Book Title: ‘Leonard Maltin’s 2011 Movie Guide’
Publisher: Penguin Books
Pages: 1643
RRP: $24.95
Reviewer: Rama Gaind
With hundreds of new films being released every year, making an informed decision is not easy. That’s when you turn to the expert: Leonard Maltin.
For more than four decades he has helped moviegoers to make knowledgeable choices.
Even browsing the seemingly endless selection of films on DVD can turn out to be an overwhelming task.
Not any more. ‘Leonard Maltin’s 2011 Movie Guide’ is a authoritative source of information. Once again, this comprehensive compilation is indispensable.
As “discovering a good movie is a joy” for Leonard Maltin, sharing all the features is equally pleasant. He loves watching old and new films and sharing his thoughts and discoveries.
He says: “Researching movies, both good and bad, is a challenge . and it never seems to get easier in spite of all the resources of the internet”.
It matters to Leonard Maltin that the quality of films is chronicled and reviewed. And it shows in this edition.
He is happy that studios are now responding to the “wants and needs of individuals” and this means that good movies will find their way into homes of devotees.
This thick publication is packed with information. In addition to more than 17,000 capsule reviews and information including date of release, running time and rating, the 2011 edition also includes more than 300 new entries, an updated index of actors and directors and Leonard’s personal recommendations.
There’s also old and new theatrical releases, reviews of little known sleepers, foreign films, rarities and classics, a widescreen glossary, mail order and online source for home video and his movie list that favours offbeat films.
Check out these worthwhile films: ‘Five Minutes of Heaven’, ‘Summer Hours’, ‘That Evening Sun’, ‘In the Loop’ and ‘City Island’. There’s more too.
While readers send in useful corrections and suggestions, it’s the input by his hard-working wife, Alice, and daughter, Jessica, along with many friends and colleagues that has made this book a success.
This book is a must for all film buffs – and also for those who are not.
