Popcorn

In this intelligent thriller from an unexpected source, Ben Elton fuses many different qualities into an excellent book.

Every chapter looks at realistic situations with wit, sarcasm and satire; there were many occassions that caused a quick chuckle. Simultaneously, these situations are unavoidably thought-provoking; however you view the situations, your opinions have to be formed, and parts of modern life are shown in all their absurdity.

Even more brilliantly, while both thought-provoking and incredibly funny, the story continues apace, full of interest and intrigue, with descriptions that while vivid, avoid being gruesome, instead cleverly accentuating both the (thriller) plot and moral issues addressed.

The ending to the book is masterful, the epilogue incredibly funny. I also found the stageshow very enjoyable, but not quite as complete or convincing as the book.

popcorn` (2/2 people found this helpful)

This can only be described as one of the most fantastic satirical works of all time (bar any comedies of Shakespeare).
Here Ben Elton proves himself to be far, far more than simply the wonderful stand up comic that we all know him to be. Not only is the reader guided through an all too believable story with the greatest of ease, but one is also forced to face up to some rather stark realities and ultimately to decide which side of the fence they really sit.
The Tarrentino style story is often heart rendering, frequently gruesome but always riotously funny, as anyone who enjoys Ben Eltons work will readily aggree. The characters are hugely exaggerated but that only serves to improve the overall effect.
I was fortunate enough to see the play of this book some years ago and would strongly recommend it and the book to anyone. A MASTERPIECE!

Cultural Window (3/3 people found this helpful)

This is one of the most balanced books I have ever read. Not only does Popcorn have a genuinely fixating plot with a brilliant storyline, it also has some fantastic humor with dry sarcasm in some places and blatant comedy in others. But the book's by far most impressive aspect is its social commentary. Elton casts an eye over the daytime chat show media and reproduces it in a totally believably, yet intrinsically funny, way.
Of course, however, the most important aspect is the aspect on the 'film violence' debate. Elton presents the views of Bruce Delamitri in such a way that even the most hardened antagonist of violent imagery would surely be drawn about to his views. The minds of two killers are concisely portrayed to the point that their plight, and solution to it, is completely reasonable. This book, then, is a true masterpiece of readability and debate.

Brilliant. (1/1 people found this helpful)

Before you read this book, watch a Tarentino flick. Pulp Fiction would be my personal choice, as Elton obviously based his 2 criminal lovebirds on the ones in PF. Also, you must realize that this book is not about real crime. It is a statement (of sorts) about movie violence. For or against, that's for the reader to decide. The most obvious audience of this book is the British dark comedy lover who has seen most of Tarentino's films. Sit back and enjoy.

Disinctly average (1/1 people found this helpful)

Having read four other of Elton's books before this one, I must say I finished this novel feeling pretty dissapointed. I had high expectations for this which is probably why I enjoyed it so little.

It lacked any real depth in the social analysis given and I really could not relate to or sympathise with any of the characters. I felt all the points Elton tried to make here highly cliched and not very succinctly put. It also lacked much of the humour of 'Blast from the Past' or 'Dead Famous.' The plot too was very tedious and hardly kept me interestd.

I only finished this book on the strength of his other novels and in the hope it would get better. The only thig that saved this book from a 1 star rating was the very end ie the last few pages and the epilogue which I thought were quite well done but unfortunatley not good enough to rescue the book from being overall pretty poor.

Ben Elton

Reader Reviews:

A witty, funny, thought-provoking, topical satire thriller (0/0 people found this helpful)

popcorn` (2/2 people found this helpful)

Cultural Window (3/3 people found this helpful)

Brilliant. (1/1 people found this helpful)

Disinctly average (1/1 people found this helpful)

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