Ridley Scott's 1982 film Blade Runner is now widely recognized as an undisputed masterwork of science fiction cinema and one of the most influential films released in the last forty years. Yet on its original release it was both a critical and commercial failure, criticized for its perceived prioritizing of style over content and a narrative that did not deliver the anticipated high octane action that its star casting and large budget normally promise. How did a film that was removed from circulation within a month of its premiere come to mean so much to modern audiences and provide such a rich seam of material for film and media studies' Sean Redmond excavates the many significances of the film - its breakthrough use of special effects as a narrative tool; its revolutionary representation of the future city; its treatment of racial and sexual politics; and its unique status as a text whose meaning was fundamentally altered in its re-released Director's Cut form, then further revised in a Final Cut in 2007, and what this means in an institutional context. This volume was previously published as Studying Blade Runner in 2008.

It’s been 10 years since Buffy Summers first walked into the Sunnydale High library and came face-to-face with her Watcher, who told her she was the Chosen One who would save the world from vampires. In the seven seasons that Buffy the Vampire Slayer was on TV, we watched her kill her true love (but he got better), graduate high school (by blowing it up), discover she had a sister (who… uh… was always there?), sacrifice her own life (but she got better), watch her sidekicks become heroes (and villains), and, essentially, grow up.

Bite Me!, Nikki Stafford’s critical analysis of the show, was one of the bestselling and most critically acclaimed books on Buffy when it was released in 2002. Current up to season 6, the book examined Buffy’s development, and outlined the mythical, religious, and historical backgrounds to the episodes. Nikki’s guide to season 7 appeared in her Angel book, but there was never one place where fans could get their Buffy fix all in one place. Until now.

Revised and updated, the 10th Buffyversary edition of Bite Me! contains all seven seasons of this groundbreaking series, chronicles what happened to all of its stars, gives the background story to why the series ended and what legacy it has had, and even contains information about the new Buffy “season eight” comic book series from Dark Horse. Bite Me! is the definitive guide for all Buffy fans.

Take $100,000.00 a week, divide it up among some of the brightest stars in entertainment, then add in top-notch writing, a full orchestra and choir conducted by Meredith Willson and hire a sophisticated, deep-voiced leading lady as your hostess and what do you get? One of the most amazing and entertaining variety shows ever to hit the airwaves: "The Big Show," starring Tallulah Bankhead. Aired as a Sunday evening extravaganza, NBC literally broke the bank hiring stars for each 90-minute broadcast -- and it was, of course, simply too expensive to last. But while it did, it provided impressive entertainment, capturing the majority of the mid-20th century's top performers at their peak. This set offers the first five programs of "The Big Show's" first season, transferred from master recordings and restored for outstanding audio fidelity.

Revenge has never been so sweet. A critical and commercial hit, Revenge was followed fanatically for each of its four seasons. Consistently the #1 show in its timeslot, Revenge was ABC's biggest primetime hit since Lost, and the first series to match the kind of success Lost had in the coveted 18-49 demographic. A fast-paced and complicated character-driven show with many plot twists and unanswered questions, fans will welcome insight and analysis into Emily Thorne's master plan in this intelligent but playful companion to the series. Erin Balser's exploration of themes, characters, the show's soapy and literary inspirations, and real-world events for the entire first season make this the must-have book for everyone who is watching Revenge.

With an introduction by Neil Gaiman! In this dazzling memoir, the acclaimed writer behind Babylon 5, Sense8, Clint Eastwood's Changeling and Marvel's Thor reveals how the power of creativity and imagination enabled him to overcome the horrors of his youth and a dysfunctional family haunted by madness, murder and a terrible secret. For four decades, J. Michael Straczynski has been one of the most successful writers in Hollywood, one of the few to forge multiple careers in movies, television and comics. Yet there's one story he's never told before: his own. Joe's early life nearly defies belief. Raised by damaged adults-a con-man grandfather and a manipulative grandmother, a violent, drunken father and a mother who was repeatedly institutionalized-Joe grew up in abject poverty, living in slums and projects when not on the road, crisscrossing the country in his father's desperate attempts to escape the consequences of his past. To survive his abusive environment Joe found refuge in his beloved comics and his dreams, immersing himself in imaginary worlds populated by superheroes whose amazing powers allowed them to overcome any adversity. The deeper he read, the more he came to realize that he, too, had a superpower: the ability to tell stories and make everything come out the way he wanted it. But even as he found success, he could not escape a dark and shocking secret that hung over his family's past, a violent truth that he uncovered over the course of decades involving mass murder. Straczynski's personal history has always been shrouded in mystery. Becoming Superman lays bare the facts of his life: a story of creation and darkness, hope and success, a larger-than-life villain and a little boy who became the hero of his own life. It is also a compelling behind-the-scenes look at some of the most successful TV series and movies recognized around the world.

