If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of A B Movie Actor

Rating:
Summary: Good book!!!
Review: An enjoyable, informative book that's highly entertaining. Bruce Campbell writes in a personable way that makes you hope he'll write again soon.

Rating:
Summary: Forget all the other books.........
Review: Don't take anyone's word for it, this is the best book I have read in a long time. Take "The Wonder Years", subtract Fred Savage, add Bruce Capmbell, and set it all in Michigan, and you have "Chins". EXTREMELY entertaining, I read it in 4 days. I am an addict...I need help.....
.....Help?!...

Rating:
Summary: Attack of the Chins!!
Review: Yes, this book is great. Yes, this book is hysterical. Yes, this book is informational. Yes, this book is about (who?) Bruce Campbell. I love Bruce Campbell ever since I first saw "Army of Darkness". He is great on film. This book chronicles his life and his thoughts on it. A very clever book, this book dives deep into the dark "B" side of movie making Hollywood. Though he has risen in fame considerably since the first "Evil Dead" movie in 1980, Bruce Campbell will always have his touch in things. This is also a very insightful book, some times very humorously. For example the little bit when he was a guest on "The X-Files" and him and David Duchovney got into a fart noise-making contest, or how he has met Charleton Heston numerous times and each time, Mr. Heston hasn't remembered him from the last. Even if you aren't a die-hard Bruce Campbell fan like me and most of the other readers, this book is a fascinating look into one of the most over-looked movie stars now. Reading about him will make you want to goo see these movies he talks about, I guarantee it. And maybe you will get to see a portrait of a side of Hollywood you never knew about.

Rating:
Summary: How to sorta succeed in Hollywood
Review: This book is an auto-biography of one of the most under-appreciated actors out there. Sure, Campbell qualifies himself as a B Movie actor but I wouldn't limit him there due to his tv roles in Homicide, Ellen, Hercules and Xena in addition to his bit part in Spider-Man and Serving Sara.

No matter how you classify him though, the auto-biography shows a clear picture of the man. And he comes across very much like what you see in the films: a fun, out-going, energetic person with a lot of passion for what he does and who likes to have fun. From the Introduction all the way through the end, the book has you grinning and laughing out loud at the weird events that unfold. In fact, while reading the Introduction a stranger stopped me and wanted to know what I was reading since I was so obviously enjoying it.

Plus one of the other fun things that you discover is that Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi grew up in the same neighborhood. It's kind of neat to see two friends who are interested in the same field both grow up and become successful in that field; it also shows why the two of them are so often collaborating together. And another thing that was nice about the book was that Campbell focuses more on the little guy than on the big star. He does not get into mud slinging or the "A list" gossip. Instead he tells more about what the average Joe on a movie set has to do. Maybe this is because for much of his earlier stuff Campbell was that average Joe in addition to having a major role.

The only thing that disappointed me with the book was that when I skimmed through the paperback copy at [a local store] the other day, I found an additional chapter (20-30 pages) of new material. So if you pick up a copy of the book, and I highly recommend that you do so, then I suggest you pick up the paperback version instead.

Rating:
Summary: If Chins Could Kill
Review: First off, I am not a gigantic Bruce fan! I am just a guy who likes his movies. To me they seem like some sort of stress reducer, to wear off the tension and stress of the day. His book however is surely the best (auto)biography I have ever read. I have read many biographys, and they include "A Beautiful Mind", a three star book, and some book made by a [person who did not know anything]about MAD Magazine. This is a funny entertaining book that kept me enthralled.

For those of you who don't know, Bruce Campbell is a B Movie (Low budget, Super-8 films)actor who has had mega sucess as the hero Ash in the Evil Dead films. In the begining of the book he talks about his childhood (most all bios do that but this one was hilarious), his minor sucess in Super-8 films, his other minor sucesses in the Evil Dead films, and hit and miss performances in a A movie world.

He also landed roles on Hercules and Xena from time to time, also he directed Herc episodes too. You see, in his own words, "This is not a memoir about what I said to So-And-So at the Beverly Hills hotel. It's also not about an actors "meteoric" rise or tragic fall..."

It's just a walk into Bruce Campbell's life.

Memorable Quote: Do you want to be famous, or do you want to be an actor? They are two completly different things.

Rating:
Summary: Ah, reality from an average joe...
Review: Finally, someone who doesn't sugarcoat what it's like to work in Hollywood! It is refreshing to hear that there are normal, average joe types out there. This book really opened my eyes and I see what I can probably look forward to as a young filmmaker.

Let's not forget that this book is freaking hilarious.

From the intro written by Bruce's longtime friend Sam Raimi to his childhood, the Brisco County Jr. days, and beyond, it shouldn't be hard to finish this book in about a day because it is so hard to put down.

If you are a fan of Bruce's already, why haven't you read this? If you don't know who he is by now, why isn't your head in a oven somewhere?

Rating:
Summary: A look at an everyman
Review: Bruce Campbell is not an Oscar winner. This is not an autobiography subtly asking you to worship the writer. This is an average guy who is walking you through his career in movies and TV. If anything, this will be more inspiring for aspiring actors because you will feel that it is possible.

If you are a fan, then you will be able to fill in his voice as he tells you the story. There are points in the book where I laughed out loud. Also, being a fan of the Evil Dead series, this provided some background information that I found very interesting. It is amazing that he stayed in movies after all the things that happened there in Tennessee.

