Video Books

I have only lived in the US since 2001, and SNL rapidly became my favourite show. Hence I bought this book to have a peek behind the scenes of the Manhattan studio where it all takes place, and I was not disappointed. Some of the people in it I didn't recognise as they were before my time, but I recognised many faces. Even if I hadn't, it is great to see all the backstage shots. Particularly memorable are photos of a writer hunched over a laptop, with Norm McDonald smiling over his shoulder, and Chris Farley sitting at the head of the table in a crowded writers room. There are also lots of other great shots of people building sets, working on costumes, doing all the pre-show stills for the commercial break etc - all of this exactly what I was interested in.

What jumps off the page for me is the camraderie that obviously exists between everyone on the show - obviously there are rivalries and creative tensions, but you can tell there is a group mentality that connects everyone in the photos. There are some treasured memories in here for the lucky few that were there at the time.

This is the next best thing to actually being involved with the show yourself, and as such, I recommend it wholeheartedly. A flood of images! Lovely stuff to have on your coffee table or beside your bed.

Since its television debut in 1995 few will argue the fact that Saturday Night Live was a cultural, comedic, and TV phenomenon.

Here in one volume is a collection of the sketches, characters, performers and phrases that first appeared on the show that kept many of us up late.

It's also a visual reminder of some of the great comedians who were first showcased there and the once shocking catch phrases that became a part of our collective vocabulary.

A great book, really good if you only started watching SNL in the last few yaers and would like to know about the earlier years.

I'm sorry to say that this book was published a year too early. It went to press after the 1993-94 season which was SNL's 19th. Were the authors and publishers so anxious to get it out? I guess they were. Anyway,this book tells about the amazing history of Saturday Night Live. Every overall cast member,director,writer,producer and everyone else involved. We'll never forget October 11,1975,the day of its premiere. The premiere episode began with the late John Belushi and the late writer Michael O'Donoughue in a sketch called "The Wolverines". O'Donoughue played a psychiatrist and Belushi was the patient. At the end of that sketch and before the pre-taped opening montage played,Chevy Chase came out yelling "LIVE FROM NEW YORK,IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT!",which is said at the beginning of every show,even to this day. Chase didn't stay very long on the show. Before the end of 1976,Chase,the first Weekend Update anchorman,went to Hollywood. Jane Curtin,another original cast member succeeded Chase on Weekend Update. Shortly after Chase's departure,in came Bill Murray from Chicago. After 1978-79,Belushi and Dan Aykroyd left SNL to go Hollywood and concentrate on their Blues Brothers act,initiated on SNL. They filmed THE BLUES BROTHERS in '79,a year after Belushi's first starring film ANIMAL HOUSE. In 1979-80,Harry Shearer joined remaining original members Curtin,Garrett Morris,Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner. After that season,all five were gone. The 1980-81 season began unusually late due to the actors' strike and Presidential debate between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan(the SNL studio was used for the debate). That season brought an entirely new cast,one of them being Joe Piscopo who stayed thru 1983-84. Eddie Murphy,then age 19,joined the show and departed with Piscopo. Another member was Gilbert Gottfried who was then not-so-famous. Jean Doumanian succeeded original producer Lorne Michaels,who had left with the remainder of the original cast. Gottfried was let go after 1980-81. In 1981-82,Piscopo and Murphy had new castmates,some of them Canadians. Robin Duke and Tim Kazurinsky are Canadian like original member Dan Aykroyd. Later(1984-85) came Billy Crystal who almost became an original member,and James Belushi,John's brother. Also joining in 1984-85 was Martin Short,who'd go Hollywood himself later. The following season,things finally settled down in studio 8H. Lorne Michaels returned,triumphantly(Doumanian was fired after 1980-81 and succeeded by Dick Ebersol) to serve as producer like he did for SNL's first 5 seasons. The new cast members were Nora Dunn,Dana Carvey,Kevin Nealon,Victoria Jackson and Dennis Miller who'd become the next Weekend Update anchorman. Mike Myers joined in 1989. Myers and Carvey became Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar,two hard-rocking and babe-loving buddies on the sketch Wayne's World,later inspiring two films. Chris Farley and David Spade later came and also went Hollywood. Another big SNL star is Adam Sandler,another film star. Sandler previously worked for NBC,guest-starring on a few episodes of The Cosby Show. Every show had a guest host and musical guest(some shows had more than one of each). We will never forget the Coneheads,Emily Litella,the Festrunk Brothers,Ed Grimley and Wayne's World(sorry if I forgot anything). We also won't forget John Belushi,who died in 1982 of a drug overdose and Gilda Radner who died at 42 of ovarian cancer. Farley fatally overdosed on drugs in 1997. O'Donoughue succumbed to lung cancer in '94. Oh, by the way,Bill's brother Brian Doyle Murray was an SNL member from 1981 to '84. This book should have been updated in 2000 for the show's 25th anniversary. After nearly 29 years on the air,Saturday Night Live continues to pull in tens of viewers from 11:30 PM to 1 AM,EST.

