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96 of 97 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Explain to me again why this wasn't even Emmy NOMINATED, November 29, 2002
This review is from: "Once More, With Feeling": The Script Book (Paperback)
I have three different CD versions and the "for your consideration" Emmy video tape, so of course I am going to add "the original shooting script from the acclaimed musical episode" of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." We all thought that once Joss Whedon was nominated for his script of "Hush" the Emmy people had recognized what great work he had been doing in relative obscurity over there on the WB. We figured "The Body" would obviously get a nomination, but that did not happen. Then we though "once More, With Feeling" was a no brainer, but, ironically, it turns out we were right and the people who do Emmy nominations do, in point of fact, have no brains. This edition of "Once More, With Feeling" proves once again that the "official" volumes associated with "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" are top drawer. What we have here is much more than the script, but let us start with that, because this is a Joss Whedon script, and if you have ever read one of these efforts you know that he tosses around editorial comments with gleeful abandon. For example, the script begins with the TEASER, which immediately explains how there is NO TEASER, but sketches what he would like to see if they have the time. Even if you have the entire script memorized, you will still have fun reading Joss' stage directions. This is essentially the shooting script, which is just a way of saying that you are not going to find lots of stuff that ended up on the cutting room floor, especially since the episode ran eight minutes over anyhow. Once you finish the script, you happily discover you are not even halfway through the book yet. There is a list of "Musical Terminology from the Script" that helpfully explains not only the basics such as melodies and verse, but also the pop culture references to Carmen Miranda's coconuts, Seventy-six (bloody) trombones and "Koombaya." Then we have "I've Got a Theory," where Joss not only explains about the genesis of this musical episode, but also offers insight on the role of music in the series (there is an especially interesting section that talks about "The Body"). Marti Noxon offers insights on the production problems and other behind the scenes personnel provide additional details, including the literary idea of nonstop dancing (i.e., "The Red Shoes"). "Something to sing about" provides a musical look at the episode, explaining the rational behind the various types of music. Of course, we already know that the strength of the songs were that they were so wonderfully character drive. "Where Do We Go From Here?" covers the rest of the season in answer to the musical question that closes the episode. Obviously, by this point we have more than gotten our money's worth from this volume but now we get to the color photographs taken mostly from the episode and then you get sheet music for all of the major songs (i.e., not for the bit pieces "Parking Ticket" and "They Got the Mustard Out"). That is certainly a lot for your money and a lot more than just the script and/or the sheet music. When you have a rare individual like Joss Whedon, who puts together a first rate-television show that keeps finding ways of establishing high water marks, and who also takes care of the show's fans in terms of products like this, then supporting him and his efforts through out patronage is both a privilege and a pleasure.
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43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Attention Buffy Fans - You NEED This Book!, March 20, 2003
This review is from: "Once More, With Feeling": The Script Book (Paperback)
The success of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Once More, With Feeling" has become somewhat of a media franchise, spawning a hit soundtrack, along with this superb book and the entire episode soon to be released on DVD. Usually such a craze over a certain thing would spoil the quality of it, but with "Once More, With Feeling," this is very much not the case. Any true Buffy fan will have come to realise that the Buffy books contained within official volumes are much more better than those of the unofficial variety - this book is no exception. The title of the book, "The Script Book," turns out to be deceiving on a number of counts. There are infact many more features to this book, but I'll begin with what the book is mainly about.
Anyone who has taken note of Joss Whedon's commentary will know he is a man who thrives on ridicule. His gentle humour in the "Introduction" adds to this. "Yes, gentle reader, this is your chance to gently read all about the trials and triumphs of one of the finest hours (and eight minutes) of television ever to air on that particular night," comments Joss. The genius is fully aware of the attention and praise the episode has received, and never likes to take himself seriously. He goes on to state, "I love musicals, and whether mine is forgotten in thirty seconds or remembered for minutes to come, I'm proud to have made one." He obviously knows that it'll be remembered for decades to come, but, yet again, shows his humorous side. After this, you are treated to "Preface - Going Through The Motions," which is a two-page insight into the goings-on in the six episodes before the main episode. We then move onto the big one: the full script of "Once More, With Feeling," which gives us a brilliant look at the stage directions of Joss, and also a few sections of the script that were edited out.
After this excellent script to the greatest hour of TV ever, we're treated to "Life's A Show," which is a short, but brilliant look at "Musical Terminology From The Script." For example, in bold lettering is the actual phrase/stage direction from the episode, such as, "Six-hundred-pound Charago demon making like Yma Sumac." This is then followed by the description, "Spike is referring to a noted Peruvian singer, known for her incredible vocal range." After this section, we move onto "Behind The Scenes," an in depth look at how "Once More, With Feeling" came about. This 20 page part is split into three segments under the titles of "I've Got A Theory," "What Can't We Face," and "Something To Sing About." This section truly is brilliant, as we get to look at the triumphs of the episode, along with everything from hectic schedules, filming the episode, recording the music, writing the lyrics and much, much more! We then move onto "Epilogue - Where Do We Go From Here?" Just like "Preface - Going Through The Motions" earlier on in the book which focused on the season's events before the episode, this section looks at the aftermath and consequences of the episode; in other words, the major events such as Xander and Anya's disastrous wedding, Buffy and Spike's sexcapades and Willow's climax of dark magic obsession. We then move onto eight pages of full-colour pictures of Buffy and the gang, along with screenshots from "Once More, With Feeling." These images are also accompanied with little phrases spoken by the people in the episode. Now we move onto the final section of the book, "Sheet Music." This hefty section of the book almost makes up for half the pages in which we focus in on the music of the episode, so you can play along the songs on your piano/keyboard. I myself don't understand it, so it's a waste for me, but it'll be very handy for those of you who want to play the music of the songs.
OVERALL GRADE: 10/10
After this "Sheet Music" section, there are a few advertisements that include the soundtrack to "Once More, With Feeling," along with the American DVD collection of Season 2 (this book is an American-edition). There's also advertisements for TV shows such as Angel, Charmed and Roswell. Don't ask me why they're there, I have never seen an episode of either, but I suppose it's within the genre of Buffy...and will make some fat-cat businessman even richer. In conclusion, this is perhaps the best Buffy book I have ever bought, except for The Watcher's Guides Volumes 1 and 2. If you love anything to do with Buffy and especially the musical episode, you have to buy this now!
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Buffy item for the collector, February 15, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: "Once More, With Feeling": The Script Book (Paperback)
I'm a big fan of Buffy, and was overjoyed when I found this book in my local bookstore. I loved the musical episode last season, and so it's great that the script and some neat photos are included. However, if you're interested in this book for some Buffy sheet music, I wouldn't recommend it. The arrangements included are vocal scores with piano accompaniment. I play the piano myself, and was hoping to be able to play the songs from OMWF, but they not are arranged for piano alone. So, in short, great book if you loved the episode and the show in general, but don't buy it for the sheet music.
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