Movies Books

After seeing the watered down final volume of "The Watcher's Guide" for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," I had some trepidation for the second volume of "The Casefiles" for "Angel." But Paul Ruditis and Diana G. Gallagher follow in the footsteps of Nancy Holder, Jeff Mariotte, and Maryelizabeth Hart and you will find more of the same: a Character Guide, an Episode Guide for Season Three and Season Four, and Actor Profiles. Volume 2 is a hundred pages shorter than Volume 1, and the book is also a shave smaller in both height and width than Volume 1, which you will discover as soon as you put them side-by-side on the shelf. Since Volume 3 is only going to cover the fifth and final season it is probably going to be at least a hundred pages shorter as well.

The character guides are for Angel, Cordelia Chase, Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, Charles Gunn, Fred, the Host, Connor, Lilah Morgan, Darla, Captain Daniel Holtz, Justine Cooper, Jasmine, Sahjhan, Gavin Park, Linwood Murrow, the Groosalugg, Skip, the Beast, Faith, Gwen Raiden, Willow Rosenberg, and Knox. These are not background descriptions, but take each character through Season Four. For example with Angel/Angelus/Liam you get a complete history of the character, which consists of brief summary of the "BtVS" years and the first two seasons of "Angel," and then focusing on what happens during seasons three and four. For the minor characters (e.g., Faith and Willow) the emphasis is just on those episode of "Angel" on which they appear.

Because these casefiles cover the third and fourth seasons, the focus is on the saga of Angel and his son, Connor. Each episode is covered in three main sections: (1) From the Files of Angel Investigations commences with the "Case No" for the episode number, and a list of the writer, director, guest stars and costars, and then the "Action Taken" (plot synopsis) and "Resolution" (episode climax). We then have a whole bunch of possible categories. "Dossiers" covers the client, civilian support (e.g., Merl and Lorne), and suspects. "Continuity" covers familiar faces and providing other details that help explain what is going on, while "Office Romance" keeps us up to date on the tangled love lives of the gang and "Quote of the Week" provides a choice exchange of words; (2) The Devil is in the Details looks at the sub-categories of "Expenses", "Weaponry," and "The Plan+ (such as it is). Here is also where you will find "Demons, Etc....," which keeps you up to date on what specific bads are running around in the episode, and can include a look at things like The Vampire Rules. "As Scene in L.A" explains where things are taking place in the episode relative to the real Los Angeles; (3) The Pen Is Mightier is the choice section where you get to see parts of the episode that did not make the "Final Cut," and have all of the "Pop Culture" references identified and explained for you. "The Name Game" explains the episode's title while "Six Degrees of..." covers anybody in the episode whom we have seen before on "Angel," one of Joss Whedon's other shows, or any other place that makes them familiar faces. "Tracks" records any instance of Angel singing anything. "Our Heroes" is where cast and crew members get to comment on the episode (or the series in general).

There are two 16-page sections of color photographs, the first devoted to the major and minor characters, and the second providing candid shots of the making of "Angel." There is a Season 5 Teaser, "Look Homeward Angel," and a tour of the Wolfram & Hart sets with production designer Stuart Blatt and set decorator Sandy Struth, "The Changing Facing of Evil." Last, and also least, are the "Actor Profiles." These were skimpy in Volume 1 and we are treated to more of the same in Volume 2. If there is an area where "The Casefiles" had lagged behind "The Watcher's Guide" volumes it has been in giving the cast and crew ample room to talk about their characters, the show, Joss, and whatever else enters their minds.

Overall I would grade "The Casefiles, Volume 2" as a 4.5, mainly on the strength of the episode guides, where we are still getting the level of detail we have come to expect. I round up because I do not want to give it the same rating as I gave "The Watcher's Guide, Volume 3." I suspect that since "Angel" stopped production last spring the volume is now considered more as a reference book and less as a way of feeding the show's fan base. The final season of "Angel" will be out on DVD early next year and then it is just a question of how long we have to wait for "The Casefiles, Volume 3." Hopefully by then Joss Whedon will have finished with his "Astonishing X-Men" comic book limited series and with his "Firefly" film and will be back in production on the small screen. I suspect he would like to make feature films, but I really would rather have a television show that I can enjoy twenty-two weeks a year that one hit film.

