The Good, The Bad and The Multiplex

I bought this because (ready for a shock?) I quite enjoy listening to Mark Kermode ranting on the radio from time to time. I hadn't read his previous work, and was hoping for a translation of his spoken criticisms to the written page (or Kindle, in my case).I generally enjoyed the work as it was pretty much what I was expecting - radio-Mark on the the printed page. However I did finish the book *slightly* disappointed - with the editing - and as a result the book was merely Good when it should have been Great.Kermode's rants were all there - agree or disagree with them they are compelling reading, and you can't beat a *passionate* critic. The problems I found were two fold. Firstly, I started to notice a niggly habit in the writing where the author would refer to his previous book simply by saying 'see previous book'. Not wildly helpful for me, as I hadn't read it - but hardly a world-ending problem. The real problem lay in the contrast between this, and his increasing habit of restating in later chapters points he had made quite adequately in previous ones. I found myself muttering at the page 'Yes, I KNOW that's what you said in the last chapter - I just READ the last chapter - how do you think I got to THIS chapter?' whenever he did this, whereas when he said simply 'see last book' with no further explanation I was ranting that 'I *can't* see the last book - I didn't *read* the last book - what am I, telepathic?'. This kind of inverted referencing persisted through the whole book, and whilst it is tempting to blame the author I think the editor should have taken a stronger hand here.My feelings about the editing were compounded by Chapter 6. Chapter 6 FELT like it was just a long list of non-English language horror flicks that Mark really liked in the original (subtitled) version, followed by a list of the English language remakes that were rubbish (in his view). I think he made his point early on, and to keep repeating it, and to keep on at the same genre became tedious. How about foreign action/romance/thriller/period/sci-fi etc. genre films? How about making a counter point and looking at foreign language versions of English language tales, to see if non-English/American film producers are better at the remake than Hollywood? Chapter 6 - unfortunately the last full chapter - just got stuck for me - and again I have to blame the editor. Up to this point it was a 5 star book. Afterwards - well that chapter on it's own just dragged and dragged. In retrospect, it feels like a book comprising 6 long articles, and the editor didnt have the heart to cut down chapter 6 because it would have made the work lopsided.Now, I recognise I've focussed on the negative here - so to be fair most of the book is a good old romp through Kermode's rabid (and encyclopaedic) mind - and was entirely delightful. Just read his other book first (to find out about the references - and tell me what they all meant) and skip chapter 6. Oh, and have a word with the editor, someone. . .

As a long time listener to the Wittertainment podcast, I have always held Mark Kermode's opinions in high esteem; However the problem is that as a long time listener I feel like this book isn't giving me any real "new" information.It some respects it's a bit of a regurgitation of what Kermode says each week on his show, I say it's a problem, but it's not a bad problem, because it's a great read and has convinced me to add the original Dark Water to my LoveFilm list. And as far as opinionated film literature goes, it's certainly one of the better reads.Where the BBC has to balance opinion, this doesn't have to adhere to any policy, but Kermode is still pretty balanced on some subjects - Even on the topic of 3D; which I have to agree with; but agreeing with the author isn't as satisfying as being challenged, which this book doesn't do (hence it loosing a star).. but I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Michael Bay movies and have never seen a subtitled film, as a literary kick up the bum....and hello to Jason Issacs.

Despite being an avid Kermode and Mayo podcaster, I was entertained by his last book but not as much as I'd expected to be or hoped to be (so my Amazon review was a middling 3 stars). The reason for the slight disappointment was the fact the book seemed really unfocused, even allowing for the fact it was a self-proclaimed series of anecdotes. This new release is much more coherent, based on a single theme and so a much more satisfying read. In brief, it's an extended Kermodian rant about everything wrong with modern cinema going from the dismal multiplex experience, the lack of care in film presentation to the content itself - too many dim and dull "blockbusters" aimed at 12 year olds. Correctly, Kermode holds up Christopher Nolan's films as proof that smart and interesting blockbusters can be made pointing out they get huge audiences thus there's no excuse for the likes of Michael Bay and his endless brain-dead Transformers.Recommended for Kermode and Mayo listeners or anyone else with an interest in cinema.

'The Good, The Bad and The Multiplex' is hugely anecdotal - If you like Mr Kermode you will quite simply like this book. If you also lament the malaise of the modern cinema going experience it is always a pleasure to find someone that not only agrees with you but has the hefty weight of 1000s of hours in the cinema seat to back it up.Well written and appropriately paced the book recounts a number of key causes of the downfall of the cinema in a balanced and measured manner. The real pleasure of this book is that it puts into words the feeling you get when you visit your local Multiplex to see a film you have been waiting to see for only to leave the cinema wishing you had not have bothered. Nothing to do with the quality of motion pictures but the way that actually viewing the content is made purely secondary to the sale of fast food.A terrific light read all round.

This one is quite easy - if you like Mark on the radio and TV then I think you will you like this book. What I like is his enthusiasm and in-depth knowledge of film, he really does care about cinema and films. A lot of his opinions with regard to films and cinemas I agree with and it would be good if more people took on board what he is saying. Yes it may be a bit self-indulgent at times but I enjoyed reading it.