Average customer rating:
- Filed it in my circular file
- doesn't live up to the hype
- Comical, Compelling, Farcical, Fierce
- Not His Best Work
- So awful you can only laugh
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Running with Scissors: A Memoir
Augusten Burroughs
Manufacturer: Picador
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ASIN: 031242227X |
Amazon.com
There is a passage early in Augusten Burroughs's harrowing and highly entertaining memoir, Running with Scissors, that speaks volumes about the author. While going to the garbage dump with his father, young Augusten spots a chipped, glass-top coffee table that he longs to bring home. "I knew I could hide the chip by fanning a display of magazines on the surface, like in a doctor's office," he writes, "And it certainly wouldn't be dirty after I polished it with Windex for three hours." There were certainly numerous chips in the childhood Burroughs describes: an alcoholic father, an unstable mother who gives him up for adoption to her therapist, and an adolescence spent as part of the therapist's eccentric extended family, gobbling prescription meds and fooling around with both an old electroshock machine and a pedophile who lives in a shed out back. But just as he dreamed of doing with that old table, Burroughs employs a vigorous program of decoration and fervent polishing to a life that many would have simply thrown in a landfill. Despite her abandonment, he never gives up on his increasingly unbalanced mother. And rather than despair about his lot, he glamorizes it: planning a "beauty empire" and performing an a capella version of "You Light Up My Life" at a local mental ward. Burroughs's perspective achieves a crucial balance for a memoir: emotional but not self-involved, observant but not clinical, funny but not deliberately comic. And it's ultimately a feel-good story: as he steers through a challenging childhood, there's always a sense that Burroughs's survivor mentality will guide him through and that the coffee table will be salvaged after all. --John Moe
Book Description
Running with Scissors is the true story of a boy whose mother (a poet with delusions of Anne Sexton) gave him away to be raised by her unorthodox psychiatrist who bore a striking resemblance to Santa Claus. So at the age of twelve, Burroughs found himself amidst Victorian squalor living with the doctor's bizarre family, and befriending a pedophile who resided in the backyard shed. The story of an outlaw childhood where rules were unheard of, and the Christmas tree stayed up all year round, where Valium was consumed like candy, and if things got dull an electroshock- therapy machine could provide entertainment. The funny, harrowing and bestselling account of an ordinary boy's survival under the most extraordinary circumstances.
Customer Reviews:
Filed it in my circular file.......2007-09-30
This book was advertised as darkly humorous. I found it dark but not humorous. It was the only book I can remember throwing away because I just couldn't see any redeeming value in it. The author fills us in on whats happening but not really how this affects him emotionally. I must admit I kept wondering where the neighbors were through all the weird goings on at the "old victorian house on a nice street". Also, the scenes between Neil and the author were just a little to graphic. I'm not asking for sugar coating, I know these things happen, but just a little less detail would have been better. I was disappointed with this book and wish I had taken the time to read the reviews before I bought it. Don't waste your time or your money.
doesn't live up to the hype.......2007-09-23
I gave it a solid 50 pages before putting it down. AB just goes on and on about his outrageous teen years and probably embellished events without discernable humor. This is another one that makes me ask how did it ever end up on the best-seller's list. I suppose its popularity is due to its being compared to Sedaris but it is not near as good. Though I'm not a huge fan of Sedaris either at least there are occasional points of humor that are completely lacking with Burroughs who just plays up his disfunctional family and sickening events of his childhood..yada..yada..yawn. Sick/crazy/unique childhood doesn't alone doesn't make entertaining writing.
Comical, Compelling, Farcical, Fierce.......2007-09-18
This was one of the most intriguing books I've ever listened to, not only the writing and the content, but he narration by the author. There is something about Augusten Burroughs' ability to talk to you as if you've known each other forever that is rare even among actors who normally narrate the best books. No matter how absurd the situation the main character finds himself in, his take on it is always that combination of wry amusement and naive expectation common to intelligent children.
I love Burroughs because although he is never childish, he is always childlike. Can't wait for more of his audiobooks!!!
Not His Best Work.......2007-09-17
I would like to start by saying that I LOVE Augusten Burroughs, his perspective, and his sharp wit. Unlike many people, "Running With Scissors" was not the first of Burrough's books that I read. While I found the book to be enjoyable enough, well written in a way that did not try to elicit pity where pity was clearly deserved, and an easy read, I have preferred every one of his other books to this one.
It's something I can't quite place my finger on that seemed to be absent from this book and not from his others. It's worth a read, if only to gain perspective and insight into the person he becomes and discusses in the rest of his books.
So awful you can only laugh.......2007-09-14
The entire point of this memoir seems to be that you can either go under or you can laugh. Horrifying and funny at the same time. He has managed to find humor - black though it may be - out of what is truly a nightmare. This is going to be a book you will either love or hate. I can't see it being a book that garners middle of the road reactions.