the angel casefiles volume 2 is the a great read after you have watched the episodes

When I first heard that a new writer was going to take over the reins for "The Watcher's Guide 3", I was a little worried. I had never heard of Paul Ruditis. My worries were not unfounded when the third volume, while still fun and competently written, came out and was a huge disappointment because it lacked so much. So, imagine my horror when I learned he was going to do the new Angel book. Oh no. Well, was I so happily surprised!. Teaming up with Diana Gallagher, Ruditis has redeemed himself with a book that stays true and faithful to the first book, and makes WG 3 a distant memory. Ruditis and Gallagher pretty much keep the same pattern and style as Nancy Holder on the first Casefiles. Sadly, and oddly, the book only covers seasons 3 and 4. WG 3 managed to fit in the final season, and Nikki Stafford's excellent "Once Bitten" did too, so why not this one?. Hmm. Included here are the always welcomed "Character Bios", something lacking in WG 3. It goes through all the major players, and most of the recurring players thru the two seasons. They also have "Actor Profiles" as well. They do make some mistakes. Such as saying that Connor, in the character bio part, was 18 when he came back, when he was actually 16. Although they do change it in the actual episode guides. They also mention the song "Lady Marmelade", and say it was by Aretha Franklin, when it was by Patti LaBelle. The episode guides are always the main focus of these books, and the authors don't disappoint. With long, detailed synopses of each episode, they bring the same categories and facts and such with each ep as they always do. The episodes, like the first book, are designed as actual case files. What are they?. Every episode summary is titled "Action Taken". We have "Dossiers", which is a section that informs of who the client, clientele, or outside support is(if there is any in a particular episode)that they deal with. Then there is "Continuity", which deals with the ongoing story and arcs and history that the show has come from. "Quote Of The Wek" is pretty self explanatory. No need to go into that one further. "The Devil Is In The Details" portion has "Expenses", which shows pretty much what you'd expect. "Weaponry" tells exactly what kind of weapon was used, or if it was a weapon at all. "The Plan" is basically what the gang's, well, plan is for this episode's situation. "Demons, ETC...." is a section dealing with what kinds of ghouls ans goblins, if any, were seen in that particular episode. And there is a handful more, like "Tracks", which is for music featured in the episode. "The Final Cut" which is things that didn't make it to the end episode. "As Scene In L.A." is stuff from Angel's city. "Pop Culture" is pretty much saying it there in the title. "The Name Game" tells about the meaning of an episode's title. "Six Degrees Of..." is basically a "Where Have I Seen Them Before?" thing, and a few more. There are also interviews and little tid bits from cast and crew about that particular episode in the guides as well. The episodes are finely detailed and the format for each episode in the casefile way is fun and clever. Afterwards, there is a section called "The Changing Face Of Evil", which is a look at the new design and sets for Wolfram & Hart. And season five doesn't go entirely unnoticed, as there is a section towards the end which gives an overview on what happened. Wether or not we see something on season five in a AC 3 is unclear and not mentioned, and that is this book's one sore spot. I doubt there will be another book for one season. It wouldn't fill a book. If there isn't anything, it would be Angel getting the short end of the stick again. Like The WG's, this book also comes with two sections of photos, all in glorious color. If anybody was upset with Ruditis' work on WG 3, then you should know that this book pretty much stays on course with first book, and makes WG 3 seem all the more like a wasted opportunity. This one is not.

At first on appearance this book is thinner then case files 1, but dont be deceived inside is packed full of information from seasons 3 & 4. Even though this 2nd book is written by different authors it still resembles case file 1 on presentation. I fully support anyone buying this to put it next to case file 1.

My 3 yo daughter LOVES backyardigans.
THis is such a fun book for us to read at bedtime together.
If she feels like it she gets to "read" along with me when I get to the picture clues.
Ever since they came out with the backyardigans books she wants at least one read everynight at bedtime. I really dont get sick of them myself, yet :).

My daughter is obsessed with books and we end up having to read long books to her each night. This book is quick and fun. There are also pictures in place of the words to help preschoolers with their reading.

