Reel Views: The Ultimate Guide to the Best 1,000 Modern Movies on DVD and Video

Average customer rating:

I haven't found a better movie critic.

it's about time

Eeep

perfect companion to the video store

Doesn't live up to its potential

Reel Views: The Ultimate Guide to the Best 1,000 Modern Movies on DVD and Video
James Berardinelli
Manufacturer: Justin Charles & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The New York Times Guide to the Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made, Updated & Revised (Film Critics of the New York Times)

ReelViews 2: The Ultimate Guide to the Best Modern Movies on DVD and Video, 2005 Edition (Reel Views)

365 Four-Star Videos You (Probably) Haven't Seen

1,000 Best Movies on DVD

The Best DVDs You've Never Seen, Just Missed or Almost Forgotten: A Guide for the Curious Film Lover

ASIN: 1932112065

Book Description

Based on the popular film site reelviews.net this guide is unlike any other on the market. Organized by movie category the way people really use the video store.

Customer Reviews:

I haven't found a better movie critic........2004-04-10

I don't always agree with Berardinelli's assessments, but his reviews always tell me why he rated a movie a particular way and give me the information I need to make my own decision. The reviews are well written, concise, and show both an appreciation of movie art and an understanding of movie entertainment.

I've read reviews from just about every critic available in print or on the Web. James Berardinelli's reviews are the only reviews I read every week.

it's about time.......2004-01-11

I don't always agree with his likes and dislikes in movies but I admire his writing and arguments/critique. His writing style is simple yet witty and caustic.

Eeep.......2003-12-27

One of the most successful on-line critics, James Berardinelli is also one of the worst. This tome is every bit as accessible as his anti-art, grammatically incongruous and theoretically un-provocative reviews. Not to completely dog the guy. I'm sure he edits most of his own reviews for his website. Here he seems to have found an editor or two. Compare any one review in the book to the review as it appears on his site. They're still not very special, but at least they make more sense. Strictly for fans.

perfect companion to the video store.......2003-09-10

Granted that the reviews published in this book are available online, I am still quite pleased to own a copy of the book. You can't access the web when you go to a video store while it's easy to carry Berardinelli's book. It saves me time browsing through movie titles that I may be interested to watch.

The title index is very helpful since he grouped the movies by genre. James Berardinelli is one of the best, if not the best, online film critic out there and it's about time he gets his work published. His reviews are very insightful and well-written. Although I wished he included some bad movies, those tend to be the humorous reviews.

Doesn't live up to its potential.......2003-08-25

I'm a frequent reader of Berardinelli's website and eagerly awaited this book. However, after reading it, I've lost some of my enthusiasm for the book. It's a print version of the website, with one thousand reviews of his favorite films included here. That's the first problem--there's nothing more here than what's already offered free of charge online. Second, the format would be more user-friendly if the reviews were ranked alphabetically, and not just by category.

Next, Berardinelli uses "star" ratings on his website, but neglects to include these in the book. Instead, the book has cryptic text descriptions at the end of each review, such as "recommended," "highly recommended," and "must-see." If you're just browsing through the book, you might see "recommended" and think this is Berardinelli's highest recommendation without knowing better. Since he doesn't use a numerical rating system, the "star" system we're all used to is gone and what's left doesn't make sense.

The book would be relevant to more readers if there were a greater variety to the choices here (as there is on his website). The reviews included in this book are only for Berardinelli's favorite movies (if there's a movie he doesn't like, it's not in the book). The movie choices should be more diverse, not just the thousand films Berardinelli likes the most (I can think of several good films that are absent from the book, because they get low ratings on his website). By including only the reviews for films he likes, the book omits movies that might be interesting to people other than him. In other words, if you don't want to read about the author's favorite movies, don't buy this book.

Another problem is that the reviews are printed here word-for-word as they appear on the website, without any updates, and some of the same typos appear. In addition, the forward by Roger Ebert isn't anything the veteran film critic hasn't spoken or written about already, especially in the essays linked from Berardinelli's site. One would think that his name appears only to help sell copies. Why would somebody want to buy this book when the identical reviews can be found on his website free of charge?

In the end, I expected more from this book than what was delivered. Reviews could have been updated and (in some cases) expanded, instead of giving us a carbon copy of Berardinelli's website. Berardinelli, an electrical engineer by trade, has been praised for the sheer quantity and diversity of films he reviews, as well as the speed in which he posts reviews of new releases. This book seems to swim against the tide of each of these claims to fame. Bottom line: save your money and surf the website for free.

Book Description

Features 18 elegantly wrought piano works — the 9 Preludes, 5 Impromptus and 4 Valses-Caprices — in authoritative editions. Only single-volume collection.

Gabriel Faure (20th-Century Composers Series)

Average customer rating:

interesting look at Faure, superficial look at his works

Gabriel Faure (20th-Century Composers Series)
Jessica Duchen
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Francis Poulenc (20th-Century Composers)

ASIN: 0714839329

Customer Reviews:

interesting look at Faure, superficial look at his works.......2006-07-31

the contents were summarized above, so I'm not going to repeat. I'm just going to say this is a great book if you want to learn about Faure's life, including his unhappy marriage, friendships with other artists and musicians, and students.

