Movies Books

Our sub six year old children enjoy Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the Disney Channel, so we purchased this DVD for road trips. The TV show and DVD compliment one another like you would expect.

I ordered this for my son who is 21 months old. He loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and knows all the characters. The book is very short and keeps his attention long enough for us to practice counting. He loves this book.

As a homeschooling mother, I have a difficult time finding readers for my 4 year old. He is eager to learn, but there isn't much available reading at his level. Dick and Jane are horrible, but these books, featuring his favorite Disney characters are perfect. There is a great deal of repetition, and pictures that give clues to what the words say. No, at this point it isn't really "reading", but kids need this kind of book to encourage a love of reading. Otherwise they get bogged down in the nuts and bolts of phonics, and "learn" that reading is all work and no play. As it is, my little guy brings me these books every few hours, and reads them to me. He reads them to everyone he meets. He is excited to read, and even feels ready to tackle harder books.
My older son never had any of this type of book. At the age of 6, he is well advanced in phonics, and can read any word you put in front of him. However, he is intimidated by books. He doesn't enjoy reading them at all. He is catching on, as I have been introducing him to these readers however, since they are so easy, they guarantee success.

I highly recommend these to parents whose children are "ready to read" but need easier texts than most early readers (or easy readers) provide.

My son LOVES Mickey Mouse and loves this book! It's a fun counting book with great, colorful pictures!Plus they learn about locations as well.
"Are we at the beach yet? No, not yet!" Then they show pictures of the desert, a rain forest, a regular forest, Antarctica, etc. Perfect for the Disney fan!

I bought this book for my 3 year old daughter who is a fan of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse t.v. show. This book did not grip her attention in the slightest, and she has not wanted me to read it again. It is not a bad book in terms of early reading skills, but it does not follow the pattern of the t.v. show. I find "Over the River" in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Early Readers to be a better book.

What a great book! I was anxious to read Miscue and I wasn't disappointed. If you love reading a book you don't want to put down, this is the one. I began reading Miscue one evening, and didn't put it down until I finished it. Great work, Glen!

I am looking forward to Glen's next book!! I am not a big reader but I loved Miscue!! I found myself falling asleep and still wanting to read, "just one more page"!! Great book!!!!!!Good work, Glen!!!

Having read Miscue twice and being a discerning fan of mysteries of every ilk, I feel qualified to say that Glen Allison's first book deserves a place on every bookstore's best-selling mystery/thriller shelf. Excellent writing coupled with fascinating characters make the book a stay-up-late-to-finish-it-even-if-I-have-to work-tomorrow kind of story. In spite of his problems (or maybe because of them) Al Forte is a guy you just have to root for. Miscue is an enjoyable read and, hopefully, the first of many Forte novels.

Wow, what a ride. I have read this book twice already and still weeks later, I find myself wondering what case Mr. Forte is working on now. All the characters seem so real, that I find myself thinking about them. This is a great MUST READ! Thank you, Mr. Allison. I can't wait for the next book!

I took Miscue to Hilton Head Island and found myself lost in the sounds of the waves and the twists of fate for Frank Forte. This quick adventure kept me entertained and wondering what Forte would come up with next. The plot thickens as Forte's character comes out into the open and the mystery of the murderer/kidnapper is revealed. A great read for any beach!

This book was really great i loved how indepth it got with Connor and Angels relationship. I also thought it had a little bit comic in it to lighten the mood just like the show. (I thought it was hystererical when Connor was putting up a distraction so wesley could get by the monolith and Lorne,Cordy and Fred saw it on the news. (Cracked me up) Gunns tourist distraction was funny too. Great you shoukld definatley pick it up!

Driving in Los Angeles is always problematic, but when a giant monolith suddenly appears in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard to signal yet another impending apocalypse, things quickly come to a standstill. Except for Angel and his teammates. They know right away that it's time once again to stop sipping the pig's blood and get to work.

When an ancient demon bamboozles a failing actress into carrying out an ancient ritual that will open the portals to hell, Angel faces a series of ugly problems. Not the least of which is that neither he, nor Wesley, nor anyone else have a clue what is actually going on. They know it must be bad, since every demon in town it headed out, but what kind of bad, or how bad, is still a mystery. Everyone goes into action, but the clues are slow in coming. And time is running out.