My Daughter loves this book and memorized it in the first day. She reads it daily.

Ahoy!

In the softcover book Castaways!, Uniqua, Pablo, and Tyrone pretend that their leaky ship was lost at sea, and now they're stranded on a desert island.

What they don't realize is that Austin has been "stranded", too, but he's too shy to say "Ahoy!" to the rest of the castaways.

While Uniqua, Pablo, and Tyrone look for wood, vines and leaves to build a hut for shelter, they soon realize that everything they need mysteriously shows up. Where did it come from? Could it be that they aren't alone on the island?

Castaways! is a Level 1 Ready-to-Read book which uses simple stories and rebuses to help teach reading. My son loves this book and can now read it on his own. It's a colorful, engaging bedtime story for younger children, and good for older children who are beginning to read.

My daughter (age 2) and I love the Backyardigans! She has all the books and she really loves this one!! I read it to her every night and she points at the pictures as I tell her what they are. It's a very easy read and easy to follow along.

It's a long book for a little one, but it's great since the story is simple, cute, and fun to read!!

Though he hasn't made a movie since the 1950s, CB DeMille is still a name that says "Hollywood" to anyone who hears it. But, aside from The Ten Commandments, it's possible that most people today don't know who he was or what he did. Robert Birchard's book, written in a blithe, easy-going style -- as if you're talking to him -- reminds us who CB was and how important he was to the history of film. Using original sources as much as possible (rather than second and third hand accounts) Mr. Birchard has traced DeMille's career through his films, in the process seeing as many as are still available (sadly not all are). In doing so, he manages to trace much of DeMille's life and the life and history of Hollywood as it grows and learns to use new and better technology to tell its stories. This book is both easy to read, fun to read, and even (gasp!) informative! But don't let stop you from buying and enjoying it!

Mention Cecil B. DeMille to many serious film fans, and they might snicker. DeMille has a reputation for corny, big-budget epics like THE TEN COMMANDMENTS or THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. DeMille also has a reputation as a dictatorial director whose politics were extremely conservative.

DeMille was not really that simple of a person. He made some very personal films, some really entertaining films, and even some daring films for the time. Although he was politically conservative, several of his films preached the dangers of religious intolerance. His battle with the Radio performer's union was a matter of principle, and not money. And while the stereotypical Hollywood director was modeled on him, part of it was an act. DeMille had a great respect for his actors, as long as they were professional. DeMille also had a sense of humor, as some of his cameo appearances in films show.

Robert Birchard has assembled an incredible history of DeMille's film and radio work. DeMille was around during the birth of Paramount in 1915, and he was still a successful director all of the way through the 1950s. Using DeMille's original papers, telegrams from studio moguls like Jesse Lasky, and other direct sources of information.

You will read about DeMille's struggles with technical issues like poorly perforated film stock, cameramen, good and difficult actors, and pressure from management to get his films completed on time and under budget. Mr. Birchard has viewed all of DeMille's films that still exist, and he gives a candid review of all of them. The book also contains very detailed cast and crew listings, a list of DeMille's many cameo appearances, and everything is painstakingly documented in the end notes.

I can guarantee you that after reading this book, you will be very tempted to rent or buy a Cecil B. DeMille film and rediscover this master director yourself.

Before David Lean, before Michael Curtiz, and waaay before Ridley Scott and Steven Spielberg, there was Cecil B. DeMille, the creator of gargantuan epics from Hollywood's Golden Age. C.B. started making movies the year that D.W. Griffith shot "The Birth of a Nation" and died when Steven Spielberg was a kid in Arizona, shooting home movies. In between, he wrote, produced, directed and acted in close to a hundred films

Today, of course, DeMille is remembered for "The Ten Commandments" and "The Greatest Show on Earth," but Demille was far more than that. The Great Man directed westerns and bedroom comedies, time travel adventures (in the silent days, no less), and even a musical.

