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whatwasthatbookiread's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
My memories are vague even of the films discussed that I’ve seen a few times, but he gives enough information to bring the films to life and enable you to follow his interesting thoughts. He is very good at presenting the films both from the viewpoint of who he was when he first saw them, and from a director’s and screen writers historical perspective. This is not a dry book of film criticism, but very entertaining, I really enjoyed it.
I’m the same age as QT, so experienced the more mainstream movies mentioned at roughly similar ages to him (or a few years later - I didn’t have his precocious early exposure), there is maybe less to love if the decade means little to you, though it is vibrantly enough written that it might not matter.
I’m the same age as QT, so experienced the more mainstream movies mentioned at roughly similar ages to him (or a few years later - I didn’t have his precocious early exposure), there is maybe less to love if the decade means little to you, though it is vibrantly enough written that it might not matter.
bucher_freund's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
I graduated high school in 1993. At the time, I was working at 2 Day Video, and it was there that I discovered Reservoir Dogs. I loved it so much that I would talk about it incessantly and force any willing friend or relative to watch it with me. So, I've been a Tarantino fan from the beginning.
This book is part memoir, part film musings, part gushing love letter to the films and filmmakers that influenced young Quinten. Anyone who has ever watched an interview with Tarantino knows that, on the topic of movies, he is passionate, insightful, and occasionally long-winded. All of those characteristics are on display in this book. He covers a spectrum of movie topics (as a fan of bodysnatcher movies, I especially enjoyed his thoughts on pod people), but most of what he examines here deals with the gritty, violent New Hollywood films of the 1970s. Some of his essays ramble on a bit too long, but for the most part this is an informative and fascinating collection of musings written with zeal and humor by a highly intelligent film fan and a gifted filmmaker.
Totally recommended for Tarantino fans and genre film fans (particularly of the 60s-early 80s era).
This book is part memoir, part film musings, part gushing love letter to the films and filmmakers that influenced young Quinten. Anyone who has ever watched an interview with Tarantino knows that, on the topic of movies, he is passionate, insightful, and occasionally long-winded. All of those characteristics are on display in this book. He covers a spectrum of movie topics (as a fan of bodysnatcher movies, I especially enjoyed his thoughts on pod people), but most of what he examines here deals with the gritty, violent New Hollywood films of the 1970s. Some of his essays ramble on a bit too long, but for the most part this is an informative and fascinating collection of musings written with zeal and humor by a highly intelligent film fan and a gifted filmmaker.
Totally recommended for Tarantino fans and genre film fans (particularly of the 60s-early 80s era).
hillaryunabridged's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
ryantlabee's review against another edition
3.0
This book feels like Tarantino has personally cornered you to rant about his favorite movies of the late 60s thru the 70s and how they impacted his life. So, your mileage may vary depending on how annoying you find the motormouthed director. While I enjoyed it, I wanted a bit more memoir. Also, this book can sometimes get in the weeds with films I have never heard of, which could be a good thing for some, but it left me slightly disappointed. 3 stars.
filmcanman's review against another edition
4.0
Part film criticism, part childhood memoir, part historical Southern California history, often funny at times, and totally makes sense for everything QT's ever made. Also cute he used footnotes ;)