Product Description
A boy discovers an extraterrestrial botanist in his mother's vegetable patch, and helps him return to his planet, 3 million light years away. ... Read more

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Scorsese’s life and work are presented through interviews with the director as well as more than twenty major celebrity figures, providing a rare look at the process and inspiration behind the films of America’s premier director. Martin Scorsese: A Journey features exclusive movie stills and on-location photographs and interviews with more than twenty major film stars, including forewords by Steven Spielberg and Michael Powell. The author provides the reader with insights into Scorsese’s imagination and influences, and his relationships with his family and colleagues. This updated edition also explores such directorial works as Kundun, Bringing Out the Dead, and the much-talked-about Gangs of New York. An updated chronology, filmography, and index are included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Book for Scorsese Fans & Students
Examines Director Martin Scorsese's career from the beginning to Cape Fear (although it seems that the book had to go to press before Cape Fear was actually released, as there's a discernable lack of substance in that chapter).

To gather wonderful tales of how Scorsese works, Kelly interviews the director's friends, family members, casts, and crews.Oh, and the Secretary to the President of Cyprus!! (See details about The Last Temptation of Christ).Quoted stories, observations, and comments all contribute to a fine portrait of one of our greatest active cinema artists.(And, to the delight of film buffs everywhere, text shows that Scorsese is first and foremost an unabashed movie fan)!Kelly's system provides the reader to form own opinions about Scorsese, rather than making a lot of critical conclusions.

In pursuit of my undergrad degree, I used this book quite a bit for research toward essays I wrote about Scorsese's films.Not at all a chore to read, it was a very enjoyable book, great for the fan as well as the film scholar.

Good index, good filmography.Brief forewards by Michael Powell and Steven Spielberg hint at more than a bit of pure jealousy!

fantastic bio!
this is one of the best, in-depth bio's that I have read. And what a subject! Martin Scorsese is a god-like director that has made such films as Good Fellas Casino and Taxi Driver. The book is filled with interveiws fromfellow directors and drew/cast etc. Great format! It's like reading abehind the scene's documentry.

BUy it! ... Read more

Product Description
``As polished and perceptive a biography as you would hope from a writer who has done justice to Fellini and Bunuel.'' New Statesman & Society Steven Spielberg is one of the cinema's greatest enchanters, with a spellbinding capacity--and a box office record--matched by very few. His power now exceeds that of the greatest moguls of Hollywood's golden era, and films like the Indiana Jones trilogy, ``ET,'' ``Close Encounters of the Third Kind,'' ``Jurassic Park,'' and the Oscar-winning ``Schindler's List''--seen by billions around the world--have forever changed the way movies are made. How was it that this ``movie brat'' became one of the most formidable players on the global entertainment scene? John Baxter has applied considerable scholarship in his quest to discover what makes Spielberg tick, and it is a success story that he tells with relish. Now in paperback, with a filmography and 55 photographs. John Baxter is a film critic, novelist and biographer; among his many books are Bunuel, Fellini, The Hollywood Exiles, and The Cinema of John Ford. 460 pp 5 x 8 55 b/w photos ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Entertaining but troubling
As someone relatively young, born and raised when Spielberg was already popular for Jaws, I've always found him an iconic figure but have never exactly been a fan-boy. Enjoyed the movies, but never really succumbed to worship. That said...

Mr. Baxter's attempt seems admirable on sight alone -- it's a large book -- but while reading I couldn't help but take issue with his tone and perspective. Rather than acknowledging the obvious talent it takes to craft the stories the way Spielberg does, the author focuses on an idea that Spielberg is more manipulative businessman than creative force.A simple viewing of even some of his earliest work, like Jaws, diminishes Mr. Baxter's point considerably.

Let's talk about the creative process and how he's able to visualize and achieve what he has; his business acumen at a young age just seems too obvious a point to harp on.

This book has plenty of interesting anecodotes and armchair-psychology ideas. But I'm struggling to get to page 200, don't feel compelled to finish and don't feel I've gleaned much as to HOW Spielberg gets things done as a director. I understand that biographers probably often feel the need to develop a strong point-of-view; maybe Mr. Baxter's attempt just missed the mark (for me).