Book Description
Written by Stu Maschwitz, co-founder of the Orphanage (the legendary guerrilla visual effects studio responsible for amazing and award-winning effects in such movies as Sin City, The Day After Tomorrow, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), this book is a must-have for all those budding filmmakers and students who want to produce action movies with visual effects but don't have Hollywood budgets. The Orphanage was created by three twenty-something visual effects veterans who wanted to make their own feature films and discovered they could do this by utilizing home computers, off the shelf software, and approaching things artistically. This guide details exactly how to do this: from planning and selecting the necessary cameras, software, and equipment, to creating specific special effects (including gunfire, Kung Fu fighting, car chases, dismemberment, and more) to editing and mixing sound and music. Its mantra is that the best, low-budget action moviemakers must visualize the end product first in order to reverse-engineer the least expensive way to get there. Readers will learn how to integrate visual effects into every aspect of filmmaking--before filming, during filming and with "in camera" shots, and with computers in postproduction. Throughout the book, the author makes specific references to and uses popular action movies (both low and big-budget) as detailed examples--including El Mariachi, La Femme Nikita, Die Hard, and Terminator 2.
Customer Reviews:
Essential Reading for Indie Filmmakers.......2007-10-03
The DV Rebel Guide, by Stu Maschwitz, formerly a member of Industrial Light And Magic, explains in easily understandable, yet highly technical language, exactly how to create astounding visual effects using the kinds of cameras, computers, and software available to ordinary people. A Spielbergian budget is NOT required. In addition to his information, he offers many links to other websites of technical expertise and training,
You may be making a little family drama, rather than a shoot-'em-up, but the techniques in this book will increase your palette of possibilities. In other words, every indie movie maker can benefit from this book. It's essential reading, period. No one else has published anything like it.
Maschwitz assumes throughout that you are not an idiot or a dummy. Scores of color photos show exactly how every technique is done. He also runs an on-line forum; he and other digital rebels (some of whom are exceedingly experienced and clearly top pros) will help you through the rough patches.
Get this book, go out and make movies better than anything you thought you could do.
This is got the TRICKS!!!.......2007-09-23
Awesome book. My friends and I make ugly videos as a hobby and we've tried many things... but this book has some balls to the wall tricks. The guy is not a scaredy cat about shooting videos with minimal resources and lets you know how to make the most with what you've got. Also has great instructions on how to build your own stuff and pull crazy stunts. Grease up your baby, this is gonna have you running to your video camera with ideas as soon as you open it up!
love it.......2007-08-27
I've done video production professionally for several years and picked up some of these tricks from simple trial and error. What I love is how well Stu connects the techniques in this referrence and compares them to equivalent effects on film. And its not just informative, its enjoyable to read.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in making their videos stand out or looking to up their production value without spending a lot of money.
Love this book.......2007-08-19
I have read a lot of film making books and this is easily the most useful and informative. Anyone trying to make a film on their own needs to have this book!
Best Book for Independent Digital Video Production Ever!!!.......2007-08-12
This is it!!! If you want to produce an Independeant Film this is THE book to read. Don't be fooled. You still need to know what you're doing go to school. Read the manuals, watch the best movies, by the best directors, then read this book and make your movies!!!!!
Book Description
Helps readers understand how the many languages of film work together to create meaning. Louis Giannetti organizes Understanding Movies around the key elements of filmmaking, including cintematography, Mise en Scène, movement, editing, sound, acting, drama, casting, story, screenwriting, ideology, and theory. He synthesizes every element through a complete case study: Citizen Kane. This book's ideas are illuminated with hundreds of high-quality still photos, more than 70 in full color, taken from movies such as The Matrix, Almost Famous, jackass the movie, Chicago, Lord of the Rings, Mystic River, and Traffic. New in this edition: a full section on contemporary special effects and computer generated imagery (CGI); up-to-the-minute information on new developments in film technology; more coverage of recent films and filmmakers; more ethnic diversity (including new material on the Islamic cinema); and more lavish use of color and high-quality paper. An updated Companion Website contains animations, video clips from interviews with movie professionals, and Research Navigator access to New York Times film reviews. For everyone who wants to understand the artistry and meaning of the movies.
Customer Reviews:
Great guide to film analysis.......2007-09-30
This is an essential book for students of cinema. It does one thing and it does it quite well: it introduces you to the language of film analysis, the categories that critics use to analyze a film. It doesn't try to cover film technology or history.
I totally agree with the other reviewer that the new editions are completely unnecessary, and serve only to destroy the market for used copies. Buy one of the older editions unless it's for a college class and you need the same edition as the class.
amazon never delivered!.......2007-09-24
This is a great book although, amazon never delivered. I had ordered this book 2 weeks before school(along with 2 other books for school), it never came. Amazon said that i have an "undeliverable" address, but when i ordered it from ebay i got it in 3 dAys! Then i had to wait forever for a refund!
good seller.......2007-09-10
great seller and i would buy from this seller again. the book was new just like it stated.
