Cult Movies

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Fundamental issue!

The first of three of my favorite film books.

For my money, the best series of books for the film fan!

For the film fanatic

A Great Introduction To The World Of Cult Movies

Cult Movies
Danny Peary
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Cult Movies

ASIN: 0385281862
Release Date: 1981-10-15

Customer Reviews:

Fundamental issue!.......2004-08-22

Paery has made a complete guide with hightlighted pictures and many information about his favorite cult movies . There was an old edition with the 200 films , but this volume contains just 100 .
Nevertheless the legend and the comentaries are really easy going . As a guide to discover new an unknown tresaures of the story of the cinema .
Recommendable.

The first of three of my favorite film books........2004-01-19

How much do I love CULT MOVIES by Danny Peary? As I write this my edition of the book (purchased in 1981) has split in two. It's spine severed from years of flipping its pages obessively from front to back. I consider it a trusted friend that I refer to many times as a fellow "film fanatic."

This expose of 100 films was one of the firsts along with Jonathan Rosenbaum and J. Hoberman's MIDNIGHT MADNESS to delve into what makes a movie a "cult movie," and Peary does a spectacular job. Unlike some surveys which focus more on indiscriblable oddities such as David Lynch's ERASERHEAD, Peary wonderfully widens the cult criteria to include a whole array of film-watching experiences. From schlock like PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE to high art like THE RED SHOES, Peary's historical overview and analysis within an ever changing pop cultural landscape is consistantly readable and on the money. Every conceivable genre gets their due -comedies, westerns, horror, musicals, film noir thrillers, kung fu epics, pornography- and, like them or not, all are made to seem wonderfully relevant and alive. Even if you disagree with Peary's opinions, afterwards you're just begging to run to experience these movies from a different angle. This is film criticism at its best.

For my money, the best series of books for the film fan!.......2001-05-01

Danny Peary, a film fanatic himself, in these series of three books (I'm only dealing with the first in this review) gleefully, critically and passionately celebrates what makes film going the sheer pleasure that it is. In a series of well written, insightful, often humourous and always celebratory essays, Peary explores many classic, weird and wonderful films that raise the pulses of fans.

Many film texts are dry treatises that absolutely drain the rollercoaster vicseral joy that a film can bring. Not so with Peary's excellent series. Peary manages to legitimately relate the true art that is cinema while at the same time exploring what makes so many great films live as a part of our very extistances.

I have read and re-read this book several times and each time, I have discovered a new insight into a favorite film or been directed to a new reference point. Peary is very careful to point to other film scholars and film titles that can enhance a film cutlists experience. In deconstructing each film, he also includes fascinating tidbits of information such as interviews with the film makers, insights into the creative process and backstory history.

Especially fine are his explorations on "It's a Wonderful Life", "King Kong", "Singin' in the Rain", "Rio Bravo" and "A Hard Day's Night". He successfully argues in all those cases that superb entertainment does make great art.

Do I agree with every one of Peary's opinions? Do I enjoy every single film included in these three books? Of course not! But Peary does give vallidation to all of us who could be classified as true film geeks. Since these books are as of this writing all out of print, I with the strongest terms possible urge you all to seek them out. You will not be dissapointed!

For the film fanatic.......2001-01-03

From a source that was never revealed I wound up with Mr. Peary's cult movies 2 book as a kid. I read it with great enthusiasm and wound up checking out quite a few movies because of it. The noteworthy ones were A Clockwork Orange and Taxi Driver. After years of looking in the back and seeing the list for the first Cult Movies book, I could stand it no longer. I finally ended up with the book and it is a true treat. Recommended to not read about the films that you have not seen. For those you have this serves as a background check, a detailed analysis and a clarifier. If for nothing else one can appreciate the plot synopsis, cast and credits, and production stills. For the fans of such "classics" as 2001, Forty Second Street, the Searchers, and many others, this is the book for you.

A Great Introduction To The World Of Cult Movies.......2000-12-10

I bought this book when it first came out in the early 80s. I've referred to it so often that it now rests peacefully open on my desk at any given page. It provided me with a "birdwatcher's list" of unique films to seek out and enjoy.

