The Right Stuff (Bfi Modern Classics)

Rating:
Summary: Buck Rogers
Review: A decent, small handbook on an unjustly overlooked film, this follows the 'Terminator' mould of the BFI books, in that it avoids undue analysis in favour of a few thousand words of well-penned facts and conjecture on the making and impact of, and background to, the epic film. Coming out at the turn of the 80's, it was unfortunately seen as being inappropriately jingoistic, and thirty years out of date (the title itself giving the unthinkable impression that there must also be a 'wrong stuff', too). That said, if it had been released a few years later, we would all associate it with the worst excesses of Rambo-ear Reagamerica. As with the other books, you'll probably finish it in half an hour, although once you have done so it's fun to flick through all the various footnotes and references - Tom Charity has obviously done his research.

Rating:
Summary: No bucks, no Buck Rogers!
Review: This is an excellent, indepth look at a vastly underrated and underappreciated film. I've always been a fan of "The Right Stuff" but have never been able to find any kind of information on it.

Mr. Charity has certainly done his homework by writing a thorough account of the how the film was made, complete with access to director Philip Kaufman, and a top notch analysis of the film itself. There is some truly fascinating stuff in this book. For example, he examines the rather experimental techniques that went into creating the film's special effects. I love film books that talk about how the movie was made with anecdotes and interesting factoids. This book does not disappoint on this level.

I enjoyed this book so much that I read it all the way through in one sitting. It's yet another great entry into this BFI series and well worth picking up if you're a fan of this particular film.

Rating:
Summary: No bucks, no Buck Rogers!
Review: This is an excellent, indepth look at a vastly underrated and underappreciated film. I've always been a fan of "The Right Stuff" but have never been able to find any kind of information on it.

Mr. Charity has certainly done his homework by writing a thorough account of the how the film was made, complete with access to director Philip Kaufman, and a top notch analysis of the film itself. There is some truly fascinating stuff in this book. For example, he examines the rather experimental techniques that went into creating the film's special effects. I love film books that talk about how the movie was made with anecdotes and interesting factoids. This book does not disappoint on this level.

I enjoyed this book so much that I read it all the way through in one sitting. It's yet another great entry into this BFI series and well worth picking up if you're a fan of this particular film.