EXCEPTIONALLY INFORMATIVE TEXT -- Although Some Movies Don't Require Explanation (*A Haiku Review).......2007-05-10
So now when I watch
PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES,
I "get it" . . . and laugh.
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
[This goofy review is dedicated to the goofy MARTIN BRUMER (Feb. 15, 1960 to July 18, 1989),
a doggoned good actor and even better friend whose copy of this fine book was presented to me
by his Mother after he left for "That Great Sound Stage In The Sky."
Thanks, Marty & Miriam!]
An incredible introduction to film........2006-04-03
Gianetti continues to produce the ultimate in introductory film texts. He seemlessly introduces us to the history of cinema while teaching us everything we need to know to fully understand film. After finishing this text you will no longer look at films the same way.
The end of the book was by far the most intriguing. Gianetti devotes a whole chapter to what is arguably the greatest film in history, Citizen Kane. His synopsis allows the reader to truly understand the beauty of the movie as well as cinema as a whole.
A must buy for anyone truly interested film.
Average customer rating:
- Literary adventure
- Staggeringly Imaginative
- Not much of an entertaining read
- Enjoyable
- Painfully slow
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Inkheart
Cornelia Funke
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
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ASIN: 0439709105 |
Amazon.com
Meggie's father, Mo, has an wonderful and sometimes terrible ability. When he reads aloud from books, he brings the characters to life--literally. Mo discovered his power when Maggie was just a baby. He read so lyrically from the the book Inkheart, that several of the book's wicked characters ended up blinking and cursing on his cottage floor. Then Mo discovered something even worse--when he read Capricorn and his henchmen out of Inkheart, he accidentally read Meggie's mother in.
Meggie, now a young lady, knows nothing of her father's bizarre and powerful talent, only that Mo still refuses to read to her. Capricorn, a being so evil he would "feed a bird to a cat on purpose, just to watch it being torn apart," has searched for Meggie's father for years, wanting to twist Mo's powerful talent to his own dark means. Finally, Capricorn realizes that the best way to lure Mo to his remote mountain hideaway is to use his beloved, oblivious daughter Meggie as bait!
Cornelia Funke's imaginative ode to books and book lovers is sure to be enjoyed by fans of her breakout debut, The Thief Lord, and young readers who enjoyed the similarly themed The Great Good Thing by Roderick Townley. (Ages 10 to 15) --Jennifer Hubert
Book Description
One cruel night, Meggie's father reads aloud from a book called INKHEART-- and an evil ruler escapes the boundaries of fiction and lands in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie is smack in the middle of the kind of adventure she has only read about in books. Meggie must learn to harness the magic that has conjured this nightmare. For only she can change the course of the story that has changed her life forever. This is INKHEART--a timeless tale about books, about imagination, about life. Dare to read it aloud.
Customer Reviews:
Literary adventure.......2007-09-07
Have you ever wanted to have your favourite characters from your favourite books alive in our world? In Inkheart, that's exactly what happens when Mo reads aloud from books: he makes things appear from the books, while other things in our world get sucked in the books. Years ago, Mo read the evil Capricorn and his henchmen out of the book Inkheart, while his wife got trapped in the book.
Now, Capricorn comes back, looking for Mo and his 12-year old daughter Meggie and the one copy of Inkheart they possess. They must flee the evil mastermind, who wants to find Mo so he could read things for Capricorn. It's a start of a dangerous adventure! Meggie, who is the charming main character of the story, must use her wits and the support from her friends to triumph over the evil forces.
Inkheart is a lovely story that will please anybody who has a passion for books and stories. The book seems written for young adults, but it's certainly dark and dramatic enough for grown-ups as well.
Staggeringly Imaginative.......2007-08-25
There are a few things that one needs to know before choosing this book.
This is the begining of a extremely ambitious and intricately detailed trilogy, meaning this is not a casual light read or a short one. This is not a book to read quickly, a certain investment of time is required of the reader. Not only beause of the page count, but also because of the sheer volume of infromation those pages contain. There is a great deal of exposition, atmospheric discription, back story and emotional reactions, which throws the pacing off in a lot of places. But it's very much worth hanging in there, as long as the reader keeps in mind what a huge job this novel has. It sets the frame work for a story that is dizzyingly vast and complicated. I admit to putting Inkheart down a couple of times, mostly beause I couldn't keep track of what was happening and needed time to reorder my brain. It never took long to pick back it back up though. The seoond half moves much smoother, and the pay off is huge. The conclusion sets up book two Inkspell beautifully. It made me glad I got both books at once cause I needed to know what happend next. if ypu like Epic story telling then this is an amazing work, it speaks to the heart of those with a passion for the fantasy genre, and echoes the feelings of those who find true joy in reading.
