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This book is seriously one of my all time favorites even though I read it back in middle school hahahah. But the story is really good and I recommend it to all my friends that are girls, no matter what the age is.

I have read Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted three times now, and every time I do it gets even better. Ella Enchanted takes the classic tale of Cinderella and enlivens it with spunk, humor, and personality.

At Ella's birth, a rather overzealous fairy named Lucinda blesses her with the gift obedience. From then on, she must do what she is commanded, whether she must do her chores, eat her entire birthday cake, or even kill, Ella is powerless against the will of her "gift." When her mother suddenly dies, Ella is left to be cared for by many non-caring persons: her often-absent and greedy father, her voluptuous step-mother, and horse-faced and devious step-sisters. But Ella's tenacity keeps her fighting for her own free will as she searches for a way to relinquish Lucinda's gift.

Ella's adventurous and charming nature keeps you smiling for the entirety of the book as she challenges hungry ogres, tricks her evil-stepsisters, tracks fairies, slides down castle banisters, and falls for the dashing Prince Charmont.

Levine incorporates the iconic elements of the Cinderella tale, such as glass slippers, a pumpkin coach, and the infamous ball, while breathing life into the surrounding plot and characters. It is a novel that I could read again and again, and has instantly become one of my favorites.

The novel is an ideal young adult princess/fantasy book for girls around middle school age, and is completely appropriate and innocent. It is typically around 230 pages and is a fast and uncomplicated read that can be enjoyed by youth and adults.

Levine has written many other books as well. I have read Fairest. (Ella Enchanted is still my favorite and always will be.) Both books follow a similar theme and give a similar message: the quest of a female protagonist who must accept/discover her true identity and self-worth, and is rewarded for her high character and tenacity.

Ella Enchanted is a must-have for every girl/woman.

There I was. Probably the only one in the movie theater above the age of thirteen, but I didn't care. It was my twenty-second birthday, and I was going to watch the movie I wanted to see - even if I was alone. It was my birthday gift to myself, watching Ella Enchanted. I was interested in this movie, even though it was directed toward the average age of ten, because I had read the book at sixteen. At that time I was working in a library and had discovered that I had missed out on all sorts of literature when a younger child because I rarely read. Before working in the library, the only thing I would read would be the Sunday comics and only the books required in school. So when I found reading pleasurable, I wanted to make up for lost time.

I was introduced to Gail Carson Levine's books by the library's young adult book club. Ella Enchanted was a modern Cinderella story. I had always loved the story of Cinderella, and when I read Ella Enchanted, I loved it. But at the same time I took wonder in loving this book. There was a part of me at sixteen that wondered why I loved this story.

The story was about Ella, a girl cursed by her fairy godmother with obedience. Any time Ella was ordered to do something, she had to do it. Ella kept this curse a secret. Eventually Ella's mother dies, and since her traveling salesman father is rarely home, Ella only has her maid to raise her. One day Ella's father gets the idea to marry into money, but, unfortunately, he picks out a wicked lady with two equally wicked daughters. When her fairy godmother shows up at the wedding, she gives the happy couple the gift of love forever, which only serves to mess up Ella's life even further. Ella's father feels that the only way for him to live a happy life is to stay away from home thereby leaving Ella utterly alone in a full house. Ella's curse eventually becomes a particularly complicated problem for her when she is ordered by her stepsisters to give up her money and other possessions. Ella decides her only way out is to find her fairy godmother.

Ella sets out to find this fairy, so she can take back the curse. Ella, in the meantime, meets up with Prince Char on her adventure, falling in love with him. But when the prince's evil uncle figures out Ella's curse, he orders Ella to kill the Prince. Ella tries to stay away, but the curse is too strong. Eventually Ella finds a way out of her spell, while at the same time saving the life of the prince and redeeming herself from being thought a murderer. The story ends happily ever after.

Why did I love the story of Ella Enchanted when I read it? My first instinct is to say that the magic in this story was exciting, and it gave me a chance to fantasize about magical places and creatures. I imagined that somehow I could have power like Ella's and was intrigued by the relationship between Prince Char and Ella.

At the time I read Ella Enchanted, I wondered, what was the connection between this modern Cinderella to the original? The first story of Cinderella I was introduced to was the Disney movie. As a young child I loved the music where the mice make Cinderella's dress, and I thought the little mice were funny, especially Gus. It was a story with the only bad characters being the stepmother, stepsisters, and one fat cat. While Cinderella's life revolved around pleasing her stepfamily, the mice struggled with the evil cat.

