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Ten Sure Signs a Movie Character is Doomed, and Other Surprising Movie Lists

Ten Sure Signs a Movie Character is Doomed, and Other Surprising Movie Lists

List Price: $14.00
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Only mildly funny, very short book
Review:
One has to laugh upon seeing this book listed as having 304 pages. I wish there were some sort of system to detail how many of those pages were blank, how many had under 25% material, how many had nothing but a chapter title on them. The content here pathetically stretches out over these pages; in grown-up literary type, this book wouldn't even make a hundred pages.

Although the book has a sprinkling of funny stuff, most of the humor is fairly obvious, pounding on cliches and celebrities that have already been pounded on. At times, it seems like one has already read the book before, or at least heard the same jokes. One would expect a bit more original humor from a well-known film critic. Considering this book, it would appear that Roeper has no better understanding of film than a typical college student with a mild interest in films.

Its ok as a time-waster if you get it from a library or for a couple bucks but otherwise, look elsewhere for fresh film humor/commentary

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: hilarious and intriguing
Review: .... i found it to be hilarious and intriguing! roeper doesn't just compile lists. he comes up with clever variations on standard movie lists, and makes criticisms about films within the context of those lists. i found out about his book after reading an item in glamour magazine that included one of his lists, '7 movies where ben affleck cries like a big fat baby.' i got the book and thought it was clever and original. thumbs up richard!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: very funny
Review: As I've said before there are two types of movie critics; those who like the movies nominated for Best Picture and those who are actually worth reading. Richard Roeper is one critic who clearly falls into the first category. Now perhaps one shouldn't be too harsh about what is supposed to be very light reading, a book of silly movie lists. But one cannot ignore the fact that Roeper is not a very interesting movie critic. Consider the six films made since 1997 that Roeper suggests should join the American Film Institute's 100 finest films. None of the six is an especially inspired choice. But "American Beauty"? "A Beautiful Mind"? The first is a meretricious, selfish, misogynistic film only partially redeemed by Kevin Spacey's performance. The second is cheap sentimental Oscar-mongering trash. Consider how Roeper thinks up a list of movies that should have been, but were not, nominated for best picture, and misses both "Vertigo" and "Brazil." And consider also how the list of movies that Roeper considers overrated mostly consists of small, independent pictures while those on the list that Roeper considers underrated consist of well-publicized would be blockbusters. I haven't seen either "3000 miles to Graceland" or "Angel Eyes," but "Star Wars 2"? No, this is not a good sign. And what this about a list of 10 documentaries that are preferable to feature films? Only ten?

Other critics have done a better job of defending trash and perhaps Roeper might have done a better job if he had chosen a less shallow format. But then again, maybe not. His lack of critical judgement is only part of a larger conventionality. Consider the list that is the title of the book. We know that a character is doomed if (a) he's a police officer on the verge of retirement and looking forward to his new condo or (b) they are teenagers who decide to have sex while a vicious psychotic is running around killing people. Excuse me? Haven't we been making jokes about these sort of clichés for a decade or two? Other lists show a similar lack of imagination: bad movies that Seinfeld characters have appeared, bad movies that the stars of "Friends" have appeared it. There is also a certain prurience involved in such lists as female stars who have never done a nude scene, or two pages of actresses kissing other actresses, or more than a page of excruciatingly bad and leering porno film puns. Also conventional is the inclusion of "Ishtar" as one of the worst movies ever made, supposedly because it perhaps the most unprofitable comedy ever made. I suppose it might be useful for trivia purposes to know how many movies Jay Leno has made cameos in, or how many movies include "I Feel Good" on the soundtrack. And there are some nasty shots at "Good Will Hunting." But overall this is a book that is more forgettable than fun.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Feeble
Review: As I've said before there are two types of movie critics; those who like the movies nominated for Best Picture and those who are actually worth reading. Richard Roeper is one critic who clearly falls into the first category. Now perhaps one shouldn't be too harsh about what is supposed to be very light reading, a book of silly movie lists. But one cannot ignore the fact that Roeper is not a very interesting movie critic. Consider the six films made since 1997 that Roeper suggests should join the American Film Institute's 100 finest films. None of the six is an especially inspired choice. But "American Beauty"? "A Beautiful Mind"? The first is a meretricious, selfish, misogynistic film only partially redeemed by Kevin Spacey's performance. The second is cheap sentimental Oscar-mongering trash. Consider how Roeper thinks up a list of movies that should have been, but were not, nominated for best picture, and misses both "Vertigo" and "Brazil." And consider also how the list of movies that Roeper considers overrated mostly consists of small, independent pictures while those on the list that Roeper considers underrated consist of well-publicized would be blockbusters. I haven't seen either "3000 miles to Graceland" or "Angel Eyes," but "Star Wars 2"? No, this is not a good sign. And what this about a list of 10 documentaries that are preferable to feature films? Only ten?

