Attention-grabbing book of movie reviews
926715
This attention-grabbing manuscript reads like a never-ending blog of movie reviews.

Kelly provides information such as the year of production, director, screenplay information, and popular cast members, which makes it easy to locate the movies that piqued my interest. While she shares her views on the movies, she also provides insights, albeit from her point of view, on the performances. She also provides an expanded synopsis, including some quite detailed information about the plot, characterization, and premise.
This was not the book I expected and it took me a while to read, as it probably wasn't meant to be read cover to cover.

I would recommend this book to anyone (not just nerd girls) who enjoys reading reviews about movies. This is not the type of book to read in one sitting. It is, however, a great resource to peek at when looking for a good movie.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Reading Deals in exchange for an honest review.
1089457
An excellent collection of diverse writings on film, from theory to industry anecdote. I haven't read it all so can't pass judgment on the overall editorial work, but some of my favorite reference sources for critical writing have come from this book. If you think and write about film, this should be on your shelf.
1085585
This book is both gossipy and a good argument behind why most of the films we see today are pale reflections on many of the great films of the 70's . The reason for that is the "blockbuster" mentality and I'm sure the corporate ownership behind some of the studios is a factor too .

I am aware other reviewers would like less of the gossip side of things , but I think that the author has put that in as a shrewd move to increase the sales of the book , or maybe it's just because he likes that sort of stuff .

Let's face it , he wants to sell lots of copies of it .

Without the gossip , the book would appeal mostly to academics and they're often not much fun . There are a lot film fans who might just pick up the book looking for gossip and actually learn more about why the mulitplexes show the same sort of films , with the arthouse places relegated to the shadows , as that is what the media pushes - the lowest common denominator .

I enjoyed the book and reread it often - it's well rounded , written in a punchy style and will educate the reader if they are open to it .
153736
It seems like celebrity news is everywhere these days, from supermarket tabloids to reality news shows, but it exists because we love to hear about what they do and why they do it. Sometimes they things they did were very quirky, amusing and downright shocking.

In the latest novel by Stephen Schochet, Hollywood Stories: Short. Entertaining Anecdotes About the Stars and Legends of the Movies takes a look at celebrities from the past and present and shares those insights inside the cover of this wonderful book. From Buster Keaton, to The Three Stooges, from Johnny Depp to George Lucas, from Marilyn Monroe to Walt Disney, anyone who has loved movies or television stars will love this candid look into some of those rare moments in their public and private lives.

Did you know that the basis for the voice of Gollum, from The Lord of the Rings trilogy was from a cat coughing up a hairball? Or that Dick Van Dyke donated money to Walt Disney's newly formed Cal Arts University in exchange for getting the secondary role of the elderly banker in Mary Poppins and even the "Banks" children did not know it was the same actor that played Burt in the movie?

How about Jimmy Stewart who was just returning from serving the last five years in the Army Air Corps, and felt he was a changed man. He began questioning his return to acting as he was starring in It's A Wonderful Life, and received a lecture from Lionel Barrymore, the wheelchair bound, Mr. Potter after moping around the set for five days. He felt that maybe working in films wasn't for decent folks. Lionel's advice?  He told Jimmy that making pictures gave people more happiness than shooting at them from planes. The pep talk helped restore Stewart's pride in his craft; he delivered his most famous performance in Wonderful Life and went on to have a long post-war movie career.

There are simple so many great anecdotes that everyone will find something that they love inside the pages of this hardcover book. I received this book compliments of Pump Up Your Books tours and Stephen Schochet for my honest opinion and think this would make a beautiful gift for your favorite movie or television lover! From vintage classics to your favorite sitcoms, this is such a wonderful book to gain a piece of Hollywood's brightest and biggest stars and why I rate it a 5 out of 5 stars.
1470488
This is fan film reviewing, and all the better for it. These are good to read and it's an ideal book to delve into rather than read straight through. There's some good information and the writer's approach is ideal for fans. This is a good one for movie buffs.