Good, but not great.
While John Baxter's informative and interesting biography of Steven Spielberg is a solid examine, it fails to dig deep into its own questions and ethos. The early years at Universal Studios are well told and compelling, the author seems to lose interest halfway through concerning Temple of Doom and The Color Purple. Some chapters are prearranged too much breathing space, while other essential proceedings are frustratingly twee. To his credit, Baxter does a good job at showcasing some of the most excellent films (JAWS, RAIDERS and SCHINDLER'S LIST) but ultimately it lacks the depth that made Ian Freer's Spielberg book the best. This is one for the completists though, but for someone more perceptive, there are plenty of superior books.

I want more !
The book only scrathes the surface of this splendid director. Several chapters on the directors movies are simply to "thin". There's no information that we haven't heard of before. Instead read the book onGEORGE LUCAS by same auther. It's much better.

A very informative book about a great filmmaker
This is a very interesting book about a filmmaker. What i like is that it spends most about his career. It was very well written biography.

Don't be fooled
Despite its respectable cover this is only slightly more serious than the celebrity tell-alls of recent months. Incidentally it also has at least a couple of factual flaws even mild Internet research could have corrected ... Read more

Product Description
The Films of Steven Spielberg provides for the first time a collection of critical writings by professional film critics about the director and his films, bringing together many articles and reviews scattered in often inaccessible specialist publications and professional journals. The opinions vary from complimentary to critical, but they definitely provide a well-rounded view of the films and the director. Twelve of Spielberg's major box office sellers are represented in essays that vary complexity ranging from the heavily theoretical to the more general. For both film students and professionals in the film industry. ... Read more

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"Morton has written the definitive book on this innovative movie by Steven Spielberg...Meticulous research of this caliber is not found in other books on Close Encounters. Fans will find Morton's take informative and fascinating." - Library Journal. Steven Spielberg's 1977 masterpiece used all of the power and magic of cinema to tell a story of man's first meeting with extraterrestrial beings. Renouncing the fear and pessimism of the day, writer/director Spielberg boldly envisioned this as a peaceful, spiritual event full of hope and possibility. This awe-inspiring message made a powerful impact on audiences desperate for something to believe in. The film was a massive box-office hit and revolutionized the movie industry; along with Star Wars, it helped to create the modern blockbuster and ushered in a new era of hi-tech effects. Based on in-depth research and the recollections of many of the film's principal creators, Close Encounters is the first book to chronicle the making of this classic film from its inception through its tumultuous production to its many releases in "special" editions. The book features new interviews with star Teri Garr, producer Michael Phillips, photographic effects supervisor Douglas Trumbull, production designer Joe Alves, and several cinematographers, screenwriters, and special-effects legends. John Hill, Jerry Belson, Hal Barwood, and Matthew Robbins; and special effects legends Richard Yuricich, Robert Swarthe, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires, Greg Jein, and Rocco Gioffre. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

enjoyed the book
I liked this book very much. I have been involved in film work and digital imaging for years and enjoyed the technical descriptions of the difficult effects work. One of my favorite films and this book helped me appreciate the effort of all involved.

A remarkable tome
Ray Morton has done the impossible..He has managed to convey a movie that is so particular an experience in sound and vision, as to be almost inexpressible in words.This is an extraordinary book!The detail is vast and comprehensive, and written by a man who fell in love with this Spielberg-jewel as a child.His affection pours from every paragraph of this 383 page love letter to CE3K.I cannot think of any error in fact or judgement Mr. Morton has made.A flawless chronicle! The choice of photographic material is all rare and from personal archive.The interviews are soo many as to be dazzling.I never would have imagined that Ray Morton was not actually there, way back in 1977!And for that achievement alone.. this book is a marvel.

An excellent read
One can tell that Mr. Morton is not just a wonderful writer, but an
great fan of Mr. Spielberg and "Close Encounters."He delves into
the movie so completely that you almost feel you were there when the
movie was being made.
This is not just a great book for Spielberg fans, but should be a must
read for all film students out there.

A film geek's dream; a casual reader's nightmare
Morton is a far better researcher than he is a writer, and this book is an exhaustive, often turgid, dump of his research on the making of the film.

