Book Description
This new edition of the Rough Guide to Cult Movies offers a new improved blend of essential trivia and informed opinion as it takes you on a tour of the most compellingly weird - and weirdly compelling - films in the world. From ''A Bout de Souffle'' to ''Zoltan Hound of Dracula'', this guide selects films to savour in every genre from circus movies to westerns of all flavours - spaghetti and sauerkraut. New genres have been added - gambling and vampires - and this edition includes a miscellany of movie trivia identifying, for example, the four women who have played Hamlet on screen, a peek at celluloid''s greatest back stories (such as the rumours of munchkin mayhem in The Wizard Of Oz) and a personal selection of cult movies from the likes of Johnny Depp, Julie Christie, Kevin Spacey and Bert Kwouk.
Customer Reviews:
Good book but in the wrong way.......2006-11-15
As a romantic comedy, Star Wars is a failure. As a science fiction film, the Annie Hall is a complete disappointment. Whatever other merits these movies might have, there are definitely areas that they are lacking. Which brings me to The Rough Guide to Cult Movies: as a reference book, it is highly suspect. What's notable is that Annie Hall fails as sci-fi because it doesn't try to be that genre; The Rough Guide fails at the very category it aspires to. Which is too bad, because it is often an interesting read.
The failure starts at the beginning of the book with a definition of cult movies that is so broad as to be meaningless. We then a series of chapters representing various "genres", some of which are valid (science fiction, westerns, horror), some of which are ridiculous (Animals, Food, Nuns) and some of which are not even true genres (dubbed, independent, straight-to-video). After this, we get various miscellaneous topics that are thrown in without rhyme or reason, such as a list of top movie grosses followed by presidential movie trivia.
The movie descriptions are often amusing, although there are numerous errors (such as misstating Geoffrey Rush's role in Pirates of the Caribbean), even more omissions (every reader will find his own; one example is that Unforgiven is missing from Westerns) and plenty of movies that are really miscategorized but seem only placed in a specific genre to fill it out.
What saves this book is, even though it fails as a reference book, it is nonetheless entertaining. I am therefore giving this two stars instead of one. It's a rather useless book, especially if you want to learn more about movies, but if you do pick it up, it is probably the most entertaining two-star book that you're ever likely to read.
Great fun, lots of info, but sloppy.......2006-11-10
I bought this book and read most of it in one night; I couldn't put it down because the subject is so fascinating. A huge number of films are given short reviews: some I knew, some I didn't. The tome's small size and attractive design helped me keep reading into the wee hours. But I became gradually more annoyed when I discovered how carelessly the book was written and edited (if there was an editor at all). Misspells and typos abound: Herzog's film on Kinski, "My Best Fiend" is shown as "My Best Friend," thus completely missing the point. Great character actor Theodore Bikel is cited as "Theodore Bickel" - and these are only two out of dozens of similar, inexcusable mistakes. If Rough Guide can't afford a decent proofreader, maybe they should stick to travel guides. If they had only been more careful, the book would deserve an enthusiastic five stars, rather than the grudging four stars I give it.
Dashed Hopes.......2006-07-19
I thought this book was going to be great fun; however, it seems to use a broad definition of "cult movie." What didn't they include? Worst of all, my credibility was lost when in the notes on Suddenly Last Summer they mentioned that Montgomery Clift played Sebastian. Anyone who puts this movie in his or personal cult collection knows that this is patently incorrect. It begs the question, "How many other movies in this lists have the authors NOT even seen?"
Terry Allen
Should have been called 'Popular Movies'.......2005-01-31
THE ROUGH GUIDE TO CULT MOVIES does, in its presentation, follow in the footsteps of what has been a successful formula for Rough Guide books. This guide is a thematic guide to movies in general. The book consists of over 80 categories of movies such as: animals, b-movies, cops, doctors, fantasy, horror, musicals, prison, serial killers, zombies, etc. Each category has a selection of movies which, for the most part, fit the subject. There are also various sidelights thrown into different categories which expand upon the actors, writers, directors, etc. Unforunately, although there is a spattering of cult movies included, most of the films covered are standard fare movies which fit the category. Additional mistakes, such as the wrong year for a movie, are to be found on occasion. The selection of movies for some categories appears almost random with gaping exclusions (the category for zombies lists CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD but excludes DAWN OF THE DEAD and Fulci's ZOMBIE; the category for 3-D lists JAWS 3-D but excludes COMIN' AT YA IN 3-D). Additionally, any information provided for a movie includes: title, director, abbreviated cast, and a short description, which in most cases is shorter than what you can find in a video review guide. If you are looking for a general introduction to popular films in a thematic presentation, that can be found in this book. If you are looking for a book about actual cult films and any kind of discussion about them or their particulars, it is not to be found here.
