Movies Books


Books-Under-Review-->Arts-->Celebrities-->O-->O'Grady, Gail-->Movies-->31
Related Subjects:
More Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250
Movies Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Movies
Incognito (Arabesque)
Published in Mass Market Paperback by Kimani Press (1999-10-01)
Author: Francis Ray
List price: $5.99
Used price: $4.48

Average review score:

ECTASSSSSSSSY!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 1999-05-03
WE ALL MAY HAVE OUR ADDICTIONS WHICH WE USE TO GET TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF ECTASY. WE ROMANCE READERS USE THE WRITINGS THAT COME FROM THE PEN OF MS FRANCIS RAY. GIRLFRIEND HAS ONCE AGAIN THRILLED US TO THE BOTTOM OF OUR TOES WITH "INCOGNITO." SHE'S GOT ME LOOKING FOR "HUNTER" WHEREVER I GO!! MS. RAY HAS ONCE AGAIN DELIVERED US TO THE "MOUNTAIN OF JOY," WITH THE STORY OF JAKE HUNTER (AKA "HUNTER") AND ERIN CORTLAND, THIS NOVEL SHOULD EASILY CLIMB THE LADDER AND HOLD THE #1 SPOT ON BLACKBOARD'S LIST OF NOVELS. MS. RAY, MS. RAY, MS. RAY, HOW CAN I TELL MY HEART "BE STILL" WHEN YOU CONTINUALLY KEEP IT PUMPING BEYOND ENDURANCE WITH THE BOOKS YOU KEEP PUTTING OUT? THIS BOOK WAS TOO GOOD TO PUT DOWN. THE EMOTIONAL UPHEAVALS I EXPERIENCED WERE WELL WORTH IT.

I ENJOYED THIS BOOK SO MUCH THAT I POSTPONED READING THE LAST 20 PAGES UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MORNING, IN ORDER TO PROLONG THE JOY!!. AND THEN AFTER READING IT IN ITS ENTIRETY, I REREAD IT AGAIN.

I THEN PICKED UP "SILKEN BETRAYAL" AND STARTED AGAIN ON AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER. EVERYTIME I SAY, "GIRLFRIEND CAN'T OUTDO THIS BOOK," SHE MAKES A LIER OUT OF ME.

NOW, I'M LOST IN THE PAGES OF "SILKEN BETRAYAL" WITH LAUREN BENNETT AND JORDAN HAMILTON AND BELIEVE ME READERS, RUN RUN RUN AND RUN GET THIS ONE ALSO. IF YOU'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED MS RAY, YOU'LL HAVE TO BEGIN IN SMALL DOSES AND WORK YOURSELF UP OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR MIND. THANKS AGAIN FOR SUCH A GREAT BOOK, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO AUGUST 1999 TO GET "UNTIL THERE WAS YOU."

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOUR PEN.

AGAIN, TO YOU ROMANCE READERS, TRY TO GET ANYTHING SHE'S PUT PEN TO PAPER ON, YOU TOO WILL BECOME A BELIEVER. SEE YA!

Could not put it down! Soon to be a made-for-tv movie!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 1999-03-21
I purchased this novel after hearing that the BET cable station plans to adapt it to a made-for-tv movie. Money well spent! Excellent suspenseful story, strong unforgettable characters. I like Ms Ray's style and plan to go out and buy the rest of her novels.

Risk Your Life, Your Heart.....For Love
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-06-10
First of all let me compliment Francis on a job well done. This book was a masterpiece. The storyline has shown that true love between two stubborn minded persons can develop into a beautiful, fun-filled relationship. Jake, better known as Hunter was willing to not let his feelings or his anatomy *wink* get in the way of his work. He was determined to solve the case without falling victim to the strong attraction between himself and Erin. Erin, determined not to let her pride be destroyed by Hunter's touch soon realised that it was no use hiding from the affectionate feelings towards Hunter growing inside of her heart. I also love the way the story ended, what Hunter was avoiding was exactly what happened...i.e the woman who cared for him was willing to risk her life to save his. I'm also glad that Hunter was able to react quick with Scanlon. Great story and i can't wait to watch in on film.

Very Interesting, from the beginning to the end.
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 1999-10-09
I am presently a member of the arabesque book club, I have several books written by Francis Ray, I loved them all. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to read Incognito, but I did get to see the Movie version on BET, and I enjoyed it just as much...Please continue to bring to life more of the wonderful arabesque love stories to your readers. "Keep up the good work". And please "Continue" writing those wonderful Novels.

