Customer Reviews

The Rough Guide to Gangster Movies 1 (Rough Guide Reference)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I like a good crime movie. I also like reading about good crime movies, so getting The Rough Guide to Gangster Movies was an easy choice. And for the most part, after reading it, I found it to be a good choice too.

Like the other Rough movie guides, this book is divided in several sections. We get a brief history of the genre, a "canon" of fifty movies that are - in the author Lloyd Hughes opinion - essentially gangster film viewing, a look at the key people and trademarks at the genre and a world tour of gangster films in other countries.

For the most part, the Guide is a fun read, giving the readers some new insights into films they've seen and some ideas of new directions to explore. On the other hand, the Guide has its flaws: there are occasional typos and, more seriously, incorrect descriptions. In addition, at times, Hughes is sometimes a little too casual in his writing, using slang and abbreviations that may not be clear to many readers.

Even with these issues, it still rates four stars. It may not be a perfect book, but it will give people unfamiliar with the genre a good first look at gangster/crime movies; for those more experienced with these films, it will give the readers a little bit more to chew on.

The Gangster Rough Guide is great if you are looking for a certain gangster film, or just browsing. As for the reviews, skip them. Is there a ganster movie that Lloyd Hughes actually liked? It falls into the nitpicking category- yes, some of these films weren't exactly screen gems, but the level of negativity is simply off-putting. Worth a read, but you should decide for yourself about whether the movies are actually good.
THREE STARS

Neatly written, fact-laden and concise this guide is as the title notes a rough guide to gangster movies.

The descriptions are by and large sufficient to whet your appetite and tempt you to check half a dozen of them out of your local library. (Book should have been edited more carefully, typos are off-putting.)

Or if you saw the movies previously, these descriptions bring up pleasant memories and you are able to learn a bit more about them.

It's not literature but it is an attractive, interesting reference to have at your finger tips.