As I've noted elsewhere, John Passarella is a natural storyteller. This time he takes a high-tension story line and fleshes it out with two of the show's most complex relationships - that between Connor and Angel (who last buried Angel in the ocean) and that between Gunn and Fred (who seem caught in a web of interlocking guilt and obligation). The result is an action story with moments of poignancy and depth.

In fact, the story has a bit of everything. Demon dogs, creepy wizards, dark soldiers, and wild chase scenes populate the narrative. The characters, who have come through some rough times, are rebalancing their interplay, and Passerella captures the increasing maturity of the cast as well as the high tension of a summoning to end all summonings. One of this year's best Angel books.

Great book!!! I loved it!!! Excellent story about Angel and Connor as well as Cordy, Lorne, Gunn, Fred and Wes.

I really loved this book! I cant seem to put it down!

A chilling stone monolith carved with two demonic faces has arisen in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard, leaving many interpretations of it's actual cause. Some believe it is nothing more than an elaborate publicity stunt for a new horror movie, while religious extremists believe it's the sign of an upcoming apocalypse. The Angel Investigations team though come to truly understand the full extent of the threat that the monolith poses to mankind. And with Hyconian demons causing havoc through the streets of L.A., it soon becomes clear that differences will have to be set aside if they're to come out victorious.

Angel: Monolith is a heart pounding, thrill-packed, adventure in Joss Whedon's Angel-verse as seen through the observant eyes of the Bram Stoker Award-winning horror author, John Passarella. Passarella has seamlessly handled the tricky task of bringing life to these characters and situations within the pages of his novel while adding his own unique sense of style to make an instant lasting impact. What makes this novel extra better is the fact that it's written through the pen (or PC) of a fellow fan who has obviously paid serious attention to the way the characters behave down to the even slightest of details.

The action is cranked high throughout but really takes an epic turn in it's final pages in which Angel and co. can't seem to stay six feet away from danger. This isn't the only brilliant factor though in this outstanding novel. The character involvement is far superior to that of any other Angel novels as Passarella has cleverly placed his story in a complex time for it's characters during it's fourth season. This leaves a much stronger plot for the author to develop his story around, one in which relationship triangles and un-easy bonds between characters are tested to their furthest limits, especially that of the two central characters, Angel and his demon-hunting son Connor.

The plot that Passarella has cleverly weaved within the current situation with the Television show is unlike any other previously experienced and you're guaranteed not to read anything like it anywhere else.

Novels by John Passarella always leave a strong sense of satisfaction behind long after you've passed the final pages and undoubtedly, Angel: Monolith is no exception of this. Passarella has perfectly struck the right balance between thrilling action and a strong story making this Angel novel much more widely appealing as a whole than any other, action-heavy, novels.

Angel: Monolith is an essential purchase for every Angel fan's collection.

Highly recommended. Buy it now!

It is a good book to read and has interesting facts about the movie industry. Came in good condition. Would buy it again.

This is an absolutely fantastic book. It is a series of essays from very well known industry professionals and will help anyone to better understand the perspective of the other people you're working with on the set.

I had the great good fortune of studying for a summer with Jason Squire. Quite simply, the guy gets the goods in this book. Great interviews, covering every subject of the biz from A to Z. Especially wonderful was how easy to understand this book was - biz books can be so dryyyyyyyy...this one was fun, informative, helpful. In short, a great read.

When I saw this was featured on Amazon, I had to throw in my two cents.

I have recently bought over ten movie business making books, all starting with this one. I would have to say that out of all of the books I have read thought, this would have to be the best out of them all. Not only do they have chapters written by different people, they are all people that are in the business. They break down hollywood lingo and include a basic pay structure. This book is the most informative of the film books I have read. This is the book you buy if you want a break down of movie careers, but not for how to personally make it yourself into the business.

My wife and I are movie fans...though not like those hard core guys who hang out at independent film festivals...and we love this book.

It's a wonderful introduction to all the ins and outs of the movie business. The writers talk about film as a business and how the business side of film influences their creative choices. Revenue streams, copywrite issues, and how to "make it in Hollywood" are all discussed thoroughly in this book.

