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Movies Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Movies
Giraffes Can't Dance
Published in Hardcover by Orchard (2001-09-01)
Author: Giles Andreae
List price: $16.95
New price: $6.74
Used price: $6.68

Average review score:

Fantastic!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-23
My father-in-law bought this book for my 3 year old daughter and she just loves it! It teaches empathy in such a cute and fun way! When Gerald falls while trying to dance all of the other animals laugh at him and he walks away sad. Gerald however is determined to dance and doesn't give up. Finally he finds his inner music and is a fantastic dancer. All of the other animals come around and can't stop watching him dance. This story is told in such great rhyme it is so much fun. After reading this book I looked up the author and bought an alpahbet book which ended up being equally as fantastic..."K is for Kissing a Cool Kangaroo"

Review
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-18
Do you like calm and weird books? If you do then is the book for you. The story Giraffes Can't Dance is about a Giraffe who is very clumsy and can't dance and gets teased a lot by other animals. Then he figures out that there is something called a jungle dance that will happen in a couple of days and all the animals practice some in groups more then two like the baboons and some just two like the lions. So then he practices but it's no help. So then a wise cricket helps him practice. I won't tell you the hole story but I will give you some more details like the setting is the jungle and some of the characters are the Giraffe, the baboons, lions and more animals that you will love. I thought the authors message was that just because someone or something can't do some thing doesn't mean you shouldn't be their friend or bail on them. So if you want to see what happens by the book I am sure you will like it.

Giraffes can't dance
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-12
My children and I love this book, especially the rhymes and the exuberant, joyful illustrations by Guy Parker-Rees. Gerald is such a wonderful character. The book has already become a classic!

Can't get enough of Giraffes Can't Dance
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-18
This is a great story about how it's okay for us to be individuals that dance to a different beat. The illustrations are wonderful. Bought the book for our 3-year old son but everyone in the family enjoys reading the story.

Great Message for all ages
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-09
I love this book! My mentor read it to her 8th grade class before they went off to high school and i bought it as a parting gift for a friend of mine who just went to college. It has a wonderful message of "dancing to you own beat" or just being yourself, no matter what people think. Seeing that i just had my first child, i will definitely be buying him this book and i will read it to him, even if he is only 3 months old because i don't think anyone is too young to be taught that they deserve individuality.

Movies
The Night Before Christmas (Pictureback(R))
Published in Paperback by Random House Books for Young Readers (1975-08-12)
Author: Clement C. Moore
List price: $3.99
New price: $0.01
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $10.00

Average review score:

Jan Brett Night Before Christmas
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-06
I LOVE Jan Brett's books! I buy them anytime I see them whether on sale, old ones on Amazon as remainders, or new.. They make great gifts. I have a backup of many to give to children, particularly my granddaughters. The illustrations in this one are so beautiful it is really a keepsake to save as well as enjoy. Give it as a gift and you will make some child very happy and a parent happy,too.

Beautiful, large book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-29
Beautiful illustrations reprinted from over 40 sources. All illustrations are credited on last page. Book measures 9"X11.5" Only down side was that the price changes by the day. One day it's almost $11 another it's $8.97. But that's just the way Amazon works; something to be aware of. (It's worked in my favor often while shopping at midnight--price suddenly went down!)

Classic
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-13
it's a classic, so of course you can't go wrong, but as far as the best one being out there... well, I'm sure there are much better illustrated ones out there than this one

It's Become a Tradition
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-29
I bought this for my grandchildren last Christmas. The wording is traditional, and the illustrations are wonderful! This has become a part of the Christmas Eve tradition at my daughter's house.

This Book is Beautiful...!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-11
These illustrations are the best ever for The Night Before Christmas...Stunning even! A worthy heirloom Christmas Book. The illustrations cover both sides of the page for a large panoramic view seldom seen in other books...

