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(Applause Books). In the year 2002, An Askew View: The Films of
Kevin Smith was the first book to gaze at the cinema of one of New
Jersey's favorite sons, the independent and controversial auteur of
Clerks (1994), Mallrats (1995), Chasing Amy (1997), Dogma (1999)
and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001). Now, a full decade after
that successful original edition, award-winning author John Kenneth
Muir returns to the View Askewniverse to consider Kevin Smith's
second controversial decade as a film director, social gadfly, and
beloved media "talker." From Jersey Girl (2004) to the
controversial Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008), from the
critically derided Cop-Out (2010) to the incendiary and provocative
horror film Red State (2011), An Askew View 2 studies the Kevin
Smith movie equation as it exists today, almost two full decades
after Smith maxed out his credit card, made Clerks with his
friends, shopped it at Sundance, and commenced his Hollywood
journey. In addition to Kevin Smith's films, An Askew View 2
remembers the short-lived Clerks cartoon (2000) and diagrams the
colorful Smith Lexicon.
I want my films to explode with life. aMira Nair. This the first
book to examine the films of the acclaimed and popular Indian-born
and Harvard educated filmmaker Mira Nair. A unique voice in cinema
today she is one of the few female directors who made it to the top
of a male-dominated profession. Her films feature an incomparably
sensuous visual style yet at the same time often record the
injustice of the disenfranchised and the cross-pollination of East
and West. Her twin themes of realism and romance make for dazzling
cinema.THJohn Kenneth Muir analyzes all of Nair's work
including:THU ESalaam Bombay!E (1988) the groundbreaking story of a
young boy abandoned by his family on the streets of Bombay.THU
EMississippi MasalaE (1991) an interracial small town romance
between an Indian woman (Sarita Choudhury) and an African American
businessman (Denzel Washington).THU EMonsoon WeddingE (2001)
featuring a Bollywood carnival atmosphere one of the most
successful foreign films ever released in the United States.THU
EHysterical BlindnessE (2002) the HBO film featuring Uma Thurman
and Juliette Lewis looking for love in all the wrong places.THU The
big-budget Hollywood adaptation of the Thackery novel EVanity FairE
(2004) starring Reese Witherspoon Gabriel Byrne and Eileen Atkins.
EBest in ShowE is the first in-depth look at the method behind film
director and actor Christopher Guest's madness a and genius. John
Kenneth Muir focuses his attention on the acclaimed Guest-directed
trilogy of what some call mockumentaries : EWaiting for GuffmanE
EBest in ShowE and EA Mighty WindE. In these films Guest has
escorted rapt audiences into the purportedly real worlds of a
small-town theatrical company dog show competition and folk music
festival. Muir also details the events that lead to Rob Reiner's
influential and legendary EThis Is Spinal TapE which ERolling
StoneE called the best rock and roll movie of all time and in which
Guest played the part of guitarist Nigel Tufnel.THMuch of EBest in
ShowE exemplifies the unique process by which Guest directs films.
He employs a common repertory company improvises scenes often
without any rehearsal and does not use any screenplay with dialogue
instead following a detailed outline often co-authored with his ace
actor/writer Eugene Levy. Company members that have been
interviewed for this book include Fred Willard Harry Shearer Bob
Balaban and Michael Hitchcock.THGuest's influences a ESaturday
Night LiveE ENational LampoonE a as well as his more conventional
comedies such as EThe Big PictureE and EAlmost HeroesE are studied.
EBest in ShowE is general enough to bring new fans to the table yet
detailed enough to satisfy the most in-the-know Guest fan and film
student. A complete filmography with Guest's directing acting and
writing credits is included as is the appendix You Know You're in a
Christopher Guest Film When ... THGuest once commented I am drawn
to people who have dreams that are slightly out of reach. Now
thanks to John Kenneth Muir the fascinating world of Christopher
Guest and company is substantially more within reach.
The life and work of legendary cult-film director Sam Raimi Raimi
has three film in production/post-production for 2004-5 release
Film historian and popular writer JK Muir turns his attention to
the life and work of legendary cult-film director Sam Raimi who
exploded onto the movie scene in 1982, when he was 23, with the
audacious, independently produced horror film The Evil Dead. There
were two Evil Dead sequels, the critically acclaimed A Simple Plan
starring Billy Bob Thornton (1999), The Gift starring Kate
Blanchett (2000), and in 2002 Raimi's Spider-Man had the biggest
opening weekend in film history - netting USD114 million at the box
office. The Unseen Force also features a sneak peek at the
much-anticipated Spider-Man 2. Raimi's influence on other
filmmakers continues to be enormous - from the "shaky cam" shots of
the Coen brothers to the early oeuvre of Lord of the Rings director
Peter Jackson, both of whom have been termed the "direct progeny"
of Raimi's works.
