Reviews (1)

Aykroyd, can there BE more funny?
This piece of software reminds us of when dan "the man" aykroyd was actually funny. He is now lucky to get a job opening for Richard Jeni at the front of a walmart. However these classic moments of his career are captured all on once piece of software for you. My adviee being, if you like Dan buy it, if you have no affection for the 70's through 80's.....do not. ... Read more

Features

• On this set of four CD Cardz, you'll get fun facts aboutthe characters and the actors who play them
• You'll also get action photos from the film, the complete trailer, music samples, an exclusive screensaver and a great Egyptian-themed game that takes you to a hidden tomb!
• Live long, die well, enjoy The Scorpion King CD Cardz!

Amazon.com Product Description

Watch full-length feature films on your Pocket PC. This CD-ROM features three films that can be viewed with Microsoft Media Player on your Pocket PC using the included, exclusive installer software. With either a desktop or laptop PC, just point and click the desired film from the CD-ROM to install it onto your Pocket PC. This package includes three Oscar-winning films: Cyrano de Bergerac starring José Ferrer; the original, 1937 version of A Star Is Born; and A Farewell to Arms with Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Activity Studio is a comprehensive desktop companion for The Fellowship of the Ring film fans. The studio's seven sections feature a character profile center, a print room, and a create-and-paint studio. Print full-color images as posters, calendars, bookmarks, greeting cards, and party kits. Visit the character profile section and discover essential facts. Customize your PC with 100 screen-saver images and choose from numerous desktop wallpapers. Click on special Web links, view video clips from the film, or use the paint-and-create studio to color line drawings. Tried-and-true film fans can also test their knowledge in the quiz section. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

FANTASTIC
This was so cool! I am a huge LOTR fan, and this was perfect for me! If you enjoyed the films, i highly recommend this for you!

It is what it says it is - an ACTIVITY STUDIO
Come on, folks! Read before you buy. It is clearly labled as an activity studio, not a game.

Don't give it bad marks because you goofed. The product is great for it's price. I collect the trading card game cards by Decipher and the movie cards by Topps. My problem was that I had been looking for cool LOTR-themed binders to store them in without any luck. I've had to settle on those binders with the clear plastic sleeves on the outside covers. Unfortunately, I hadn't been able to find good images to print out and insert into those sleeves. Then I stumbled across this software and my problem was solved.

I'm a happy camper.

HUGE disappointment
Don't bother. Very little of substance in this package. Definitely not worth the price. Buy the DVD instead.

Only kid stuff!
Don't waste your money on this unless you're buying it for kids - all it contains as far as artwork is about a dozen different photographs. Granted, you can print them as a number of different things like calendars, but there are no other options re artwork, and all the images come out with movie ads printed over them I was entertained for about five minutes! There should be a suggested age range for both this and the companion "Two Towers" software.

Prints good, doesn't contain all features on package
The program prints very good pictures but does not contain everything on the package. The cd I received said it was a "Lite" version. I contacted IMSI, and they referred me to another company to call. This other company wanted a credit card for tech support information before I could talk to a live person. I am not paying for tech support to complain about a bad progam. The packaging is misleading. ... Read more

Features

• You'll get complete character profiles and backgrounds
• Enjoy the actual movie trailer and tons of photo galleries and sound effects
• There's even an exclusive screensaver that'll make you go ape!

Product Description

Movie Outline is an innovative step-outlining application for both amateur and professional Screenwriters, allowing for simple cinematic story planning with flexible scene reorganization and simultaneous reference to successful movies of all genres. By streamlining the creation process of the entire outline structure, Movie Outline gives the Screenwriter the space to think and view their story in a customizable color-coded visual manner while being able to work on individual scenes. What makes Movie Outline unique? Different genres of movies require different amounts of scenes, so to help you plan out your project, Movie Outline allows you to refer to produced feature film outline analyses and gauge the progress of your own story in contrast with some of the most successful Hollywood movies. By comparing your own character arcs, escalating conflicts, plot points and act structure with the pros, you will be able to amend mistakes in your own pacing and successfully produce a well-structured screen story! Includes Reference Outlines & Analyses of Die Hard, Good Will Hunting, There's Something About Mary, True Romance, Scream & When Harry Met Sally. ... Read more

Features

• Reference Plugins - Simultaneous Comparison to Successful Movies
• PowerView - Color-Coded View to Plan Your Screenplay Story Structure
• SmartSearch - Keep Track of Characters, Plot Devices & Keywords
• HTML Export - Color-Coded Web Page Creation & Integrated Viewer
• Story Tasks - Helpful Notes & Ideas Management SystemSystem requirements -