My young mind loved this story because of the great struggle that Cinderella has and how she triumphs at the end. I did not take into consideration all the messages that were in the story at the time. Disney's Cinderella, which came out in 1957, has many moral lessons, which correspond to the thoughts of that time.

Everyone must reach a stage where they leave the nest. In our society, it is expected that eventually children will leave home for a life of their own. When I watched Disney's Cinderella, the idea of being taken away from a bad place that was home to a fancy, rich, good place was particularly attractive to me. Home for me could not be compared to Cinderella's home. I did not have evil parents or stepsisters. I think that what I really wanted to escape from was my boring, everyday life. Everyday seemed the same with school and chores. The thought of going to a palace where I would not have to be in school, or to be told what to do, was attractive. That was what moving to a palace was to me in my very young years.

Why must the princess move away in order to get her happily ever after? It's the formula of all fairytales, but why? I believe there is something in us that innately knows that we must first break away from our maternal bonds in order to become our true selves. In both versions of Cinderella, the mother dies. Perhaps that is an easy way to separate the child from the home. If both parents are still alive, and the child is happy at home, the child may never have the desire to leave. If the child still wants to be home, how can moving away be a happily ever after? Cinderella must then have a crappy home life in order to give the audience satisfaction when she leaves the home.

In the movie, Cinderella is the perfect example of humility, kindness (shown through her animal friends), and goodness. When I was a young, I thought Cinderella was the best child a person could ask for. She was always pleasant, even though her stepmother and stepsisters were mean. Cinderella endures all the ordering around that she is given. Even when her dreams are dashed, as in the scene where the two stepsisters rip up her dress for the ball, she still never talks back to her family. Instead she runs away crying. There is an obvious lesson in the story of Cinderella teaching children to be good, even if they have an evil parent (or parents). It teaches that things will get better, no matter how horrid the situation. However, this does not take into account the many children that are being physically, sexually, and mentally abused by their parents. How could Disney give the message "just be good," as if it has something to do with how these children are treated later in life?

Cinderella is the model of good behavior, and the stepsisters are a model for bad behavior. Both the stepsisters and Cinderella want to go to the ball and meet the prince, only the stepsisters are cruel, selfish, and untalented. In the Disney version both stepsisters receive music lessons. One sister sings off key while the other plays the flute terribly. At the same time, Cinderella is outside singing beautifully while washing the floor. This is telling children that if you are good inside, it will show outside. This is why Cinderella is talented and beautiful, and why the stepsisters are ugly and awkward. Unfortunately, this movie does not allow the people watching it to get over the exterior lesson, that is to say, that the inside equals the outside. It is a much better idea to teach society to look past people's exteriors and look for the goodness inside. As a child I only thought of Cinderella as a very pretty person. Instead of wanting to be like Cinderella by her goodness, I wanted to be pretty on the outside first, and that is not the same as being well-mannered and honest.

In this Disney version of the Cinderella story, the obstacles that Cinderella has to overcome are small. The first obstacle Cinderella faces is getting to the ball. There is no action taken by Cinderella that has to do with overcoming any of the obstacles she faces. The fairy godmother whisks up a spell and, voila, a dress and carriage appear to take Cinderella to the ball. The next problem takes place when Cinderella is locked away in the attic. The prince's menservants attempt to ask all women in town to try on the glass slipper left behind from the ball. Cinderella's only chance is to try on the slipper. Two of Cinderella's pet mice sneak into the pocket of the wicked stepmother, while Cinderella cries to herself. It's not a heroic part of the movie for Cinderella. The mice rescue her. Although if Cinderella had not been nice to the mice, and let them out of the cages, then these two would not have gotten the key away. The message revealed, when Cinderella never takes action to change her situation, is that her power is in her kindness towards others.

This movie has a love interest for Cinderella, Prince Charming. The prince has a minimal part because he is more of an idea than a person. The Prince is a symbol of the good life. He has everything that Cinderella needs and wants. He is there to take Cinderella away to a life different from her own. He is the reward for which Cinderella had so patiently worked for. In a way, to be able to work toward the goal of a life filled with comforts is very much the American dream. It's something that can be attractive to anyone anywhere, to have something a little better than the way your parents had it.

When Cinderella meets the prince, they both fall in love right away and dance all night. The ball ends and he does not forget her. He searches for her with that fateful glass slipper. I always loved the particular scene in which the prince dances with Cinderella and they both sing in perfect harmony.

