Customer Reviews

Questions For The Movie Answer Man

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Questions For The Movie Answer Man
As part of my goal to read one film book a week, I decided to put my money where my mouth is, and read one of Roger Ebert's earlier books. Although I rarely agree with his reviews, the man is one of the best writers in the business, and this book, comprised of questions from readers and his answers, was a great book to start with. Being published in the late 90s dated the book somewhat - it was released before the first DVD's hit the market - but the answers Ebert provides to some pretty wacked-out questions were always excellent, and often killingly funny. He tended to use the same letter writers over and over (Andy from Westwood MA being a prime example) but that was usually because the letters were funny or outrageous and his answer was often equally as funny or outrageous. A good case in point: Ebert spends several pages on the battle to get Blockbuster to carry a letterboxed VHS of Pulp Fiction in their stores, the answers he got from the various parties involved, and how Blockbuster did indeed finally carry the version, despite complaints from not-too-knowledgeable customers that the tape was broken (nowadays, letterboxing is a common practice - ALWAYS get the letterbox), but their solution and Ebert's reaction was priceless. All in all, despite the dated aspect, the book is very worth the read, and a great introduction tothe acerbic humor that Ebert has become famous for. My grade :B+

Quite informative and not at all simply a "bathroom read" as one reviewer here has opined. The book covers topics from A to Z (E.g. "Actors", "Fireballs", "Talking in the Movies"). However, if your particular interest is "Goofs", the basics are covered (E.g "Bloopers", "Boom mikes") but you'll find much more for specific movies at the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com). Another reviewer here states the index could be better. I agree. The index seems to be inconsistent, listing only some of the book's topics, but lots of movie titles and actors. For example, a question on the book jackets asks" Why don't movie actors wear seatbelts?". Good luck finding the answer easily. A handful of the movies chosen for inclusion may seem obscure, but this is still an entertaining book. And you'll also find out a little more about Ebert's way of thinking.

The latest book by America's favorite film critic is the best commode reading since Reader's Digest. I mean that in a flattering way, too. You probably wouldn't want to read through the whole book in one sitting, but a few pages worth kill time very nicely.

You'll find loads of great facts, info, and trivia about your favorite movies, all done with humor and wit, and backed-up by the encyclopedia-like knowledge of the Movie Answer Man.

If you check the fine print, you'll find my question about Strange Days

I tore through this quick reader the same day it arrived (while staying home sick from work.) It put a smile on my face, and made me want to see or re-see a bunch of movies.

The book is pulled together bits of a newspaper Q&A style column, and therefore comes off overall a bit disjointed. I don't care for the somewhat arbitrary organization of the excerpts, but of course, I can't come up with a better way -- related Q&A's are grouped together under general categories (ie "Minnesotans and Mississippians" and "Injuries") and then the categories are alphabetized.

Dispite these problems, I enjoyed the book.

This is an exceptional book. Whether giving a straight answer to a good question or a witty answer to a ridiculous one, Ebert displays why he is the best movie critic in America. This book should be on anyone's reference shelf, but also makes for very enjoyable recreational reading.

Interesting and often hilarious questions to and answers from Roger Ebert over the years. Extremely entertaining and highly recommended.

Another great salted-peanuts offering from Roger Ebert, whose "Little Movie Glossary" affectionately lampoons every hackneyed Hollywood convention under the sun. A few handfuls of "Questions for the Movie Answer Man" and you won't be able to put this one down, either. Ebert's readers have a million questions about things they saw in movies, or movie promotions, or the media that covers the movies, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist nearly always has the definitive answer for them. The questions are as entertaining to read as the answers; Ebert's legion of readers include some critic-grade movie buffs, and their intelligent, insightful viewpoints lend a great deal to the book. My letter appears on page 6

It's reassuring to know there are people out there who obsess over the same details of movies as you do, and Roger Ebert has found them (or they've found him).

The book is at its best when Ebert's more witty correspondents write in with smart-aleck observations and questions; Ebert always rises to the occasion trying to one-up them.

Loads of fun! (Could use a more complete index, though...)

One of the best reads by Roger Ebert ever. A brilliant mind and an always insightful body of work. Highly recommend this one!

Questions for the Movie Answer Man by Roger Ebert is a compilation of his "movie answer man columns which have appeared for years in various newspapers. The questions are arranged thematically and include a nice representation of both the sublime (check out the law school student who got in trouble over a Before Sunrise situation) and the ridiculous (no, for the umpteenth time, no one was electrocuted while filming The Wizard of Oz). It was ok for what it was.