Movies
On the Banks of Plum Creek (Little House)
Published in Paperback by HarperTrophy (2004-05-01)
Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder
List price: $8.99
New price: $1.56
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

The Best of the Series
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-21
The Little House series are great read aloud books.

Our daughter is five and this series is perfectly age appropriate, even though an older child would enjoy them equally as well. For younger ones (three or so), there is a great picture book series called "My first little house books," or something like that. One of these is a story based of a chapter in this book and is called "Christmas in the Big Woods."

These CD's are great for long trips in the car. The narrator's voice is wonderful. The adults will find themselves enjoying listening themselves.

"One the Banks of Plum Creek" is the best of the series. It is the one where Mary and Laura go to school and where the character of Nellie Olson is introduced. Her brand of spoiled rotten meanness is nothing short of tantalizing to a five year old. Also, there are the wonderful Christmas chapters.

Just excellent, all around. I highly recommend the books to read alound and the CD's.

Fabulous!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-20
Whether you have read the Little House books or have never heard of them, this book on tape is wonderful for everyone from small children to adults. The narrator who reads it does an amazing job of capturing the childhood wonderment and emotions Laura was trying to convey. It is also so interesting to hear the way families lived back in the 1800's. I could listen to this book on tape over and over again.

On the Banks of Plum Creek
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-23

Book review
I did my report on the book called On the Banks of Plum Creek.
The author of this novel is Laura Ingalls Wilders. It is also historical fiction.
This story is about a family that is very close. There is baby Carrie the littlest, the middle child was Laura but her nick name was Little Half Pint, and the oldest is named Mary. Mary was such a little lady she always did what her mother told her to do. But Laura was the rebel in the family she was always getting dirty or getting into trouble. But Carrie is too little to have a background. Pa traded his horses and bunny for a dugout from Mr. Nelson. There was a creek close to the house and they played there often but they must never go into the deep waters with out Pa or Ma (Laura learned that lesson fast).
I loved this book because I love the time period it was set in and I have read many stories by the same author like Little House in the Big Woods. It would suit some one who loves Family stories and the time period and his farm world it is more like a fun book to read but it is Historical fiction as well.

A can't-miss addition to the series!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-07
Laura Ingalls is now eight-years-old, her sister Mary is nine, and Carrie is still just a tiny tot. While they are all still quite young, they are expected to help out with the chores around the house - from sweeping to dusting, cooking and setting the table. But this year, the girls are in a strange new place. Looking to settle in an area where a school and church are close by, and the Ingalls' have a chance to grow a wonderful crop that will provide quite a profit, the family heads to Walnut Grove, Minnesota. Traveling by covered wagon, the family, along with all of their belongings, travels all the way through Indian Territory, across Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa, stopping at their destination in Minnesota. There, they are surrounded by Norwegian's who speak very little English. However, they are good neighbors who assist them in times of trouble. Trading their horses for a home located under the ground, Laura's family begins to call Minnesota their home. And, before long, Pa has built a lovely home by the banks of Plum Creek. He believes that his wheat crop will provide enough funds to pay off their debts when the time comes. But when locusts invade in cloud-like swarms, eating everything in their sight, the family must endure hardships that were unexpected.

But things are not all bad. Having never attended school before, Laura and Mary are finally near enough a schoolhouse where they can attend daily lessons that help them develop reading, writing, and arithmetic skills. It is at this particular school where the two older Ingalls girls are exposed to children - both male and female - who are close to their age. Some of whom title Mary and Laura "country girls." But the label does not affect how the two sisters view themselves, or their family; and only gives them the courage to befriend various girls who love to spend time with them. It is at school, however, that Laura encounters the spoiled, yet oh-so-pretty, Nellie Oleson, who goes out of her way to give both Laura and Mary a hard time. But Laura isn't having any of it, and resolves to get even with the vicious Nellie, even if it upsets her Ma and Pa. Luckily, with Ms. Beadle - the schoolteacher - around, Laura and Mary have the confidence to stand up for themselves, and receive the education that their Ma always wanted them to have; while getting the socialization they deserve. But even attending school doesn't excuse them from having to assist their family when the going gets tough.

