Video Books

Great book full of common sense and insight into the man. Proof that when you look up American in the dictionary, it says 'see John Wayne'. Why didn't we ever make this man President?

I've been a fan of "Duke" for over 30 years and I've read a lot about him, and I can say that "The Quotable John Wayne - The Grit And Wisdom Of An American Icon" by Carol Lea Mueller is one of the finest. Not simply another boring biography like many other books, this book succinctly gets to the 'True Grit'...the spirit behind the legend of the man. Chock full of interesting anecdotes,memorable quotes and tasty tidbits regarding Duke's attitudes about God, America & family values, it's all here. Good job Ms. Mueller!

I just picked up The Quotable John Wayne - The Grit and Wisdom of an American Icon, compiled and edited by Carol Lea Mueller. This isn't exactly a Western book. John Wayne was an actor, not a cowboy, but he was a true westerner.

This small book can be read in an hour, but it begs rereading. The compiled quotes are not lines from Wayne's movies; they're his comments in private life. They show Wayne to be quick-witted, a warm human being, and of a consistent character with the roles he played in the movies.

The quote on the back cover that grabbed my attention was, "Don't even for a minute make the mistake of looking down your nose at Westerns. They're art - the good ones, I mean... the facination with the Old West will never die."

Each chapter starts with quotes about John Wayne and then proceeds to give his opinions on the chapter subject. As you might guess, his statements are never mealy-mouthed.
The Shopkeeper

The John Wayne fanatic in our family (who, by the way, has nearly everything John Wayne) was excited to receive this as a gift.

This book has real American Ideals from a True American Icon, from a time when being a proud American was a good thing. This book has come out at a perfect time to remind Americans that it is okay to be patriotic.
This is something that any fan of John Wayne, westerns or American Ideals, should have on their shelves.
I highly appreciate Carol Mueller for reminding us that John Wayne was a True American and publishing it in time for John Waynes 100 year anniversery.

It is nice that you can depend on at least one good fun game on PS3,and this game has all the fun that the first in the series had, but updated nicely for the new console.

I was not sure if I would like this game. I read a review on IGN and took a chance. What a hoot!! I am not good at video games, so this game is a challenge BUT I am having a ball with it...

Have a great Holiday!
Smacka

I got this (Ratchet & Clank Future) guide and game for my 15 yr old grandson, who loves the game and has found this guide to be of great help in locating quest areas and hidden items. The guide maps and instructions are very well done and is a good value for the price. I highly recommend this guide for those who desire to locate all of the hidden treasures and unlock additional items in the game.

This is a well-edited, beautiful book; a real treat to look at. It's not really a must for playing through the game, but if you're one of those obsessed with 100% completion, don't think it twice. Besides, it will look great on your bookshelf.

A real collector's item.

This book helps find the few pieces I couldn't find. It was pretty easy to navigate and gave all the info I needed.

I bought the first edition 2 years ago and then the second edition to keep up with new changes because this book is a very good and complete introductory course on making real world video (i.e. starting from choosing DV camcorders to final production and delivery to the world depending on your budget).

It starts from current DV technology (like CCD and DV formats) and then introduces various DV camcorder types depending whether you are normal consumer or pro-sumer or professional users. (It even shows you the approximate price range for various camcorder class.)

It then introduces how scripts planning should be like for making different scenes of video (newscast or documentary or movie). It teaches different techniques of shooting pictures/video by cameras/comcorders (angles, views, lighting and audio control). I likes the book giving you various examples of lighting equipments and audio equipments required for making good video.

For movie pre-production process, it tells what kind of production crews and things you will need and do for different stages (including cost ranges). For movie post-production process, it shows how to edit all movie and audio footages into final movies and how to fix video/audio problems. It also describes what types of movie editing systems (computers, hardware equipments and software video applications) available in the market depending on high-end, mid-range, or low-end production and budgets. It also describes how the final process of movie copies are generated and delivered to the world.

I like the book because it gives me pretty good ideas how DV movies are made with real equipments that are availalbe in the current market. This book is highly recommended especially for serious beginning DV/movie producers.

