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Rating: 
Summary: Great Screenwriting Book!
Review: I own about twelve screenwriting books, and I wish I would have read this one first! Although the title says "high concept", it also tells you how to use screenplay formula for non high concept movies, packed with lots of examples from movies like, Rocky, Forest Gump, and loads more.
Rating: 
Summary: Overly Simple.
Review: I purchased the book after a long search in amazon. I was planning to do some screenwriting and needed an introductory book to start with it. Despite the satisfying sample pages I read here, the book didn't turn out to be a good one. Tobin simplifies the screenwriting process to a point where he comfortably says that the writers in the industry don't know it at all. In addition to his over-commanding tone, his instructions are for dummies, literally. He repeats what he says about five times in a page. I mean, I can see it, he really wants to make sure that the readers grasps the points. But, no, that's not the way to do it. Tobin doesn't give suggestions, but instead instructions. He tells the reader 'the safe way', or 'the always working way' of writing screenplay. Yet, I do not believe that the reader wants to stay within his bounds. At some points, he responds to the issue by saying 'If you do not abide by these guidelines, it is possible that you still can produce good work, however it is not guaranteed.' I'm not influenced at all. And maybe the most boring thing about the book: Tobin provides examples from only 3-4 movies, Rocky being the most used one. I liked Rocky, as I watched many of his films when I was a child. However, the way Tobin articulates the movie's parts made me want to forget it. In Rocky, Stallone's desperation was the thing that made the movie great. But it's not a 'High structure, high concept' movie! Come on! Tobin's selection of example is totally wrong. His title for the book is truly a deception for potential purchasers. I say it aloud, one more time, just to make sure: Do not buy this book!
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