The authors were obviously choosen because of their expertise, but most of them are surprisingly good at conveying information in a way non-industry people can understand. I was expecting that each chapter in this book would be filled with Hollywood jargon...like when you read an article in Variety, but that is not the case.

If you love movies and REALLY want to understand how they work, this book is a must. Other books are great at explaining the artistic side (for example, How to Read a Film is a great title), but The Movie Business Book is wonderful since all of its contributors understand that modern film cannot be fully understood as a work of art unless you understand how the economics of Hollywood influence how the art is shaped.

Sklar has combined 100 years of film and history to present a cultural portrait of the United States.

I have only read the first 3 or 4 chapters so far, but the editor has no linear stream of conciousness. He meanders along in his thought process with no logical structure in mind. Interesting take on the history of American movies.

The author shows how movies not only reflect our society but influence it as well.

Are you a film buff, a history buff, or both?

Then this book will fascinate you from start to finish.

This is a must read in the social and cultural history of American cinema.

This is a great book that was required reading for Steven Ross' "Film, Power, and American, History" course at USC. Not only was it very relevant and well organized, but genuinely interesting too!

I don't have much to add to the excellent reviews already made of this book, but it's been 4 years since this edition came out; we desperately need a new one as in a few weeks we will have seen every movie in this tremendous book. There are so many bad movies out there and this book (and netflix) has helped us to miss most of them.

What a great book! It's wonderful to have on hand for reference and would make a really welcome gift for someone (with "like interests") at Christmas or any other gift giving opportunity. In addition, it's just plain fun to read. Movies I have never heard of, and/or wish I'd seem are there by the dozens. Anyone with a "mail" subscription to a movie outlet would be very happy to get it. I'm getting a couple more for "gifting".

I'm not sure I consider myself a film buff. Friends often ask me to recommend a film or DVD, claiming I see "everything" which is hardly the case. Some even call me a film buff but I believe I've never earned the title. Friends of mine who can name any actor/actress/director in films well known and obscure, as well as release dates, studios, and quote Pauline Kael the way some people quote scripture or Shakespeare are in my estimation film buffs. I'm only a dabbler in comparison. Yet when I purchased NEVER COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU, I realized how many wonderful films I have seen and became even more appreciative that I live in a major metropolitan area that still has a few good small theatres and a theatre that shows great independent films.

NEVER COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU will be enjoyed by anyone who is an enthusiast for film and anyone who wants to watch great films that were critically acclaimed and loved by audiences, albeit smaller audiences than the blockbusters. Most are easily available on DVD/video. The book is a collection of film reviews by Kenneth Turan, a critic for both NPR and THE LOS ANGELES TIMES. Turan does not use the book to lambaste the state of Hollywood or criticize the quality of the most popular films released today. Instead, he gives readers the opportunity to read reviews of films that are of good quality but may have been overlooked when they were released.

Most of the films included are contemporary independent and foreign films. Turan focuses on these films rather than the better known releases believing that reviews of these films, including reviews penned by Turan himself, are readily available. Most of the films he reviews in the book were released during his tenure as a critic though he does include a section on classics that were panned by critics but in time were deemed brilliant. He also includes some writings about miscellaneous film topics such as Yiddish films, films released by Hollywood before the code, and Chinese martial arts films (I haven't acquired a taste fro these as of yet).

This is a book I wished had been penned about ten years earlier, when I began building my video and now DVD collection. It will be a great guide for anyone interested in film or who is beginning to develop an interest in film or for anyone who loves a good story and enjoys being pleasantly surprised when discovering a worthy film in a video store.

This is a book that highlights movies that we, as a society, desperately need. They cover a wide range of emotions, topics, times and places and yet they all have one thing in common - they make us think. I could have added a few myself (Memento, Contact, Facing Southwest, etc) but the listed movies are enought to keep even the most avid fan busy.

Divided into four parts.types - English language, Foreign language, documentaries and Classics, each is interesting not only in its own right but how it relates to the culture from which it sprung. Thus, VERTIGO, originally panned and dismissed, has emerged in the running as one of the greatest movies of all time. Some of the descriptions are artistic statements in themselves - I am thinking of the almost poetic notes on Glenn Gould's 32 Variations or the Decalogue's Polish origins & interpretation. The author is quite catholic in his tastes, eschewing well-worn political or religious labels. THis is a good book, an important one and deserves a wider audience.