Remarkably, most of Cecil B. DeMille's five decades of film work survive, and Robert Birchard has seen all fifty years worth, and written about each film in a lucid, graceful prose; Birchard has delivered a feast of information for anyone who's interested in the history of Hollywood. (Did you know that Charlton Heston, the star of "The Ten Commandments," was making less than Yul Brynner? Did you know that during the filming of C.B.'s FIRST "Ten Commandments" (a gargantuan hit in 1923) that the slaves who were supposedly sweltering in the Egyptian desert were actually extras on the central California coast FREEZING in chilly Spring weather, and who bundled themselves into coats as soon as the director yelled "Cut"? Mr. Birchard lets us in on the behind-the-scenes action on each of C.B's films (each movie has its own individual chapter), as well as when the films were shot, when they were released, what they cost and what they made at the box office.

This is a book for anyone who wants to know where American films have been...and how we got to where we are today.

This excellent book rates 5 stars for a very factual, no-nonsense in-depth research job on the work of famous director/producer, Cecil B. DeMille. And the emphasis is on his work in Hollywood (hence the title) not on DeMille himself as a person, although quite a few passages throughout this book do shed light on his character and mentality. Rather than a biography-style work with speculation, rumour and gossip, the author of this book has painstakingly searched for, found and quoted all kinds of correspondence and other written records to tell the story of DeMille's career. At times it was quite fascinating to read telegrams and other notes between DeMille and producers or other co-workers, for instance, and while explaining certain events or procedures in the film industry, these letters also reveal a lot about DeMille's thoughts and ways of doing business.

Another highlight for me personally is how the book goes through DeMille's films chronologically, with a chapter on almost every film he directed (and he produced many more) often giving a summary of the plot, which is especially interesting in the case of his early silent films which are not readily available at present. Besides details of cast, crew and plot, many business aspects of the film industry are related, giving an overall comprehensive story of the course of DeMille's career such as how he moved from one type of film to another, or from one studio to another when circumstances changed. Even though this book deals with hard facts only, it is easy and enjoyable to read, and does not get bogged down with too much detail. As a bonus, there are sections of many good photos, further notes and information in the appendixes for anyone who is looking for more in-depth material. For anyone interested in DeMille's work and getting a realistic look into the film industry from the early 1910s onwards, this book will definitely fit the bill.

I loved this book and liked the mix-ups about Cher and "Shar" you should read it.

This book was awesome!!!!!! I love it when Cher and De do makeovers, and it was cool how the story tied in with Frankentstein (dont worry, it isnt dorky, its awesome). This is a total must read!!!!!!!!!

I love these books!I's really funny how Cher talks using words like chronic,betty, baldwin,rampant,snaps,etc. and how she's always talking about her designer clothing.Aside from that,these are very humorous books.All of them are great!

another one of the best clueless books. i really enjoy reading it. and all you people out there, read this book!!!

A great book by Jack Hunter. Christopher Walken is a very gifted actor, and Hunter gives loads of insight into the many characters he has played throughout the years. You may even be inclined to view some of the movies, again after reading this book. It is obvious that Hunter recognizes talent when he sees it. Hunter goes beyond the typical type-casting, that many film critics are stuck on. This book has many nuggets of wisdom, and is laced with respect. Christopher Walkwn is very fortunate to have an insightful author, like Hunter, write about him. Thanks Chris for sharing your gift of acting. Thanks Jack for sharing your gift of writing. The pleasure has been mine from Indiana.

A great book by Jack Hunter. Christopher Walken is a very gifted actor, and Hunter gives loads of insight into the many characters he has played throughout the years. You may even be inclined to view some of the movies, again after reading this book. It is obvious that Hunter recognizes talent when he sees it. Hunter goes beyond the typical type-casting, that many film critics are stuck on. This book has many nuggets of wisdom, and is laced with respect. Christopher Walkwn is very fortunate to have an insightful author, like Hunter, write about him. Thanks Chris for sharing your gift of acting. Thanks Jack for sharing your gift of writing. The pleasure has been mine from Indiana.

