Download or read book Jar Jar Binks Must Die written by Daniel M. Kimmel and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 190 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the title "Jar Jar Binks Must Die" indicates, Daniel M. Kimmel is not only a film critic with strong opinions, he's also a fan. In this collection of essays, he covers movies from "Metropolis" (1927), answering the absurd claim that the restoration of this silent classic negated its status as a science fiction film, to how "Star Trek," "Avatar," "Moon," and "District 9" may have made 2009 a "miracle year" for the genre. Along the way he looks at neglected works like "Things to Come" (1936), explains why remakes aren't always bad, and how seeing "E.T." in an empty screening room changed his mind about Steven Spielberg. Whether to rediscover old favorites or add new titles to your Netflix queue, this is a must-have for lovers of SF movies. Author Bio Daniel M. Kimmel is a past president of the Boston Society of Film Critics. When it was discovered he is also a science fiction fan he started getting invitations to participate at a number of SF conventions, which he continues to do. He reviewed for the "Worcester Telegram and Gazette" and now writes for Northshoremovies.net. He is a correspondent for "Variety," the "Movie Maven" for the "Jewish Advocate" and teaches film--including a course on SF and horror--at Suffolk University. His essays on classic science films have appeared in several publications including "Clarkesworld," "Space and Time," and the Internet Review of Science Fiction. He is the author of a history of FOX TV, "The Fourth Network" (2004) which received the Cable Center Book Award. His other books include a history of DreamWorks, "The Dream Team" (2006) and "I'll Have What She's Having: Behind the Scenes of the Great Romantic Comedies" (2008).
Download or read book Jar Jar Binks Must Die and Other Observations about Science Fiction Movies written by Daniel M. Kimmel and published by . This book was released on 2018-08-21 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: More than 40 essays on science fiction film, it's history, reviews, and commentary, by leading science fiction film critic Daniel M. Kimmel.
Download or read book Darth Jar Jar and Other Surprisingly Plausible Star Wars Theories written by Stuart Carapola and published by . This book was released on 2016-10-13 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: No series of movies in history has a more devout following than the Star Wars saga, and with that following comes the advent of the crazed fan who looks deeper into the mythos than even George Lucas himself probably ever did. Over time, these fans have developed an array of theories that somehow seem plausible enough that, if you didn't know better, you'd swear they were intentionally hidden subplots. This book collects several of the most popular of these theories so you can decide if there might just be more to what we saw in the Star Wars series than meets the eye!Some of the theories explored in this book include:-Jar Jar Binks Is Secretly A Powerful Sith Lord-Supreme Leader Snoke is really Darth Plageuis-Chewbacca and R2-D2 are the real masterminds of the Rebellion-Mace Windu thought he was the Chosen One-Poe Dameron is a double agent for the First Order-And more!
Download or read book City of Saints and Madmen written by Jeff VanderMeer and published by Picador. This book was released on 2022-01-11 with total page 674 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From Jeff VanderMeer, the author of Borne and Annihilation, comes the paperback reissue of his cult classic City of Saints and Madmen. In this reinvention of the literature of the fantastic, you hold in your hands an invitation to a place unlike any you’ve ever visited—an invitation delivered by one of our most audacious and astonishing literary magicians. City of elegance and squalor. Of religious fervor and wanton lusts. And everywhere, on the walls of courtyards and churches, an incandescent fungus of mysterious and ominous origin. In Ambergris, a would-be suitor discovers that a sunlit street can become a killing ground in the blink of an eye. An artist receives an invitation to a beheading—and finds himself enchanted. And a patient in a mental institution is convinced that he’s made up a city called Ambergris, imagined its every last detail, and that he’s really from a place called Chicago . . . By turns sensuous and terrifying, filled with exotica and eroticism, this interwoven collection of stories, histories, and “eyewitness” reports invokes a universe within a puzzle box where you can lose—and find—yourself again.