E C T A S S S S S S S S S Y!!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 1999-05-15
WE ALL HAVE OUR DIFFERENT WAYS OF ATTAINING/ GETTING THERE, BUT MS. RAY HAS DEMONSTRATED A WAY IN WHICH YOU CAN REACH THE MOUNTAIN TOPS OF JOY BY JUST PICKING UP ANY BOOK SHE HAS WRITTEN.

WHEN YOU READ ABOUT HUNTER AND ERIN'S STORY OF LOVE YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THAT WORD CALLED ECTASY.

I'LL ADMIT THAT WHEN I FIRST STARTED THIS BOOK, I GOT ANGRY AT THE WAY HE CHOSE TO SHOW HIS ATTRACTION TO HER. I SAID THIS "_____" HAS GOT TO BE CRAZY.

THIS LOVE STORY IS ONE FOR THE "ARCHIVES OF LOVE." MS RAY SURE KNOWS HOW TO KEEP YOU BUYING HER BOOKS. HER LOVE SCENCES ARE INCREDIBLE AND SHE DOESN'T SPARE THE ASSAULT ON YOUR EMOTIONS. SHE IS A DIVA OF SUSPENSE/ROMANCE WRITING. HURRY HURRY PICK THIS ONE UP AND ASCEND TO THE MOUNTAIN OF E C T A S S S S S S Y!! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!

Movies
The incredible World of Spy-fi: Wild and Crazy Spy Gadgets, Props, and Artifacts from TV and the Movies
Published in Paperback by Chronicle Books (2004-10-14)
Author: Danny Biederman
List price: $19.95
New price: $2.35
Used price: $1.82

Average review score:

60's Spy Show Expose
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-28
If you were born in the 1950's this book is for you! All the great shows are here (U.N.C.L.E., Wild, Wild West, Mission Impossible, etc) The book is nicely illustrated and features the author's incredible collection of props from many different shows. Much of the author's prose illustrates his considerable knowledge and love of the subject. I wonder if the former Soviet Union has books like this one? It is my theory that the Soviet Blok collapsed because it simply wasn't very fun. This book is fun. Buy it, or you will be shot with a sleep dart (while you are sleeping, of course, so you will never know that you have been shot with a sleep dart)

UNIQUE PRIVATE COLLECTION PUBLICIZED
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-13
Danny Biederman is the actual author--the forward was by Robert W. Wallace. Biederman's collection of fictional spy artifacts is interesting to both movie buffs and to those involved in real-world espionage. I hadn't heard of most of the movies in "the Incredible World of Spy Fi," so I'll be looking them up on DVD. The spy gadgets and props are almost as important as the actor--the gimmicks are characters, too! Who can forget John Steed's steel-lined bowler, Maxwell Smart's shoe phone, the U.N.C.L.E. Special, James Bond's PPK and tricked-out sports cars, or Jim Phelp's self-destructing tape recorders? I enjoyed reading this book and it will be a valuable reference in my personal library.

Great Gift for the Spy Who Loves You
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-17
This book should be in the library, or, more likely, on the coffee table of every aficionado of espionage. Most of us of a certain generation were weaned, so to speak, on the exploits of the imaginative and edgy TV spy series of the 1960s, so there's much here to bring one back to one's formative years. Danny Biederman gives it all his intelligent, informed, and indulgent commentary. There is simply no book like this.

CAN'T PUT IT DOWN, AND I'M A GIRL!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-26
Christmas present, birthday present, valentine's present, no-special-occasion present: this book makes me HAPPY! I can't imagine anyone not falling in love with it. It brought back floods of ecstatic memories -- and of course, I had to read it while drinking a shaken/not/stirred martini! BRAVO! MORE BOOKS from Mr. Biederman's archives -- and WOW, can he write! Wry, witty, charming, impeccably researched -- 10 STARS!

Absolute Nirvana for the Inner Spy Geek in All of Us
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-25
Danny Biederman's THE INCREDIBLE WORLD OF SPY-FI is not only the perfect coffee table book for those of us who grew up wanting to be James Bond (and maybe still DO want to be James Bond), it's also a brilliant and deeply enjoyable work of scholarship and pop-culture history. Biederman's personal collection of props, costumes, and other arcana from the Bond films, TV shows like THE MAN FROM UNCLE, and even spoofs like AUSTIN POWERS, has been justifiably legendary for years; now he's given us the gift of an intense look at just a fraction of that collection. One word of warning: Don't just get lost in the incredible photos, because Biederman's insightful, humorous, and intelligent prose (which accompanies the pics) is every bit as pleasurable as the visuals. My only complaint? I just wished this book was six times longer. Can we hope for a SPY-FI 2 sometime in the future, Mr. Biederman? Sure hope so.

