Customer Reviews:
Bad subject, great presentation.......2003-02-13
Madonna is the ultimate emperor in new clothes (all pomp, no circumstance), but these Rolling Stone Files collections are well organized, easy to follow, and fascinating in their ability to let us follow a career via some of the best writing in the business. Madonna is a fascinating anomaly because of her almost freakish ambition combined with an appalling lack of real talent. That makes this a very readable collection, even if I never listen to the music or see the godawful movies.
Awesome.......2000-04-07
Great if you love Madonna, as I do. Also, good if you are just interested in reading about her. She is fascinating....always has been, always will be. Madonna is a living legend! Also recommend, Encyclopedia Madonnica.....Madonna is absolutely fabulous!
The 3 best books about Madonna.......1999-06-14
1. This one (Rolling Stone Files) 2. Encyclopedia Madonnica (Matthew Rettenmund) 3. Madonna Unauthorized (Christopher Anderson)
With these 3 books you will learn more about Madonna then she even knows about herself.
Mandatory for any fanatic who wants to know more about this show-biz lady, other then what they see and hear on radio, TV, onstage, and onscreen.
Viva Ciccone!
Triumphant!!!.......1999-05-04
Rolling Stone and Madonna?Why not.Her being in the cover on all reincartions deserves a compilation.Essential to all Madonnaics,here we could trace her humble begginings,rise to fame,the endless critical scrutiny...it's all here and more.Missing though are the tongue in cheek covers,picture,and one liners.(Perhaps,one need to buy RS coffee table book Covers,to totally enjoy the moment).Concise,right on track and enjoyable!!!
madonnaology.......1999-02-16
Being a Madonnaologists in my own write, I enjoyed this history. I also found the Madonna stuff in POSTMODERNISM FOR BEGINNERS, intriguing.
Customer Reviews:
A great gift for the western-nut.......2007-06-02
This book is a walk down memory land for those of us who grew up on western movies. I gave it as a gift to a friend who is truly addicted to westerns. Now if someone would only write a book on the movie horses the stars rode, we'd all be fascinated.
Enthusiastic encyclopedia`.......2006-03-24
For a change, a group of enthusiastic reviews of classic westerns, by someone who actually enjoyed them. Refreshing and enjoyable, not to mention informative.
Indispensible reference.......2005-07-18
For the casual to the serious western movie fan this is THE reference. Much in the way of storylines, cast and credits. Of great value when deciding which western DVD release to add to your collection. And at the rate they are turning out new westerns today, this reference is unfortunately going to be current for a long time. Well worth the price.
Great Western Reference.......2005-07-16
Herb Fagen's The Encyclopedia of Westerns is a great reference book for Western movies. It includes entries for over 3,500 Westerns, with most getting a plot synopsis and some comments from the author on the quality or significance of that particular film. Fagen's comments are interesting and sometimes insightful, and the information provided is fairly comprehensive.
The Encyclopedia of Westerns is well written and is a "must have" for fans of the Western genre.
The Old West Lives Again in Movies.......2004-07-26
This is an excellent book for anyone who loves the Old West in Movies genre. I am going through it with a fine tooth comb and loving every entry I pass through. The movies are well entered and easy to read offering everything I want to know about the movie. Also, I'm finding quotes from the westerns which is something I really enjoy.
I could not recommend this book any better. I'm an author of Old West non-fiction and so I enjoy it as the Old West lives again in the movies for me. It's worth the money.
Book Description
From Jeff Lenburg's obsessive fascination with the subject comes this ultimate guide to cartoons. More than 2,200 cartoon entries encompass all aspects of this twentieth-century cultural phenomenon: creators, directors, production studios, voice talent, episode titles, and dates of release. With a forward by June Foray (the voice behind Granny and Rocky the Squirrel), more than 150 illustrations, and a nutshell history of American animation, this home reference details every cartoon and every cartoon character ever created.
Customer Reviews:
MIXED.......2007-05-16
A useful listing of US animated cartoons wth dates and credits, and with lists of individual theater cartoons.