Amazon.com Product Description

This multimedia screen saver collection features exotic images of the girls and gadgets from the James Bond film series. The collection includes full-screen film clips, advanced screen saver controls, and a DVD-style directory. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Blows Like Blofeld
It's just a bad screensaver with pics heavily skewed towards the Pierce Brosnan movies. You could create a more interesting screensaver in 5 min by downloading your own free Bond pics online. I generally love all things Bond, but this screensaver and Halle Berry's dopey performance in Die Another Day are the two exceptions.

highly recommended
I disagree totally with the negative critics-this is an excellent screensaver- as a life long serious & dedicated private collector of bond trivia & fan I greatly enjoy this sceensaver & is the best Bond sceensaver I have ever seen & purchased-a great & large assortment of classic movie & character photos & trailers of my favourite movies & classic Bond voice quotes & music brings back alot of memories & inspires & motivates me to pursue my hobby of searching for Bond trivia- I often find myself hesitating before using the computer while I watch & listen & enjoy the constantly changing screen photos, & after a long,hard day at work the day suddenly becomes fun & the worries & stress of the day are soon forgotten. I highly recommend any Bond fan purchasing this-you won't be disappointed.

OK, not what I had hoped
I thought I could just set an Aston Martin for a screen saver, maybe pull a couple good quotes from the movies as wav files - that sort of thing.

All I got was one screen saver. It does have some good shots and great clips from movies through The World is Not Enough. The down side is, you can't just use a still image or use the sound bites for your "Sounds" control settings.

If you just want another screen saver and you are a Bond fan, you may like this. It wasn't what I had expected. Since I had been using a blank screen previously, I currently have this set as my default screen saver. Ask me again in a week or so and I may be back to no screen saver though...

Good for Bond Fans
Despite the other review I read of this product, I think it would be neat and interesting, given that you or whoever you may give this too is a James Bond Fan. One review said It looked like a bad game, that's probably becuase its not a game. It full aoff pictures of the lovely Bond Girls and High-tech gagdetry we all wish we had. Its full of screen savers, pictures, and all sorts of other fun Bond related stuff.

Haven't played but looks horrible
It doesn't even look like a James Bond game. I think I would hate it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Take a warp-speed trip to the future with Star Trek Encyclopedia,a double CD-ROM set that covers the history, science, and peoples of the UnitedFederation of Planets--not to mention their many allies and enemies. Watch abiography of Captain Picard, browse the plans of the original Enterprise, orevaluate the terrifying Borg menace for yourself. Virtually everything a StarTrek viewer would ever want to know is available in this program.

Star Trek Encyclopedia covers all of the Star Trek films up to Star Trek: Insurrection,along with detailed information about the live-action series. Its databaseextends to the fifth season of Star Trek: Voyager. What'smore, a great deal of care is taken to distinguish between facts that arecanon--that is, explicitly detailed in the series or films--and those that have merelybeen extrapolated from evidence provided in those shows. With thousands of videoclips, photos, technical schematics, and articles, this program has everything auser might need in order to become a certified Star Trek expert.

With such a huge volume of information to cover, it's no wonder that the StarTrek Encyclopedia is not absolutely unabridged. The program doesn't coverStar Trek's animated series, which is a shame, nor does it provide a listof the many tie-in novels associated with the Trek franchise. Theinterface for the program is frustratingly nonintuitive, though its officialStarfleet look is appealing. Even with these few gaps, the vast amount of datathat is included makes this a resource that no true fan of Star Trekshould be without. --Alyx Dellamonica ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Final Frontier?
The latest version of The STAR TREK Encyclopedia leads fans on a wonderful trip of all things TREK...although I question it's ability to be considered an up to date version of the compendium...it is entertaining enough to use as a resource material, especially involving certain episode specific adventures. The video streams are also extremely entertaining!

Time to Updat again
I used to enjoy idly looking through the database augmenting my knowledge. Unfortunately I updated to Windows XP and now I can't look at it at all. Come on MacMillan, not only do you need to update the Encylopeadia to include the latest DS9 and Voyager, but you need to make it compatible with Windows XP!

Great reference
For those who enjoyed the encyclopedia, will definatly enjoy this software, an updated version of the Omnipedia. With clips from the shows and movies and pictures from all, this is an absolut must for all trekkies.