Not much of an entertaining read.......2007-08-24
I enjoyed the book and found the story unique (the first I read about people reading characters ot of books). However, the more I read the less I started to care about it. It seemed to be an never ending story about the characters escaping and then getting caught again. It was frustrating and made me like the characters a little less. Dustfinger was not likeable at all and Mo was way too innoncent and trusting for his own good. I liked Meggie by the end she went from being brat to maturing at the end. My favorite character was Eliane she seemed the one with the most sense and personality, but seemed to suffer unfortunate circumstances. Overall, I liked the book, but I don't think I can ever read it again like I do with my favorite books. I think is entertaining story for the moment, but can easily be forgotten.
Enjoyable.......2007-08-22
This book was an enjoyable read. It is somewhat long, but it is worth reading through to the end. The premise is good. I like the idea of there being a world that really exists within the pages of a book. The one criticism, if I have one, is that is is difficult to visualize some of the characters and scenes.
Painfully slow.......2007-08-19
There is no doubt that Cornelia can tell a story. This one just happened to be to slow for me.
Book Description
Shaped by Richard Barsam's more than twenty years of classroom experience, Looking at Movies uses students' natural enthusiasm for the subject as a foundation for going beyond enjoyment toward intelligent, analytical understanding of movies. Professor Barsam's clear writing, thorough presentation of fundamental film principles, and unique pedagogical additions to the traditional introductory text—including an entire chapter devoted to analytical writing—ensure that students approach screenings and writing assignments equipped with the analytical tools necessary to be active, insightful interpreters of movies. Looking at Movies is accompanied by two outstanding multimedia resources, the Student website and CD-ROM, both of which are integrated directly with the text.
Customer Reviews:
ontime and in good shape.......2007-01-10
It was in good shape, and I received it ontime.
Easily worth a look.......2004-01-03
Barsam's is a welcome addition to the field of introductory film texts, superior in many respects to similar entries (Giannatti, Phillips, etc.). The style is reader-friendly but in no way condescending; the examples are generous and representative of classic as well as current developments; the coverage is comprehensive. Indeed, with the accompanying CD-Rom and Website, the text is a virtual encyclopedia of information about the cinema, thereby justifying its slightly higher price. Moreover, this is the first text that begins to realize many of the media-specific qualities of the subject it attempts to illuminate.
This is a first edition, and understandably there are problems, some admittedly attributable to individual preferences. A few things I've noticed:
1. The website can be "buggy," at least to a Macintosh operating system. Numerous "Java Script" messages are appearing along with failures to play visual and audio files. Even with the misfires, the website is the most impressive I've ever used in conjunction with a text. Because of it, an instructor need have no apologies about using a text that includes discussions of numerous films unknown to students and impossible to screen in class.
2. The accompanying VCD contains valuable film examples but unfortunately doesn't include any clips from "Citizen Kane." I would hope that a future edition includes a DVD with Kane and other useful illustrative and instructive materials. Website information and quizzes often have too many technical glitches to make them effective time-savers for a teacher, who now must solve each student's difficulties with the website (the required 8-digit password doesn't help).
3. Barsam uses much personal and arbitrary descriptive language that subsequently becomes "reified" in the quizzes about the components of film. As a result, the quiz becomes as much about remembering the specific language of the author and textbook as about the properties of a filmic element (equally true of the book's competitors).
4. The order of topics will not appeal to every instructor. For example, the most basic element of film--the shot--isn't addressed until the discussion of photography in Chapter 4. Also, the attention to previously marginalized films and filmmakers can be quite uneven. African-American issues receive considerable space in several chapters in the book and on the website whereas feminist issues receive a couple of paragraphs. Moreover, there is very little consideration of "auteurism," the enabling and prevailing approach of academic cinema studies.
5. The author's lack of experience with literary and composition issues is frequently apparent, though to the book's credit ample space is given to student writing. Still, the treatment of point of view in cinema becomes problematic, especially when the author refers to the camera's perspective as "omniscient." Also, the inclusion of an exemplary student essay, while extremely welcome, represents an unfortunate choice, in my opinion, since the essay is somewhat sophomoric, exhibits clumsy writing and omits a thesis(!).
All in all, a promising production by Barsam and Norton. I look forward to giving it a test drive.
a very good and comprehensive introductory book.......2003-09-18
Just got this book and found it to be very well structured, with a comprehensive yet easy to understand language that made the material very compelling. It comes with a cd rom with film clips and it also offers website interactivity that supports and expands on the material covered by the book. The layout is very sleek and although a bit pricey ($ 70), this is what college textbooks go for now, so even at this price this book compares more than favorably to what's out there.