This book should be required reading for anyone making a digital movie with more ambition than experience. This book will be worth its cost in just the first project by eliminating many of the learning mistakes we all make. I wish someone would have sat down with me and given me this advice when I started and yet, even with many projects behind me, this book offers me new ideas. Reading the book and the watching the DVD are like having real work experience - both in production and post-production. In one memorable section of the DVD, Pete Shaner sits down with you and gives you lots of advice on how to shoot and things to consider in shooting and editing.

Highly recommended reading...for the home hobbyist...the USC film student...the software geek... or AV professional.

The authors approach the Digital Video Universe in a real world, common sense and entertaining prose...allowing the reader to apply their level of interest, budget, technical background, project objectives and pace to a surprisingly current and comprehensively deep offering of digital video material.

The supportive DVD is awesome!

This book took me into a whole new World. I sure could have used it before I bought my used BetaCam! Now I can work quicker, cleaner, look like a pro and save $$$. The furture of film making is here. Thanks guys!

As the prices of digital data capture and storage have dropped, new avenues of artistic creation have opened up. One of these areas is in the realm of digital video, where it is possible to make movies using simple and relatively inexpensive digital equipment. However, the fact that the equipment is now cheap does not make it any easier to make movies that people would want to watch. There is an enormous amount of subtle technique involved in making a movie, and until I read this book, I had absolutely no idea how complex a simple shot can be. This is a book that will show you how to make a digitally recorded movie, and should be the first thing you read if that is your aspiration.
It all starts with planning, from the initial idea, on to budgeting, clearing all legal hurdles, organizing and shooting the scenes, editing and cleaning the stored scenes, and ending with publicizing and distributing the finished product. All are so complex, that you do not make a movie, you survive its' creation. The fact that the movie can now be stored on digital devices only significantly affects one of these steps.
Written primarily for those who are interested in making DV projects for entertainment, this is one of the most interesting books I have ever read. The number of detail hurdles that need to be cleared to make a movie are astounding, and kudos to the authors for explaining all of those hurdles in great detail.

Well-written and great fun. You can read it from start to finish, or jump around. I started by reading about movies I'd seen (to see if the author agreed with my opinion of them, and she did), then moved on to the ones I wanted to see.
You don't have to be "dating" to enjoy this book -- you can just like romantic movies. Definitely a "keeper." This also makes a great gift.

Reel Romance is a very helpful reference book that is also great fun to read. It provides reviews, behind-the-scenes information, and romantic suggestions from the movies to try at home. It gave me lots of new ideas for movies to buy or rent and watch with my wife in our home theater. It's wonderful for lovers of all ages!

Reel Romance is a fabulous book with lots of great information on new and old movies. I was thrilled to find many of my favorites, while discovering countless others that I haven't had the opportunity to see yet - and now want to. Thanks to Ms. Halpern's friendly and well-written guidance, I can make future selections based on special criteria for different occasions. This book really makes you think more about the movies you have already seen or plan to watch in the future by providing entertaining trivia and interesting summaries. So grab the book, pour yourself a glass of wine or cup of hot chocolate, and settle back for a "reel" enjoyable read.

Charlene Davis, co-author of "Make BIG Profits on eBay" and "How to Start a Senior Service Business" (both published by Entrepreneur Media, 2005). Also contributing author for "God Answers Moms Prayers" (Harvest House, 2005).

Leslie Halpern's Reel Romance is the most enjoyable "reference" book I've ever read. As a movie buff who loves romances, I was delighted to see some of my favorites listed here. In addition, I'm so pleased to finally have criteria on which to base movie rentals, since my husband and I often stand in the middle of the video store, each holding a different type of film. Now we can discuss the pros and cons based on the film's appeal to both women and men. Reel Romance is a "must have" reference book for all movie lovers.

Want some reel stimulation? Read this book!
Not only is there a thorough analysis and categorization of each Romantic movie, the movie star trivia and 'Do Try This at Home' leave the reader with some challenging mental exercises. This is not a boring reiteration of what you already know. After finishing each chapter, you'll find yourself looking at each movie in a different way.

