Secure Immaturity: A Nostalgia-Crushing Journey Through Film

by William Johnson

The creator behind the cult-favorite website The Paxton Configuration (cult means no one reads it) and the former cult favorite website Secure Immaturity (cult means no one read it), brings you this crazy, bold, poorly edited, odd, possibly offensive and likely pointless collection of film reviews. Films reviewed include 1992's breathtaking masterpiece of offensive virtual reality The Lawnmower Man, the sparkled vampire spectacle Twilight: New Moon, the manly manliness of the ever-manly film Predator, the crime against humanity that is Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, the poster film for nihilism, Rambo, and many more.

256 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2011

About the author

William Johnson is a film critic for 25 Years Later (www.25yearslatersite.com) and author of the book Secure Immaturity: A Nostalgia-Crushing Journey Through Film. He is the father of two wonderful girls, a metalhead, and a life-long suffering fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Reviews

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the FUNNIEST book ever! EVERY movie lover should read this! (Just be prepared not to be offended... William Johnson is brutally honest. If you love a movie, skip the chapter he wrote on it. :D) I 100% agreed with him on all the movies I'd seen. (For example, Transformers Revenge or whatever that movie was called... I always wondered why it was so horrible, and the explanation of the demon taking over the director's body and using horrible telepathy to direct it really explained the issue... :D)

I definitely recommend this book.

[Geri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book free through Goodreads.
This is a book of movie reviews from the authors blog of the same name which unfortunately no longer exists. (He does have a new blog that is good - The Paxton Configuration.) The majority of the movies reviewed are pretty awful though he did throw in a few good ones. Of the ones I've seen I agree with most of what WJ wrote though he pans a few I like. There are a few movies listed that I never bothered to watch but after reading how heinous he says they are I've decided I need to see for myself. I'm sure I'll regret this after the first or second movie and just take his word about how bad the rest are. He doesn't like Tim Burton but mostly I do. He's made a few good movies - my personal favorite: Big Fish. But he's also made what I consider the worst movie ever: Planet of the Apes. The original is a great scifi movie. The remake is a waste of film. I watch Beneath the Planet of the Apes whenever its on tv for its shear stupidity. Veiny faced bald people worshipping a bomb. When you read this book I advise you to just skip Part 3. WJ's reviewed what I think are the worst movies listed in the whole book. Reading his chapter on The Death of AMC I wholeheartedly agree with him. I occasionally turn it on but end up being totally annoyed by how bad the channel has become compared to how wonderful it was in the beginning. Whoever bought it ruined it beyond repair. I think somehow it morphed into TCM which is what AMC used to be like. TCM is the channel to watch for great old movies.
I was very entertained by this book and highly recommend it to anyone who likes movies.
(By the way Claudia Christian has been in a good movie. The Hidden.)

[Elissa Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will start this review with a caveat. It is without a doubt, as it says on the back cover, poorly-edited. It's not terrible, but there are definitely a few places where typos and rough grammar can really derail a section, but with that being said, it's excellent.
I love his masterful way of tearing brutally into films that never comes off as nitpicking, bickering or hacky. It's just as refreshing to see him find the good even if minuscule in the awfulness. His combination of thoughtful deconstruction and blind rage and hatred for the movies that have touched him in the bad place may not be particularly original, Chris Sims in particular is someone I see a lot of parallels with, as well as his acknowledged heroes from Mystery Science Theater 3000. That being said, if not taking a completely fresh approach he is always entertaining, bordering on genius, and perhaps hitting it with the review of the film "Gamer." I don't agree with all his points, mostly the ones on the merits of Cary Elwes as an actor, but he made a very worthwhile and entertaining book that I will read again, because I enjoyed it so much.
This book was enjoyed through the wonderful magic of FirstReads.

[Melissa Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed so hard while reading this clever book of film reviews!! Talk about old school on some of these movies. I particularly liked the review on one of my favorite movies back in the day.....Short Circuit...Note to self: Do not watch this movie again!! LOL Another one of my favorite movies that was not mentioned in the book is Batteries Not Included..William...go have a watch and get back to me on that one ;)

Great read. If you are a film buff, old movies and new, this book will definitely amuse you!

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so so funny! It's not what I was expecting at all... it's so much better! It's broken up very well and it doesn't get annoying to read :)
I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy laughing.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more 2.5 stars and the reason I shouldn't sign up for every giveaway. I'm not the target audience of this book, I haven't seen 1/3 of the movies and I'm not someone who loves reading about film.
It is well written though and if you are that kind of person I recommend it.

[LL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

[Lori Koko · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the wit of the book. I only wished I've seen most of the movies so I would get all the humor.