Movies Books

Movies on TV was an annual favorite of mine until it ceased publication in 1993. Reviews are much more fair and objective than the more commercialized guide from Leonard Maltin. Rumors of the author's death were the least on my mind when this treasure ceased publication. Did Scheuer sell his reviews to a different critic? The objectivity of guides like Videohound and Danny Peary have always been questionable. Even Blockbuster publishes a film review guide now, blurring the line between sellers or producers and the critic. But subtract a half star on this point: Why do the pages in Scheuer's book fall out so much sooner?

Way back in 1958, long before The Time Out Film Guide or Videohounds Golden Movie Retriever were a twinkle in anyone's eye and a full decade before Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide first appeared on the market was this Movie Review guide by Steven Scheuer. From the 1960's through the 1980's it was basically a choice between this book or Maltin's for those of us wanting a comprehensive movie guide with capsule reviews and ratings. As of 1994 this guide mysteriously ceased publication, an event so unexpected that rumors began circulating as to the death of Mr. Scheuer himself! These rumors appear to have been greatly exagerrated as he recently edited a book on building a DVD library that is now for sale right here on Amazon.com.

Maltin's annual Movie guide is of course indispensable but I fear that at times people take what amounts to one critic's opinion as gospel. Comparing the two books is instructive as to the ultimately subjective nature of film viewing. Scheuer's guide gives Brazil(1985)*1/2 stars while Maltin gives it ***, Scheuer gives Blade Runner(1982)**** while Maltin gives it *1/2, Scheuer gives the gay art film Sebastiane(1979)***1/2, John Waters' Pink Flamigos(1973)**1/2 and cult sci-fi film Punishment Park(1971)*** while none are even included in Maltin's guide. That's the most surprising thing in flipping through this book...the odd, art-house omissions that have never been included in Maltin's book and apparantly never will.

When you step into a used bookstore to browse through the film section and see hundreds of obscure, out of print tomes that have unfortunately "died" due to not being read anymore please remember that there are a few titles out there that desperately SHOULD be in print again. Books like Danny Peary's Guide for The Film Fanatic, Lotte Eisner's bio of the great German director Murnau and this guide by Steven Scheuer.

I bought every edition of this film guide until they apparently stopped making it in 1994. What a shame! The reviews are almost always dead-on and occasionally very funny. Also, the reviews are thoughtful and insightful despite being relatively brief. Still, this is one of the few movie guides that managed to say everything it needed to in a single paragraph to get its point across.

In the later editions (like this one) there was an appendix included so you could easily see all films made by a certain actor or director, which was very helpful.

The four star rating system was expertly used in this guide as well (generally, I prefer the 4-star system to the somewhat more prevalent 5-star), and small indicators let you know if the film is available on video or not.

One of the best features of this book was that it included made-for-TV films as well as those getting a theatrical release, plus many, many foreign films.

This book should be revised, updated, and published again!

I think this book is great to use for pre-k lesson plans. The book came in the mail on time and in great shape. I plan on cooking mud soup with my class for an end of year project review.

My kids love this book. We have so much fun acting out the yukky parts. It is also a good introduction to different cultures.

ISBN 0375810870 - This is one time I hate to give a book five stars, because a five star romance novel is not the same as a five star classic and neither is the same as a five star kids' book. Five star kids' books are much more important, and there are a lot of them. Mud Soup, for me, stands a little above those. Pretend you can see six stars.

Rosa loves mud soup, it's delicioso! Her friend Josh is stuck with a somewhat soggy peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but Rosa has hot, yummy soup. When she offers to share, he is overcome by the idea of "mud" soup. Even though he doesn't want to hurt Rosa's feelings, he doesn't take her up on her offer. This scenario plays out more than once as the kids play together, when Josh rides past Rosa's house one day and at school on International Day. Rosa finally reveals that there is no mud in mud soup and Josh discovers that mud soup is, indeed, delicioso!

Living in world that's getting smaller all the time, knowing a second language is slowly becoming more of a requirement for success as an adult. If that all starts when they're little, Mud Soup is a nice, simple and small step toward that end. Introducing just three small Spanish words (abuela = grandmother; delicioso = delicious; si = yes) keeps it easy for young readers, allowing for a slow introduction.

Equally importantly, Mud Soup reinforces the old saying "don't judge a book by its cover", with delicious soup that looks like mud and teaches children to be open to new things and other cultures. AND it teaches consideration for the feelings of others, by having Josh very clearly not want to hurt Rosa's feelings every time he rejects her offer. That's a lot to pack into such a small book, but Mud Soup pulls it off.