Book Description
Updated with brand-new entries to describe the most recent major motion pictures, this critically-acclaimed volume spans more than a century of moviemaking, concisely describing 1001 of the best films from around the world. New in this edition are entries to describe such film hits as Lord of the Rings, Mystic River, Farenheit 9/11, and Million Dollar Baby. But in fact, this volume's team of critics goes back to 1902, describing such films as The Great Train Robbery, and progressing chronologically across the decades to cover the best cinematic dramas, comedies, westerns, musicals, suspense and horror films, gangster classics, films noir, sci-fi epics, documentaries, and adaptations of novels and stage plays made by filmmakers around the world. Each entry includes a full list of cast and credits, awards won by the film, an essay summarizing the story line and screen-history, and still shots of the film's memorable scenes. At the back of the book, both an alphabetical index and a genre index will help readers find any film they're looking for. Movie fans will find descriptions of great musicals like Singing in the Rain, westerns like High Noon, science-fiction classics like Star Wars, dramas like Chinatown and Schindler's List, and international classics from master directors who include Fellini, Antonioni, Resnais, Truffaut, Eisenstein, Kurosawa, and many others. Here is a volume that belongs in the personal library of film buffs, movie reviewers, collectors of DVDs-and every reader who enjoys reminiscing over great movies of the past and present. Hundreds of movie still shots in color and black and white. "... a great motivating guide to cinema. After reading one of its engaging, often profound entries on a missed film, you want to ... rent it. Best of all, it includes international, silent, animated, and recent films."
--Dallas Morning News
Customer Reviews:
Good introduction to cinema.......2007-09-10
First of all let me begin by stating that I've put off reviewing this canon for some time. I see no justification to review a book like this until one has consumed most of it. At present I have seen 823 of these films and feel now that a review is justified.
I believe that of all the books in this series this is the strongest entry although not gospel. This canon or list of films is an excellent introduction to cinema, it gives you the basics to develop a well rounded appreciation of all cinema beginning in 1902 with George Melies' "Le Voyage Dans La Lune" right up to the present day. As would be expected in concentrates a lot on American cinema when it was a force to reckoned with. It does not overlook all the important movements like German expressionism(1920s), Socialist realism (1920s), French poetic realism(1930s), Italian neo-realism(late40s-early50s), Film Noir and all the New Wave movements in the 1960s from Britain, France, Italy, Japan and Eastern Europe. It continues in the 1970s where there is a lot of attention to New Hollywood directors as well as New German cinema which were making a massive impact at the time. After that it moves into blockbuster territory in the 1980s which is to be expected. It was a period which is not held in much regard by cineastes but is a part of cinema's development. From the 1990s onward one begins to notice how important films seem to come from all over the world and not concentrated in one area. As would be expected the last few years are open to debate, evidence of which can be seen in the fact that every time the book is revised it's those last few years that are shuffled around.
So what you got is a skeletal view of cinema which allows you to flesh it out. This book is the introduction to cinema, the yellow brick road to the Emerald city if you will, to becoming a film buff. Once you've seen 50% of these you'll already be an above average film fan. After you've completed this list it's time to move onto the Jonathan Rosenbaum 1000 which I believe will take you way way beyond.
There is however one serious flaw with the book in that it is jam packed with spoilers. So proceed with caution.
A book to be owned.......2007-06-19
Great book. Start your motivation of seeing all the titles in the book. I question about 10% of the selection in the book, while I am pleasantly surprised another 10% were selected for their uniqueness. At the same time, I am surprised some films, actually about at least 100, weren't selected. Great pictures, nice essays, but it's the titles that you want to know. Movies not selected are (I won't list them all): "The Last Emperor", "Point Break", "9 1/2 Weeks", "Brain's Song", "Boys Don't Cry", "Harlan County USA", "Escape From N.Y.", "Like Water For Chocolate", "The Miracle Worker", "River's Edge", "Straight Out of Brooklyn", "Year of the Dragon", "Kids", "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", "Zorro, The Gay Blade", "Swingers", "Tremors", "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?", "After Hours", "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures", "Body Double", "El Mariachi", "First Blood", "Play Misty For Me", "The Set-Up", "Snatch", "Wild Things", "Birdman of Alcatraz", "The Limey", "Sudden Impact", "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles", "Ghost World", "Just One of the Guys", "Carnival of Souls", "Leaving Las Vegas", "An Officer and a Gentleman", "Clear and Present Danger", "Days of Thunder", "Predator", "Citizen X", "Bad Influence", "Ghost", and "A Fistful of Dollars".
Didn't say they were the greatest!.......2007-05-25
I think this is a great book and I really enjoy reading through it's pages, but that is not the main point of my review. I want to clear up what I see as a misconception of the book that I see in a lot of reviews. This is not the "1001 Greatest Movies Ever Made" or "1001 Most Important Movies Ever Made"; it's 1001 movies you should (must) see to get a very well rounded sense of movies and their history. Some movies in the book are included just because they are great, others because of their historical niche in movie makeing, some because they illustrate a certain style, and some for pure entertainment they give. Movies with different types of animation are included and well as a broad spectrum of foreign movies. Think of this book as a watch list for a very in depth cinema appreciation class. Some of these films may not be great, some may not even be entertaining, but all are important, or illustrate an important part of cinema history.