This book is an awesome book! you can learn about every castmember in the show up until 94'. You can learn about all the hosts, all the years, all the musical guests, all the backstage info, all the famous songs(including Adam Sandler's Songs), and much much more. Not only will it let you know your facts, but you will enjoy it! Trust me, buy it!!!!!!

I've always been a big fan of "How To" books, especially ones like "Shaking the Money Tree" and "Writing Down the Bones," where a highly accomplished professional shares insider tricks and tips that I am able to use to solve a pressing problem.

Well, I recently had to pitch an idea for a new book. The subject (Citizen Journalism) was new for me, and I didn't know how to communicate my passion for the book and the importance of the subject. Then a friend told me about "Selling Your Story In 60 Seconds." I read the book in one afternoon, and using what I'd learned was able to pitch the idea successfully, four days later.

"Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds" is surprisingly well written and easy to read. Whether you are pitching a book, a script, or pitching an idea during fund raising--this book is essential.

This book on how to sell your story has an interesting perspective and will make you think of important facets of marketing your story you probably would not have thought about. Worthwhile.

I attended 2 of Michael's seminars at Screenwriting Expo '06 and this book contains the same "special" quality of Michael's in-person class: He wants you to succeed. The book is an Instruction Manual for understanding, crafting and marketing your story. The material is digestible for beginners, valuable for all levels of writing, simple and thorough. There is a nice balance of "Do" and "Don't" advice. The "Executives on Pitching" Section provides confirmation and flavor to the meaty material that precedes it. This book is not simply a compilation of quotes and buzzwords. Michael has command of his craft and endeavors with the heart of a mentor to infuse it in his readers. 2 thumbs up :)

Writers are lucky to have this book available - it provides them with much specific & essential guidance on their quest for perfection and success. And it makes things easier for us - film company executives - as well, because dealing with writers who have been enlightened by this book saves us time, compared to dealing with those who choose the shaky road of "trial & error". Thus this book is invaluable to both Writers and Executives. [...]

As an aspiring screenwriter, Mr. Hauge's title offered me a "guaranteed way" to get my screenplay read. Needless to say, this title sold me immediately. I finished reading it in one evening, and highlighter in hand, I went back and reread it again. It now closely resembles one of my college textbooks. I can't wait to implement Mr. Hauge's tips and suggestions as I enter the world of pitch fests, contests, and (hopefully) pitch meetings. When that time comes, I know I'll be well prepared and ready-to-go.

One of the better books in my collection, and I have many on acoustics and audio from the highly technical to hands-on.

Congratulations to Don Davis and Eugene Patronis, Jr. for writing the most informative book on sound system engineering ever. The book contains all of the elements of theory, design and practical installation. The book is an excellent reference for the sound system engineer.

