"Including masterpieces, oddities, guilty pleasures, and classics (with just a few disasters)"--Cover.

“Hypnotic….It is ever tempting to try to fathom his restless spirit and his determination to challenge fate.” —Janet Maslin, New York Times Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man) is one of the most revered and enigmatic filmmakers of our time, and Fitzcarraldo is one of his most honored and admired films. More than just Herzog’s journal of the making of the monumental, problematical motion picture, which involved, among other things, major cast changes and reshoots, and the hauling (without the use of special effects) of a 360-ton steamship over a mountain , Conquest of the Useless is a work of art unto itself, an Amazonian fever dream that emerged from the delirium of the jungle. With fascinating observations about crew and players—including Herzog’s lead, the somewhat demented internationally renowned star Klaus Kinski—and breathtaking insights into the filmmaking process that are uniquely Werner Herzog, Conquest of the Useless is an eye-opening look into the mind of a cinematic master.

With more than 250 images, new information on international cinema—especially Polish, Chinese, Russian, Canadian, and Iranian filmmakers—an expanded section on African-American filmmakers, updated discussions of new works by major American directors, and a new section on the rise of comic book movies and computer generated special effects, this is the most up to date resource for film history courses in the twenty-first century.

This richly illustrated book focuses on one of the specific and crucial steps of the Medically Assisted Procreation techniques that is often overlooked: the oocyte pick-up. Enhanced by a large number of high-quality pictures, this atlas of oocyte retrieval comprehensively describes important aspects such as the setting of the ultrasonic equipment, the choice of needle, the layout of the devices in the room and the technique to be used, which, if not properly handled, can lead to erroneous behaviors. The original and detailed illustrations, mainly microscopic images and explanatory drawings, help readers to better understand how to manage all the phases of the ovarian pick-up and oocyte management. This practical atlas provides a valuable guide for all specialists who want to improve their skills and gain confidence with the MPA techniques.