Guides & Reviews Books

Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide (Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide (Signet))

Leonard Maltin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Still the quintessential reference book after all these years 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Leonard Maltin has been issuing this yearly movie reference guide for many years. A while back (not sure when exactly), Maltin decided to split up the movies in pre-and after 1960 movies. The pre-1960 movies now have their own book ("Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide").

"Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide" (a whopping 1,644 pages, this book should be sold "by the pound") brings the alphabetical listing of more than 17,000 movies and captures their essence in a single paragraph. The editions change little from year to year, bringing a batch of new movies. It's not exactly clear where the chronological cut-off point is: "Iron Man" is in here, but not "The Dark Knight". But it matters not.

The beauty of this book is that it remains the essential "hard copy" reference tool for us movie lovers. Yes, the minute this book is issued it becomes out-dated (see the "Dark Knight" reference), and I'm sure there are on-line reference sites that are more up to date, but if you, like me, like to have an actual book, this reference guide is for you. At that level, this book remains the best and essential.

Editorial Review:

The most authoritative book in the field, now with more entries than ever before, updated and revised for 2009.

"Have You Seen . . . ?": A Personal Introduction to 1,000 Films

David Thomson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

For ALL lovers of film 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

I just received this book and so have only spent a couple of hours with it. The book is very engaging, and stirs interest in seeing films that you might have never ever watched, much less heard of. He is good about telling why he likes or dislikes the films, and in some cases suggests that you don't even watch the whole film, but certain scenes, or portions that are not to be missed.
Overall a great reference.
He has most of the reviews from films from the 30's to the 50's. This is intentional on his part, but does a very nice job of covering many decades of movies and he even has a couple of films from 2008.
There is a chronological index in the back of the book, but strangely enough, the book has no Table of Contents, or alphabetical listing of the reviews. I think that the inclusion of an alphabetical listing, and maybe an additional listing by director would have made things more interesting, and the book easier to use as a reference.

Editorial Review:

Amazon Best of the Month, October 2008: Having already written (and twice revised) the greatest bathroom book of all time, The New Biographical Dictionary of Film, David Thomson has refreshed his encyclopedic and idiosyncratic understanding of movie history to confect another giant slab of candy for anyone who loves movies or just likes to watch a great mind at work. "Have You Seen...?": A Personal Introduction to 1,000 Films is no cobbled collection of old reviews: written fresh from start to finish, Thomson's page-long profiles often ignore plot to focus instead on the people behind the film or the slippery, personal question of what the movie is actually like to watch. And writing about a thousand films pushes him beyond his favorites into more interesting territory: flaws and failures are often his best subjects. You'll want to discover movies you've never heard of before, and rediscover others you thought you knew well. --Tom Nissley

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die: 5th Anniversary Edition

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 47 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

This special Fifth Anniversary Edition of the acclaimed film reference guide is packed with virtually everything movie lovers need to know about the films they simply must see. Stephen Jay Schneider and his team of writers have brought the book up to date by including the most memorable movies released during the past five years. Among their new additions are The Queen, The Lives of Others, Brokeback Mountain, and several more recent movies that have attracted worldwide attention. Covering more than a century of filmmaking and dating back to silent-era sensations such as Edwin S. Porter’s The Great Train Robbery and Chaplin’s The Gold Rush, this book describes musicals, dramas, screwball comedies, experimental “New Wave” films from 1950s and ’60s Italy and France, major films noir, classic westerns, action and adventure films, and even memorable documentaries. It lists each film’s director and cast, presents a plot summary and production notes, and cites interesting, often little-known facts relating to the film’s cast, storyline, and production. For students of cinema, discerning film buffs, DVD collectors, and readers who enjoy thumbing through and reminiscing over cherished screen moments, 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die is the place to start reading. Filled with 800 movie still shots and actors’ photos.

Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever 2009 (Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Video Hound's Golden Movie Retriever 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Video Hound is the best way yet to evaluate a movie before buying or renting it. I am impressed by the multiple ways to search - actors, material content, category, rating, etc. No negative aspects except that many good foreign movies are excluded, and you need a new version every couple of years to keep up with newer films.