Good book for a movie lover!.......2007-03-08
Bought this for my Dad for his birthday. He loved it. It's a great coffee table book.
My personal bible..........2007-02-10
I've had this book for about a year now, and it has truly become my own personal bible. As other reviewers have pointed out, the book spans the past century's film history and includes movies from well-known Oscar-winners to more obscure, independent gems. One thing I love about this book is that it does a fine job at keeping the list neutral -- there aren't more American-made films than foreign ones; there aren't more recent films than older ones or vice versa; there aren't more popular films than relatively unknown ones; there aren't more comedies than horror films, dramas than sci-fis, etc.
The included short essays/reviews on each film are concise and informative for the most part, though I must say it bugs me that some of them give the ending or crucial plot details away. The photos are all gorgeous and make this book a nice one to keep on display on your coffee table.
At the beginning, the book states that one of its goals is to make passionate film lovers out of casual filmgoers, and for me, it accomplished that goal with flying colors. Over the past year, I have become an ardent movie buff and lover mostly from watching at least seventy-five of the excellent films included in the book -- I've yet to encounter one I haven't at least liked. As I said, this book has become my bible and it's never far from my reach -- practically every weekend I find a new movie to rent/buy and immensely enjoy. It'll definitely make a believer out of ya!
The editor also notes that although 1001 movies might seem like an exhaustive list, it quickly becomes apparent that it's really not big enough. There are so many great movies out there (way more than 1001, trust me), but this book serves as an excellent introduction (and then some) to the world of film. Highly recommended to those interested in seeing great movies.
Book Description
America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality in the Movies is a lively introduction to issues of diversity as represented within the American cinema. The first synthetic and historical text of its kind, America on Film provides a comprehensive overview of the industrial, socio-cultural, and aesthetic factors that contribute to cinematic representations of race, class, gender, and sexuality. The volume chronicles the cinematic history of various cultural groups, examines forces and institutions of bias, and stimulates discussion about the relationship between film and American national culture.Accessible and user-friendly, America on Film features 101 illustrations, a glossary of key terms, questions for discussion, and lists for further reading and further viewing. The book is organized within a broad historical framework, with specific theoretical concepts - including film genre, auteurism, cultural studies, Orientalism, the "male gaze, " feminism, and queer theory - integrated throughout. Each individual chapter features a concise overview of the topic at hand, a discussion of representative films, figures, and movements, and an in-depth analysis of a single film, including The Lion King, The Jazz Singer, Smoke Signals, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Celluloid Closet.
Book Description
If a child can watch Barney, can’t that same child also enjoy watching Charlie Chaplin or the Marx Brothers? And as they get older, wouldn’t they grow to like screwball comedies (His Girl Friday), women’s weepies (Imitation of Life), and westerns (The Searchers)? The answer is that they’ll follow because they’ll have learned that “old” does not necessarily mean “next channel, please.”
Here is an impassioned and eminently readable guide that introduces the delights of the golden age of movies. Ty Burr has come up with a winning prescription for children brought up on Hollywood junk food.
FOR THE LITTLE ONES (Ages 3—
6): Fast-paced movies that are simple without being unsophisticated, plainspoken without being dumbed down. Singin’ in the Rain and Bringing Up Baby are perfect.
FOR THE ONES IN BETWEEN (Ages 7—
12): “Killer stories,” placing easily grasped characters in situations that start simply and then throw curveballs. The African Queen and Some Like It Hot do the job well.
FOR THE OLDER ONES (Ages 13+): Burr recommends relating old movies to teens’ contemporary favorites: without Hitchcock, there could be no The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, without Brando, no Johnny Depp.
Customer Reviews:
A wonderful resource to widen children's movie-viewing horizons.......2007-09-29
I came across this book in my local library, and after reading it, am going to purchase a copy for myself, and perhaps give it out as gifts for friends that have young children. This is an amazing movie resource. Ty Burr writes in such a familiar, easy-to-read style, and despite his motives [trying to get us to expand our young ones' movie viewing experiences through old movies/classics], never once comes across as condescending or snobbish.
The fact is that children these days are really being fed a steady, and not so healthy diet of the same type of movies that have spawned sequels, mass merchandising, and dare I say movies that don't really promote great role models [I have had enough of those tween movies with young Hollywood starlets in them]. Ty Burr provides great tips and ideas on overcoming this problems by suggesting old movies, or rather classics that will appeal to the toddler set[Meet Me in St Louis], the tween set[The African Queen], and also teenagers[Metropolis]. There are also old movies he doesn't recommend you watch with your children. The best part of the book is the comprehensive list of old movie titles in the different categories such as comedy, drama, musicals, action, adventure & westerns, horror, sci fi and fantasy, & foreign movies.