Sound System Engineering, Third Edition is the most complete technical book on sound system engineering I have ever read. It is a concentrated capsule of knowledge that gives the theory as well as instructions of how to implement the theory. Don has recorded for us how to do the installation process. Dr. Patronis has given us the physics back of the theory and he added the mathematics so one can reporduce the results. There are places that Doc uses the "It is intuitively obvious..." leap of knowledge that some might have trouble working through but it can be done.

Thank you for such a great work

Don Eger, Owner, Don Eger & Associates

I have collected and used books on sound system engineering for many years and this book has quickly become my favorite. Mine has been borrowed by other engineers so often that I have purchased a second copy. Don and Gene are among the most experienced in the field. They have also both tried to share thier knowledge with others throughout thier careers. This combination of knowledge and desire to share it has produced a book that explains complex ideas in a way that leaves the reader with few questions. It is clear and concise, and is supported by a great number of charts and diagrams. I can't imagine a better way to capture thier knowledge and share it with others. A great number of professionals are going to benefit from this book, and I expect it will be the industry standard for many years to come.

I owned 1st version before and the 3rd revision is a more complete version and gives more information on digital processing aspect.

Sound System Engineering, 3rd Edition contains a wealth of information on the design, implementation and testing of sound reinforcement systems. Don Davis' section on audio and acoustic measurements is a must read for anyone serious about performing such tasks. The concepts he discusses about signal delay/synchronization and room acoustics will help the reader to understand what is at the very basis of these topics.

Similarly, Eugene Patronis' section on loudspeakers and arrays is not to be missed. It will have you going back again and again to find that piece of information you need about horns, direct radiators, crossovers and arrays. His presentation of signal processing starts with basic sampling and progresses through system theory and digital audio.

Two of the latter chapters on equalization and "putting it all together" are true gems. They yield practical information that you'll be using the next time you're faced with the issues covered.

Sound System Engineering, 3rd Edition takes all of the knowledge contained in the 2nd edition and augments it with up-to-date interface methods and advances in the field of audio and acoustics since its last publication. This text is equally suited for both the novice and the veteran audio practitioner. It is written in such a manner that each time you read a portion of it, something new will come to light.


Charlie Hughes
President
Excelsior Audio Design & Services

This book is an excellent tool to expand your understanding of taijiquan. Mr. Rodell gives an excellent insight into the internal world of the martial arts. This book is not written by an external artist pretending to be an internal master, but by a pure practitioner of neigong.

the auther had a good approach to making it short simple and to the point

Scott Rodell shares his experiences, insights, and knowledge of taijiquan very openly in this appropriately titled book. There is a sense that much of the text was hand-written after a good practice or mini-revelation. It is casual in this sense, but also well organized, with an excellent balance in discussing the principes, personal thoughts and daily experiences with the art. There is a also a very strong sense of history, not to preach, but to strive to bring the art back to where it should be.

This book is the real deal. There's a great deal of wisdom in a very small package. I hightly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about their taiji.

I have been studying Tai Chi Chuan for over 10 years and have read several book on Tai Chi Chuan, finding most of them to be a dissapointment. Very few books on the subject, especially recent ones, actually discuss how to approach the practice of Tai Chi Chuan in such great detail as this book. It is small, concise, and ultimately cuts to the heart of Tai Chi practice and philosophy. There is an amazing amount of detail and breakdown of concepts that are often (intentionally) left vague or not discussed in other works, and the insights revealed are invaluable. This is an author who has steeped himself in the tradition, the culture, and the classics of the art, and made them completely accessible to modern practitioners. Along the way, Mr. Rodell has cut through the mysticism and hype, offering critiques of and solutions to the common mistakes of modern practice
I'll try not to duplicate too much of what others have written about this book as I agree with them, and would highly recommend this book to practitioners of any level. As with all great teachings, the information presented carries layers of meaning that grow with the practitioners understanding of the material. As others have said, this is the real deal.

