Video Books

This is one of my favorite computer games of all time. It requires thinking and all the literature that comes with it. The plights of Prince Alexander are well-documented in this adventure game that will keep you hooked. The Isle of Wonder scenes are hilarious, and the vizier's genie has rather creative ways of trying to lure Alexander to his death. There are two main endings to the game and several variations on them, so there is plenty to play for. I enjoyed this game a lot. The interactions with the other characters (such as the pawn shop owner, bookstore operator, Jollo, and the ferryman) are essential, and the literary allusions are fun. All in all, a great game for anyone.

I beat the game today and started it yesterday, but i must tell you, its not a short game. I spent all day playing it, its a very long game. If you like crazy adventures, this is your game! You practically need the manual to beat the game though. This game is full of hard puzzles, so if you do not like puzzle games then this games probably not for you. I really reccomend people who are into puzzle/adventure games to get this...

This game is very simple minded. However, it also takes a lot of skill to go through the whole game and places that are needed to beat this game. Overall, a must play!

This is one of my very favorite computer games from when I was a kid. The storyline is creative and interesting, and will keep you playing until you win! There are also two different endings to this game so you can play it many times without getting bored. I can't recommend this game enough, it. is. amazing. It is quite a long game, and if you buy it for your children they may need some help because some difficult puzzles are involved and they might get stuck. And as some other reviewers have said, you DO NEED the booklet that comes with the CD case, it contains the Winged Ones alphabet that you will need to use to solve some riddles. But don't fret if you've lost it, it can be found on the internet along with many walkthroughs to help you-- it's a long game and you have to go to lots of places in the right order to finish!

People who play new computer games may not be thrilled by the graphics, but remember it is from the '90s and the coolness of the game makes up for anything the graphics my lack. Buy it!

Be warned, King's Quest VI cannot be won with out the "Alphebet Translator" located in the "Guide to the Green Isle" booklet. If this booklet is not icluded in you purchase, you will not be able to advance very far. This was Sierra's form of purchase protection.

Did you like the movie? (I loved it!) If yes then you will want this book ... it is all you want to know (and more) about King Kong 2005. A good read.

Having always been a fan of '76 version of King Kong and never having seen the original version, at first when I knew that Peter Jackson was making his updated version, I became excited because it was one of those iconic mosters from my childhood, and also because Peter Jackson's previous works with The Lord of the Rings, which was quite amazing.

This is one very detailed hell of a book!!! Really good technical stuff as well as concept work, I just wish there would have included more Kong pics, either concept art as well as any photo from the movie. But anyway, this stuff is great!!!!

This book is one of the best "Making of" volumes I have read - informative, interesting, intelligent, and with plenty of 'insider' views of the film making process. Refreshingly, the focus is less on the "let's chat with the movie stars" aspect, and far more on the complex process of pulling this huge movie together. A real salute to Peter Jackson and his team!

Very simple...a fantastic book from a fantastic film. Well written and concise. The photography is perfect and fills you in on the myriad of details that went into this stunning film. The parts on how Wellington, New Zealand became New York are worth the price alone. The detail is overwhelming. As someone who lives in New York I was amazed that Peter Jackson and crew captured the rows of piers that once jutted out into the Hudson, towards Hoboken, New Jersey. This didn't have to be put in...yet is a small example of the attention, pure attention to detail that went into the making of this film. This will not destroy the mystery behind the making of this epic...it will enhance it.

Having watched Peter Jackson's remake of King Kong three times already, I wondered so often during the film how they made it all look so real. I never doubted for a second that there was an uncharted island of the coast; it was all so real and vibrant I couldn't help believing. I wanted to know exactly how they created not only Skull Island and it's creatures, but the whole city of New York, the actor's takes on the movie, and Peter Jackson's vision. Having said so, I believe this is the best possible guide for the movie you could have.

