Customer Reviews (1)

A Well-Researc hed Work
Ever since her co-written book CITY ON FIRE, Lisa Odham Stokes has become one of America's foremost authorities on Hong Kong Cinema. It is not surprising that the new series of dictionaries by Scarecrow Press has brought out this comprehensive work which every University Library should obtain. Based on a detailed knowledge of Hong Kong Cinema and familiarity with reference material published by the Hong Kong Film Archive and Hong Kong Film Festivals, this dictionary presents a wealth of information thatshould prove indispensable for anybody undertaking detailed research in this area.

Previous books have covered Hong Kong's martial arts cinema and its various genres. But the merit of this dictionary is its meticulous attention to influences from pre-war Shanghai cinema, Mandarin and Cantonese melodramatic and operatic traditions, as well as the past and present cultural interplay between Mainland China and the former British colony. Those seeking references to transient action heroines such as Cynthia Khan and Moon Lee will be disappointed but they have already been covered extensively in popuular surveys. What makes this dictionary really distinctive is both its sense of a particular historical tradition that has influenced the development of one of the world's most exciting national cinemas as well as references to the current state of the industry. The friendship between Jacky Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-wai and the former's positive influence on the latter in his personal life is just one of the many nuggets of information that the author has supplied. She also mentions the Chinese as well as the English titles of various films as well as the full Chinese names of several actors and stars.

This series is designed for university libraries as a reference work. It really fulfills that function but it should also attract any individual eager to learn more about Hong Long cinema despite its high cost. I've already learned much from this work and have cited it in a monograph I'm writing so believe it will be true for many other people. The author has every reason to be proud of her work in this field, both in her previous indispensable book on Hong Kong cinema as well as her continuing contributions to the journal ASIAN CINEMA and her various interviews with many leading Hong Kong actors and directors. This is definitely an outstanding work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

cultural ghetto; limited audience
Many of the films, directors and actors mentioned in the book will be unfamiliar to American readers. The Polish cinema industry has always suffered from the fact that Polish is simply not spoken by many outside the country. Hence its people and products have achieved limited reknown.

Perusing the book also makes clear other constraints. There is a total absence of films made during World War 2, since Poland was under a brutal Nazi occupation for almost the entire duration. Then, in the postwar years, the decades of Soviet imposed censorship meant that output was rather sparse and uninteresting. But if you use the chronology provided at the book's start, you can see the highlights of what was achieved under these conditions. ... Read more

Book Description
From Amos 'n' Andy to The Jeffersons to Family Matters, this work covers it all. There are entries on all different genres and performers. Additionally, information can be found on general issues, ranging from African American audiences and stereotypes through the related networks and organizations. This book has hundreds of entries, from A to Z, in the dictionary and a list of acronyms with their corresponding definitions. ... Read more

Book Description
This book is an introduction and guide to the film of Australia and New Zealand.It contains entries on many exceptional producers, directors, writers and actors, as well as films. But it also presents the early pioneers, the cinemas themselves, the film companies and government bodies, and much more in its hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries. Through a chronology that shows how far these cinemas have come in a short time and an introduction that presents them more broadly, a clear portrait of the two countries' motion pictures emerge.The bibliography is an excellent source for further reading. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

not that many movies
The dictionary lists movies with predominantly Negro themes, and also Negro actors. As you might expect, famous movies like "In the Heat of the Night" and stars like Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte are described. The text also gives listings for topics like the late,unlamented "blackface" custom of early vaudeville and movies.

Note that as far as Negro-related movies go, there are very few before the late 1960s. Plus, if you look at the actors, few of them rose to prominence before then, in any type of movies. All this of course reflects the pervasive discrimination of earlier times. While the book seems impressively comprehensive, there really aren't that many movies in it, compared to all the films made in the US since the 1910s. ... Read more

Book Description
French-Speaking Women Documentarians is a guide for teachers of Frenchand others interested in selecting and researching the work of female French-speaking documentarians. Represented in this book are filmmakers from Canada, various African nations, the Antilles, Lebanon, Switzerland, Belgium, and several other countries, with emphasis on Agnès Varda of France-arguably the greatest female documentarian of all. The book includes information on each filmmaker, classified by country of origin, and lists and describes her works, giving factual information such as date, duration, credits, and synopses, and pointing out critical treatments, both in English and in French, of her most important films. Shorts, docudramas, and works of animation are also discussed, as they, too, reflect history and culture. This guide will lead to the viewing of films that shed understanding on the culture being portrayed and to a greater appreciation of the contribution of French-speaking women filmmakers to this important, if not always objective, film genre. ... Read more