Pretty good information in a pocket-sized book.......2002-03-20
There are lots of little tidbits of info to be gleaned from this cool little book. Hundreds of cult films are included, though there are some I wouldn't have included (like APOLLO 13, THE PERFECT STORM, SEE SPOT RUN and TITANIC), and some they overlooked (THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY, GREASE, THE MATRIX, etc.), but overall this volume has a nice mixture of titles, broken down into many categories and a handy index. Recommended for movie buffs everywhere!
Product Description
Contents: Angry eyes, Another Road, Back to georgia, Be free, Boogie man, Brighter days, Changes, Coming to you, Danny's song, Didn't I know you when, Fever dream, Foxfire, Get a hold, Golden ribbons, Good friend, Growin', Holidya hotel, House at poo corner, It's alright, Just before the news, Keep me in mind, Lady of my heart, Lahaina, Lately my love, Listen to a country song, Long-tail cat (Dixie holiday), A love song, Lovin' me, Make a woman feel wanted, Move on , My lady my love, My music, Native son, Nobody but you, Pathway to glory, Peacemaker, Peace of mind, Pretty princess, Rock and roll mood, Sailing the wind, Same old wine, Sweet marie, Thinking of you, Till the ends meet, Time to space, Travelin' blues, Vahevala, Wastin' our time, Watching the river run, When I was a child, Whiskey, You could break my heart, You need a man, Your mama don't dance
Product Description
Titles are: Angry Eyes * Back to Georgia * Danny's Song * House at Pooh Corner * Listen to a Country Song * A Love Song * My Music * Peace of Mind * Thinking of You * Vahevala * Watching the River Run * Your Mama Don't Dance. ?
Product Description
Vocal, piano and guitar, 256 pages, music from the 70's
Book Description
An up-to-date and entertaining book with helpful tips on how to play today's standard reel-spinning and multiline video slots. The book also explains how the new generation of coinless (ticket-in, ticket-out) slots work."
Its 108 pages reveal up-to-date slot-playing secrets passed along by casino insiders, computer programmers, mathematicians, and slot-wise players nationwide -- plus the author's 30 years' experience in the slot trenches. The author states that today's one- armed bandits are computers in slot's clothing. He then describes, with a touch of humor, how they work, how to find the loosest slots, and how to play them.
The book also discusses slot-playing myths, the role of luck, streaks, common slot- playing mistakes, betting strategies, how the casinos think and how they want you to think, and more!
If you try your luck at today's high-tech computerized slots, you owe it to yourself to learn all you can about them. And Secrets of Modern Slot Playing tells you in easy- to-understand non-technical language all that you really need to know to come home a winner more often.
Don't play another slot machine until you've read this book!
Customer Reviews:
All the things you know.........2007-01-09
While a little repeptitive at times the author underscores the things you pick up on if you pay attention while gaming. Solid advice if you can remember to follow it.
A good book on modern slot machines........2006-07-04
I jet got this book today (July 3, 2006) and read it through in one day as well. Regardless of the size of the book, it was filled with good and useful information in regards to how slots works, the dispelling of common myths, and how to modify you style of play to prolong your enjoyment in the casino.
A fascinating feature of the book is a list of known casinos in the U.S. and their average payback based on location and denomination of the machine. This was information I have never seen before and helped me determine which of the casinos near me have the better paying slots.
It was also nice to see that they weren't trying to "sell a system." The book explains that the slot machines are nothing more than computer-based random number generators and that there is nothing you can do that will alter their play or cause them to pay out better. It does suggest how to alter your method of play to prolong your playing time, if not improve your chances of winning.