Movies
It's a Big Big World: Deluxe Sound Storybook: Where's Wartz
Published in Hardcover by It's a Big Big World! (2007-08-07)
Author:
List price: $15.95
New price: $130.96
Used price: $74.41

Average review score:

Iti's a Big Big World: Deluxe Sound Storybook
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-12-06
This interactive children's book is really cute. My daughter LOVES the TV series and enjoys its written version of "Where's Wartz?" The book is colorful and educational and the sounds are comical and accurate. The story is perfect in length and keeps an active toddler entertained. I would recommend It's a Big Big World: Deluxe Sound Storybook to anyone who likes the series and enjoys reading. It's not only for kids...it's for the kid at heart.

its' a big world item
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-03
Well.. I have not actually opened and tried this product yet.It looks very good. I have put it away for a Christmas gift for my 1 yr old grandaughter. She LOVES this show.. and it is kinda tricky to find good merchandise from it. A lot of the plush available does not really look like the characters. This book looks very good...And I am hoping for the best on it. I give it 5 stars based on appearance and true to the show artwork.

Big Big World gets interactive with this book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-29
My 19 Month old has loved Big, Big, World since the first morning he heard the happy Big, Big, World intro theme song on PBS kids when he was 5 Months old. He was sitting near the television in his bouncy chair kicking & fussing away and all of a sudden , I swear, it was like a calming hypnosis took over. This book is as beautiful as the program: Sweet Characters, Great clip-it music, and an adventure under way. When my son is pressing the sound bites while flipping the pages, all I see on his face is a Big, Big smile.

Big World Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-24
We love this book. Since my daugher was two weeks old we would sit and watch this show. The colors are great for them to watch at that age. Even now she will stop in her tracks to watch it. The book is great she sits with it each day and pushes the buttons to listen to hear the character voices and sounds. Definitely reccommend this book.

Great
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-21
Exactly as it looks. My daughter loves to push the buttons and hear the characters speak / make noise.

Movies
It's Not Easy Being Big! (Bright & Early , No 31)
Published in Hardcover by Random House Books for Young Readers (1998-02-17)
Author: Stephanie St. Pierre
List price: $11.99
New price: $0.25
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $11.99

Average review score:

Big Bird Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-01-06
Yea! We got it ! This was in great shape and we received it very quickly ! Made my granddaughter VERY happy !

Thanks !

The Sesame Street Gang Prove That Size Doesn't Matter
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-28
"It's Not Easy Being Big," a Bright and Early book from Random House and the Children's Television Workshop, takes the basic concepts of big and small and puts them both in a fun, brightly illustrated tale for youngsters. Big Bird, obviously, reveals the perils of being too big. Elmo tackles problems on the other end of the spectrum. While big and small are the focal point of the book, similar concepts like high and low and up and down are also briefly touched on.

This is an excellent story to read to youngsters in the early stages of reading. Stephanie St. Pierre has kept it simple enough for some pre-K and Kindergarten kids to read this story with little to no adult assistance. John Lund's vivid active illustrations of Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, Elmo, Harry Monster, and other Sesame Street favorites will also help your child's reading development.

Overall, this is a fun book that children will love and parents will enjoy reading to them. Highly recommended.

Positive message, entertaining, well-written
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-27
This is such a cute book. My toddler asks me to read it to her all the time and I don't mind reading it over and over. It has a good message about the challenges we all face but is done in a light-hearted, very cute way. It also is a good teaching tool to compare things of different sizes.

We All Are Great.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-15
In this story Big Bird tells his friends that it is not always easy being big. He tells how he is too big to swing, too big to ride on a bike,and too big to hide.
Elmo comes on the scene to share with his friend that it is not always easy being small. He tells him that he is too small to see above other people, and too small to reach somethings.
They realize that sometimes being big is easy and sometimes being small is easy, sometimes it's hard, but working together is the best of all. No matter what size you are, you are just who you are suppose to be.
Good lesson to learn.
Shirley Johnson

Size dont matter
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2003-12-18
The book Its not easy being big is a very good book for anyone no matter how old they are i think because to me it seems like it shows that no matter how tall you are or how big or small you are you can accomplish anything in this world. somethings that small people can do tall people cant..but there is nothing wrong with trying. and that is what they do in this book. try even if they dont accomplish they still try. They dont GIVE UP!!!

Movies
Jane and the Dragon
Published in Paperback by Candlewick (2007-02-13)
Author:
List price: $4.99
New price: $1.66
Used price: $1.65

Average review score:

an excellent book for encouraging young girls
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-11-20
This book will encourage young girls to think of themselves as capable of becoming & doing anything their hearts' desire. Each Jane the Dragon book has a moral lesson, and the lesson in this book is "be true to yourself" and "each person has unique & special qualities."

