Providing a format that engages students to discuss real world issues, this book features 75 teachable moments from recent movies available on video that can be used to illustrate topics. Ideal for youth pastors and Sunday school teachers.

Thoroughly revised and updated for 2005! Includes a new chapter on the best special edition DVDs and a new chapter on finding hidden easter egg features.

Videogames challenge our notions of identity, creativity, and moral value, and provide a powerful new avenue for teaching and learning. This book is a rich and provocative guide to the role of interactive media in cultural learning. It searches for specific ways to interpret videogames in the context of human experience and in the field of humanities research. The author shows how videogames have become a powerful form of political, ethical, and religious discourse, and how they have already influenced the way we teach, learn, and create. He discusses the major trends in game design, the public controversies surrounding videogames, and the predominant critical positions in game criticism. The book speaks to all educators, scholars, and thinking persons who seek a fuller understanding of this significant and growing cultural phenomenon.

In a career that spanned eight decades, Christopher Lee (1922–2015) appeared in more than 200 roles for film and television. Though he is best known for his portrayal of Dracula in films of the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s—as well as his appearances in the Lord of the Rings trilogy—Lee also appeared in many other films, including The Three Musketeers, The Man with the Golden Gun, and Star Wars. The Christopher Lee Film Encyclopedia encompasses all of the films in the distinguished actor’s prolific career, from his early roles in the 1940s to his work in some of the most successful film franchises of all time. This reference highlights Lee’s iconic roles in horror cinema as well as his non-horror films over the years, including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. The entries in this book feature: Cast and crew information Synopsis Critical evaluation Newspaper and magazine reviews DVD availability Many of the entries also feature Sir Christopher’s recollections about the production, as well as the actor’s insights about his directors and fellow costars. Appendices in this volume include discussions of Lee’s significant work on radio and television, as well as film shorts, screen tests, films in which he is mentioned, films from which he was cut, and unrealized projects. A film-by-film review of the actor’s cinematic output. The Christopher Lee Film Encyclopedia will appeal to this legend’s many devoted fans.

The career of Christopher Lee has stretched over half a century in every sort of film from comedy to horror and in such diverse roles as the Man With the Golden Gun, Frankenstein's monster, Fu Manchu and Sherlock Holmes. From Corridor of Mirrors in 1948 to Star Wars: Episode II-Attack of the Clones in 2002, this reference book covers 166 theatrical feature films: all production information, full cast and crew credits, a synopsis, and a critical analysis, with a detailed account of its making and commentary drawn from some thirty hours of interviews with Lee himself. Two appendices list Lee's television feature films and miniseries and his short films. The work concludes with an afterword by Christopher Lee himself. Photographs from the actor's private collection are included.

This title examines the remarkable life of Peter Jackson. Readers will learn about his family background, childhood, and education, his career as a movie producer and director, and his famous works. Color photos and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text. Features include a timeline, fast facts, list of famous works, and a critical evaluation activity.Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

A comprehensive illustrated reference guide with more than 400 entries on the subjects of magic and alchemy.

Most criticism of The Lord of the Rings trilogy emphasizes the most likely heroes in the tales: Aragorn, Frodo, Gandalf, and even Sam. From popular to scholarly literature, the women and smaller characters often go overlooked. But our notions of what makes a hero have altered since September 11, and sometimes the most unlikely people can come to embody all that we look up to and admire in a person. Here, Lynnette Porter examines what we mean when we talk about heroes, and for the first time illustrates the heroic qualities that can be found in the women and other beloved, though less-celebrated, characters in the The Lord of the Rings books and movies. She takes a critical look at the importance of literary and cinematic heroes in general, emphasizing the roles of Merry, Pippin, Galadriel, Eowyn, Arwen, Legolas, and Gimli, who can all be considered heroes despite their relatively smaller roles. She shows, ultimately, that our attraction to and celebration of heroes does not have to be limited to the leading man, but rather that women and youth often display essential characteristics of true heroes. Bringing together a discussion of both the books and the movies, Porter reveals for readers the heroic nature of several characters in The Lord of the Rings who have been ignored in terms of their status as heroes. Nevertheless, these female and youthful characters have received incredible popular acclaim and illustrate the shift in the way the Western movie-going public identifies and glorifies heroes. While other stars may have outshone the likes of Merry and Pippin, Arwen and Galadriel, Porter redirects the spotlight on these favorites of the books and movies to show us how the roles they play, the actions they take, and the behaviors they display are worthy of our praise and admiration. This unique and refreshing perspective adds dimension to our understanding of The Lord of the Rings phenomenon.

Relive the greatest adventure in history through this incredible chronicle of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and its immeasurable impact on pop culture. Gather your fellowship and retrace the remarkable journey from the Shire to Mordor with this detailed and in-depth exploration of Peter Jackson’s timeless Lord of the Rings trilogy. From Tolkien’s original story to the actors’ anecdotal experiences, to its cultural impact on the entire world, this book will captivate every fan of the One Ring. Now, for the first time in history, Polygon’s Year of the Ring archive of stories and fandom coverage can be brought home and added to any fan’s collection, in this beautifully designed hardcover book. Fans of the One Ring can now easily assess the Year of the Ring’s wide range of articles analyzing the deeper meaning of the characters and their journeys, as well detailed conversations about what the movies have meant to the fandom. This fandom manifesto will allow fans to reconnect with their fellowship and relive those special memories of watching the movies and discussing their theories with fellow Ringers. DOZENS OF FAN-FAVORITE TOPICS: From fan-theories to cultural studies, there are dozens of topics that every fan of the Lord of the Rings can enjoy and relate to. PERFECT FOR EVERY TOLKIEN FAN: This book is a pure celebration of all things related to Lord of the Rings and its history. STORIES BEYOND THE SHIRE: New, in-depth stories about the making of the Lord of the Rings that many fans had not heard before!