While Book Mama complained that the methods described in the book didn't work in an Indian casino, the book does explain that some Indian casinos have lower payout rates than most other casinos.
My only problem with the book is that, while it did discuss tax rules in regards to your winnings, I wished it had given more detailed information than what it did. Still, it's a pretty good book.
Fast reading and Fun.......2006-02-27
This was a quick read and a lot of fun as well. Filled with information that ran from common sense to the intricacies of computer slots. Lots of jokes, and sensible tips for enjoying you slot time without loosing your shirt.
Totally Useless.......2005-05-14
I bought and read this book, then took a trip to my nearby Indian Casino, only to find that the slots the book recommends as the best paying, don't even exist there. The author recommends 2-coin, three reel, nonprogressive slots with the lowest top jackpot (1000 to 5000.) I searched the casino from top to bottom and did not find a single machine that fell in to this category.
I also tried some of the other "strategies" mentioned and ended up going home, having spent my alloted bankroll, faster than any other trip. Bad luck? Possibly. Bad advice? More probable.
Better advice? Stick with the slots that make you happy and forget trying to go home with more money than you came with.
This book is GREAT!.......2005-04-25
Seriously, if you play slots, read this book. Of course luck adds to everything, but I read this book and followed what it said and I won and came out ahead (won $800 on the slots, and after playing other games, went home $500 ahead). This book gives the slot player so much more of an advantage.
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Five years ago, Jim Collins asked the question, "Can a good company become a great company and if so, how?" In Good to Great Collins, the author of Built to Last, concludes that it is possible, but finds there are no silver bullets. Collins and his team of researchers began their quest by sorting through a list of 1,435 companies, looking for those that made substantial improvements in their performance over time. They finally settled on 11--including Fannie Mae, Gillette, Walgreens, and Wells Fargo--and discovered common traits that challenged many of the conventional notions of corporate success. Making the transition from good to great doesn't require a high-profile CEO, the latest technology, innovative change management, or even a fine-tuned business strategy. At the heart of those rare and truly great companies was a corporate culture that rigorously found and promoted disciplined people to think and act in a disciplined manner. Peppered with dozens of stories and examples from the great and not so great, the book offers a well-reasoned road map to excellence that any organization would do well to consider. Like Built to Last, Good to Great is one of those books that managers and CEOs will be reading and rereading for years to come. --Harry C. Edwards
Book Description
The Challenge
Built to Last, the defining management study of the nineties, showed how great companies triumph over time and how long-term sustained performance can be engineered into the DNA of an enterprise from the verybeginning.
But what about the company that is not born with great DNA? How can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness?
The Study
For years, this question preyed on the mind of Jim Collins. Are there companies that defy gravity and convert long-term mediocrity or worse into long-term superiority? And if so, what are the universal distinguishing characteristics that cause a company to go from good to great?
The Standards
Using tough benchmarks, Collins and his research team identified a set of elite companies that made the leap to great results and sustained those results for at least fifteen years. How great? After the leap, the good-to-great companies generated cumulative stock returns that beat the general stock market by an average of seven times in fifteen years, better than twice the results delivered by a composite index of the world's greatest companies, including Coca-Cola, Intel, General Electric, and Merck.
The Comparisons
The research team contrasted the good-to-great companies with a carefully selected set of comparison companies that failed to make the leap from good to great. What was different? Why did one set of companies become truly great performers while the other set remained only good?
Over five years, the team analyzed the histories of all twenty-eight companies in the study. After sifting through mountains of data and thousands of pages of interviews, Collins and his crew discovered the key determinants of greatness -- why some companies make the leap and others don't.
The Findings
The findings of the Good to Great study will surprise many readers and shed light on virtually every area of management strategy and practice. The findings include:
-
Level 5 Leaders: The research team was shocked to discover the type of leadership required to achieve greatness.
-
The Hedgehog Concept (Simplicity within the Three Circles): To go from good to great requires transcending the curse of competence.
-
A Culture of Discipline: When you combine a culture of discipline with an ethic of entrepreneurship, you get the magical alchemy of great results. Technology Accelerators: Good-to-great companies think differently about the role of technology.
-
The Flywheel and the Doom Loop: Those who launch radical change programs and wrenching restructurings will almost certainly fail to make the leap.