Book Description
Open Sesame is a full-color series for children, featuring the world-famous Sesame Street characters.The Open Sesame Picture Dictionary presents more than 550 high-frequency words in thirty-four units. The four bilingual editions are: Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Polish. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Open Sesame Pictury Dictionary
Other teachers and I love this book! It has helped many students transition from Spanish to English with friendly characters that they love. I would recommend this to anyone helping a student find the words toexpress their knowledge! ... Read more

Book Description
This reference volume addresses an often overlooked area in the history of the American theatre, the contributions of early black playwrights and dramatic writers. At a time when they were denied full participation in many aspects of American life, including the mainstream of the theatre itself, black artists were compiling an impressive record of achievement on the American stage. This book, the most comprehensive on the subject, provides a complete look at these achievements by offering biographical information and a catalog of works for approximately 200 writers, including playwrights, librettists, screenwriters, and radio scriptwriters. From the emergence of black playwrights in the time prior to the Civil War, to the early days of film and radio in this century, the efforts of early black writers are fully documented in this work. The book begins with an author's preface and is followed by an introductory essay that discusses the development of black American playwrights from the antebellum period to World War II. The heart of the book, the biographical directory, is organized alphabetically, with each entry providing highlights of the author's life and career; collected anthologies that include any works; and an annotated chronological list of individual dramatic works, including genre, length, synopses, production history, prizes and awards, and script sources. Three appendixes offer information on other playwrights and their works, additional librettists and descriptions of their shows, and a chronology of dramatic works by genre. A bibliography cites such information sources as reference books and critical studies, dissertations, play anthologies, and newspapers and periodicals frequently consulted, as well as significant libraries and repositories. The book concludes with title and general indexes and an index to early black theatre organizations. This work will be an important reference source for courses in black American drama and theatre history, and a valuable addition to both public and academic libraries. ... Read more

Amazon.com
A thousand years from now, someone might find a dusty collection of DK'sStar Wars titles buried in a library vault and wonder at the ancientstrife, fashions, and droids of this unusual, unmarked era in history. For onewho didn't know this was a series of film characters and situations beinganalyzed and explained, it would be an extremely believable history resource.For those who do know, it's a fantastic reference guide for all thingsStar Wars. David West Reynolds's impressive scientific writing stylerenders this "visual dictionary" a veritable bible of intergalactic informationrelated to Attack of the Clones, the second prequel to the originalStar Wars trilogy. The most intricate details of the characters,creatures, and equipment of the film are revealed in crisp, annotatedphotographs and authoritative text. We see, close-up, the meltproof Ceramoidmesh of a scouter's pack; the traditional Ansata pattern on Jedi Jocasta Nu'stunic, symbolizing knowledge and learning; and the alarming features of Pogglethe Lesser, ruler of the Stalgasin hive colony of Geonosians. Star Warsfans and future anthropologists alike will be wowed. (Ages 9 and older)--Emilie CoulterBook Description
Star Wars: Episode II -- The Saga Continues... Marks the return of fan-favorite Dr. David West Reynolds as author, whose background as a professor of archaeology and deep knowledge of Star Wars informs the "pseudo-scientific" writing style that has become the hallmark of DK's Star Wars titles. Highlights the new array of characters, including: Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padme Amidala, Mace Windu, Count Dooku, also the young Boba Fett, plus new bounty hunters, battle droids, clone troopers and some major new species. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Great book for the Star Wars fans
My son and his friends are big Star Wars fans.They are all between the ages of 5-8.They loved this book.They really enjoyed finding out all the details in the movie.While my son watches the movies he looks up and reads about the movie.It is a great book.Lots of fun...

Very Good Book
This book is very informative and it gives a lot of background information on characters that many star wars fans wouldn't know about. I am a HUGE star wars fan and this book is not a waste of money. There is a lot about Coruscant and the droid foundries of Geonosis. I learnt alot from this book, and it is ideal for any star wars fan's library.

Indispensable
For a Star Wars Fan, it is a must. However, as I described in the other books of this series, it has missing the starships pictures, but is is not a major problem, since the book depicts all hardware and aliens that appear in the film.

My Padmae, Haven't You Grown.
The Visual Dictionary of Ep2 once again gives us a more detailed review of the charcters from Ep1 and the arrival of new stars such as Jango Fett and his young cloned son, Boba.

However the best parts of this book is the development of Obi wan, Annikan, and of course the accidental [physcial] symbol of the new Star Wars generation, Padmae Amidala, executed in purfect form by Natalie Hershlag-Portman.Her now famous white combat suit is complemented by her other eyepopping outfits...Very nice.

A must for those who are keeping a library on this epic tail.

