Rating: 
Summary: Utterly Lame
Review: Don't waste your money on this book. The author NEVER explains the programming logic behind the ActionScripts which are presented. Instead, he seems to think that by putting a bunch of clever ActionScript code onto the page which does something you'd never use when doing a "real" Flash project that he has somehow enlightened you into the mysteries of ActionScript programming. Save your money for other, more insighful books which actually present a foundation along with the code.
Rating: 
Summary: Read below:
Review: Good points about this book:1. You can use it for Flash MX as well.
2. Teaches the guts of programming with Actionscript.
3. Examples are not difficult to follow.
4. Suitable for programmers who might want to use Flash as a programming platform or Designers that are eager to learn programming in a more focused way using Actionscript as a programming tool. Call them bad if you want: 1. It is as technical as a Perl for Beginners book.
2. It is based on separate, disconnected projects instead of a sole big project taking shape as you progress in your reading.
3. The examples are not very creative and sometimes the reader wonders what they could be used for in real commercial/creative world.
4. Suitable for programmers who might want to use Flash as a programming platform or Designers (like me) that are really into crucifying their free jolly ways in order to finally learn programming in a serious, academic mould using Actionscript as an excuse.
5. Please ignore the f/x and Design bit of the title. It is only intermediate programming, serious.
Rating: 
Summary: For complete newbies
Review: I am a fairly experienced programmers who wanted to learn actionscript. So, I bought the only actionscript book I could find. Unfortunately, the book is aimed at *COMPLETE* beginners - this is "actionscript for super dummies". For people who find programming scary, like many designers, they probably find the extreme hand holding and snail pace of this book quite comforting, although many of them may even find it patronising. However, at the end of this 300 or so page book, it still hasn't covered a LOT of ground and leaves you at beginner level still. Wanna understand about loadVariables? Sorry, on your own. How about onClipEvent? Only very basic coverage. The stuff it does cover is aimed at doing "neat" tricks, there's no depth. Actionscript in flash 5 has turned flash into an incredibly powerful tool capable of some really quite amazing functionality. But you wouldn't know it from reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Good for beginners.
Review: I arrived at Flash 5 and ActionScript from the Pascal -> C -> C++ -> Javascript route and so the syntax and operation is extremely natural to me. I found that after the first 10 pages or so I was flicking ever faster through the book until I collided with the index coming the other way! Purchase this book if you've never programmed before. If you have programmed before, highlight the function and press <F1>! (...)
Rating:
Summary: The BottomLine
Review: I consider this book a must-have for developers at all levels because it covers the basics of learning and understanding ActionScript from ground zero, so it may be a good book for future reference. The book is rated intermediate to advanced, but trust me, it's a beginner's book. (but a good one). As I've mentioned before the basics are covered : -logic understanding, variables, expressions, conditional clauses, loops, flash's own methods,properties and functions, how to create your own functions, how to pass variables to an external javascript. But more advanced topics are MISSING: - creating and using smartclips; - flash5 library can now share symbols : export|import|via url - debuging and watching, remote debuging - flash5 parser for XML and its objects - flash5 can communicate with server-sided solutions like ASP, PHP, COLDFUSION and data bases. Each aplication treat its variables in an certain way, so these variables must be formated for flash5 to receive them. How??? - tips and tricks for achieving visual fxs using actionscript.
Rating:
Summary: For people who like to read tech manuals only!
Review: I have carefully studied through the whole book...
DON'T BUY THIS BOOK
I am very disappointed about it.
It is confusing, and doesnt follow any plot in teaching.
Let's say... the chapter to explain arrays... arrays are fundamental part in programming. Ok... the example doesnt talk much about arrays, but it includes some code with commands that are explained 6 chapters further... and how about arrays??? really stupid... While teaching you ACTIONSCRIPTING it is supposed you know how to create a movieclip... in any example, 2 pages are wasted in telling you stuff like "Now, make a square of purple colour (choose the picker and put FF00GG)...." And that for every example... i mean... teaching me actionscript???? and all that pages I PAIED FOR??? guiding me in choosing colours??? and how about the "now go to the menu SYMBOL and choose...." WASTED MONEY!!!
Rating:
Summary: For people who like to read tech manuals only!
Review: I started reading this book and must say that it DOES state that it's for intermediate to expert users, but it reads like a dictionary. To be fair, I haven't got past page 27. Reading this book is TEDIOUS. I don't know hat I was expecting but I was expecting it to be more fun.
Rating: 
Summary: Most Comments Are Correct
Review: I wish there was a book on LINGO like this. Most gripes about this book pertain to what is meant by "Advanced"- a relative term. Before you purchase, know that that this book is obviously written for a non-developers, and is perfectly suited for this audience. The book's style and structure matches the powerful but oddball, hybrid applicaiton that is both an animation and OOP authoring tool it explains. Bottom line - if you're a non-programmer, you will be able to comfortably incorporate some "fairly advanced" ActionScript into your Flash projects after you read this book (and do the 50 projects it contains); none of the other Flash books I've read accomplished this (for me, anyway). However, it does not cover XML extensibility and other "highly advanced" topics experienced developers might be after. I would say it covers a good 75% of ActionScript's capabilities, and 90% of what you will likely ever use. I think part of the problem with the 3rd party Macromedia books is that authors (and users alike) can't keep pace with the all their upgrades (wasn't F4 only around for a year or so before F5?)
Rating:
Summary: I learned ActionScript
Review: I've had this book almost a month now, and it keeps getting better. Having a good deal of experience in Flash 3 and Flash 4, I've put off learning ActionScript until now. The book is definitely not for the Flash novice, and the back cover classifies it as an intermediate to advanced level book. If you're intermediate or advanced in Flash, even if you're not a programmer, this book will help you learn and use ActionScript in real applications. Prior to using this book, about all I could do with ActionScript was "Go To and Play," but now I can do things with movie clips and buttons and frames that just aren't possible without ActionScript. It gives you total control of Flash. Each part of ActionScript is explained and then the author takes you through an example, and these examples aren't blow-offs. They range from simple to medium size projects so you will not just know the surface materials. I really like the Example Glossary, because when I've completed a chapter and I'm working on one of my own projects, I can look up the aciton without having to go through the chapter again to dig up what I need. Initially, I had a few problems, especially in Chapter 2 (Chapter 1 is great for non-programmers), and I fired off a nasty email to the author. He got back to me almost immediately, explained everything I didn't understand (which was right under my nose in the book) and didn't make me feel dumb. He even sent me an extra FLA file. After I finally got the idea of different timelines and how ActionScript addresses them, everything just opened up. My programmer friends (who keep borrowing the book) seem to think it does a good job but point out it's not written in the usual computer science style. I'm glad of that. The author is talking to me, and every time I use this book, I find something new. In the projects, in addition to ActionScript, the author keeps putting in these cool tips for using Flash 5. Each project is carefully crafted and I wish more Flash books included the substance this book has. No matter what else, this book gets the job done, and it's the kind of book you keep on using again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Great place to start!
Review: If flash fundamentals are are no problem, and your goal is to become proficient at actionscript I couldn't recommend a better place to start then this book! From Here, check out Moocks book!
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