The illustrations are okay, nothing spectacular, but nice enough. While the book is marked "Step 3, Reading on Your Own", I think this is one well worth talking over with your child when s/he finishes. Have that conversation over soup - there's a recipe for Mud Soup on the last page! Delicioso!

Michelle meets a movie star and didn't know that she was a movie star and all sorts of trouble happens. It was an excellent book.

I really like the book, because I think it's really cool that Michelle met a Movie Star on the beach and didn't even recognize her until she got home. It shows that movie stars are real people just like the rest of us. I would love to be a movie star.

I enjoy the Full House Michelle books very much and own many and check many out from the local libary. Keep writing them Ms. Dubowski. I look forward to my summer vacation so I will have more time to read them. I am sorry they took new shows of Full House of the air on TV. Megan

Michelle could kick herself! While she was away on vacation, she met Natalie Campbell!-- a big time movie star-- and she didn't even know it! But Michelle gets another chance. Natalie's coming to Michelle's for the weekend, and Michelle decides to throw a huge fancy party for her! She makes sure everything is perfect-- from the incredible food to her cool new outfit. What could go wrong? Plenty!

After Claire wistfully wishes to have the talents of other townspeople, she finds a hidden talent in herself. Belle assists her along the way. This is a great story for helping little girls know that they can find their strengths and talents from within. My little one loves the story!!

This is a great book for younger girls. My 5 year old loves Disney princesses and she was very excited to get this book. The story is good and easy for her to follow.

My daughter is 4yrs old and she wanted this book. I wasn't thrilled about getting yet another princess book,but this has a cute story.

My fascination for Ismail Merchant started when I read an article on him couple of years ago. Since then, my interest in reading about the man and his journey has been immense. Finally I found the right book.

It has the makings of a classic book - Its entertaining, informative, uncomplicated and is about the journey of a man whose dreams came true. I couldn't stop laughing when he mentions about the many incidents and decisions he made. I admire the common sense, persuasive skills and fearlessness of the man. I highly recommend it.

Mr. Merchant is an excellent story teller. If you are looking for light, entertaining read, this book is a good investment. If you expect this book will introduce you to Ismail Merchant, it will not. It will introduce you to Ismail Merchant the producer and director of off-beat films who, with indefatigable zeal for film making, has earned the right to be included in the list of international film makers. An enterprising individual who is a self-made entrepreneur.

A more accurate title would be: An Indian film maker's passage from India. Because there is little that Merchant discloses about himself or even his trade. Living and interacting in a world of glamor and beauties, Merchant is mum about his emotions. If such a lively individual has a romantic side, the book discloses nothing. Except his childhood "innocent" infatuation with India's popular actress Nimmi in the fifties, Merchant displays or at least discloses no other "infatuation." Apparently, he never married. Despite starting his feature film career with the Householder (1962), Merchant never discloses why he himself did not decide to be a householder himself. There is an underlying shyness or uncomfortableness in revealing himself to the reader. Or being so deft and intelligent Merchant is saving his real autobiography for another time. In this book all we are allowed is a glimpse of Merchant the enterprising film producer and his incredible journey..

Unlike many Merchant-Ivory early art films, Merchant's book is entertaining and written in a vivid, uncomplicated style. If like me you are familiar with the terrain (India) and time (60s the pre-inflation golden age of India), Merchant can transport you back to those giddy times. With a touch of a maestro, he brings vivid recollections of the golden age of Indian cinema of which the West knows very little. He weaves exotic connections between India's art directors (Satyajit Ray and himself), Bombay film world and Hollywood. Surprisingly, except for Bombay Talkie and a documentary, his interactions with Bombay are very limited.. It was Bombay that triggered his love of the cinema.

Do not expect to get philosophical definitions of anything from this versatile man. He sets out to make films on Indian themes. Yet, what is "Indianness" is never commented upon let alone any attempts toward defining. Ironically, Merchant's first feature film (Householder) meets with limited success in New York, not because of any unique "Indianness" but because of universal human qualities and situations it depicts: An intrusive mother-in-law, compliant Son, a stubborn, independent daughter-in-.law and falling in love all over with spouse in her absence. Indians are not that different after all!

Many readers will not pay much attention let alone be bothered. What did bother me was the apolitical nature of Mr. Merchant. With the exception of his boyhood partition memories, no political events on any continent, including those that effect him are mentioned. Maybe art films can be separated from politics. But why is his book so apolitical is beyond me. Ironically, to this day Mr. Merchant is harassed by the corruption that pervades India's governments. Still he has very little to say about politics and its effects on people. When Utpal Dutt (actor with a leading role in his film The Guru) is arrested, Merchant approaches the Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. With some manuevering Dutt is conditionally released by the West Bengal communist government. The film is made. Merchant, however, does not question the arrest. Individual rights, rule of law, abuse of government powers are never mentioned let alone questioned. (No mention of Nehru's death or Indira Gandhi's murder. No mention of the deteriorating conditions in India-- the mismanagement of public resources and the duping of the public, mobsters , the Hindu-Muslim riots taking of innocent life--all the unpleasant realities of India are meticulously avoided. Maybe it is bad marketing to expose the underbelly of India.