Star Wars Episoce II: Attack of the Clones -- The Visual Dic
Actually my son loved the book but it fell apart as did all the similar Star Wars books.(He is not hard on books, our pop-up books all survived his early years intact.) I bought a copy for the library at my son's elementary school and that one fell apart too.These books are to expensive to have the binding be so shoddy. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Watch the Star Wars trilogy enough times and you'llfind yourself straining to catch all the little details. Not thesubtle plot points (Darth is Luke's dad, check; Luke and Leia arebrother and sister, check), but all the cool gear and gadgets thatkeep flashing in front of the camera. Like what are those pointythings on Boba Fett's kneepads? And what's with all that ammo onChewie's bandolier? And does an Imperial Probe really need thatmany legs? Finally, we've got some answers.

David West Reynolds, a boyish Ph.D. in archaeology who lookslike he just rode in on the last Bantha, has catalogued theartifacts and inhabitants of the Star Wars universe withthe same clinical thoroughness one typically reserves for studyingMesopotamia. His oversized, eye-pleasing picture book is packedwith scrutinizing photos of actual props and characters from themovies, complete with systematic, scientific labels. AndReynolds's friendly, pseudo-academic style seamlessly blends newinformation with old. (In the Sand People description, you can'thelp but hear Alec Guinness's voice when Reynolds reveals that"Sand People ride in single file to hide their numbers.") In a fewinstances, the book shines an embarrassing light on the movies(Max Rebo is clearly no alien lifeform, just a poofy, blueelephant muppet), but the countless close-ups of thermaldetonators, imperial blasters, and gaffi sticks more than make upthe difference. --Paul HughesBook Description
The Visual Dictionary is an essential guide to Star Wars. DK's renowned Eyewitness style brings the characters, costumes, droids, and gadgetry of the Star Wars universe to life in astonishing visual detail. Highly defined, annotated photography shows and explains the culture, background, and technology of the Star Wars trilogy. Fans of all ages will enjoy detailed revelations of Star Wars secrets like how a Stormtrooper's equipment works, what the insides of a light saber look like, and what Sand People keep in their bandoliers. A visual glossary explains all the technical terms used in the trilogy. Together with Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections, these books comprise a definitive classic Star Wars reference library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Great pictures.
I have 2 little boys who love Star Wars.I like the pictures in this book.The words are too advanced for small children but I try to ad lib.My boys love to look at the pictures.

The Visual Dictionary of Star Wars
I bought this book and the complete guide for the entire saga.I was more impressed with this book than the other.This book was missing atleast the one character I was looking for Niem (Sullustan) that flew the Falcon with Lando in 6.So I looked him up on the internet and found his info readily availble on some star wars website.I was hoping that they would atleast list the name and race for ever character shown, but they don't.

Excellent book!
This book was just what we needed. My five-year-old son has developed a sudden interest for Star Wars, and since he's too young to watch the films, this book was perfect for him. Excellent pictures, everything is well explained, all the major points of interest are covered.

Very informative!
This was one of my very first Star Wars books and I half credit it with my burgeoning interest in the expanded Star Wars universe.
Includes great pictures and information such as what those little knobs on Darth Vader's chestplate are for to what exactly Salacious Crumb (that little Kowakian monkey lizard that works for Jabba the Hutt) does!If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then read this book!
Great for the enthusiast, beginner/amateur/expert and all!

Perfect gift for my 10 year old son
I bought this book as a gift for my 10 year old son who is a serious Star Wars buff.He told me he likes it because it has a lot of information about the characters, weapons, vehicles and technology. ... Read more

Amazon.com
This splashy, high-concept book with glossy pages (designed to accompany a BBC-TV series) is not so much an encyclopedia, as a color scrapbook of Clive Barker's horror obsessions. After an introduction in which Barker examines such questions as "What is horror?" and "Why does it fascinate us?," the book takes the form of 26 heavily illustrated historical essays about assorted topics in the genre--one for each letter of the alphabet (e.g., "B is for Beelzebub"). The pictures include numerous paintings and drawings by Barker, stills from movies, movie posters, author/director bio inserts, and photographs of all types. A partial list of the topics covered: serial killers, H. P. Lovecraft, Dennis Wheatley, John Carpenter, H. R. Giger, Grand Guignol, makeup, killer clowns, killer kids, body horror, Japanese monsters, Barbara Steele, Shirley Jackson, fairy tales, and sculptor Franz Messerschmidt. A fun toy for horror buffs!Book Description
Embark on a highly illustrated guided tour into the realms of horror led by Clive Barker.

