Summary of The Cannon Film Guide: Volume I, 1980-1984 by Austin Trunick

Dive into the chaotic world of Cannon Films with Austin Trunick's guide, exploring the oddities and legends of 1980-1984 cinema!

Welcome to the colorful and chaotic world of Cannon Films, where sequels were birthed like rabbits, explosions were a mandatory accessory, and plot lines were as thin as the budgets! In The Cannon Film Guide: Volume I, 1980-1984, we get a delightful, behind-the-scenes tour of one of the most eccentric and misunderstood film studios in history. Hold onto your popcorn, folks, because this ride is bound to be bumpy!

First off, let's set the stage: The Cannon Group, founded by the dynamic duo Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, came crashing into the film industry with a loud bang-literally! They rolled out a cornucopia of films during the early '80s that ranged from cult classics to outright disasters, often defying the laws of common sense. Seriously, if you thought Hollywood was wild, you haven't seen anything yet!

Now, what can you expect from this cinematic treasure trove? Well, Trunick dives deep into all the juicy details about the films released between 1980 and 1984. From Death Wish II (because nothing says "family fun" like vigilante justice) to the legendary Breakin' (you know, where breakdancing meets melodrama), this book is like a buffet of b-movie goodness. Each film is given its own chapter, where you can expect a mix of production anecdotes, box office data, and the occasional 'uh, what were they thinking?' moment.

As you flip through the pages, expect to be treated with extensive reviews that cover all the gore (pun intended), action, and downright absurdity encapsulated in these movies. Yes, there are tales of how they managed to convince audiences that a film could be both a flop and a cult classic at the same time. That, my friends, is the magic of Cannon!

And spoilers? Well, unless you're into film history (which I assume you are since you've clicked on this), the whole book is practically one big spoiler alert for some seriously strange plot twists you'd never guess could happen in the realm of cinema. Ever wanted to know how far they pushed the limits of creativity-or sanity? Trunick lays it all out, with a hearty dose of sarcasm that honors the legacy of these glorious misfits of filmography.

Join the author as he drags you through the highs and lows of Cannon Films, keeping a keen eye on the marketing strategies that were as outlandish as the movies themselves. Want to know how they managed to crank out sequels like they were mass-produced widgets? Or how some movies became iconic despite being critically panned? Spoiler alert again: it's all about the charm and the cherry bombs!

In summary, The Cannon Film Guide: Volume I, 1980-1984 is a wild nostalgia trip for anyone with a penchant for cinematic oddities. You'll come out of it with a newfound appreciation of why these films are legendary in their own right, and you might just find yourself donning a pair of '80s shades and a disco outfit.

So, grab your copy, and settle in for a celebration of the bizarre, the brilliant, and the downright bonkers world of Cannon Films. Just remember, when watching a Cannon movie, logic is not on the guest list!

Maddie Page

Classics, bestsellers, and guilty pleasures-none are safe from my sarcastic recaps. I turn heavy reads into lighthearted summaries you can actually enjoy. Warning: may cause random outbursts of laughter while pretending to study literature.