Movies Books

Everything arrived in perfect order

The book contains a lot of information about how Hollywood films became the way it is today. Very informative. Very fun to read. Tells you what elements makes American films "Hollywood".

Although the some movies he uses for example are very old (Casablanca, Double Indemnity, Birth of a nation, King Kong, Psycho, etc) and sometimes its really hard to get on DVD, nevertheless they are all important & significant films that all film buffs should watch.

Stanley was my professor when I was in college. He used to be a judge for Emmy Awards. He's been teaching films/media for over 30 years. By reading this book you can really tell that he really love movies!

This book is recommended for beginner to novice film students. Or just normal people can enjoy as well. Many diagrams and pictures.

It is also a great book if you are making a movie.

This is an informative enough source for anyone who is interested in Martin Scorsese' cinema. Impressively to the point, and easy to read.

I grew up with puzzles like these, I just love them. Last night I showed my niece and we spent the next hour together solving them. It's great to have a whole book of them.

this is not a review it is a complaint. this is one of four books with real film scripts for people who buy a camera to try their hand at making a theatricalmovie. these 4 books should appear as NUMBER ONE when you ask Listmania for short film scripts or Guiones para Peliculas Cortas en Español, and they are not even listed. M.T.Portela d/b/a Art-Ete - please do give them a chance.

This book differs from most studies of African Americans and cinema because it ends where others usually begin: with the prolific Oscar Micheaux, who made more than 40 "race" films between 1917 and 1948. Exploring cinema during the "preclassical" era (ie before it became codified and centralized in Hollywood) the author argues that the Great Migration and cinema shaped each other in powerful ways. The study focuses on Chicago's "Black Belt," the birthplace of African American cinema and at the time, a center of thriving black entrepreneurship, entertainment culture and political activism as well as home to country's most widely-regarded race newspaper, The Chicago Defender.

The first section of the book considers how the Great Migration was registered and reflected in dominant cinema, including educational films and travelogues. The second section describes African Americans as spectators and critics. The third section explores how African American filmmakers attempted to comment on cinema and to build and profit from developing black consumer cultures.

I found the first chapter of the book, which establishes the theoretical framework, rather daunting...the author herself calls it "discursive" in the first sentence of the next chapter. But after that point, academics and general readers alike will find this to be a fascinating exploration of early cinema and race relations, with implications still reverberating today. For example, while discussing images of blackness and stereotypes, she notes that when white filmgoers saw a black person carrying a chicken or a watermelon, they knew without further explanation that the item had been stolen. This instantly called to mind media coverage of Hurricane Katrina, when photo captions portrayed black people as "looting" whereas white people were "finding supplies."

The book is generously illustrated with 56 rare film images. I recommend it to anyone interested in film or ethnic studies, but also to anyone interested in Chicago's historic Black Belt.

When it comes to books about the movies and funny advice that only the classic movies can offer, this book is a star. For Levine, movies are the answer to just about everything. A fun book.

I enjoyed Mr. Pease's writing style in this well put together intelligence "spy" novel. The book offers a very realistic glimpse of what we can only imagine as the inner workings of our top intelligence networks and what they are pursumably up to. Well put together and thought out story line and plot. Suspenseful. Possibly unrealistic at times but not in any way unbelievable for the reader in the middle of the event. A fast read and one that you do not want to put down.

This is the second year I have ordered this calendar - last year's photos were different, of course. The posters are framing quality and lots of fun. I love this calendar!

Here is a helpful tool for Christian parents of teens who ask the question, "What movie do you want to see tonight?" It also helps to answer the question, "Why?"

"Movie Nights" is edited by Bob Smithouser, of Focus on the Family's "Plugged in Magazine." In his introduction, Smithouser writes, "Parents, you have a wonderful opportunity before you. Aside from the simple pleasure of spending time together and discussing films over a big bowl of hot-buttered popcorn, there are teachable moments in these modern parables and character studies. We have a brief window, usually when our children are between the ages of 13 and 18, to watch and discuss mature-minded movies *together*, before they're out on their own."

In this helpful introduction, Smithouser states that the pitfalls of a legalistic approach "often breeds rebellion" and the other extreme, permissiveness "inevitably leads to indecent exposure." He goes on to say, "the answer lies somewhere in between. That's because teaching discernment inspires critical thinking based on clearly defined boundaries, bonds families, and gives adolescents life skills they'll carry with them into adulthood."

He makes clear that Focus on the Family does not necessarily endorse the films suggested in this book. The 25 titles range from G to PG-13 ratings, with the majority of titles made since 1990. I personally think the list is a wonderful selection (based on the films I've seen).

Here's the complete list, in alphabetical order: Apollo 13; Chariots of Fire; The Count of Monte Cristo; Ever After; Fiddler on the Roof; Galaxy Quest; Groundhog Day; Hoosiers; It's a Wonderful Life; A Knight's Tale; Life is Beautiful; Little Women; The Mission; Mr. Holland's Opus; October Sky; The Princess Bride; Quiz Show; Remember the Titans; Searching for Bobby Fischer; Sense and Sensibility; Sergeant York; Shadowlands; To Kill a Mockingbird; The Truman Show; and Unbreakable.

The section for each movie gives the rating, mentions themes, the running time, stars and the director. Then the body of each chapter discusses cautions; story summary; things to do "before you watch," Bible bookmarks with related scripture references; talking points, follow-up activity and "just for fun" information about the film.

There are two appendixes. The first, called "Hollywood and the Bible," provides some topics for discussion "across the dinner table" on things like character, despair, discernment and human nature. The second appendix discusses "the power of story" by analyzing the classic Jimmy Stewart film, "It's a Wonderful Life." This chapter alone would be helpful for any student studying literature in a high school English class.

It might also be added that Plugged In Magazine has many more reviews that can be found on the Focus on the Family web site. But a book like this is helpful for pointing you in the right direction at the outset, as opposed to wading through reviews on this and other sites (or in other books) until you find an acceptable film you all will like.