Steven Spielberg (Pocket Essential series) [Paperback]

James Clarke (Author)

Book Description

Series: Pocket Essential series | Publication Date: March 1, 2005

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. At the pinnacle of his career and entering his fourth decade as a director, Steven Spielberg is firmly established as the world's most popular filmmaker. Celebrated for his mastery of spectacle and fantasy, he has also proved his skill as a craftsman of compelling populist drama. Like the great directors of Hollywood's golden age, Spielberg has the facility to work across a range of subjects and genres, yet he always roots them in personal themes. This guide examines every Spielberg film since Duel and includes a complete overview of the work of this singular director.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“These miniature guides are packed to the margins with important facts and enlightening commentary.” -- Publishers Weekly --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are short, snappy, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, politics, and more. In addition to an introduction to the subject, each topic is individually analyzed and reviewed, examining its impact on popular culture or history. There¹s also a reference section that lists related web sites and weightier (and more expensive) books on the subject. For media buffs and students, these are great entry-level books that build into an essential library.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 94 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Essentials (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903047439
• ISBN-13: 978-1903047439
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,356,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #68 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( S ) > Spielberg, Steven

More About the Author

I arrived in the world in 1972 and I've been writing since I was twelve. My latest book is MOVIE MOVEMENTS: FILMS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD OF CINEMA and I'm currently at work on a range of new projects.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Dreck, March 3, 2010

By 

Paul Brunick (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Steven Spielberg (Pocket Essential series) (Paperback)

Poorly written, riddled with descriptive errors, padded with verbatim redundancies and IMDB boilerplate. Easily the worst book on film I have ever paid money for. (I had wanted to buy something cheap so I could test out my new Kindle...) When Clarke's descriptions aren't categorically inaccurate they are simply banal, plausible-sounding generalities. His technical vocabulary is on par with a Film Studies sophomore. His industry diagnostics are as authoritative as your average user comment on Ain't It Cool News. The book feels like a throwback to film studies monographs published in the early 60s, when the high-profile emergence of auteurism spiked public demand for director profiles but the publishing houses did not yet have editors in place who could distinguish between insightful criticism and empty hack-jobs. I googled Clarke's name and was shocked to see that he teaches at the university level. To the tenure committee at Hereford College of Art: take note.