Up until last year, I had been a diehard fan of the LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE TV series, but had never had the opportunity to delve into the wonderful tales told by Laura Ingalls Wilder herself. Upon reading the introduction novel, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, I quickly fell in love with the Ingalls family all over again; and, since then, they have taken up residence in my heart, and kept me fascinated with the various adventures they experienced throughout their lives. Laura is such a lively, brave, fun-loving character; whose ambition, kindness, and, oft-times, naughtiness, make her appealing from start to finish. Her relationship with her family is hard to resist, as she manages to please and displease them on a daily basis, all to the jovial laughter of her father. I believe that Pa (Charles) is one of the most important characters in the series, as he is such a kind, loyal man; who rarely scolds, and spends his downtime entertaining his family with music from his fiddle, and stories that leave you chuckling. The family, as a whole, are the type of people you would absolutely love to have the chance to know. They are kind to strangers, helpful to neighbors, and both Ma and Pa are two of the most selfless people in literature. The information regarding Rocky Mountain locusts was both interesting, and frightening; but truly provides a wonderful history lesson for the young reader. While the introduction of the devilish Nellie Oleson provides quite a bit of humor, as she and Laura trade insults with one another at almost every meeting between the two. Ingalls did a marvelous job of penning such a cheerful addition to the series; and, thus far, ON THE BANKS OF PLUM CREEK has become my favorite LITTLE HOUSE book yet. A can't-miss addition to the series!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Pa Loves Ma, Ma Loves Pa, and All's Right With the World!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-18
ON THE BANKS OF PLUM CREEK -- Who could forget the plague of grasshoppers, or spoiled Nellie's encounter with the crab, or Pa's sojourn in the blizzard, among other adventures?

We -- my three homeschooled grandchildren and I -- are going through the Laura Ingalls Wilder series of books for the second time. We read them aloud during story time, and love every minute. These are books written about an American pioneer family in the 1800s with a strong moral compass. In an unsentimental style, the author writes simply of the day-to-day life she experienced firsthand growing up. As the title of this review suggests, a central theme, not only of this book, but the entire series, is that "Pa loves Ma, and Ma loves Pa, and all's right with the world," including in the face of all kinds of adversity and opportunity alike.

I enrich this time for my grandchildren by stopping occasionally to explain and discuss what we are reading about, be it an unusual word usage, a custom no longer practiced, how to do something by hand, historical facts... We have even stopped to do some research and measure out the height of a bear. Our family tradition is that the eldest grandchild (now 11) reads the last page of these books. Otherwise, I usually do the reading. We also try to get started right away on the next book in the series, the same day as we finish the one before, so as not to lose our momentum.

After going through the series the first time, we discovered (almost by accident at the local library) several other series of books, written by other authors, about Laura's great-grandmother Martha in Scotland, her grandmother Charlotte in Boston, and her mother Caroline in Wisconsin, so we decided to start over with the first of those books and carry on through. There is also a series about Laura's daughter Rose which we have not gotten to yet.

Reading through the other series in order has been time well invested. Like Laura, we have strong family roots in Scotland. We have four generations of our family living within close proximity, so my grandchildren know my father, their beloved great-grandfather, quite well, and this series helps them gain a feel of family and historical continuity, generation to generation. (Check for related book series under: Martha Years, Charlotte Years, Caroline Years, Rose Years).

I am investing in and building our own set of all these books in hardcover, having told my grandchildren that I plan to be around to read them to *their* grandchildren!

Movies
The Unexceptable Mrs Pollifax
Published in Paperback by Fawcett Books (1998-09)
Author: Dorothy Gilman
List price:

Average review score:

Mom liked it
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-22
I bought this for my mom, who lives in Yuma, Arizona and hasn't a lot to do in 110 degree heat in the summer. She loved it, said it was a great, fun read, and that's enough for me.