Each page is a veritable explosion of color and detail as they take you through step-by-step, explaining the creations of miniatures and models, motion-capture of Andy Serkis, and blue and green screens suddenly turning into lush tropical jungles, or cold, dirty, city streets. They give histories into the Skull Island natives, personal actor narritations of their characters, and detailed explanations of the process of creating an image in the computer and bringing it to life on the big screen. This is one of those books with something for everyone, and you can skip around to whatever interests you most. Myself, I read the entire book and often went back to certain sections to just immerse myself in the creative genius of the people who made this production a reality. It also made me a bit amazed at times, when I learned that the famous log scene was conducted on a bucking constructed log in the middle of a sea of blue screens only 2 meters from the floor. Or that New York wasn't really New York at all. Or even that the biplanes were all reconstructed by hand from old blueprints, because there were no surviving ones. It also talked about teh detail put into the shop windows, where everything was bought or made by hand. After reading this, I had such a deep feeling of respect and amazment for the people who worked on this production, making it as realistic as possible. I know that sounds weird, because King Kong is a fantasy story, but with such heart and detail and life, it's hard to think of it as anything but real. In all, this is the perfect book for anyone who wants more insight into the world of Kong, or even wants to be entertained and amazed time and time again.

"Merlin's Musings" truly is a "love letter to writers everywhere." It's a validation of why we, as writers, do what we do, and why the process and the commitment have meaning and importance. In one chapter/column after another, words and ideas jump off the page to affirm support, honor the creative process, throw down challenges, and remind us how fulfilling the writing process can be. "The ability to write is a gift, and, as such, it requires time and care to make it blossom." "Perception is the miracle we're given each moment we notice we're still breathing." "You must not only see the movies you write, but feel, hear, smell, and taste them." We're encouraged to find the depth in our characters, craft the words that bring images alive and fine-tune moods, understand the importance of balance in a script, look inside ourselves for that authentic voice. It's daunting stuff, but it's delivered in a way that gives you a sense of excitement about going back to the script with a bit more critical eye.

And underpinning it all is the heart that comes through in every piece, the love and compassion and courage that infuse these musings, whether they're about writing, selling, movies, the industry, politics, or her own "remarkable family of writers." I believe that whether this book finds a writer who is still thinking about it, or just starting out, or has been at it for twenty years, the same message will be discovered: "Trust in what you know. Be brave. Welcome to the unknown."

...and all the better for it. If you are a fan of Sally Merlin's column in Scr(i)pt magazine you are already familiar with her witty and spiritual view of the writing process. If you are not familiar with Merlin's Musings you won't be disappointed. Far from another "how to," Merlin's poignant essays get right at the essence and heart of writing--the "why" is more important than the "how." (The section entitled "Magic" says it all.) From memories as a child of Hollywood writers to her own experiences in the film industry, her authentic voice rings through on every page. Her own hauntingly beautiful photos compliment the prose--she could have yet another career as a photographer if she so desired.

Sally's love of writing, and of writers, shines through these fifty-three columns spanning her thirty-some years in the film trade. As she says so herself in her introduction, "This book is my love letter to writers everywhere." And it shows. This is a book for the rest of us who are in it for the passion of the dream and the pure love of writing.

You don't have to be a screenwriter to enjoy and embrace Sally Merlins musings. Ms. Merlins compilation of personal anecdotes and philosophical musings is truly a gift of the spirit and a must read for all writers in all disciplines. Be prepared though, to learn the business and the magic of writing along with a thing or two about yourself. Musings manages to find
the common thread of spiritual truth within the film business and artfully weaves both together in a way that shows her great respect and love for all writers. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is either embarking on a writing path or is already on one. Even non-writers will enjoy Ms. Merlin's anecdotes of Hollywood and her depth of feeling for the process of writing.

Sally Merlin is the essence of what it means to be a writer.

In lyrical prose she sings to the very spirit of the artistic heart with a symphony of years of experience. Her book, 'Merlin's Musings,' is not only educational and insightful but inspirational as well.

Merlin's Musings is a must for every teacher, class, writer or novice not intimidated to sail the open seas of imagination and creativity.

Enrich your life and your craft. Get the book!

I've been reading Sally's column for many years, as well. It is the first thing I turn to when my magazine arrives and she NEVER disappoints.

I'm so excited to be able to hold all her columns in my hand and browse through them at will. Like Sally herself, this book lifts the writer to a magical and more creative plain, inspiring one to dig deeper and write with more honesty and clarity.

