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Yippee Ki-Yay Moviegoer!: Writings on Bruce Willis, Badass Cinema and Other Important Topics
With the hilarious “instant cult classic” A Study of the Ass-Kicking Films of Steven Seagal , Vern wrote a book that shook the very foundations of film criticism, broke their wrists, and then threw them through a window. Now he’s back, and this time he’s got all of ‘the films of badass cinema’ in his sights...
From Die Hard to The Discrete Charm of the Bourgeoisie , Transformers to Mary Poppins , Vern has an opinion on everything, and he’s not shy about sharing them...
From Die Hard to The Discrete Charm of the Bourgeoisie , Transformers to Mary Poppins , Vern has an opinion on everything, and he’s not shy about sharing them...
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
6 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Vern
25 books28 followersVern, the self-styled ‘outlaw film critic’, is known to millions for his hilarious reviews on the Ain’t It Cool News website, and is described by Hellboy director Guillermo Del Toro as “equal parts Hell’s Angels and Pauline Kael... a national treasure!”
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 3, 2010
Yippee Ki-Yay Moviegoer isn’t so much a book about Bruce Willis as it is a collection of Vern’s reviews from years past, but aside from the slightly misleading title (it does say “And Other Important Topics”), I really enjoyed the hell out of this book. Vern’s reviews and rants are funny, irreverent at times, reverent at other times (or at the same time), and are often surprisingly insightful.
As I’m sure you’ve gathered from reading this blog, I love pop culture. Back in the ivory tower of academia, I tried my damnedest to work in pop culture whenever I could, and I was lucky enough to have a department that was very openminded about that sort of thing. My film studies professor would grumble about my choices of films in his classes, but by god, I wanted to talk about Serenity and Sleepy Hollow and the first two X-Men movies.
So I read Vern’s reviews with that unfortunately tendency of recent grad students to pick them apart. To my surprise, the vast majority of them passed my film geek litmus test. His rant about Michael Bay’s Transformers was not only hilarious in its righteous indignation but also very, very true. Vern makes solid arguments about why Bay’s quick-cut-can’t-tell-what-the-hell-you’re-looking-at directing style is crap and why Hollywood shouldn’t go down that path when it comes to action. I’ll admit that I often enjoy movies that don’t require any kind of brain-engagement, but Vern makes a damn good point. Summer blockbuster does not equal stupid movie with explosions, and it’s time for moviegoers to stop buying into that idea. Let’s get back to smart action films like Die Hard and Aliens.
If you’re a stickler for proper grammar and spelling, you might need to take a valium before reading this book. Vern’s writing style is not terribly polished, and he often misspells characters’ names (reading Hans Solo made something inside of me shrivel up and die), but at the same time, that style is part of his charm. He doesn’t give a shit if his reviews pass muster with a picky writer like me. He just wants to talk about movies, damn it.
And talk he does. One of my favorite reviews is for They Live, a movie I’ve never actually seen but have heard of. Specifically, I’ve watched the five minute long ass-kicking scene in the alley, the whole purpose of which was for our mulleted hero to get his buddy to put on a pair of damn glasses so he could see the aliens. My friends and I watched that scene and laughed at it. But Vern’s review made me actually want to watch the whole thing to see if his point about the movie’s representation of the Reagan-era US is right. Whether it is or not, it’s definitely a thoughtful review of a movie most people wouldn’t even bother watching.
I think that’s the thing I appreciate most about this book. The majority of the movies he reviews are ones that people don’t take seriously. They’re action films and horror films and what have you, and many people think those aren’t worth talking about. I’m of a mind, though, that pretty much everything our culture produces is worth looking at and talking about (which is probably why I liked grad school so much, hehe), and so it was really great to be both enlightened and entertained by Vern’s reviews. Good stuff.
As I’m sure you’ve gathered from reading this blog, I love pop culture. Back in the ivory tower of academia, I tried my damnedest to work in pop culture whenever I could, and I was lucky enough to have a department that was very openminded about that sort of thing. My film studies professor would grumble about my choices of films in his classes, but by god, I wanted to talk about Serenity and Sleepy Hollow and the first two X-Men movies.
So I read Vern’s reviews with that unfortunately tendency of recent grad students to pick them apart. To my surprise, the vast majority of them passed my film geek litmus test. His rant about Michael Bay’s Transformers was not only hilarious in its righteous indignation but also very, very true. Vern makes solid arguments about why Bay’s quick-cut-can’t-tell-what-the-hell-you’re-looking-at directing style is crap and why Hollywood shouldn’t go down that path when it comes to action. I’ll admit that I often enjoy movies that don’t require any kind of brain-engagement, but Vern makes a damn good point. Summer blockbuster does not equal stupid movie with explosions, and it’s time for moviegoers to stop buying into that idea. Let’s get back to smart action films like Die Hard and Aliens.