(Applause Books). When CLERKS opened at cinemas across the country
in 1994, it took everyone, especially the film industry, by
surprise. Filmed on a shoestring budget after hours at a
convenience store, it was crude (in technique and language),
realistic and, above all, hilarious. The movie's nationwide success
helped launch the indepedent film boom of the 1990s and catapulted
its director, Kevin Smith, to full-fledged stardom. Smith's work is
explored in AN ASKEW VIEW, the first ever study of his films. John
Kenneth Muir examines all of Smith's movies. including MALLRATS,
CHASING AMY, and the hugely controversial and variously interpreted
DOGMA. Muir discusses Smith's themes and obsessions in depth: his
New Jersey boosterism, the cast of characters that pop in and out
of all of his films, and the references to STAR WARS and other
icons of pop culture. AN ASKEW VIEW is a fascinating and detailed
history of the art of this visionary filmmaker, New Jersey's
favorite local-boy-makes-good since Bruce Springsteen.
The sound of chainsaws revving on 'haunted' Halloween trails has
evoked untold screams since Tobe Hooper's 1974 ""The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre"" hit the cinemas. Since that first take-no-prisoners
horror movie, Hooper's reputation as a master of horror has been
secured by his adaptations of Stephen King (""Salem's Lot"", 1978,
and ""The Mangler"", 1995), his blockbuster breakthrough
""Poltergeist"" (1982) and a variety of cult hits, from the
underrated ""Lifeforce"" (1985) to the remake of ""Invaders from
Mars"" (1986). This reference work is divided into five parts. Part
I provides a history and overview of Tobe Hooper's career. Part II
offers entries (with synopses, complete credits, critical reception
and commentaries) on every feature film by year of release. Part
III provides chronological information on Hooper's television
movies and miniseries. Part IV offers entries on his episodes from
horror television series. Part V is a critical essay and conclusion
which places Hooper in horror film history and compares his work to
all-time greats such as Romero, Craven and Carpenter.
Since its inception in November 1963, the British science fiction
television series ""Doctor Who"" has exerted an enormous impact on
the world of science fiction (over 1,500 books have been written
about the show). The series follows the adventures of a mysterious
""Time Lord"" from the distant planet Gallifrey who travels through
time and space to fight evil and injustice. Along the way, he has
visited Rome under the rule of Nero, played backgammon with Kublai
Khan, and participated in the mythic gunfight at the O.K.
Corral.Predating the ""Star Trek"" phenomenon by three years,
""Doctor Who"" seriously dealt with continuing characters, adult
genre principles and futuristic philosophies. Critical and
historical examinations of the ideas, philosophies, conceits and
morals put forth in the ""Doctor Who"" series, which ran for 26
seasons and 159 episodes, are provided here. Also analyzed are
thematic concepts, genre antecedents, the overall cinematography
and the special effects of the long-running cult favorite. The
various incarnations of ""Doctor Who"", including television,
stage, film, radio, and spin-offs are discussed. In addition, the
book provides an extensive listing of print, Internet, and fan club
resources for ""Doctor Who"".
When the space drama ""Battlestar Galactica"" debuted on ABC in
1978, it was expected to be the most popular new program of the
year. Instead, it was attacked as a Star Wars rip-off and canceled
after a mere 17 stories. The author acknowledges the show was full
of dramatic cliches and scientific inaccuracies, but despite these
shortcomings, ""Battlestar Galactica"" was a dramatically resonant
series full of unique and individual characters, such as Commander
Adama (Lorne Greene) and ace warrior Captain Apollo (Richard
Hatch). The author contends that ""Battlestar Galactica"" was a
memorable attempt to make science fiction accessible to mainstream
television audiences. The brilliant work of artist John Dykstra
brought a new world of special effects to network television.
""Battlestar Galactica"" also skillfully exploited legends and
names from both the Bible and ancient mythology, which added a
layer of depth and maturity to the weekly drama.
Starring internationally renowned actors Martin Landau, Barbara
Bain, Barry Morse and Catherine Schell, the British-made Space:
1999 was the only truly original space adventure of the mid-1970s.
Sandwiched between the demise of the original Star Trek and the
opening of the Stars Wars series on the big screen, Space: 1999
featured a richly-visualized world where space was terrifying and
mysterious, where not all problems were solvable by technology and
the space travelers were very human. From the science fiction
show's conception in 1973 to its cancellation in 1977, this
reference work covers each of the 48 episodes in depth, including a
full plot synopsis, writer, director, guest star credits, and
critical commentary that examines both the episode and other shows
that have used similar plotlines. The popularity of Space: 1999
memorabilia and its many fan clubs are fully discussed, along with
the possibility of a future movie or reunion show that would tie up
the loose ends caused by the show's abrupt cancellation.