This isn't a book of "have tos." This is a book of "cans." This book is the next best thing to be mentored by her personally.

This is an absolutely fantastic book. It is a series of essays from very well known industry professionals and will help anyone to better understand the perspective of the other people you're working with on the set.

Lots of straight speak from people who really know the industry. For a newbie who wants to understand the mechanics and terminology of the business, this book is perfect. I haven't found a page yet that I wanted to skim over; there is no fluff. A wonderful bargain even at the ... list price.

Don't overlook this book despite the fact that it is ten years old. Sure, you'll need another source for DVD, new media and internet delivery. But this book covers everything up to home video very well.

I have recently bought over ten movie business making books, all starting with this one. I would have to say that out of all of the books I have read thought, this would have to be the best out of them all. Not only do they have chapters written by different people, they are all people that are in the business. They break down hollywood lingo and include a basic pay structure. This book is the most informative of the film books I have read. This is the book you buy if you want a break down of movie careers, but not for how to personally make it yourself into the business.

This is a great book on the business of movies written by people who actually are in the business. Each section is tackled by someone specializing in that aspect of the industry, from writing and production to distribution and marketing. They discuss where the money goes and how they try to get it back, the risks, the rewards, for big studios and independents, and for distribution channels domestic and international. It details mostly the process and structure of the business and leaves out most of the name-dropping common in most other books about the industry. As such, it is somewhat lacking in case studies. But I found this omission to be helpful because it did not cloud the structures and processes the book was trying to illustrate. (For a more recent book that discusses implications and outcomes of these structures, look into "The Gross" by Peter Bart.)

The text is a bit old now (last revision 1992), but most of the contributors seemed to have hit on trends that have continued to this day. In terms of the industry's structure and process, the book seems very current. Inflate the cited figures and it could have been written yesterday.

I searched high and low for a decent book about the business and I finally found it in this text.

My wife and I are movie fans...though not like those hard core guys who hang out at independent film festivals...and we love this book.

It's a wonderful introduction to all the ins and outs of the movie business. The writers talk about film as a business and how the business side of film influences their creative choices. Revenue streams, copywrite issues, and how to "make it in Hollywood" are all discussed thoroughly in this book.

The authors were obviously choosen because of their expertise, but most of them are surprisingly good at conveying information in a way non-industry people can understand. I was expecting that each chapter in this book would be filled with Hollywood jargon...like when you read an article in Variety, but that is not the case.

If you love movies and REALLY want to understand how they work, this book is a must. Other books are great at explaining the artistic side (for example, How to Read a Film is a great title), but The Movie Business Book is wonderful since all of its contributors understand that modern film cannot be fully understood as a work of art unless you understand how the economics of Hollywood influence how the art is shaped.

Movie Sets 101: The Definitive Survivor's Guide by professional special effects and makeup filmmaker Paul J. Salamoff is the complete and deftly written 240-page guide covering every important detail of the movie making business. Readers will be educated with seasoned and experienced advise drawn from over 70 working professionals, including Wes Craven, Ron Underwood, Tom DeSanto, James Gunn, Daniel Roebuck, Owen Roizman, Andrea Weaver, Kenny Myers, John Medlen and many others. Movie Sets 101 is highly recommended to all readers, whether they be aspiring movie makers, experienced professionals in the film business, or the ordinary movie enthusiast viewing the finished product. Movie Sets 101 it can really teach its readers every perspective of the movie making business and should be a part of any personal, professional, and academic library Film Studies reference collection.

A pragmatic guide to appropriate film set behavior with a complete and concise reference section. Simply put, it's a great tool for anybody starting out in the film production business, required reading.

An outstanding and unique guide to what the numerous players in producing a movie do and should not do with illustrations and antidotes from well known professionals in the field. Fascinating to the film lover, the curious and necessary for those plying the trade.

Why spend thousands of dollars on film school when you can learn everything you need to know for $17.95 on MOVIE SET 101? A certifiably great book, intensely well-researched, full of valuable info for the rookie and veteran alike. A must have!