Download or read book Hail to the Chin written by Bruce Campbell and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2017-08-15 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New York Times bestseller Introduction by New York Times bestselling author and famous minor television personality John Hodgman One of my dad’s favorite jokes about getting older was: “I went out for coffee when I was twenty-one and when I got back I was fifty-eight!” I get what he meant now. Time flies. My first book, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a "B" Movie Actor, was published back in 2001 and it chronicles the adventures of a “mid-grade, kind of hammy actor" (my words), cutting his teeth on exploitation movies far removed from mainstream Hollywood. This next book, an “Act II” if you will, could be considered my “maturing years” in show business, when I began to say “no” more often and gravitated toward self-generated material. Taking stock in the overall quality of my life, I fled Los Angeles and moved to a remote part of Oregon to renew, regroup and reload. If that sounds tame, the journey from Evil Dead to Spider-Man to Burn Notice was long, with plenty of adventures/mishaps along the way. I never pictured myself hovering above Baghdad in a Blackhawk helicopter, facing a pack of wild dogs in Bulgaria, or playing an aging Elvis Presley with cancer on his penis - how can you predict this stuff? The sheer lunacy of show business is part of the fun for me and I hope you'll come along for the ride. – Bruce “Don’t Call Me Ash” Campbell
Download or read book Ambiguity in Star Wars and Harry Potter written by Christina Flotmann and published by transcript Verlag. This book was released on 2014-03-31 with total page 395 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The study combines theories of myth, popular culture, structuralism and poststructuralism to explain the enormous appeal of »Star Wars« and »Harry Potter«. Although much research already exists on both stories individually, this book is the first to explicitly bring them together in order to explore their set-up and the ways in which their structures help produce ideologies on gender and ethnicity. Hereby, the comparison yields central insights into the workings of modern myth and uncovers structure as integral to the success of the popular genre. It addresses academic audiences and all those wishing to approach the tales from a fresh angle.
Download or read book Shh It s a Secret written by Daniel M. Kimmel and published by Fantastic Books. This book was released on 2013-01-01 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 2014 COMPTON CROOK AWARD FINALIST. The Brogardi appeared out of nowhere, and -- telegraphing their peaceful intentions -- they landed in the middle of nowhere: New York State's Catskills Mountains resorts. It was an alien invasion, of the most peaceful, friendly kind. But there had to be something sinister behind it all, right? Movie executive Jake Berman lives fiction for a living, promoting movies to the masses. He's happy, and only moderately harried. But his peaceful existence is thrown into overdrive when one of the aliens sets his sights beyond the decaying resorts of the east -- when he decides it's time to invade Hollywood Daniel M. Kimmel is a film critic and professor of film. His book on the history of FOX TV, "The Fourth Network" received the Cable Center Book Award. His other books include a history of DreamWorks, "The Dream Team," and "I'll Have What She's Having: Behind the Scenes of the Great Romantic Comedies." His collection of essays, "Jar Jar Binks Must Die... and other Observations about Science Fiction Movies," was a 2012 nominee for the Hugo Award for Best Related Work. He is a past president of the Boston Society of Film Critics, and current co-chair of the Boston Online Film Critics Association. This is his first novel. " Kimmel's first novel is] a true joy... let's hope there are more to come." --Don Sakers, "Analog Science Fiction and Fact" "This is the book we've been waiting for from Dan Kimmel -- funny, knowing, fast paced, full of humor, and told with a big heart. An absolute joy." ---Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of "Red Planet Blues" "Dan Kimmel's first novel is a funny and delightful tour de force that will appeal to movie fans as well as science-fiction readers." --Michael A. Burstein, John W. Campbell Award-winning author of "I Remember the Future" "Exceptionally funny... pretty damned spectacular... this is the funniest book of the year and one of the best debut SF novels in ages " --Chris Garcia, "The Drink Tank"
Download or read book Uncle John s Endlessly Engrossing Bathroom Reader written by Bathroom Readers' Institute and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2011-10-01 with total page 589 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Strategically placed near the best seat in your home, Uncle John’s Endlessly Engrossing Bathroom Reader is jam-packed with great bathroom reading. It’s the gift that keeps on giving...and giving...and giving.... The BRI’s 22nd all-new edition--Uncle John’s Endlessly Engrossing Bathroom Reader--is like reading several books all rolled into one: a history book, a weird news anthology, a science text, a dictionary, a how-to manual, a sports magazine, a joke book…and the list goes on and on. Since 1987, the Bathroom Readers’ Institute has led the movement to stand up for those who sit down and read in the bathroom (and everywhere else for that matter). With more than 11 million books in print, the Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader series is the longest-running, most popular series of its kind in the world. Where else could you learn about the lost cloud people of Peru, the world’s first detective, and the history of surfing? Uncle John rules the world of information and humor, so get ready to be thoroughly entertained. Read all about… * Soda pop flops * Spider farms * England’s Secret UFO Files * Real hillbilly recipes * Webster’s least-wanted words * Super-trains * And much more!