All in all, I'd highly recommend this book to readers who are interested in expanding the movie viewing experiences of the young children in their lives, and even for one's own viewing pleasure [there were titles in here that I had never come across and plan to check out!].
The Best Old Movies for Families.......2007-08-23
Excellent Book--I have given it to all of my grown up children. Just reading through it is a trip down memory lane.
Entertaining and informative.......2007-07-30
Our family enjoyed this book--we got lots of ideas for movie nights, and we also got a kick out of reading the author's entries on movies we've already seen with our kids. It also kick-starts your memory for movies that Burr didn't write about--we were surprised that John Wayne's "True Grit" didn't make the cut for tween girls, and that the Julie Andrews' "Cinderella" wasn't mentioned in little girl musicals. Altogether, this is an engaging and fun book that I would also recommend for adults who are looking to educate themselves about classic cinema.
Put this book in your car!.......2007-07-15
When you are standing at the video store with your brain going blank and the helpful clerk checking out her latest tattoos, this book will be waiting for you in your car. It is also advisable to put a pad of yellow stickums in the book so you can flag pages you want to go back to. It's the perfect reading for that "lost" time when you are sick of soccer or pluperfectly bored with carpools. Hundreds of great suggestions, well-written reviews and guidance to "what comes next" make this the best thing since microwave popcorn. My favorite chapter was "Kong Island Theory: Old Movies NOT to Watch With Your Children" and the index with age recommendations which I suppose you could always xerox and carry around in your wallet if you didn't want to keep the book in your car. But DO keep the book in your car. Your kids will thank you for it.
A wonderful guide to classic movies to watch with your kids.......2007-07-04
I bought this book because there are so many wonderful old movies out there and I wanted a guide to which ones I should watch with my daughter. I was not disappointed. Ty Burr is a wonderfully witty and humorous and knowledgeable film critic with years of experience at both Entertainment Weekly and now The Boston Globe, and this book is clearly a labor of love based on the experiences he had watching these movies with his children.
The book starts out with what Ty calls "Starter Kits" - 5 movies to watch with kids of different ages. For example, the Toddler starter kit includes the original Robin Hood (Ty calls him the original super hero), Meet me in St. Louis, Bringing up Baby (The sell: The Cat in the Hat with a Bryn Mawr accent :); Singin' in the Rain and StageCoach. I've watched three of these already with my 6 year old and she has really enjoyed them and, I think, learned a lot from them as well.
Other chapters are organized according to the type of movie. There are chapters on Comedy, Drama, Musicals, Actions and Westerns, Horror and also Foreign Language classics. Each movie is succinctly reviewed, with headings on who directed and starred in the movie, the age group that is appropriate, the sell (For the Marx Brother's Duck Soup he says: "You think you and your brother are nuts? Watch these guys."), the plot and why he choose the movie. There is also a useless trivia section. (Bet you didn't know that Duck Soup was banned by Benito Mussolini.)
In the past, it was hard to find many of these movies at your local video store but now that we are in the age of NetFlix, the book has more relevance than ever.
These movies are a huge change from the usual diet of Nickelodeon stuff like Spongebob that she usually watches - but what's truly wonderful is that they are enriching and memorable movies for the whole family to watch. It has been a genuine thrill for me to rediscover these movies and watch them through her eyes.
These classic movies are also a valuable lens through which a child can learn about how Americans lived in the past, and their attitudes and foibles. Ty's witty guide is a must buy for anyone that believes that classic movies are an essential part of a child's upbringing and education - and a welcome change from the current media diet our children are exposed to. Highly recommended.
Amazon.com
It's well known that a vast number of people work on any given movie in roles as varied as writing scripts, choosing locations, dressing sets, costuming the players, lighting scenes, manipulating the camera, directing actors, editing film, working on sound, advertising the finished product, and screening it to an audience. Have you ever thought about how these components are collated? Or why the director is most often considered the author of a film? Wonder no more, because Sidney Lumet's Making Movies is a terrific journey through each stage of filmmaking that is overseen by the director. Lumet, the veteran director of Twelve Angry Men, The Pawnbroker, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, The Verdict, and many other fine movies, knows the ins and outs of American filmmaking as well as anyone. In this excellent, personable account, Lumet tells what he's learned about making movies in the course of the last 40 years. He shows why fine directors need to have strong imaginations, extraordinary adaptability, and skill in many different fields. His enthusiasm for his life's work, particularly his love of actors, is evident on every page of this book. As Herculean as the labors of film directing are, Lumet takes great pleasure in his work, almost guiltily admitting that the film director's job is "the best in the world."
Book Description
From one of America's most acclaimed directors comes a book that is both a professional memoir and a definitive guide to the art, craft, and business of the motion picture. Drawing on 40 years of experience on movies ranging from Long Day's Journey Into Night to The Verdict, Lumet explains the painstaking labor that results in two hours of screen magic.