Be sure to mark the movies you wish to see for future stimulation. Each rendition has a set of tools to help your decision. Whether your significant other needs a little prompting and encouragement or you just want to relax to a happy ending, the descriptions help pick the perfect movie. Use the 'Make-Out Meter' to pick a movie that gets your partner in the mood. Decide which movie might be better with the 'Just for Her' and 'Just for Him' blurbs. For him it's a car chase, fight scene or for her it's a sentimental kiss, steamy shower scene.

Even after finished reading through the book, I'm saving it as a reference for which movie to get from Blockbusters. As I watch each selection with my S.O. cuddled up on the couch, by the fire, drinking my favorite beverage, I look for moments of opportunity to steal a kiss or two. This is what makes it ALL WORTH WHILE! So sit back and enjoy the book and the movie!

What a great, great book! As soon as it arrived, I quickly glanced through it and knew I would want to savor it for later. It's really difficult to put down. It's *very* easy to use; extremely well organized. The movies are grouped into headings from "Angels (and Other Messengers) in Our Midst" to "Have Yourself a Supernatural Christmas." I especially liked reading the author's reviews of movies I'd seen such as Edward Scissorhands, Mulan, Powder and my favorite, Resurrection. This book takes the guesswork out of what movie to see tonight!

Reel Spirit recognizes spirituality and clarifies why so many movies appeal to so many of us the way they do. The insights are meaningful, and the writing is as engaging as an on-going dialog, conveying the delightful experience of going to the movies with a connoisseur who happens to be your best friend.

Have you ever read one of those parenting magazines that says you should watch movies with your kids and then talk about what you've seen? If you're like me, you may be perfectly willing to do this, but don't know what to say. Reel Spirit provides some great conversation starters so that you and your family or friends can make moviegoing a shared experience. And if all those titles at the video store overwhelm you, use the book to identify good movies ahead of time!

I so enjoy finding spiritual elements in films, and this book helps immensely in alerting one to points in many films that one might miss. I question the spiritual value in some of the films discussed, but that's all to the good. I use this guide weekly chaeck;ing out the movies on TV, as well as, like other reviewers, taking it with me to the video store or library where I often check out videos.

I believe that this book will do loads in enhancing your enjoyment of many films, and may change your mind about some which you consdidered valueless until spiritual elements are brought out.

Reel Spirit is a terrific guide to film! Buy it quickly and pop a copy into the car--you'll want to have with you every time you visit the video store! A must have for anyone who enjoys films that lift both heart and spirit.

As a professional character TD I don't have lots of time to sit and really dig into other areas of 3D. I've been wanting to learn some basics in shader development as well as render pipeline so that I can be more flexible within the team and able to troubleshoot problems that come up or provide solutions to situations that a project might demand. Renderman has been always something I really wanted to get into but had a hard time reading some of the more complex papers I've found before being that I didn't have the time to gather the fundamentals in order to build off. This book solved that by gathering basic, intermediate, and advanced topics all in one place.

the Renderman Shading Language Guide has really helped me out in understanding how Renderman works, as well as how general rendering works and where shaders, lights, etc fit in. It's written in a very intuitive way, and those that are beginning or even intermediate will really benefit from reading this. The book will not only help you with RSL, it will help you with a greater understanding of professional rendering in general. For the price this book really can't be beat.

After reading this, I feel more confident in tackling those papers I had tried to read before, and really digging into experimenting more with Renderman.

I consider myself to be a hardcore hobbyist who has become obsessed with PRman. Every book I've seen so far seems to be written by people addressing people that are already using PRman, so I felt lost and intimidated. So when I saw that this book was coming out I was very excited and ordered it the first day it was available.

Angels were singing when I saw this book sitting on my doorstep. It is a hefty tome of shader writing information that would take years to find scouring the internet. It's a quality publication with heavy, color-filled pages perfect for late night shader writing with some chili-cheese fries.