Unexpectedly Amazing!!!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-13
I thought this might be cheesy. It was fantastic! After having loved Ian Fleming, this was a great substitute. I look foward to reading the rest of the series.

You're never too old!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-05
Listening to this tape, I was surprised by how much of it really had a timeless quality. The book was set back a ways (there's a way to find out exactly when, having to do with a character's age and the print date of a book, but I've forgotten...) and there were clues to the fact that it was not a contemporary novel - the political setting and the level of technology - but the characters really could have been plucked out of any time period. And this made it very enjoyable to listen to because I could picture Mrs. Pollifax and it really was easy to like her and root for her. Though I figured out where the microfilm went about, oh, two tapes into the six, there was enough story around the central mystery to keep me interested. I would definitely recommend it as a wonderful book to listen to (or read, I'm sure). I believe I will try a few of the other Mrs. Pollifax books...

Her adventures are truly unexpected
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-07
Bored and in excellent health for a woman who is retired with nothing more to look forward to than her gardening meetings, Mrs. Pollifax decides that there are only two choices in her life. Take one giant step off the roof of her building in New Brunswick, New Jersey or pursue a dream that she has had since childhood. With the decision made she boards a bus for Langley, Virginia and decides to be a spy for the CIA. Taking place during the cold war, Emily Pollifax is sent to Mexico to retrieve important documents, that doesn't seem difficult until she is forced to outsmart Red Chinese military men with nothing more than a pocketknife and a Christmas tree. This woman could definitely give MacGyver and Forrest Gump a run for their money.

Absolutely Delightful!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-09
This is the second Mrs. Pollifax book I have now finished and I adore them. The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax is a delight in her adventures and this one is full of thrilling adventures. I am now hooked and will be reading every Mrs. Pollifax book there is. They are thoroughly enjoyable...

Movies
The Visual Dictionary of Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Published in Hardcover by DK CHILDREN (1999-05)
Author: David Reynolds
List price: $19.95
New price: $3.50
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $19.95

Average review score:

Star Wars! Nothing but Star Wars!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-07
This book was interesting. It told of a lot of elements in the Phantom Menace movie like biographies of Anakin, Padme, and Darth Maul. It also went way beyond the movie and talked about things not mentioned in the movie. From shortened biographies on the Jedi Council members to looking inside a battle droid's head, this book has everything any Star Wars fan would ever want. The photography is great and the pictures are labeled showing a lot of the parts of machines and lightsabers. This book is the bomb.

Love It!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-06-23
The Star Wars Episode I- The Visual Dictionary is great. It has amazing facts about Star Wars episode I such as all of the members of the Jedi High Council (which I was amazed to find out that there is another one of Yoda's species on it, and her name is Yaddle, and she is young at 477), the species, name, and personalaty of the Trade Fedration leaders, every last detail of a Battle Droid and Droideka, Queen Amidala's dresses and makeup and the reasons she wears them, the sea monsters of Naboo, Gungan warfare, why Jar Jar was banished, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Mace, and Yoda's lightsabers, the Queen's handmaidens, Darth Maul's double-bladed lightsaber and speeder, and much more!

This is a great book and will provide hours of fun for any Star Wars fan (at least, it did (and still does) for me).

Also a good book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2003-12-25
This book likewise its similar for the classic Trilogy, is a good buy for a Star Wars Fan. Depicts everything that appears in the movie, except the starships, the only thing I missed, but it is not a major problem.

Great answers for "Mommy, what's that called?"
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-05-16
We have a 4 1/2 year old daughter obsessed with the Star Wars girls (Shaak Ti in particular) and this is good because it tells all about the different charachters, places, vehicles and robots of the movie in easy to understand, yet complete language.

Very good for the little Star Wars fan or anyone who would like to go a little deeper, but not THAT deep.