I live sort of in the sticks--nothing plays at the local theaters except the big blockbusters. So this books serves as a great resource to all the movies I missed: independent films, foreign films, and (my personal favorite) documentaries. After reading this book, I now have many more movies to add to my Netflix queue. I have already seen quite a few of the films Turan reviews in this book, and I enjoyed them all, so I feel I can trust the other reviews in this book.

The "retorespectives" section at the end of the book is also valuable, and will serve as a good introduction for me to several genres and oevres.

I do have one complaint about the book, in that it is already a couple of years out of date. I hope Turan comes out with an updated edition soon.

'Now You Know' pretty much sums up the content of this book and the epic motion picture that inspired it. Every page is a human story, a story of everyday people changed by the unspeakable horror of war. One cannot help but be moved by the sheer honesty of the reactions evoked by this film. With the royalties going to the National D-Day Museum let us hope that the messages of this film and book continue to be remembered, for the sake of our future, and for the people who gave their lives for our freedom...

(REVEALS INFO!) I thought this book was great but the movie was a lot better in my opinion. Saving Privite Ryan the novel was about a 4 on a 1-5 scale (5 being the best). My favorite character is Reiben because he carries a BeretaAutomaticRifle and he does not die. This book made me appreciate what the men of our country have done and I don't look down upon older people any more;I would like to thank them for it.

"Now You Know" is a first rate little hard-bound book concerning viewers' reactions to the movie "Saving Private Ryan." It is clearly a labor of love and all profits are being donated to the National D-Day Museum. Anyone who saw the movie and loved it as I did will want this book. The viewers' express their observations with heart-felt emotion and insight. It would be rare to find something like this anywhere else.

I teach a film history class and Saving Private Ryan is one of the films we watch and discuss. This collection of letters is very moving. The variety of reactions and emotions is very moving. The letters were impressive and they fit in well while teaching the film. If you teach a film class or plan to use Saving Private Ryan in the classroom I highly recommend this collection to supplement your teaching.

On June 6, 2000, The National D-Day Museum will open its doors in New Orleans, LA. It will be the only Museum in the U.S. dedicated to telling the stories of the amphibious invasions or "D-Days" of World War II. The royalties and earnings frm Now You Know are going to be dedicated to this Museum

The stories told in Now You Know will be mirrored in the Museum. Ordinary People who did the extraordinary. They came not to conquer, but to liberate, not to loot or destroy but to bring life and freedom.

Now You Know has helped me realize the debt that we owe that generation...a debt they never tried to collect. It has also helped me realize the opportunity I lost when my father died. A chance to say thanks.

Thanks.

This was the first book by Jack Higgins that I read. The plot grabbed me by the second page and didn't let go until the end. The characters were all very well developed, with no loose ends in their various encounters. The particular development of Martin Fallon was very interesting...Higgins established his "death wish" in a good manner, but kept me guessing to the end just how Fallon would resolve all of his issues. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.

...This novel was a little more touching in its direction and somewhat more of a moving story than all action of his other books. I found it as good as always, but I am a fan, so make your own opinion.

I first read this book about two decades ago. I think I can best describe the book by describing how that first encounter with APFD went. I had borrowed the book from a friend. I read it at one sitting - it's a quick read - and felt compelled to share it with others. In the week for which I had the book, I loaned it to four other friends then read it once more before returning it. Since then, every two years or so, I'd have an urge to read it again and I'd go out and find a copy. The book can almost be called a classic.

I must have read this book five years ago-- probably more like seven. In any case, it wasn't my copy-- we were renting a cabin, and it happened to be on the bookshelf-- I picked it up, and could NOT put it down until I read the whole thing, at the expense of my vacation. Not that I minded, mind you. ;) In any case, Higgins' tragic tale will have you aching over every moment. In fact, this novel is nearly perfect-- except for a couple of sexually explicit scenes, which I skipped quickly over. Due to that fact, this is not for sensetive readers at all, and usually I'm one of those-- but, frankly, after all the books I've ever read, this one was in my life for a mere twenty-four hours, and I remember it as one of the best.

