Movies Books

Schickel is an excellent film critic and reviewer, deeply versed in film history and criticism (although he explicitly disavows any belief in a universal theory of film aesthetics or history, holding that movies are too diverse to suport any such systems). This book collects most (2/3) of his monthly reviews of "new books on film" written for the "LA Times Book Review," beginning in 2001, as well as a handful of essays published elsewhere. The pieces are short, those for the "Times" being 1200 to 1400 words. This limits the breadth and depth of any discussion; but, within the limits imposed, the essays are well and neatly written, are liberally laced with film history and contain penetrating critical judgments. The language is plain and direct, mercifully free of jargon.

Schickel does frequently repeat his views on a number of subjects, but this is inevitable given the sort of essay that they are. Someone writing a monthly newspaper feature must assume that some readers of each essay have never read him before and that others read only occasionally. Among the recurring themes, for example, are that movies are a collaborative art, that they are inescapably commercial and, with rare exception, not intended to upset the status quo. When they do rise to the level of art, it is, according to Schickel, an "accidental art."

Schickel obviously loves movies and their history and is delighted when he finds a book praiseworthy. This is somewhat uncommon since he believes that most film books are trash, either written by dry academics (who merely amass facts without any sense of context or critical sensibility) or by hack journalists (who are often merely muckraking and have no sense of film or its history). He is passionate about his own high crititical standards but he is not afraid to praise. His unfavorable judgments can be fiery but are never merciless. In this he is unlike (for example) John Simon in his prime or the late movie and cultural critic Dwight Macdonald, both of whom were merciless and personal to boot.

This is an excellent book, but it has a bit of sadness too since the author believes that informed film criticism and knowledge of film history are both dying out. This book shows what we will lose if this is so.

College-level libraries strong in film studies courses will find moving this collection of short essays on books about film, coming from a critic who not only reviews these books but offers uses them to discuss movie content, actor approaches, director and producer influences, and how the film industry operates as a whole. His different approach provides plenty of detail perfect for any college-level collection strong in film studies - and many a general interest lending library as well.

To begin with, who'd a thunk that a collection of book reviews of old and new movie books would be this good? Well, I would if only because I've never been disappointed in ANYTHING Schickel writes since the days of "The Disny Version" back when he and I were young (maggie, dear). So, it's not the money for this book that he owes me. Rather, well let me come at it in a roundabout way: The mark of a really good critic is that you will either NOT NEED to read/see/hear what he reviews because he has saved you from wasting precious time or you will be so caught up in his (or, yes, her) enthusiasm that you MUST partake of the object of same. Since Mr Schickel is one of our best critics... and documentarians... and historians... and biographers, I found far too many books I had to have within this one. Sadly (but, for one on a fixed income, fortunately) many of the best reviewed books are out of print. But, yes, weak vessel that I am, I have ordered several (from Amazon, of course) that are not. Hence the title. After all, it isn't MY fault that Schickel writes as well as he does!... is it?

This book will interest any movie fan from the general Philly area. There is a summary of each movie. But the best part are the antecdotes that accompany each movie. Also, the list of which movie people were from our area is impressive. (Steven Speilberg has Haddonfield connections)

The outstanding book "Filmadelphia" by Mr. Irv Slifkin is a must have for not only lovers and fans of film in Philadelphia, but all over the world. It is amazing how many hit and acclaimed films were conceptualized and executed in the Philadelphia area, even as far back as 1940. The real blessing of the book is how Mr. Slifkin gives equal credit and acclaim to smaller films that have great merit just as much as the big budget studio onces. Mr. Slifkin really did exceptional and thorough reseacrh to make sure he gave the complete panoramic overview of film, filmmakers, actors, etc. of the motion picture scene in Philadelphia and close surrounding areas. I was also happy that he didn't give much ink to one of the worst films ever made in Philadelphia in "State Property." The original and the sequel did nothing to benefit the Philadelphia blossoming film scene but marginalize it. The stereotypes in that truly horrible and self-destrutive film were an embarrassment to Philadelphia and anyone who wanted to be a part of the film scene from the city. I honestly believe that film has made the crime crisis in Philadelphia worse. I tell people all the time that that film wasn't shot here even though it was. I'm so glad Mr. Slifkin gave space in his resplendent book to other noteworthy films in all genres that deserved the notice, the acclaim, and the ink. This book will have a cherished place in your library because it's truly an original and necessary piece of work. A compelling and very entertaining read from the very first page to the very last.

This Author's popularly known as "Movie Irv." I never heard of him, but what do I know? Evidently he's way big in Philadelphia, and if he had his way the whole city would be known as "Filmadelphia," rather a tongue twister if ever I heard one, catchy to a certain degree but I don't know if it will ever supplant the good old reliable "Philly." I was in the Penn Bookstore looking around for a souvenir, and my eye lit on this book which I bought and read on the plane on the way home to San Francisco.