Good information, excellent photos, flimsy binding.
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-06
Bought this book along with Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, also by David Reynolds. The pages are falling out of both books. I've had this problem with a few DK books, even the children's books. The older DK books are more sturdy. I give this item only 3 stars, and only because of the content. A book with missing pages doesn't get 5 stars.

Movies
Fall Into Darkness
Published in School & Library Binding by Rebound by Sagebrush (1996-12)
Author: Christopher Pike
List price: $12.10

Average review score:

One of my favorite nostalgic Pike books
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-09
Sharon is accused of killing her best friend Ann. Three witnesses heard everything, though they didn't see it. They heard Ann scream at Sharon, and then they heard her fall over the edge of a cliff. Her body has not been found, but they know she must be dead and the only logical conclusion is that Sharon killed her. But Sharon knows she didn't do it. So why did Ann scream like that? Did she commit suicide? Or was it revenge?

This is the basic premise, though by chapter two, you know what's going on. The book isn't about the question of why Ann did what she did. It's about a friendship gone wrong. It's about grief. It's about loss. It's about revenge. But mainly it's about obsession and how it destroys.

This book is a bit of a retread of Gimme a Kiss. That being said, I think it's a good story in its own right. I think Pike took the basic premise of GAK and improved on it.
There might be parts of the story that strain at credibility, but nothing that would really take away from the pleasure of reading it.

As for the characters, I did feel invested in them. Sharon had a lot of personality. I also enjoyed reading Ann's point of view. Ann is a bitter, nasty person but I really felt for her. She seemed so lonely and I felt so sorry for her. She was a more sympathetic character than Jane in Gimme a Kiss.
The bottom line is that it's a good read if you're 13 and into these kinds of books.

The one thing I felt was lacking was more depth in regards to some of the major characters. I felt like I never got a sense of who Jerry was when he was alive. Well, not enough of a sense of him. I didn't really know much about what his relationship was like with Ann before he died, and therefore, whether or not she blamed herself for his death. Even though he wasn't technically in the book, his was a constant presence. So I wanted to know more about him. That's about all I can think of.

A MUST READ
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-11
This is the first Pike book I've ever read. And this book is a must read. I enjoyed it very much. Once you start reading this, you wont be able to put it down. There is a surprise waiting on every page you turn (: The murderer was the last person I thought it would be. This book is very exciting and leaves you wondering. There is a huge twist at the end. The end was okay for me. But I didn't find the end very satisfying. But overall, the book was very good. For any fans of Pike, this is a must read. Hope you enjoy (:

This book is AWESOME
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-24
Fall Into Darkness is a really good book if you like horror, romance, drama, and a huge twist. The characters are Ann, Sharon, Paul, and Jeff. Jeff is accusing Sharon of pushing Ann off a cliff. Read this book to find out if she is guilty or not.
Steven, Grade 5 Rhode Island.

Best Book Ever
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-20
this was the best book i've ever read. I don't like reading books as much, but this one really caught my attention.

GREAT!!!!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-06-16
Fall into Darkness is a great book. It is definitely surprising. It was suspenseful, mysterious, and amazing.It's sooooo good that there's a movie on it. Pike definitely catches the reader's attention. I LOVE this book. This is one of my favorite Christopher Pike book.

Movies
Skipped Parts: A Novel
Published in Paperback by Riverhead Trade (2000-07-01)
Author: Tim Sandlin
List price: $13.00
New price: $6.89
Used price: $6.24

Average review score:

Hilarious Dark Comedy
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-11
I laughed my head off while reading this book! I was actually sad when it was over! The characters are unique, hilarious, and impossible not to fall in love with. This is a dark comedy full of witty one-liners, zany situations, and a lot of sexual content. This book is not for the faint of heart.

Hilarious!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-06
You will laugh out loud, this book is truly hysterical. I am a new Tim Sandlin fan - Sorrow Floats and Social Blunders are just as good. Highly recommended!!