Cute Story Especially for Girls
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-12
This is a great story for girls (and boys) because it tells the story of a girl who follows her dream regardless of what the people around her say. Jane perservered even though she was told "girls can't be knights". The story is told lightly and the drawings are sweet.

Love having a female hero
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-11
My two and a half year old does not watch much TV but she loves Jane and the Dragon on Saturdays (she also likes Jacob Two Two and we have ordered those books as well). She was very excited when she saw the books as well. In a time when TV execs could not allow Dora to be on top (by giving Diego his own show) it is nice to have a female lead that is strong and brave but also sometimes makes mistakes and learns from them.

The stories are interesting enough for older kids too.

The perfect fairytale
Helpful Votes: 10 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-14
As the mother of a young daughter, I am always aware of how hard I must work to ensure that she sees herself as a person and not an object. I absolutely love how this book turns convention upside down and how Jane is true to herself even when everyone else--her parents included--is trying to tell her to conform. This book served as an excellent introduction to a brief discussion with my daughter as to how she can be anything she wants to be, no matter what others tell her.

Jane and the Dragon
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-16
This is such a special and unique book. It has a great message, especially for girls. It challenges stereotypes and convention in such a sweet way. Enjoy!

Movies
Let's Party! (Two of a Kind, No. 8)
Published in Mass Market Paperback by HarperEntertainment (1999-12-01)
Author: Mary-kate & Ashley Olsen
List price: $4.99
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $12.00

Average review score:

Let's Party!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2004-06-15
Mary-Kate wants to throw a surprise party for Michelle but Ashley is having one for Jennifer the same day. Mary-Kate invites all of her friends and the same wiht AShley but then something bad happens for the both of them and they need help fast.

Oh No!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-02-03
Mary-Kate and Ashley are in big trouble. Mary-Kate planned a surprise party for her friend which is great, but unfortunately Ashley planned a surprise party for her best friend the same night at their house. They came for the biggest surprise. A great book!

Surprise,surprise!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2003-11-21
Ashley is throwing a party for her friend, Jennifer Dilber but Mary Kate wanted to throw a party for her best friend, Amanda Bennet. Her friend, Amanda got mad at her for not calling her back when Mary Kate's supposed to. In the ending, they both got a surprise party for their friends and everyone felt happy!

Party!!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2003-02-01
Another pretty cool Two of a Kind novelette.Mary-Kate and Ashley are planning a party each,for the same night.Now the competition is on as to who will recieve the most guests!

The best book in the series!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-02-20
Mary-Kate plans a suprise party for her best friend Amanda on the same night Ashley plans a suprise party for her best friend Jennifer. Even though Mary-Kate and Ashley are twin sisters, they have totally different personalities so major arguments arise, not only with each other but with their best friends. I'd have to say this is the best book in the whole series that I've read so far because these kinds of problems are what everyday kids would probably have.

Movies
Madonna As Postmodern Myth: How One Star's Self-Construction Rewrites Sex, Gender, Hollywood and the American Dream
Published in Paperback by McFarland & Company (2002-10-29)
Author: Georges-Claude Guilbert
List price: $35.00
New price: $31.50
Used price: $19.99

Average review score:

A Fascinating Read Filled With Jaw Dropping & Much More!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-12-29
Georges-Claude Guilbert presents in this phenomenal book a detailed analysis of postmodern myth with many array of famous people but most notably MADONNA! When I picked up this book I never put it down for a minute and found myself fascinated by the discoveries revealed. To not spoil the surprises I won't say the actual revelations-- this author takes Madonna's videos, Sex Book, Tours, and personality transformations/persons to reveal a powerful, iconic figure that is definitely striking, impacting, and defining to history --comparable to Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and other big known stars including Mae West. The insight revealed regarding gay culture, straight, Latino, White, Afro-American, and how it impacts the American Dream and ideology is very scrutinized. He presents Madonna in a very unique phenomenon describing Madonna's self-construction by taking the drag, camp, and past to a mixture that is neither a copy nor a destruction but a more powerful redefinition of postmodern. In his details of images, sounds, songs, videos, meanings behind them, and analysis one can't help but feel compelled to want to read more. The discoveries for huge fans such as myself were astonishing. This book has things not found in biographies, or common books because this is geared to the intellect as well as the fan, the historian as well as the scholar. It's a definite mind blower and a jaw dropper at times for sure!

Madonna on par with Cleopatra
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-11
The Queen of the Nile will soon be battling for historical significance with the Queen of Pop very soon. A unique take on the influence of Madonna beyond just hit records to a whole social expression that inspired other artists, feminism, and what it means to be an ambitious woman without apology.

