What a witty and imaginative novel! (As if I would expect anything less from the terrific Tom Hanks – seriously). I could hear his voice reading every line in this book.
And what is the major motion picture masterpiece being referred to in the title of this book? It is a Marvel-esque type movie, based on a comic book inspired by a World War Two hero. But, let me take a few steps back.
This book starts off with the backstory of Robby Andersen, a comic book writer who creates the comic book, Knightshade. The superhero in Robby’s comic book is based on his uncle, Bob Falls, who, as a Marine fought in the Pacific. This ‘hero uncle’ left a lasting impression on him, thus inspiring him to write the comic book that was published in the 1970s.
I enjoyed the fact that quite a bit of time was spent on developing and detailing the lives of Robby and Bob, to give the full picture of what their relationship entailed and how it created the person that Robby is, giving a personal balance and insight to the comic book (and as a result, the movie script) itself.
With the timeline of the novel shifting to present day, Bill Johnson, a successful movie director decides to adapt this comic book into a blockbuster film – and this is where the great and impressive “Hollywood” machine comes into play.
“Sure, some movies don’t work. Some fail in their intent. But anyone who says they hated a movie is treating a voluntarily shared human experience like a bad Red-Eye out of LAX. The departure is delayed for hours, there’s turbulence that scares even the flight attendants, the guy across from you vomits, they can’t serve any food and the booze runs out, you’re seated next to twin babies with the colic, and you land too late for your meeting in the city. You can hate that. But hating a movie misses the damn point. Would you say you hated the seventh birthday party of your girlfriend’s niece or a ball game that went eleven innings and ended 1–0? You hate cake and extra baseball for your money? Hate should be saved for fascism and steamed broccoli that’s gone cold.”
We follow the production of this major motion picture masterpiece, called “Knightshade: The Lathe of Firefall”, from the start of the movie-making process. I found this part fascinating – being a bit of a movie geek, I was enthralled by the casting process, the location scouting, the creative decisions, and what happens behind-the-scenes, the challenges and triumphs, the vital part that every single crew member has got to play – every step of the way.
The plot is insightful and captivating. The author created vivid characters, told with humour and a deep feeling and mindfulness.
The almost vintage style comic book illustrations by R. Sikoryak sure adds something extraordinary to this book!
I found the book entertaining and enjoyable, it took me on a captivating journey. I mean, who better to write a novel about the movie-making process that Tom Hanks, with his wealth of experience on this topic? It is his life.
Themes explored includes family, legacy, heroism and creativity – off the screen and in the movie itself.
It just shows how stories can move and join people across generations and cultures and in that way, shape our combined imagination. Highlighting the collaborative energy, devotion, and talent of everyone involved.
The book could have been a few pages shorter; it covers a lot of details and technical jargon. But honestly, it didn’t bother me too much. (I only note the number of pages because recently, books over a certain number of pages (400) tend to tire me).
This is a wonderful nostalgic tribute to Hollywood. It is a celebration of the artistry, dedication, and passion that go into crafting a major motion picture masterpiece. I quite enjoyed the fact that there were quite a few self-motivated and dynamic female characters who featured as well. An outstanding piece of work, prose is engaging and eloquent, a seamless blend of storytelling and anecdotes.
This book is perfect for fans of Tom Hanks (i.e everyone), comic books, the creative process, and film enthusiasts.
With thanks to Exclusive Books for the opportunity to read “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece”. This book features on this month’s #EBRecommends list – showcasing the hottest and newest reads out there!
The details
PUBLISHED BY: Cornerstone (Published locally by Penguin Random House South Africa)
EAN: 9781529151817
DATE PUBLISHED: 09 May 2023
PAGES: 416
GENRE: Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945)
Read an extract here: Extract: The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks Penguin Random House South Africa
About the Author
Tom Hanks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Hanks