This little book is a great gift to those of us who value understanding cultural consensus. I don't have time to watch all the movies that Jeffrey does. Yet his insights guide me in what stories I want "to get into." These reviews are invaluable to me. "Through a Screen Darkly" is one of the best "how to watch a movie" books I have seen.

About 20 years ago, I gave myself a gift while I was in a Protestant seminary: during my last semester, I took a course entitled "Celluloid Theology" which was offered at a nearby Roman Catholic seminary which brought me to new understandings of faith and cinematic arts. Since then, I have dabbled in movies and theology, offering a movie discussion here and there in my ministry setting. Since that time long ago, I have kept in mind the lens of theology as I view movies even if I wasn't actively using the lessons I learned during that time with Father Tom Kane.

This book, though, has brought a whole new perspective to that journey. Jeffrey Overstreet has written a very readable, and often times moving, book about the intersection of Christianity (our culture's most apparent religious expression) and film (our most noticeable artistic expression these days). I especially appreciated the way that he modeled the use of movies in discussing how they reflect faith and sometimes expose us to divine truths.

I realize that the author and I probably come from somewhat different theological perspectives and I have to let go of my only frustration with the book. I feel that he spent too much of his writing explaining away why he appreciates and endorses movies that may be too over the edge for some Christians. I do understand and appreciate the fact that he gets way too much email criticizing him for pointing out the good of a particular movie that has too much violence/sex/foul language/you-name-it for the email writer. But I did grow a little tired of the repeated justifications that began to sound like apologies.

I especially commend the second chapter, "Viewer Discretion Advised," for the best essay I have ever read about the intersection of faith and the arts, and not just cinematic arts. His viewpoint is clearly written and can be applied to how we might look at any art form as a window into a bit of understanding about God.

I am rejuvenated in my interest in movies by this book and highly recommend it.

This book has a huge amount of films that Overstreet basically reviews and ties into each chapter. It is amazing how he connects so many seemingly secular films to Christian values. I'd recommend this book to anyone who thinks that every film not coming from Christian makers is garbage, because Overstreet has definitely found deeply religious themes in some very offensive films.

[...]

keen insight and well written. going to go back to movies thinking a little differently going forward.

What books were to previous generations, movies are to the present one; their ability to teach and shape our view of reality is unparalled by any other medium. Christians can't afford to be ignorant of the content and power here, and "Through a Screen Darkly" provides an excellent guide.

I am a HUGE Tim Burton fan and when I saw this book I had to have one. Thank you for getting it to me with a quickness!!

This book is more of a movie companion book than an artbook, although there's plenty of art to look at.

The book's divided into 3 parts:
Part 1 - Land of the Living
Part 2 - Land of the Dead
Part 3 - Going Upstairs, The Illustrated Story

You know those behind the scenes videos from movie DVDs? This book is essentially that, except in written form.

Part 1 talks about how the story was conceived, the people involved in making the movie, project development, and the challenges to handling stop motion animation. There's a lot on character design, especially the back stories that determine who they are, and how they were created physically. There are very interesting details you'll learn in the creation process. Below's a quote on controlling facial movements:

"By inserting an Allen wrench into a socket in the ears of the puppets, the animators could control various facial movements. If you put the key into the left ear and turn it in one direction, it would make the puppet smile on the left-side of the face; if you turned it the other way it would make the corner of the mouth on that side of the face droop down, giving the puppet a slightly sad expression, and vice versa on the other side."

Part 2 is about designing the movie set. It talks about the design influences on the buildings and how the sets were designed in order to facilitate shooting. There are write ups on the voice casts, animators and the music. Interesting to note is that the movie was shot using a digital SLR. A quote on the living and dead set:

"Both thematically and visually, Corpse Bride is about inversion, with the Land of the Living a gray, dead place where people are lifeless, hopeless and sad, while the Land of the Dead is full of vivacious dead people with a lust for life and joy."

On animators:

"Some will act out before the shot, others will videotape themselves and try and piece together a performance that way. Some animators sort of just go for it and sort of feel it."