There is a boatload of information in this book that I haven't seen anywhere else and I imagine this will be a pleasant surprise for someone who doesn't work in the business. The book starts at kindergarten and advances to some pretty heady stuff, but not without priming you on the little math you'd need to know to complete the exercises. The author's tone is friendly and his explanations are easy to understand.

There is only one fault: the text makes several references to an included companion CD which doesn't exist. The book's website makes no mention of it missing nor links to the content, and I guess that's why the price here was lowered from $45 to $29. You could probably live without it.

OK, so if you're thinking about getting this book, stop thinking and do it. It's the best $29 you'll spend - the obscure BRDFs alone are worth the price!

I caught wind that this book was coming out well before it actually came out and could hardly contain my excitement. I had it ordered before it was even off the press.

Let's face it, trying to learn Renderman online is like trying to ride a bike with a flat tire. You can go, but not very fast or very far. I own several other renderman books but found them to be a bit out of date and lacking in areas. Since leaving school and entering into the industry I had actually been considering writing a Renderman book myself. I am glad to say that now I don't have to!

I have been enjoying my copy of the book since december of last year. I admit that I was thrown off by all the refrences to the accompanying cd, as well as a few typos throughout. I was overjoyed however to find the website today! This is the book that I have needed for a long time. It is well worth what you pay for it.

I have read many technical manuals relating to the 3D Animation and Visual Effects industries, and I can honestly say that this is easily one of the best available.

Given the limited library of Renderman books, I'd call this an absolute must have for any Lighting/Rendering/Shader TD, or any artist or technical director involved in the look development and shot finaling pipelines.

Even if you haven't yet worked within a Renderman pipeline, this is the perfect publication to introduce you to, and bring you up to speed in, the Renderman Shading Language (RSL).

I've found that the majority of technical manuals suffer from a number of common flaws:

1. The information is presented chaotically, and with minimal use of examples or descriptions, resulting in a publication that would readable only by those that already know everything it has to teach.

2. The information is presented so laboriously that what should take a paragraph instead takes up three chapters.

The Renderman Shading Language Guide is perfectly paced for beginners and intermediate users alike, and indeed when I showed the book to a couple of highly experienced Renderman TDs, they were surprised by the sheer volume of information and ordered copies for themselves.

Everything is presented in short blocks with an easily readable description, examples, shortcuts and conclusions. There is no unecessarily complicated geek speek, and neither is the reader treated like a 4 year old.

Even though I barely remember my high school math, and in the most flattering estimation I'd be considered a competent beginner when it comes to the math involved in RSL, I found the examples relatively easy to follow for the most part. And in those parts where the math went well over my head, I found the simple descriptions and concise, well explained instructions to be all I needed to quickly understand the topic.

From cover to cover this book is crammed full of useful information. There is no wastage of space in these pages. It seems that every conceivable question is answered - every possible topic covered from introduction to an advanced level of understanding and a practical and immmediately useful conclusion.

And at the price? This book is a steal.

One very minor complaint I would make is in regards to the occasional typographical error. An equation or two is printed with "?" in place of "*" or another symbol, and there are a few spelling and grammatical errors. But as I said, it is a minor complaint.

Also, I would have liked to have seen more complete shader examples demonstrated in a step-by-step process, as while this book is overflowing with informative mini-tutorials, it all seems a little incongruous. It would have been good to see a few more examples where the information was brought together in real-world ways to create some amazing completed shaders. Perhaps in a sequel? ;)

All in all, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, from an industry Lead Lighting TD.

9.5/10

I'm quite pleased with the depth of this book. So many of the CGI titles I've bought that claim to be intermediate or advanced aren't. While the RenderMan Shading Language Guide assumes that you have no starting knowledge of RSL, it immediately dives into technical details without overwhelming the novice. For someone wishing to learn RSL (or even just shader theory), this book is wonderfully paced, containing a great depth of information, very well explained.