Download or read book The Phantom Menace Star Wars Episode I written by Terry Brooks and published by Random House Worlds. This book was released on 2011-06-28 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, an evil legacy long believed dead is stirring. Now the dark side of the Force threatens to overwhelm the light, and only an ancient Jedi prophecy stands between hope and doom for the entire galaxy. On the green, unspoiled world of Naboo, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, arrive to protect the realm’s young queen as she seeks a diplomatic solution to end the siege of her planet by Trade Federation warships. At the same time, on desert-swept Tatooine, a slave boy named Anakin Skywalker, who possesses a strange ability for understanding the “rightness” of things, toils by day and dreams by night—of becoming a Jedi Knight and finding a way to win freedom for himself and his beloved mother. It will be the unexpected meeting of Jedi, Queen, and a gifted boy that will mark the start of a drama that will become legend. Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years, plus a brand-new Darth Maul short story by New York Times bestselling author James Luceno!
Download or read book Sense of Wonder written by Leigh Grossman and published by Wildside Press LLC. This book was released on 2011-12-20 with total page 7287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A survey of the last 100 years of science fiction, with representative stories and illuminating essays by the top writers, poets, and scholars, from Edgar Rice Burroughs and Samuel Butler to Robert A. Heinlein and and Jack Vance, from E.E. "Doc" Smith and Clifford D. Simak to Ted Chiang and Charles Stross-- and everyone in between. More than one million words of classic fiction and essays!
Download or read book SPIN written by and published by . This book was released on 1999-10 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the concert stage to the dressing room, from the recording studio to the digital realm, SPIN surveys the modern musical landscape and the culture around it with authoritative reporting, provocative interviews, and a discerning critical ear. With dynamic photography, bold graphic design, and informed irreverence, the pages of SPIN pulsate with the energy of today's most innovative sounds. Whether covering what's new or what's next, SPIN is your monthly VIP pass to all that rocks.
Download or read book The World According to Star Wars written by Cass R. Sunstein and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2016-05-31 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER #1 Washington Post Bestseller There’s Santa Claus, Shakespeare, Mickey Mouse, the Bible, and then there’s Star Wars. Nothing quite compares to sitting down with a young child and hearing the sound of John Williams’s score as those beloved golden letters fill the screen. In this fun, erudite, and often moving book, Cass R. Sunstein explores the lessons of Star Wars as they relate to childhood, fathers, the Dark Side, rebellion, and redemption. As it turns out, Star Wars also has a lot to teach us about constitutional law, economics, and political uprisings. In rich detail, Sunstein tells the story of the films’ wildly unanticipated success and explores why some things succeed while others fail. Ultimately, Sunstein argues, Star Wars is about freedom of choice and our never-ending ability to make the right decision when the chips are down. Written with buoyant prose and considerable heart, The World According to Star Wars shines a bright new light on the most beloved story of our time.
Download or read book Uncle John s Facts to Go Modern Mythology written by Bathroom Readers' Institute and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2014-03-01 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Myth meets reality in this one-of-a-kind book that could only come from everyone’s favorite folk hero—Uncle John! The ancient Greeks had Zeus; today we have the Burger King…king. In Modern Mythology, you’ll meet the world’s most fascinating heroes, villains, and corporate spokesthingies. Featuring Bathroom Reader classics plus a few new treasures, you’ll discover truths and untruths, and learn the real stories behind some of today’s tallest tales. So sit back and let Uncle John take you on an epic journey of modern make-believe! Immerse yourself in… • Gnomes in the gnews • The Whopperknocker, Whirling Whumpus, and other cousins of Sasquatch • Ronald McDonald’s relentless rise to the top • On tour with Paul Bunyan • 5 Movies that mythed the point • Who was Kilroy, and why was he here? • Common misconceptions that refuse to go away • Urban Legends that turned out to be true • The secret of the Loch Ness Monster finally explained …and much, much more!