Other critics have done a better job of defending trash and perhaps Roeper might have done a better job if he had chosen a less shallow format. But then again, maybe not. His lack of critical judgement is only part of a larger conventionality. Consider the list that is the title of the book. We know that a character is doomed if (a) he's a police officer on the verge of retirement and looking forward to his new condo or (b) they are teenagers who decide to have sex while a vicious psychotic is running around killing people. Excuse me? Haven't we been making jokes about these sort of clichés for a decade or two? Other lists show a similar lack of imagination: bad movies that Seinfeld characters have appeared, bad movies that the stars of "Friends" have appeared it. There is also a certain prurience involved in such lists as female stars who have never done a nude scene, or two pages of actresses kissing other actresses, or more than a page of excruciatingly bad and leering porno film puns. Also conventional is the inclusion of "Ishtar" as one of the worst movies ever made, supposedly because it perhaps the most unprofitable comedy ever made. I suppose it might be useful for trivia purposes to know how many movies Jay Leno has made cameos in, or how many movies include "I Feel Good" on the soundtrack. And there are some nasty shots at "Good Will Hunting." But overall this is a book that is more forgettable than fun.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: very funny
Review: Given that this is a "list" book and there is very little discussion of WHY these movies were selected, I can't rate it higher. There is, as some reviewers pointed out, some obvious ratings here, but there's also some original stuff. I particularly enjoyed "Movies in Which Ben Affleck Cries Like a Big Fat Baby," the Joan Rivers' Oscar bloopers, 10 Highly Stupid Habits of Movie People," and Pop Songs on Permanent Rotation - I'd always wondered how many movies had used "Respect" or "All Star."

And his list of the worst movies ever was spot on - given that he limited it to 40.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: More rehash from Roeper
Review: In his usual fashion, Richard Roeper again presents information he has gathered from other sources and tries to appear to be an expert on the subject. RR may be able to compile lists, but a true movie critic takes the time to explain his views. It is not difficult to prepare a list such as "Worst Movie Sequels" and then not explain what makes them bad. Roeper is capitalizing on the celebrity status he has fallen into since he has been paired with Roger Ebert. He is not a movie critic. He's a leech that Ebert has taken along for the ride.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Trivial Fun
Review: Not intended as a scholarly or unbiased book, this collection of movie lists range from the hilariously perceptive - "13 great perks of being a movie character" to the wholly opinionated - "The 40 worst movies I've ever seen." The title caught my eye and the humorous writing kept me reading. Some of the lists are, well just lists like "Sequels that have equaled or bettered the original." No explanation or justification - just a list. And some of the lists are just self indulgent - "Attack of the quote whores" which collects those random fluff love quotes that we see in advertisement and puts them on a couple of pages for no good reason at all. Still, Roeper has taken some of that love of movies that propelled him to where he is by showing "5 Reasons George Baily Isn't Such a Wonderful Guy in It's a Wonderful Life," and the mentioned below "7 movies in which Ben Affleck cries like a big fat baby." If you are looking for serious cinematic writing, go look for Pauline Kael. Otherwise this is a great little commute, waste time or bathroom book. I only wish Roeper had put in a table of contents so I could easily find the gems again when I look for them instead of flipping through the book. Just silly. Enjoy!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Next time, write a real book!
Review: Richard Roeper does not have the high caliber of the late, great Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert's original and foremost partner, but he is still a very entertaining movie reviewer. Of course, he isn't in the category of "highbrow, arty-intellectual film critics" in the likes of Ebert, Siskel, Pauline Kael, and Vincent Canby to name some, but as you read this book, you will smile and laugh as Roeper composes imaginative, witty lists such as "Actresses Who Have Yet to do a Nude Scene" and "The Gross Out Hall of Fame." Personally, as Ebert decided to have his legendary movie review show go on (and the dying Siskel wanted Ebert to continue it, it was reported), he made a good choice picking Roeper as the permanent co-host. Many of us seem pretty comfortable with Roeper, a young man who although has given thumbs up to art films, still has a special place in the heart for fun movies we the audience like to look for a good escape.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I Like Roeper!
Review: Richard Roeper does not have the high caliber of the late, great Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert's original and foremost partner, but he is still a very entertaining movie reviewer. Of course, he isn't in the category of "highbrow, arty-intellectual film critics" in the likes of Ebert, Siskel, Pauline Kael, and Vincent Canby to name some, but as you read this book, you will smile and laugh as Roeper composes imaginative, witty lists such as "Actresses Who Have Yet to do a Nude Scene" and "The Gross Out Hall of Fame." Personally, as Ebert decided to have his legendary movie review show go on (and the dying Siskel wanted Ebert to continue it, it was reported), he made a good choice picking Roeper as the permanent co-host. Many of us seem pretty comfortable with Roeper, a young man who although has given thumbs up to art films, still has a special place in the heart for fun movies we the audience like to look for a good escape.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: BEN AFFLECK A BIG FAT CRY BABY? YES. HERE'S THE PROOF!
Review: The thin man of the syndicated show "Ebert & Roeper" is back, this time with a collection of movie lists that are as irreverent, offbeat and inventive as the films themselves. Some of the lists are simply bland, such as "Actresses Who Have Played Prostitutes." (Think Joan Crawford, Drew Barrymore, Sharon Stone and Gloria Swanson.) Yet most are a hoot ... "5 Things That Happen When a Wrongly Accused Fugitive Walks Into a Bar, a Restaurant or a Convenience Store;" "7 Moves in Which Ben Affleck Cried Like a Big Fat Baby;" "The Worst Best Movies of All Time;" "Actresses Who Have Yet to Do a Nude Scene." Picking a favorite list or two or three is like trying to choose your favorite flick. Some nominees include: "The 40 Worst Movies I've Ever Seen," listed alphabetically because, as Roeper muses, "at some point, awful is just awful." No.1 is "Arthur 2: On the Rocks." Along the way there's "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" ("Dumb & Painful & Lame & Boring"), "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" ("Sputter sputter klunk klunk") and "Me and Him" ("Griffin Dunne has a running dialogue with his penis. The penis gets the best lines.") We also love "11 Movies That Employed James Brown's 'I Feel Good' to Indicate That a Character Feels Good!" Topping the list: "Exit Wounds," closing the list: "White Men Can't Jump." And there's "Movies That Never Played on an Airplane" ("Air Force One," "Passenger 57," and, of course, "Passenger 57.") We keep our copy in the bathroom for those times when we need fast relief.


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