At the same time, this isn't a book for dabblers. To get much out of the RenderMan Shading Language Guide, you need to be willing to put some effort and practice into it. This is a textbook and needs to be treated as a subject of study, rather than a casual enhancement for playing with CGI. If RenderMan intrigues you, but you don't want to get too deep into the technical (and programing/scripting) aspects, you'd be better off getting Pixar's RenderMan for Maya and a Digital Tutors or similar training DVD. You'll learn more of the simple, day-to-day things and get started making renderings faster.

As another poster mentioned, the text mentions an included disk which isn't. The website doesn't have downloads either. That omission would knock the book down to 4.5 stars, but since I can't rate with half-stars, 5 stars more accurately reflects the value of the book than 4.

Video games can prove powerful tools for learning and social change: that's the eye-opening revelation in RESET: CHANGING THE WAY WE LOOK AT VIDEO GAMES, which comes from a gaming journalist and concerned parent who examines the myths and stereotypes revolving around video games. From an analysis of the business forces behind these games' development to the unique qualities which distinguish video games from other media and the latest learning research on play and learning connections, chapters extol the possibilities of video games as powerful tools for education and inspiration - if presented properly. A fine choice for education and social issues libraries alike, this will reach college-level audiences.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

The book is a spirited attempt to defend the concept of computer gaming. It attempts to draw out and articulate the components of games which offer the potential to revolutionise the learning experience. The primary one being the involvement and identification of game play which `motivates' the user to learn complex subjects without the traditional experience of learning as a difficult and unappealing task.

The strongest elements of the book lie mostly in the author's attempt to `unpack' game-play and relate the different components back to (mostly psychological) research into learning and motivation. His central thesis is that if learning is unstructured and `fun', is it far more productive. Games focus on positive user experiences, and learning becomes almost a by-product of the on-going attempt to repeat the `buzz' of achieving desired tasks. Partly this is because learning is provided within more exciting and interesting contexts, and partly because the user doesn't perceive tasks as `compulsory', but is allowed to learn at their own pace and in their own way.

Whilst this idea is not new:

"Generally speaking, a child's education must be based on the principle that everything must come from his own will. Nothing should be given in a ready made form. One can only give the idea, one can only guide or even teach indirectly, starting from afar and leading him to the point from something else." (Gurdjieff 1928 - Views from the Real World.)

... it has (up till now) never meaningfully challenged the idea that learning (almost by definition) should be boring, hard and laborious.

In my opinion the author does an excellent job of reviewing the important elements of game-play and in showing how much this medium has to offer. He comes close to establishing `computer games' as a potential paradigm shift in the structure of education.

I think this is a book the critics should read!

I'm an avid gamer and I bought this book for my mother because I thought it presented games in a new light. Instead of portraying them as evil, time wasting, and corruptive, it points out ways games can be used in a useful and constructive fashion.

Highly recommended.

Rusel DeMaria is a veteran in the video games business. He's a very connected individual and has had a prolific career writing in-depth strategy guides for key games, and also regarding the history of the business.

His new book "RESET" has changed the way I think about games and their social impact. It's an important read for parents and those that wish to understand the gaming industry from someone who's able to really take a close and very revealing look.

As the parent of a long time gamer, I think this is a terrific book that would be of much value to a wide variety of people; parents, educators, psychologists, gaming journalists, and children's recreational supervisors. It would also be of value to anyone who works in the game industry or wants to work in the game industry, particularly in the business, community relations, executive, legal, or general design areas. Although it's certainly not aimed at gamers, I would say that gamers who have a serious interest in the broader aspects of the field should give it a read. It offers a lot of insights into video gaming, as well as offering up a good many ways that video games can add value and dimension to our personal, educational, and professional lives.

I am surprised and pleased with this book, covers all the current technologies in use and in development for RBB, in a technical way and also in a commercial and marketing way, that combination result in a very complete and good book, I strongly recommend it

George's writing style is excellent. He merges concepts from broadcast, telephony, data, and video with ease. Although the topic can be quite technical, George's focus is on the basic engineering challenges to solved. Business types will love his economic and market analysis.