Pretty good
This thing was amazing when it was first published as the Omnipedia...it had guided tours through certain subjects narrated by Mark Lenard, voice activated response a la the TV show for computers with the capability, high quality, for the time, videos. This version, though, is outdated, and getting more so, the videos and pics are still low-res by newer standards, and everything in it's "episode by episode" guide is available on the ST web site. In fact, the episode synopses are word for word from there, and the previews are available there too.

The entries, as I said, are getting outdated, and there's no more nifty tours or voice activation or even simple "search for entries with video" function anymore. When all the Trek series are over and they have a chance to completely update this thing, then good. Until then, I'd recommend leaving it alone and maybe buying the book.

Redressed Omnipedia
While purporting to contain information on the Star Trek universe complete through the 98-99 season, many encyclopedia entries were simply carbon copies of Omnipedia or Enclopedia entries that are no less than a year and a half old. If there is information from the later seasons, it is simply stapled on to the end of an entry. Additionally, in the episode browser area, there is no mention of the most recent seasons of DS9 and Voyager, much to the chagrin of anyone attempting to read, for instance, a summarized version of the entire Dominion War, the conclusion of which coincided with the end of DS9.

Of course, all of the griping aside, the interface is quite friendly, if not immediately intuitive. Most features work as advertised - the multimedia presentations are a treat, even if most of them do not contain up-to-date information. For instance, there is no mention in the Feature of Captain Picard about the Enterprise-E, neglecting to include any information from the last two feature films.

In all, this would appear to be little more than a rushed polishing job on a previously released product, rather than something deserving of a new version number. ... Read more

Product Description

An easy-to-use personal guide to a world of great films, reviews, video clips, biographies, and insightful articles. ... Read more

Features

• Roger Ebert, Leonard Maltin, and Pauline Kael reviews
• Access to more than 4,000 biographies of movie professionals
• Pick a Category of movie
• Click ADD TO LIST to make a note of a film you want to rent, and print it later.
• Cross-referencing of actors, filmmakers, and more.

Amazon.com Product Description

Writing scripts for film, television, and theater is usually a time-consuming task. There are many elements in a script (i.e. scene headings, character names, dialogue, scene breaks, etc.) that must be correctly placed in your script. Following these conventions is essential in making sure your script is receiving proper attention from agents, producers, and contest judges. Screenwriter works by your side, automatically formatting action, character name, dialogue, and other elements as you write your script. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

good product
Movie Magic Screenwriter is the first screenwriting software I have used. I think that it is a good product, and user friendly. I crank it up everyday, more than MS word. Only problem is the voices don't work.

Best screenwriting software for PC ever!
I bought what is now Movie Magic Screenwriter way back in version 2 when it was called ScriptThing. Since then not once have I been required to pay for an upgrade and the functionality improvements have been amazing. So I went from 2 to the current 4.73 all on from my original purchase whereas a friend of mine with Final Draft has had to routinely pay for upgrades at each version number.

It makes the formatting a breeze. Most of the changes in formatting are done simply by hitting tab or enter at the end of a line. And all the formatting is completely customizable. So you can decide what you want to bold or caps if you like making your writer's drafts a little different from standard.

It also imports from a bevy of other formats extremely well. So if you have screenplay's you've already written in Word or Word Perfect it's no problem.

You can have it print your screenplay to PDF, collaborate with a fellow screenwriter online, use the index card view to outline and plot out your screenplay. It's awesome.

Whenever in the past I encountered bugs and reported them to tech support they've been quick to respond and I've seen the problem fixed in free updates.

Try the demo, unlike Final Draft's Demo it lets you save so any work you put into a screenplay won't be lost when you decide to buy Movie Magic.

Tech support, customization, and upgrading is no problem.
Unlike Final Draft, Movie Magic is properly supported, and for free, for registered users of this software.

Movie magic will also allow the user to have their screenplay as formally or as skeletally formatted as the user wishes by using the Edit > Format property sheet. So if anyone doesn't want to have (continued) continued for action breaking across a page they can exclude or include that particular formatting detail. They can also switch off and on as many toolbars and speedbars as they wish. So you can have the application window all 'bells and whistles' or as skinny as possible.

It is a good idea to spend some time with the Edit > Format page and Printer Setup page to get a better insight to Movie Magic's flexibility. And users should keep up to date with the latest upgrades - for free to registered users - to avail themselves of any improvements to performance and elimination of bugs.

Excellent font performance.
Further to my last review of this product the most significant feature in comparison to Final Draft 6.0 is Screenwriter's flawless font rendition quality as a page is scrolled up and down. Unlike Final Draft, Screenwriter re-draws the page without a horribly smudged, or raggedy line look., which takes repeated scrubbing up and down with the mouse to correct.

