Halliwell's Top 1000: The Essential Guide for DVD Collectors

One could argue endlessly with the final list presented in this voluminous 2005 book which begins with the preferences of the late British film historian Leslie Halliwell and continues to be replenished with the viewpoint of British film critic John Walker. The result is a good though hardly definitive list of feature films starting with "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" at #1,000 and tackling the list backwards. The bottom half, in particular, is full of head-scratching entries like "Starship Troopers", "The Hot Rock" and "Fourteen Hours", but the list gains more credence as you move up the ranks. The editors identify Yasujiro Ozu's quiet 1953 masterpiece, "Tokyo Story" as #1, and I happen to support the selection given the film's amazing emotional resonance. Of particular interest are the top ten lists provided by leading film directors and scholars from around the world. Most of their choices are worthy, though some are proudly idiosyncratic like Quentin Tarantino including the 1973 Pam Grier blaxploitation star vehicle, "Coffy". At the very least, Walker and his team provide a valuable service in introducing or reminding people the great variety of fine films to see on DVD and consequently fill their Netflix queues. The book is well-organized and formatted, making it fun for film fanatics to peruse.

I got this book as a gift and have been delving into it for days because it is SO interesting and informed. The layout is colourful but easy to read and the top 1000, according to Richard Halliwell's film-expert partner,is inclusive and there are some surprises - such as "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (original version)- being included as #1000. There are quotes on many of the selected movies by respected critics such as Roger Ebert, Rex Reed, Judith Crist, Pauline Kael, etc. For film buffs and aficionados of the obscure or those films hard to find, this book is for you because many of the selections are definitely for very precise tastes. There are also lists of top ten movies by various directors, producers, technical people that are also interesting to glean. A recommended book for all lovers of good cinema. TIMOTHY WINGATE OTTAWA CANADA