The original 1981 edition covered theater cartoon series, listing individual films, and was a major reference.
This is the (1999) second edition of the 1991 expanded edition which organized the material into general categories - under theater cartoons (silent, sound and feature) and TV (specials and series) There is now much more on made-for-TV cartoons than I want, and even the cover and inside color-plates are largely TV characters. There is no attempt to list individual episodes of the TV series.
I have a general aversion to a reference being arranged in alphabetical order. For looking up an item, that's easily covered by the index. For a reading overview, arranging chronologicaly - or by producing studio - would be more instructive.
It amazed me..........2006-07-12
The highest tribute that I can give to this book is that I could not find a single animated cartoon from my experience that it did not cover. I felt sure that I knew of a few obscure ones that would not be in here- and I was wrong. Moreover, I found much here that I wasn't familiar with. That absolutely amazed me.
This true encyclopedia is organised into five major sections 1) silent cartoon series, 2)theatrical sound cartoon series, 3)full-length animated features, 4) animated television specials, and 5) television cartoon series. There are numerous black and white illustrations of various characters included with the text, as well as color plates in the middle of the book. I suppose considering the scope of this reference it would have been difficult to illustrate everything. Still, it would have been fantastic to have model sheets for every single entry...
I have found myself getting this book down and browsing through it more times than I want to admit- while cursing the children's television "activists" that have robbed generations of the joy of experiencing many of these classics and near classics (and some of the classically bad.)
Great!.......2004-07-29
This is one of the best books. Except one thing: mistakes and lies. Ok, what is with the mistakes in the voice-actor list? I mean: April Winchell as Sebastin the Crab? Tress Macnille as LanchPaud? Did two people do the voice of Velma? Of course not, there are some HUGE lies. But at least it was a good book. but it, just avoid the lies.
A longtime prelude to bcdb.com.......2004-06-22
If you're in search of information regarding a certain cartoon,you'll find it in this book. This book was first released in 1981,long before the debut of the Internet and The Big Cartoon Database,aka bcdb.com. This book only lists motion picture cartoons. It does not list comicstrips. Theatrical cartoons,Saturday morning television cartoons,animated features,you'll find them all.
An excellent (if somewhat flawed) resource.......2004-01-06
Less of a book than a listing, The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons has an exhaustive listing of cartoons from the 'teens up until about 1997. Best of all are the titles for theatrical shorts and detailed listings of Emmy and Oscar nominees/winners. If you need (or want) to look up something about a cartoon, this is probably the best place to look.
However, this book is *not* perfect. Besides being some 6 years out of date, the book doesn't track direct-to-video movies and seems to neglect a few imported cartoons that had hit airwaves before 1997. Also, many '80s cartoons (particularly those from the great toy-license revolution) have incorrect series synopses, voice credits, and even entries (such as the listings for G.I. Joe). This book is invaluable, yes, but it is sorely in need of a third edition (and possibly a co-author who can research obscure and/or lesser regarded cartoons). Keep this in mind before purchasing the second edition.
Average customer rating:
|
A to Z of American Women in the Performing Arts (Facts on File Library of American History)
Liz Sonneborn
Manufacturer: Facts on File
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Entertainers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Reference & Collections
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Women
| Specific Groups
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Performing Arts
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
| Dance
| Magic & Illusion
| Theater
General
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Women's Studies
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Directories
| Catalogs & Directories
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0816043981 |
Book Description
Since the earliest days of the film industry, mainstream films have been banned for their sexual, religious, social, and political content. Forbidden Films traces the efforts to censor 125 films, ranging from the silent Birth of a Nation to Schlindler's List. This fascinating reference examines the continued efforts to regulate the industry, providing a summary of each banned film-including production details, censorship history, and suggestions for further reading.