This is a great book. Even if you already work in film and tv there's something unexpected to be read. It gives you a really good heads up about on-the-set mayhem you could never really anticipate and wouldn't expect until it happens. Invaluable stuff.

If I could only put one multimedia learning book on my bookshelf, this would be it. The "General Principles" section provides one of the best overviews I've read of Behavioral, Cognitive, and Constructivist approaches to learning (although I do think they misrepresent the Instructional Systems Design process and treat it as a purely Behavioralist approach). This section also presents an excellent overview of the learning process. The book moves on to discuss methodologies and learning sequences at an unparalleled level, including a brilliant discussion of simulations and educational games. The book closes with an overview of an approach to Design and Development that's worth reading, but far less valuable than the previous sections. Of all my design books, this one has the most dog-eared pages and underlined text; the chapter-level bibliographies alone are worth the book's price! Anyone looking to delve deep into multimedia design for learning should have this book on his or her shelf.

This is an excellent text in terms of coverage and pacing. If you are interested in human-computer interaction, this is a 'must have' text. What astonished me about this book is that it covered more issues in HCI than many dedicated user interface design books. The text admirably blends practical considerations with theoretical concerns and trends. It strongly focuses on motivational issues surrounding users of learning packages(an area largely ignored in the bulk of standard HCI texts). Don't pass over this book.

I just find it very well put together.. It takes you through the various facets of designing a course/presentation that will actually be used and useful.

Had to buy it for a class; execellent resource for it's target audience. Make sure you're a memeber of that target audience (instructional technologists) before you buy :)

The first clue as to the value of a book is the number of editions. Generally, the true standards in a field will continue to live and be revised. This book is the standard for multimedia design and production. The foundations and theory that are explored in the beginning are as valuable as the detail in the production process that is explained. The most significant aspect of this book has to be the detail concerning methods, especially instructional simulations. Simply a must have for anyone in the field of multimedia who is looking to develop products that go beyond the traditional page turner.

As a child, my very favorite movie was THE WIZARD of OZ. My favorite scene was when the tiny Muchkins "Came out ,came out, wherever they were".

I always wondered about the actors and actresses that played the parts of the delightful little Munchkins, & therefore I was thrilled to finally get this book (as a Christmas gift).

This book will not disappoint. Not only does it give a wonderful background as to where the Munchkin actors came from, but also this book goes into specifics, regarding the most famous of the Munchkins actors/actresses (eg: the Lollipop Boys, etc). Such endearing folks they were! (Sadly, most of them have passed away by now...sniff!)

After reading this book, you will forever love and appreciate the little people that were part of such a unique movie.

This is probably the most interesting Oz book in my collection. Finally someone reveals who these little people are, and in such an entertaining manner. I couldn't put this book down. I've read so many books about Prod. 1060, aka "The Wizard of Oz" (MGM) which are dry and stale. This book puts the whole experience into perspective and provides a human side to the Munchkin actors. I'm glad to hear some of them survive. The photographs in here are glorious. The color photography jumps out at you. Bravo to Steven Cox for doing such a handsome job and such a respectful job with "The Munchkins of Oz." If you want a book on Oz that is unique--this is the one.

We would certainly highly recommend this book! Meeting several little people throughout our years, our family found this book to be a Top 10 book! It is full of stories of the Munchkins, and what it was really like to be a part of OZ. We found out things we never knew, even after hearing so many personal stories of those who shared their experiences with us personally. We believe Meinhardt Raabe is the last of the Munchkins still alive, and would also highly recommend his book, Memories of a Munchkin: An Illustrated Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road.

I loved this book so much that this is the 3rd edition that I've bought. I bought the first edition back in 1989 and the revised edition many years later. When this one came out, I knew I had to have it too. With each revised edition, Stephen Cox really outdoes himself. I've found that any revised edition of this author's books are always even better than the original, as he adds more info and photographs!