In my opinion, though, it's not such a great book if you want a lot of insight into the music. I wanted to read a really thorough discussion of the Requiem. It's not there. There's a chapter on the Requiem, but in fact it devotes a few pages to it and then it's back to Faure's life. The Requiem was my introduction to Faure and I really wanted a lot more than the brief information you can get anywhere: that he composed it after the deaths of his parents, that it has been called a "lullaby of death," that Faure described it as gentle as he was himself, and that it left the hellfire and damnation out.

I wanted to read about the human fear of death, and how Requiem masses are a Christian way of dealing with that (although Faure was evidently agnostic), how it fits in with past Requiems and other sacred music, how it differs from those, how his alterations were condemned by the Catholic church, the public's reaction to it, and critical reaction, some of which was quite negative. They objected to the fact that those slobs who haven't toiled in the vineyards long enough get eternal rest anyway.

In other words, I really wanted a look at the groundbreaking Requiem in context. The treatment was superficial. I found that relates to the author's treatment of Faure's music in general. In my opinion, gossip about his life gets too much emphasis (you learn he was unfaithful to his wife), while his music is not discussed in a way that made me feel I learned much. For example, I'd like to know a lot more about the influence of French culture on his music, and vice versa.

I'm still looking for the analysis of his music. Maybe another biography will have it?

Gabriel Faure: 50 Songs: High Voice (The Vocal Library)

Average customer rating:

A good selection of Faure
Just what I wanted
A Must for any singer

Gabriel Faure: 50 Songs: High Voice (The Vocal Library)

Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0793534062

Book Description

A substantial new edition of this beloved art song literature, standard fare for collegiate singers. Historical notes are included for each song, and a line by line English translation for study. George Seurat's great painting "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" adorns the cover.

Customer Reviews:

A good selection of Faure.......2007-08-09

I just don't like Faure. It's a personal preference, but if you want good French art songs then get a Brahms book.

Just what I wanted.......2005-09-18

Excellent edition for vocal study: good translations, good keys, easy to read. An extra added feature is some historical information about individual and groups of songs.

A Must for any singer.......2000-10-12

This book is essential for antone pursuing vocal studies. All written in keys suitable for any soprano or mezzo-soprano. Definately look at the Poemes d'un Jour cycle. This song cycle. This book, is a definate must!!!

Music Minus One Piano: Faure 'Dolly' Suite, op. 56 (Six Pieces for Piano Duet) (Book & CD)

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Music Minus One Piano: Faure 'Dolly' Suite, op. 56 (Six Pieces for Piano Duet) (Book & CD)
Gabriel Fauré
Manufacturer: Music Minus One
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1596150254

Book Description

MAGICAL MUSIC FOR PIANO DUET - AND YOU PLAY EITHER PART!

Gabriel Fauré's magical 'Dolly' Suite was composed for Fauré's wife and quickly became famous for its enchanting melodies and relatively simple parts. The French master's compositions are always lovely, lilting creations, and this is no exception. Magical!

Includes complete printed music score with both primo and secondo piano parts, and a compact disc featuring the duets in two formats: split-channel stereo with secondo part on the left channel, primo on the right, so you can play either part; and then again with just the secondo part in stereo so you can perform the primo part alongside.

Amazon.com

The requiem--the Roman Catholic mass for the dead--is one of those texts that has appealed to countless composers. You want bombast? You got bombast. You want serenely-secure-in-the-faith-of-life-everlasting? You got it. But if you hunger for a quietly comforting taste of the heavenly and ethereal, look no further than Gabriel Fauré's luminous, shimmering setting of the requiem. The Fauré Requiem, when well performed, offers calming succor to those who suffer the vicissitudes of grief. The soprano solo "Pie Jesu" is an exquisite prayer that can hardly fail to move the listener. To see how Fauré achieved his understated but uplifting effects, go through this complete Dover score. Like most Dover editions, this one is a reprint of another publisher's out-of-copyright work, and may contain some out-of-date scholarship. But it is a superb resource for the musician, professional, amateur, or listener.

Book Description

French composer's perennially popular masterpiece, composed in memory of his father and first performed at La Madeleine in 1888. The work is notable for its clarity, balance, serenity and ethereal beauty, achieved with the strictest economy of means. Reprinted from authoritative French edition. Translation of text.

Customer Reviews:

Answer to Prayer.......2007-08-12

Fauré's Requiem is one of the most beautiful pieces of music that has ever been written. I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to sing in performance of the piece. Ever since, I have been in love with it. Sadly, I was not allowed to keep the score. Finding the full score online was an answer to prayer (figuratively speaking). I now can follow along as I listen to recordings and even sing my part.