From his bestselling books, including his most recent. Sacrament, to his hit movies such as the Hellraiser and Candyman series, Clive Barker has again and again proven himself a master of horror, a man whose brand of dark imaginings makes him uniquely qualified to host this exploration of his genre.

Covering everything from American Psycho to Zombie, here is the ultimate guide to the world of horror. Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of photos, this is a must-have for fans of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Anne Rice and Clive Barker himself, as well as viewers of the classic movies from Dracula to Interview with a Vampire. It is at once a fascinating collection of stories, history and facts behind pop culture's icons of horror and an essential reference guide to the field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Gems of Information at a Glance
I join the ranks of those who have given high praise to this superb, vibrant compilation of facts and other curious oddities about horror in books and film.The layout design is graphically pleasing with dozens of photos and illustrations in both black and white and color. These are attractively aired with white space on the pages and, though interesting in themselves, never compete or distract from the text.Essential bibliographic data or curious informational tidbits are smartly set in gray screen and/or block frames.All of these design elements make for a highly attractive book but, most importantly, aid in gleaning facts at quick glance. In fact, much of the book's design strategies help disguise the fact there is an abundance of information that might seem tedious or less interesting if presented less imaginatively.The book is actually quite dense with facts, dates, and quotes--all visually displayed in a palatable, readily accessible presentation.Though this reviewer has not seen the acclaimed BBC television series to which this book is the official companion, he suspects it to be equally energetic and ambitious in its presentation; and the inspirational basis for the book's high-concept, stunning design. A detailed index gives added value to this concisely written, well-organized guide to the best horrific frights in cinema and print.

It really looks amazing! Great layout.
This is an excellent book about all things horror, but is mostly concerned about books and movies. I got this book after flicking through the pages in the local bookstore and was taken aback by the wonderful layout and colorful images of what Clive Barker has to tell us about the world of horror. It is completely illustrated from start to finish and has lots of art work from Barker himself and there is plenty to read about in between images and pictures of all things diabolical.

Essentially the book donates a few pages to each letter of the alphabet like "M" is for "Murder" and then Barker starts ranting about that topic in as many of its different forms as he sees fit - however the book is primarily written by Stephen Jones, but there is plenty of Barker inside. There is lots and lots of references to artists, writers, actors, filmmakers, makeup artists and directors. Barker also talks about real life horror with such topics as Ed Gein the serial killer.

I would highly recommend this volume of work to anyone who wants to know more about horror. By flicking through the pages they will come across lots and lots of things that they would probably like to know more about. Whenever I am thinking about buying a horror movie or a horror novel I always turn to this guide to see what Barker or Jones recommend. As a horror writer Barker is into the whole scene and is never short of coming up with something interesting that you might like to know more about.

This is highly recommended companion guide to all things horror. The book is really well designed and you will find yourself turning to it time and time again.

Should be in your Barker library!
This book is not written by Clive Barker, but is based on the tv-series that took its que after the successful author. As far as i can see most of the text is written by Stephen Jones. But this should not scare away the Barker fans, because the book is packed with illustrations and qoutes from our favourite author. On top of that the book contains a lot of interesting essays about a lot of horrorrelated subjects(A-Z).
Great buy and beautiful book!

A worthwhile coffee table book of the macabre
Combining short but insightful text with a visually stunning layout design, _Clive Barker's A-Z of Horror_ provides a light read on some very dark subjects. It would make an excellent gift for both those making their first steps into this genre as well as for old hands looking for something to keep around for visitors to squeal about.

As a matter of fact...
I would recommend this book for all passing horror fans and experts alike;Clive Barker, that well respected mentor of modern English horror, hascreated a fine compendium. If at times a little pretentious, particularlyin the sprawling and philosophical introduction, the layout is first-classand it doesn't dwell on the statistics-for-anoraks that so many of thesetype of film book do. Enjoyable, perhaps even essential for your filmshelf. It is at times a little lightweight; at others, snobbish and frothy. ... Read more

Book Description
For centuries, perhaps from the beginning of time, people young and old have been drawn to the genre of supernatural horror, first on the printed page and then on the screen. From fairy tales to Freddy Krueger, the appeal of the genre rests on the all too human search for something above nature, something unkown and unnameable. This search has produced works as memorable as they are terrifying, and we feel their power once again in More Things Than Are Dreamt Of.The sweep of the book encompasses almost two centuries as it reconsiders in detail such classics of literature as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, tales of Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Henry James' The Turn of the Screw right up to contemporary novels of horror as Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist andd Stephen King's The Dead Zone. But what sets this book apart is that the authors go on to study the most significant feature films derived from these and many other works of fiction, from the silent era until today. ... Read more