Filmmaker Wes Craven has consistently and imaginatively scared
movie audiences since the early 1970s. His films encompass a
variety of styles, elements and themes, from the nihilistic
existentialism of The Last House on the Left to the successful A
Nightmare on Elm Street (which sent horror in a bold new
direction), to the hallucinatory dreamscapes of The Serpent and the
Rainbow. And in the nineties, Craven returned with the Scream
films, which were simultaneously funny, clever and scary films that
overturned the horror cliches of the eighties. The present work
provides a history of Craven's film career since 1972, examining
all the themes and techniques the filmmaker explored. For each
film, a synopsis, cast and credits, historical context, and
critical commentary are provided. Also covered in detail are
Craven's forays into television, including movies such as Stranger
in the House and work on such series as The New Twilight Zone.
The films of John Carpenter cover a tremendous range and yet all
bear his clear personal stamp. From the horrifying (Halloween) to
the touching (Starman) to the controversial (The Thing) to the
comic (Big Trouble in Little China), his films reflect a unique
approach to filmmaking and singular views of humanity and American
culture. This analysis of Carpenter's films includes a historical
overview of his career, and in-depth entries on each of his films,
from 1975's Dark Star to 1998's Vampires. Complete cast and
production information is provided for each. The book also covers
those films written and produced by Carpenter, such as Halloween II
and Black Moon Rising, as well as Carpenter's work for television.
Appendices are included on films Carpenter was offered but turned
down, the slasher films that followed in the wake of the
highly-successful Halloween, the actors and characters who make
repeated appearances in Carpenter's films, and ratings for
Carpenter's work. Notes, bibliography, and index are included.
Horror films have always reflected their audiences' fears and
anxieties. In the United States, the 2000s were a decade full of
change in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the contested
presidential election of 2000, and the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. These social and political changes, as well as the
influences of Japanese horror and New French extremism, had a
profound effect on American horror filmmaking during the 2000s.
This filmography covers more than 300 horror films released in
America from 2000 through 2009, including such popular forms as
found footage, torture porn, and remakes. Each entry covers a
single film and includes credits, a synopsis, and a lengthy
critical commentary. The appendices include common horror
conventions, a performer hall of fame, and memorable ad lines.
This filmography covers more than 300 horror films released from
1990 through 1999. The horror genre's trends and cliches are
connected to social and cultural phenomena, such as Y2K fears and
the Los Angeles riots. Popular films were about serial killers,
aliens, conspiracies, and sinister "interlopers," new monsters who
shambled their way into havoc. Each of the films is discussed at
length with detailed credits and critical commentary. There are six
appendices: 1990s cliches and conventions, 1990s hall of fame,
memorable ad lines, movie references in Scream, 1990s horrors vs.
The X-Files, and the decade's ten best.
Providing a career-spanning view of everyone's favorite geek writer
and director, Joss Whedon FAQ offers answers to fans' questions
about one of the most significant pop culture auteurs of the past
twenty-five years. The book gazes at Whedon's early work in
Hollywood as a script doctor on films such The Quick and the Dead
(1995) and Waterworld (1995), and follows his career as he became
the cult-favorite creator of such sensations as Buffy the Vampire
Slayer, Angel, Firefly, and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. In
addition to looking at Whedon's ascent to blockbuster superhero
filmmaking with titles such as The Avengers, The Avengers: Age of
Ultron, and Justice League, this eminently readable compendium
explores Whedon's lesser known but no less fascinating forays into
the world of Shakespeare (Much Ado About Nothing) and even
big-screen romantic fantasy (In Your Eyes). The book closes with
discussions of Whedon's politics and feminism, as well as a catalog
of his (unofficial) repertory company and a list of the most
memorable on-screen character deaths in his canon.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Films of the 1970s by John Kenneth Muir
is a detailed history and analysis of more than 100 genre films
produced between the span of 1970 - 1979. The book looks at the
historical context of dystopian, post-apocalyptic, and outer space
movies of the day, and reveals how these movies are both a look at
tomorrow and a product of their times.
If you've ever wished you could learn more about the Planet of the
Apes mythos... if you've devoured the films and TV series, but have
never read the comic books or novels that continued their story...
if you're tantalized by time travel and titillated by trivia... if
you think you know all there is to know about simian society...
then Lexicon of the Planet of the Apes, from Hasslein Books, is
meant for you. Designed for both casual readers and those who
devour encyclopedias from start to finish, Lexicon of the Planet of
the Apes will help you learn everything there is to know about the
upside-down world of Planet of the Apes.
The second volume in a unique new series. Film and TV expert John
Kenneth Muir returns with a second edition of a survey of the most
recent prime-time season. TV Year - Volume 2 covers 200 dramas,
sitcoms, reality shows, game shows, and more, from all the major
broadcast and cable networks. Every significant prime time (8:
00-11: 00 P.M.) broadcast series, both new and returning, that
aired on television from August 2006 through July 2007 is included.
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