Mr. Peary's approach to cult movies is respectful- this in contrast to other books of the "Bad Movie catalog" bent. At the end of his comments about "Plan 9 From Outer Space", for example, he came to the defense of Ed Wood. He pointed out that Mr. Wood managed to get his message, critical of American nuclear build-up, past the censors and into the theaters. Most other filmmakers at that time just went with the political flow.

Book Description

This new edition of the Rough Guide to Cult Movies offers a new improved blend of essential trivia and informed opinion as it takes you on a tour of the most compellingly weird - and weirdly compelling - films in the world. From ''A Bout de Souffle'' to ''Zoltan Hound of Dracula'', this guide selects films to savour in every genre from circus movies to westerns of all flavours - spaghetti and sauerkraut. New genres have been added - gambling and vampires - and this edition includes a miscellany of movie trivia identifying, for example, the four women who have played Hamlet on screen, a peek at celluloid''s greatest back stories (such as the rumours of munchkin mayhem in The Wizard Of Oz) and a personal selection of cult movies from the likes of Johnny Depp, Julie Christie, Kevin Spacey and Bert Kwouk.

Customer Reviews:

Good book but in the wrong way.......2006-11-15

As a romantic comedy, Star Wars is a failure. As a science fiction film, the Annie Hall is a complete disappointment. Whatever other merits these movies might have, there are definitely areas that they are lacking. Which brings me to The Rough Guide to Cult Movies: as a reference book, it is highly suspect. What's notable is that Annie Hall fails as sci-fi because it doesn't try to be that genre; The Rough Guide fails at the very category it aspires to. Which is too bad, because it is often an interesting read.

The failure starts at the beginning of the book with a definition of cult movies that is so broad as to be meaningless. We then a series of chapters representing various "genres", some of which are valid (science fiction, westerns, horror), some of which are ridiculous (Animals, Food, Nuns) and some of which are not even true genres (dubbed, independent, straight-to-video). After this, we get various miscellaneous topics that are thrown in without rhyme or reason, such as a list of top movie grosses followed by presidential movie trivia.

The movie descriptions are often amusing, although there are numerous errors (such as misstating Geoffrey Rush's role in Pirates of the Caribbean), even more omissions (every reader will find his own; one example is that Unforgiven is missing from Westerns) and plenty of movies that are really miscategorized but seem only placed in a specific genre to fill it out.

What saves this book is, even though it fails as a reference book, it is nonetheless entertaining. I am therefore giving this two stars instead of one. It's a rather useless book, especially if you want to learn more about movies, but if you do pick it up, it is probably the most entertaining two-star book that you're ever likely to read.

Great fun, lots of info, but sloppy.......2006-11-10

I bought this book and read most of it in one night; I couldn't put it down because the subject is so fascinating. A huge number of films are given short reviews: some I knew, some I didn't. The tome's small size and attractive design helped me keep reading into the wee hours. But I became gradually more annoyed when I discovered how carelessly the book was written and edited (if there was an editor at all). Misspells and typos abound: Herzog's film on Kinski, "My Best Fiend" is shown as "My Best Friend," thus completely missing the point. Great character actor Theodore Bikel is cited as "Theodore Bickel" - and these are only two out of dozens of similar, inexcusable mistakes. If Rough Guide can't afford a decent proofreader, maybe they should stick to travel guides. If they had only been more careful, the book would deserve an enthusiastic five stars, rather than the grudging four stars I give it.