So this is love, Mmmmmm
So this is love
So this is what makes life divine
I'm all aglow, Mmmmmm
And now I know
The key to all heaven is mine

My heart has wings, Mmmmmm
And I can fly
I'll touch ev'ry star in the sky
So this is the miracle that I've been dreaming of
Mmmmmm
Mmmmmm
So this is love!


Now that I have reevaluated this scene, I know that what the prince and Cinderella have is not love. It's too quick. What they have in this particular scene is infatuation. I think it is important to teach this to young girls, because too many people do not know the difference between love and the "in love" feeling that comes with infatuation.

The updated version for Cinderella has better messages for today's young generation. Ella Enchanted still takes the original story line and twists it up. Like the first Cinderella, I still felt a yearning to get away from ordinary life when I read the book. This time I was older and knew more. Just because you are a queen, does not mean that life will be perfect. The idea of magical creatures in fancy places was much more intriguing, then just getting away from my boring life.

The bonds between Ella and her mom are severed, and since her father is away from home all the time, Ella has a reason to leave home. When Ella runs away from her cruel stepfamily, she alone takes action to try to change her situation. She is trying to change her life for herself instead of waiting till her fairy godmother can change her life for her. Ella too has a bad home life, but she is also given a curse to go with her bad family ties. She must do more than just run away from home. In addition, Ella must break the spell in order to achieve maximum happiness. Then the audience can become happy for her when she has the chance at a better life.

Ella is also an example of morality in this modern story. Ella wants the same things as her stepsisters. But this new story gives a reason for Ella's obedience. The author allows Ella to not want to do what she is told; she is stubborn, but is always good. She is never selfish, like her stepsisters. The movie has a quote that says, "Ella's curse made her obedient, but her heart made her kind." This story makes a difference between obedience and goodness, which Disney does not. Just doing what you are told is one thing, but being kind to others and taking action in the face of moral dilemmas is a very different thing. Also, the movie makes a point of showing Ella's loving and respectful relationship with both parents and her maid. The curse is used to show that free will is good, not as an excuse to rebel.

The movie does not used beauty as a source of inner goodness like the Disney version. Both Ella and the oldest stepsister, Hattie, are pretty. The reason that the Prince likes Ella more than Hattie is because of the two sisters' attitudes. Hattie makes it very obvious that she is a big fan of Prince Char, and even is the president of his fan club. Because of Hattie's overzealous nature, Prince Char is totally freaked out. Ella, on the other hand, is not a fan of Prince Char and is upset at the fact that he does not take more interest in the politics of the Realm. This is a much more appropriate start to the couple's relationship.

In Ella Enchanted, it is a little more obvious that the youngest stepsister, Olive, is very dumb and almost bordering on the edge of retarded. In this way this modern story almost excuses the younger stepsister from her behavior toward Ella because she was not intelligent enough to understand everything. Throughout Ella Enchanted, Olive follows her sister's lead, and does what Hattie tells her to do blindly. It almost appears that Olive is a good Cinderella opposite; doing everything she is told, and not thinking for herself. It portrays a bad example of obedience. I wondered why at the end of the film, that revenge is not taken on Olive? Perhaps it is good that one of the two stepsisters is not evil, but is the representation of extremely stupid appropriate?

When Ella has to overcome obstacles, things are slightly different. One particular example shows a similar scene to Disney's Cinderella when Cinderella is locked away in the attic. Ella is sitting in prison for attempting to kill the prince and is rescued by some friends. But this is not the pivotal part of the modern story, unlike the Disney version. The most exciting part is when Ella breaks the spell that holds her in submission. She has to do this by herself, and it is by pure willpower alone that she can do this. It's a lesson to little girls that they can do things that seem impossible. There is also the obstacle at the end of the modern tale in which Ella has to save the prince from his evil uncle. Its empowering girls with the idea that they can be the rescuer, and do not always have to be helpless, which I like.

While Cinderella's prince is the reward for her goodness, the prince in the modern tale plays a different roll. He is a person, and we learn more about his character. He is good, smart, handsome, and humble. He is the dashing figure from girls' deepest fantasies, the perfect guy. The only thing close to a flaw that the prince has is a naive love for his uncle who killed his father to become King. The prince is no longer the symbol of a reward for Ella's hard life. After breaking the spell for herself, Ella's true struggle is overcome. Therefore, saving the prince's life, and marrying him is like a nice extra bonus. The power of Ella's love for the prince breaks the spell, so the love story needs to be there in order to have something powerful enough to force Ella into a tough situation. The real reward for Ella is love, and the prince is just a symbol of the perfect man.

