Saturday, September 02, 2006


My boss highly encouraged me to read this book, so I gave it the old college try.

Cinematherapy lists and categorizes movies according to women's moods. For example, if your mother has done something to once again annoy you, you consult Chapter 4's "I Know She's My Mom, But She's Driving Me Nuts: Mother-Issue Movies." From there you'll know to check out the video store for such titles as The Glass Menagerie, Mommie Dearest, and that old classic Drop Dead Fred.

Speaking of classics.... The majority of the movies listed are from the '30s thru the '50s. Personally, not really interested in tons of movies from back then. But perhaps you are.

Also includes Ten Top Bodice-Ripping Lines, Stupid Guy Quotes, and a Handy Hunk Chart. Funny, though it all seems a little out of date at this point. Perhaps I should try their 2004 book, Cinematherapy for Lovers: The Girl's Guide to Finding True Love One Movie at a Time.

I have only two major gripes about this book:
1) Bridget Jones's Diary isn't mentioned even once. Of course, I then realized that the book came out before the movie, so maybe there's hope that it'll show up in one of their later books.
2) In a section called "Prepubescent Power Pics: Getting in Touch with Your Inner Grrrrl," the writers, describing Anne of Green Gables, say that orphaned Anne is taken in by "Marilla Cuthbert and her husband," meaning dear, sweet Matthew. What the? Everyone who has ever read the book or seen the movie knows that Marilla and Matthew are brother and sister! Appalling! Hmph. Makes me wonder what else these self-proclaimed film fanatics got wrong.

3.75 stars

6 comments:

Askazombiehousewife said...

Thanks for the review.

i i eee said...

Oh dear. How dare they suggest incest on such a cherished classic? Speaking of dear Anne, I hope I get her in my Netflix soon....

April said...

I know, right? How dare they sully Marilla's reputation?

I hope you get dear Anne on Netflix, too. Sometimes you just gotta have a Green Gables fix.

Kristen said...

I am, april, I am interested in movies from the 30's - 50's.

Um...sorry...that's all I got. I'm out of funny today. too tired.

i i eee said...

I too, like movies from the 30s and the 50s. But I definitely see your point. That's the problem with writing books like this -they don't age well.

April said...

Well, I'm not saying those movies aren't classics or anything, but if you're gonna write a book about movies to fit a woman's every mood, you have to take into account a lot more than just Joan Crawford and Sandra Dee.

So there. :P