Part 3 is the storyboard of the movie. This part is filled with the script, penciled storyboards and movie stills.

There are more pictures on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for my blog's link.

I paid for expedited shipping of this book and received it two days earlier than I expected. The book was in perfect condition. I definitely recommend this seller!

If you are looking for a book with a little bit of insight into the creation of the Corpse Bride film, this is good choice. Nice selection of production pictures and concept artwork with a good description of the processes involved.

The book covers puppet making, music creation and a small scale time line of concept to film.

I bought this book several months ago in a local bookstore. The photos and images in the book attracted my attention almost immediately, although at that time I've only heard of the film but haven't watched it. Like other behind-the-scenes books, it shows how they produced the film in every detail, from beginning to end. I especially like the concept sketches and the black humor. The production process also provides a good reference to the making of stop-motion animation, which makes this book unique. If you like the the film or stop-motion animation, I believe this book won't disappoint you.

The book arrived in great condition and is full of great pictures and information about the making of the movie. Great for Tim Burton fans.

I got this book at Disneyland yesterday. It was SO great! I'm glad I bought this instead of a stuffed Sally doll. It was very interesting, and I'm very pleased to see storyboards and the very informative contents of the book, especially the poem of The Nightmare Before Christmas. However, I wish I could've read more of the poem Tim Burton wrote. Then I could compare it to the original poem of The Night Before Christmas. Tim Burton is an exceedingly creative man, and I'm glad he makes stop-motion animation, because I'm SO sick of all the stupid computer animated movies that studios make nowadays. Tim Burton follows his own ideas, and this movie inspired me to be a stop-motion animator when I grow up, alongside with a career as an author.
-Jo W.

If you're interested in knowing more about Tim Burton's movie The Nightmare Before Christmas, this book is a great buy. It has all the details about the making of the movie and the characters plus loads of great pictures. A must have for every Nightmare Before Christmas enthusiast.

This book is definitely very illustrative about the process of creation of a film of the caliber of `The nightmare before Christmas'. With a foreword by Tim Burton, the book includes everything related with the making of this stop-motion animation classic. This book is more a documentary about the making of the film; it is divided in three sections (described below) and takes you through the whole process of creation of the movie. It is an interesting document indeed for people wanting to know about the creative process of making a movie of this kind. A perfect companion for the film!

The Film

The first part of the book focuses on the story ans the lyrics of the movie songs, beautifully illustrated with pictures from the movie, designs and Burton's sketches. Some movie facts are also given in this part of the book.

The Art

The original poem by Burton in which the movie is based on is presented in the firt part of the section. Most of Burton's sketches and character designs are here. The design of the sets, the characters and storyboards are well explained and presented in this section of the book with beautiful pictures, colored sketches and original drawings by Tim.

The Vision

In this section we get to meet all the people involved in making this film possible, and a little background on her profiles and how they were selected to partake on this project. Tim Burton, Henry Selick, Danny Elfman, Caroline Thompson, Kathleen Gavin and Denise Di Novi participate with comments and thought about the project.

If you've ever seen Tim Burton's truly excellent stop-motion animation film The Nightmare Before Christmas, then you've probably wondered, "How was all this done?" This book can answer that. Inside you'll find the stories behind the screenplay, the music, the process of stop-motion animation itself, and see some of Burton's original sketches that gave inspiration to one of the most imaginative and outright magnificent movies in the last fifteen years. If you love The Nightmare Before Christmas, then you'll go nuts over this book.

If you only buy 1 Oz book for your collection, make it this one! In Oz circles, this book is known as "The Green Book" and it is a virtual encyclopedia of Oz information. The research and work that went into the writing of this book is truly astounding!

The rare photographs will amaze you (including Judy Garland in her blond wig and Buddy Ebsen as the Tin Man).

This book is full of little-known trivia. After reading this book, you can wow your friends with your new-found Oz knowledge!

