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Rating: 
Summary: Bruce Rux Brings Solid Research To the Topic of UFO's
Review: Bruce Rux has brought research on ancient world traditions, UFO's and modern government study of these subjects to a new level. Hollywood Vs. the Aliens conclusively shows the Inteligence Agencies manipulation of entertainment media in shaping public opinion on the subjects of UFO and extraterrestrial life forms. Rux gives several examples of government figures (including astronauts and scientists) who have spoken out on the subject of UFO's and ancient civilizations, and also shows how UFO activity was being monitored prior to Hollywood exploitation of the subject. A good scholarly work which is a refreshing change from most books on the subject.
Rating:
Summary: Bruce Rux Brings Solid Research To the Topic of UFO's
Review: Bruce Rux has brought research on ancient world traditions, UFO's and modern government study of these subjects to a new level. Hollywood Vs. the Aliens conclusively shows the Inteligence Agencies manipulation of entertainment media in shaping public opinion on the subjects of UFO and extraterrestrial life forms. Rux gives several examples of government figures (including astronauts and scientists) who have spoken out on the subject of UFO's and ancient civilizations, and also shows how UFO activity was being monitored prior to Hollywood exploitation of the subject. A good scholarly work which is a refreshing change from most books on the subject.
Rating: 
Summary: Multiple factual errors fatally flaw a great idea
Review: I was very eager to read this. The cover blurb grabbed me- "Rux posits that the film industry has long collaborated with a government disinformation campaign about UFOs." This had the potential to be a definitive work concerning the government cover-up of UFOs. Alas, it was not to be, and the mess that became this book could have been avoided. I wish I still had my copy, but I was so disappointed that I sold it. Had I thought of it, I would have filled the margins with notes as a warning to others.
The book has two basic sections, intermingled together very well. First is a very detailed analysis of dozens of classic and bad SF films. The 2nd area delves into the government's efforts to use these films to tell us either that there are no aliens out there, to add another layer to the government cover-up or to get us ready for an eventual alien contact of some sort. This is a very ambitious idea, and could have been very convincing. Unfortunately, I began to find factual errors in his film analyses. The number soon grew to well over 50 major errors in just his description of the films. This is unforgiveable in this age of VHS/DVD. All of the films he wrote about can be had in these formats to rent or purchase. A nagging question began to gnaw at me: "If he makes serious errors with films that are very easy to view/reference, how can I possibly trust his writing of something serious like UFOs?"
Truth be told, I just couldn't trust any of his thesis. On the UFO side, he gets the basic stories of Roswell, Barney & Betty Hill, Lonnie Zamora and the 1966 Michigan sightings wrong. These reports are easy to find in any good library. To get these and other reports wrong just makes the entire book worthless. I know quite a bit about UFO history and SF films, and to make such errors is sloppy and unforgiveable. Bruce Rux has written another book of interest to me, but I'm sure that his writing will be inaccurate for that one also. It's a real shame.
Rating:
Summary: Multiple factual errors fatally flaw a great idea
Review: I was very eager to read this. The cover blurb grabbed me- "Rux posits that the film industry has long collaborated with a government disinformation campaign about UFOs." This had the potential to be a definitive work concerning the government cover-up of UFOs. Alas, it was not to be, and the mess that became this book could have been avoided. I wish I still had my copy, but I was so disappointed that I sold it. Had I thought of it, I would have filled the margins with notes as a warning to others.
The book has two basic sections, intermingled together very well. First is a very detailed analysis of dozens of classic and bad SF films. The 2nd area delves into the government's efforts to use these films to tell us either that there are no aliens out there, to add another layer to the government cover-up or to get us ready for an eventual alien contact of some sort. This is a very ambitious idea, and could have been very convincing. Unfortunately, I began to find factual errors in his film analyses. The number soon grew to well over 50 major errors in just his description of the films. This is unforgiveable in this age of VHS/DVD. All of the films he wrote about can be had in these formats to rent or purchase. A nagging question began to gnaw at me: "If he makes serious errors with films that are very easy to view/reference, how can I possibly trust his writing of something serious like UFOs?"
Truth be told, I just couldn't trust any of his thesis. On the UFO side, he gets the basic stories of Roswell, Barney & Betty Hill, Lonnie Zamora and the 1966 Michigan sightings wrong. These reports are easy to find in any good library. To get these and other reports wrong just makes the entire book worthless. I know quite a bit about UFO history and SF films, and to make such errors is sloppy and unforgiveable. Bruce Rux has written another book of interest to me, but I'm sure that his writing will be inaccurate for that one also. It's a real shame.
Rating: 
Summary: MIXED BAG
Review: It was hard to choose the number of stars for this book! The information in it is incredibly diverse and provocative, but it is arranged poorly. The index really stinks if you're looking for anything other than a movie or television show name -- for example, if you want to check on some of the (non-actor) characters mentioned in its pages. And if you're not completely familiar with all the movies or shows mentioned, you're going to be lost.That said, the sheer range of material covered and the details given are encyclopedic. There could be more sources given for some of his allegations, but that's a lesser point. While it is in some places a difficult read, it is always interesting. I think this would make a good source book for someone who wants to look into this area further. But please, Mr. Rux -- if this is ever reprinted, work on that index! It's frustrating to KNOW you saw something on a subject several chapters ago, and not be able to find it in the index!
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