Good Idea -- Feeble Execution
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-11
On the positive side this book was sometimes amusing. The story idea of two thirteen-year-old's experimentation with sex and resulting in a pregnant seventh grader was promising though poorly executed. None of the main characters are believable, not the narrator, Sam, not his girlfriend Maurey, and not his mother Lydia. The motivations and thought patterns of the adolescents especially lacked any power to convey belief. This novel should probably have stayed in the form of Mr. Sandlin's puerile fantasies, from which it sprung.

A sweet novel about underage sex!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-20
With "Skipped Parts", Tim Sandlin has assembled all the elements needed for a great book. Memorable characters, a good setting, tight pacing, a great plotline and wonderful dialogue.

The main character, Sam, is a thirteen-year-old boy. He puts me in mind of myself at that age, actually. Very prone to dreams and fantasies. He meets a girl, Maurey, also thirteen. Before long, these highly intelligent children are losing their virginities to each other. Not long after that, they discover that, oops, a girl can get pregnant before her first period.

This is the start of a series. I haven't read the other parts yet, but I really liked this one. I also enjoyed Skipped Parts, the movie based on this book, though bizzarrely they changed the kids to fourteen instead of thirteen.

This is a very good, sweet book recommended for pretty much anyone over the age of about eight or nine. Highly enjoyable!

A Really Special Book
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-05-02
In Sam Callahan, Sandlin creates one of the great characters of recent American literature. Equal parts Walter Mitty and Holden Caulfield, Sam is a hilarious narrator with a truly unique voice. If the book were nothing more than a series of comic misadventures of Sam and his irreverent Southern Belle mother, Lydia as they are transplanted from the good ol' south to rural Wyoming, it would be a great read.

However, Skipped Parts is far more than that. Beyond Sam and Lydia, Sandlin populates GroVont with no end of fascinating characters--almost all multidimensional and colorful--the kind of folks you only find in quirky places like Sicily, Alaska. In this book, its easy to imagine that folks like Dot,Hank Elkrunner and the old guys who populate the local diner have interesting lives and stories outside of the light they shed on the main characters and that they didn't just show up in the scenes to move the plot along. This gives the story an incredible richness.

Beyond that, the book has a heart as big as the Tetons and frequently wears it on its sleeve. Rarely is a book so laugh out loud funny also so poignant and touching. There are moments that are truly noble, truly sad and truly beautiful and its a credit to Sandlin that none of them seem contrived. If you can get past the stuff about precocious 13 teen year olds experimenting with sex, you find a great novel about growing up, dealing with family, redemption and the endless disappointments and possibilities of life. A wonderful, wonderful book.

Movies
From Reel to Deal: Everything You Need to Create a Successful Independent Film
Published in Paperback by Grand Central Publishing (2003-07-01)
Author: Dov S-S Simens
List price: $17.95
New price: $9.01
Used price: $8.00

Average review score:

GREAT! GREAT! GREAT!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-17
Thank you MR. Simens... I have read many a film production book. None of them compare to this one. This book is clear and the most organized piece of work I have yet to come across. He speaks in terms that is easy to follow and understand, with a large dose of reality. Reality that can get your movie made. He wants you to do it. He has made your production list for you. No need for other books (money saved). Please, if you have read thus far and have not purchased this book, do so now. You will not be dissapointed... And for the expert(s) (with the three stars or less) Get real. Swallow your pride. This book is perfect. Mr. Simens knows what he is talking/writing about. EVERYTHING you need to succeed is right here. Get your first movie off of the ground, then go from there. Again, Thank you Mr. Simens.

Best Industry Book Around
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-14
I reference this book all the time. From Reel to Deal cuts to the chase and offers no bull. It is an easy read and loaded full of practical and useful information. I have produced eight short films in four years and currently preparing for my first feature-film. Dov's book it geared for those making a feature-film but useful for shorts as well. I always recommend From Reel to Deal to any filmmaker who has not read it already. Do yourself a favor and buy or borrow this book. It is a must-read for filmmakers, or as Dov's says PRODUCERS.

