Violent Screen: A Critic's 13 Years on the Front Lines of Movie Mayhem (Expedition Series) [Paperback]

Stephen Hunter (Author)

Book Description

Series: Expedition Series | Publication Date: December 1, 1996

Baltimore Sun movie critic Stephen Hunter takes aim at 13 years (1981-94) of popular movies, from film noir to teenage slashers, gangster flicks to sci-fi pics, and examines the current, and often violent, culture of modern cinema. Organized by topic, this book is a fascinating chronicle of today's increasingly violent and alienating culture.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Since long before Robert Dole's condemnation of Hollywood, on-screen sex and violence as well as their companion issue, censorship, have been the focus of hot debate. Critics' views on these issues are often enlightening, and these two books present many thought-provoking perspectives on the artistic, historic, social, and cultural aspects of the subject-ultimately proving that there are no simple criteria on the cinematic front. Reviews and essays on individual films from such top-notch critics as Andrew Sarris and Judith Crist appear in Flesh and Blood. Representative of 25-plus years of film, scores of articles are grouped into various subtopics under the headings of "Flesh," "Blood," and "Censorship." A broad spectrum of opinions, linked by editor Keough's articles, examine some tough issues (AIDS, senseless brutality, exploitation of women, blasphemy, graphic sex, etc.) with approaches that range from scholarly to humanistic to satiric. Violent Screen, on the other hand, offers pithy reviews and articles solely from the engaging pen of Hunter (Dirty White Boys, LJ 10/15/94). He categorizes by genre, thus creatively organizing a virtual laundry list of sex and violence: film noir, outlaws, sexual obsession, horror, westerns, war, action-adventure, race, and domestic violence, to name a few. And many of the summary articles have provocative social/historical angles (e.g., "Changing Film Images of Vietnam"). Covering the gamut from Philadelphia to Rambo to Blue Velvet, both these works will delight cineaste and casual browser alike and either contains enough grist for several years of debate on the subject. Both are well recommended for circulating libraries with cinema collections.
Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, N.J.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Delta; 1st ptg. edition (December 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385316526
• ISBN-13: 978-0385316521
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,147,260 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephen Hunter won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism as well as the 1998 American Society of Newspaper Editors Award for Distinguished Writing in Criticism for his work as film critic at The Washington Post. He is the author of several bestselling novels, including Time to Hunt, Black Light, Point of Impact, and the New York Times bestsellers Havana, Pale Horse Coming, and Hot Springs. He lives in Baltimore.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HUNTER'S BEST BOOKS IS NON-FICTION!!!??!!, December 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Violent Screen: A Critic's 13 Years on the Front Lines of Movie Mayhem (Expedition Series) (Paperback)

A wonderful and gritty collection of Stephen Hunter's work as a film critic is captured in this amazing book. Hunter has a keen eye for detail and he fill each review with wit and realism. Hunter also includes film essays and suggests movies that are similar to or better than the one he is reviewing. I have never been fan of Hunter's fiction (gun stories get boring) but "Violent Screen" was a pure joy to read again and again.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The measure of a mind, December 24, 2000

By 

John Bowes (Oxford, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Violent Screen: A Critic's Thirteen Years on the Frontlines of Movie Mayhem (Hardcover)

Stephen Hunter is a talented prolific novelist, who also writes insightful movie reviews. It's always interesting to see if you agree with the opinion of a writer you enjoy. But here Hunter has given us himself. There is an epilogue that appears out of place, until you understand just how willing Hunter is to invest himself in his writing.

Excellent and unforgetable.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a book you'll read cover to cover but.., June 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Violent Screen: A Critic's 13 Years on the Front Lines of Movie Mayhem (Expedition Series) (Paperback)

.... each 3 - 4 page review is informative and entertaining (not that you'll agree with all his reviews).

Perfect book to leave in the bathroom for those visiting guets that will only have a couple of minutes work time in there.