Coverage includes:
* Early efforts to regulate the movie industry, such as the Hays Code in 1922 and the Motion Picture Production Code in 1930
* The emergence of the Catholic League of Decency, which wielded extensive power for nearly forty years
* The reasoning behind different types of film censorship-including racism and anti-Semitism, sexual "indecency," and the fear of Communism
* Classic and contemporary films that have faced censorship, for sexual content (Last Tango in Paris, A Streetcar Named Desire), social content (Basic Instinct, Of Human Bondage), political content (Anna and the King, Revenge at Daybreak), religious content (La Dolce Vita, The Last Temptation of Christ), and violence content (Natural Born Killers, Scarface)
* Appendixes profiling the directors of the banned films, films classified according to the reason for their censorship or ban, and a listing of 125 additional challenged, censored, and banned films.
Customer Reviews:
Disappointing.......2005-05-24
Of interest mainly as a reference source, but a risk for the casual reader. Each of the 125 entries contains a summary of the film's context, a sketch of the censorship travails, and a brief bibliography -- encompassing on the average, one to three pages for each entry. Considering the subject-matter, the discussion style remains curiously colorless and detached. Despite the suggestive title, there's clearly no exploitation of the contents. And yet, the text could use some pepping up -- well-chosen photographs would have helped. Moreover, there's no apparent logic behind the films chosen for inclusion, no particular point to the "sampling", and since many of the entries are obscure to the average film-goer, its value as a reference is restricted. Nonetheless, for someone wanting an easily encompassed glimpse of film censorship world-wide, the book may fit the bill.
Hugely inaccurate.......2003-02-12
It doesn't take long to find errors in this book: just read the wholly inaccurate plot synopsis of The Last Picture Show, which is hardly obscure or difficult to find on video, and thus would have been easy to check.
Or how about the reference to a film receiving an R rating from the MPAA *several years prior to the establishment of the MPAA's rating system*?
Had this been a book of insights or analysis, a few such lapses might have been forgivable. But this is a dry reference work, with little interpretation by the author: and dry reference works require a higher standard of accuracy.
A touch of free speech with a sense of lacking.......2002-09-27
Even though this book brings important items out to light, the work itself is lacking and at times incomplete. It also has a strong sense of sensasionalism to it, think of watching NBC on daily news. The mention of films like The Great Dictator as items under censorship and controversy is in itself sensasionalistic, as opposed to Citizen Kane which is not mentioned at all, gives a better idea of how subtle and hyped this work is, besides, the constant reference to the De Grazia book by title Banned Films: Movies, Censors and the First Amendment, makes it look like it is a copy of such book and no actual research was ever done to actualize, itemize or distinguish one text from the other. In short this book could be helpful on legal matters and cross reference from one legal case to another,since it does provide the actual case numbers and states where cases where trialed (picture yourself battling the Supreme court and having this book as a resource for enlightment on appeals, injunctions and motions), as far as film is concerned, I personally know of at least 125 more banned films within one decade alone and after the Hays Production Code or the Christian Legion of Decency to write a book on. Sova deserves credit for sticking it out with the female stars and the sex/erotic/porn oriented genre, but I for one think of film as a much broader medium in which the powers that be relish to exert their power to limit the means of expression whether this be of religious, sexual or political nature. Recommended for the high school reader with a strong suggestion to do further reading
Customer Reviews:
Excellent source and enjoyable reading.......2004-08-31
Since I am a fan of military films and war movies, I grabbed this book right away. I was pleased to see that the author included many details of each film in addition to production notes and trivia on many of them as well. As a film collector, this book will be a great resource for researching military films and their history. It will be appreciated by anyone who has served in the military as well as film students or film enthusiasts.
Average customer rating:
- Wish I'd read the reviews before buying it. . .
- What a jerk.
- Brilliant!
- Very disappointed
- Pretty lazy for "research"
|
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Movies (Facts on File Film Reference Library)
C. J. Henderson
Manufacturer: Checkmark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Encyclopedias
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Art
| Encyclopedias
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Pop Culture
| Encyclopedias
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Encyclopedias
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
| Adventure
| Alternate History
| Anthologies
| General
| Graphic Novels
| High Tech
| History & Criticism
| Series
| Short Stories
| Space Opera
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0816045674 |
Book Description
Written by a noted film reviewer and journalist, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Movies is a fascinating A-to-Z historical overview of science fiction in the cinema from the earliest experiments in silent film in the 1890s to the most recent blockbusters.