From Reel to Deal
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-06
One of the best books I've read on the motion picture industry.
You could not learn more spending 4 years at UCLA Film School.
Now I watch movies with a different perspective.

highly recommended, and highly recommends other books
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-05
This book is awesome. I recieved it as a gift with my first feature film coming up (coming from shorts). I went from having a little bit of a clue, to knowing almost every in and out of what I should do, how to do it, and how to get the upper hand in doing it.

The author is great. His points are humourous because they are so blunt. He'll add little comments that tell you a ton, and totally make fun of something in the process; but whatever it is is so true that it's the information you really need to know. For example, he puts "TOP SECRET" signs by any huge point that makes or breaks films, that 4-year film school and HY avoids telling people. All points helpful, enlightening, and direct.

It also is a huge directory book for studios, executives, rental houses--basically contact information for every single thing he goes over in the book. It also lists other books, films, etcetera to go and read and view and further your knowledge. You can't learn from just 1 book and go out and make it.

I'm going through this particular book, thought, 3 times--at least. To (2) index everything and then (3) pull everything from it together into a timeline that works best for me.

Now, [[[ CONS ]]] . Like other reviews have mentioned--he goes off on how "the other 97% of you probably had a hard time parting with the money to buy this book" when talking about budgets, hinting that you probably are making a 5000$-50000$ feature--and then turns around and gives his most detailed, step-by-step process of making a film, about 15 chapters, all around making a 250,000$ film (which, as you'll find out, is marketed as a 1,000,000$ film). You have to take this relatively. Take what's there, and shrink it down to your budget. He explains SOME things you can cut down on to make a film with lower budgets afterwards, but only spends about a few paragraphs on it. So you go through all the process of the 250,000$ film and take from it everything you can. Bring it down to your level. It has all the information you need to get started, as listed, but you're going to have to get creative and cut down hard on the 250,000$ budget--starting with the things he mentions during those paragraphs.

The other con is, this book is published in 2003, so written during 2002 or earlier. This book doesn't know about HD, HD cameras, and HD tapes. Among others. It's either film or miniDV. And DVC--ha. It's surprisingly savvy on Internet distribution, primarily because it hasn't evolved there yet, but obviously there is other information about it that is present now that you won't find in the book. The main thing is, again, it's a little dated on digital stuff, which is dissappointing, because digital is like the light of ultra low budget film making. However, some updates on this topic can be found at his web school.

Another personal con is all the endorsements and stuff. So a few big names have succeeded by involving Dov's information--it's sad that that's what it takes to sell the book. If you bought the book because tarauntino or queen latifa's names on it, you probably aren't going anywhere. Luckily, he doesn't mention these people anymore than anyone else once you dive into the text; only as references to first-time film makers, etc.

-

Great information, I think it lives up to it's claims, and the personality of Simens makes it interesting all the way through. His personality is extremely direct, and if you can't take the heat, you probably won't make the cut in the industry, so it's probably a great thing.

Enjoy

Missing some info
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-16
I've wanted to take one of Dov's workshops but they're never close to where I live so I bought this book which I like. However, with a copyright of 2005 I would have thought it would have more web information (urls, etc) in it. I suspect most of the information was compiled before the web got popular which has been a while. Oh well. I emailed Dov last year too and nobody bothered to reply. Still, for the price, very good info.