Throughout the book are samples of e-mail messages that he has received from fans and non-fans. These keep things in perspective for the reader as well as for Campbell. I wished he had mentioned the web-site address in the book.

I would recommend this for aspiring actors and for fans.

Rating:
Summary: Thank you Bruce Campbell!
Review: Confessions of a B Movie actor, provides an inquisitive look into the professional and personal life, of one of today's most recognizable B movie actors. The book describes Bruce's struggling rise to the middle of the heap. If you have ever seen any of his movies or countless television appearances, this is a book you must read. His witty humor and seemingly impossible tales of everyday life made the autobiography impossible to put down. If you have ever struggled through trying to make an independent film, this is your Bible. Thanks again to Mr. Campbell!

Rating:
Summary: The best novel ever inked onto paper!
Review: Whether you're a reader of biographies, a fan of Bruce Campbell, an avid watcher of the Evil Dead, or just your average Joe, you will have a blast reading this novel. In fact, if you don't get a kick out of it, you better unroll your sleeve and make sure you still have a pulse.

Rather than shoveling out tragic "tell-all" garbage, the wonderful Mr. Campbell has compiled an outstanding batch of mischevious escapades of his childhood, entertaining experiences on the sets of movies, and almost unbelievable tales from the depths of Hollywood. By the end of each of the chapters of this book, my spirit was lifted and I felt like a million bucks. Rather than just Hollywood drivel, this wonderful autobiography is an A+ compilation of awe-inspiring experiences from this B-movie actor's life.

Maybe it's because he's not a hotshot movie actor that he can get away with saying some of the hilarious things he says. Bruce Campbell has shown that he can write as well as act! Also, rather than just having a bunch of glossy publicity stills crammed into the middle of the book, this novel has a black-and-white snapshot or article cutout on almost every single page!!!!

This is truly top-notch writing and you'll zip through it in no time.

Rating:
Summary: It sounds like a Jay Leno title.
Review: But no.

"Chins" is actually the title of one of the best autobiographies to come along since, well, since Leno's autobiography, "Leading With My Chin."

"If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor," is by Bruce Campbell, leading man of such B movies as "Evil Dead," "Evil Dead 2" and "Army of Darkness," as well as the acclaimed and dearly departed television series "Adventures of Brisco County, Jr."

Before this review progresses further, I must confess: Before reading the book, I had never seen any of the movies Campbell has been in, nor did I tune into "Brisco."

Since then, I have seen both "Evil Dead" and "Evil Dead 2."

But that's the beauty of the book. Even going in knowing absolutely nothing about the actor or his cult classic movies or television, I enjoyed the book immensely.

Campbell is an amiable storyteller, with an often dry, witty voice that's hysterical.

The book takes us through a childhood of peril, usually because of Campbell's scheming brothers or because of a scheme of his own design.

Nothing suits these boys better than games of mass destruction, elaborate plots involving army men and bottle rockets, virtually anything they can get their hands on.

Campbell's life kicks into high gear when he meets the Raimi brothers, one of whom - Sam, the insane one (which is saying a lot) - will end up directing him in the smash horror film "Evil Dead."

Campbell describes the filming of the first movie in the "Evil Dead" series in such a way as to make one wish they had participated in it. No wait, scratch that. This is gonzo cinema at its best and most repellent, with stories of gushing blood and the required construction of special camera tools to appease the weird directing fancy of Raimi. The tales of "Evil Dead" are enough to make you want to grab your friends and go about filming your own tales of gruesome beheadings and dismemberment.

While giving the series that made him a star ample time, Campbell gives other aspects of his life their due as well. But there are no tales of scandal and wanton sex (darn it) to be found here.

Campbell instead shows us the true life of an actor: Learning how to cry, asking for money to make movies, auditioning for roles, getting roles on syndicated series like "Hercules" and "Jack of All Trades," watching said series' slide into cancellation, auditioning for other parts, falling in love, taking part-time jobs to keep food on the table, having children, getting divorced ... in the hands of a lesser writer, this would all be boring.

Campbell's wry sense of humor carries us through.

There's no whining, though. Each story is like a wink from Campbell to his fans, and to those who discover him through "Chins."

"Evil Dead" heads will luxuriate in the slightest of details .(See Campbell lose a glove to a raging river! See Campbell covered in bugs attracted to the sticky red liquid that stands in for blood!)

But for the unwashed, there is still plenty to enjoy.

One highlight is the chapter in which Campbell moans about his car troubles, including for his readers a check list of all the things that have gone wrong with one, and the vehicularly challenged friend to whom he lends another.

Another section within a chapter tells not Campbell's story, but instead the story of Ron Webber, craft services man on "Brisco." His job title required Webber to man the food for the cast and crew, and also take care of the horse droppings on the set.

Talking to Webber between takes, Campbell finds out about the guy's brief appearance on an old episode of "Lost in Space" and is able to track down a copy for him, which makes for a touching scene when Campbell gives Webber the tape to keep and show his grandchildren.

All in all, "If Chins Could Kill" crosses the cult status boundaries into a successful book for all audiences.

If you weren't a Bruce Campbell fan before reading it, you will be by the time you're through.