Defining Moments in Movies: The Greatest Films, Stars, Scenes and Events that Made Movie Magic Paperback – October 1, 2007

This was an impulse buy as a holiday gift for an old friend. I wasn't expecting much. But I was most impressed when it arrived. This is a very thoughtful piece. The cover leads you to believe it's going to be about memorable scenes in films. It's considerably more than that. It's often about how film effects popular culture, and vice-versa. After giving the first copy away, I bought one for myself.

This is one of the greatest books on the movies I have ever owned & I own a whole library full!!!

Rarely does a book lover find a book that he or she has simply not heard / read / seen somewhere before. Even more so, it is rare to find such a book written on a subject that is loved just as much as books. Confused yet? Well this is an amazing book about amazing movies. Two of my greatest loves are books and movies, in no particular order. I already own several "movie guides," and subscribe to several magazines written about and reviewing books. However, this book is so much more than a film review or a compendium of film reviews. This is because the editors have taken it upon themselves to follow a theme other than than "movie you have gotta see!!" or "the BEST film of 199_, 200_."The theme of this book is: "movies whose defining moments literally made movie magic." Of course, a more cynical person could easily find vast amusement in tearing this book apart and my review in the process, arguing that I had be "taken in" by the books easily candied ideas and was simply swept away by its flashing lights and colors. Perhaps it is true, but I don't think so. Here's why.There have been thousands and thousands of movies made. So many times we are alerted to "the movie of the year," or "one of the greatest movies of our generation." What this book attempts to do, and in my opinion, greatly succeeds at, is getting passed this hyperbole and actually giving the true reason(s) why the movie is that good. Of course there are many, many movies that are really good, but would never be considered as one that has made movie magic. I often find myself switching through my cable guide and looking to see whether the movie I am watching is considered a one, two, three or four star movie, The intrepid enthusiasts at Comcast continuously keep my attention. Nonetheless, I am constantly intrigued by the idea of what marks the space between two and three stars. A four star, most agree, was a special movie. A one star usually has either Pauly Shore or Steven Baldwin or on a lucky night, both in the film. But why is one movie rated two stars and another three? And what really goes into a four star film?Therein lies the magic, the kind of magic that this book calls "movie magic." If used as I do, , one could employ this book as a roadmap to movie magic made easy. There are hundreds, if not more, movies in this book that most, film fans, including myself, have never heard of. Yet every time (almost every time) I watch one of these recommended films, I am brightened by the fact that not only did I see a great movie I probably never would have been exposed to, but I immediately find myself mysteriously transported here to Amazon,where I, like a sleepwalker, search for the movie, buy it, and then follow the dangerous path that leads to the "one-touch" instant purchase. From there it is nocturnal credit card bliss. There is no pain until the morning after.The greatest complement I can give this book is that when all is said and done, the movie I was alerted is now sitting comfortable within my DVD collection, nestled along others with the same director, a similar producer, or even sometimes the exact same art or photography editor. To view my DVD collection after one of these book recommendations and the ensuing shopping spree, there would be no doubt whatsoever, that all my life, I was the world's biggest fan of "Dies Irae" a Check film from 1972 directed by Petr Skala, believed by many to be "a powerful example of how a low budget picture can achieve metaphysical power." God Bless Skala fans everywhere!

Beautiful and abundant images compliment some generally well written and well thought out editorials about defining movie moments in cinematic history. At its price point this is a virtual no-brainer for the ardent film buff. I wouldn't suggest it as a 'sit down and read through it book but more as a 'bit at a time' sort of book. Good for short moments in time in a very small room (ahem).Telling the positive side of things without mentioning the negatives is only half of the coin. Downside is some reviewers get a bit pretentious, picking alternate scenes in a film rather than going with the popular choice or paying more attention to under-appreciated directors while ignoring some major players. I love Fritz Lang but 10 of his films appear worth reflecting on versus only one film for David Lean and Roman Polanski. Also the book could have used some better editing. In the index, Davis Lynch is credited with directing Eraserhead with David Lynch listed for Blue Velvet right above it. How hard was that to spot particularly as it is the last listing under L?Also, someone named Kim Newman wrote that Virginia Rappe's death was a key event in movies (even this is a stretch as it isn't in a movie but around the film business). The writer suggests that somehow her real-life death in 1921 had a direct influence on the establishing of the Hays Code and use in 1934 (13 years later). Yesterday's news sister and ignores the reality of shocking films (for the time) that really made a difference like Baby Face (1933).

DEFINING MOMENTS IN MOVIES is an illustrated compendium of 1,000 short articles by 60-odd critics, authors, directors, professors, economists and historians highlighting significant films, actors, scenes, directors, technical innovations, etc. from 1890 to 2007. It's quite a cinematic grab-bag.The entries in this massive, 800 page tome are arranged by decade. Each 'defining moment' is reviewed in its historical context with commentary on its impact on movie making, movie history or movie viewing.In some ways the 'defining moments' title is misleading. In perusing this book, you come across articles on key films, key scenes in a film, key cinematic events, key people and key speeches in a film. Each page contains two articles. So, one page, for example, discusses Dustin Hoffman's "I'm Walking Here" speech from MIDNIGHT COWBOY and Jacques Rivette's film L'AMOUR FOU. Another has articles on a scene from THE LONG GOODBYE and George Lucas' far-sighted decision to demand merchandising rights to STAR WARS from 20th Century Fox instead of more money upfront. A third page covers the death of Rudolf Valentino and the opening sequence from A PAGE OF MADNESS and so on.The book's editor, Chris Fujiwara, didn't lay down restrictive guidelines to the contributors on what constituted a key moment. Consequently, the entries are all over the board, which is a plus and a minus. I can certainly see why the development of CGI rates an article or the $100 million dollar price tag on TERMINATOR 2 or the personal baggage that gave such emotional impact to Marilyn Monroe's MISFITS scenes...but an article on Daniel Day-Lewis' running form in LAST OF THE MOHICANS!?! Likewise many of the entries touch upon films few of us have seen or probably will be able to see.Depending on your knowledge of movies, DEFINING MOMENTS IN MOVIES may be a treasure or way too much of a good thing. Recommended with some reservations.

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眺めていて飽きない。この手の本にありがちな、網羅的に記録しようとして平凡になる傾向がない。執筆は多くのライターで分担しているけど、かなり優秀な映画批評家たちに支えられていることだろう（そのことを思うと、ペーパーバック版が２千円台ってのは、かなり安いのでは）。つまんないことは扱わない、という意図が強くかんじられる。編集も面白い。「鍵となるシーン」や「記念すべき出来事」や「ポイントとなる映画」みたいなテーマでトピックが選ばれている。映画の選択はランダムだけど、年代別になっているので混乱はしない。1980年代の「記念すべき出来事」として「1983年・蓮実重彦による『監督小津安二郎』の出版」があったり、2001年の箇所に「『ミレニアム・マンボ』：鍵となるシーンはオープニングの回想シーン（スー・チーが屋根のある通路を歩くところ）」があったりする。こういうのはうれしい。ほどよく知らない映画が入っていて、しかもなぜ鍵となるかっていう理由もちゃんと書いてあるので、役立つことこの上なし。英語が少々苦手でも、ひとつのトピックごとの文字数は少ないので、写真を楽しみながらパラパラ見ていけば拾い読みできるだろう（なにしろ分厚いので、何語であっても、パラパラとしか読めない種類の本ではある）。