Ella Enchanted has developed the relationship between the prince and Ella much more, but does not seem much better at creating a long-lasting relationship. The Prince has only known Ella for two days when they fall in love. There is a song that Ella sings right before the couple's first kiss.

Can anybody find somebody to love?
Each morning I get up I die a little
Can't barely stand on my feet.
Take a look in the mirror
And I, see what you're doing to me.
I've spent all my years believing in you, but I just can't get no relief.

Won't somebody, somebody, can anybody find me, somebody to love.


This song shows that Ella is just looking for somebody to love. Ella is trying to fill the void of a dead mother, and a father who is always away on business. The prince and Ella only develop a surface relationship. I think that many young people start relationships like this one, even though they have the potential to develop into something more real. But in stories like Cinderella, the development of a relationship should be worked into the storyline.

Regrettably both versions end with marriage, and I think that it is just a little too soon. Cinderella stories give reason for this quick relationship with true love. This idea is being inflicted upon young minds as a truth rather than fiction, which might ruin their relationships later in life. If Ella had just saved the life of the prince and then not married him, the story would still be very good. Sorry to say that in Ella Enchanted, she and the prince have already said "I love you," and it is hard to separate from my mind the possibility of love without coupling it with marriage. I would not be happy to see Ella live with the prince before marriage. Maybe Prince Char should never have asked Ella to marry him. Then the story could end with a girlfriend/boyfriend relationship.

After revisiting the Disney's version of this basic story, I feel let down. The way the story works in subtle ways to keep girls in check gives me the creeps. Why does the once elating conclusion seem empty and false after reevaluating the movie? Is it the quick way the couple gets together? Or perhaps it's the cynic inside me that says, "I give it a week."

Ella Enchanted is better at giving an uplifting, empowering message to girls. It gives more romance and a deeper meaning of self-accomplishment than the old Cinderella. Yet it still inflicts some of the old values of true love. Is the story of Cinderella too old-fashioned to be able to reflect today's values? With all its history, I think that it is a story that should be kept. Maybe someday girls will figure out why it is so fascinating and repair it suitably.

I fell in love with Ella Enchanted years ago and it still never disappoints each time I go back and reread it. It is the classic Cinderella story but given infinitely more depth and finesse. It is a book filled with magic, romance, intrigue, twists, turns, and a spunky heroine who never stops fighting for what she believes is right. I know I will never grow tired or too old for this book and will someday read it to my own children.

i absolutely ADORE this book. i fell in love with it for the first time when i was 12. i am 18 now, but the storyline and the characters are endearing to me every time i read it i must have read Ella enchanted about five times. the romance between ella and char is innocent, but it captures my heart every time. I was very disappointed when i saw the movie. I dont think the movie captured the essence of Ella and the magic that Levine bestowed in her book. If I could, I'd create a movie that is true to the book and its characters. Even though it is a children's book, it is still accessible to adults (though i am still kind of a child at heart- i LOVE fantasy stories)

1000000% RECOMMENDED

Absolutely loved it! I have ordered two more books by this author and am sure it won't be the last.

Now that was a good book. Larry McMurtry is an amazing writer, so whitty. I fell in love with the characters; so much that it's been weeks since I read the book and I still can't stop thinking about them.

What a summer ride I've been on reading Lonesome Dove. I don't know where I've been the last 15 years to only now discover this absolutely amazing story. I smiled, laughed, and cried my way through it. I will surely miss the Hat Creek Cattle boys keeping me up at night. What an adventure!

Though published in 1985, this classic reached its peak in the 1990's with the film. The movie in this case did not hurt the book, as it was well done, but as is often the case did not elicit the same response as reading the novel, chapter by chapter. A richer flavor of the west is seen through the eyes of the reader, whereas the film concentrates more on the characters relationships, perhaps for broader appeal outside the genre. Anyone that enjoys the old west with a touch of humor and pathos will identify with McMurtry's rich tale.
George E. Miller, author of The Lone War Cry

If you are like me you will be depressed when you finish this book ... its absence from my life was that profound. It is a sweeping, powerful, engaging work with some of the most colorful characters ever drawn in fiction. If you have seen the CBS miniseries, do yourself a favor and relive it all again with this titan of a novel. It is more than a Western, it is the story of the human experience. The two main characters, Gus and Call, exemplify the fundamental question that besets us in this waking world: Are we here to accomplish something unique, despite the possible risk to our relationships, comfort and safety; or are we here to pursue a life lived pleasurably and with no expectations?

