Reviews

As Michael Weldon says in the foreword to his Psychotronic Video Guide: "Unlike other movie guides, nothing is omitted because it's in bad taste." Bad taste barely begins to cover the 3000 resolutely grade-B movies (some with grade-A aspirations and budgets) and the odd TV show included here. Weldon, who invented the word "psychotronic" and compiled The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film, includes horror (there are 15 movie titles beginning with the word "zombie"), science fiction, Blaxploitation, porn, spaghetti westerns and "anything that Roger Corman had anything to do with" in his purview. (Griffin, $27.50 672p ISBN 0-312-13149-6; July) Hong Kong is home to the world's third largest film industry after Hollywood and Bombay. The movies tend to emphasize action, and lots of it. But according to the press release, the 200 films covered in Stefan Hammond's and Mike Wilkins's Sex and Zen and a Bullet in the Head are not just chop-socky. Rather, these movies are "sexy, fast-action supernatural," not to mention historical and occasionally downright silly‘even without the awkwardly translated subtitles like "Suck the coffin mushroom now" or "I know it, he is not an idiot, he is sexual detour" that by themselves are worth the price of admission. (Fireside, $12 288p ISBN 0-684-80341-0; Aug.) The Ultimate Movie Thesaurus begins with short descriptions of 8000 movies. What makes it unique, however, is what comes next. Rather than just a handful of categories or a list of directors or movie stars, it also includes such subcategories as "In-Laws‘Troublesome: see also Relatives‘Troublesome"; "Trapped in a Hole" and "Cattle Herded by Barbara Stanwyck." Obviously, there are other, more inclusive categories, but if you're in the mood for a movie on, say, Austria, it has nearly 20 suggestions. (Holt, $19.95 704p ISBN 0-8050-3496-X; Aug.) Almost all the movies included in Laurent Bouzereau's Ultraviolent Movies come from the past 30 years. Covering films ranging from Bonnie and Clyde to A Clockwork Orange, Bad Lieutenant and Hellraiser, the book is divided into seven sections on different genres, including psycho-killers, mafiosi and revenge movies. (Citadel, $17.95 256p ISBN 0-8065-1787-5; Sept.)

Until very recently, Hong Kong cinema was largely ignored in the United States by all but a small, fervent minority. This has begun to change, however, and the authors intend to lure new fans with this introductory overview to the great variety of Hong Kong film. Each chapter focuses on one topic, such as type of film or individual actor or director. A glossary of terms and a listing of locations around the country where people can obtain tapes are also provided. The authors are obviously die-hard fans of these films, and, unfortunately, the intensity of their enthusiasm, though at times humorous, frequently borders on the immature. Though the book, like the films it covers, is best suited for older audiences, it is hard to tell to whom it will finally appeal. Existing fans of Hong Kong cinema will find little new of interest, and nonfans may just be intimidated. Purchase only where there is demand.‘Peter A. Leggieri, "Library Journal"