There have been a few books that have given us all a look into the making of MGM's movie version of "The Wizard Of Oz!"? But The John Fricke,Jay Scarfone manuscript surpasses all of the other books.Because it's filled with wonderful photos and info that takes us beyound the making of the film and gives us a look into the continuing popularity of the Oz characters.Using rare photos,extensive research and interviews from the people.Who were involved with the project.Messers Scarfone And Fricke.Show us the early stages of the making of the film.From the many drafts of the script..to the problems with the changes in cast,storylines,music,mishaps with props and special effects.To the promotions of the film on radio(NBC Radio's "MaxwellHouse Coffeetime")and at stage shows to the many other interpretations of the story that appeared on tv,in the movies,on radio, in the theater and at parades and theme parks.The book even gives some more biographical info about the cast and crew and some more insight into the man.Who created this legendary tale:Mr.Lyman Frank Baum.For the fans of this classic story.Who want to know the full extent of it's geniss? This is the one book to have.Kevin S.Butler.

There have been a few books that have given us all a look into the making of MGM's movie version of "The Wizard Of Oz!"? But The Jay Scarfone,John Fricke manuscript surpasses all of the other books.Because it's filled with wonderful photos and info that takes us beyound the making of the film and gives us a look into the continuing popularity of the Oz characters.Using rare photos,extensive research and interviews from the people.Who were involved with the project.Messers Scarfone And Fricke.Show us the early stages of the making of the film.From the many drafts of the script..to the problems with the changes in cast,storylines,music,mishaps with props and special effects.To the promotions of the film on radio(NBC Radio's "MaxwellHouse Coffeetime")and at stage shows to the many other interpretations of the story that appeared on tv,in the movies,on radio, in the theater and at parades and theme parks.The book even gives some more biographical info about the cast and crew and some more insight into the man.Who created this legendary tale:Mr.Lyman Frank Baum.For the fans of this classic story.Who want to know the full extent of it's geniss? This is the one book to have.Kevin S.Butler.

Since this is "The Wizard of Oz: The Official 50th Anniversary Pictorial History" of the beloved 1939 film, it is not surprising that John Fricke, Jay Scarfone, and William Stillman have put together the book that tops the "must have" list for fans of the film (after, of course, L. Frank Baum's original novel, which just had its centennial edition come out in 1903. After an introduction by Jack Haley, Jr., the volume's prologue, "The Marvelous Land of Oz," begins with the story of how Baum came up with the name for Oz and looks at the history of his stories prior to the movie. Also included in this prologue are stills from some of the vaudeville and silent movie versions (the 1925 film had Oliver Hardy as the Tin Woodman), the original book covers for the 42 Oz stories, and Technicolor test shots of the movie cast, which includes Judy Garland wearing a blond wig as Dorothy. By the time you finish this prologue you will know that this book is going to be everything that you would want as the table of contents indicates:

Part One - The Oz Diary: Creating a Classic: (1) Acquisition and Casting contrasts the signing of the cast with W.W. Denslow's first pictures of the characters; (2) Scripts, Songs, and Staff focuses on early drafts of the scripts and ideas for song more so than what actually ended up in the movie; (3) Wardrobe and Markup details the evolution of the look of each character with corresponding photographs; (4) The Thorpe "Era" is about Richard Thorpe's short tenure as the film's director, when Gale Sondergaard is the Wicked Witch and Dorothy is a blond; (5) There'll Be Some Changes Made is short but sweet and is about the changes George Cukor made as a stop gap under Victor Fleming was signed to direct the film; (6) "The Wizard" Comes to Life is a lengthy chapter covering the making of the film with its various legendary stories; and (7) Post-Production and Previews, which details what was cut (including "Over the Rainbow" at one point), when and why.

