The Phantom's Ultimate Video Guide

by Joe Kane, Phantom, The Phantom of the Movies

Book Overview

Rates, reviews, and describes over 2,500 horror, camp, sexploitation, science fiction, thriller, and action genre films and includes ordering information, DVD availability, and Internet resources. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440502128
• ISBN13: 9780440502128
• Release Date: October 1989
• Publisher: Dell Publishing Company
• Length: 756 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A Definitive and Highly Entertaining Resource!

This latest edition of the Ultimate Guide continues from the highly successful first edition (no longer in print) in providing the reader with sharp, concise, reviews of every important (and a few not-so important) genre films. The Phantom's unique style and no nonsense approach are refreshing in this era of overblown hyperbole in movie reviews. His rating system is eminently simple and easy to use and while I don't always share his opinions on certain films, I do respect his point of view. The book is well organized with interesting contributions from major people in the genre. Apart from being a terrific resource, the book is entertaining as well. If you like his style, as I do you, should also check out his quarterly magazine- Videoscope - available on newstands everywhere - I think.

HOORAY FOR THE PHANTOM!

hey, if you want to read a film critic who reviews the masterpieces(john woo's HARD-BOILED), the good, the bad, the ugly(RE-ANIMATOR), the very ugly (like the disgusting I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE; he gave it 2 stars? roger ebert=ZERO!), the sleazy(abel ferrara's putrid MS. 45), the grade-z movies (MANOS! THE HANDS OF FATE + any Ed Wood movie), etc. etc., then The Phantom a.k.a. Joe Kane's VIDEOSCOPE is for you! it is must-read!

Genre Video Guide Distinguished by Pedigree of Author

The Phantom of the Movies has been working the B-movie circuit in the NY Daily News since 1984. An urban Joe Bob Briggs, he was raised on a diet of sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and exploitation flicks from the late '50s, stale popcorn, too-sweet fountain sodas, and single-screen neighborhood bijous and second-run houses. A veteran of the notorious grind-houses of Forty-second Street from its '70s & '80s heyday, the Phantom (a.k.a. Joe Kane) was also once editor-in-chief of the '70s tabloid monster mag THE MONSTER TIMES. With these qualifications, the Phantom brings an experienced eye and a seasoned opinion to reviewing the 3,000 films in this book. There are also some great sidebars and interviews with genre personalities such as Jean-Claude Van Damme and Jose Mojica Marins (a.k.a. Brazil's "Coffin Joe"). For fans of Michael J. Weldon's PSYCHOTRONIC ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FILM and PSYCHOTRONIC VIDEO GUIDE, this book covers a lot of the same ground; but, whereas Weldon always tries to find SOMETHING positive to say about even the WORST clunkers, the Phantom isn't afraid to call a stinker a stinker! Required reading just before going out to rent the latest direct-to-video obscurity.

The Phantom's Phirst!

The Phantom easily translates his NY Daily News newspaper column into a breezy, fun-filled video guide. Similar in style to Mike Weldon's THE PSYCHOTRONIC ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FILM, The Phantom throws in interviews with B-movie stars and directors, profiles of stars and overviews of film series.

The Phantom is the King - the videomaniacs' bible!

I'd never heard of the Phantom before I chanced upon this fine tome - that mixes genre reviews with interviews and profiles of the good and the great from B-moviedom (including Ed Wood, who's Plan 9 is described as 'the one, the only', Jean Claude Van-Damme, and Stuart 'Re-animator' Gordon). The Phantom's reviews are not only informative on video obscurities (all the more relevant in an age where DVD is unearthing a lot of long lost treasures for a new generation of videophiles) - but written with real flair and wit, especially when he's talking about flicks like the Mexican epic Braniac or man runs amok classic Bloody Wednesday. Can't wait for his new up-dated book, I mean to say, I'm counting the days!