Yet Merchant is exposed to this underbelly in his own account while filming the Courtesans of Bombay, in the red light district of Bombay. He, first hand, encounters the exploitation of woman by hands of criminals. He witnesses switchblade fights but does nothing to expose the sad plight of the dancing women. The dance of life must go on. That the government has failed is not obvious to Merchant (I told you he was very apolitical) Is there honor in receiving the Padma Bhushan from such a failed establishment?

Okay, when it comes to socio-political realities, Mr. Merchant is neither a Charles Dickens or Mark Twain. What Merchant lacks in political depth he makes up in an effusive sense of humor which can compete with either Dickens or Twain. My Passage From India, is a great, true short story that will enthrall, in particular people familiar with the terrain and time. There is a joke or a quip embedded in every page. Like all great men Mr. Merchant undoubtedly has a great sense of humor, passion for life which, of course, includes food . I can go on and on (like Aan, Nimmi's great Hindi film which made an impression on young Merchant and goaded him to follow his calling.) But in deference to short artistic film I must stop.

I do not know Mr. Merchant personally nor am I connected in any way with Merchant-Ivory company. Nor am I am being paid to write this. Therefore, my advice is unbiased. Go ahead and buy My Passage From India Especially those who love Indian literature in English. As with the legendary Merchant cuisine (I trust his judgment on that) this book shall not disappoint.

My fascination for Ismail Merchant started when I read an article on him couple of years ago. Since then, my interest in reading about the man and his journey has been immense. Finally I found the right book.

It has the makings of a classic book - Its entertaining, informative, uncomplicated and is about the journey of a man whose dreams came true. I couldn't stop laughing when he mentions about the many incidents and decisions he made. I admire the common sense, persuasive skills and fearlessness of the man. I highly recommend it.

My kids are big fans of Blue's Clues. My 4 year old, who is trying to read, enjoys Blue's stories and especially likes the turtle story because he remembers the turtle from the Blue's Birthday epidode. The big print and picture icons are very helpful.

My three-year old LOVES this book. It's a great introduction to reading; the text is not too advanced.

My daughter received this book last Christmas when she was 18 months old, and within days she was "reading" each page and identifying all of the Blue's Clues characters. She loves the Blue's birthday party scene where she receives turquoise the turtle as a present, and happily recites how she is taken care of each day. This book still holds my 23 month old daughters' attention from beginnig to end, and she asks to have it read to her several times a day. Highly recommended if your child is a Blue's Clues fan like mine!

Heidi's account of her on-going quest to comeback from paralysis is a beautiful statement of her courage, intelligence and spiritual knowledge. I finally got around to reading this book that a friend gave me and I am so glad I did. What she has to say is a message for all of us. A message on inner peace of understanding how we truly work...physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally. She is a remarkable woman to not give up and to understand that the physical is just one element of who we are. Do yourself a favor and read this book.

I just finished this book, and I would recommend it to anyone with a spinal injury, especially those who were once athletic. If you ever feel like "giving up", then you MUST read this book!! Matter of fact, I plan to read it again. Inspiring! The book reminded me I MUST keep moving!! Never stop!! Don't give up!!! As long as you keep moving, you'll get better, day by day. Don't ever let the "inner you" die; for THAT INNER SPIRIT is what will keep you and your body alive, and make life meaningful.

In November,1994, was wife and I were involved in a motor vehicle accident which left her a C-6 quad. Ever since the accident I have attempted to create a life which may have resembled that which we used to enjoy yet I was never quite able to find the "magic bullet". When I read the review of Heidi's book I felt I had nothing to loose but to purchase it. I have to tell you, it was Good Medicine! My wife poured through the book several times and with each reading felt more inspired to never end for quest for the cure. In addition to a renewed zeal to live life again Kathleen began to exercise religiously and see progressas aeach week passed. kathleen continues to this day to inform me that "Heidi would do this each day and eventually........" In a nutshell "My Soul Purppose" is a painfully truthful account of a young woman who has sustained an injury which only those who too have sustained a SCI can have an appreciation for her personal tale. Rather than painting a picture of woe Heidi provides personal experiences which provides hope and inspirastion for those individuals who have sustained a SCI. To see the smile and sense the inner peace which my wife experienced as she read "My Soul Purpose" made me accutely aware that the healing which occurs after a SCI is clearly more spiritual than physical. Suffice it is to say that this book has provided the direction to heal the psyche, now it is just a matter of being patient for the rest of the healing to occur!