Part Two - The Oz Diary Continued: Promotion and Reception: (8) The Oz Campaign contains everything from Judy Garland telling Frank Morgan "Anybody can be a wizard at Jelly-Making" for a newspaper ad for Certo (never heard of it either)to a two-page full-color spread in "Life" and a special "Wizard of Oz" ad for the Sunday comics; (9) Hollywood Party is about the movie's gala premier; (10) "Capitol" Times in Manhattan is about the show at Loew's Capitol Theater In New York City that showed the movie along with a life performances by Garland and Mickey Rooney. This chapter also shows some of the first product tie-ins for the movie; and (11) From Coast to Coast is a brief look at promotion of the film across the nation and includes what might be the first editorial cartoon that used the Oz characters to comment on a real situation (Hitler is the Wicked Witch of the West and Mussolini is a winged monkey, while Dorothy is European civilization, the Scarecrow is Poland, the Lion is Britain, and the Tin Woodman is France).

Part Three - Raves and Accolades looks at (12) The Reviews, which includes a look at foreign books and domestic record versions; and (13) The Twelfth Annual Academy Awards, where the film won Best Song for "Over the Rainbow," Best Original Score for Herbert Stothart's underscoring and adaptation of the Arlen/Harburg songs, and Garland for best performance of a juvenile during the past year.

Part Four - Oz and Ends, includes brief looks at (14) Original Ozzy Merchandising; (15) Oz Abroad; and (16) Theatrical Reissue.

Part Five - Television Perennial covers how most of us first saw the movie, including (17) Guest Hosts on CBS (I always liked Dick Van Dyke); and (18) NBC Interlude/CBS Comeback.

Part Six - The Legend is another set of brief chapters on (19) Reunions and Reminiscences; (20) Merchandising; and (21) Icon, which ends the book on a perfect grade note with editorial cartoons on the death of Garland in 1959, Jack Haley in 1979, Margaret Hamilton in 1985, and Ray Bolger in 1987.

This volume includes more than 400 illustrations, half in color and many never before published, including over seventy makeup and costume portraits, behind-the-scenes and production photos, and not only stills but script pages from the musical numbers and segments that were filmed but cut from the release print (including "The Jitterbug," Bolger's extended solo dance to "If I Only Had a Brain," and the "triumphal return" sequence). The photographs of all the movie posters, toys, and other items associated with "The Wizard of Oz" can be found throughout the book instead of being collected all at the end of the book corresponding with when the movie came out. The last three parts could essentially be individual chapters to avoid the sense that you are racing through the end of the volume, but that is a minor complaint all things considered.

There are many, many books out there about the making of everyone's favorite film, "The Wizard of Oz". There aren't any I've seen that I wouldn't recommend, but if you are looking for pictures, pictures, and more pictures, this beautiful coffee table size book is a great place to start. Pictures, both in color and black and white, of every aspect of the making of the movie fill this attractive volume from cover to cover, and the text, by Oz authority John Fricke is all-encompassing. Although released for the 50th Anniversary of the film's 1939 release, it is still relevant 13 years later, and a great book for the collector or casual researcher. It has yet to be topped.

This is a hefty hardcover book with lots of great material for a very reasonable price. This will be an important part of any Giger collector's library. It features photos not available elsewhere, like Giger-inspired tattoo art and quite recent projects.

You can't beat this book on Giger's art as a general showcase of all of his achievements over the years. It's also great value for money at what is really chump change for everything you get.

It's allure is it's broad spectrum covering his phases of art production, but at the same time this also becomes this book's only weakness. Because it covers everything in passing, it also lacks in-depth coverage of the aspects of his art. It's good starting point for anyone that would like to get to know his art in detail, and from this book you move on to more specific books that showcase certain areas.

I have been looking for a Giger book for some time and most of them were pretty expensive, even though great looking. Finally I found this great book from Taschen that portrays Giger at its best, painter, sculptor, architect. The book is amazing and the 3D images are spectacular. This is a must for any Giger fan. Cheers and enjoy his work.

