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Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide 2008 (Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide)
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Manufacturer: Plume
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 016.7914375
EAN: 9780452288935
ISBN: 0452288932
Label: Plume
Manufacturer: Plume
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 1648
Publication Date: 2007-08-03
Publisher: Plume
Studio: Plume
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Editorial Reviews:
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A New York Times bestseller for the last three years in a row, Leonard Maltin’s comprehensive film guide remains the biggest, best, and most authoritative in the field. The 2008 edition features more than 300 new entries, a completely updated index of leading actors and directors, Leonard’s personal list of “Fifty More Films You May Have Missed,” and sources for buying and renting DVDs.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Usual good reference
Comment: Well, I already had this but accidentally ordered it again. But, since I'm here: This is the usually reliable standard. Don't agree with a number of his reviews (Blade Runner especially) but it's a great starting point with when a movie is on TV OR looking on Netflix.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A MUST FOR MOVIEGOERS
Comment: Anything we may say will add nothing about this abosolutely indispensable encyclopedia of movies which I keep by my bedside table. I've been getting regular up-to-date editions of Mr. Maltin's book and I've always found a guide to choose movies. You may not agree all the time on the comments but anyhow they're quite valuable. I've noticed though that in recent editions some movies have simply dissapeared. Does this mean that they've been sent to the book on Classics that the author has published?
Customer Rating:
Summary: a few thoughts...
Comment: I recently purchased Maltin's Video Guide (2008) - my first in over 5 years, so herewith some random thoughts. It's nice to see "Alien" promoted to near classic status (*** 1/2); director Robert Bresson given a fair shake (most of his films now included), and, I notice a couple of "Bollywood" items (e.g. "Lagaan") have made the cut as well. That's good.
It's a useful guide, but as usual, even a cursory glance through its contents is enough to raise a few hackles. Granted, there are going to be differences of opinion...and whether you find "Amazon Women on the Moon" (* 1/2) - "astonishingly unfunny" as per Maltin, or reasonably entertaining, as I do, is of course a matter of taste. But, in relegating so many good films to the proverbial cellar (** or less), one wonders if this "critical" guide is doing more harm than good.
For instance, it seems arbitrary to criticize Eastwood's beautifully crafted "Pale Rider" (**) for lack of originality (a "preposterous" clone of "Shane") when even the best westerns offer the same tried and true cliches. Shyamalan's "The Village" (* 1/2), far from being "downright preposterous", is actually his first film to really hold together...and the first to develop a distinctive visual style. The devilishly clever "Deathtrap" is characterized as a "second-rate "Sleuth", when apart from the presence of Michael Caine, there's no similarity at all. And the "Bomb" rating, haphazardly applied to "Pepe" and "The Bible," hardly takes into account Pepe's seven academy award nominations, or the Bible's revelatory use of Dimension-150.
There are some minor curiosities: Where's "Torpedo Run?" The previous synopsis was removed around 2001 or thereabouts, apparently for good reason. Still, how long does it take to do a re-write?
Maltin & Co. seldom mince words. Dana Carvey is branded an "imbecile" for his on-screen shenanigans in "Master of Disguise." The talented Carvey can fend for himself; on the other hand, Benigni's dazzling "Pinocchio" inspires a "humorous" disclaimer ("a big hit in Italy, but....so was Mussolini!") which I find downright offensive.
Also, it's irritating to find identical titles unceremoniously deleted (a computer glitch?) What sense does it make to drop, say, "The Girl Next Door" (1953) just to make room for a 2004 release of the same name, as happens in this issue. They're two entirely different films!
Still, it's a useful guide - provided you know what you're looking for. As for myself, I plan to check out "The Wind Will Carry Us" for its "breathtaking" imagery, and "The Plague of the Zombies" for its "beautiful low-key photography and direction." Happy Browsing.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide
Comment: This is the essential guide to have near your TV when watching movies. It gives you all the basic information you need to settle arguments about the names of the directors, actors playing the major roles, the story line, the date of production, the "star" rating, and any tid-bits you want to remember to dazzle your family and friends.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide 2008
Comment: Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide 2008 (Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide) I found this a very useful addition to my bookshelf. No frills, but solid.
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