Jar Jar Binks Must Die... and other Observations about Science Fiction Movies [Paperback]

Daniel M. Kimmel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2011

"[Kimmel's] writing is intelligent and entertaining.… his knowledge of SF movies is encyclopedic.… This is the guy you want sitting next to you when Channel 45 has a weekend 'sci-fi' movie marathon.… For anyone who likes SF movies, this volume is worth the price of admission." —Don Sakers, "The Reference Library", in Analog Science Fiction and Fact

"Kimmel displays expertise on the subject along with a lively sense of humor—scarcely a page is turned that doesn't yield a few good laughs.… Readers who already take science fiction seriously will enjoy the book's panoptic breadth and it's frank jubilation in its subject matter.… [Kimmel] makes it his business to guide his readers to science fiction films that are worthy of our attention as social commentary, whiz-bang spectacle, or works of entertainment that carry an extra edge.… the best advice to take with you on your foray into Jar Jar Binks Must Die is this: keep your Netflix wish list at the ready. You're going to revisit movies you hadn't thought about in years and be irresistibly tantalized by films you've never seen, and maybe never even heard of." —Kilian Melloy, in Edge Boston

"…the leading film voice in fandom today… Dan's look at all the SF Films of the previous century-plus is powerful and serious and smart and even sassy at points.… His look at Metropolis and Things to Come are both brilliant and much deeper and broader than mine in these pages.… I thought it was the best written look at Destination Moon I've ever read.… I could spend a day heaping praise on the essay 'Our Batman'.… So many great piece in here that I should just say this is the best film of essays about film of any nature that I've read in ages.… the best pieces of writing on SF Film you'll ever see!" —Chris Garcia, in The Drink Tank

"…one is left wanting more, which is a testament to Kimmel's writing abilities.… Even when you find yourself not agreeing with Kimmel—his take on E.T. is just plain wrong damn it!—the book remains worthwhile and thought-provoking.… Jar Jar Binks Must Die is worth a purchase." —Sci-Fi Movie Page

"A spirited explanation of the role of science fiction films in our culture. Any serious fan of the cinema must read this book." —Michael A. Burstein, John W. Campbell Award-winning author

Product Details

• Paperback: 190 pages
• Publisher: Fantastic Books (March 15, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1617200611
• ISBN-13: 978-1617200618
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,189,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a lawyer turned film critic who loves to get his college students excited about old movies and get senior groups open to seeing new ones. My philosophy comes from George Burns: find out what you enjoy doing and get someone to pay you for it. My interest runs from romantic comedy to science fiction films (the subjects of my last two books), and also includes Hitchcock, film noir, the great westerns, Truffaut, musicals, Keaton, Wilder, and many others. In my books I try to convey my enthusiasm as well as my knowledge hoping to get the reader to want to see (or resee) the films. I am past president of the Boston Society of Film Critics and founding co-chair of the Boston Online Film Critics Association.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Necessary Book For All Fans of the Cinema February 8, 2011

By Michael A. Burstein

Format:Paperback

"A spirited explanation of the role of science fiction films in our culture. Any serious fan of the cinema must read this book."

That's my blurb on the front of this book, and I stand by it 100%. Daniel M. Kimmel has written a book in which he defends the role of science fiction films in the culture, not that it should need defending. The essays in this book are a delight from start to finish as Kimmel, a well-known film critic and former president of the Boston Society of Film Critics, points out how science fiction is just as important a genre in film as romantic comedy, western, or drama. Furthermore, the book includes a few surprises, as Kimmel praises some films that one wouldn't expect and also critiques some that most consider classics in the field.

This very readable book will appeal to fans of science fiction and science fiction films, of course, but it's also an important book for anyone who wants to understand the role of film in our culture. It will entertain you as it delights you and makes you think. And it'll make you want to watch some of your favorite films over again.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Engaging Collection--Will Make You Think! March 21, 2011

By Daniel A. Miller

Format:Paperback

Having just read Mr. Kimmel's excellent collection of essays, I must give an unqualified, hearty recommendation!

Mr. Kimmel is engrossing, engaging, and entertaining as a writer, and his several essays undoubtedly make the reader think, as well as enjoy. Whether defending the right of science fiction film to be classified in the same breaths as romantic comedy or Western or noir--as it should be--or simply advocating for overlooked classics and semi-classics, Mr. Kimmel writes with a fluid, sincere style, by turns enthusiastic, indignant, and funny, as befits his role as an instructor of film at a respected Massachusetts university.

Perhaps one of the best compliments for a book is that it resonates with the reader; certainly several essays--particularly "SF, My Parents, and Me" and the titular essay--did so for me. But most importantly, Mr. Kimmel's collection resonates insofar as it offers encouragement to the reader to seek out movies that he or she perhaps had not considered; for me, "Gattaca" and "Happy Accidents" were the standouts.

If these are the goals of a book, Mr. Kimmel has both met and exceeded them.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh Waldo, Dan Kimmel Does It Again! December 18, 2011

By Dave

Format:Paperback

Having recently completed the lastest work in the Dan Kimmel canon, I have to say, this one may actually be among his 5 or 6 best. Dan's collection of essays explores many famous (and infamous) science fiction movies thematically. He spends significant amount of treespace defending science-fiction as a reputable film genre and indirectly, teaches the reader to differentiate between S/F and Sci-Fi.

And he does all this (and more) using a colloquial and easy-to-read style that belies his role as an academic of film studies. I'm sure that his students would be shocked to see him move beyond his typical lecturing bombast and write a book that even their parents could understand.

So, S/F true-believers and detractors all should buy and read this book. He might not change your opinion about science fiction films and their role in our society, but you will definitely enjoy the journey.

Note: For those of you who are concerned that this product might be unsafe, and therefore worthy of contacting U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), channel your irrational fears elsewhere.