Halliwell's Film & Video Guide 2003 [Paperback]

Leslie Halliwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 3, 2002 | Series: Halliwell's Film & Video Guide

For over 20 years, film enthusiasts, trivia buffs, and ordinary movie watchers alike have consulted the pages of Halliwell's Film & Video Guide for the most comprehensive information available on their favorite films -- from the classics of the silver screen to the latest blockbusters. Each of the books over 23,000 entries include information on the film's cast members; writers, directors and producers; a plot synopsis and critical evaluations; videocassette, DVD, and laser disc availibility; quotes from contemporary reviews; and more.

Halliwell's also features easy-to-interpret icons denoting film suitable for family viewing, winners of Academy Awards and nominations, sountrack availability, computer-colorized versions, and video format compatibility. Additionally, reader's will find lists of four-star and three-star films arranged by title and by year of release, and a list of all the Oscar winners for best picture and director, best actor and actress, best supporting actor and actress, and best original screen play and adapted screenplay.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Walker is one of the UK's leading film critics. He has revised Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies, as well as Halliwell's Film and Video Guide, since Leslie Halliwell's death in 1989. He lives in London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 960 pages
• Publisher: Harper Resource; 18th edition (December 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060508906
• ISBN-13: 978-0060508906
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.2 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,808,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Not THAT bad...yeesh, December 22, 2011

By 

Robert F. Mclean "sole poobah" (taos) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Halliwell's Film Guide 2004 (Halliwell's: The Movies That Matter) (Paperback)

While I agree that Halliwell can appear to be THE essential guide and is in fact snobby and negative, it does offer multiple opinions for most films. This can be valuable, especially for films that have not been generally agreed upon. I would recommend this guide to anyone who already has a good general guide such as Movie Hound and wants more points of view.

1.0 out of 5 stars Will Rogers' Evil Twin: A Movie Buff Who Never Met a Movie He Didn't Hate, December 5, 2010

By 

F. A. Sanello "author" (West Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Halliwell's Film Guide 2004 (Halliwell's: The Movies That Matter) (Paperback)

Thank god for the Internet. When I was a film reviewer and reporter for the Daily News in the pre-Internet era, I had to rely on an earlier edition of this reference book, but mercifully, only when I needed a quick date or the name of a cinematographer.

I agree with the previous reviewer. Halliwell is the Pauline Kael, Roger Simon of film critics and pundits or Will Rogers' evil clone: He never met a film he didn't hate.

One example of his capsule reviews that are so acidulous they can give you an ulcer: Halliwell gives Citizen Kane four stars, then, to use Alexander Pope's phrase, he "damns it with faint praise" such as "A brilliant piece of Hollywood cinema...despite lapses of characterizations [whatever tha means] and gaps in the narrative..."

Fortunately, the Internet has made cranks like Halliwell unnecessary for research purposes.

Frank Sanello

4 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Ignorant and Snobbish Reviewing, August 29, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Halliwell's Film & Video Guide 2003 (Paperback)

Don't be fooled by the fancy cover and good advertising. This book struck me as very ignorant and stuck up. Apparently no film is good enough to please this critic, no matter how much of a classic it's considered. The really bad part is that his critiques are childish and silly. "The film was too long," "boring" or "gross" are just a few of the ridiculous things he says. Never does he mention directorial style, acting or any of that stuff, just "boring" or "too gruesome." Well, sire, could you make a better movie? I smell an angry, failed director in here. Anyway, avoid this and opt for the much more sensible Video and Movie Guide from Mick Martin and Marsha Porter, Maltin's guide, or (best of all) Ebert's excellent film books. Avoid this trash.

0/5