This book is a must-have for all Oz-fans, young and old. It's filled with rare photographs, little-known trivia and fascinating tid-bits. There is also a section about bloopers (find out about a scene where Judy Garland can clearly be seen wearing brown bedroom slippers instead of the Ruby Slippers!) and "urban legends" (no, the Munchkins did not get drunk & disorderly every night as portrayed in the Chevy Chase/Carrie Fisher movie "Under the Rainbow"!! Nor did a Munchkin commit suicide on set during filming; F.Y.I.: it's a large, exotic bird moving its head & wings that people think is the hanging Munchkin).

Reading this book will increase your Oz-IQ several points! What are you waiting for? Buy this book now!

I first read this book when the first edition came out, and was really impressed with the depth in which the author went to gather the information for this book -- hours spent locating and contacting the surviving Munchkins, all the interviews that took place, etc. This is NOT one of my favorite movies, by any means, but I always liked the first seen in Oz, where Dorothy meets the Munchkins, and this book really showed you who these people were and how they managed to get into the movie. Alot of great pictures help make the book really stand out. With each reissue (this is the third edition of the book), the author is able to provide a little bit more information on the Munchkin actors and actresses, and provides additional pictures to keep the experience of the book fresh. I would highly recommend not just this edition, but the two previous editions if you are able to find them. A great read!

This is a good reference for Nightmare on Elm Street fans and collectors. It contains both color and B&W still photos, lots of trivia and behind the scenes facts, etc.

I wish they'd update this and bring into a full-color format with a more modern media-centric look, and add material From New Nightmare and Freddy vs. Jason. As it is, it covers up through Freddy's Dead, the Final Nightmare, and is relatively complete.

It's hard to come by, but is great for the completist if you can get your hands on a copy.

This is the ultimate collectors item for any Nightmare fan. A good variety of pictures from each of the movies (Nightmares 1 thru Freddy's Dead), plus some good insight into some of the special FX that went into the movies.

The only real problem I had was, if your a devoted NOES fan like I am, you will notice a lot of minor mistakes throughout the book. For instance, Lisa, from Nightmare 2, is listed as Lisa Poletti, but in the movie her name is Lisa Webber.

Other than the few minor mistakes, this book is definetly worth picking up!

This book has everything you need to know about Freddy Krueger and all the Nightmare on elm street films! This book is not missing one detail! Its has a summary of every Krueger Film! It also has ever picture from all the Krueger films including behind the scene footage! It is the best Freddy Krueger book ever made!!!!

If you love Freddy Kruger then this book is a must! It shows many secrets of each films from 1-6.

This is a must with great pictures and biographies of each cast member and a large amount of pictures,charts and biographies on each film from: A Nightmare on Elm St -to- Freddy'd Dead

I'm a huge collector of Freddy Krueger and Nightmare On Elm Street stuff, and when I got this book, I was just blown away. The great pictures and behind the scenes made it excelent! email me if you wanna talk Freddy!

Judy Stone is disarmingly engaging, a trait and quality that has endeared her to many of her fascinating subjects for attention in this thoroughly embracing and terrific journey of conversations and commentary with (incredibly!) 120 filmmakers, writers, and artists from every continent and culture. Reading the stories I felt an unusual intimacy, often forced or lacking in standard interview formats, with stilted questions or stock inquiries, which Stone adeptly avoids. She enables the person to reveal themselves without it seeming intrusive. Her remarkable, incisive curiosity and talent spans generations (from pre-WW2 to the present) and genres, revealing not only what we previously didn't know about the artist or subject, but also illustrating how a creative life is imperative. It is Stone's life that is the real revelation, however. As she writes about the playwright Jon Robin Baitz, he says "Ideas live. Ideas vibrate." So does this book! Get it to discover the astounding array of humanity inside its covers, get it to curl up with this national treasure, Judy Stone!
Not Quite a Memoir: Of Films, Books, the World

Judy Stone's Not Quite a Memoir is the printed equivalent of one of those late-night pub conversations in which the world's great thinkers get together and come up with viable solutions for all the world's problems. And right there in the middle is Stone's unflappable voice, asking the hard questions.

Judy Stone (the sister of I.F. Stone) has been writing these indispensable articles (now collected in an omnibus edition) of both American and international movies for the past three decades.