Movie Irv knows his subject inside and out! Off the top of my head, I could name a few pictures laid in Philadelphia, from KITTY FOYLE with Ginger Rogers to 1776 to TRADING PLACES, and all those movies by M. Night Shymalanyan (or however you spell it). But this guy has details on all of them, and plus he can tell you which scenes were shot on Hollywood soundstages (like much of the classic PHILADELPHIA STORY with Katharine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant) and which shots were actually filmed on location.

I know in San Francisco it's sad looking at some old movies shot here and noticing how much is changed! And that must really be true of Philly, for Movie Irv's piece on Hitchcock's MARNIE shows that almost every location shot Hitchcock took is of a place that's now been shut down or torn down. MANNEQUIN with Andrew McCarthy and Kim Cattrall takes place at the old Wanamakers Department Store but alas, there is no more Wanamakers he says! I remember THE BLOB and DAVID AND LISA and EDDIE AND THE CRUISERS but I didn't know any of them were set in Filmadelphia! BLOW OUT I did know, for it's all about Bicentennial Fever and how it turned John Lithgow into a Satanic killer for hire, and the big ships on the Schuylkill, sails flapping under skies shot through with fireworks, red, white and blue.

I also enjoyed THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE by Walt Disney, the last movie Disney personally approved. Movie Irv says that not one foot of film was shot in town, and indeed cheap Mr, Disney just re-used the sets from MARY POPPINS! What he doesn't know about this topic you could fit onto a cheesesteak.

But why put on the back of the book that Philadelphia is where they filmed the legendary box office flop IN HER SHOES with Cameron Diaz? It's like, who cares!

You may think that Bobby D is the man, and you'd be right. But do you really understand WHY he is the man? Douglas Brode does, and in this project, he lays out all of the reasons De Niro has become one of the most prolific actors of his time. Informative and entertaining, The Films of Robert De Niro is a must read for fans of the actor and his movies.

This series of books is always outstanding for the bunch of pictures it contents. But the text equals the image, there's a lot of research for each movie De Niro's done -critic-guru Pauline Kael's comments among others-, and a few insights on the flaws of some of his movies, that may give you the right impression that this author knows some things about craftsmanship.

Robert De Niro is without a doubt one of the best actors of all time. This wonderful in-depth book covers his film career, from his early student films of the 60's with Brian De Palma through 1998's "Ronin". It briefly mentions his roles after "Ronin" and ends with "Meet the Parents" and "Men of Honor". As this fourth edition was published in 2001, an updated fifth edition is badly needed. But, even the most hardcore De Niro fans like me must admit that he hasn't had many memorable roles since "Ronin", although "Analyze This" was very funny.

When looking through this book I'm surprised at how many De Niro films haven't been released yet on dvd. With each of his movies, the author lists the cast, gives a plot summary, and tells how the critics and public reacted to each movie upon its initial release. There are hundreds of great photos from his movies (including a nice color section in the middle of the book) that fans will appreciate. I was already a major Robert De Niro fan before I bought this awesome book, but reading it helped me discover many more of his great movies. This book is an absolute must for any De Niro fan!

The tappers that come with this book are amazing! They attach to your shoes for tapping. We gave these out at our Happy Feet themed birthday party to each child and they were a hit!

Just sstrap the purple and orange tappers (that come with the coloring book) on your feet and look forward to hours of tap dancing fun!

Adorable. Children would like the tappers you can attach to your shoe and dance like Mumble in the movie Happy Feet. It's alos a coloring book of the move. Not many pages, but it is adorable.

This book is a great resource about the history of the Mediterranean. Attenborouh does a good job in telling about the geological as well as human history. He has to lose the accent though. Get it if you get a chance. Only...

David Attenborouh does not have an accent, though I can understand that a colonial might think he does. It was a truly great TV series for those interested in history.

Whether or not Sir David has an accent is missing the point (in reference to previous reviews). David Attenborough is one of the most unique individuals and does exemplary performances on his productions no matter if it's a television documentary or publishing a book. He surely is an inspiration to any naturalist, or any person interested in life itself. His passion for the natural world is evident in any of his work and it surely does not fail to guide him in this book, which focuses on the natural history of the Mediterranean. It may be hard to recommend any resource simply assuming its quality based on the reputation of its particual producer or author, but David Attenborough is an exeption.

Bear trusts Franklin not to tell about his secret, but Franklin breaks his promise. Bear gets angry and wants nothing to do with Franklin. Finally Bear agrees to listen to Franklin who apologizes. Great book for showing that their is no excuse for not keeping a secret and how important it is to say I'm sorry.

Franklin had a lot of friends. One day he did something wrong to his friend, but he learned to say sorry. This is very important to be a good friend. This book is super! I learned something, and hope you do too.

I like the Franklin books because morally they are good books. I am comfortable with my child reading and looking at them. Reading this book to your child is a good way to teach them to say SORRY!