Each of the more than 1,300 entries includes the film's vital statistics-title, year released, director, screenwriter, cast, studio, and running time-along with a summary of the film and a critical analysis of its success or failure as science fiction and as entertainment. Select entries contain additional information, trivia, and anecdotes on the making of the film.
Additional features include:
• More than ninety black-and-white photographs that capture the most exciting moments in sci-fi film history
• A historical overview of science fiction movies at the Oscars-the winners, the losers, and the overlooked
• An appendix citing literary sources for science fiction films
• An interview with Frank Herbert, author of Dune, covering the film adaptation of his landmark novel.
Customer Reviews:
Wish I'd read the reviews before buying it. . ........2004-11-25
. . . because the three negative reviews below reflect my own judgment as well. Fortunately, I didn't pay full price. I bought the book at a used book store, hoping for a useful guide to sci-fi flicks that I should try to catch when they appear late nights on T.V. But I soon found that many of Henderson's opinions were just the opposite of mine. For instance, he pans movies like Terminator 2 and Aliens, while praising Alien 3, Battle Beyond the Stars, and Tri-Star's Godzilla (failing, by his own admission, to comprehend why Godzilla fans didn't like it). And, as noted by the others below, his criticisms often seemed inconsistent, praising a quality in one film (such as its campiness) that he criticized in another.
Of course, that his opinions were different than mine doesn't mean they were wrong. But I soon decided that for me, at least, this was not the guide I was looking for.
What a jerk........2004-01-16
I had the chance to pick this up in Barnes and Noble the other day, and I'm glad I skimmed through it before buying it.
First, though, some good news--the book does have a bit of merit. Having a huge list of science-fiction movies and information on each is pretty cool. But Henderson should have stopped there.
Instead, he decided to add his opinions to the mix, which are actually wrong. It's rare to find an opinion that is factually wrong, but he manages to do it--his opinions are consistently in poor taste and inconsistent in logic (as another reviewer has noted). He will praise a movie for one thing and then criticize another for the exact same quality.
He has called some of the worst movies ever (Alien: Resurrection, Armageddon) classics and said that they excel where all other movies fail. He has a huge vendetta against James Cameron, for some reason, and calls all of Cameron's good movies (The Terminator movies, The Abyss, Aliens) overblown and pointless. To praise Alien 4 for being new, innovative, well-acted, with good action scenes, and being fun while criticizing Aliens for being dull, over-focused on special FX, and poorly written... well, that's just wrong.
Everyone can have their opinions, whether they fit with the majority or not. But you need to be consistent in your opinions.
Henderson's other major flaw is that he is completely unaware of the outside world. He never once mentions, "This movie was very popular" or "This movie was not well-received by critics." He simply gives his own opinions and writes them in such a matter-of-fact tone that it doesn't feel like you're reading a book of opinions at all.
I would've been thrilled to read a book that had fresh, bold opinions on movies if they were written well and if the author didn't seem like a complete #$!hole.
In closing this review, I'd like to point out something on the Amazon.com review above. It mentions that the book would be good for "Indie film makers" and the like--people who are supposed to be going against the grain of mainstream Hollywood movies. This strikes me as very amusing; I can't think of a more false statement. Henderson's opinions are almost exactly like a mainstream, Hollywood hack artist. If you want a breath of fresh air, just think for yourself instead--this book is poison for the mind.
Brilliant!.......2003-08-29
Author C.J. Henderson doesn't back down on his reviews of what the 'majority' may think, or what a typical movie-goer may believe just because a film is produced or directed by a big-name like Speilberg, Lucas, or Cameron.
Why did 'Star Wars: The Phantom Menace' fail? Why did 'The Matrix' succeed? Why did the original 'Star Wars' fail or succeed? And, for these movies that failed-- how could they have been better?