This Book Rocks-Settles any argument instantly! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is the 4th Videohound book that I have purchased over the past 10 years. The information is presented in short, sweet, concise paragraphs that cut straight to the point. The greatest feature of the Videohound books is the cross-reference ability. This book has settled many an argument in my house about the year of a film or who was in it. A must have if you live with a trivia buff. Excellent for finding obscure films that you didn't know were hiding out there somewhere. Well worth the money, an excellent gift for that hard to buy for person.

If it ain't in the Hound, fuggabutit! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I've tried about all the movie info books and the Hound is with the most.

This was a Christmas gift for my neighbor. 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I bought it for HER, but I couldn't put it down! She loves it. This book left out Jan Clayton who starred in a six movies which are in my library. THIS MAN'S NAVY, for instance. And the LASSIE DVD's and VHS's [of course].

The Lost Journal of Indiana Jones

Henry Jones

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A very cool collectible 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

The premise behind the journal is that it was given to Indy by Henry Jones Sr to record his experiences. What you get is the highlights of Indy's career from early (The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles) to the films and a little in between (continuity from video games). The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull pages are a bit light especially the stuff about Mutt Williams (I'm avoid spoilers, but I find it hard to believe that Indy makes just one comment about him). The pages have illustrations from the movies, including grail diary pages, translations, and little notes from the KGB people that have supposedly found the book.

This is a must for Indy fans.

Editorial Review:

URGENT!

JUST RELEASED:
THE LOST JOURNAL OF INDIANA JONES™

The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation is pleased to release one of its most prized holdings, the heretofore "lost" journal of Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones, Jr., which was obscured within the KGB's collection for years before passing into the Russian Federation's possession. From Jones's notes on his youthful encounters with the likes of Lawrence of Arabia and Teddy Roosevelt, through his adulthood adventures with the Thuggee Cult, the Nazis, and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, this journal covers nearly fifty years in his life, spanning from 1908 to 1957. Dr. Jones's snapshots, sketches, press clippings, and entries recording his personal thoughts are all revealed in this volume, giving new insight into one of the most enigmatic adventurers of the twentieth century.

Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide

Leonard Maltin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Terribly disappointing 1 out of 5 stars.
3 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I purchased this book after being reminded of it on the inside back cover of Maltin's latest (2008) Movie Guide. I had first heard of it after complaining that thousands of most valuable *older* movie listings (the very ones one most needs the book for) had been omitted from *every* annual update since 2000 - more among the missing with every edition - and being informed that they were being placed in a forthcoming "Classic Movie Guide."

When the "Classic" arrived, I was initially hopeful in that the front cover promised 9000 movie listings (rather than the mere 7000 promised in the latest ad and even the Amazon promo - it's worth noting that the 2008 main guide boasts 17,000 listings - an adequate "Classic Movie Guide" from Maltin sould easily have had more than the main guide - especially since it is expected to remain in print relatively unaltered for longer!). Same ISBN number, a few more movies. Unfortunately, virtually every page I turned to had a majority of garbage (or at least lesser efforts) from the 1950's. HARDLY the older "classic" films from the 20's 30's and 40's and before promised. Not ONE of the first 10 films I looked for from this week's TCM offerings was included. Fully HALF the 1950's films I checked at random in the "Classic" guide were also listed in the 2008 Guide.

While Maltin's Guides in *general* remain far more useful than any of his competitors, I cannot in good conscience recommend this half hearted and highly disappointing effort. First time Maltin buyers who love old films would be far better advised to seek out the 2000 Movie Guide no matter what second hand condition it can be found in. Ultimately, it is (remains for me in any case) more useful that both the "Classic" and 2008 Guides together.

Editorial Review:

From Leonard Maltin, author of the bestselling annual Movie Guide, comes this guide to classic movies. Leonard Maltin’s Classic Movie Guide includes more than 7,000 capsule reviews of classic movies, including: The Birth of a Nation (1915), Gone With the Wind (1939), The Philadelphia Story (1940), High Noon (1952), and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967).

In addition, this unique volume also offers a star and director index, a full listing of classic movies on DVD, and Leonard Maltin’s unique Top Ten lists. The result is an authoritative, dynamic guide to the classics no film aficionado should be without.