I've not seen the movie yet, but I wanted to read the bok anyway. I loved it. I can't wait to go see the film this weekend!

Also, this is the second movie novelization I've read by Terry Bisson. I believe Bisson also wrote the novelization for The Fifth Element. I really must check out Bisson's work unrelated to film. I heartily recommend this bok.

It was a great book to a great movie. I read it in less than a day

My Family loved Galaxy Quest ... It was so funny on so many levels... Great writers and a Outstanding cast....

Paris truly has an affection for Garbo, which sprung from researching his subject matter. The most entertaining bio of Garbo, honest, but not trashy.

Paris has done a great job in shedding light on the reclusive Garbo. It probes into her life, but is not needlessly intrusive. Endlessly fascinating.

Barry Paris' life of Greta Garbo is an extraordinary biography in many ways. First, it tells the story of one of Hollywood's most enigmatic and legendary icons without resorting to hyperbole or the sort of highblown psychobabble so many other, lesser writers would have stooped to. Second, it is meticulously researched and tells Garbo's story honestly, responsibly and thoroughly, including her mysterious days as New York's Most Famous Recluse. Finally, it delves deep into the heart of what made, and continues to make, Garbo one of the enduring figures in 20th century popular culture. Paris reveals the woman behind the dark sunglasses--and she turns out to be much more interesting than one might think. Garbo, it seems, was a woman of vast contradictions, who ultimately became the victim of both her own compulsive need for privacy and her vast emotional ambivalence. This is the biographical art at its finest, and highly recommended.

Nothing short of pleasurable! Marchant has a sharp and studied eye for the cinema, and his lists of titles in this examination of movies from the conscious creation perspective reads like a who's who of best flicks, making his presentation quite palatable. I wanted to immediately set up a wishlist (and will, through my local library) for virtually every film mentioned! I particularly enjoyed the chapters covering the themes of "Self-Actualized Cinema", "Storming the Castle", and "Connecting the Dots". Though there are a few tough to find titles scattered throughout, a vast majority are readily available. Even with little experience and knowledge of the conscious creation movement made popular through the writings of Jane Roberts and Seth, it was not difficult to understand the connections the author makes with their teachings, and its relevance to the analysis of movies included in Get The Picture. Marchant is a wonderful writer, and he shines as a film critic and reviewer. Includes endnotes and an index.

I had always loved going to the movies and then analyzing them from a psychological prespective. However, my current worldview is a metaphysical perspective of the world. Brent Marchant's book, "Get the Picture: Conscious Creation Goes to The Movies" is a great stimulator of thought on both movies and some of the concepts involved in reality creation in our lives.

I often have been in need of examples of metaphysical concepts, in order to grasp events in my own life. Marchant's book helps to show us how movies can aide us in our personal quests. The wonderful news is, we no longer have to read dry or abstract writings to learn, we can simply buy some popcorn and go to the movies! Marchant's writing is clear, witty, personal and delightful to read.

Though entertaining, Get the Picture has its own brand of philosophy. Early on, while discussing the movie "A Beautiful Mind", Brent Marchant credits Jane Roberts and Seth with that unique view of reality when he mentions probable selves and probable realities. What better way to demonstrate how conscious creation really works, than by example. The author examines in depth more than sixty movies and shows us how the characters' feats and pitfalls illuminate the underlying thoughts and beliefs that have created them in the first place. A wonderful read and a movie lover's delight!

Of all the mythology books I've read (which is quite an extensive list), this is by far the best of them. Bernard Evslin's book is extremely detailed and contains only known and proven facts and no minor little things that have no use to further a story. Now this is not a book with plot, so don't purchase it mistaking it for one with a story line. What it does do, though, is give you a list of Greek mythological characters and tell you about them, much in the form of an encyclopedia. Many lists of classical mythology characters include only major people and gods. Not this book. It contains so many more than just major ones. It has gods and mortals that I have not been able to find information about in any other way. It also includes many stories of Greek mythology. Besides mythological charcters, it alsoincludes major objects or events like the phoenix, Pandora's box, or the Trojan War. ALso, also, almost every mythology story is in here, from the birth of Zeus to the capture of Persephone. By far superb to all others. A great buy for a cheap price. Recommended for people who already know quite a bit about mythology, figuring it doesn't make things easy to understand for beginners.

This is an excellent reference of almost any Greek myth of importance, including the illiad and the odyssey. If you want an excellent reference, with better than dictionary definitions, each citation comes with a brief but detailed account of each "character's" significance, than this is the one for you.

This is by far the best Greek Mythology reference book I've ever used. It is in encyclopedia form, making information easy to access and decipher. Bernard Evslin has included all relevant information on each topic and goes even further by providing rare factoids in various entries. Although this book is very hard to find, it is well worth the price (I think I paid $3.00). Easy layout and complete information make this this book a treasure among a sea of look-a-likes.