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1925478
One of the first lessons about movies is that excellence doesn't necessarily mean box office success and vice versa.  When I first saw this I thought it would be simply be a listing of those films, mostly Hollywood, that are too big to ignore.  It was therefore a pleasant surprise to see it includes a lot of lesser known films that generally go under the label of "art house" and thus get ignored except at film festivals.  The fact that several different people contributed the essays on each film no doubt helped in that.  Yes, like other reviewers, there are several omitted films that I would have included, and some that have been included that I would have omitted.  Maybe a list of the next 1001 most worthy films at the back of the book would have been a good solution. The choice of stills accompanying the entries (not all entries are illustrated) is pretty good and they are well reproduced.  The book is a full one; it has one of the thickest spines on a book I have ever seen!
2936471
I am a huge fan of the online publication The Onion.  The A.V. Club is the section of The Onion devoted to entertainment--namely film, television, music, and books.  It commonly features pop-culture lists, or inventories.  But these aren't just any lists:  with titles like "Ask a Movie Question, Get a Movie Answer: 30 Film-Title Queries, and The Answers That the Films Give" and "Shoot Your Own Feet: 15 Really Good Bands with Really Bad Names," you know that these lists are going to be a bit different.  Some of the lists have been taken from The Onion web site, but some were created brand new for this book.  Inventory also offers a few other nice little features.  First, there are a series of "Guest Lists" from entertainers such as John Hodgman, "Weird Al" Yankovic, and Amy Sedaris.  Second, the entire book contains a Heaven/Hell header/footer that is a list in and of itself--that is, an inventory of what the editors especially like/don't like.  For example, opening randomly to Page 84, in Heaven, we find Doctor Who, Crash (1996), and Locked Up Abroad, whereas "down there" we have Dr. Drew, Crash (2005), and "being locked up anywhere."

The quality of the lists themselves varies wildly.  Some are not only laugh-out-loud funny but also amazing in their ability to encompass a wide selection of generations and genres.  For example, the list "16 Film and TV Characters Who Know Exactly What They'd Like to Eat" manages to include Seinfeld, The Simpsons (a huge favorite of The A.V. Club), The Blues Brothers, The Marx Brothers, Jack Nicholson, and Barbra Streisand.  Some of the lists offer thorough, compelling analyses, such as "20 Not-So-Good Movies Based on Good Books."  And there are those that are simply straightforward, like "TV Guides: 5 Essential Books About Television."  Many of the lists, however, are just silly, senseless, or both.  Who came up with "6 Live Albums that Definitely Sum Up the Artists Who Made Them"?  And the list "16 Films Featuring Manic Pixie Dream Girls" was truly bizarre, as the supposed archetype of the MPDG, as they called it, seemed to change from one movie to the next.

The other issue with this book is that the editors are unquestionably opinionated and biased.  Now, this is not always a bad thing.  For example, I mentioned above that they LOVE The Simpsons; I like The Simpsons too, and I thought that "35 Things We'll Forever Associate With The Simpsons" was one of the best lists in the book.  On the other hand, the editors really seemed to have a bone to pick with M. Night Shaymalan.  In this case, I am the who is biased; I don't hesitate to admit my  love for Shaymalan.  However, while I readily agreed with their decision to include his awful movie The Happening in their list of "22 Ridiculous Horror-Movie Adversaries," it seemed over-the-top to me that the editors felt the need to put Shyamalan himself in the "hell" footer not once but TWICE, especially given that one of their own guest listers, Patton Oswald, actually praises Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense as having been revolutionary.

So, in the end, although I found some of the lists to be hit or miss and didn't agree with all of them, overall, I did enjoy this book.  If you are a fan of The Onion in general or a follower of The A.V. Club in particular, Inventory would likely appeal to you as well, and I would recommend it.
3788595
Thoughtful, passionate film reviews from a writer with an infectious enthusiasm for his subject, covering a nice range of movies.
1259675
The Videohound's guides are the most comprehensive and user-friendly collections of movie reviews around. Films are sorted by title, genre, cast, director, writer and even composer and cinematographer, so if you can remember anything at all about a movie, you can look it up. Reviews are concise and often amusing, with ratings from Woof! to ****. Many of the Woofs! are low-budget horror films that fall into the "so bad it's good" category. Flaws? In my opinion, some of the reviewers (I assume they weren't all written by one person!) don't appreciate many low-key, offbeat independent films. Some of my favorite movies only get one or two stars. But no gigantic collection of reviews can expect to please everyone, and the primary value of Videohound's is that it's a superb reference tool. Whether you agree with the reviews is secondary.
2004864
After having read only three of the pieces in this book, I can see that it is really going to enhance my appreciation and enjoyment of the films covered. The writing style conveys intelligent and critical analysis in an accessible and conversational style, making it a pleasure to read.  I look forward to viewing the forty films, and am glad I have Screen Savers to assist me in gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation of them.
3953485
This is a good book that chronicles most of the worlds greatest movie stars with fairly up to date information. This book is thick and heavy, about 7"x 10" in size with soft covers, not exactly the feel of a typical coffee table book that one would expect. That said, this is a book that should please any film aficionados. It manages to cram in lots of information about over 300 movie stars and award listings by year. Each star is individually covered across 1-2 pages, with a good length of biography, thumbnail pictures of their portrayed movie character and an illustrated timeline of their famous films and shows. There are also full-size photographs of some select stars (presumably the author's favorites). At the back of the book are listings of awards and recipients by year. A fairly well-done chronicle book of movie stars.

That being said, there are some minor issues I have with this book:

1) The selection criteria for movie stars is a big puzzle to me. There are some big names that are missing in this book. Surprisingly, Elizabeth Taylor is absent from the book. The last time I checked, she was one of the most famous, greatest movie stars in the world. She is not in the book while some lesser known actors/actresses are. I'm bewildered.

