Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6880558 in Books
• Published on: 1998-06
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 105 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9?This title reads more like a critique of Steven Spielberg's films than an exploration of a man's life and how it affected his art. An initial chapter skims over the basics of the filmmaker's childhood, focusing on his moviemaking exploits. The second chapter takes him from high school to the lot of Universal Pictures and his first directorial assignments for television. From this point on, the book becomes little more than a list of films accompanied by critical comments. Schoell seems to have little, if anything, good to say about Spielberg's movies, even the universally acclaimed Schindler's List. In commentary that reads like a term paper, the author points out flaws in the characterization and plots of all of the films. Whether or not readers agree with Schoell's assessments, the emphasis on the negative elements of each film will cause them to long for an alternative viewpoint. In the end, an attempt to balance the criticism with the statement that "...whatever his flaws as a filmmaker, Steven Spielberg has entertained and enlightened billions of people" doesn't counteract the overall tone. Tom Powers's Steven Spielberg (Lerner, 1997) and Virginia Meachum's Steven Spielberg (Enslow, 1996) are reasonably up-to-date, making the purchase of Magic Man entirely unnecessary.?Tim Wadham, Dallas Public Library, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 4^-7. Youngsters interested in FX (special effects) will be drawn to this biography of Hollywood's special-effects master. The book's strong point is the discussion of the complicated techniques used to create the effects in such well-known movies as Jaws, E.T., and Jurassic Park. Schoell's film criticism is, however, often confusing and contradictory: Can a film be "excellent on all levels," yet be "stripped of much of its power by [Spielberg's] approach" and also be "rather boring at times" ? Despite the flawed commentary, the book will be a great hook for reluctant readers, and it will also interest youngsters hoping for a career in the film industry. Bibliography. Lauren Peterson