I have to thank my friend Paul at Cisco who gave this book to me as a token of our friendship. I enjoy the book's content and author's style of presentation very much. To investors interested in the high tech industry, this book offers a comprehensive view on the latest technology and development which will have profound impact on the outcome of voice, data and vedio delivery infrastructure and market in the future.

This book is very clearly written and a very good reference for anyone in the broadband arena.

The author does a great job of condensing everything to do with broadband while staying on track and not straying from the subject.

Great book.

An excellent summary of the several broadband technologies that are currently searching for a marketplace. This book is notable for it's strong sense of organization and it's consistent level of detail. If you're interested in broadband network technology this book is a good stepping off point for something more technical. If you're trying to learn enough to make a buck by betting on a winning technology, this book will give you the basic understanding of broadband networks that you will need to decipher the steady stream of press releases that are coming from the companies that are betting millions on the broadband marketplace. I liked the book.

"I respond [to film] as I want to." This introductory statement answers the question "How do I respond to film?" in Dr. Constantine Santas's latest textbook Responding to film: a text guide for students of cinema art. It offers comments on the nature of film as medium, and ways to interpret and appreciate its constructive elements such language, history, and technology.
Dr. Santas wrote the textbook for his film classes at Flagler College. When he started teaching film literature in 1989, he noticed that the existing film books were chronologically oriented and that neglected to study film as an art. He wanted a book that emphasized the uniqueness of film as an art form, and its superiority as a means of communication. A book that analyzed the form and content of motion pictures, their historical and social background. Envisioning his future project, Dr. Santas started writing notes for his class, outlining his own method of studying film. Soon enough, they grew to a considerable size manuscript that drew the attention of some publishers. It was published by Burnham Publishers in 2002.
Film is more a matter of pictures than words. The visual component dominates, the word is subordinate. A film like a novel, where the action is presented by a narrator, the camera. The camera comments on the story while telling it. It focuses not on the speaker but on the face or gestures of a character who is affected by the speech, thus giving the spectator a visual interpretation of the words.
Responding to film suggests interpretations or responses from various angles: technical, linguistic, historical, literary, social etc. It explores a broad category of film genres such as drama, comedy, film noir, romance etc. It emphasizes new cinematic devices that help filmmakers embody their vision in a work of art. It explores the visual aspects of film language that combines moving pictures, written or oral discourse, and natural or artificial sound. It brushes up on the history of film and serious social issues of a particular period of time. The last chapter suggests a sample course that contains a syllabus, information sheets, and exercises for both students and instructors.
This text guide examines the multiple responses to film as literary medium and attempts to synthesize all its unique elements. Because films embody the beliefs and values of many cultures, individual responses will vary according to personal preferences and tastes. Besides being a teaching guide, the textbook is also suitable for casual readers who simply enjoy viewing films and want to learn more about film as literary art, and cinematography.

Harikleia Sirmans

As a writer of films, I found Constantine Santas' book, Responding to Film, thoroughly engaging. If ever I were to teach a course about cinematic art, I would look no further for the text. His principle of organization takes material that might seem ordinarily dry to students today, and infuses it with a freshness that clarifies the techniques of filmmaking, and demystifies the critical process. I particularly enjoyed his brilliant intepretations of films as diverse as Eyes Wide Shut (Someone finally made that movie make sense to me!), Zorba the Greek, and Life is Beautiful.

Beyond a teaching tool, Responding To Film is a book for film lovers, all...a book for anyone who enjoys taking the time to look beneath a movie's first blush for the layers that transcend entertainment, and make film art.

This text guide combines qualities of a well written text book with a teaching guide for the instructor of college level film courses. It is unique in the sense that it provides a rich learning experience for the student of film when combined with the many dvd's, learning execises and other resources (such as web sites) which the book suggests. It is also a good "read" for those who simply enjoy films and want to learn more about the art as well as the technology of film-making.