In between, she has conducted revealing and intelligent interviews (also in this book) with a startling array of directors, actors, and writers from every corner of the world, often traveling to do so. Stone's impressive body of work has actually been collected in two volumes, "Eye on the World" (1997) and this brand new book, "Not Quite a Memoir."

Stone modestly prefers to call herself a reviewer, not a critic, but if any film reviewer has a knowledge of the world as deep as hers and manages to show how films function in that world, I believe Judy Stone has earned the right to be called a critic.

Keep this book around, and you'll find yourself reading it each day, just because it's so much fun and remains so imformative about our world today.

For anyone who has enjoyed Judy Stone's perceptive articles over the years, this book is a feast: a look back at several decades of writing and filmmaking. The only problem is that it reminds you of all the books you wish you had read and the films you wish you had seen. But still, in a world where there is more culture than we can possibly take in, it's nice to have this kind of guidebook to the highlights.

"Not Quite a Memoir" flies around the world from the U.S's Gus Van Sant to Iran's Abbas Kiarostami, Israel's Amos Gitai,Spain's Carlos Saura, Chile's Isabel Allende, India's Satyajit Ray...At every landing, Stone creates a portrait of the artist as a force for social change. Intriguingly, the author backs up her portrait in words by capturing - with unassuming genius--astonishingly insightful photographs of her interview subjects...For medical reasons, Kiarostami never takes off those enigmatic sunglasses. Yet Stone's camera flash cleverly shines right through the artist's dark glasses to give us the first glimpse of eyes that revolutionized filmmaking with how they saw the world. Judy Stone's short interviews, like that camera flash, are just as clever and penetrating."
Ari Siletz, author "The Mullah with No Legs and other stories."

Thank you Mr. Brian Daley for expanding a good story and making it GREAT!
If I haven't heard it on NPR when I was young or read the book years later, I
would not have created my own radio drama. If you love radio dramas and
science fiction, please visit my web site below. May the force be with you,
always.....

Mark McLaughlin - [...]

My main purpose in ordering this book was to find out what had been cut from the series after its first airing. I have only heard the second version that was aired, which was released on cassette and CD. I must say the small edits that were made, and they were all infinitesimal, actually make the audio series better. They're little excesses that when removed clearly improve the flow of the series. The one bit I wish they had left in was an extended exchange between Han and Luke before the turret sequence. Han tells Luke to lead his targets and "Invest in the future", a classic Han-sounding line.

It should be noted that this appears to be a first or second draft of the script. This becomes obvious when Heater is referred to several times as "Preacher" which I assume was the first name of the character in the script. Also, the dialogue overall is not as polished as it is in the series. Editing may have been done by someone other than Daley, or even the actors themselves, which would explain why Daley only had this version to give to the publisher.

If you've never listened to the series, do so before buying the book. I think it's much more interesting as an example of how editing can turn good writing into great writing than as a piece of writing itself.

After reading the books and listening to the audio adaptions, I can't watch the movies anymore. Buy the CDs/Cassetes...to borrow a line from Garrison Keillor, the pictures are better. Anthony Daniels intro and insight was worth the jacket price.

I am a Star Wars fan, like most everyone else in my generation. If you are like me, having lived and breathed Star Wars at one time or another during your life, you really owe it to yourself to listen to the Star Wars Radio Drama casettes, available from Amazon. Click here, here and here to link to the casette versions, although I found a boxed set of CDs from Amazon that really kicked. These audio versions are terrific, offering tons of material not in the movies, background on all characters, great acting by Anthony Danielt and Mark Hamil, great audio and sound effects, and much more. Recommended to all Gen X'ers. END

I am a Star Wars fan, like most everyone else in my generation. If you are like me, having lived and breathed Star Wars at one time or another during your life, you really owe it to yourself to listen to the Star Wars Radio Drama casettes, available from Amazon. Here is the casette versions, although I found a boxed set of CDs from Amazon that really kicked, but you have to search the Amazon database forever to find it. These audio versions are terrific, offering tons of material not in the movies, background on all characters, great acting by Anthony Danielt and Mark Hamil, great audio and sound effects, and much more. Recommended to all Gen X'ers.