I hope this is the right book, I just love the story, and the music, and the movie too!

The book is fantastic! Great pictures! I would highly recommend this book for any fan of the movie or a Titanic fan in general! The making of the epic movie is something to see and you can definitely see it in this book.

This is a MUST have for any Titanic collector. I waited for about 9 or so years for this book and I am so extatic that I finally have it!!

Great book for the titanic enthusiasts!!!!! If you loved the movie, you will enjoy this book.

The scope of this majestic book truly befits the epic effort by James Cameron with his cinematic masterpiece "Titanic". Much great information here for the movie buff who likes to see how it is done. Incredible sets including the dining salon, complete even to dishes and decor. I was amazed to see how this particular set was pulled underwater by hydraulics to provide a very realistic feeling of sinking. Page after page of photographs and stories about the magnificent sets that brought this film to life. Lots of info about the stars and other cast members as well the production crew. This book is a perfect companion to the movie as well as a testament to the filmmaking genius of James Cameron.

Once again, I remember reading this book when I was a child. I had always been a bookworm and no problems diving into the imaginary world. This book will bring you even further. The story is one that everyone can relate to - young and old. The translation from German seems to me very good. I unfortunately do not remember every exact wording in German. The message of the book is very clear once you start reading - and even though I was hesitant, I think the movie was very well done to capture this.
There are not many books that one can read every now and then and still feel a renewed bond with the story. This one will keep you wondering what happened to you when you grew up.

If you've seen the movie, you've only gotten a taste of what this book has to offer. The movie is only an abbreviated adaptation of the first half of the book, and the sequels are simply spin-offs of the first movie. This book has so much more to offer! It's a story about the importance of imagination and fantasy, self-discovery and identity, and the importance of discovering what is truly important in your heart. At the very least the story in these pages is one of the greatest fantasy stories you will ever read... and if you truly open your heart to the story, you will walk away a better person after having read it.

This book was interesting to read because I thought it would be like "The Neverending Story" movie, but instead the book goes through both "The Neverending Story" 1 & 2. It has alot more details and you find out how far off the movies ventured from the book. The first few chapters are similar to the original movie then the rest of the book is about Bastian losing his memories and trying to get home. It is an interesting book, but some parts get rather dry. Enjoy with a grain of salt.

Originally classified as a children's book, this is really a deeply spiritual parable written for all of us. Your children will be dazzled by the imaginary creatures and fantasy lands, while you will discover deep spiritual messages and awe-inspiring symbolism that is prevalent in every single chapter.

Travel with Atreyu, Falkor and Bastian as they take on the journey into the heart of man. One of the best parts about this book is that just when you think it couldn't get any moreentertaining or profound, it surprises you by being even more of both.

If you've paid attention throughout the book and learned the lessons it
aims to teaches, then when all is said and done, you too may understand
what exactly is "The Neverending Story."

Many reviewers have already given a synopsis of this fantastic story of a boy literally drawn into a book he is reading. So, I wanted to comment on this particular edition.

I was hesitant to spend so much money on a book that has been in print for so long and is readily available in cheap paperback copies. However, this is a beautiful hardcover edition. Collectible quality. The dust jacket has lovely artwork. But, the best aspect is the two color text. The majority of the book is printed in green typeface. Bastion's sections are printed in red typeface. This allows for a smooth, but noticeable, transition between the two stories. I think this makes is easier on younger readers to keep track of what's going on, as well as being visually appealing. The paper feels thicker than in most books, and seems to be high quality. Bright white pages showcase the color text very well.

Fans of "The Princess Bride" would enjoy the story. Book collectors will be happy to add this to their shelf.

Even if you have already been through all the stages of filmmaking yourself, this book is an inspiring battle cry for the TRUE indie filmmaker. It also made me laugh out loud several times. I happened to be on the NYC subway when this happened and it made some of my fellow passengers scared of me. What other book about filmmaking can do that?

I rarely laugh when reading books, even when its really funny.
Reading this book though, I was constently cracking up.
The advice is ACTUALLY usefull, it tells the good and bad of film making.
Im keeping this short and simple, so to sum up. This is a truely awesome book.

I don't think I read through 300+ pages so fast in my life. It's incredibly informative on making your own flick from conception to distribution and it is one of the easiest reads I've had. Its also funny as hell, filled with that Kaufman wit.

If you liked Rebel Without a Crew, you'll love this one.

