Synthesized answer
The editorial philosophy behind including a broad range of films, from "masterworks" to "forgettable bombs," is to provide a comprehensive guide for both recording and discovering movies [Passage 1, Passage 2]. This approach aims to list "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" [Passage 2].
This broad inclusion serves a purpose for the reader beyond simply identifying "good" films by offering "nearly 16,000 capsule movie reviews" [Passage 2]. The guide provides "exact running times—an invaluable guide for recording and for discovering which movies have been edited" [Passage 1]. Additionally, it includes a "four-star-to-BOMB rating system" [Passage 1], offering a nuanced evaluation of films that goes beyond a simple good/bad dichotomy. The passages do not explicitly detail further purposes for this broad inclusion beyond these informational and evaluative aspects.
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
n invaluable guide for recording and for discovering which movies have been edited • Reviews of little-known sleepers, foreign films, rarities, and classics • Leonard’s personal list of Must-See Movies • Date of release, running time, director, stars, MPAA ratings, color or black and white • Concise summary, capsule review, and four-star-to-BOMB rating system • Precise information on films shot in widescreen format • Symbols for DVDs, videos, and laserdiscs • Completely updated index of leading actors Categories: Performing Arts Pages: 2520 Snippet: ... <b>peppered</b> with hilarious gags,…
Title: Leonard Maltin's 2015 Movie Guide by Leonard Maltin 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…
More questions about this book
- 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?
- 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?