Download or read book Baker Street Irregulars The Game is Afoot written by Michael A. Ventrella and published by Diversion Books. This book was released on 2018-04-24 with total page 315 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Thirteen contemporary authors—including Narrelle M. Harris and Jody Lynn Nye—riff on the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes in this imaginative anthology. In the first Baker Street Irregulars anthology, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s brilliant and beloved character appeared as a hologram, a parrot with great deductive skill, and on a reality show. Now in this second edition, thirteen more authors offer their own highly original takes on the mystery genre’s greatest crime solver. In Keith DeCandido’s “Six Red Dragons,” Sherlock is a young girl in modern New York City. In Sarah Stegall’s “Papyrus,” Sherlock is a female librarian in ancient Egypt. In Daniel M. Kimmel’s “A Scandal in Chelm,” Sherlock is a rabbi. Derek Beebe sends Sherlock to the moon, while Mike Strauss casts him as a comic book character. The settings of these stories range from a grade school classroom to an alien spaceship. While preserving the timeless charm and intrigue of Sherlock Holmes, these authors pen stories of the world’s greatest detective as you’ve never seen him before.
Download or read book Culture Identities and Technology in the Star Wars Films written by Carl Silvio and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2014-11-26 with total page 245 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Released in May 1977, the original Star Wars movie inaugurated the age of the movie blockbuster. It also redefined the use of cinematic special effects, creating a new textual universe that now stretches through three decades, two trilogies and generations of fascinated viewers. The body of critical analysis that has developed from this epic focuses primarily on the Star Wars universe as a contemporary myth. However, like any fiction, it must also be viewed--and consequently analyzed--as a product of the culture which created it. The essays in this book analyze the Star Wars trilogies as a culturally and historically specific phenomenon. Moving away from the traditional myth-based criticism of the films, the essayists employ a cultural studies model to examine how this phenomenon intersects with social formations such as economics, technology, race and gender. Critical approaches are varied and include political and economic analysis informed by feminism, contemporary race theory, Marxism, new media studies and post-humanism. Among the topics covered are the connections between the trilogies and our own cultural landscape; the problematic issues of race and gender; and the thematic implications of Lucas' presentation of technology. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.
Download or read book The Future of Ideas written by Lawrence Lessig and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2002-10-22 with total page 378 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Internet revolution has come. Some say it has gone. In The Future of Ideas, Lawrence Lessig explains how the revolution has produced a counterrevolution of potentially devastating power and effect. Creativity once flourished because the Net protected a commons on which widest range of innovators could experiment. But now, manipulating the law for their own purposes, corporations have established themselves as virtual gatekeepers of the Net while Congress, in the pockets of media magnates, has rewritten copyright and patent laws to stifle creativity and progress. Lessig weaves the history of technology and its relevant laws to make a lucid and accessible case to protect the sanctity of intellectual freedom. He shows how the door to a future of ideas is being shut just as technology is creating extraordinary possibilities that have implications for all of us. Vital, eloquent, judicious and forthright, The Future of Ideas is a call to arms that we can ill afford to ignore.
Download or read book The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy written by Jason T. Eberl and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2015-10-12 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Does it take faith to be a Jedi? Are droids capable of thought? Should Jar Jar Binks be held responsible for the rise of the Empire? Presenting entirely new essays, no aspect of the myth and magic of George Lucas’s creation is left philosophically unexamined in The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy. The editors of the original Star Wars and Philosophy strike back in this Ultimate volume that encompasses the complete Star Wars universe Presents the most far-reaching examination of the philosophy behind Star Wars – includes coverage of the entire film catalogue to date as well as the Expanded Universe of novels, comics, television series, games and toys Provides serious explorations into the deeper meaning of George Lucas’s philosophically rich creation Topics explored include the moral code of bounty-hunter favourite Boba Fett, Stoicism and the Jedi Order, the nature of the Dark Side, Anakin and Achilles in a nihilism face-off, feminism and being chained to a giant slug, cloning, de-extinction, fatherhood, Wookiees, loyalty, betrayal, guardians, republics, tyrants, terrorism, civic duty, friendship, family, and more!