Makes Madonna Make "Postmodern" Interesting
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2003-01-16
Like so many, I find Madonna interesting. And I agree with the positive reviews of this book -- I really like it. The unique contribution here is the way the author discusses Madonna in ways that make "postmodern" an interesting, understandable, ans useful concept. And believe me, I am no fan of academic writing of or about the posrmodern. But this book can be highly and widely recommended.

Very Interesting Overview of Madonna
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2003-01-06
Madonna:alot can be said about Her but Boring isn't one of them.thsi Book Explores the Many things that relate too the Artist&personna that is Madonna.this Book is Challenging&also puts Madonna into a Complete Perspective from start too finish.just like the Woman Herself it will keep you wondering more&what lays around the Corner.

Final evidence of Madonna's superior intelligence
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2002-12-13
In this book GC Guilbert shows how absolutely everything Madonna has ever done is packed with clever references. He doesn't mean that she's a plagiarist, far from it: she just uses her vast knowledge of (popular) culture, in a "postmodern" way. A fascinating read.

Movies
Making Ghostbusters
Published in Paperback by New York Zoetrope (1985-11)
Author:
List price: $14.95
Used price: $109.46
Collectible price: $112.85

Average review score:

ghostbusters
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2003-12-27
This book is awesome!!(although im biased, my uncle wrote it..

wow
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 1999-04-02
wo

This book rules !!!!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 1999-02-20
This book totally kicks butt dudes !!!!! Specially if you are a true Ghostbusters fan or should I say Ghosthead !!!!!!!!! It has like a hundred pictures in it !!!!! I recommend this book to all Ghostbusters fans around the WORLD !!!!!!!!!

Capsule of moviemaking blood, sweat, tears, and creativity!
Helpful Votes: 19 out of 20 total.
Review Date: 1999-12-24
Imagine yourself back in New York in 1983. It's about 5:30 in the morning. You're a regular pedestrian walking down the street near the New York Public Library. A large crowd of people are gathered there. Equipment such as cameras, lights, and microphones are everywhere. Soon you find yourself standing next to Bill Murray.

You ask, "What's this production?"

Bill says, "Production? This is a madhouse! These cameras are just getting in the way!"

You step back and see odd statues and robots crafted into obscene and terrifying figures. Suddenly, a voice shouts, "Action!" and you're pushed aside while Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd walk into the magnificent library with a huge camera dolly following them.

Finally, you spot a small card table packed with coffee, donuts, and Styrofoam cups. Tired and thirsty, you pour yourself some hot coffee from an electric pot hooked up to a small generator. As soon as you touch the pot, a kid jumps from behind the shadows and screams, "Don't move!"

"I just want a sip of coffee!"

"This is Dan Aykroyd's coffee table. Only he gets anything on it, ya' hear? I'm his assistant!"

"You've got to be kidding!"

The kid whips his arm from the shadow of a tall streetlight and points with a shaking hand, "And that table is Bill Murray's!"

Not willing to argue with this crazed assistant, you begin to walk away from the mass of moviemaking paraphernalia and out of the area. Before leaving, you spot a short, nerdy man sitting at a small card table by some sound equipment. The table is filled with art supplies, and the man works on carefully molding a green goblin the shape of a spud. "I've got to get out of here," you think to yourself as you skip over a roadblock and scuffle back into the reality of non-fiction.

In 1984, the next summer, not knowing what to do with your friends, you go to a movie called GHOSTBUSTERS, for it's been getting a lot of hype in the media and you want to see what the fuss is about. As the first scene comes into focus, you let out an involuntary shout of amazement. That was the New York Public Library! Soon enough, the pieces fall into place. You had witnessed the partial filming of one of the greatest comedy films in history!

After the movie, as you walk into a bookstore to kill time before a party, there in front of you is a large book entitled, "Making Ghostbusters: The Screenplay." Ecstatic, you pass up cab fare to attend your party and buy this magnificent book, pouring over it until dawn. You realize that you're a Ghostbuster fan for life. The book is a possession you cherish, for it's like a souvenir of time you spent unknowingly with some of the greatest moviemakers in film history, not including that overprotective assistant.

The movie GHOSTBUSTERS means a lot to many people. One way to sum up their incredible fondness of the movie is "pure cinema magic." Most first impressions of the movie quantify its resounding quality: the wizardry of the special effects, the amazing cast, and the taught, well-written script. And it's largely a comedy! How many comedies have accumulated such a fan base? It's almost unheard of! How many comedies are enjoyed as thoroughly and extensively fifteen years after their original release? Almost none, I'd bet.

Here, in Making Ghostbusters: The Screenplay, the behind-the-scenes secrets and the complete shooting script are here, but the book is more than that. It's a complete sentimental scrapbook that materializes the movie's greatness and encapsulates its craftsmanship and artistry like a time capsule of moviemaking blood, sweat, tears, and creativity.

