Rating: 
Summary: Before viewing ANY film, I consult this book!
Review: I have relied on Leonard Maltin's Movie Guides for many years. The 2003 Edition is the most complete source of honest movie reviews you can find. Each year Maltin adds hundreds of new reviews. I'm a AMC buff, but I appreciate the latest reviews as well, and they're always in time for the new video releases. As a reference book for movie fans, or simply to "get the scoop" before wasting 2 hours of your life, this is THE BIBLE!
Rating: 
Summary: maltin's book doesn't give inventive new filmmakers credit
Review: If you followed the advice of Leonard Maltin's 2003 movie guide, choosing only to view movies the book scores three stars or higher, you would miss the following movies: Memento, AI, Donnie Darko, Ghost World, Run Lola Run, The Royal Tenenbaums, Bottle Rocket, The Fight Club, The Man Who Wasn't There, Boys Don't Cry, et al. Oh yes, and who can forget the slams of Blade Runner and Taxi Driver? The guide does a decent job with older films (except does an outdated chestnut like W.C. Field's The Bank Dick really deserve four stars--even with its moment of blatant racism and fairly large number of failed jokes?). However, when Maltin's guide calls the exciting and innovative Run Lola Run (two and a half stars) "wearying", misses the point of Spielberg's will-be-reassessed-in-the-future AI, and praises almost every aspect of The Man Who Wasn't There but slams it for having those usual Coen Brothers twists, you know it's time for Maltin to hire some new critics to tackle the more inventive new releases. What's disturbing about Maltin's guide is it punishes a movie for being bold or different (look at its ** review of the haunting psychological study Donnie Darko, which is [URL's]Top 250 films of all time). Even more frustrating is many of the guide's contributors seem to miss the point of the films they are reviewing. Watch Ghost World, and then read the capsule, and then ask yourself "did we see the same movie?". Ghost World is a sad, beautifully acted look at cynical outsiders, but the guide complains that you cannot care about such characters--I know many viewers who did care and loved the award winning film. Watch The Royal Tenenbaums and then see if you agree with the capsule's complaint that nothing happens. As a reference tool for older films, the guide has some uses. But it's time to bring some fresh new talent to the project. Until then, this movie lover will be consulting [URL] or [URL].
Rating:
Summary: MALTIN IS THE BEST
Review: Leonard Maltin's book is always next to my chair, so that
I can read his review before deciding to give 2 hours of
my life to watching a movie. I always agree with his
opinions, I think because Maltin REALLY LOVES film, and
is so very knowledgable about them. He never gives a bad
review because movies bore him; I feel that it is with a
heavy heart that he rates a movie as poor. Every year I
buy his updated version.
Rating:
Summary: THE ultimate film resource
Review: This book is a MUST for anyone renting, buying, or researching a movie. Thank you Leonard for providing a expansive research tool.
Rating:
Summary: THE best film resource i've ever bought.....
Review: This book is an amazing resource for ANYONE who is renting, buying, or researching any film. Thank you Leonard for your wealth of knowledge.
Rating:
Summary: Still the best all-around guide
Review: Maltin's annual guide is a must-have for both film buffs and the casual fan. Each capsule entry is written in an engaging and sometimes humorous style, providing all the necessary general information (actors, director(s), running time, available formats, and more) plus extra details when needed, such as awards, later remakes, anecdotes, source material, etc. The best aspect of the book is how Maltin and his collaborators (a who's who of editors and reviewers) bring much-needed attention to the lost classics and forgotten gems so often overlooked or missing from video store shelves crammed with thirty copies of the newest product. Movie serials get a short introductory paragraph or two on their development, stars, and quality, covering everything from "The Thin Man" and "Charlie Chan" to "The Mexican Spitfire" and "The Bowery Boys." Maltin is unafraid to go against popular and critical opinion, notably in his negative reviews of "Taxi Driver" and "Memento," and his unsentimental take on "Forrest Gump." The sheer number of entries (nineteen thousand or so) means that even the most obscure B-movies get attention, and in this lies my only complaint: Why not dump some of the awful, grade-Z trash that barely made it to video (and is unlikely to ever see DVD) in favor of the better independents and more foreign films? (In his defense, there appear to be more foreign films this time around than before). Personally, I care more for what Zhang Yimou is doing these days than what Mamie Van Doren was doing forty years ago. Of course, the large number of entries does mean that a reader is rarely unable to find a film. (I guess it balances out). In addition to the reviews, there is a handy family movie guide in front, featuring good family-friendly films past and present. There's also a nice list of mail-order sources for hard-to-find films and rarities. Overall, the book is well-organized, and a great reference work for homes, libraries, and video stores. Highly recommended. See also Roger Ebert's "Video Companion."
Rating: 
Summary: Useless.
Review: As a film critic, Leonard Maltin has zero relevance in today's climate. He turns his nose at edgy gems like "Taxi Driver," "Requiem for a Dream," "Boys Don't Cry," and "Blue Velvet." Yet, he'll give four stars to non-threatening fluff like the overrated "Cider House Rules." Maltin doesn't seem to be very fond of horror flicks or blaxploitation, either. Who put this dude on his pedestal? He doesn't seem to be a very fun man to hang around with. If you need honest reviews on movies, you can always consult Yours Truly. Even better, you won't have to pay a dime.
Rating: 
Summary: It's okay.
Review: I got this the other day, and well, it's just okay. He does review newer movies this time (Changing Lanes, Jason X, The Royal Tenenbaums). And some that aren't on video yet. But he gives everything a lower amount of stars this time around. I still agree with him on some of them, but some of them are just really far off. He's still the dude, but I hope next year he goes back to his old style.
Rating:
Summary: Very, very poor
Review: I sometimes cycle through this guide for a laugh. Maltin is a horrible film critic and a total historian - basically meaning that any film predating 1960 MUST be given 4/4 (unless it's really mediocre which, according to him, is rare). However he didn't hesitate to give BATMAN AND ROBIN 2.5/4 and TAXI DRIVER 2/4. He also gave THE BLADE MASTER, one of the worst films ever created, 0.5/4, yet he's given some truly decent films "turkeys." I'd rather read a video guide by Ebert because unlike Maltin, Ebert doesn't judge different films of different genres of various years against each other. He's pretty fair. Maltin is not.
Rating:
Summary: It's either this or Halliwell
Review: I have not found a single review in this book that I could passionately disagree with. There are some controversial decisions in here (Donnie Darko and Memento have a formidible cult fan-base, but recieve reviews that are not terribly flattering); but if you really did want to see these films, why would you be listening to someone else's opinions? Basically, if you are going to review this book, compare it to the other review books on offer-Leonard Maltin's is much more comprehensive and helpful than any I know of, especially Halliwell's Film Guide, which I recommend never looking at, if you can help it.
|