I was first introduced to Jack Higgins with 'The Eagle has Landed' and 'Storm Warning', two WWII era stories. I enjoyed his ability to develop characters while keeping the action moving and suspenseful. However, it was this book, 'A Prayer for the Dying' that made me a lifelong fan of his writing. Actually written before he exploded into popularity with 'The Eagle has Landed' this tale is deeper and more moving than any of his books, before or after. Each character, both good and bad, have demons to overcome.

The story is about Martin Fallon, an ex-IRA executionor, who has bailed out on the movement after an tragic miscalculation caused a bus-load of school children to be blown up. We find him in London trying to leave the country and being chased by both his old comrades and Scotland Yard. He is blackmailed into killing one crime boss by another, and is seen by a priest Father De Costa. The story takes Fallon from executionor to hero as he is forced to protect the life of the priest at all costs.

Higgins takes the time to develop each character in this story into very complex people. Beside Fallon and De Costa we're introduced to Jack Meehan, (the crime boss with a twisted sense of fairness), his brother Billy (the original thing from under the rock), Miller (the frustrated Scotland Yard Detective), and Anna de Costa (the blind niece). Each character has wonderful and surprising quirks. A great example: Jack Meehan is an legit undertaker with many non-legit sidelines including prostution, gambling, and drugs. However, he is also VERY protective of the elderly, feeling they are always being taken advantage of. He actually crucifies one of his employees for trying to swindle an 87 year old widower out of 20 pounds.

To go further into the plot would spoil all the great surprises and twists. If you're a Jack Higgins fan you MUST find this book and read it. It's out of print but any good used book store will have it and it's well worth the trouble.

Very good vocal and piano selection, only draw back is that it does not come with accompaniment CD.

I'm so happy with this purchase. It has all the songs from Rent in it and it's fantastic to be able to play these on my piano.

I really love the music from RENT. I use this product regularly. The only thing I did not like was that not all of the songs from the movie are in the book, but most of them are. I think there were only two missing. Enjoy!

Almost bought the broadway vocal book that I saw at Borders...there were not a great amount of selections. I congratulated myself when I came home...looked on Amazon...found the movie soundtrack vocal book and there were way many more selections...and it was a better price than the first one?? so any rent fan would be very happy with this bood. THe one drawback is the "Love heals" song which wasn't part ofthe original...Just don't love that song and Goodbye Love is not there but practically everything else is....you'll be very happy with this book.

I don't know what to say. I was ecstatic to find my purchase of this product in the mail today, and I was very eager to sit down at the piano and play. I'm a little disappointed that this songbook is much like most songbooks out there. It doesn't stand out a whole lot. The melody is written in the accompaniment, but when I select music, I prefer accompaniment that sounds original, not a duplicate of what's being sung. It seems distracting.

I am however pleased that everything was kept in their original key signature as far as I can tell, even if that makes it harder for some to play. The graphics are a nice addition, and I am very satisfied with the number of songs included in this songbook.

So, on that note, I still absolutely love RENT, and I am sure I will continue to. Maybe my expectations were too high? I'm not sure, but maybe it would be a good idea if a version of this songbook were released with the original accompaniment.

OK account of the making of Casablanca moves well when talking about the history of the movie, but is dragged down when the last third of the book focuses on film making and film censorship during the war. Not that that's a bad thing, but it's the subject for another book.

This 1992 book tells about the 1942 film "Casablanca". No one expected this romantic suspense film to become so great. Aljean Harmetz spent years of research and interviewed those who worked on the film, and read the Warner Bros. archives. Harmetz described the studio system and tells about the personalities and politics. The Hollywood studio was like a factory assembly line, not a glamorous fantasy. The actors who played refugees were often in fact refugees from Nazi Europe. Hollywood's production code played down the scandalous affair between Rick and Ilsa. [The film would be little remembered if that final shootout left Strasser, Laszlo, and Renault dead so Rick could run off with Ilsa.] The morally right ending meant a stronger ending (p.229).

The 'Acknowledgments' thanks the people who helped in the writing of this book. There seemed to be more people than the actors on the screen. Harmetz grew up near M-G-M, her mother worked for them (p.xii). The film had a "blend of romance and sacrifice", as if it was a lesson for WW II America. It was a dirty dangerous job but we had to do it. The script was developed along with the film. Hundreds of other films were built the same way, but "Casablanca" remains a classic. I think the idea of self-sacrifice is overstated, Rick had too much experience to become sentimental Its basic unity of time, place, and action makes it a better film than "Citizen Kane" (which is more cynical). The author explains the interplay of production that formed this film (p.xiv).