So, for a more pleasing screenwriting experience, Screenwriter 2000 is a better choice.

Excellent application that expands with your needs.
Screenwriter 2000

Screenwriter 2000 enables you to create script-documents based on a number of pre-formatted templates, which respond to a set of hotkeys, mostly Tab and Enter, in order to conveniently place text in the appropriate place for screenplays, stage plays, etc. You can also use Screenwriter 2000 as a you would normally use a word processor, since it has spell checking and font formatting features. Custom templates can be created from scratch, or by modifying those installed.

The format set-up property sheet / control panel is well thought out, access to all the parameters needed are from that screen, there being no need for jumping from one dialog box to another. The primary interface is usefully uncluttered, and is switchable between standard Microsoft Word view and its own. Not that there's a lot of difference, but it could be a comfort factor if you're used to Word.

Import and file save-as options are very comprehensive. But you'll mostly be saving as a SCW file, a PDF for distribution and printing from outside of Screenwriter, and RTF for those who don't have Screenwriter and need an editable draft.

Pasting a previously created script with the correct formatting from an RTF will result in Screenwriter applying the correct tags to the copied text, so that you don't need to worry about having to re-do the script in Screenwriter.

The only distraction that I encountered was in Dialogue text. In Screenwriter 2000 you have to insert a specific line-break to avoid the enter key splitting the dialogue with the ( more ) and Joe Blow ( cont't ) tags as if you were crossing a page-break. This can be done by going Edit > Add Dialogue Paragraph or using Ctrl+Alt +D. The index cards are directly editable, which might be useful, but you are warned that some of the features used in the main editing window will be lost. Warnings of this type abound, so you're unlikely to do anything disastrous if you heed them.

Screenwriter 2000 is a great product for writing scripts which will keep their formatting automatically updated as you proceed, revise, and amend. It should also be borne in mind that Screenwriter 2000 is part of a suite of products, which will allow you cover many aspects of the production process beyond the screenplay. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

In a business that's all about buzz, the latest version of Final Draft should enjoy plenty of the good kind. Final Draft 6.0 has kept what works, and added new features that guarantee this scriptwriting software will retain its spot in the limelight. It still handles the myriad technical details of scriptwriting automatically--character names are indented properly, scene headings are capitalized, and the default font is the industry standard 12-point Courier, a holdover from typewriter days. The entertainment industry is surprisingly stuffy when it comes to screenplay formatting and, when properly used, Final Draft can at least ensure your script will look great.

The latest version of Final Draft is designed for Windows XP and carbonized for Mac OS X, but it worked fine on the Windows 98 system we tested it on. A new touch freelancers will appreciate is the ability to save in Adobe PDF format, so scripts can be sent to folks who don't own this software. New cosmetics include a more colorful toolbar, darker font that matches Mac and Windows systems and looks better in print, and bigger windows for the ScriptNotes feature. System enhancements include a smart drag and drop, which automatically adds formatting elements when you move bits of your script. Our favorite new addition is Ask the Expert, a blackboard that writers can visit to refresh themselves on basics like characterization and story arc. It's like a screenwriting class without the has-been teacher and the "I'm better than Spielberg" classmates.

A couple of annoyances: you must "authorize" your system to use Final Draft 6.0 without the CD-ROM. Fortunately there are two authorizations, so you can, for example, use the program on both a desktop and laptop. Also, the much-touted script templates are nearly impossible to find (go to "File," click "New"--we just saved you 15 minutes), and they are not copies of actual scripts but two- to three-page parodies of TV shows, done in what we assume is the specific format for the show. They're worth reading just for laughs, but since the X-Files template still had Mulder listed as a character, we don't think they're 100 percent up to date. --Anne Erickson ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Excellent Time-Saver
Writing a screenplay can be a very daunting task, especially for someone who is not familiar with the format. Before purchasing Final Draft, my previous screenplays were written in your basic, custom-formated Microsoft Word document.

Final Draft 6 does it all the formating for you. A function called "SmartType" finishes off character names for you, so you don't have to keep typing in names. This is wonderful when you have two or three characters talking to each other in a string, so you can quickly type the conversation, as if it were going on in front of you.

When I transferred my previous screenplays into Final Draft, it took about an hour or so to reformat a 106-page document correctly. Final Draft was able to interperate about 80% of the formatting correctly, getting confused on mostly transitions and telling the difference between some scene headings and actions. Although, it knew exactly what was dialogue just by where it was placed in the word document, which I thought was remarkable.

