Customer Reviews

John Carpenter (Pocket Essential series)

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There is precious little out there between two covers about John Carpenter. This edition (from the pocket essentials series) is a concise and enthusiastic overall reference for the Carpenter fan or the would-be fan. My one caveat would be that perhaps the authors are a little blind when it comes to some of the movies where Carpenter had less than absolute control (the big studio productions). It really isn't enough to say that Memoirs of an Invisible Man was better than most Hollywood fare (because it wasn't), or to forgive Prince of Darkness by calling it a noble attempt at cerebral horror (because it isn't). But these are informed opinions and they provide food for thought. And that is really the best thing about this book -- it's smart and enthusiastic and it talks about my favorite director. And it made me think.

This Pocket Essentials entry looks at the career of John Carpenter, following him from his impressive debut with Dark Star all the way to Ghosts of Mars (which is only mentioned as a nearly finished production). With very little written about the man out there, this book should be considered essential for any Carpenter fan. The autuer argument is solidly made and hard to disagree with. The pluses/minuses criticism of each film is mostly fair, although a tad overboard in the enthusiasm department - but who can blame them. This is Carpenter they are talking about! As far as I am concerned, the man can still deliver a solid retro b-movie. Recommended, but it might leave you wishing for an even more in depth and photo illustrated Carpenter film study to read.