Dashed Hopes.......2006-07-19

I thought this book was going to be great fun; however, it seems to use a broad definition of "cult movie." What didn't they include? Worst of all, my credibility was lost when in the notes on Suddenly Last Summer they mentioned that Montgomery Clift played Sebastian. Anyone who puts this movie in his or personal cult collection knows that this is patently incorrect. It begs the question, "How many other movies in this lists have the authors NOT even seen?"
Terry Allen

Should have been called 'Popular Movies'.......2005-01-31

THE ROUGH GUIDE TO CULT MOVIES does, in its presentation, follow in the footsteps of what has been a successful formula for Rough Guide books. This guide is a thematic guide to movies in general. The book consists of over 80 categories of movies such as: animals, b-movies, cops, doctors, fantasy, horror, musicals, prison, serial killers, zombies, etc. Each category has a selection of movies which, for the most part, fit the subject. There are also various sidelights thrown into different categories which expand upon the actors, writers, directors, etc. Unforunately, although there is a spattering of cult movies included, most of the films covered are standard fare movies which fit the category. Additional mistakes, such as the wrong year for a movie, are to be found on occasion. The selection of movies for some categories appears almost random with gaping exclusions (the category for zombies lists CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD but excludes DAWN OF THE DEAD and Fulci's ZOMBIE; the category for 3-D lists JAWS 3-D but excludes COMIN' AT YA IN 3-D). Additionally, any information provided for a movie includes: title, director, abbreviated cast, and a short description, which in most cases is shorter than what you can find in a video review guide. If you are looking for a general introduction to popular films in a thematic presentation, that can be found in this book. If you are looking for a book about actual cult films and any kind of discussion about them or their particulars, it is not to be found here.

Pretty good information in a pocket-sized book.......2002-03-20

There are lots of little tidbits of info to be gleaned from this cool little book. Hundreds of cult films are included, though there are some I wouldn't have included (like APOLLO 13, THE PERFECT STORM, SEE SPOT RUN and TITANIC), and some they overlooked (THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY, GREASE, THE MATRIX, etc.), but overall this volume has a nice mixture of titles, broken down into many categories and a handy index. Recommended for movie buffs everywhere!

The Village Voice Film Guide: 50 Years of Movies from Classics to Cult Hits

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voice
Goodbye New York
The Village Voice Film Guide . . . ur-Terrific!

The Village Voice Film Guide: 50 Years of Movies from Classics to Cult Hits
Village Voice
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0471787817

Book Description

For decades the Village Voice set the benchmark for passionate, critical, and unique film coverage. Including reviews by some of America’s most respected critics, The Village Voice Film Guide compiles spirited landmark reviews of the Voice’s selection of the 150 greatest films ever made. Collecting some of the best writing on film ever put on paper, this is a perfect book for film buffs.

Customer Reviews:

voice.......2007-05-12

It's the Voice review. Most appropriate for those who don't get their movies from blockbuster, but rather Kim's or the like.

Goodbye New York .......2007-03-19

I pretty much became a cinema studies major at American University in the 1980's because the Village Voice film critics had taken an unfocused love of film and set it on fire. Nevermind that I never got the degree and switched over to journalism. Andrew Sarris, for me, was the greatest teacher of film I've ever known, and he did it in a way that combined theoretics, ideology and description with . . . passion and joy. I got excited about what he talked about. I argued and agreed with him and his quirks. I found his wife, Molly Haskell, through reading him. I began to drift to the New York Times for more reviews. I began to see how some people wrote seriously, and others rehashed the plot and then said whether the film was any good or not. This led to thumbs up and thumbs down, which is what we pretty much have today. I remember reading B. Ruby Rich and being absolutely fascinated by her feminist spins. I remember hating Georgia Brown, because she seemed so simple, until I realized she was quite strong. I fell in love with J. Hoberman because he was so knowledgable and so sensible. I began to love the critics as much as the movies because, to me, some of them packed the same emotional and intellectual impact as the films they were writing about. The dialogue about film was written by those with fiercely intelligent views and passion for the art. Now, a chain publisher called New Times has gone in and pretty much raped the Village Voice and set up its puppet government. New York, when you visit now, has pretty much become a playground for the rich and an outlet center for retail giants. The city is most famous for its one constant -- change -- but the organic humanity has been ripped out and replaced with something sponsored by something. The working class, the bohemia, the art, the crazies, the entire street life that made it so thrilling for so many, many decades is just plain gone. The hangouts aren't for the flowering of ideas, but for the empty-headedness of the pickup. CBGBs is gone. Just about everything is a cartoon memory of what came before. Only Wall Street remains and maybe the doorman district, because even though money changes everything, money, itself, never changes. This new guide by the great Village Voice writers now becomes a tombstone, not a living, breathing extension and completed chapter in an ongoing story of criticism. The Village Voice you see in New York now is one of 17 publications in a miserable chain, and some of the critics -- including, apparently the film editor -- aren't even based in New York, but, rather, writing for all the rags. So, I would say take this away and enjoy it, learn from it and find new films. When in New York, don't pick up the Voice and think you are reading something of the city, anymore, though. It, too, is a hollow facade.