2) The book is titled as a visual history. I was expecting lots of archive-worthy photographs and film shots. Instead, I was greeted with small thumbnails that I have to look at with a magnifying glass, and some illustrated timelines. Sure, there are larger photographs but they are few and far between. Furthermore, the printing is mostly done in small fonts and I have a hard time reading it without a pair of reading glasses.

Overall, this a substantial book that chronicles many greatest movie stars in the world. If you're a film aficionado, you'll be pleased to have it in your library. For the casual fans, it is a good reference book and I like it. Although it is not really a coffee table book, I may just leave it there so that I can flip through it to see the work of some movie stars right after watching their films.
2509393
This is a fun read for both serious film fans and casual cable enthusiasts.  Ms. Garlen really knows her stuff, providing fun tidbits about actors, directors and even canine stars of various film.  The selections cover a wide swath of film history, from the silent films at the beginning of Hollywood through the end of studio era.  In addition to the anecdotes and summaries, the author also provides an interesting glimpse at the evolving role of women in Hollywood as well as recommendations for family viewing.  If you'd like to take your kids beyond the latest banal animated offering in the Redbox, this book and its predecessor have many wonderful suggestions!
781290
This book is written in a breezy style, yet contains enough varied information about the world of short films to make it well worth the price. I liked some of the "top ten" lists, such as great shorts to see, and tips for getting great performances from actors. This is not in-depth stuff, but the value of a book like this is that you can read it quickly and be reminded of a great number of essential things otherwise forgotten...or never learned.
3472753
This book will be of great help in sorting through the plethora of movie choices available. I am very impressed by the author's recommendations,and the intelligence and spirituality behind them. I will most definitely be using this resource in choosing films to watch.
3588941
As far as coffee table books are concerned, this one rates right up there with a great appeal to a wide audience. It is filled with pictures and short film career biographies of most of the legends of the big screen. I definitely find it difficult to put the book down whenever I pick it up to peruse through it, as there are many stars and many wonderful photos. Is it a perfect, all-inclusive book? I would say no. And given the now long life of the cinema, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to include all of the film stars, both past and present, into one single volume. The subtitle of the book, "A Visual History of the World's Greatest Movie Stars",  is a little misleading, in that most of the stars only have very small pictures in the book (although there are several of these for each screen actor, they are basically small head shots from popular film roles). Some of the legends have more extensive photos of their film work (Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, to name a few), and they are wonderful to look at.

The author with top billing, Ian Haydn Smith, is British. This probably explains the occasional inclusion of film actors not so well known in the United States (and, again, the sub-title does state "World's Greatest Movie Stars"). However, to me, it does not completely explain the puzzling decision to devote two full pages to the filmography of Alain Delon (who?), and yet give only one page with a few small pictures to Sean Connery! And, as another reviewer has noted, to leave out Elizabeth Taylor completely (which, I agree, was most likely due to legal/contractual fallout).

Despite all of the above, I still can't put the book down once I pick it up from my own coffee table. So, whether I or anyone else personally agrees with all of the author's choices doesn't diminish my enjoyment of the book one iota. When selecting that 5th star for this Amazon review, the caption simply reads "I love it". Those 3 words sum up my feelings about this book perfectly.
3456493
To consider this book as just another list of movies is a big mistake ! Indeed, the book contains a veritable goldmine of list upon list not found elsewhere or on the companion Website (
[]  is available free for everyone not only readers of Videohound Retriever). Central to the guide and indexes is the Dog's Opinion rating scale (from woof - no bones to four bones) for movies. Each movie review is packed with concise details comprising not only a rating but nearly 20 items.

I continue to purchase the hardcopy editions but a Kindle version would prove to be an extremely useful asset to make random searches but with the publication of the 2011 version an e-version is no where to be seen. Nontheless, the lists are what make the guide. The Kibbles and series list /index is but one to dwell upon providing information on adaptions (e.g. from a : carton, fairytale, Disney park ride, Marvel comic, play, book...), movies series, collaborations and partnerships (e.g. Bob Hope and Bing Crosby or Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese. Other indexes include Awards, Cast & Director, Cinematographer, Composer, Writer. A 12 page Web site guide rounds out the resources.

My only negative with the 2010 edition is the 8 pages listing the screen names of the online community. Not a very useful resource or good look for someone who pays good money for the guide. A useful addition to this list could have been a summary citing the most frequently used actor, film or genre based names.
4071294
This book has many movie reviews that you may have overlooked in years past.  It's a bit of an education in cinema to read these reviews and then watch the movie to see what you think.  I plan on doing that very thing with this book.  I will miss Roger Ebert's reviews in the years to come.  I certainly hope and pray that heaven will have grand movie theatres!