If you're a Troma fan pick it up. If you want to make movies pick it up. If you want a look into the life of a man with an extremely interesting story pick it up.

This is a book I will be returning to both for reference and enjoyment.

I bought this book hoping to have a fun read about making movies and this persons experience. Sadly, what I got was a book load of expletives and degrading ideas of what to throw into a scene them film it. I take away three stars for the no effort put in to not writing a fun book that many can read. I understand the shock value of the title, fine, but curses in every paragraph? I'm not saying to write like a bored, stiff, old tenured expert... But the name calling and mud slinging is not necessary (atleast not all of it). I give it two stars for the street level info. all independents need to know before making a film. Please do protect yourselves.

This is an interesting book for Troma fans and independent film fans. It is really just a book that is meant to entertain and tell stories rather than provide real helpful insight about how to make films. While I appreciate the show of support for independent art, the book doesn't really seem to support independent creation other than Troma's own brand (despite the title of the book). While I will admit that the book is very funny to read, I think sometimes it crosses into somewhat arrogant and self-important banter.

To me this book is more about Troma patting itself on the back and reflecting on their wacky stories then about really empowering anyone but themselves. Read if you are a fan of Troma, not if you are looking for encouragement.

Great background info on the making of everything up to and including Evil Dead (well, and many subsequent flicks and tv shows). Campbell, silly to the core with serious on the side, celebrates the B movie world in all of its glory. Lots of fun facts about Sam Raimi included. I'm guessing, though, that a reader's enjoyment of this material is directly proportional to his/her appreciation level of Campbell's ouvre (i.e., not for everyone, but if you get a kick out of Cambpell, it's a must-read).

Such a great read, I mustve recommended it to at least 100 people who have all enjoyed it. Such a fun time to be had making your way through this one. I love the emails from fans he has included too. Also the paperback has a bonus chapter updating you on his book tour from when the hardback came out.

I gave this as a gift to a friend who is a HUGE Bruce Campbell fan.
She loved it! Definitely worth checking out for anyone who enjoys his work. Hilarious guy, Awesome book!

Campbell, Bruce. "If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor". LA Weekly, 2002.

What a Book!

Amos Lassen

Bruce Campbell has written quite a book with "If Chins Could Kill". He writes as if we are having a conversation with him and he gives some very interesting and provocative information.
Campbell begins with his childhood in Michigan and how the Raimi brothers transformed his life when he was still in high school. He tells us of the various friends he had as a kid and about backstabbing and betrayals which probably are the reason as to why he never became a big star. Eventually he and the Raimis got together and began to produce "The Evil Dread" which quickly became a cult horror classic.
Campbell has no glamour whatsoever but he is a ham. He does his own stunts, has never studied acting yet he has had a job in the film industry for almost 30 years. He is a hard worker and few of us have any idea of who he is except for those that make "B" movies. In his book he shows us blue collar Hollywood. He is offbeat and he works cheap--but, he works. Campbell makes no pretense about being a god writer but he is honest.
In following Campbell's career, he tends to be a little private about his personal life but wide open about his career. I have the feeling that he is a very human and down to earth guy. His book is funny and satiric and I had a great time reading it.

If you want intreague, laughs, and weather your a Campbell fan like myself or not this book can be enjoyed on so many levels. Best book i've ever read.

How much do you love movies?

If you are anything like me, the answer is simply, "a lot". As lovers of film we've all sat around and thought about making our own films. Invariably though, the discussions and daydreams of movie glory fall to the way side. You see the truth of the matter is none of us love film as much as Lloyd Kaufman, head of Troma. Lloyd never let those dreams of filmmaking go. How do I know this?...

Because I read Lloyd's book, "All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger". In this funny, inspiring, and often times touching how-to/autobiography Lloyd goes over his early years of making films like " Squeeze Play" all the way up to recent cult films such as "Tromeo and Juliet". The book covers all the ups and downs of his filmmaking career as well as having many helpful tidbits for aspiring filmmakers.

The one thing that I always find myself thinking about when I reflect back on reading the book is how amazed I am by how much Lloyd Kaufman loves the art and spirit of film.

If you feel the same way about film or are just simply looking for an extremely fun read about fighting for your dreams, please pick up "All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger".


You'll be glad you did.

...and so will Lloyd.

This book is great. I know, a pretty simple statement, but it's true. Nothing else needs to be said. It's fun, hilarious, entertaining and it also give you a sense of how independent film, REAL independent film, works.