This book is recommended for movie buffs, indie filmmakers, film analysts, and the like.
Very disappointed.......2003-01-11
The author of this book takes a smug, superior attitude in his reviews, that I found very off-putting. I should have known I was in trouble when, early in his introduction, he says his basic premise is that 90% of everything is garbage. He then proceeds to demonstrate that view in his reviews. And, despite his know-it-all attitude, I spotted several errors of fact in various reviews, for example, his referring to the Gene Barry character in War of the Worlds as Dr. "Clayton", as though Clayton were the character's last name. This may seem like a small item, but the author himself continually nitpicks the movies he is reviewing, so turn-about is fair play. I would give the book one star, except for a few insights I found. However, I decided the book was not worth keeping as a reference, and have already disposed of it at a used bookstore.
Pretty lazy for "research".......2002-11-11
The best thing about this book is the foreword by William Shatner. Let's face it, anything Shatner does is bound to be entertaining. However, the rest of the book is a huge disappointment. Points for effort are given to author Henderson as he clearly loves sci fi films, but that is no excuse for lazy writing. For instance, his review of the first Godzilla film, a classic milestone, is nothing you haven't read before. However, the rest of the Godzilla films, save for G 1985 and 2000, are all summarized by this tiring line: Please see Godzilla, King of the Monsters. Even King Kong vs Godzilla has this (and refers to it as a "minor film." The G series are all summed up on a sentence or two each in the GKOTM review, as are the heisei series in G 1985.
Normally, such a book wouldn't be looked down as harshly, except books like Phil Hardy's Overlook Science Fiction Encyclopedia have set the standard for how to analyze the genre properly and insightfully. Hardy uses alot of psychological analysis in many of his reviews, and keeps it as objective as possible, and when he is subjective he allows you to see why (whether you agree or not.) Henderson on the other hand merely says "it is good" "it is bad" without saying why. He speaks of GINO (Tri-Star's G film) as being "completely respectful of its original source material" and wonders why fans and critics didn't like it. Well, if Henderson had done his research, he would have known why the film was universally bashed, and making such comments like his only invites hardcore GINO bashers to further vent. Henderson should have explain how it was respectful rather than tell us. There is nothing wrong with a differing opinion as long as you can explain your reasons for it. Otherwise, it becomes a hollow statement.
Of ID4's liberal use of science, he states that "it's reduced to its most simplistic form in many cases, at least it's reasonably accurate." He also claims the ALIEN series got better after part two, which he called the worst of the series. Again, I have no qualms about differing opinions, but he states that ID4 is an entertaining movie all around despite its inaccurate science and yet blasts ALIENS for being a special effects spectacle that throws basic science out the window. Again, I have no problems with opinions but I do have a problem with inconsistency, and the comparison of his reviews of ID4 and ALIENS symbolizes much of what the problem is.
There quite a few reviews that are summed up with a sentence and supposedly witty remark, but it does nothing for the reader to grow curious about the film's content. Though there are some reviews where he hits the mark (his reviews for Jurassic Park and Cronenberg's The Fly for instance are dead on,) there just isn't enough of it to make me continue further. Hardy's reviews are consistent and thought provoking. Henderson's are lazy and frustrating.
In short, if you already own Hardy's book, don't bother wasting your money on Henderson's. However, if you have nothing and want a good place to start a book collection of genre films, this book is affordable and would make a nice gift for simple minds.
Average customer rating:
- At last, a usable Shakespeare on film book!
|
Shakespeare into Film (Facts on File)
James Michael Welsh ,
Richard Vela , and
John C. Tibbetts
Manufacturer: Checkmark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Adaptations
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
History & Criticism
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Movie Tie-Ins
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Shakespeare
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Shakespeare, William
| ( S )
| Playwrights, A-Z
| Drama
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0816049440 |
Customer Reviews:
At last, a usable Shakespeare on film book!.......2003-07-28
What a relief! Just a few years ago the rate of publication of books about Shakespeare on film began, for the first time, to exceed the number of new films derived from Shakespeare's plays. If in one respect this suggests a field of study that has come of age, it also presents an immense problem for those who might want to teach both the original text and its adaptations into film. Most of these recent books, it seems to me, expound particular theories of film or of adaptation of works of literature and are becoming increasingly specialized, intended for a fairly narrow readership of specialists.