What this classic volume needs badly is a reprint, but for now, Amazon.com is probably your only hope. With the magnificent re-release of the movie on DVD, this book in its entirety would be a wonderful companion. So let's get this message out; let this be the manifesto! Hear that? Get those printing presses cranking, and bring back the magic!

The ultimate Ghostbusters resource
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 1999-05-06
Making Ghostbusters contains hundreds of exclusive concept sketches (many by legendary horror artist Bernie Wrightson), details of which scenes were deleted and why, color photos (though not nearly enough), and more. The book is built around an annotated script, with enlightening comments from Harold Ramis, Ivan Reitman, and others from the creative team. Few hit movies have had their creative process so wonderfully documented from genesis to box office--for Ghostheads, it's a must-have.

Movies
Making of Star Trek
Published in Mass Market Paperback by Del Rey (1986-08-12)
Author: Stephen E. Whitfield
List price: $5.99
New price: $29.98
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

A real look behind the scenes
Helpful Votes: 10 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-28
This is a classic. It is the first book of its kind, and probably the first book about Star Trek at all. But The Making of Star Trek is much more than any of the later books with similar names. This book doesn't idealize or simplify the making of the series. It doesn't enthusiastically praise everything and everyone involved in its production. It is an authentic and meticulous report on how TOS in particular and a TV series in general comes to life. It shows that it is a process of try and error, that aspects have to be taken into account the viewers wouldn't think of, and that the responsible persons don't always know exactly what they want ("I need some device that does something...").

The story how Stephen E. Whitfield (aka Stephen E. Poe) asked Gene Roddenberry if he could write a book about the series sounds like a fairy tale, but is true. The Great Bird was very forthcoming, and Whitfield was granted access to everything behind the scenes of the still running show, seemingly without any restriction. The book shows production schedules, budgets, private notes, script drafts, production sketches, all things that are usually kept secret or simplified for a larger public. I don't think that something like this would be still possible today. Compared to The Making of Star Trek, Whitfield's last book (he passed away in 2000) on Voyager seems rather superficial.

The Making of Star Trek may be over 30 years old, but it is of more than only historical value. It demonstrates that TV is a business that sometimes doesn't allow technical or artistic perfection. It also shows how many things we may take for granted and that are essential parts of the Star Trek Universe today have taken a rather surprising course change. Who would like Vulcans with names like "Spook, Spork, Splak, ..." as frequently suggested in the early days, or who would think that one race was originally described with the words, "Honor is a despicable trait.", namely the Klingons?

Spouk
Helpful Votes: 10 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 2001-01-23
There are probably loads of 'Making of Star Trek' books out there, but this is particularly interesting as it was written in 1968, between the second and third series, before the show had become a phenomenon. Which is odd at first - everything is in the present tense, and there's nothing about the cultural impact of the show because that was all in the future. Doubly odd is the fact that all of the many quotes from Gene Roddenberry are reported IN BLOCK CAPITALS, giving the bizarre impression that he is not a television producer, but God Himself.

It's extremely detailed, and is as much about the making of any TV late-60s series as it is 'Star Trek'. There are bits from shooting scripts, set plans, photographs of noted theatre actor William Shatner in old-age makeup (looking nothing like he looks in genuine old age), profiles of production staff, and programme budgets which, translated dollar-for-dollar, would just about cover the catering bill on 'Star Trek : The Next Generation'. It's worth it for the stream of memos about Vulcan names alone.

"The" book about the making of Star Trek
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-08
Back when there was little else written about Star Trek, before David Gerrold's great "World of Star Trek" analysis or Franz Joseph's blueprints, "The Making of Star Trek" was the ultimate. I devoured it as a boy in the early '70s. To this day I don't think anyone can consider themselves a true original series die-hard without having read this book. It really does take you inside the making of the show, but keeps it on a professional level, without salaciousness. That's because the book wasn't written as something for the few Star Trek fans that were known of then, but as a book about how to write for TV, as older printings stated on the cover. That does leave some things out, but those details have been covered since by other books and memoirs.

Since this was written while the series was in production, it's a good view into how people felt then, even refreshing because Trek had yet to become a pop culture colossus, so the book doesn't have any of that built-in reverence. They were making a good TV show that aspired to be something better than most everything else on then, but in the end it was considered just another TV job, certainly not anything that would become legendary.

For instance, "The Defenders," one of the highest praised, most thoughtful and well-written dramas of the '60s, is scarecely remembered by anyone not old enough to have seen it. Part of the issue with that series had to do with rerun-rights issues, but another part had to do with the times then, when TV was still rather young, and shows were thought of as rather disposable, coming and going without much of an afterlife except for "Lucy" and "Honeymooners" reruns. When you think of it in that context, it's easy to see why Gene Roddenberry bailed on Star Trek after it became clear NBC was out to kill it, even though the letter campaign forced them to bring it back for a third year.