The Visual Dictionary of Star Wars, Episodes IV, V, & VI: The Ultimate Guide to Star Wars Characters and Creatures

David Reynolds

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 43 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Watch the Star Wars trilogy enough times and you'll find yourself straining to catch all the little details. Not the subtle plot points (Darth is Luke's dad, check; Luke and Leia are brother and sister, check), but all the cool gear and gadgets that keep flashing in front of the camera. Like what are those pointy things on Boba Fett's kneepads? And what's with all that ammo on Chewie's bandolier? And does an Imperial Probe really need that many legs? Finally, we've got some answers.

David West Reynolds, a boyish Ph.D. in archaeology who looks like he just rode in on the last Bantha, has catalogued the artifacts and inhabitants of the Star Wars universe with the same clinical thoroughness one typically reserves for studying Mesopotamia. His oversized, eye-pleasing picture book is packed with scrutinizing photos of actual props and characters from the movies, complete with systematic, scientific labels. And Reynolds's friendly, pseudo-academic style seamlessly blends new information with old. (In the Sand People description, you can't help but hear Alec Guinness's voice when Reynolds reveals that "Sand People ride in single file to hide their numbers.") In a few instances, the book shines an embarrassing light on the movies (Max Rebo is clearly no alien lifeform, just a poofy, blue elephant muppet), but the countless close-ups of thermal detonators, imperial blasters, and gaffi sticks more than make up the difference. --Paul Hughes

James Bond: The Secret World of 007

DK Publishing

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

GORGEOUS EXPANDED EDITION 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

DK books has made the great even better with their revised edition of "James Bond: The Secret World of 007". Previously released in 2000, this latest edition expands to include the two most recent Bond Thrillers "Die Another Day" and the upcoming "Casino Royale". As with all of DK's books, it is highlighted by fantastic photography from beginning to end and presented in an over-sized hardcover format with dust jacket, perfectly suited for the coffee table.

The book start out with the perfunctory introduction to the character and his rich history including that distinctive "Bond look" , a section on "Q" the master gadget maker, as well as a look at the various bond women such as May Day, Elektra King, and Domino.

Next the book gets into each of the Bond missions, i.e, the films, beginning with Dr. No. You'll go inside the plot of each film and the lair of each villain to meet the evil masterminds as well as their various henchman and attractive women. You'll relive the most harrowing moments of each film and see the tools that Bond applied to save the day. These sections feature numerous photos from each film as well as artistic renderings of things such as Dr. No's Crab Key lair which takes the reader through a step-by-step replay of Bond's ingenious escape.

The Goldfinger section gets you up close and personal inside Bond's ride, the Aston Martin DB5 with it's pop-out machine guns, smoke emitting exhaust pipes, and ejector seat. Diamonds are Forever introduces us to the deadly assassins Wint & Kidd as well as a pair of gorgeous ladies Plenty O'Toole and Tiffany Case as the arch-villain Blofeld returns. The Spy Who Loved Me introduces us to one of the most popular Bond villains the giant, steel-toothed Jaws who gets a sizeable section in the book.

While Bond enthusiasts will know all the details already, casual fans will really eat up this book and it's a simply gorgeous collectible. There are a couple of problems, though. One, is that you barely see Sean Connery, Roger Moore, or even Timothy Dalton anywhere in the book. The only Bond you really see is Pierce Brosnan up until the back section that lists each films credits. The other slight is that there isn't much coverage on Casino Royale but DK has that solved with their new book "Bond on Set" devoted to the latest Bond Film. Two minor things and not enough for me not to highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Editorial Review:

The personality and career of the world's most charismatic superspy has held millions of fans spellbound for decades. Now, thanks to M, head of M16, the Bond Mission files have been thrown open to reveal a wealth of dazzling "top secret" information, including details of all the major characters and events from 007's thrill-packed assignments fully revised and updated to include Die Another Day and Casino Royale. Don't miss the spectacular illustrations of the lairs, plans and superweapons belonging to all the major Bond villains, as well as never-before-seen drawings and photographs of Q Branch's ingenious gadgets and vehicles. Fans will love blow-by-blow accounts of Bond's most death-defying chases and battles!

