Video Tonfa

This book is a huge collection of reviews of a fairly unpredictable variety of movies. Goodyear does his own interpretation of the cover design of the packaging most often VHS boxes and uses that art to frame a short but captivating review. The art is faithful to the original but at the same time definitely altered and expressive. Cool to look at and complements the writing. . .His writing is unique and he puts a lot across without adhering to an obvious formula. I used to read a lot of movie reviews as a kid since my parents had a subscription to the New Yorker. Paulina Kael was a good read. I would scope TV guides as well. So like. . .I'm an expert on movie review technique! Okay so that was a useless tidbit about me. . .Tim Goodyear doesn't go for that! As individualistic and funny as his writing is you can tell he has quite a bit of knowledge about a lot of the people making and acting in these movies. He does weave in his own reactions and biases to films and what kind of associations happen when he sees a film and that makes the reviews interesting and hard to put down. This is a huge book but also a tiny universe. I suggest you buy it.

What a cool book. Each two-page spread contains Goodyear's recreation of a movie's DVD/VHS box art and his "review" of the flick (which is more like his personal impressions than an actual review). You go to kind of a Zen-like place reading this book. It's goofy and punk and rambling and iconoclastic. Check it out. (Word of caution: you may end up adding a LOT of movies to your must-see list.)

Reading this book is like having a dialed-in conversation with a new friend and almost everything that comes out of your mouth is a variation of "Woah, awesome", over and over. Movie fans, video collectors, art maniacs and weirdos will adore the variety of drawing styles, the passionate and oft ignored details of every video box, the candid and hilarious thoughts and "reviews" of a crazy wide variety of films and a peek into the heart of a true movie and comics lover. It can be read cover to cover or cherry picked at moments when your mind needs a fresh draw of creative oxygen. Highly recommended!