Some of the templates for actual T.V. shows are a little silly, but they serve their purpose: giving you the raw format for a certain show, which can vary greatly depending on the series. If you have your own show you've created, you can save a blank document with the initial beginings of the script as a template and be able to have a fresh document ready for your next episode.

Final Draft is a great purchase for the novice screen writer learning the format, and a wonderful time-saver for the somewhat-established to established veteran.

Final Draft 6 Needs Revision
Even though it remains the Hollywood standard, Final Draft 6 leaves a lot to be desired. For lack of a decent alternative, I've used this application for the better part of a decade, and it remains clumsy to use and well behind the curve of technology.

The big issue: Onscreen text looks atrocious. After a year on the market, Final Draft 6 still doesn't use Mac OS X's technology to render beautiful anti-aliased text. Third-party fixes, like Silk, work only halfway to solve Final Draft's shortcomings. But should an application that costs $ need fixing at all? Unacceptable.

And beware of WYSIWYDG, or "What You See Is What You Don't Get." You might find the perfect font in the Font Menu, but good luck applying it to your screenplay. Worse, there are occasional text hiccups, where the text-rendering is garbled and screen redrawing is skewed.

'Authorization' remains a nuisance, too. (Bet you didn't remember to 'deauthorize''before a system reinstall or upgrade.) I know of no other software that requires such an unwieldy process just to stay running smoothly.

Final Draft 6 is still better than a typewriter or a standard word processor for writing scripts, but not by much. Considering the steep price, maybe it's time to revisit the competition.

Quirky program made useless by copy protection
Buyer beware: Final Draft incorporates an archaic copy protection scheme that will drive you nuts. Every other category of computer software did away with this kind of user-unfriendly copy protection scheme in the mid-80s, but the screenwriting software vendors persist. You're probably better off using Microsoft Word (which is far more robust) and using a simple formatting utility when you're project is finished. If you have any hard drive crashes or hardware upgrades and you forget to de-install Final Draft you will lose your install keys. Tech support is scarce and the online help system is only good for the most basic information. While it should make your life simpler this product will make your life hell. Avoid it like the plague.

Best investment I've made for writing.
I purchased Final Draft a couple of years ago, and it was the best investment for writing I've made yet. I had loads of story ideas in my head, but had no idea how to write a screenplay or teleplay, and didn't have the patience to read a book about it.

I am a VERY basic computer user and feared formatting software would be nothing short of a nightmare, but within a month I formatted three one-hour teleplays, started on a screenplay, and knew how to navigate the software fairly well. The Smart-type feature is a lifesaver, and the various view, outline, and report features are incredibly helpful and save loads of time.

There are a few features that were more complicated to learn, and as an absolute novice I had some questions that I couldn't find answers for in the program, but overall - I'm thrilled with it and use it everyday.

I'd recommend this software to anyone, rank amateur or paid professional ,who's looking for a user-friendly, helpful, and reliable formatting system.

There's a reason the whole world uses it -- it's the best
Final Draft is simply the best there is. Screenwriter is buggy [I borrowed an install from a friend], Scriptware is a joke [based on the demo I tried] and Sophocles doesn't even run on my Mac. If you follow the directions it does exactly what it says it's going to do. It's a professional-grade tool [even though I'm not a professional-grade writer - YET], it's got 24/7 help [that I haven't even come close to needing] and everyone I know uses it [and I do work in the industry]. As far as I can tell the people who have problems with it aren't using it right or they have crappy computers.

Don't mess around with other programs. This one is the one to use. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Awesome. Just as good as FOTR set
I bought the first set which is the Fellowship of the Ring 4 CD carz set. That was a lot of fun. You got to play the ring game in the first one which unlocks a special screen saver. This is just as much fun! Both of these are a must for any lord of the rings fan. Have a lot of stuff for you to explore through.

Wow!
This is the only PC/Mac Two Towers product out there. Just got it today, get believe all of this content before the movie hit. Such a better value than the fellowhsip game. Rock on!

Love theze!
I am a huge fan of the awesome Lord of the Rings movie and these are the coolest things ever out there! Totally collectable, there's one for each of the 4 main characters, Frodo, Gandalf, the hunky Aragorn + the evil Ringwraiths and contain loads of movie info, including actual movie stills, story + bio information, the movie music as well as the 4 trailers! The graphics are gorgeous but you also interact with them, using the ring to navigate your way through the cardz. However the more you use it the more it attracts the evil ringwraiths to your screen so beware!!! There are 4 tiny hidden images across all cardz too that once found unlock the gorgeous screen saver.

Gotta have them, they are fun now, but surely will also be important souvenirs one day..? ... Read more