Halliwell's Film and Video Guide 2000 [Paperback]

This monster is quite simply the king of movie guides. Halliwell's Film and Video Guide 2001 contains more than 23,000 entries, creating a competition for space that allows most films only a quick-and-dirty single sentence review. Which is not to say that the book is in any way less than thorough--the terse sentences manage to be enormously telling: (How I Got into College is quietly damned with the description, "Mildly amusing teenage comedy"; Rabbit Test is scorched with "Dreary and tasteless film, the nadir of comedy"; and Strictly Ballroom is lauded with "Exuberant, charming, witty romance acted and directed with style and verve".) As its tendency toward clipped writing may suggest, Halliwell's is no Santa Claus film guide--movies must earn each star awarded. Four stars go only to groundbreaking masterpieces like Rashomon, and one can flip through page after page without seeing a three-star movie. Most of the two-star films are pretty good, just not quite up to this guide's refreshingly exacting standards. For those who want only the best, Halliwell's handily provides lists of three- and four-star films, sorted by both title and year, in the back. One could get an excellent film education simply by working through both lists: the four-star category includes movies as diverse as Pelle the Conqueror, Alien and Duck Soup. Halliwell's pulls no punches with either criticism or praise. It is a must-have for movie lovers. --Ali Davis --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

This monster is quite simply the king of movie guides. Halliwell's Film and Video Guide 2000 contains more than 23,000 entries, creating a competition for space that allows most films a single-sentence review. Which is not to say that the book is in any way less than thorough--the terse sentences manage to be enormously telling. (How I Got into College is quietly damned with the description, "Mildly amusing teenage comedy"; Rabbit Test is scorched with "Dreary and tasteless film, the nadir of comedy"; and Strictly Ballroom is lauded with "Exuberant, charming, witty romance acted and directed with style and verve.") As its tendency toward clipped writing may suggest, Halliwell's is no stocking filler--movies must earn each star awarded. Four stars go only to groundbreaking masterpieces like Rashomon, and one can flip for pages without seeing a three-star movie. Most of the two-star films are pretty good, just not quite up to this guide's refreshingly exacting standards. For those who want only the best, Halliwell's handily provides lists of three- and four-star films, sorted by both title and year, in the back. One could get an excellent film education simply by working through both lists: the four-star category includes movies as diverse as Pelle the Conqueror, Alien and Duck Soup. Halliwell's pulls no punches with either criticism or praise. It's a must-have for movie lovers. --Ali Davis, Amazon.com

‘Worth its weight in gold’
Film Review

‘By any criteria, there’s still no beating Halliwell’s’
Empire Magazine

‘Often imitated, never bettered’ --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

‘The King Kong of movie reference works’ --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Halliwell’s – over one hundred years of cinema information and entertainment at your fingertips.

Halliwell’s Film & Video Guide is widely recognised as the biggest and the best film guide available. The 2000 edition is fully updated and revised to include over 22,000 movies.

It contains:
• A concise synopsis of every film’s plot • Critics’ quotes and reviews • Quick reference guide to the best films ever • Fascinating behind-the-scenes gossip and facts • New easy-to-use symbols for family viewing suitability, video availability and format, soundtrack and laser disk availability, Oscar awards and nominations.

Now in its fourteenth edition, it is the most comprehensive and entertaining guide ever.

FROM THE CLASSICS OF THE SILVER
SCREEN TO THE LATEST BLCOKBUSTERS,
AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
BREADTH, DETAILS, SUCCINCTNESS,
KNOWLEDGE AND WIT

'Halliwell's Film & Video Guide 'is perennially entertaining, comprehensive and indispensable. The best known of British film guides, 'Haliwell's' Is the undisputed bible for film enthusiasts and trivia buffs – a must have for every movie-goer. Fully revised and updated for the millennium to include hundreds of new films, it is packed full with cast and credit information and pithy comment. It also includes:

•
Plot synopses and critical evaluations; video cassette, laser disc and DVD availability; quotes from contemporary reviews; alternative titles and original publicity tags
•
Easy-to-follow icons denoting films and suitable for family viewing, Academy Award winners and nominees, soundtrack availability, computer-coloured versions and video format compatibility
•
Lists of four-star and three-star films by title and year, and a list of all the Academy Award winners for bets picture and director, best actor and actress, best supporting actor and actress, and best original and adapted screenplays

“By any criteria, there's still no beating Halliwell's”
Empire Magazine

“A Bible for film fans. Tells you all you ever wanted to know about movies . . . and more!”
Women's Realm

“Retains its crown as the king of film guides”
Film Review

“Indispensable”
Variety

John Walker is one of Britain’s leading film experts. His work on updating Halliwell’s Film & Video Guide and Halliwell’s Who’s Who in the Movies has been acclaimed by film buffs and Halliwell fans alike.