VideoHound's World Cinema : The Adventurer's Guide to Movie Watching

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Summary: Media Reviews
Review: "A treasure trove of great movies. It will pay for itself over and over again." -- White's Guide to the Movies

"A thorough and most readable book, a perfect introduction to foreign films for the neophyte and a delightful reference for the veteran foreign film fan." -- Detroit Free Press (Bob Talbert)

"Excellent indexes (alone worth the price). A strong addition to any film library." -- Library Journal

"With his enthusiastic insightful comments ... Mr. Wilhelm helps to bring foreign movies to a larger audience. An ideal resource. This film guide does a remarkable job of presenting its reader with the vast canvass of world cinema." -- Images Journal

"A comprehensive guide. The reviews are succinct and combine plot and opinion quite effectively." -- The Mining Co.

What a guide! What is remarkable is how many major international films are included and how thoroughly they are treated. This guide allows the viewer to pull together all the relevant information." -- Independent Publisher Magazine

"Eight indexes make the book accessible on many levels, and to many users. Well thought-out ... provides much-needed coverage, especially for international film neophytes." -- Choice

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Summary: More reviews ...
Review: "Terrific encyclopedia. Cross-referenced with impressive thoroughness." -- Time Out New York

"You are guaranteed to discover something that will freak you out. Great stuff." -- Film Threat Weekly (e-newsletter)

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Summary: Don't Buy It
Review: After ordering my copy of VideoHound's World Cinema: The Adventurer's Guide to Movie Watching I must say that I was rather disappointed in the hound. Okay, lets say that you are not familiar to any of the directors in the book and you read a review and check out the film and you love what you see. You will probably want to check out other pieces of work by this same director. Unfortunately the Videohound World Cinema book does not list all of the works of cool foreign directors, even of films made outside the U.S. For example, David Cronenberg has a wimpy film list in the back of the book with a mere three films. The book has completely overlooked great campy Italian horror directors like Lucio Fulci. What I am saying is that the book is far from complete and needs a whole lot of additions. If I were you, find another source book and avoid this hound dog.

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Summary: Detroit News
Review: Clearly a labor of love, VideoHound's World Cinema is a prime addition to the stellar "hound" series published by Farmington Hills based Visible Ink Press. It's an invaluable guide for those just discovering the wonders of foreign film and a pleasantly provacative companion for those taking a trip down memory lane.

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Summary: May not be what you are lookin for.
Review: I wrote a review for this book several months ago uponreceiving my copy from .... After owning it for a while, I haverealized that I probably wrote with too much haste. I was initiallyvery disappointed because I had expected a completely comprehensiveforeign film encyclopedia and that is not what Videohound's WorldCinema is at all. World Cinema is an introduction to the foreign filmworld and is simply very incomplete in its coverage of the thisworld. An example: Wilhelm, the book's author, has not written areview for Jean Renoir's Rules of the Game, considered by many to beone of the best films of all time and it is very foreign. In the indexof the book, there is not a full list of all of a director's, writer'sor cinematographer's works. Sure, some directors are accounted forcompletely but others are left with only two or three titles to theircredit. Also, World Cinema does not use the useful bone ranking systemVideohound's other editions use. Personally I found the bone systemvery helpful for a quick reference to find if a movie is worthwatching. Basically I expected as comprehensive a foreign film bookas Videohound's Golden Movie Retreiver is for movies of all kinds. Iam not writing this review over again to simply tell why I dislike thebook but rather why I like it. Wilhelm gives truly thorough reviews ofthe films in the book. Granted, he usually ruins the movies for anyonethat has not seen them before but one must understand when buying thisbook that they are NOT buying a book for tantalization or inticementto see a movie. They are buying a book that gives thorough reviews ofa solid list of foreign films and is a good starter kit to anyone whowishes to branch out and start to read subtitles.

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Summary: Enhanced book synopsis
Review: It's a short cinematic distance to far-away lands with VideoHound's World Cinema

Whether you're a bold beginner or an experienced film enthusiast, VideoHound's World Cinema is your passport to the most accessible, appealing and arresting films produced outside of the U.S.

Elliot Wilhelm, respected curator of film for the Detroit Institute of Arts, is your exuberant VideoHound guide to what's really good and what's overrated in world cinema. Each review is written in an honest and entertaining style, covering current cutting edge film as well as international movies of the past.

Unpack those bags your latest film adventure begins at home! Featuring down-to earth-criticisms and endorsements, VideoHound's World Cinema is the everyday adventurer's guide to the best of world cinema:

· More than 800 films are reviewed from an audience's point of view rewarding you with excellent viewing suggestions

· Includes numerous references to similar genre films you might enjoy

· More than 100 photos enhance the text

· More than 100 sidebars highlight notable directors, actors and interesting quotes · 7 indexes offer you easy access to your latest adventure.

VideoHound's World Cinema: don't stay home without it!

About the author: Elliot Wilhelm is the founder of the Detroit Film Theater and curator of film for the Detroit Institute of Arts for the last 25 years. He hosts a weekly prime-time television show on Detroit's PBS affiliate that airs classic motion pictures.

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Summary: The Observer
Review: The book is well organized and includes several indexes for cross referencing. In addition to the capsule reviews, Wilhelm includes short personality profiles on such prominent figures as Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune, Chinese actress Gong Li and French director Louis Malle and the legendary Luis Bunuel.

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Summary: A veritable treasure trove of information.
Review: This book gives you all you need to know about foreign films. Elliot Wilhelm's wit and knowledge are unsurpassed!

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Summary: A Wonderful Guide to The Worlds Great Foreign Films
Review: This is a great reference to foreign films. I love reading the reviews of films I have seen, and those I hope to see.This is one book that I would love to have in future updated editions. I certainly hope the author will consider future and much expanded versions.This is a great book!!