Here at last is a sensibly-organized and well-written guide to the materials available to researchers, students and teachers. Teachers, especially, will find something as mundane as writing a syllabus far less taxing as a result of this helpful, comprehensive work (of course, no book of its scope could hope to cover everything, but it uses its pages well).
For those of us who value elegance of presentation and utility, this book, and what I assume will be periodic updated editions, will be indispensable. Besides, Kenneth Rothwell's engaging preface is alone worth the price.
Average customer rating:
- Brilliant concept poorly executed
- Does Decent Job in Discussion, Commits Serious Mistakes in Details
- A College Course in Literature
- With a different title the right audience may have bought it
|
The Encyclopedia of Novels into Film (Facts on File Film Reference Library)
John C. Tibbetts , and
James M. Welsh
Manufacturer: Facts on File
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Adaptations
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
History & Criticism
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Encyclopedias
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Antiques & Collectibles
| Encyclopedias
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Art
| Encyclopedias
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Children's
| Encyclopedias
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Literature
| Encyclopedias
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Pop Culture
| Encyclopedias
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Novels into Film: The Encyclopedia of Movies Adapted from Books
-
The Film Encyclopedia 5e: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia of World Cinema in a Single Volume (Film Encyclopedia)
ASIN: 0816054495 |
Amazon.com
One of the great pleasures of moviegoing is seeing a beloved novel adapted for the screen; one of the big delights of novel reading is encountering a book that has been made into a favorite film. The Encyclopedia of Novels into Films is an expansive volume that will guide you through the rich history of film adaptation. Each entry falls into two parts: the first describes the original novel; the second assesses the film it inspired. Particularly interesting are records for books like Dracula, Les Misérables, Great Expectations, The Body Snatchers, and The Great Gatsby, which were each made into several radically different movies. Some entries may surprise you. Did you know that The Silence of the Lambs, Shaft, and Rear Window were bestselling books before they became famous films? Trivia like this, along with larger issues about how to transform literature into visual art are covered in this wonderful and informative guide. --Raphael Shargel
Book Description
Here is the only comprehensive reference to explore the many adaptations of the novel into film. Written by two acclaimed film scholars and authors, The Encyclopedia of Novels into Film examines the process and pitfalls of adaptation, providing readers with insights about how and why books are transformed for the silver screen.
Over 300 entries cover both American and foreign films, from classic works like Birth of a Nation and Gone With the Wind to contemporary hits, such as Sense and Sensibility and The English Patient. Spanning comedy, drama, film noir, science fiction, westerns, action, suspense, and children's literature, this encyclopedia also includes a wealth of photographs and portraits of selected authors.
Adaptations covered include: The Age of Innocence Babette's Feast Crime and Punishment Dracula From Here to Eternity Great Expectations Jaws Little Women Maltese Falcon M*A*S*H Portrait of a Lady Schindler's List Shaft The Time Machine Trainspotting Ulysses Valley of the Dolls Wuthering Heights Zorba the Greek
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant concept poorly executed.......2007-04-04
Entirely justified in its conception, now into it's second edition, "The Encyclopedia of Novels into Film" will stand the test of time. No doubt it will improve with each edition. As yet it is an incomplete encyclopedia.
The book will improve if the authors adopt some of the simple techniques of novelists. Such as reviewing their own work by reading aloud. The style is academic, with excessively long sentences and unfamiliar words. Not suited to the material of novels and films or its readership.
The Appendix is really a conclusion. Parts of it are almost intelligible on first reading. The same is true of the the Introduction. The first object of writing novels or making films is to communicate. The authors would do well to study the Forward by Robert Wise.