If you are interested in the nuts-and-bolts of '70s big-budget filmmaking, there is a wealth of information here on the twists and turns the production took and the intricacies of the special-effects methods (now obsoleted by digital effects).The photo section, for example, includes not one but *three* pictures of a mold used to create the bodies of some of the flying saucers.If that sounds like a good thing, this book is for you!

The general-interest reader, however, is likely to be frustrated with the level of detail offered as well as the stilted, cliched writing style (the author is so fond of adjectives such as "incredible" that one wishes Inigo Montoya might pay him a visit).Although he provides filmographies and short biographies for all the principals, Morton fails to provide any historical, social, or technological context and misses most opportunities to wring dramatic interest out of the interpersonal conflicts and artistic crises inherent in moviemaking.

Writing skills aside, the level of scholarship and completeness here is impressive, and there is undeniable value in the effort to capture and preserve the detailed history of this important film.

AWELL-DETAILED LOOK INTO A SCI-FI CLASSIC
I literally grew up on Spielberg's early films and was lucky enough to enjoy in my youth such classics as JAWS (an all-time fave), E.T. and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS.I can't put into words how amazing it was to see these films in a theatre with a fresh audience.Most prominent in my mind is CLOSE ENCOUNTERS for the simple fact that I got to see it at one of the best movie houses in L.A. -- The Cinerama Dome in Hollywood which featured a massive, arched screen (this was decades before IMAX) and incredible sound system.

Ray Morton has been able to bring back such fond moviegoing memories with his well detailed book on CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND that explores virtually every aspect of this movie's genesis.I felt like a kid again as I found myself reliving an incredible movie that has stood the test of time.And now there is a book to stand proudly at its side.

I should also mention that Mister Morton has another book called KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF AN ICON that I also found very entertaining and taught me pretty much every thing there is to know about the furry icon.
... Read more

Product Description
Explores the public and private lives of Steven Spielberg, who has combined popular storytelling with artistic creativity to become hailed as the most successful film director in the world. ... Read more

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A brief biography of the filmmaker whose creative drive has led him to make many different kinds of movies, including "Jaws," "Jurassic Park," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," and "Schindler's List." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

FANTASTIC!
This is a wonderful book written by a wonderfully talented writer.This is a great book for old and young alike!

LEARNING ABOUT CREATIVITY FROM THE LIFE OF STEVEN SPIELBERG
THIS WAS VERY INFORMATIVE IN REGARDS TO MR. SPIELBERG. THE BOOK DETAILSWHO EXACTLY THIS MAN IS, WHAT COMPELLS HIM TO DO THE MOVIES THAT HE DOESAND WHAT IS HIS DRIVING FORCE. A MUST READ FOR ANY MOVIE FAN, BUTESPECIALLY A SPIELBERG FAN! ... Read more

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This unauthorized biography recounts Speilberg's childhood, education, career, philanthropic endeavors and his latest filmmaking efforts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Spielberg
Two copies of Spielberg: The Man, The Movies, The Mythology arrived in great condition just 4 days after the order was placed on Amazon.com from this outside vendor in Pennsylvania.The books were less expensive than the shipping charges!My kids needed the books for a Spielberg film course that they are taking this summer at college.The book was chosen by the professor for the course text, but was not available for purchase at the college bookstore.The ease of purchase, great condition of the books and swift delivery makes this vendor most highly recommended.

critics - oh well
I got the 1996 edition of this book from the library that is somewhat shorter than the 2002 edition. This book is a great beginning - sharing enough to get a good feel for the humanity of Spielberg.

Details on the process of Schindler's List, the most impacting film I have ever experienced, I was great full to learn. Birthing the Shoa Foundation, what a magnificent thing to learn Spielberg is the catalyst, via Schindler's List. Also editing Jurassic park while shooting Schindler's, I found a powerful view of massive endurance.

Of people I have studied, Churchill is one of my favorites. In the film arena I am sure Spielberg is up there with Churchill in significance. However, Churchill is a pinnacle reason Hitler failed. There are massive numbers of books on Churchill's life, some more enjoyable than others. I am sure there are many more books on Spielberg- this one is a good beginning.