The pics and blueprints within the book are cool but may not be as impressive today. At least the blueprints, while not "accurate" by today's standards, were drawn by Matt Jefferies himself. Remember, though, for a long time this was all the reference stuff available. However, if you want what is still a good insider's look into the making of the show, plus Gene Roddenberry's take before even he got sucked into the myth, this is a must-read.

the GREAT BIRD OF THE GALAXY WAS GOD>>>
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-11
hey Spouk

the capitalization of quotes from Roddenberry (aka the Great Bird of the Galazy) give one "the bizarre impression that he is a god" because for the series, he was :-)

i have a copy of the original publication, read it then and howled, still think it is a great read.

BTW Terry Pratchett uses the same literary device of all caps for Death, in the Discworld series.

Harlan Ellison's memories of the show are fascinating reading as well. As are David Gerrold's.

A Trekker's joy
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2002-08-24
I read this in the Seventies and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now I've bought it again and enjoyed it all over again. Fascinating behind-the-scenes look at TOS. You have to read this book to understand what a groundbreaking series Star Trek was. You also learn how grueling a TV series is to work on. This book is fascinating, and sometimes hilarious!

Movies
Monster House: There Goes the Neighborhood...: A Novelization Based on the New Movie
Published in Paperback by Simon Spotlight (2006-06-23)
Author:
List price: $4.99
New price: $0.01
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

A review on Monster House By Tom Hughes
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-23

DJ's and Chowder's life was simple. They woke up, had breakfast, went to school, came home, ate dinner and did homework. But DJ had better things to do than homework. Across the street from him was a shattered, non-painted old house. And in it was an old man know as Mr. Nebbercraker. One day DJ and Chowder where spying on Mr. Nebbercraker when a girl named Jenny came into the scene. She was about their age and was pulling a red wagon full of cookie boxes. She was probably selling them as a fundraiser for her school. She walked up to Mr. Nebbercraker's door and was about to ring the doorbell when DJ and Chowder came running down after her screaming not to. As she rang the doorbell a low echoing sound that seemed to go miles into the center of the earth boomed and the two large parallel windows above her turn bright red and turned into a pair of evil red glowing eyes. The door swung open and razor sharp shards of wood came out of the top and bottom of it, and then the rug leading to the back of the house turned into a tongue and soon it looked much like a face. All of the sudden the walkway to Mr.Nebbercraker's front door turned into an inclined plane and then Jenny started to almost roll down right to the razor sharp teeth. Just as she was about to be devoured by this "monster house" DJ and Chowder caught her and ran back across the street and back to their room. Of course Jenny was stunned and knew they had to stop this evil house. Ever since that day DJ watches Mr. Nebbercraker's house to get some proof that this house is... ALIVE! But Halloween was coming up and all of the people that trick-or-treated Mr.Nebbercraker's house will be eaten. So begins a battle of three kids and a living house nightmare!





Opinion
Monster House was a fun and entertaining book about three kids and a living nightmare. I recommend Monster House for people who like suspenseful, action scenes. It was a very good book, and every night I was tempted to read more and more of it. It was just like I was watching the movie right in my bed!

A review of Monster House: There Goes The Neighborhood by Tom Hughes
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-23

DJ's and Chowder's life was simple. They woke up, had breakfast, went to school, came home, ate dinner and did homework. But DJ had better things to do than homework. Across the street from him was a shattered, non-painted old house. And in it was an old man know as Mr. Nebbercraker. One day DJ and Chowder where spying on Mr. Nebbercraker when a girl named Jenny came into the scene. She was about their age and was pulling a red wagon full of cookie boxes. She was probably selling them as a fundraiser for her school. She walked up to Mr. Nebbercraker's door and was about to ring the doorbell when DJ and Chowder came running down after her screaming not to. As she rang the doorbell a low echoing sound that seemed to go miles into the center of the earth boomed and the two large parallel windows above her turn bright red and turned into a pair of evil red glowing eyes. The door swung open and razor sharp shards of wood came out of the top and bottom of it, and then the rug leading to the back of the house turned into a tongue and soon it looked much like a face. All of the sudden the walkway to Mr.Nebbercraker's front door turned into an inclined plane and then Jenny started to almost roll down right to the razor sharp teeth. Just as she was about to be devoured by this "monster house" DJ and Chowder caught her and ran back across the street and back to their room. Of course Jenny was stunned and knew they had to stop this evil house. Ever since that day DJ watches Mr. Nebbercraker's house to get some proof that this house is... ALIVE! But Halloween was coming up and all of the people that trick-or-treated Mr.Nebbercraker's house will be eaten. So begins a battle of three kids and a living house nightmare!