Whether you want to participate in ballet or just watch it, the ballet experience can excite and inspire you. Ballet is among the most beautiful forms of expression ever devised: an exquisite mix of sight and sound, stunning, aesthetics and awesome technique. Ballet For Dummies is for anyone who wants to enjoy all that the dance forms offers—as an onlooker who wants to get a leg up on the forms you're likely to see or as an exercise enthusiast who understands that the practice of ballet can help you gain * More strength * Greater flexibility * Better body alignment * Confidence in movement * Comfort through stress reduction * Infinite grace—for life From covering the basics of classical ballet to sharing safe and sensible ways to try your hand (and toes) at moving through the actual dance steps, this expert reference shows you how to: * Build your appreciation for ballet from the ground up. * Choose the best practice space and equipment. * Warm up to your leap into the movements. * Locate musical options for each exercise. * Look for certain lifts in a stage performance. * Tell a story with gestures. * Picture a day in the life of a professional ballet dancer. * Identify best-loved classic and contemporary ballets. * Speak the language of ballet. Today you can find a ballet company in almost every major city on earth. Many companies have their own ballet schools—some for training future professionals, and others for interested amateurs. As you fine-tune your classical ballet technique—or even if you just like to read about it—you'll become better equipped to fully appreciate the great choreography and many styles of the dance. Ballet For Dummies raises the curtain on a world of beauty, grace, poise and possibility!

An exploration and celebration of the life and work of the coolest man in Hollywood, Samuel L. Jackson, Gavin Edwards explains why Jackson's embodiment of cool is not just inspirational, it's important.

Emmy Award;-winning actress Sharon Gless tells all in this laugh-out-loud, juicy, and touching memoir about her five decades in Hollywood, where she took on some of the most groundbreaking roles of her time. Anyone who has seen Sharon Gless act in Cagney & Lacey , Queer as Folk , Burn Notice , and countless other shows and movies, knows that she's someone who gives every role her all. She holds nothing back in Apparently There Were Complaints, a hilarious, deeply personal memoir that spills all about Gless's five decades in Hollywood. A fifth-generation Californian, Sharon Gless knew from a young age that she wanted to be an actress. After some rocky teenage years that included Sharon's parents'; divorce and some minor (and not-so-minor) rebellion, Gless landed a coveted spot as an exclusive contract player for Universal Studios. In 1982, she stepped into the role of New York Police Detective Christine Cagney for the series Cagney & Lacey , which eventually reached an audience of 30 million weekly viewers and garnered Gless with two Emmy Awards. The show made history as the first hour-long drama to feature two women in the leading roles. Gless continued to make history long after Cagney & Lacey was over. In 2000, she took on the role of outrageous Debbie Novotny in Queer as Folk . Her portrayal of a devoted mother to a gay son and confidant to his gay friends touched countless hearts and changed the definition of family for millions of viewers. Apparently There Were Complaints delves into Gless's remarkable career and explores Gless's complicated family, her struggles with alcoholism, and her fear of romantic commitment as well as her encounters with some of Hollywood's biggest names. Brutally honest and incredibly relatable, Gless puts it all out on the page in the same way she has lived-never with moderation.

The definitive history of Peter Jackson's Middle-earth saga, Anything You Can Imagine takes us on a cinematic journey across all six films, featuring brand-new interviews with Peter, his cast & crew. From the early days of daring to dream it could be done, through the highs and lows of making the films, to fan adoration and, finally, Oscar glory. LightsA nine-year-old boy in New Zealand's Pukerua Bay stays up late and is spellbound by a sixty-year-old vision of a giant ape on an island full of dinosaurs. This is true magic. And the boy knows that he wants to be a magician. CameraFast-forward twenty years and the boy has begun to cast a spell over the film-going audience, conjuring gore-splattered romps with bravura skill that will lead to Academy recognition with an Oscar nomination for Heavenly Creatures. The boy from Pukerua Bay with monsters reflected in his eyes has arrived, and Hollywood comes calling. What would he like to do next? 'How about a fantasy film, something like The Lord of the Rings ...?' ActionThe greatest work of fantasy in modern literature, and the biggest, with rights ownership so complex it will baffle a wizard. Vast. Complex. Unfilmable. One does not simply walk into Mordor - unless you are Peter Jackson. Anything You Can Imagine tells the full, dramatic story of how Jackson and his trusty fellowship of Kiwi filmmakers dared take on a quest every bit as daunting as Frodo's, and transformed JRR Tolkien's epic tale of adventure into cinematic magic, and then did it again with The Hobbit. Enriched with brand-new interviews with Jackson, his fellow filmmakers and many of the films' stars, Ian Nathan's mesmerising narrative whisks us to Middle-earth, to gaze over the shoulder of the director as he creates the impossible, the unforgettable, and proves that film-making really is 'anything you can imagine'.