The Village Voice Film Guide . . . ur-Terrific!.......2007-01-28

A must-have guide for any cinemaphile. Readers will devour 150 reviews of classic films by renown contributors Jay Hoberman, Michael Atkinson, Jonas Mekas, Georgia Brown, Andrew Sarris, Amy Taubman, and several by Dennis Lim. The Village Voice remains the foremost alternative newspaper in the country. You'll find a distinct difference in approach and opinion rendered by Village Voice contributors than say by contributors to the SF Chronicle or other mainstream media. Village Voice film reviews take an entirely different intellectual spin.

In this collection,you'll discover a notable review and letter exchange between critic Jonas Mekas and the late John Cassavettes about SHADOWS. Mekas championed Cassavettes original version of SHADOWS screened in 1958 and basically panned a reshot/recut version completed in 1959. Jay Hoberman contributes a review in June 2003 due to a restored version of SHADOWS which was premiering at Anthology's Jonas Mekas Theater. The next update from Hoberman comes in 2004 with the rediscovery of the original 1958 film he refers to as "ur-Shadows." Interestingly, this original "ur-Shadows" film was "turned down by Sundance" and premiered at Rotterdam Film Festival. Hoberman says that the 1959 film "is not a virtual remake" as Mekas suggested when he disowned the film. These pages leave you wanting more about the story-behind-the-story of this "lost"version of SHADOWS---and its ur-Sudden reappearance.

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Perry is the best at

Cult Movies #3
Danny Peary
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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Cult Movies: The Classics, the Sleepers, the Weird, and the Wonderful

ASIN: 0671648101

Customer Reviews:

Perry is the best at.......2003-01-03

Danny Perry's obvious love of film is infectious. His knowledge lost and beloved classics of the odd and forgotten will make you run out to th local video store in search of gem after gem. Even when you disagree with him, Perry supports his viewpoint in a fun, quickwitted style. My only complaint is that as 20 years has gone by since its intial publication where is CULT MOVIES 4?

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Cult Movies II
Danny Peary
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 038529753X
Release Date: 1989-06-01

Reel Shame: Bad Movies and the Hollywood Stars Who Made Them

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Reel Dull.
A Must Have For Any B-Movie Fan!
Deserves a Golden Turkey award.
Bad films
The best of the worst, and the worst of the best.

Reel Shame: Bad Movies and the Hollywood Stars Who Made Them
Christopher Holland , and Scott Hamilton
Manufacturer: Stomp Tokyo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0971835608

Book Description

Kevin Costner doesn't want you to see his role as a wealthy rancher with a midget sidekick ("Sizzle Beach U.S.A."). Shannen Doherty would rather you never discovered the role in which she left both her clothes and her talent at home ("Blindfold: Acts of Obsession"). Long before becoming a paragon of fashion in "Sex and the City," Sarah Jessica Parker was a victim of '80s style in "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." And Harrison Ford probably still has nightmares about the time he hugged a Wookiee named Itchy in "The Star Wars Holiday Special."

Unfortunately for all of these actors, film critics Chris Holland and Scott Hamilton (creators of the b-movie web site Stomp Tokyo) have collected the most embarrassing moments of more than a hundred Hollywood celebrities and put them all in this book. But be warned - you may never look at your favorite movie stars the same way again.