Opinion
Monster House was a fun and entertaining book about three kids and a living nightmare. I recommend Monster House for people who like suspenseful, action scenes. It was a very good book, and every night I was tempted to read more and more of it. It was just like I was watching the movie right in my bed!

My "Monster House" review
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-22
I read the book "Monster House", adapted by Tom Hughes. This story takes place in a neighborhood in the town of Mayville. A kid named DJ knew something was wrong with the house across the street. The house was alive and would eat anything or anyone that stepped on its lawn. When the house came alive, the front door was its mouth, the porch was its teeth, the foyer rug was its tounge, the upstairs windows were its eyes, and the trees on the side of the house were its arms. The biggest problem was DJ and his friends were the only ones that could see the house alive. DJ and his friends, Chowder and Jenny, were going to spy on the house and find out what was going on with it. They also wanted to find out why the house became alive after its owner, Mr. Nebbercracker disappeared. After spying on the house with their telescope, the 3 friends realized that the house was really alive and the furnace was the heart and soul of the house that kept it alive. The friends made a plan to get inside the house and put out the fire in its furnace.
The three friends went onto the lawn and up to the house. When the house "woke up" it stared to chase them. DJ, Chowder, and Jenny ran down the street and the house chased after them. They led the house to the back of the neighborhood to a construction sight they called "The Danger Zone". While the house chased the kids, Mr. Nebbercracker showed up. He had been sick and was at the hospital. Mr. Nebbercracker was trying to calm the house down. DJ finally climbed to the top of a crane and dropped dynamite into the house's chimney. The house exploded and destroyed the furnace. While the house was burning, the kids and Mr. Nebbercracker saw a spirit floating up from the ashes. It was Mr. Nebbercracker's wife, Constance, who had died years before. Her spirit was trapped in the house and when Mr. Nebbercracker went to the hospital, she thought that he had died and left her alone. She was released when the kids destroyed the house. Mr. and Mrs. Nebbercracker were able to say good-bye and Mrs. Nebbercracker's spirit was finally free.
I loved this book because its details. The description of the house was great. I could actually envision the house in my mind. I also loved the suspense.

My "Monster House" review
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-22
I read the book "Monster House", adapted by Tom Hughes. This story takes place in a neighborhood in the town of Mayville. A kid named DJ knew something was wrong with the house across the street. The house was alive and would eat anything or anyone that stepped on its lawn. When the house came alive, the front door was its mouth, the porch was its teeth, the foyer rug was its tounge, the upstairs windows were its eyes, and the trees on the side of the house were its arms. The biggest problem was DJ and his friends were the only ones that could see the house alive. DJ and his friends, Chowder and Jenny, were going to spy on the house and find out what was going on with it. They also wanted to find out why the house became alive after its owner, Mr. Nebbercracker disappeared. After spying on the house with their telescope, the 3 friends realized that the house was really alive and the furnace was the heart and soul of the house that kept it alive. The friends made a plan to get inside the house and put out the fire in its furnace.
The three friends went onto the lawn and up to the house. When the house "woke up" it stared to chase them. DJ, Chowder, and Jenny ran down the street and the house chased after them. They led the house to the back of the neighborhood to a construction sight they called "The Danger Zone". While the house chased the kids, Mr. Nebbercracker showed up. He had been sick and was at the hospital. Mr. Nebbercracker was trying to calm the house down. DJ finally climbed to the top of a crane and dropped dynamite into the house's chimney. The house exploded and destroyed the furnace. While the house was burning, the kids and Mr. Nebbercracker saw a spirit floating up from the ashes. It was Mr. Nebbercracker's wife, Constance, who had died years before. Her spirit was trapped in the house and when Mr. Nebbercracker went to the hospital, she thought that he had died and left her alone. She was released when the kids destroyed the house. Mr. and Mrs. Nebbercracker were able to say good-bye and Mrs. Nebbercracker's spirit was finally free.
I loved this book because its details. The description of the house was great. I could actually envision the house in my mind. I also loved the suspense.

Monster House
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-19
The book Monster House is really cool, it's all about these three children spy on the house next door. The house is alive and lots of things happen to the kids, if you want to know you could read the book. There are three main characters, they are DJ, Chawder, and Jenny. If you like action books you will like this. The book is not really scary. The auther is Simon Spotlight. Good work Simon! I hope you like it.


Books-Under-Review-->Arts-->Celebrities-->O-->O'Grady, Gail-->Movies-->31
Related Subjects:
More Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250