The substantial number of novels/films included are alphabetically listed. Cross reference by genre would be useful. A large number are classics of their day. Cross reference by popularity, sales and critical review would be useful.
No rational is given for the selection of novels made into film nor for the length of space devoted to each. By the authors own admission, a number of pertinent novels/films are omitted. All to often the synopsis of the novel and/or film is inadequate for the uniformed reader. The occasional gross factal inaccuracy must be embarressing for those portraying themselves as academic authorities presenting an encyclopedia.
Nevertheless "...Novels into Film" should be a valuable resource for novelists who want their stories to transfer to film and film makers who want to enact use novels as a resource for stories. It is a fascianting account of the frequent disagreements between novelists and film makers on how a story should be told.
just Jack
Does Decent Job in Discussion, Commits Serious Mistakes in Details.......2006-12-22
This is a review of `The Encyclopedia of Novels into Films" Second Edition (Paperback Copyright 2005), by John C. Tibbetts and James M. Welsh.
The first entry of the second edition doesn't look good; you will see these on p. 1 of the book:
ADAPTATION (1876)
See THE ORCHRD THIEF
What??? The source material for the Nicholas Cage film was written in the 19th century? But hadn't Susan Orlean contributed her original article to New Yorker like 10 years ago? ...
No encyclopedia is proof against the accusation of omission. I know some things must go if others should remain. But there is still something we can do to make our books better, something like proofreading. I thought it might be helpful to read this book for I am working on my homepage where I need information about films and novels. Maybe I am mistaken.
In each entry the book's contributor(s) discuss the novels and the films based on them. The methods of discussion are not always the same, but they are mainly about the differences between the book and its adaptation with summery of the plot. Brief references are attached to each of the discussion, but not much, and sometimes the discussion seems too intent on pointing out the changes done to the original boo, but that is not a big problem. Any encyclopedias, even Wikipedia, are only a starting point for further research, and basic data will do. And it is certain that the summery of the novels and films comes in handy when you read or saw them long time ago.
What I disagree with this encyclopedia is that it omits most of the made-for-TV adaptations. The decision would be understandable if the book is written strictly for academic purpose, like the hard cover study published by university press. Scholars have to narrow down the theme, and there is a difference between `film' and `TV.' But as I said, this is an encyclopedia, gateway to more information and wider perspectives.
However, the book does not list many important works. In `Pride and Prejudice' the writer mentions briefly the outstanding Colin Firth version, giving only one phrase, which is `a 1985 British Broadcasting Corporation adaptation' (p. 360) That's it. And look, 1985? The correct year is of course 1995 (or the same company's older 1980 version). Either way, this is another incredible mistake and negligence that are unforgivable. In the page `How to Use This Book' the book goes: "Not only many of them (made-for-TV adaptations) of inferior quality, but they are usually difficult to obtain (either for general viewers or researchers). Both statements are absolutely wrong. As to the quality of some of the made-for-TV adaptations, I don't have to add anything more; as to the availability of the material, perhaps some people have never seen the receently released titles of DVDs.
But what I disliked about the book is ... I cannot find the right word, but ... its lack of enthusiasm, See the column of `Oliver Twist' for instance. About the Monogram version made in 1933, the books says, `Prints are not available for viewing" (p. 329) but this is not simply true VHS is available for nearly 9 years, and I obtained a copy of several years ago. Of course this alone is not a big mistake, but if considered together with some other omissions, misprints (or misinformation) and questionable policy of the editing, it starts to look much bigger. Did they really do thorough research? Are they really thinking about the possible readers or researcher who might rely on the book?
I admit I got some information from this book, and that's the reason for giving three stars. But I was not impressed. I was and am more impressed with the numerous reviewers you can find at IMDb, whch might have already superseded this kind of book.
A College Course in Literature.......2006-01-25
Generally, I am suspicious of "encyclopedias" of film because they tend to be superficial or boring. Not so with this big book.