Santas has written a book that is informed, instructive, and intelligent, useful for academicians, students, and casual readers interested in learning to appreciate film for its elements larger than story line. He summarizes films enticingly and provides thematic arrows that encourage the reader to view the films and explore questions that Santas poses about such matters as techniques, languages, genres, sources, and technologies. Carries on a dialogue with the reader easily, informing, questioning, goading at times, cajoling, prodding--all the techniques used by a proficient teacher to help others explore intelligently. Santas establishes literary and historical contexts as well to use as backboards, providing familiar terms, allusions, and references which help clarify the place of film study in the arts. And the Sample Course in Chpt 13 synthesizes the information easily and simply for students, prospective instructors, or casual readers. Certainly suitable for diverse audiences.

As a writer of films, I found Constantine Santas' book, Responding to Film, thoroughly engaging. If ever I were to teach a course about cinematic art, I would look no further for the text. His principle of organization takes material that might seem ordinarily dry to students today, and infuses it with a freshness that clarifies the techniques of filmmaking, and demystifies the critical process. I particularly enjoyed his brilliant intepretations of films as diverse as Eyes Wide Shut (Someone finally made that movie make sense to me!), Zorba the Greek, and Life is Beautiful.

Beyond a teaching tool, Responding To Film is a book for film lovers, all...a book for anyone who enjoys taking the time to look beneath a movie's first blush for the layers that transcend entertainment, and make film art.

Retro Stud is a great collection of color poster art from the era of the Italian peplum/sword and sandal movies. It is a book that will please fans of the genre, artists, and bodybuilders. Printed on quality paper in hardbound format, Retro Stud is a great addition to any coffee table.

As a collector of every Hercules and Gladiator movie i can find,i was thrilled to find out there were actual posters to go with the movies.This book really delivers the goods with hundreds of posters.this being said the book could have been so much better.there are posters overlapping destroying the total artwork when they didn't have to.ALso on foreign posters he gives the foreign translation in english but not what the movie was know as in America.i'd like to know what movies i am missing.Despite these big flaws it is the best Hercules-gladiator poster book available.

Compiled by David Chapman, Retro Stud: Muscle Movie Posters From Around The World is an impressive full-color showcase of "Gladiator" era movie posters from 1959 to 1965, a cinematic trend that was initiated by the American debut of the 1959 movie "Hercules" starring bodybuilder and physical hunk Steve Reeves. The eroticism, muscular posing, and sexual symbols of these international posters are discussed in thoughtful detail. Retro Stud is a thoroughly enjoyable reference and a highly recommended presentation for all classic movie fans and bodybuilding enthusiasts.

Who could ask for more? This book is a stunning achievement and a must for any collector or fan of Gladiator movie posters that were produced during the period of 1959-1965. Chapman had his work cut out for him in gathering this comprehensive collection, and he did a terrific job. These color posters are from around the world and feature complete descriptions and author's commentary about each poster that is quite fascinating. Who can forget "Hercules" Steve Reeves, the first to debut in a gladiator movie, in his skimpy loincloth, his muscles rippling, and the frail beautiful women he had to save from the evil tyrants. People all over the world couldn't wait for the next Gladiator movie to be released to their theaters; they were new, sexy, dramatic, erotic, and filled with many different musclemen who followed in Steve Reeve's shoes. This was an era that was fresh and new to everyone who wanted something different and exciting to watch at the movies. They were our heroes, and our fantasy. Take a look at this collection of posters, and re-live history, and remember when Gladiators ruled the earth! Enjoy this collection, I know I did!

Joe Hanssen

I was pleased when I heard this volume was being released... I have loved the old Italian Muscle Movies and the posters were part of the mystique of those films. I was delighted because I did not expect the book to be so beautifully designed. It has a hard cover, slip cover, and thick coated paper, all finished in full colour throughout. An impressive opus on a the lost art of bodybuilding art from the classic gladiator film genre! Not only was I was thrilled at the great quality of the book, but also David Chapman's insightful and thoughtful writing, which is a joy to read. This is clearly one coffee table book that will delight my guests for quite a while.... I enjoy it over and over and see things in it that I did not see on previous viewings... a real treasure!