It's great for anyone too, even if you've never heard of Troma or the Toxic Avenger or anything like that. You feel more like Lloyd is talking directly to you vs. just reading some garbage he claims he wrote.

Buy this book, than read it, than come back here and write a similar review because you'll love it so much.

In this book, Lloyd Kaufman, president of the impossibly quirky Troma Studios, shares insights and practical advice about making low-budget (or no-budget) feature films. Lloyd's writing style is just as unusual as the movies he directs, as he meanders aimlessly from self-deprecating autobiography to detailed, spur-of-the-moment instructions on how to fake an onscreen head crushing or make actors appear to vomit green foam. There's also plenty of out-of-place crude and scatological humor peppered heavily throughout. I wouldn't have expected anything else from Kaufman, whose unfathomably eccentric (but amiable) personality and genuine love for the art of do-it-yourself filmmaking shine through on every page. Fans of Troma, young and old, owe it to themselves to read this book. It really is an inspiring read for all of us who have the filmmaking bug but often become too easily defeated by lack of funds or crew members. Long live Troma!

if your a fan of troma or just a fan of movies this is the book for you.it tells the story of how Lloyd started the greatest ( and longest running )independent movie studio in the world ( or any other world for that matter)not bad considering they started off in a broom closet.there movies rock Lloyd is the man just buy the book

[...]I got this book as a birthday present in Christmas of '05, back when I was entertaining ideas of becoming a filmmaker in addition to just being a critic. While the need for actually putting something up on the big (or little) screen has passed for the time being, I am forever grateful for the spell due to the fact that it put this book (and Lloyd's equally engaging MAKE YOUR OWN DAMN MOVIE) in my possession. When I was done reading it, I knew two things: Lloyd is an amazing human being, and the only limits for success are those we put upon ourselves.

No matter what your passion is, Lloyd Kaufman gives you the inspiration to go out and damn well do it. Don't have the money to do it? Find a way to make it happen regardless. You'll never have all the money you want/need to do things the way you want to, unless you sell your soul to the godless corporations, so just kick that imagination of yours into high gear and get the job done. I recently edited a horror film reference book - a lifelong dream - and much of that inspiration came from meeting Mr. K on and off the page.

I have met Lloyd several times since at various conventions and am always impressed by his passion and his accessibility to his fans. He is constantly surrounded by adoring admirers, but he takes the time to acknowledge each one of them and everyone who comes in contact with him feels that they have had a "real" moment with Lloyd. That is a true gift. But if you want to spend some quality time with the great man himself, pick this book up. You'll have a new best friend and a new hero to look up to.

I bought this book for my nephew for his birthday. He carried it everywhere he went and didn't look at his other presents much until later.

There isn't much else to be said that the other reviews don't say - clearly this is a winner. There is something magical about a non techie item that reveres the tech filled star wars universe. During Hurricane Ike in Tx, we had no power for nearly a week and my kids loved this book. There were so many delightful surprises in it, its a wonder of papercraft engineering that will delight for years to come.

I bought this for my nephews, 3 and 7, and they love it. Even though their parents won't let them watch Star Wars yet, they love being introduced to all these characters through this book.

The pop-ups are intricate and amazing. The multiple layers within layers on just one page is evidenced by the thickness of this book. The pop-ups cascade out to reveal a surprising number of characters from the original trilogy. Luke's boyhood friend Wedge is even in there.

The artwork is true art - reproductions of watercolor. The pop-ups aren't always true to form (the Death Star looks kind of like a squashed ping pong ball) but come on - it's a pop-up!

Great introductory Star Wars brainwashing. Highly recommended.

If anyone in your family were/are Star War fans and love pop-up books this is the best. As a parent as well as a grand parent I purchased this book for everyone. They ALL love the book and plan to keep it for ever.

I was pleasantly surprised with this purchace. My neice just loved it. It was much nicer quality than I was expecting.

like i said a little slow in the beggining and i though i wasn't going to like it. don't give up though...the story gets intense without too much "action" type stuff and it ended becoming one good read.

About half way thru this book and had to set it aside. I'll return to it later as it is a little too intense and the language is shocking.

I thought his books Beach Music and The Prince of Tides were much better. I could not put Beach Music down.

This is a great military/coming of age novel by Pat Conroy that I would put slightly behind The Great Santini (one of my favorite books of all time) in his catalogue. In this story, Conroy follows a young cadet at the fictional Carolina Military Institute (modeled partly on Conroy's time at The Citadel) as he endures his plebe year and then comes to grip with the fact that the school fosters a great deal of hate, racism and cruelty to accomplish its mission of developing the Complete Man. Conroy's writing always moves quickly with engaging dialogue, humor and entertaining story lines and this book is no exception. It is certainly deeper than your standard pop fiction book, but it reads just as easily and quickly. I would highly recommend it to Conroy fans, people who enjoy good fiction (even my mother likes this book) or people who have interest in military schools or the South in the 50's. A very good book.