Movies
Sex and the City
Published in Hardcover by Collins Living (2008-06-01)
Author: Amy Sohn
List price: $29.95
New price: $18.74
Used price: $18.99

Average review score:

Great movie Great book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-25
Hi, I bought this book one month ago and in my opinion there is only a word to describe it: Great!
I suggest you to buy it... if you love "Sex and The City" you will love this book.
Monica from Rome (Italy)

AMAZING
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-20
Pretty much being the BIGGEST Sex and The City fan (yes I know everyone says they are, but trust me, you haven't met a fan like me), this book is like a dream come true. Just as great as "Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell" book was, but the pictures are just phenomenal in this book. Perfect choice of pictures from the incredible movie, and arrived so fast in the mail. I'm very happy with this book, and thanks for putting all the amazing highlights together in one book!

great pictures
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-18
for a 22 year old's first apartment out of college this makes for a great coffee table book. bright pictures and colors and still shots from the film

SEX and THE CITY: THE MOVIE
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-07
This book is AMAZING! It is the PERFECT COMPLIMENT to the new 'Sex and The City' movie!! This book is loaded with tons of glorious pictures...it's like watching the movie again in slow motion. If you loved the movie as much as I did, you HAVE to buy this book!!!

Fab Fun!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-07
Great, fun book. Entertaining narrative and TONS of beautiful pictures. A must have for any SATC fan!

Movies
Horror 101: The A-List of Horror Films and Monster Movies
Published in Paperback by Midnight Marquee Press, Inc. (2007-08-31)
Author:
List price: $25.00
New price: $19.95
Used price: $22.50

Average review score:

An absolute must for horror fans
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-16
This book is an absolute must-read for horror film fans of any stripe. It covers everything from silent classics to more modern films in a series of conversational essays written by knowledgeable genre fans from all over the world and from a wide variety of backgrounds. It is, in short, kind of like hanging out with a ton of horror fans talking about their favorite movies. There are (as to be expected) spoilers throughout the discussions, so anyone who hasn't seen any of the films is advised to watch them before reading those films' particular chapters. As a guidebook and listing of horror movie essentials, it's hard to beat, giving the novice horror fan a solid foundation of classic films. As a book *by* horror fans *for* horror fans, there's simply no better book out there.

Great 'lil book of horror!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-07
What makes "Horror 101" so good, for me being a huge fan of the genre, is that it doesn't leave out much of the favorites and even much of the classic unknown films that so often happens with books written about this subject. Here, we jump right into the mix of such classics as "Halloween", "The Shining", and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", etc. It even includes such obscure films as "Deathdream" and "Them."

The author gives a thorough review of each the films listed and politely doesn't give away much of the twists. It is a must read for us horror fans...and people researching the horror.

Buy this book!

A must-have for any serious genre fan!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-16
Anyone who considers himself a serious fan of the horror genre would do well to pick up this book. It contains in-depth reviews of 101 of the most essential horror films and monster movies of all time, spanning the Silent Era up until the 1990's. Probably the best book of this type I've read in a long time!

A bloody marvelous collection
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-09
Horror 101 is the ideal book for the lonely horror fan. We poor, misunderstood wretches who have no one close by with whom we can share our love of malevolent spirits, monsters run amok, and the undead in their manifold forms, hungering for living human flesh and blood! (Sorry, I got a little carried away there.) The articles in the book, ruminations on over a hundred of the greatest horror films, are written by horror fans from all walks of life, and are both entertaining and informative. It's like having a great group of knowledgeable friends always available to talk scary cinema. Bravo to all of the contributors and likewise to Dr. AC for compiling a terrific and unique collection. I highly recommend it to all horror and film enthusiasts, and can't wait for volume 2.

All classes should be this fun.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-02
Much like another reviewer, I, too, purchased this at a horror event. It hit upon two of my loves, those being reference books and horror. The cover didn't hurt either. As I started flipping through this book, the first thing I noticed was how many fun stills were shown. As I read the forward by Tom Savini, my insides were slightly sad that, being a horror fan, I didn't get the opportunity to be a part of this fun collection ...and as I went on to read the reviews of my favourites, I was wondering if I could. The reviewers that were chosen all seem quite educated in the genre and reading each piece was like a mini class...each telling answering a different version of the greater unasked question: why do I love horror? Horror 101 get an A+ and a shiny blood red apple from this student!


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