TLA Video & DVD Guide 2005: The Discerning Film Lover's Guide [Paperback]

David Bleiler (Editor)

Book Description

Series: TLA Video & DVD Guide | Publication Date: September 23, 2004

The TLA Video and DVD Guide 2005 is the absolutely indispensable guide to worthwhile cinema. It includes over 10,000 entries on the best of film and video that a real film lover might actually want to see. Unlike some of the other mass market guides that tend to be clogged with unenlightening entries on even more unenlightening films, TLA focuses on independent, foreign, and the best of Hollywood to bring the cineaste an opinionated guide that is both fun and useful.

The guide includes:
-Reviews of more than 10,000 films
-Four detailed indexes--by star, directory, country of origin, and theme
-More than 300 photos throughout
-A listing of all the major film awards of the past quarter-century, as well as TLA Bests and recommended films
-A comprehensive selection of cinema from more than 50 countries

Now published annually, the TLA Video and DVD Guide is one of the most respected guides from one of the finest names in video retailing, perfect for anyone with an eclectic taste in cinema.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Bleiler is a film critic and editor of the five previous TLA Guides. He lives in Philadelphia, PA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 816 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (September 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312316909
• ISBN-13: 978-0312316907
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,625,571 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for best Popular, Indie/Art and Foreign films !, December 18, 2004

By 

Stiv B (Houston, Tx) - See all my reviews

This review is from: TLA Video & DVD Guide 2005: The Discerning Film Lover's Guide (Paperback)

The TLA Guide is a fantastic reference for the cream of the crop in films of all genres. As the title states, it is discerning by cutting out what they consider to be films that are low quality or just plain bad. Of course its debatable what films should or shouldn't be included according to taste (If you are looking for H.O.T.S., A Nymphoid Barbarian In Dinosaur Hell or Beaks:The Movie, you should look elsewhere). In the introduction of the book it says..."It's not our goal to include every film ever made, but to bring attention to films that we feel have achieved artistic success, amassed some popularity, or made an impact-past or present-on the art form". I think they do a pretty good job of their intentions. This book is a "best of film" type of guide in that I can browse through the books film listings and almost all the titles listed have cinematic value. They do rate popular, big budget and B-movies that are duds(rated at one or two stars),but only the more "important" ones so you don't have to sort through pages and pages of mediocrity. The book is well organized, clear & direct in the reviews(also they don't give everything away in the plot)and they have the best Index Listing of Foreign Films according to country of origin(better than Videohound and Time Out's list is confusing). More than 10,000 films are reviewed. I don't think they are in competition with the "list everything" type of guides such as Videohound but if you are a movie lover I would also buy another guide as a supplement like the Martin & Porter Guide or Videohound. The TLA Guide is a great choice. Highly recommended!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite Movie Guide, December 19, 2005

By 

Joe Zawinul "Black Market" (Birdland USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: TLA Video & DVD Guide 2005: The Discerning Film Lover's Guide (Paperback)

I have been buying film guides for about 25 years and this is my favorite. I obviously share similar tastes to the reviewers, because if they give a movie 4 stars I usually find it entertaining. It also doesn't have the insufferable adolescent snobbery that you often get with some guides e.g., Time Out.

4.0 out of 5 stars I wish there were more content, June 12, 2009

By 

C. Babcock "Older Viewer" (SoCal) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: TLA Video & DVD Guide 2005: The Discerning Film Lover's Guide (Paperback)

All and all, I think this is the discerning movie goers' guide. There are, in my opinion, a few movies missing, but well worth the price. I hope updates are forthcoming.