The authors begin by discussing a selected novel's plot, then assess the novel's strengths and weaknesses. After explaining the novel, the authors discuss whether the film was faithful to the novel - not only in the story but in mood and characterization. Of course, some will argue that "this movie should be included, that shouldn't." The book focuses on the most important novels OR the most important films based on novels. (For example, I loved the movie based on the novel, The Pearl, but this film is not generally available. Overall, it is a very interesting resource for literature or film courses. Don't be afraid to buy it.
With a different title the right audience may have bought it.......2003-06-21
If this book had a more relevant title I think it would reach more of its target market and people not interested in its content wouldn't purchase it by mistake and be dissatisfied.
This huge book isn't an encyclopedia of every novel written which has had a film made from it or even every type or decade of literature.
95% of this book deals with either classic novels or black and white movies such as Huckleberry Finn, to Kill a Mockingbird, Wizard of Oz and that sort of thing. The modern era is severely neglected and the modern films mentioned seem there out of necessity so that the encyclopedia's facts are accurate. For example Emma is covered in depth, both the book and film with the same name but there are only a few brief paragraphs about the more modern version called Clueless. Reading these paragraphs you definitely pickup that the author wasn't too interested in informing us too much about the modern versions and doesn't consider them worthy of their time.
There are two Stephen King novels (why only two?) in here but that's about it for modern literature. These reports don't even compare the differences between the films and novels which make a lot of fans dislike the movie versions. Such as Carrie is a beautiful girl in the movie but in the novel was an ugly fat girl which made a lot more sense. With Misery the woman holding the author hostage cut off either his thumb or foot I can't remember which but in the movie only smashed it with a big hammer. This sort of controversial information is what I thought this encyclopedia would be full of.
This is a good book if you like literature or films from first half of last century but if you don't give this book a miss.
Average customer rating:
|
The Encyclopedia of Stage Plays into Film (Facts on File Film Reference Library)
John C. Tibbetts , and
James Michael Welsh
Manufacturer: Facts on File
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Drama
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Anthologies
| British & Irish
| Canadian
| Children's
| Classical & Early
| Comedy
| Continental European
| Eastern
| General
| Greek & Roman
| History
| Playwrights, A-Z
| Religious & Liturgical
| Tragedy
| United States
General
| Theater
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Adaptations
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Guides & Reviews
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
History & Criticism
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Encyclopedias
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Art
| Encyclopedias
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
History
| Encyclopedias
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Pop Culture
| Encyclopedias
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Bibliographies & Indexes
| Publishing & Books
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
History
| Bibliographies & Indexes
| Publishing & Books
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Art & Photography
| Bibliographies & Indexes
| Publishing & Books
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Foreign Languages
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0816041555 |
Books:
- Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versailles, Austria-France, 1769 (The Royal Diaries)
- Marie Antoinette: The Journey
- Mistress to an Age: A Life of Madame de Stael
- Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey
- Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season
- Pedagogy Of The Oppressed: 30th Anniversary Edition
- Princess Masako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne
- Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd: The inventories of the Wardrobe of Robes prepared in July 1600, edited from Stowe MS 557 in the British Library, MS LR 2/121 in the Public Record Office, London, and MS V.b.72 in the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington DC
- Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd: The inventories of the Wardrobe of Robes prepared in July 1600, edited from Stowe MS 557 in the British Library, MS LR 2/121 in the Public Record Office, London, and MS V.b.72 in the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington DC
- Queen Mary 2: The Birth of a Legend
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Eternal Summer: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Hogan in 1960, Golf's Golden Year
- Learning to Talk Bear: So Bears Can Listen
- A Singular Man
- Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming
- Grindhouse: The Sleaze-filled Saga of an Exploitation Double Feature
- History: Fiction or Science
- Hens in the Garden, Eggs in the Kitchen
- Successful Real Estate: Investing for the Single Person
- Careers and Occupations - Looking to the Future
- California Cottages: Interior Design, Architecture, and Style
Madonna: The Girlie Show/Book and Cd
Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna (Complete Guide to the Music of...)
The Confessions Tour - Live from London (CD+DVD)
Goddess: Inside Madonna
Madonna: An Intimate Biography