The actors under the microscope in this book include Brad Pitt, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Perry, Roddy McDowall, Shannen Doherty, Drew Barrymore, Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Sean Connery, Peter Fonda, Dennis Quaid, Pia Zadora, Denise Richards, Jack Palance, Jessica Lange, Alyssa Milano, Vanna White, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gillian Anderson, Matthew McConaughey, Renee Zellweger, Jeff Bridges, Sherilyn Fenn, Adam Sandler, Calista Flockheart, Russell Crowe, Meg Ryan, Jennifer Lopez, Paul Reiser, Robin Williams, and many, many more!

The book includes several appendices, including reference information on every film mentioned in the book with capsule reviews, a recommended reading section, and a list of b-movie web sites for your surfing pleasure.

Customer Reviews:

Reel Dull........2005-12-17

OK, the authors are literate and clever but I was suprised at how unfunny this book is. Perhaps this can be excused, given the difficulty of the task (making funny remarks about incredibly bad movies) but somehow this comes off as mostly smug and sarcastic.

There are lots of fun books on B movies and part of the fun is the photos of those cheap sets and wacky costumes. Incredibly, Reel Shame has no illustrations at all. Not one.

A Must Have For Any B-Movie Fan!.......2003-11-27

If you like bad movies and love reading about them, this book is for you. The authors are witty and their love for bad movies shine through. Makes a great gift too!

Deserves a Golden Turkey award........2003-05-11

I thought this would be about the making of bad movies -- interviews with actors and directors, discussions of backstage business, and so on. Nope, it's yet another book of reviews of bad movies. But while Roger Ebert and others assume that lots of people watch movies, these guys state explicitly that the only people who watch movies are heterosexual men. Emphasis on the heterosexual. Boy, are they heterosexual! Evidently the only reason the authors -- or anyone else -- watch movies is to get a glimpse of cleavage.

Gee, I thought a few heterosexual men occasionally thought of something besides cleavage -- guess not. Anyhow, the reviews are more offensive than the movies themselves. You'll need a shower after this one.

Bad films.......2003-03-06

I have a true weakness for bad films and this book covers them. The only drawback is I wish they would of covered more films.

The best of the worst, and the worst of the best........2002-10-21

...Chris Holland and Scott Hamilton have compiled some of their funnier/est reviews of bad b-movies, along with some new material, from their website for this very funny book. The duos criticism always blend good-natured sarcasm/ribbing with just the right dose of critical honesty, and it is impossible to read just one (believe me, I've tried). The authors have even added in some dollops of information for the b-movie newcomer/curious, along with a list of recommended reading and other, similar websites worth visiting. For fans of b-movies (or just of sarcastic reviews of silly movies) this is a must read.... Highly recommended.

Defining Cult Movies: The Cultural Politics of Oppositional Tastes (Inside Popular Film)

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Defining Cult Movies: The Cultural Politics of Oppositional Tastes (Inside Popular Film)

Manufacturer: Manchester University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 071906631X

Book Description

This collection concentrates on the analysis of cult movies, how they are defined, who defines them and the cultural politics of these definitions. The definition of the cult movie relies on a sense of its distinction from the "mainstream" or "ordinary." This also raises issues about the perception of it as an oppositional form of cinema, and of its strained relationships to processes of institutionalization and classification. In other words, cult movie fandom has often presented itself as being in opposition to the academy, commercial film industries and the media more generally, but has been far more dependent on these forms than it has usually been willing to admit. The international roster of essayists range over the full and entertaining gamut of cult films from Dario Argento, Spanish horror and Peter Jackson's New Zealand gorefests to sexploitation, kung fu and sci-fi flicks.

