Overview

"As the title Jar Jar Binks Must Die indicates, Daniel M. Kimmel is not only a film critic with strong opinions, he's also a fan. In this collection of essays, he covers movies from Metropolis (1927), answering the absurd claim that the restoration of this silent classic negated its status as a science fiction film, to how Star Trek, Avatar, Moon, and District 9 may have made 2009 a ""miracle year"" for the genre. Along the way he looks at neglected works like Things to Come (1936), explains why remakes aren't always bad, and how seeing E.T. in an empty screening room changed his mind about Steven Spielberg. Whether to rediscover old favorites or add new titles to your Netflix queue, this is a must-have for lovers of SF movies. Author Bio Daniel M. Kimmel is a past president of the Boston Society of Film Critics. When it was discovered he is also a science fiction fan he started getting invitations to participate at a number of SF conventions, which he continues to do. He reviewed for the Worcester Telegram and Gazette and now writes for Northshoremovies.net. He is a correspondent for Variety, the ""Movie Maven"" for the Jewish Advocate and teaches film--including a course on SF and horror--at Suffolk University. His essays on classic science films have appeared in several publications including Clarkesworld, Space and Time, and the Internet Review of Science Fiction. He is the author of a history of FOX TV, The Fourth Network (2004) which received the Cable Center Book Award. His other books include a history of DreamWorks, The Dream Team (2006) and I'll Have What She's Having: Behind the Scenes of the Great Romantic Comedies (2008). He is also the author of three novels: Shh! It's a Secret: a novel about Aliens, Hollywood, and the Bartender's Guide (2013) Time On My Hands: My Misadventures In Time Travel (2017), and Father of the Bride of Frankenstein (2019)."

Full Product Details

9781515423577

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Reviews

This is the guy you want sitting next to you for the weekend sci-fi movie marathon. --Analog Science Fiction and Fact Kimmel's brief essays are addictively readable and yes, a lot more fun than watching Revenge of the Sith. --The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction A spirited explanation of the role of science fiction films in our culture. Any serious fan of the cinema must read this book. --Michael A. Burstein Kimmel displays expertise on the subject along with a lively sense of humor--scarcely a page is turned that doesn't yield a few good laughs.... Readers who already take science fiction seriously will enjoy the book's panoptic breadth and it's frank jubilation in its subject matter.... --Kilian Melloy, in Edge Boston, 13 April 2011. ...the leading film voice in fandom today... Dan's look at all the SF Films of the previous century-plus is powerful and serious and smart and even sassy at points.... So many great pieces in here that I should just say this is the best book of essays about film of any nature that I've read in ages.... the best pieces of writing on SF Film you'll ever see! --Chris Garcia, in The Drink Tank, #280 [Kimmel's] writing is intelligent and entertaining.... his knowledge of SF movies is encyclopedic.... This is the guy you want sitting next to you when Channel 45 has a weekend 'sci-fi' movie marathon.... For anyone who likes SF movies, this volume is worth the price of admission. --Don Sakers, The Reference Library, in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, July/August 2011. ...one is left wanting more, which is a testament to Kimmel's writing abilities.... Even when you find yourself not agreeing with Kimmel--his take on E.T. is just plain wrong damn it!--the book remains worthwhile and thought-provoking.... Jar Jar Binks Must Die is worth a purchase. --Sci-Fi Movie Page [Kimmel's] essays are both informed and informative, erudite, often humorous, filled with insider-knowledge... [the book] is eminently accessible.... This is an encyclopedic mind at work, one that went looking for the redeeming qualities in just about any of Hollywood's SF efforts and managed to find something in most of them.... Jar Jar Binks Must Die is a well put together book; Fantastic Books has created a handy tome that is easy to read and well-organized. --Steve Davidson, Amazing Stories

This is the guy you want sitting next to you for the weekend sci-fi movie marathon. --Analog Science Fiction and Fact Kimmel's brief essays are addictively readable and yes, a lot more fun than watching Revenge of the Sith. --The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction A spirited explanation of the role of science fiction films in our culture. Any serious fan of the cinema must read this book. --Michael A. Burstein Kimmel displays expertise on the subject along with a lively sense of humor--scarcely a page is turned that doesn't yield a few good laughs.... Readers who already take science fiction seriously will enjoy the book's panoptic breadth and it's frank jubilation in its subject matter.... --Kilian Melloy, in Edge Boston, 13 April 2011. ...the leading film voice in fandom today... Dan's look at all the SF Films of the previous century-plus is powerful and serious and smart and even sassy at points.... So many great pieces in here that I should just say this is the best book of essays about film of any nature that I've read in ages.... the best pieces of writing on SF Film you'll ever see! --Chris Garcia, in The Drink Tank, #280 [Kimmel's] writing is intelligent and entertaining.... his knowledge of SF movies is encyclopedic.... This is the guy you want sitting next to you when Channel 45 has a weekend 'sci-fi' movie marathon.... For anyone who likes SF movies, this volume is worth the price of admission. --Don Sakers, The Reference Library , in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, July/August 2011. ...one is left wanting more, which is a testament to Kimmel's writing abilities.... Even when you find yourself not agreeing with Kimmel--his take on E.T. is just plain wrong damn it!--the book remains worthwhile and thought-provoking.... Jar Jar Binks Must Die is worth a purchase. --Sci-Fi Movie Page [Kimmel's] essays are both informed and informative, erudite, often humorous, filled with insider-knowledge... [the book] is eminently accessible.... This is an encyclopedic mind at work, one that went looking for the redeeming qualities in just about any of Hollywood's SF efforts and managed to find something in most of them.... Jar Jar Binks Must Die is a well put together book; Fantastic Books has created a handy tome that is easy to read and well-organized. --Steve Davidson, Amazing Stories

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