Pratchett's homeage to the film industry. The Discworld has discovered--or is that re-discovered the magic of film making. Ankh-Morpork is stripped of people to build a town in Holy Wood, become production crew and film stars. ( )

I first read this back in - what, 1995 or so? It's been a while. Strangely, I've a clear memory of reading it then, curled up at my grandparents' house. I get more of the jokes by now.

The plot (eldritch Things try to break through into the world by enrapturing people, and in doing so create mass entertainment) is a nice idea but hardly there; the better parts of the book are the characters and the style. The wizards are described beautifully, and some of the incidental characters come out very nicely.

This isn't the first Discworld book written as an extended riff on a single general theme (the first was probably Pyramids), but it's probably the first to take that theme and use the existing setting of the Discworld to reflect it. This and Soul Music are extreme examples of it - the plot is definitely secondary to the way he tries to cram in as many allusions as possible. On the whole, it works, though I feel the more "balanced" novels are better.

Not his best, but nothing wrong with it, and a couple of flashes of excellence.

Tenth in publication order of the Discworld humorous fantasy series. This is Pratchett’s spoof of Hollywood and the movies, or “Holy Wood" and ‘moving pictures’ as they say on the Discworld. People don’t eat popcorn, they have ‘banged grains’ to munch while watching the moving pictures. Of course, the pictures are only 10 minutes long and no one has ever heard of a three-reel film until Throat Dibbler encouraged the movie mogul Thomas Silverfish to try it. (You can blame ‘advertising’ on him as well.) Perpetual wizard student Victor (‘Can’t sing. Can’t dance. Can handle a sword a little) and small-town girl Ginger are about to become big stars, first in Cohen the Barbarian and then Sworde of Passione when the magic of Holy Wood infects them and everyone else. Much hilarity ensues as Pratchett seems to catch a pretty darned accurate picture of the way things really work in (our) Hollywood when you boil it all down. Wonderful reading, hilarious light reading as always—wonderful escapism. Much better than any Hollywood (or even Holy Wood!) fillum. ( )

A door from the dungeon dimensions opens up and unleashes the technology for movies. Before you can blink an eye, a thriving movie industry is set up nearby, and the Discworld becomes dangerously addicted to the demonic results. This is basically a huge send up of the early days of the real movie industry, and on a gags level it works well, with some very funny moments. But I also found the novel somewhat dull and confused in places, as Pratchett lost site of the unique features of the Discworld universe and centred too much on satirising early Hollywood. Also, neither of the two male leads were all that memorable or interesting. To me, the Hollywood theme deserved to be one part of a larger novel, rather than being stretched out into a complete novel in itself. And again there was a chaotic, prolonged climatic ending that I felt frustrated by. One of my least favourite Discworld novels to date. ( )

Terry is in scintillating form for this novel, in which Victor Tugelbend finds himself called to Holy Wood to be part of the Clicks. Film-enthusiasts will love the references that Pratchett has sprinkled liberally throughout the story. ( )

Not really one of the better ones. Having read this soon after 'Eric', I can't help but wonder if I've reached Discworld saturation point or whether TP has hit a trough. ( )

The standard disclaimer for Discworld books applies here. I cannot help but filter my impressions of any one of the books through my impressions of the series as a whole. Your mileage may vary.

Moving Pictures is about the rise and fall of the Discworld film industry. Alchemists discover how to make an illusion of movement through showing several pictures very quickly, and go off to set up an entertainment industry in the remote area known as Holy Wood. Unfortunately, Holy Wood is located in a spot where reality is a bit thin, so the burgeoning industry threatens to breach the barrier and unleash untold horrors upon the world.

This is one of the very few Discworld novels which completely failed to grip me. In fact, I think there are only two I can say that about. I didn't care much about the characters, and those I did care about, chiefly because they've appeared in more interesting books, had only small appearances. The plot is all right, but for some reason, I never bothered all that much about what would happen next, a rarity indeed when the cover bears the name Pratchett. Only towards the very end of the book did I start getting curious, when the Cthulhu-esque elements began to play a bigger part. The only thing I can't fault is the humour, which as always is fantastic, and was here the only reason I managed to get to the end.

And, of course, you've got to like the implication that Hollywood is summoning demons.

There are a lot of references to the real world film industry in this novel, from characters modelled on real people to the many, many quotes from various films. This is fun, of course, when you catch it. Much, much of it I only learned of when reading annotations later. Perhaps I would like the book better if I were more of a film geek.

Like I said, I don't care about the characters, possibly because I already knew that the main pair were one-shots. As for the major supports, they happen to be some of my least favourite Discworld characters, so I suppose I've just struck out on this one.

I cannot very well recommend the book very strongly after this review, but I suspect it might be more enjoyable if read in the right order, not knowing what turns the story will take in later chapters. If you do happen to be a movie buff, his might well be your Grail, but for me, it was more chore than enjoyment. ( )

Ideas come and go, but wild ideas need to be kept under confinement, because if they break loose, anything could happen. One wild idea escapes from a place out in the wilds, a place called Holy Wood. Soon after, one of Ankh-Morpork’s alchemists makes an… enlightened discovery... http://icantstopreading.wordpress.com... ( )

Although quite funny, with great characterisations and satirical commentary of the film industry, I found that "Moving Pictures" was too long, rather like many movies. The last hundred pages or so dragged along, as if Pratchett were trying to include absolutely everything he could on the topic after already reaching the saturation point. A little shorter and with a few less plot contrivances, perhaps, and this would have been an excellent Discworld novel. As it is, it's only so-so, but then - not every book in a great series can be the best. ( )