Harmetz says the popularity of the film is the way its mythology echoes America's self-image (p.6): tough on the outside but moral within. [An echo of the Cowboy Hero?] This film was a combination of accidents and luck, a haphazard picture that turned into a favorite movie (p.7). Warner movies were topical, based on the news (p.8); their films had a rawness or edge lacking at other studios. Their style was distrust of authority, suspicion of human nature (p.25). Chapter 3 has the story of Murray Burnett, the vocational high school English teacher who wrote "Everybody Comes to Rick's". Every character in the film is in his play (p.36), the dialogue too (p.38). The writers made many changes (p.39) and took the credit (collective work). Rewriting sharpened the script, scenes were rearranged for more dramatic effect (p.56). The collaboration was interactive.

Chapter 4 tells of the director Michael Curtiz and the producer Hal Wallis. They and their wives were close friends (p.64). More people went to the movies during wartime (p.66). Warners made the first anti-Nazi film in 1939. They encouraged their employees to join the Rifle and Pistol Club (p.68). Southern Californians favored imprisoning the Japanese, there was fear of an attack (p.69). Bergman "projected an innocence and purity" that made her popular (p.118). The real life of Bogart and Bergman was the near opposite from the screen. They thought the dialogue was ridiculous and the situations unbelievable (p.119). Were movies better then because of the layers of character actors (p.145)? Why did those Germans sing "Watch on the Rhine" (p.169)? Casey Robinson rewrote the romantic relationships (p.175). Chapter 11 tells what the actors did off the set. Later written accounts contradicted each other (p.203). The music in the film is covered in Chapter 15. Government control of Hollywood is described in Chapter 17; preaching propaganda wasn't popular. The history of the stars of "Casablanca" is in Chapter 19. Chapter 20 has the hodgepodge of various comments on the film. They seem to treat this work of fiction as realistic fact. Harmetz summarizes the film on the last paragraph (p.354).

Could this film be compared to a classic western film? Strasser is the foreman for the Big Rancher who wants to take over the smaller ranches. Renault is the sheriff in cahoots with him. Preacher Victor spoke out against the takeover, and is in trouble. Schoolmarm Ilsa loves Victor for his politics. Rick acts like a Cowboy Hero who defeats the evil Big Rancher to assure the escape of Victor and Ilsa; Rick knows his relationship with Ilsa would not survive out on the lone prairie.

"Casablanca" is, unarguably, one of the greatest films ever to emerge from the Hollywood dream factory. So, it's entirely fitting that the prolific and hugely talented Aljean Harmetz should give us the ultimate bible, road-map and encyclopedia of this Bogart-Bergman classic.
It's a fascinating read from cover to cover, including scores of back stories relating to every stage of the film's development. What's more, it will help settle hundreds of bar-room bets, thus paying for itself many times over! To author Harmetz, I can only say, "Here's looking at you kid!"

As a Casablanca lover (words don't do it justice), I ate this book up. Harmetz writes with warmth about nearly everyone involved in the film except Jack Warner, about whom she writes with a deserved respect. The stories of the bit players, most refugees, expanded the Casablanca context tremendously for me. The suspense, and the tale of how this gem could have been different in so many ways (or not produced at all), made me appreciate this cultural icon even more. I haven't seen the film since reading this book, but you bet when I do I'm going to turn off the phone.

Aljean Harmetz's "Round Up the Usual Suspects" is one of the best books on the making of what is probably the best film of the 1940s (and possibly of all time). Harmetz explains almost every aspect of the story--often sounding more like fiction than fact--of the making of this all-time winner. These aspects include who was behind the camera, the actors, and the writers. She provides many details about life behind the WB shield--which collaborates the view of Jack Warner as a jerk seen in a fine book,"Hollywood Be Thy Name"--the fights on who wrote the screenplay, and how they all meshed together to create an enduring classic. She also explains how the film escaped the propanganda machine of later 1940 films. If you love this film, you should read this book! Let us hope that it returns to print witht he release of the special DVD edition of "Casablanca".