my cart my cart |

Penguin.com (usa)


(To view entire post, click on the "Read more" link under each post)

Archives

Date
Wed, 08/13/2008

Listen to Our Author's Podcasts Running the Week of 8/11::

 

 

» Grammy winning musician-turned-author, Janis Ian, discusses her autobiography, Society's Child.

» Listen to other Penguin Podcasts.

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 


in
Wed, 08/13/2008

Post #3 - Leonard Maltin’s 2009 Movie Guide and Leonard Maltin’s Classic Movie Guide, by Leonard Maltin:

(View entire post here)

Being the editor of a reference book in the Internet age might seem like taking up sheepherding or manufacturing buggy whips. Why bother publishing a book when one can find all the information one needs in a matter of seconds online?

The answer is clear to me, if not to everyone: a lot of that "information" isn't always accurate. What's more, many sources on the Internet allow contributors to add or change material. That leads me to wonder, "Who's in charge here?"

When I make a mistake-and believe me, I do-I have to bear the blame. It's usually one of our readers who spots the boo-boo, but fortunately, I can fix it in the following edition; that's how our Guide has become more accurate with each passing year.

But there's more to a guidebook than a mere listing of facts; I find that it's a matter of selectivity.

For instance, when I saw "Catch a Fire", with Derek Luke and Tim Robbins, I thought I recognized one of the supporting players. Then, when I read the closing credits onscreen, I realized who he was: Marius Weyers, the South African actor who starred in the runaway sensation "The Gods Must Be Crazy" back in 1981. He also had a small but noticeable role in "Blood Diamond". Weyers may not be a star, but he's never stopped working, and while you won't find him listed in most cast lists for these movies, I think he's worthy of noting in our cast list.


in