Rating: 
Summary: Hail to the King, Baby
Review: I have been a fan of Bruce Campbell's for quite awhile and I liked this book a lot because of the insight it gave into his life. It was surprisingly well written and funny for a "two-bit" actor with no ghost writer. Learning the origin of the "Detroit Mafia" was pretty cool. The only downside I could see was the chapter about getting Evil Dead off the ground. I felt that that part should have been cut into a couple of chapters. It was a little long.
Rating: 
Summary: When i was Seventeen, i read a very good book.....
Review: It was a very good book. hats off. I am a aspiring filmmaker from the metro detroit area, and movielife is repressented perfectly in the book. its good. (short and beaten around the bush, a review by Phil Dynamite)
Rating:
Summary: From Evil Dead to Xena, one great actor!
Review: This book is humorous and depicts the life of Bruce Campbell. Once you read it you will have a newfound respect for him and other "B" actors. This is one of the best books I have ever read. I couldn't put it down. You won't be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: The unsung heroes of Holliwood
Review: Bruce Campbell made me realize how the REAL heroes of film business, are the backstage people. People like himself, like Ron Howard, like Rob Tapert... It's also lots of fun :)
Rating:
Summary: Hail To The Book, Baby
Review: All he wants is a little respect. Not just for him, but for all the schlubs out there trying to break into the movie biz. Actually, his ability to make fun of himself and his profession tells the reader immediately that respect isn't nearly as important to him as enjoying his life. Bruce tells some great childhood tales, guides us through the step-by-step process of making the first Evil Dead film entirely independently, and then lets fly with an avalanche of anecdotes about his post-ED career, from the good (The Hudsucker Proxy, Army Of Darkness) to the bad (Congo, McHale's Navy) to the, um, weird (Maniac Cop, Timewarp). He considers himself (happily) a B-movie actor, but I maintain that a guy this genuine, this forthright, and this talented is being held back by the Hollywood cookie-cutters, not any lack of talent. The book reads like a breeze. It's a lot of fun, with just enough of an edge to let you see the intelligence behind the gags. In otherwords, it's just like any of Bruce's performances. Gimme a bestseller, baby! Congrats, Bruce!
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down for 2 days
Review: Read this and then watch Evil Dead (again). It is unbelievable. I see the movie from a totally new perspective. Oh, that opening scene on the water is Bruce Campbell pushing Sam Raimi on a raft, there's where they rigged that lever to make that deadite look like she was floating in the air, there's where there's two people under the floor to look like scattered body parts wriggling. Behind the scenes stuff like that is amazing to me. Since obviously Evil Dead as Bruce Campbell's first movie gets the blow-by-blow treatment, I got the feeling that no other movie experience has ever been the same for him. The whole thing from financing to final edit was solely left to the filmmakers with total creative control. I wished I could've been a part of that hellish shoot for the craziness they must've experienced! And that's only one portion of the book. I work in a bookstore, and I read almost the entire thing on my shift one day, bought it and finished it the next day. I still re-read my favorite parts, and I usually don't like biographys. Buy it, read it, make Bruce Campbell sign it when he comes to your town, and cherish it.
Rating:
Summary: Why I Love Bruce!!
Review: I am a sucker for anything Bruce-related! He has a comfortable writing style--you feel as if you're an old friend. Bruce is hilarious, but he doesn't take himself too seriously. Nor does he take all that Hollywood mumbo-jumbo too seriously, either. This book is a must for anyone who appreciates the awesomeness that is BRUCE CAMPBELL.
Rating:
Summary: If Chins Could Kill
Review: Although I have never been a fan of biographies, I was thrilled to hear that Bruce Campbell had writen one. Put "auto" in front of a word and it makes everything better. Yes, I am a rabid fan of Campbell so that might colour my judgment, but I tried to approach the book as I would any other: that it might royale suck. And I was truly delighted that it didn't. With emails from fans introducing his chapters, to the wonderful black-and-white photography, I couldn't put the book down. It begins with his childhood and ends with his current projects. It teaches you how to kill mosquitos and that there are people out there that are truly better than brand-name actors. This is a book that I hope people in film school will read. It was definitly worth the wait and the money.
Rating:
Summary: ShowBiz & Film making 101
Review: Ever dreamed of being an actor? Or a movie maker? Well what if you did? Ever wonder what it would then be like, and what you woudl have to endure in order to mantain the lifestyle? Bruce Campbell walks you through it all, step by step. Holding your hand from grade school, through summer theater, all the way to your first pitch meeting, movie auditions, and finally, the casualties of being part of the "freak" show called Hollywood. You must read this book if not because your a fan of his work, but atleast, so that finally an actor can tell you honestly....."it aint easy." This is a must for all aspiring actors, producers, directors, camera people, and just plain everyday joe's trying to make an honest living! In the end, you may not become a fan of the actor, but you'll respect him as a caring soul.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books about the film business ever written
Review: This is one of the best books about the film business ever written. Follow Bruce from his rowdy adventures in suburban Michigan to the backwoods of Tennessee and finally to Hollywood. Bruce sees his life as a sort of joyful stumble, and his tales are infused with a self-effacing mirth that is quite wonderful. You feel like you’re kicking back with him on a porch, drinking a beer, hearing "war stories" about his adventures in the crazy movie business. The hilarious description of the guerrilla film shoot for The Evil Dead, directed by then teenager Sam Raimi, should be read by all film students. And Bruce’s childhood memories of melting army men and copping feels made me laugh so hard I actually cried. Bruce has a huge cult following for his characters of Ash (Evil Dead and Army of Darkness) and Autolycus (Hercules and Xena). I saw him speak ... in a small town in Oregon and there were over 350 people there! He signed every last autograph (which took about four hours). He’s a warm, funny guy, and his wry wit is on full display in this well-written memoir. If Chins Could Kill deserves to be a hit.
|
