Summary
This guide presents approximately 16,000 movie capsule reviews, including over 300 new entries and more than 25,000 DVD and video listings, with over 13,000 dedicated to DVDs. It covers films from 1965 to the present, alongside older classics, categorized from box-office smashes to cult classics and forgotten gems.
The guide provides essential film information, including release dates, running times, directors, stars, MPAA ratings, and format (color or black and white), with specific details on widescreen films. It features Leonard Maltin's personal list of Must-See Movies and a rating system from four stars to BOMB. It is an invaluable resource for recording movies and identifying edited versions due to exact running time information.
Key concepts
- Capsule movie reviews — Concise summaries and critical assessments of individual films.
- BOMB rating system — A critical assessment scale used to evaluate films, ranging from four stars down to BOMB.
- DVD and video listings — Comprehensive information on the availability of films on various home media formats.
- Widescreen format information — Precise details concerning films shot in widescreen aspect ratios.
- Editing identification — Information to help users discover which movies have been edited.
From the book
Description: NEARLY 16,000 ENTRIES INCLUDING 300+ NEW ENTRIES AND MORE THAN 13,000 DVD LISTINGS Summer blockbusters and independent sleepers; masterworks of Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, and Martin Scorsese; the timeless comedy of the Marx Brothers and Buster Keaton; animated classics from Walt Disney and Pixar; the finest foreign films ever made. This 2015 edition covers the modern era, from 1965 to the present, while including all the great older films you can’t afford to miss—and those you can—from box-office smashes to cult classics to forgotten gems to forgettable bombs, listed alphabetically, and complete with all the essential information you could ask for. NEW: • Nearly 16,000 capsule movie reviews, with 300+ new entries • More than 25,000 DVD and video listings • Up-to-date…
Snippet: ... <b>peppered</b> with hilarious gags, many of them aimed at grown-ups rather than kids. Oscar winner for Best Animated ... <b>writing</b> career, James M. Barrie is drawn to four young brothers who play at a nearby park—and their attractive ...
Popular questions readers ask
- Beyond merely listing movies, what fundamental problem does Leonard Maltin's 2015 Movie Guide aim to solve for a film viewer, and why is a comprehensive, curated guide like this valuable even amidst abundant online resources?
- The guide intentionally includes everything from "masterworks" to "forgettable bombs." Explain the editorial philosophy behind such broad inclusion, and what purpose this serves for the reader beyond just identifying "good" films.
- Select any two specific features mentioned (e.g., running times, rating system, DVD listings). How do these distinct pieces of information, when combined, help a user make more informed and personalized decisions about *which* movies to watch and *how* to experience them?
- The 2015 guide covers films from 1965 to the present, alongside older classics. How does Maltin balance the need for up-to-date information with comprehensive historical coverage in a physical publication, and what inherent challenges does this present?
- If you were explaining the value of this guide to someone unfamiliar with film criticism, how would you simplify its vast content and highlight the most essential information a beginner could use to explore cinema effectively?