1,000 Best Movies on DVD
by Peter Travers
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Book Summary Information
Author: Peter TraversEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-11-23
ISBN: 1932958525
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Wenner
Book Reviews of 1,000 Best Movies on DVD
Book Review: The best movie review book. Period.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have several other movie review books and they're all sitting on the shelf collecting dust. So I approached this book by Peter Travers with some reservation. Not to worry, this is the only movie review book that matters. Here's why:
1. Travers likes movies for the same reason you and I like movies. He's not trying to come across as a cinema professor. He clearly doesn't give a hoot about a film's rep with other critics - there are so called classic movies that aren't here and there are many others (e.g. Die Hard and Independence Day) that other critics would never include in a book of the best. When he uses terms such as "eye popping colors" and "gives your home theater system a real workout", it's clear that he likes movies like we like movies. Don't think for a second, though, that, based on those examples, this is oriented to modern action flicks. Every genre and every period is well represented. It's just that, for Mr. Travers, "good" doesn't HAVE to mean "old" or "foreign".
2. Unlike other books which critique at least 5000 movies (often much more), Travers has done the filtering and focuses only on what he considers to be the very best films, especially focusing on those that come across the best on DVD. I love that approach. Why waste ink and paper (and your time) to review crap like "Jaws 3" and "Nash Pluto"? By just focusing on the good stuff, Travers has a lot more space to explain why the movie is good. That makes every page in the book essential reading.
3. He has wisely avoided a star system which just gets readers upset wondering why their favorite movie didn't get more stars. It also doesn't try to put them in order from 1 (best) down to 1000. He clearly thinks all these movies are pretty terrific and, by simply listing them in alphabetical order, it encourages you to read about them all. That ends up putting a lot more DVDs on your "must watch" list than you otherwise would have.
4. Travers is a really entertaining writer, often quite funny too. These aren't cerebral pontifications, they come across as musings from a regular guy who happens to love movies. So that makes this more than just a reference book, it's one you really enjoy reading cover to cover.
5. He does an excellent job in explaining why a movie is worth watching. For that reason, you'll have a much better idea whether each movie is one that you really want to see. In many cases I could see why Travers was so impressed with the movie, but his detailed description made me realize it's just not my thing.
The worst thing you can do is dismiss a book like this on the basis of the movies he left out (or included). Face it, no two people are going to have the same views on 1000 movies so put the quibbling aside in advance. This book is not meant to be a list, it's meant to help the reader find great DVDs to buy or rent. After reading this, you're certain to have ticked off at least 150 DVDs that you really want to see. And you will have been greatly entertained in the process. What more could you want from a book of this type?
Summary of 1,000 Best Movies on DVD
Rolling Stone?s Peter Travers, one of the nation?s most influential and popular film critics, takes readers beyond the movie to discuss what really counts on the DVDPeter Travers, film critic and senior editor at Rolling Stone, has compiled reviews of the 1000 best film DVDs available. With an irreverent tone and an eclectic scope, Rolling Stone?s 1000 Best Movies on DVD was compiled on the premise that there?s room for Citizen Kane and Dodgeball in the same list. It details best bonus features (actor, director, commentaries, deleted scenes, new endings, and surprises hidden on the disc); reviews all aspects of the films and the quality of the DVD transfer; and includes "Hot Bonus" notes designed to let the reader know which segments will show off their DVD player and surround sound to greatest advantage. Full of fun factoids to know and share, Rolling Stone?s 1000 Best Movies on DVD is the book no movie lover?s library will be complete without.
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