Not in any particular Discworld series. ( )

Not quite as funny as some of the other Discworld books. this one takes on Holy Wood. It's fun, but not roll on the floor laughing fun. I liked Gaspode the Wonder Dog and I love the Librarian, so I was happy that he had a part in this one. ( )

Terry Pratchett takes on Hollywood, er, um, Holy Wood. This book was great fun, and if you are familiar with old movies, it is even more hilarious. The last third of the book had me laughing so hard, I don't think I'll need an ab workout tomorrow.
Suddenly ideas are coming forth into Discworld. Whether they are new ideas or not is up for debate, but their effect is undeniable. Lives are changed, countries moved, inspirations for the masses, or are they? Chimera or reality, is the debate in this novel, and a worthy debate it is. What is real? What makes it real? I'm not sure we find the answers here, but it's a lot of fun exploring them. Victor shines in this book, I wonder if we ever meet him again? Gaspode is a great hero as is Detritus, though neither are what I've come to expect from the Watch series. The Patrician is as sensible as ever, and Death is faithful. ( )

Link to a review on my personal website (might be in Swedish). ( )

Terry Pratchett usually hits a grand slam with every book he writes, but Moving Pictures doesn't quite make it out of the park this time. While it is still a fabulous book, the plot moves around too quickly to really develop any one character or scene as fully as Pratchett usually manages. ( )

I love Terry Pratchett, but this book just fell flat to me. I could not get into the characters and I just did not get pulled into the story. The normal wit and humor of the disc world was lost in this story. One miss in however many books is not too bad. ( )

Terry Pratchett is a god who walks among men. The entire Discworld series is a joy and only a strange mad creature cursed by gods and man would refuse to read and love these books! ( )

"The alchemists of the Discworld have discovered the magic of the silver screen. But what is the dark secret of Holy Wood hill? It's up to Victor Tugelbend ("Can't sing. Can't dance. Can handle a sword a little.") and Theda Withel ("I come from a little town you've probably never heard of") to find out"

Discworld goes to the movies. Funny, especially if you are into old movies and understand all those little hints! Play it again, Sham... ( )

MP did nail the sarcasm and parody, but the really forced part was CMOT. His characterization in this book is so far over-the-top it's bordering on the absurd. Yes, CMOT (as well as everyone else) is generally over-the-top, but in most books they are only enough over-the-top to become idiosyncratic. (Okay, sometimes they get just plain sterotypical, but only for the walk-ons.)

I do realize that the actions of the characters were forced by universal compulsion, and that there are, indeed, such personalities in La-la land, but my liking of the Discworld is this: even though it takes place in an incredibly improbable setting, the characters and situations have always been observable, if only just, over the reality wall. MP was just a little too far away from that wall.

Execution of the prose is excellent throughout, and the plot doesn't smell, so that brings the rating up a bit. ( )

After the cotton-candy bit of nothing that was “Eric” (I later learned that while my copy had no pictures, it was originally written as an illustrated Discworld book. Stripping the pictures out of a book with heavy reliance on visual humor should be a crime.), “Moving Pictures” restored my faith in Terry Pratchett. It’s not wall-to-wall laughs, and there are some slow parts in the middle, but he builds up a head of steam and the last fifty pages contain images that are impossible not to laugh at.

There are magical forces escaping from the sand dunes of Holy Wood. They start to call to people from Ankh-Morpork. The alchemists figure out how to harness imps to paint images really quickly, so that if you run them fast and project them on the screen, they seem to move. People are hypnotized by the phenomena. Overnight, a city of facades springs up out on the dunes. Specifically Victor the perpetual wizard student, Ginger the former milkmaid, and Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler are all drawn there. Dibbler goes into production, finding his early stars in Victor and Ginger, amateur actors who can be possessed by the magic.

As Victor becomes aware that the magic may have sinister intent, he teams up with Gaspode the bright talking mutt, and Laddie the Wonder Dog to save the day. There are also trolls acting as stunt men, dwarves doing the prop work (who came up with that HiHoHiHo song?), frustrated directors and a machine (made by the wizard Riktor), indicating that not all is well with the fabric of reality.

The in-jokes and movie references come fast and furious throughout the story. Yellow brick roads, thousands of elephants, “Play it again, Sham,” you name it. By the time the Librarian (an orangutan, not a monkey!) is being carried up the side of a tower by a fifty-foot tall woman, I was literally laughing out loud. That’s the kind of book this is. Usual warning: I wouldn’t start reading the Discworld series here; although it almost acts as a standalone, a lot of the humor surrounding the Wizards and dennizens of Ankh-Morpork is better if you’ve read the earlier works. ( )

Pratchett chooses yet another industry to satirise, and Hollywood and the whole movie business isn't a bad choice.

A fledgling industry starts up, complete with producers, stars, and all the other hangers-on, until it is discovered that actually doing this movie thing is really, really bad for the discworld.

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2007/01... ( )

Not anywhere near as good as the later Discworld books. I found it rather flat and hard to get into. ( )

http://rivkat.livejournal.com/145664.... ( )

"I'm a cat person, myself," she said, vaguely. A low-level voice said: "Yeah? Yeah? Wash in your own spit, do you?"
............
"He's in love," said Gaspode. "It's very tricky." "Yeah, I know how it is," said the cat sympathetically. "People throwing old boots and things at you." ( )

http://cmoore.com/forum/viewtopic.php... ( )