This is a VERY good book for Eragon lovers and movie fans alike. I have read it a bunch and never tire of it. Lots of pictures (With captions.) Defenetly a MUST HAVE. Quotes from the actors and inside stories are all in.

"Eragon",the book,lacks many things--a plot,believable characters,good writing.But how will it fare as a movie?

"Mythic vision:The making of the movie Eragon" by Mark Cotta Vaz provides a fascinating glimpse into Stefen Fangmeier's heroic attempt to make a dull,derivative book into a fun film.Vaz first follows the self-publishing quest of the author,Christopher Paolini,who through the magic of marketing,became an overnight success.Paolini's Montana boyhood is briefly touched upon--but since this is a book aimed at kids,not teens--it doesn't mention how his parents once belonged to the survivalist cult Church Universal and Triumphant headed by Elizabeth Clare Prophet.

Next,Vaz explores technical aspects of the movie.He shows how the battle of Farthen Dur--which is set in a volcanic crater--was filmed in an actual volcanic crater in Hungary.He tells of how a designer for rock stars made the leather pants&armor.

The most interesting part of the book is the exploration of how Stefen Fangmeier adapted the original "Eragon" and took extensive liberties.For example,in the book,Daret is a useless tangent;in the movie,it becomes the setting for Angela's prophecy to Eragon&it is a city built on a lake.In the book,the Urgals look like Minotaurs;in the movie,they look like barbarians.In the book,the Ra'zac are giant ravenlike beings;in the movie,they resemble mummies.Fangmeier took extensive liberties with the book because the original is deeply flawed.

"Mythic Vision" is a great,fun read.

I believe that this movie will be tremendous. I've read both of Mr. Paolini's books several times over and over again. This is going to be a star hit in the movie industry and I cant wait for the next two movies following his Trilogy.

The book is called New York Minute the Success of Jane Ryan's. She's doing fine until her hand held organizer was stolen. Then her sister Roxey got into trouble with the police and she was accused of stealing a jacket and got put in jail, but it wasn't her. Then they found out that it wasn't them and let them go. Also she was running for class president and someone was sabotaging it. Mean while she was getting into a relationship with her crush. She thinks he's the one who's sabotaging her but it's really friend because she's jealous of her. At the end she finds everything out and she wins the campaign.


I really liked the book because it's like a mystery. I would recommend this book to girls because boys wouldn't like it. Also for girls that like mystery type of books. Another thing is this is a Mary-Kate and Ashley book so it could be for Mary-Kate and Ashley fans. This was an exiting book and I couldn't keep my eyes out of the book.

The book is called New York Minute the Success of Jane Ryan's. She's doing fine until her hand held organizer was stolen. Then her sister Roxey got into trouble with the police and she was accused of stealing a jacket and got put in jail, but it wasn't her. Then they found out that it wasn't them and let them go. Also she was running for class president and someone was sabotaging it. Mean while she was getting into a relationship with her crush. She thinks he's the one who's sabotaging her but it's really friend because she's jealous of her. At the end she finds everything out and she wins the campaign.


I really liked the book because it's like a mystery. I would recommend this book to girls because boys wouldn't like it. Also for girls that like mystery type of books. Another thing is this is a Mary-Kate and Ashley book so it could be for Mary-Kate and Ashley fans. This was an exiting book and I couldn't keep my eyes out of the book.

She is the kind of girl everybody wants to be(secertly). But everyone is really like Roxy. This book takes you deep into Janes personal life and what she does. You think she's a goody-goody from what you've seen or heard will think agian. she has an adventures side to herself.

This book has the best of both worlds:
- Through the trivia questions, the book is an enjoyable source of entertainment for the film noir lover, and even let me learn some stuff about my favourite movies;
and
- The list at the end of the book serves as a thorough reference to complete one's knowledge of all the film noir movies out there.
Highly recommended!

I am the author of this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It's a great way to learn more about your favorite films and learn about films you may never have seen. There is also a large section on actors, writers, and directors which gives insights into their lives.

A fun read for fans of film noir, this book compiles trivia for dozens of the top film noir from the 1940s and 1950s. It's a great way to spend some time, testing your knowledge of these films, the actors who starred in them, the writers who wrote them, and the directors who made them. The book concludes with a fairly comprehensive list of film noir, including many foreign film noir movies not listed in some books on the subject.
Truly a must for the classic movie lover.