Action! the Action Movie A-Z

If you're like me and you hate reading in-depth, analytical reviews of movies -- especially action movies -- then you'll love this book. Julius pulls no punches, and you can tell that he loves these movies; his wit is what saves the book, I think, and makes it fun. Not all movie guides need to be demure and annoyingly analytical.Julius' reviews of some of the most influential action films -- "Die Hard" and "Lethal Weapon" among them -- simply ooze the enthusiasm that you see comic book geeks like me display when we're met with a new, fantastic action flick. This is a fun, silly book -- it's entertaining, filled with trivia and pictures, and just plain fun to read.

You know you're in for he-man reading from the pic of Robocop on the cover! Marshal Julius doesn't just give a high- testosterone rating to a movie if it's JUST action; he weighs the pros and cons of what makes an action film bad or good. If the plot or performances are off-key, he tells you---like his review of "The Chinese Connection" mentions that whereas Bruce Lee is extraordinary, the movie's production values are sub- standard. I'll admit I disagree with Julius' high rating of "Flash Gordon" (with Sam Jones and Max von Sydow), but he's well on-the-mark with the rest of the reviews. And check out the action- star bios peppered throughout!!!