Customer Reviews:
Great for thos studying film!.......2007-07-05
This book was fantastic, and I recommend this to all ppl intersted in films, especially students. It really brings a reality check to it all and makes you love filmmaking even more! Just great!
Fun, and Still Informative.......2007-04-02
I got this book as a gift for my younger sister, a film major. It goes through the process of making a movie from rehearsal to release, with a lot of anecdotes and examples for flavor. It's a fun read; more of a memoir than a how-to manual.
Interesing, fun and insightful.......2005-05-17
Lumet's book is very well written. He has done a great service to movie lovers everywhere who want to learn more about the process of filmmaking. I wish more directors wrote books like this. It is helpful if you have seen some of his more popular films before reading the book since he uses numerous references to them to illustrate why a certian decision was made or how different elements of the film contribute to the theme.
A good summary........2005-03-12
You are just about to start filmschool?
Get ahead and read this faboulus book about making movies.
From the screenwriting process to the post work Lumet describes the making of a movie.
A must read for future moviemakers, filmbuffs or people who wonder how a movie is made.
Easy to read. Easy to understand.
easy interesting valuable read........2005-03-02
in a quick easy enjoyable read you learn a lot, and it's all logically processed so it all fits nicely into place. regardless he directed dog day afternoon, so how could you not read it?
Average customer rating:
- Hmmm...why you might not need to buy this book
- A good foundation
- useful
- Simple & straight to the heart
- Excellent Idea, But Left Out The Best One
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What Stories Does my son need?: A Guide to Books and Movies that Build Character in Boys
Michael Gurian
Manufacturer: Tarcher
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Similar Items:
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The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life
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The Good Son: Shaping the Moral Development of Our Boys and Young Men
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The Wonder of Boys
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A Fine Young Man: What Parents, Mentors, and Educators Can Do to Shape Adolescent Boys into Exceptional Men
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The Wonder of Girls : Understanding the Hidden Nature of Our Daughters
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philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer
ASIN: 1585420409
Release Date: 2000-06-01 |
Book Description
The author shows parents and teachers how to harness the media's influence to teach boys the lessons they need in today's confusing moral environment. The author gives particular ethical lessons for many great movies and books.
Customer Reviews:
Hmmm...why you might not need to buy this book.......2006-03-25
I love Amazon's Search Inside the Book feature but in this case is it doing the author any favors when it lists most of the books (listed by age group) which he suggests are appropriate? If you can see the books and movies, why buy the book?
ALso, just by glancing over the contents I could see which movies would work for my kids and which they'd seen or didn't like. This was enough to convince me that the book had nothing new to say to me that I hadn't already seen by using this feature.
Sorry. But that's my take.
A good foundation.......2005-11-29
This book has great age-appropriate movie and book suggestions. The topics of discussion have been very useful for us... our 5 year old son now specfically asks us to pause the movie or book so that he can get clarification regarding the concepts or words he does not understand. On the inside cover, I jot down the newer books or movies that strike me as being potentially inspiring for my son in the future. I REALLY wish Mr. Gurian would write a version of this book for girls! I have had to start my own list for my daughter.
useful.......2005-10-11
I find this book useful in choosing movies for my son and in pulling out character building topics to discuss with him. This book acknowledges that boys connect with media and gives specific ideas how parents can USE that power rather than simply be subject to it. I do have to agree with the other reviewers, I'd like to see more; a little more depth and an updated version to include more recent books and movies.
Simple & straight to the heart.......2004-03-10
A wonderful list. Yes, as other reviewers point out, there is 'nothing new here'. But parents today are bombarded with books and videos for kids and don't often have time to sift through them all as thoughtfully as the authors have done here. They've done a wonderful job of reviewing stories we know and love from a boy's perspective. My 6 year old gets way too much pressure to act like a girl, I'm grateful for movie & book reviews that acknowledge not just that it's ok to be a boy, but actually quite wonderful. The discussion questions may not be the ones you want to ask, but they get you thinking along the right lines.
Excellent Idea, But Left Out The Best One.......2002-01-29
This book is an excellent idea. However, the authors left out what I have found to be the best one for our sons AND OUR DAUGHTERS. Add the book, "West Point" by Norman Thomas Remick to your list (in fact, this should be first as it gives the basics). It's a veritable education in character and leadership.
Books:
- Seeing the Light: Optics in Nature, Photography, Color, Vision, and Holography
- Sharpe's Company (Richard Sharpe's Adventure Series #13)
- Shooting to Kill
- Shostakovich: A Life
- SIGN with your BABY Complete Learning Kit: US DVD Version, Book, Training Video (DVD), Quick Reference Guide
- Skin: The Complete Guide to Digitally Lighting, Photographing, and Retouching Faces and Bodies
- Steven Spielberg: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies)
- Surf Movie Tonite!: Surf Movie Poster Art, 1957-2004
- Sweethearts: The Timeless Love Affair - On-screen and Off - Between Jeanette MacDonald
- Tao of Jeet Kune Do
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