I caught the tail of an interview on television called "Spielberg on Spielberg." I was `wowed' with how tender Steven Spielberg presented himself and wanted to catch the whole piece. I could not find it anywhere. Calling my library this book was one of the few books they had. It's a great fast balance read.

I generally limit my reading to biographies, history, business, and data I have involvement. This biography is refreshing and easy. I have no doubt for the volumes of actions Steven Spielberg has made- no book of roughly 300 pages can make a dent in details. This book is a fine overview.

I read the critics of this book- oh well. The speed, balanced and endearing view of Steven Spielberg, a multifaceted gift to our world - this book has been well worth my time, even the 1996 edition. This book certainly reads smoother than half the biographies I've read.

THIS BOOK SUCKED
THIS BOOK SUCKED. the first ten pages were worth reading the rest of the book is not. The other two reviews hit the nail on the head. he repeats himself over and over after the first couple chapters and tells nothing more than the dates of his movies and divorces.DO NOT BUY!!

A Pop-Biography.
I'm not quite sure what Sanello was thinking, but his biography, SPIELBERG is the biography equivalent of a one-hit-wonder. The most significant part of the book is the first few chapters that deal with Spielberg's early life. I learned some things I didn't know before. However, I guess after Sanello finished talking with a few old friends and family, he figured that was all the real research he needed to do because the rest of the biography reads like an extended version of PEOPLE magazine. There are no juicy tidbits and no in-depth research or even assumptions about how Spielberg is able to do what he does. The few times that Sanello discusses skirmishes that Spielberg had with former cast members, a short ancedote is given about their careers after the film and that is about all. Not only that, but several times throughout the book, Sanello quotes himself verbatim from previous chapters; sounding more like a freshman college student taking Lit 101 than the famed biographer he is supposed to be. Overall, SPIELBERG was a major let down. It's worth reading for the first couple chapters about Spielberg's early days, but the rest of the novel you can read yourself in the trades, newspapers, and magazines.

Superficial and disappointing
Unlike weightier bigraphies like Kevin Brownlow's terrific "DavidLean" or Simon Callow's 'Orson Welles-The road to Xanadu," thisbook feels like author Sanello didn't look much further than magazinearticles and trade clips for research.According to the dust cover, he hadover half a dozen interviews (7? that must have been exhausting!) with thedirector himself and a handful of stars (though never really trulysubstantiated), but it doesn't seem like he thought about interviewingparents, siblings, co-workers, crew members, etc. for any more details orelucidations about this icon of American pop culture. His obviousadmiration and fawning over his subject distracts from any possibleobjectivity and also grows tiresome. The book offers a basic overview ofthe director's life and work but not much in terms of how he works,communicates, or thinks. For example, there's almost nothing about hisrelationship with pivotal Amblin producers Kathleen Kennedy and FrankMarshall.Didn't they ever argue, or disagree about anything?How wereprojects brought in to the company and what was Kennedy and Marshall'sthoughts about their boss? There is also no insight from productiondesigners or cinematographers or writers or producers he worked with. Formore than just a cursory look at this director's career (up to 1995) lookelsewhere. ... Read more

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Discusses the personal life and professional career of successful filmmaker, Steven Spielberg. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Book for son to read...
This book was bought for my 10-yr-old who was doing a bio. report...book in great condtion!

FOR MOVIE LOVERS
If you ever wanted to find out how Steven Spielberg got started REED THIS BOOK. Ted Gottfried knows what he is doing. This book tells about his childhood,collage,and TV years. The movies it gets into (in order)are duel, jaws, close encounters, Indiana Jones, E.T., the color purple, empire of the sun,hook, jurassic park, schindler's list, jurassic park 2, and saving private Ryan. I am doing a book report on this book. I love it! ... Read more

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Presents the childhood, career, and family life of the motion picture producer and director Steven Spielburg. ... Read more

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A simple and entertaining read about one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Unlike the biographies or film studies often published on him, this book aims to take a more fan oriented look at his career.

Justin Murphy has written a column on Steven Spielberg for Examiner.com He has also written several short stories and articles for Associated Content. Along with several short story collections and novellas released over the last several years. ... Read more