The score itself is in wonderful condition. The printing is clear and easy to read. I was, at first, concerned that I would end up with a huge conductor's style score, but it's of normal size without compromising on readability.

Highly recommended.

Good deal.......2007-06-16

This is a great deal for a well-printed score. Beware that there are a couple of different orchestrations for this piece. This is the small orchestra version and there is also a chamber group version. People tend to use the John Rutter edition of the chamber version and that has different rehearsal letters than this one.

Other than that, this is a bargain.

Faure's requiem in full score.......2005-08-17

This is a beautifully presented score. The type-setting of the music leaves nothing to be desired. The paper it is printed on even has a sensual quality, which matches the music portrayed.
I have already used the score to arrange parts for my wind quintet, and have found the job much easier because of the clear manuscript of the score.

One of the best pieces of Music ever written.......2004-12-16

Gabriel Faure's REQUIEM still remains the only piece of music that has ever given me goosebumps. The music can go from bone-chilling to heart warming in the matter of a few bars. My choir that I perform with sang the piece in the spring of this year. To date, I have never sung a piece of music that was more masterfully crafted for the voices of a boy choir than I have this one. Faure's music is as inspireing as it is beautiful. I would highly suggest it to anyone eager to create beautiful music.

Simplemente Angelical-Juan Guerra.......1999-07-12

Este Requiem es magnifico, siento como que si estuviera en el Cielo

Faure - His Greatest (His Greatest Piano Solos)

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Faure - His Greatest (His Greatest Piano Solos)

Manufacturer: Ashley Publications Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0825651441
Release Date: 1973-12-31

Book Description

26 titles, including: Adagietto * Allegresse * Fantasia * Fugue in A and E Minor * Barcarolles Numbers 1-5 * Impromptus Numbers 1-3, and Nocturnes Numbers 1-6 and 8 * and more.

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Sixty Songs
Gabriel Faure
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 048626534X

Book Description

Now in one volume: 3 collections of Fauré songs composed in the years 1861–1904, set to the texts of such famous writers as Hugo, Gautier, Baudelaire and Verlaine, and including many of the most famous songs such as Clair de lune, Apres un reve, and Les roses d'Ispahan. Reprinted from authoritative French editions. Set for medium voice.

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Nineteenth-Century French Song
Barbara Meister
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0253211751

Amazon.com

It's probably safe to say that this book--originally published in 1980 and now out in its first paperback edition--is the definitive volume on the 19th-century oeuvre of French art song as practiced by Chausson, Debussy, Duparc, and Fauré. Meister offers an intelligent overall discussion of the anti-Wagnerian aesthetic of these four masters of the art song, and examines each of their song settings in loving and well-informed detail. Translations are provided from French to English (and, as in the case of a French version of a Shakespeare song, back again from French for a surprisingly different view), along with observations on the flow of the song and interpretations. Although bound to be of interest to a small audience, Nineteenth-Century French Song will prove invaluable to anyone with a regard for this delicate art form, and particularly the singers and pianists who perform it.

Book Description

Song by song, this comprehensive study addresses the works of Fauré, Chausson, Duparc, and Debussy, four composers who brought to the magnificent poetry of their contemporaries the delicacy, sensitivity, and voluptuousness that characterize French music from 1865 to 1914.

Piano Quartets Nos. 1 and 2 and Piano Quintet No. 1

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Piano Quartets Nos. 1 and 2 and Piano Quintet No. 1
Gabriel Faure
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Piano Trio, Mallarme Poems and Other Chamber Works

ASIN: 0486286061

Book Description

Excellent, authoritative editions of 3 of the French composer's finest chamber works: Piano Quartet No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 15; the Piano Quartet No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 45; and the Piano Quintet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 89. Handy one-volume source for music students, chamber music lovers, Fauré devotees.

Nocturnes and Barcarolles for Solo Piano

Average customer rating:

Great music, but missing one of Fauré's best

Nocturnes and Barcarolles for Solo Piano
Gabriel Faure
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486279553

Book Description

The music of Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924) is an important link between the innovations of late Romanticism and the experimentation of the early 20th century. These 12 nocturnes and 12 barcarolles, composed over a span of 40 years, document his move from Romanticism to the frontiers of 20th-century music. Reprinted from authoritative French editions.

Customer Reviews:

Great music, but missing one of Fauré's best.......2003-06-01

Of course pianists should have this wonderful book, just don't assume it's complete. Fauré actually wrote a thirteenth Nocturne (in B minor) and a thirteenth Barcarolle (in C major), neither of which is included here. Both of these are characteristic late Fauré, but the Nocturne #13 is particularly not to be missed. I was just playing it over tonight and was amazed by the dark drama of the music. It's as Fauré's biographer Jessica Duchen said, that it seems to stare death in the face.

Both the Nocturne #13 and the suave, tranquil Barcarolle #13 are available individually from Masters Music Publications, and I would suggest that pianists supplement this book with both of those works to make a complete set of Fauré's nocturnes and barcarolles.

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