I own the first print of www.HRGiger.com book & I wasnt sure if I needed buy this updated edition but after scanning thru the entire book I realized the answer was Yes! Lots of cool new stuff has been added & the book is laid out better & even more informative not to mention the amazingly cheap price of this book. I own every book Giger has ever put out including the hard to find stuff from the 70's I've been collecting his stuff since the mid 80's. If you're new to HR Giger there is no book better than this one as a starting point into his creative genius. Buy Now!

I picked up this book at my local Borders. I was there on a whim, browsing the art section, when I saw this gem. After noting the VERY attractive price, I decided on the spot it had to come home with me, as I'm a fan of Giger's work.

As I perused this volume, I fell in love with more than just the art (admittedly, Giger is just not to everyone's taste...if you're not a Giger fan, then this book and this review will do nothing for you, and it's not an attempt to convince you to otherwise). Designed and penned by Giger, it contains prints of finished art and sketches, photographs, selected images from Giger's personal collection of art (that is, art by other people that he collects)--which I think is VERY insightful; it's interesting to see what kind of art an artist appreciates.

As an artist, myself, I revel in the collections of sketches... Sketches can be a chronicle of how a finished work comes to be, and it's interesting to get a glimpse of how other artists--especially masters, such as Giger--work through their ideas and arrive at a final product. Sometimes sketches are just a fleeting idea that gets caught on a page. These are just as fascinating, because they are an insight into how an artist captures a thought and translates it into something visual. Excellent stuff!

Another detail I want to elaborate on are the "3D" versions of a few of Giger's paintings. I hesitate to say "Magic Eye", because those are often horribly muddy, chaotic and nonsensical when viewed normally, and the Giger images in this section are not at all like that. These images are crisply defined and look "normal" at a glance, but nevertheless have that 3D "popping" effect when you view them correctly. Of course, they're accompanied by commentary from Giger. It's an unexpected and delightful treasure to find tucked away in these pages.

Overall, if you're a fan of Giger's work, this is a very worthy addition to your collection. I've poked around, and there are other versions of this title available, some of which are very limited (and expensive) editions. If you haven't the luxury of purchasing one of those, this "no frills" edition is still very solid, and will be a pleasure to thumb through again and again.

The book arrived quickly and in the expected condition; I could tell it was used but very clean. It's just what I needed to continue my yoga home practice. Thanks you all!

Sue

The book's title might be "Learning How To Do Yoga Without Turning Yourself Into A Pretzel. No doubt, Mastering the Basic is a better choice for the book's title. The trick to doing yoga is knowing the preliminary moves that eases one into the posture without strain or exertion. This book does just that with illustrations and concise easy to follow text printed next to the illustration.

Make no mistake about it, yoga can become "entwining" but this book stops short of that. From the most elementary posture one progresses to more complicated postures in what seems effortless. The result is, "Hey, look what I can do.".

Therefore knowing what to do and how to do it makes all the difference in the world in sticking with your yoga practice and this book does exactly that. If you ever wanted to learn how to do yoga this book would be a big help in getting you started down that path.

I am reviewing the DVD which has two programs: Flexibility Strength and Balance and Deepen & Strengthen.

This dvd is great for beginners. You are lead through a series of warm-ups that are basic to all yoga moves. You learn how to move and hold the body which is essential for a good yoga foundation. There are two sessions. I prefer the Flexibility session to the Deepen and Strengthen.
The 2nd session makes you hold the positions for long periods. The young woman demonstrating the moves is Amazing! This is probably "old school" for many people, but without the foundation, you might as well just be exercising. Not for every day use, but great when I don't feel like twisting my spine into a pretzel.

I feel this book does what it says, covers the basics. It's easy to read and the pictures clearly show each pose. There is more to read than expected, and it is all beginner-friendly & not over-kill at all. A good book that provides exactly what it says it will.

This Hatha Yoga manual is authentic, clear, thorough, precise and well illustrated. For each posture, there is at least one illustrative photo. All the postures are scientifically sequenced. As a Yoga student of the same tradition, I recommend this book to all Yoga students and teachers without reservation.