The behind-the-scenes story of the larger-than-life action stars who ruled 80s and 90s Hollywood, from Schwarzenegger and Stallone to Jackie Chan and Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Nick de Semlyen is the editor of Empire, the world's biggest movie magazine, and the author of Wild and Crazy Guys. As a film journalist, he has also written for Rolling Stone, Stuff, and Time Out. He lives in London.
A book as big and brash as the stars who are its focus. I had a
blast reading it - no CGI required.
*Ian Rankin*
A lively celebration of 1980s action stars: Sly, Arnie and ‘the
muscles from Brussels'.
*The Times*
If it's bulging biceps, titanic tantrums, sculpted shoulders and
Herculean drug habits you're after, then Nick de Semlyen is the
author for you. His book The Last Action Heroes is not bad either,
a hugely entertaining romp through 80s and 90s action cinema, every
page riddled with a zillion bullet holes.
*Edgar Wright*
This book takes you so close to the action, you can smell the
sweat, cigar smoke, and bad cologne that brought these movies to
life. Along the way, Nick de Semlyen reveals tales of stunts gone
wrong, conversations between Stallone and Reagan, the origin of
Jean Claude Van Damme’s buns, and all of the stories from set that
people were too afraid to tell—until now.
*Paul Scheer*
The action stars of the ‘80s and ‘90s weren’t out to make history
at the outset of their careers, but that’s what they did all the
same. Nick De Semlyen chronicles the rise and fall (and sometimes
rise-again) of the world’s most popular action heroes in this
juicy, highly entertaining, and informative book.
*Leonard Maltin*
A rollicking, anecdote-packed tribute to the cavalier days.
*Literary Review*
In his riveting chronicle of the ass-kicking, neck-snapping,
biceps-rippling action heroes of the ‘80s and ‘90s, Nick de Semlyen
not only paints the story of the movies and stars of the Reagan
era, he shines a light on what they meant—and still mean—to us. A
juicy, fun as hell read.
*Chris Nashawaty, author of Caddyshack: The Making of a
Hollywood Cinderella Story*
A testosterone-fueled ode to action movies . . . packs a punch.
*Publishers Weekly*
Nick de Semlyen’s love letter to the action cinema of the ’80s and
‘90s reads like those films play: fast-paced, wryly funny, and
unapologetically entertaining. His research is meticulous and his
analysis is impeccable, but he also keenly understands why these
movies hit like they did: because they were fun. And, unfailingly,
so is The Last Action Heroes.
*Jason Bailey, author of Fun City Cinema: New York City and the
Movies That Made It*
In his revelatory history of the Golden Age of action cinema, Nick
de Semlyen vividly renders the story of the larger-than-life
legends who defined and shaped an era. Equally insightful and
entertaining, this book is an absolute blast to read, as thrilling
as the genre itself.
*Priscilla Page*
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
