Movie Geek: A Geek's Guide to the Movieverse

Everything I love about Den of geek, without the internet. Great articles, well presented, with more than a little dry wit for good measure. If you like the website, you'll love the book.

I bought this book to occupy myself with during “airplane mode” on a long flight. It's basically a collection of mini-articles that are only a few paragraphs long. The focus of this collection is not clear from the product description or the cover. 85% of the book is about the film industry (budgeting, distribution, box office, contracts, edits, marketing, etc.) There is little about the content of the actual films. That said, it’s still very enjoyable.

I ordered this book thinking it might tip me off to some good movies I had missed. We have not had out TV connected for the better part of 30 years (turning it on for a couple of years so that our kids could watch Sesame street). We use it exclusively to watch movies, and have been having a difficult time finding anything new we want to watch (having seen just about anything that falls into that category). I had not realized that it was connected to a web site, and initially thought it was a vehicle to cross promote the site. It does have the feel of a web page, from the layout to the casual use of language, however, it goes deeper than that, or at least is organized in a way which might bring you up to speed. A great deal of the book is tidbits about various movies, but it is organized historically and grouped thematically so that it tells a story about the evolving nature of media. In fact, it explained why we are having such a difficult time finding things we enjoy: Hollywood's affair with big budget, special effects movies. (We tend to like movies which are more thoughtful, where the story comes first and special effects, if any, are an enhancement). That makes us outliers, particularly where I live. (Theaters here tend to focus on things that go boom). We are, however, very connected, and probably could find just about anything we wanted to watch, so... there is hope. In the book he describes how budgets, and reimbursements, and egos got progressively inflated (which also explains some of what we are seeing in the news)... how the focus on big budget effects films has squeezed out small to mid-sized companies (though the occasional low budget film still surprises) and a lot of back stage lore. There are sections on films which went over deadline and over budget, films which changed directors mid stream, or key actors, and interviews qith some of the people who make the magic happen. There is no question but that his "geekish" interests show through (having missed a really key part of what made ILM) but I know that bit only because I happened to go to the same college, and taken classes from the same popular professor (who first visualized the 4th dimension on film), I have little doubt that friends with the same proclivities would enjoy the discussion of kit bashing. This is a great book for film buffs, or anyone who likes knowing the little known facts about back-stage accidents and arguements, special effects and computer dubs or the odd ways in which certain films and houses are connected. Even if you do not fall into that category (I don't) there is a lot of interesting information here, and it is well put together. He doesn't just throw out these bits of errata. They are organized in a way which tells a meaningful story, something I am finding lacking in an awful lot of what has been coming out of Hollywood.

A website covering films, games, books and all things entertainment that had 14 visitors at its launch has grown to near 10 million in the ten years of its existence. It seems strange then that the people behind it should choose to release a book for ‘Movie Geeks’. But they have and here it is. Whilst others have praised it, I’m not going to, as I think it’s merely ‘OK’. It’s not a Guinness Records type tome of facts and feats but something that delves behind the scenes. There’s a section on box office hits that were a surprise in the budget-to-takings ratio, yet 30 pages previous to this is a list of ten films that cost virtually nothing (relative to what is usually spent) but had the cash flowing in. Also, the part on scripts changing before filming commences and during mid shoot is more or less repeated later. I realise that there is far more information available on films from the last 30 years or so, but this guide is too heavily reliant on comic book licences. The authors seem to be huge fans of Marvel and DC comics and appear to have decided to include as much reference to those franchises as possible including three pages on a 'Fantastic 4' film that is nigh impossible to find. Why pick that film when the same can be said of hundreds of films? Oh, it's a Marvel licence. Yes there are a few interesting nuggets of information to be gleaned but was it necessary to include nearly a dozen pages on Star Wars? The post printing editors didn’t do their job correctly, either; The Beatles’ second film ‘Help!’ had an end of film dedication to Elias Howe, inventor of the sewing machine, and the photo caption says it was “...one of the most left field dedications in movie history”. The photo is that of Johnny Ramone. As a book to generate interest in going out of your way to watch a film just to see some of the bits mentioned here, it works to an extent, but I think most of the rest is a bit of a mess

Really cool book, this is exactly the type I enjoy reading. It's not one you need to sit down and read cover to cover. You can pick it up, open it literally anywhere in the book and just start reading. Stories/facts/sections rarely span more than 2 pages. So typically wherever you open up at, you can start reading a section from the beginning. The book's topics tend to jump around, So after reading one section, the next one might not necessarily have anything to do with the last one. You'll be reading about 90's films and then suddenly the next topic is about some of the most expensive films ever made. Or you'll be in a section about films that weren't released for years after they were made (and why), then move on to a section talking about why some of movie's greatest moments ended up on the cutting room flood. It's a fun kind of chaos. It keeps the reader from getting bored and I love it. Fun, interesting reading.

