB.com were excerpted from Maltin's Encyclopedia. Of course at that point I bought it. There are few, if any, other volumes that quickly give you the sum-up and low-down on 2,000 movie industry people. To say the book has errors and omissions is to me ridiculous...a perfect book would cost a few thousand dollars. Meanwhile, IMDB.com is available as a backstop for searching out hundreds of thousands of details, which wouldn't fit in a reasonably sized volume anyway. Generally speaking, I've gone wrong far more often in rejecting something based on a review or an opinion about a book, movie, etc., than in consuming something recommended -- you can always bail out if a recommender was wrong.

Average customer rating:

The history of Arab women's filmmaking
excellent introduction and reference for this important group of filmmakers

Encyclopedia of Arab Women Filmmakers
Rebecca Hillauer
Manufacturer: American University in Cairo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 9774249437

Product Description

Arab women filmmakers: Who are they? What drives them? What are their experiences in a male-dominated profession? How do they function within the contexts - and constraints - of patriarchal societies? The answers are complex and sometimes surprising, as complex and surprising as the vastly different films these women direct. In this unprecedented book, Rebecca Hillauer assembles a comprehensive and penetrating look into the history of Arab womens filmmaking, as well as the political and social background of the countries - Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Algeria, among others - from which these artists emerged. In addition to the biographies, filmographies, and discussions of their most important works, lively, in-depth interviews allow us to hear from the filmmakers themselves. Collectively, these women, who hail from a wide range of professional, religious, and social backgrounds, provide a varied and vivid picture of what it means to work in creative and journalistic fields in the modern Arab world. For Hillauer, the subject of a film, its genesis, and the personal story of the artist who created it reveal far more than a particular approach to cinematography. Arab women filmmakers and their main characters (who are often semi-autobiographical) not only afford us a look at seldom-seen facets of Arab societies, they personify an alternative womens model, one that is far removed from western clichés. Broad in scope, and rich in insight, Arab Women Filmmakers is a must read for cineastes as well as students of film, feminism, and the Middle East.

Customer Reviews:

The history of Arab women's filmmaking.......2006-09-24

College-level holdings strong in film history or Middle East history will both find plenty of depth, detail and description in Encyclopedia of Arab Women Filmmakers, a survey of how these women produce films in a male-dominated profession and world. The history of Arab women's filmmaking and the political and social background of Arab nations are mingled in a blend of biographical sketches, critical film reviews, and discussions that include interviews from the filmmakers themselves.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

excellent introduction and reference for this important group of filmmakers.......2006-03-08

"Encyclopedia" connotes the comprehensiveness of the material, but not the kinds or variety nor the formatting. The material which exceeds what anyone could be looking for in this subject area and is more informative for the way it is formatted is arranged country by country. Not only are the Arab women filmmakers grouped by country, but there is an introduction to each group which is an overview of the Arab country's film industry noting the particular challenges and advances for its women filmmakers. As for additional material not ordinarily associated with an "encyclopedia," there is an interview with each of the women. And in the section on each is a filmography and also separate "film reviews" of each major film. With this formatting rather than the standard alphabetical arrangement with a reference titled an encyclopedia, the distinctive talent and accomplishments of each filmmaker is presented cogently with accompanying photographs so each one stands out with nearby references to her body of films. Not a conventional type of reference despite its title, this work on this category of filmmaker of rising interest from current international affairs as well as the long-standing special interest in women's accomplishments is really more like a text for use in courses or individual study.

The Encyclopedia of Great Filmmakers (Great Filmmakers Series)

Average customer rating:

A good reference, but missing some key filmmakers

The Encyclopedia of Great Filmmakers (Great Filmmakers Series)
John C. Tibbetts , and James Michael Welsh
Manufacturer: Checkmark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 081604385X

Customer Reviews:

A good reference, but missing some key filmmakers.......2003-11-22

Sergio Leone, James Cameron, David Cronenberg, Tim Burton, and Dario Argento are all noticeably missing from this text. It would be hard to name every influential filmmaker of all time but that is precisely what the title of "encyclopedia" implies.

Consistency is important as well -- how does one name a filmmaker like Tarantino (pre-Kill Bill) and not make reference to Robert Rodriguez or Kevin Smith?! Admittedly, they are still as of yet unproven as "auteurs" but they have revolutionized the field of indie filmmaking perhaps even more than Quentin himself.

Customer Reviews:

Great Reference Book.......2007-05-13

I originally purchased this book when I was editing acrostic puzzles, as a reference book, but I find myself referring to it frequently even now, although no longer edit puzzles. It contains "career profiles of more than 2,000 actors and filmmakers, past and present" arranged alphabetically. It also contains "filmographies" for each actor. I'd recommend this book highly.

100 Years of American Film (Twayne Filmmakers Series, 1)

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100 years of american film

100 Years of American Film (Twayne Filmmakers Series, 1)

Manufacturer: MacMillan Reference Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0028653807

Customer Reviews:

100 years of american film.......2000-10-06

100 Years of American Film is an excellent and comprehensive addition to an existing reference coollection covering film art in the United States.

Book Description

Independent filmmaking is often regarded as a relatively recent phenomenon, yet the so-called movement has actually existed as long as movies themselves. In this indispensable single-volume reference work, LoBrutto surveys the subject from cinema's inception through the 21st century, with alphabetical entries discussing: BLFilmmakers BLSignificant films BLGenres BLCritical views BLIndustry information BLWorking methods BLAnd more Written in an accessible style and including biographical, critical, factual, and bibliographical information, this remarkable source encompasses films and filmmakers operating independently from the studio system in concept, financing, production, and distribution. Such a broad interpretation of independent filmmaking separates it from that of commercial Hollywood, a conglomerate existing to create product rather than support personal artistic vision. Many of the entries' subjects have rarely been investigated and studied--yet knowledge of independent filmmaking is vital to any understanding the cinematic medium, making this an essential book for any library's film shelves.

Customer Reviews:

A definitive professional reference.......2003-08-09

Compiled, organized and edited by Vincent LoBrutto (School of Visual Arts), The Encyclopedia Of American Independent Filmmaking consists of alphabetical entries covering everything from respected independent filmmakers, to notable independent films, and showcases critical views, basic information about the industry, various working methods, and more. Extensively researched and with an index for easy cross-referencing, The Encyclopedia Of American Independent Filmmaking is an excellent scholarly resource and a definitive professional reference recommended for anyone interested in making independent films as a career, or simply viewing them as a personal hobby.

International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers: Actors and Actresses (International Dictionary of Films & Filmmakers (Vols))

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International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers: Actors and Actresses (International Dictionary of Films & Filmmakers (Vols))

Manufacturer: Gale Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1558623027

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