The B List: The National Society of Film Critics on the Low-Budget Beauties, Genre-Bending Mavericks, and Cult Classics We Love

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Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

In Praise of Low-Budget Beauties 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Sequelitis struck books long before it began to strike movies, but books about movies seem particularly prone to follow-ups; a condition, perhaps, of cinema's perpetual status as a work in progress. (Never mind digital video, when do we get the holographic porn?)

A few years ago, the National Society of Film Critics compiled THE A LIST (Da Capo, 2002), a collection of rah-rah essays in praise of "100 essential films." By way of answering the question, "what does it mean to call a film 'essential'?", the canonical directors were given an essay or two apiece: Kubrick, Ozu, Ford, Murnau, Godard, Scorcese, Kiarostami, et cetera; but hip as alternative newsweekly film critics tend to be, their A list already included plenty of B movie landmarks, including an Anthony Mann western, a Douglas Sirk melodrama, George Romero's "Night of the Living Dead" (the only film awarded two essays, one in each book), and the big screen debuts of pop culture icons Bruce Lee and Elvis Presley.

The editors of the present volume take hipness as their starting point. No budget is too shoestring, no story too derivative of earlier movies, no hero too ambivalent towards (or contemptuous of) authority for the National Society, whose members, collectively defining the term "film snob", are at their best when reading politics, preferably anti-establishment, into the bottom half of a double bill; at their weakest when claiming to find echoes of Shakespearean romance in "Son of Kong" (1933). (If you're hungry for political film criticism, don't miss Peter Biskind's classic book "Seeing Is Believing: How Hollywood Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Fifties".) They wear their enthusiasms on their scruffy sleeves.

That enthusiasm, and the wit and the hard-edged love with which it's expressed, is what makes this book so damned entertaining. Consider the challenge of identifying a cinematic sub-genre with only the dubious aesthetic parallels between Francis Ford Coppola's "The Conversation" (1974) and the Quentin Tarentino/Robert Rodriguez twofer, "Grindhouse" (2007) to guide you.

The editors have divided the fifty-nine chosen films into eleven categories, from the obvious (film noir, road movies) to the amorphous ("political pictures", anyone?), with the Sadean ethos of provocation and transgression informing every page in the book. Of course THE B LIST wouldn't be worth a damn if it didn't make you want to pop movie after movie into your DVD drive, and it succeeds at this with a vengeance. Whether "Gun Crazy" or "Two-Lane Blacktop" or "The Brother From Another Planet" were really all that good the last time I saw them is almost beside the point. I certainly wasn't thinking about them like this, and that's the beauty of good (i.e., passionate, well-written, philosophically and aesthetically informed) criticism. It's eye-opening in every sense of the term.

Editorial Review:

What kind of collection could possibly find common ground among The Son of Kong, Platoon, and Pink Flamingos? What kind of fevered minds could conceive of such a list? What are the unheard-of qualities that tie them all together?

The answers: This book. The National Society of Film Critics. And the far-reaching enticements of the B movie itself.

Once the B movie was the Hollywood stepchild, the underbelly of the double feature. Today it is a more inclusive category, embracing films that fall outside the mainstream by dint of their budgets, their visions, their grit, and occasionally—sometimes essentially—their lack of what the culture cops call “good taste.”

The films in The B List are offbeat, unpredictable, and decidedly idiosyncratic. And that’s why we love them.

The 100 Best Films to Rent You've Never Heard Of: Hidden Treasures, Neglected Classics, and Hits From By-Gone Eras

David N. Meyer

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Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

A Guide for the Video-confused
Can't decide what film to rend?
Tired of wandering the aisles of your video store?
Sick of searching for that one movie that perfeclty matches your mood?
Then The 100 Best Films to Rent You've Never Heard Of is for you.

Westerns, Comedies, Romance, Sci-Fi, Drama, B&W Classics, Films Noir, Documentaries, and much more...

Featuring the one and only mood guide

Every film review is preceeded by a Mood Guide, which lets you know at a glance whether a film is right for you. Are you in the mood for a Relentless Screwball Comedy? A Smart Love Story? How about a No-Nonsense, Manly Thriller?

In addition to expert and entertaining film reviews, the book also includes:
Additional rental selections listed by director
Toll-free 800 numbers for renting and purchasing hard-to-find movies by mail
Thorough indexing for a quick find of any film by director, actor, or rental category.

The one must-have film guide for the true movie lover!