“Some of the key concepts discerned in the study,” comments Jim Collins, "fly in the face of our modern business culture and will, quite frankly, upset some people.”
Perhaps, but who can afford to ignore these findings?
Customer Reviews:
A very thought-provoking book for people trying to grow their business........2007-10-02
This was a very interesting book for me to read. I have to imagine that I am in a pretty narrow target market for this book, though the concepts may be broadly applied. I work for a small business and can see many opportunities to put this book's findings to work.
The book tells the various stories of companies that made a transition from a market participant to market leader and saw sustained success for at least 15 years. The author was able to identify a few common factors between these companies, and he and his research team present them as a model for us to follow.
I had but one small issue, which is probably not information that contributes to the rest of the research. They detail radical decisions made by upper management, sometimes completely changing the face of an established business. I figure there must be a largely disproportionate number of business that fail when they made the same or a similar move. I would have liked to see some detail behind how those successful companies came to make that decision. The decision itself was largely overlooked.
Like many "business" books, I feel that much of what was written here was largely common sense. They weren't necessarily ideas that I have had or would have come up with on my own, but as I read them they seemed mundane in analysis. It made the reading slow going, but there was a silver lining -- for instant gratification, each chapter ends with a few pages of main concepts extracted from the text.
There was some very insightful research in Good to Great. The common elements identified were relevant and practical. It would not be an easy model to follow, but if it were it would defeat its own purpose to isolate those corporate characteristics that set successful companies apart. If you have ever wondered what steps you should follow to take your company from Good to Great, this is a book you should read (even if it is just the chapter summaries).
Good To Great.......2007-09-28
Our company is taking the advice of the book to heart. We have formed our "hedgehog" group and all are excited. We want to work in an environment of greatness. The book shows us the way. We have 7 of our employees who have agreed to "donate their time" at lunch several times a month to help us identify our circles. I would recommend this book to any company or organization that truly wants to have their maximum impact in the arena in which they operate!
My Business Bible.......2007-09-24
If I have a bible for business, this is it. First who then what is the only way to go!
Still applicable in 2007.......2007-09-19
I enjoyed the thought provoking aspect of this book. The different levels of leadership, the hedgehog concept are the two takeaways from this book.
How many of us fall into the trap of being everything to everyone? Most I suspect from the findings presented in the book.
Read this book to find out how you can strive to be a Level 5 leader. I found the book very insightful. Jim Collins and his team hit a homerun!
Renamed the "Leadership Bible".......2007-09-19
In a previous review I dubbed a Blanchard text as the Management Bible. Good to Great goes one step further. It teaches how to lead. Leadership is very different from management. Management is about details and processes. Leadership is about creating a storyline, then using it to motivate, overcome, and exceed. Good to Great by Jim Collins is about greatness.
The key to the "greatness storyline" is in identifying your Hedgehog Concept- that singular objective that will define your success. This also the most difficult part of leadership, an ability which most titled executives do not master. It is very easy to fall prey to the excuse that we "don't know what the future may bring" and we have to be "ready for anything". Hog wash. Or should I say hedgehog wash?
Greatness can only be achieved through singular purpose. The core of Good to Great teaches us not only how to identify it (the hedgehog Concept), but how to embrace it. The remainder of the book tells us how to apply it in broad strokes. This is the essence of strategic planning. Being able to understand and acheive this should be a prerequisite for any leadership position. Or for any aspiring entrepreneur.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Bank Marketing, published by Bank Marketing Assn. on May 1, 2003. The length of the article is 2776 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: What's so Gr-r-r-reat about your bank? (Feature).(Jim Collins discusses his book, "Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't")(Interview)
Author: Walt Albro
Publication:
Bank Marketing (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2003
Publisher: Bank Marketing Assn.
Volume: 35
Issue: 4
Page: 28(6)
Article Type: Interview
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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The Rough Guide to Cult Fiction (Rough Guides Reference Titles)
The Rough Guide to Horror Movies
The Rough Guide to Sci-Fi Movies 1 (Rough Guide Reference)
The Rough Guide to Cult Pop (Rough Guide Sports/Pop Culture)
The Rough Guide to Comedy Movies 1 (Rough Guides Reference Titles)
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