I received this book as a gift and was reluctant to read it as the subject matter was not of interest. I started to read it just to see what it might be like and was captured by the outstanding writing. It was just a joy to read and the characters will stay with me forever.

The mark of a successful coming of age story is that you, the reader, can see yourself reflected in the protagonist. For me, this book worked very well. Will McLean, the main character and first-person narrator, a second generation Irish boy, son of a Marine, a mongrel outsider in the pedigreed Carolina Military Institute searches for himself, the man within the boy who is being molded by a system of discipline and honor that doesn't match his internal morality. He's an English major in a college of warriors. He's a basketball player, a finesse guard, in a school of brute force. He's fighting against systems he doesn't understand within a life choiceless in it's inequality.

Pat Conroy, himself a graduate of the model for the fictional Institute, The Citadel, weaves a compelling tension-filled story while eloquent in his setting, Charleston, South Carolina. Employing gracious proper Southern dialect filled with flowers, antiques, and tradition, he describes brutality, racism, sexism, and betrayal. The language works well because it provides within its description the biting irony of the scenes. Will McLean fights through every taboo the South has to offer in the 1960's: a black cadet in the all-white tradition of the military college, an unwed pregnant girl shunned by society for her shame while the father of her baby remains blameless, the brutal plebe system that crushes individuality while remaking young men as soulless military automatons, the classed society of high south old money and it's cruelty to those not born within the circle, and the fact that military honor doesn't equate to individual morality.

Fighting through this maze of pitfalls, McLean has only his closest and dearest friends to rely on, roommates Dante "Pig" Pignetti and Mark Santoro, two brawny, Northern boys of Italian descent and Tradd St. Croix, an "old Charlestonian" (from a very rich and respected family). His moral guide through the story is the epitomy of hard military men, Colonel "Bear" Berrineau, a vulgar battle-scarred man whose character is unimpeachable and whose idea of duty includes awful repercussions.

I loved this story and I couldn't put it down. If I had one criticism to give, it's that Conroy tried to put too much into the novel - too many problems and taboos and tried to fix hundreds of years worth of problems in one book. But, that's not really a criticism because he did it and did it well. Bravo.

CV Rick

So it turns out that the "monster" is actually the protagonist which, while having shades of postmodern antihero angst that wil reverberate strongly with fans of, say, Kafka or Burroughs, really threw me for a loop as a kid.

My two year old, on the other hand, has no problem with this conceit, and wants me to read it to him regularly.

He'll understand how cruel this all is when he get a bit older.

Oh yes.

In the meantime, I'll read it for him over and over and over and over, and never get tired of it.

When I was little this was my favorite book. We would read it over and over, and I would pretend I was struggling to turn the pages that Grover had tied, nailed, and bricked over.
So when we had a daughter, this was one of the first books I bought for her. At 2 years old the book sat on the shelves for a while, but she is 3 now, and I recently took it down again to read for her at bedtime. It is now a favorite, we read it every night. I read the pages, then she turns them to give poor old Grover a hard time.
One recommendation...this review is for the standard Little Golden Books version, which is great, but we also found a board book version in stores, so the hard pages are great when you have toddlers turning the pages for you every night. They can really 'struggle' against Grover's efforts without hurting the book.

The Monster at the End of this Book is a wonderful tale with the infamous Grover at the center. Grover believes that there is a monster at the end of this book and he is begging you, the reader, not to read to the end because he is scared of the monster.

This is a wonderful book for toddlers. When toddlers are defying you at every second, this book gives them a great, fun excuse to be defiant and keep turning pages. The Monster at the End of this Book is very easy to read and is ideal for making loud noices and being dramatic.

I read this book to my two year often and she loves it. I remember reading this book when I was young and I love being able to share this book with my children.

I used to read this book to my own children and bought this copy for my grandchildren. The book is still as much fun for the grandchildren as it was for my children -- and the best part is I get to watch my children enjoy reading it to their children! It means they have fond memories of me reading to them.

I received great service and the book was promptly delivered. This book was read to me as a child and to my children when they were little. I purchased it to read to my grandaughter which I have happily done. It's a great "fun" book for children.