John Woo: The Films, 2d ed.

by Kenneth E. Hall

Overview

The first edition of John Woo: The Films (McFarland, 1999) was the earliest English-language volume to address the motion picture output of the celebrated Hong Kong director. The book dealt with Woo's film career from his professional beginnings in 1968 through his first three Hollywood releases (Hard Target, Broken Arrow and Face/Off), situating his work within Asian and Western cinematic and cultural traditions.

This second edition offers a wealth of additional information, including treatment of John Woo's Hollywood productions Mission: Impossible II, Windtalkers and Paycheck. Also featured is material on Woo's epic Red Cliff, filmed in China. A new foreword is provided by Tony Williams, author of John Woo's Bullet in the Head.

Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786440405
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	12/22/2011
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	228
Sales rank:	1,032,404
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Kenneth E. Hall has written several books, including a study of John Woo’s The Killer, authored many articles on Latin American literature, and is a contributor to Studies in the Western. He is a professor of Spanish at East Tennessee State University and lives in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     
Foreword by Tony Williams     
Introduction: Painting the True Colors of the Hero     

1. Woo and the Asian and Western Traditions     
2. Influences, Parallels, Inspirations     
3. A Unique “Action Director”     
4. The Early Films: A Selected Treatment     
5. A Better Tomorrow and A Better Tomorrow II: A Flawed Saga     
6. The Killer: Heroism Defeated     
7. A New Independence: Bullet in the Head and Once a Thief     
8. Hard Boiled Heroic Cops     
9. Move to Hollywood: Hard Target, Broken Arrow, Face/Off     
10. Hollywood Success: Mission: Impossible II     
11. Frustrated in Hollywood: Windtalkers, Paycheck     
12. Music in the Films     
13. From Hollywood to China     

Filmography     
Notes     
Bibliography     
Index     

Editorial Reviews

shows how Woo’s work demonstrates Asian and Western traditions”—Booklist; “the first book-length study on the director based upon detailed research as well as personal interviews with Woo himself...highly informative with excellent footnotes...essential reading”—Film Quarterly; “Hall takes us on an inside tour”—VideoScope; “Hall demonstrates European and Hollywood influences on the work of Hong Kong film director John Woo”—Reference & Research Book News; “detailed analysis”—ARBA; “those seeking to learn more about the gifted filmmaker should read Kenneth E. Hall’s John Woo: The Films, the first serious study on his body of work”—South Dade News Leader; “the first serious study on [Woo]...Woo’s cross-cultural embrace of both Asian and American heroes gives his cinematic works a global influence and appeal”—Burlington County Times; “[an] ideal browse...much preferable to [the competition]”—Asianow.

From the Publisher

Hall takes us on an inside tour

VideoScope

the first book-length study on the director based upon detailed research as well as personal interviews with Woo himself...highly informative with excellent footnotes...essential reading

Film Quarterly

shows how Woo's work demonstrates Asian and Western traditions

Booklist