Guide for the Film Fanatic: A Critical Checklist of Over 1,500 Movies

I'm thrilled that so many people enjoy this book as much as I do. This book was a gift someone gave me as a teenager (that was over 10 years ago) and I still refer back to it at least once a week. In fact I have two copies.I actually have a little story for fans. Probably about 10 years ago I decided to write a fan letter to Danny Peary. I basically told him how much I loved the book, and that I thought some of his reviews where actually more enjoyable than the movies themselves. I also begged him to write a sequel. To my surprise he wrote back to me! It was a very nice, hand-written letter thanking me and talking to me a little about the other books he's written.This is a great film book and I would recommend it to everyone. The only complaint I have is that there really should be a Guide 2.

When you see multiple rave 5 star reviews for a book that has been out-of-print for ten years you know something is up. I picked this book up in the bargain bin section of a Waldenbooks many years ago and it eventually became the MOST tattered and abused film book in my library. Literally, pages were missing from the 'checklist' in the back, and the book had peeled away into three separate sections held together by a thread of a binding. Fortunately, I was able to pick up a mint condition copy from an online used book service last year and so I have a perfect copy that's just like new. I enjoy reading Pauline Kael, Stanley Kauffmann, Andrew Sarris, Roger Ebert, David Thomson...all the usual suspects but for sheer agreement, I tend to share Mr. Peary's opinions more often than possibly any other film writer.An indispensible book!

This compendium of over 1,000 "must-see" films of every genre imaginable by Danny Peary remains one of the most enjoyable, entertaining movie reference books ever written (how is it POSSIBLE that it could go out of print?). How refreshing to find a book that does away with the idiotic "star" rating system that pollutes most movie guides. The beauty of this book is that you don't have to agree with Peary's assessments of the films to enjoy his writing - it's smart, surprisingly fresh, witty, easygoing, and yet not condescending as some more "educated" film critics are likely to be. Peary sees merit in all types of films (even going as far as to review adult films, a little too far for me), and has the good sense not to judge cult films like "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" by the same standards as "Citizen Kane". Part of his charm is his ability to have FUN with film - as he says in his brilliant introduction, "It's fun to see ALL types of movies." This was the book that encouraged me not to simply gravitate to the new release wall whenever I visited the video store, and to check out some of those classics and foreign films that by and large went unnoticed at my West Virginia Blockbuster. If you can find this volume ANYWHERE, grab it, lock your fingers firmly around it and don't let anyone wrench it from your grasp.

I got this book for Christmas 1986 and it hasn't left my side since. I look at it every day, go through TV Guides circling films I haven't seen, you name it. The reviews are spot-on, always insightful, always entertaining, and best of all, he knows how to review a film without giving the ending away. It only makes me wish Peary wrote for a national paper. One question: why no "Bonnie and Clyde" and no "Dirty Harry"? Oh, and add my name to the calls for a sequel - perhaps his films of the 1990s?

Here is an author who loves movies! You'll find terrific essays on major films such as "Superman" and "Citizen Kane" as well as great reviews on the more weird and wacky films.. Pearys love for his movies shines through and makes the book a pleasure to read. Film lovers should really check out this mans work. The only thing more I wanted from this book was more of the same.