Customer Reviews

Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide 1997 (Annual)

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This book speaks volumes if the reader takes the time to peruse the text. However, as a quick reference it is somewhat cumbersome. Also, the star rating system often does little justice to movies which started or define a genre, those with substance over style, and to movies that have inspired other screen works. Two and one-half to three stars appear too frequently for these types of movies.

Maltin's guide is not bad. I refer to the 1998 paperback Issue. It contains 19.000 reviews of film or TV movies. I think it is a must.But the editor/author, ie Maltin has nothing to say about choice or verdict. Choice is evidently films known to the USA audience. Verdict is not easy to understand: **** is top, BOMB is bottom. Grade 1 is ****, grade 2 is ***½, grade 3 is ***,et cetera. What does a certain grade signify? Maltin has nothing to say.What more: A room with a view, Elvira Madigan, Goodfather III are all rated ***, the same as Gentlemen prefer Blondes. I have just seen MM in Gentlemen prefer Blondes, and it is a charming movie. But to compare it to the others is a major fault, I think. I suggest 1) Skip all B/W movies but the very best,as Metropolis. 2) Give data on audience 3) Make a much better index. Of course You could make a B/W supplement - even including B-movies of Ronald Reagan or John Wayne. And you might even include a list of the James Bond movies. Hollywood or USA,