This is a great source of information about Christopher Walken, his movies, and the themes that drive them - however - it does tend to overanalyze, and contains little information on Walken that you could not pick up yourself on the internet. It seems that Walken is not the chatty type. In his own words, he enjoys working and is not proud of all the 90+ features he has appeared in, but he does have his favorites. I have no idea after reading this book if one of these top ten are in fact the actors favorite - rather they are showcased as his best performances. This is a lot of speculation, as Walken has an incredible amount of work, including broadway shows to choose from. So if you are looking for that personal touch, it's not really there. You have to ask yourself though, is there really anything behind Walken as a person that would warrant a personal touch? From all appearences, he works, he goes home, he works some more. He has been married to the same woman for 30+ years, thinks he cooks really well, and aside from the really odd stab at screenwriting (he wants to do the John Holmes story - apparently he is fascinated with Holmes' life, and the attention paid to Holmes' member vs. the real man behind the porn - Okay Chris - you get the different award) he would appear to be reasonably stable (discounting the Natalie Wood thing, but even that is scandal of the most mundane variety.). Christopher Walken is a person who has lived his entire life on film (since the age of 3) and no doubt will die on film as is his wish. So perhaps there is no personal touch to be had and his films are the only window into his life, aside from the odd interview (such as his most recent wish - to host a cooking show). If you want to experience an exhaustive analysis of ten of what are his best well-known films by good reviewers that have never interacted personally with Walken himself - this is for you. If you want to read Walken on Walken, get the playboy interview.

I only rate this book with 4 stars because of its interesting subject - not for the editor Jack Hunter. Did Hunter actually read it? I was completely distracted from the material by the numerous spelling and grammatical errors. An actor like Christopher Walken deserves better treatment than this sloppily thrown together collection of essays. Though some of them were pretty interesting (Deer Hunter, Comfort of Strangers), I found myself wondering if Hunter actually watched all of the actor's major films. How could he include The Addiction and Suicide Kings in the Walken Top 10 but leave out the awesome performances in At Close Range and Biloxi Blues - both with gripping climax scenes that deserve essays of their own. A comparison of Walken in his stand-off with Sean Penn to Walken's flip-flop stand-off with Mathew Broderick (Walken is held at gunpoint by Penn/ Broderick held at gunpoint by Walken) sorely needed to be added to this collection. Will someone please re-write this book?!?!! Heck, give me a week; I could do better than this.

Lots of good recipes and that means GOOD EATING!!! A+ for the book...has lots of pictures too!

Who knew there was a right meal to eat with a certain movie? For people who like good movies and great food, this is the cookbook to have.

As another reviewer has said, this is the companion book to the tbs dinner and a movie weekly show. I am a big fan of the show and will actually make these recipes to watch with the movies. Some of my favorite movie and recipe combinations from this book are: The Cutting Edge, The Breakfast Club, The Outsiders, Fargo, Groundhog Day, and too many more to count. Hopefully, in a few years they will release another edition featuring even more of their wit, movies, and recipes.

Chef Claud Mann has turned cinematic cuisine into a television art form on his popular TBS Superstation weekly program, "Dinner & A Movie". Now with Claud Mann's TBS Superstation Dinner & A Movie Cookbook, he has brought together 100 of his favorite recipes in this third edition of an enduringly popular cookbook. From Beetlejuice - Dearly Departed Sole; Sleepless in Seattle - An Eclair to Remember; and U.S. Marshals - We always Get Our Manicotti; to Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Can't Go To School, I Falafel; Tootsie - What's Under Your Skirt Steak; and Conspiracy Theory - It's All In Your Headcheese, the individual recipes are served up with an on-air wit and an in-kitchen wisdom. If you like to combine watching movies with great do-it-yourself cooking, then Claud Mann's TBS Superstation Dinner & A Movie Cookbook is the one for you!

This book is exactly what it says, it is comprehensive (it covers his whole life in great detail). It's Illustrated (it has pictures and photographs throughout the book). It can most definitely be used as a reference to many things, Drama, The Arts, Claude rains, life in british poverty. Overall this is a very good book.

Another great biography from John Soister. Mr. Soister wrote the definitive book on Universal horror films from the 1930's a year ago, now he publishes the definitive biography of one of filmdon's acting giants, Claude Rains. A book on this wonderful actor was way overdue. Soister proves it was well worth the wait! Each of Rains' films is recounted in detail, with Soister's well informed opinion on each film, and Mr. Rains' performance. If you are a fan of Claude Rains, or Hollywood's Golden Era, THIS is a must book for you! He may have been short in physical stature, but Claude Rains was a towering giant when it came to talent, style, and film presence. You won't be disappointed in buying this great work!