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Cult movies 2
Danny Peary
Manufacturer: Vermilion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Cult Movies: The Classics, the Sleepers, the Weird, and the Wonderful

ASIN: 0091544416

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There's just one thing I do not like....
Very informative, but there are some movies missing
A nice companion guide

Cult Movies
Karl French , and Philip French
Manufacturer: Billboard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Cult Movies: The Classics, the Sleepers, the Weird, and the Wonderful

ASIN: 0823079163

Book Description

Possibly a future cult object itself, this volume's odd facts, memorable moments, and key lines from all-time favorite films make it an endlessly entertaining and engrossing read that cuts across all generations of cultist movie fans. Informative and all-inclusive, the book focuses on 150 unique films that have withstood the test of time: comedies, dramas, mysteries, westerns, political thrillers, war movies, horror and sci-fi, foreign films, and even early soft-core nudies. Classic titles include Airplane, Blowup, Manhunter, Bad Day at Black Rock, The Deer Hunter, Blade Runner, Mad Max, and The Battleship Potemkin. Entries include credits, running time, plot synopsis, and unforgettable lines, along with great still shots from each film.

Customer Reviews:

There's just one thing I do not like...........2004-06-17

In every movie they list, the plot from beginning to end is given away. I just didn't really like knowing what exactly happenend at the end of Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia or any other movie I might rent after viewing this book. No complaints otherwise.

Very informative, but there are some movies missing.......2002-03-10

Hmmmm... How about The Crow, Somewhere in Time, The Princess Bride, or Labrynth? Or how about a film from Kevin Smith? Or- I dunno- STAR WARS!! Yes I know its very well known, but so are The Exorcist and Apocolypse Now. The same goes for The Godfather Part I and II. And howabout an anime movie? Ghost in the Shell or Akira or one from Studio Ghibli would be excellent choices. Star Trek II- The Wrath of Khan would have been a great choice to cover the cult Star Trek franchise. Another lesser known movie that I would have liked to see, but wouldn't have anticipated would be the MST3K classic, Manos the Hands of Fate. It gives the included Showgirls and Plan 9 from Outerspace a run for their money in its badness. Also, if you had to give a Hitchcock movie a space for his status as a cult director, I would have listed Vertigo or Psycho. Heck, even The Birds is more culturally relevant than Dial M for Murder, which was included.

Don't get me wrong, this is really worth buying, but I just would recommend the authors to write a sequel to cover all the stuff they excluded.

A nice companion guide.......2001-07-10

"Cult Movies" isn't so much a rumination on the existence and proliferation of cultish behavior around certain movies as it is a guide to some of the more venerated and talked-about cult films. It really works best as bathroom reading, where you can open to any page and read about "Blade Runner," "La Jetee," "A Clockwork Orange," "The Italian Job" and so on and so forth. A light diversion, and maybe that's all it was intended to be. And it works very well on that level. One thing really stands out: British film scholars have the foresight to include BOTH "Bill & Ted" movies in this tome?

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pretty good- but definitely five

Cult Movies in Sixty Seconds
Soren McCarthy
Manufacturer: Vision
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1904132162

Book Description

Presenting the information movie fans need about those films that the insiders seem to know and love, this handy guide to cult flicks offers perceptive and entertaining entries containing an outline of the plot, characters, and themes; insight into why the film is considered a classic; and essential little-known facts. Featuring such favorites as Barbarella, Betty Blue, Harold and Maude, Roger and Me, The Wickerman, and Withnail and I, this book highlights the best films from more than 50 years of movie making. Also explored are the qualities that make a film a cult movie and whether a film can be both cult and a box office hit.

Customer Reviews:

pretty good- but definitely five.......2004-05-12

For those who love cult movies or people just looking for the tip of the iceberg on good cult movies, i highly recommend this book. Though, the book has over fifty movies given with small "60" seconds synposizes and information reguarding directors, plot, actors or people's reactions, such as critiques, of the movies. Since around fifty movies are picked, obviously many movies are left out, especially good ones such as (in my opinion)Hedwig and the Angry Inch or Velvet Goldmine. THe author has said that he will maybe make a second volume if he recieves enough emails about the readers favorite cult films (his emial is in the book.) THe book features movies such as Fight Club, AKira, Reservoir Dogs, Dr. Strangeglove or: How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Withdrawl and I, SKidoo, Carnival of Souls, Freaks, Faster Pussycat Kill Kill,Harold and Maude- ect and this book also addresses whether a cult film can be a blockbuster as well. good book n_n

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