This is an entertaining book, as it should be. Lots of factoids and stories surrounding the production and pitfalls of filmmaking. Short stories of inspiration of how films came to be and films whose dreams were killed. This is not a book of lists, nor is it a really a guide, despite the title. Its a book by "geeks" who love film and all its nooks and crannies. And the Den of Geek crew bring that here in a sort of book of unspoken genres. Such as "Films that are harsher than they seem" or "Blockbusters with 35 screenwriters". They are not just giving a list of the movies that fulfill the title, but give a backstory as to how that came to be. Its well written and engaging, albeit short and to the point type of entertainment. The end of the chapter offers more titles that were not written about, but has a similar theme. You dont need to read this from beginning to end. It works just as well to flip to any page in the book and start reading and enjoy the little articles. Most of the chapters are 1-2 pages in length and they are usually broken up with headings belonging to a particular film. It is not a reference book, so there is no way to use it as anything to refer to, and I dont think its meant to be either. What this book sets out to do is offer the reader unusual information regarding films they have probably seen and did not know about. Or perhaps inspire them to be curious about other films seen in the light they have given it. Den of Geek has a website, but I checked a few of the listings to the website and there does not seem to be a word for word copy/paste of whats already there. Some of it is either rewritten in a way suitable for book format, or a compilation of a number of articles. Overall, buying this book will not be just buying whats on the site. This is new material you would be getting.

I had never heard of the Den of Geek website but its creator offers this book of movie trivia that will entertain cinema fans. It is organized differently than similar books, being divided into Development & Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production and & Finally. A sample of lists from the first chapter are: Brilliant opening credits sequences, Things that inspire movies, Where does a movie budget get spent, Films you may not know were based on comic books, Unmade Star Wars and Star Trek movies, Why the 1990s were so good for science fiction movies, Underrated movies of Oscar-winning film directors, Movie scripts that changed considerably from their original drafts. You can tell these are just the kind of things movie geeks think about, and the lists are always amply notated with interesting facts. Even the most devoted cinephile will find something new. Lots of photos and graphics. A wide range of films are discussed but it becomes clear the author has a few favorites and a guy's sensibility, not that there's anything wrong with that, but you'll find more scifi than rom-coms, for instance. The book concludes with citations and a good index.

I have a confession to make: I've never heard of Den of Geek. According to the introduction, it was once a mere starter website which is now very popular. I also have no idea who Jason Statham is, but he sure pops up a lot in this book. 😀 However, I love trivia books, and particularly movie and television trivia books, so this one was a no-brainer. It's not the usual lists, either, like the top ten top grossing films, or the top twenty films taken from novels. Instead we have funny, but often thoughtful lists like "Things That Inspire Movies," "Ill-Advised Sequels That Never Were," "The Lost Endings of Big Movies," "Family Movies That Traumatize Small Children" (WATERSHIP DOWN, anyone?), and, one of my favorites, "The Collateral Damage of Tom Hanks' Movies" (and he doesn't even mention FINDING PRIVATE RYAN). There's even three pages about the relation between Pink Floyd and the new Doctor Strange film. The graphics are pretty good (although the contrast of the thin black typeface on the occasional blue pages is not good and those pages are a bit more difficult to read). Plus it's an entertaining read, even when the situation takes a serious turn, and perfect for bedtime reading, where you can read one essay or five and not worry about losing your place. I enjoyed this so much I'm going to buy a copy for a friend who is a filmmaker and film buff.

As one of the best movie review sites on the internet, Den of Geek's move to print is a little strange but thoroughly entertaining. The book certainly brings all the humour and minutiae-loving chattiness you expect from the site on to the page. It's coarsely chopped into five parts - pre-production, production and post-production, watching films and '& finally' - with each section containing chapters musing on such things as opening title sequences, great lost sci-fi projects, just where the money for making a movie goes, sequels that were never made, sequels that were made but probably shouldn't have been, sequels that you may never have heard of, underrated movies from big stars and directors, why certain decades have become synonymous with a particular genre, movie marketing, and more... Yes, some of it has been covered on the site, but the book asserts - and it feels right - that much of what is within it is new writing. It's the same old Geek, just on paper. No better illustration of the sites film-positive outlook is its tale of the legendarily bad 1992 Fantastic Four movie, which - rather than taking the the easy path and totally trashing the whole thing - decides to applaud the director for actually getting out a reasonable story with a minuscule budget and no time. Oh, and FWIW, Ryan Lambie's article - both on the site and in the book - on Star Wars' production design and 'Greebles' is one of the finest assessments of the importance of behind the scenes skill and dedication that you'll ever read. On a similar, but very different note, the chapter on traumatising kids films will have pretty much everyone nodding their head in recognition. For a film geek, even one who has read the writers' site, this is like a chat over coffee with a mate. At the very least, it will ensure that you have plenty of new anecdotes next time you and some film-loving friends get together.

For anyone with an interest in the business of movies and how they are made. Full of little serves and bits of trivia that entertain and amuse.

Den of Geek is my "go to" movie website for genre movie/TV/Game news. What I like about the site is it's written by people that aren't sucking up to any individual in the business. They're thoughtful and respectful of the interviewees and mindful of what we would like to know, for example. The articles are written with an intelligence and witty approach that makes me come back time and time again. The site has also, never got pretentious and swerved away from it's mission statement, unlike some bigger sites that have been around and are no longer "cool" ;-) One massive plus: No clickbait headlines. So, when I discovered that Simon Brew had released a book, I immediately bought it. It doesn't disappoint. It does what it says on the tin. it's well written, well presented and fun. If you love movies, check it out.

Some interesting little factoids, but it's all very repetitive and most of the things written in the book will be familiar to anyone with even a fleeting interest in cinema.

If you your a film fan like I am then this book may be of interest to you , more so if you can get it cheaper on Kindle. I was aware of the book being a follower of the Den of Geek website and the book has a lot of info some of which you may not know however if your a big film buff like I am then you might find you already know alot of what is in this book however I still enjoyed it and it is well written.