Claude Rains, A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference is the book Claude Rains fans have been waiting for for years. It starts off with a wonderful mini bio from his daughter, Jessica. Especially nice, is a charming story about them going to see 'The Invisible Man' together. The reader gets a sense of Claude Rains, the man as well as Claude Rains, the actor. Both are well worth reading about. There is a detailed synopsis for each movie with lots of little backround tidbits and loads of great photos. Also discussed, in less detail, is his stage, tv and radio career. The author says that the book is a 'labor of love' and it shows. If your a Claude Rains fan, and who isn't,buy the book... you'll love every minute of it.

As a life-long film buff, I've long regarded Claude Rains as one of the finest screen actors in movie history. He stole every scene he was ever in and enlivened even the worst of his movies. His voice was incomparable, like "honey with a little gravel thrown in." In addition, there was his formal manner, the way he moved... the whole package was quite mesmerizing. Prior to this book, I had to glean my information on Claude from various Hollywood books and many interviews with the inimitable Bette Davis, who adored "my gorgeous Claude." I have to agree with Bette, Claude Rains was everything in a man that discerning women want: sweet, brilliant, a gentleman and sexy as hell. If you're a Claude-besotted soul, this book will please you enormously. The photos alone are worth the price, as are the all-too-brief recollections from his daughter. Excellent work on an essential actor.

This is a wonderful book, it helps with your relationship with God. I would like to recommend this book to anyone. On a scale of 1to10 i would give this book a 10+,so run to your local christian bookstore, and ask for this book by Robin Jones Gunn!

This book really helps you with your relationships. It helpsyou realize what being a true frien really is. Especially with God.

This series turned my life around. I loved the way everything about Sierra was everything I was going through. The way Gunn relayed God's Word meant so much to me and I want to thank her.

The Sierra Jensen Series helped me to be comfortable with Christianity as a daily part of life. These books opened my heart and mind spiritually and will have a positive affect on anyone who reads them. Recommendation: Read them in order.

I've bought this book many, many times, because I always recommend it and people always keep it. Put the movie out of your mind. This is a gritty, hilarious, tragic story about what it means to make your living poisoning others and spend your spare time poisoning yourself. Redemption is available, but it's not cheap, and maybe not even wanted.

The worst movie of the 1980's is actually the funniest book of the 1980's.

Read this book. Despite the time it was written, it is not dated. I read this 10 years after it was printed and I howled with laughter. Gould has a way with words, a keen sense of observation and a breakneck pace.

A former bartender myself, I found the book to be very insightful, and humerous as it followed the life of a career bartender trying to make the most out of his situation. This book gives a very truthful look at the life behind the Neon of the bar.

Although changed for the movie, the original book, "Cocktail" dipped into the near psychotic ravings of a middle aged bartender who had seen one too many last-calls. Each page is riviting with the colorful dramatization unique to Gould. Having been a world traveled bartender for 10 years now, I was amazed and thrilled to see an incredibly accurate insight into the thrilling yet seedy existance of a part-time job gone career. A must read for anyone who has ever looked at a clever, hot-shot bartender and thought that he had it made. Change the names and list this novel under non-fiction. Two thumbs up from bartenders everywhere!

This review refers to the original volume that I have sitting by my TV. In these days with cable and satellite available many vintage TV shows are aired all of the time. A quick thumb through the book not only gives excellent overall view of the show but the cross reference of stars and other shows is suburb.

I have used this book since I "found" a copy on book stand in NYC back in the 80s. Worth the purchase price.I use it all the time. The 1992 version should be better.

Used in conjunction with the Prime Time Stars book, this makes an excellent cross-reference of TV programs and stars for the period covered. My hopes are that the authors write a update for both the television shows and stars. The format is excellent showing all aspects of the shows including dates televised, stars and their roles, and interesting facts about the production.

I purchased this book when it was first published over a dozen years ago and still refer to it several times a week. Not only is it comprehensive but Tim Brooks often gives short biographies of the stars, listing other shows and related areas for which a particular actor or actress might have been known. I'm sorry that it is currently out of print because I would like to have an updated version of the book.