If you’re a stickler for proper grammar and spelling, you might need to take a valium before reading this book. Vern’s writing style is not terribly polished, and he often misspells characters’ names (reading Hans Solo made something inside of me shrivel up and die), but at the same time, that style is part of his charm. He doesn’t give a shit if his reviews pass muster with a picky writer like me. He just wants to talk about movies, damn it.
And talk he does. One of my favorite reviews is for They Live, a movie I’ve never actually seen but have heard of. Specifically, I’ve watched the five minute long ass-kicking scene in the alley, the whole purpose of which was for our mulleted hero to get his buddy to put on a pair of damn glasses so he could see the aliens. My friends and I watched that scene and laughed at it. But Vern’s review made me actually want to watch the whole thing to see if his point about the movie’s representation of the Reagan-era US is right. Whether it is or not, it’s definitely a thoughtful review of a movie most people wouldn’t even bother watching.
I think that’s the thing I appreciate most about this book. The majority of the movies he reviews are ones that people don’t take seriously. They’re action films and horror films and what have you, and many people think those aren’t worth talking about. I’m of a mind, though, that pretty much everything our culture produces is worth looking at and talking about (which is probably why I liked grad school so much, hehe), and so it was really great to be both enlightened and entertained by Vern’s reviews. Good stuff.
March 19, 2021
Because I decided to make a podcast focused on Bruce Willis I thought this book would be a helpful read on the man and his material. It has very, very little on Bruce Willis and instead is a collection of mostly-misogynistic essays on action movies over time.
February 21, 2013
Vern's a critic who shares my tastes; he loves tough action movies, and his thoughts on "Die Hard" are fantastic. He's second only to FilmCrithulk as the best online critic, and his tough-guy character belies a great understanding of the misunderstood genius of some action classics.
June 29, 2024
It's a true Die Hard Die Hard Die Hard film fan that chooses to read a novel collection of decades old film reviews.
Outlaw Vern was a voice I was familiar with from my time reading AiCN back in its heyday. His reviews [as presented here] do tread the thin snark line between amusing and aggravating, at times, but his belief in Badass cinema is palpable and his (re)views are educated and very clearly born from a genuine love of the action genre.
The only question left unanswered is Vern himself: is he person? Or is he persona?
Outlaw Vern was a voice I was familiar with from my time reading AiCN back in its heyday. His reviews [as presented here] do tread the thin snark line between amusing and aggravating, at times, but his belief in Badass cinema is palpable and his (re)views are educated and very clearly born from a genuine love of the action genre.
The only question left unanswered is Vern himself: is he person? Or is he persona?
January 18, 2023
Not as good as the other one.
March 19, 2018
An essential volume for any action fan -- or for any movie fan who "doesn't get" action pictures.
May 11, 2011
This book needs more love! Vern is an internet film critic, and a damn entertaining one at that. His writing style is casual, like you're talking face-to-face with a really nice, down to earth kind of guy. Like he's aspiring to Bruce Willis in Die Hard, except instead of macho, he entertains you with words. And a killer sense of humor.
Yipee Ki-Yay Moviegoer is an assortment of different movie reviews and reflections. Highly recommended for any movie buff or enthusiast looking to broa...moreThis book needs more love! Vern is an internet film critic, and a damn entertaining one at that. His writing style is casual, like you're talking face-to-face with a really nice, down to earth kind of guy. Like he's aspiring to Bruce Willis in Die Hard, except instead of macho, he entertains you with words. And a killer sense of humor.
Yipee Ki-Yay Moviegoer is an assortment of different movie reviews and reflections. Highly recommended for any movie buff or enthusiast looking to broaden his knowledge of film (or even just his Netflix queue).
Yipee Ki-Yay Moviegoer is an assortment of different movie reviews and reflections. Highly recommended for any movie buff or enthusiast looking to broa...moreThis book needs more love! Vern is an internet film critic, and a damn entertaining one at that. His writing style is casual, like you're talking face-to-face with a really nice, down to earth kind of guy. Like he's aspiring to Bruce Willis in Die Hard, except instead of macho, he entertains you with words. And a killer sense of humor.
Yipee Ki-Yay Moviegoer is an assortment of different movie reviews and reflections. Highly recommended for any movie buff or enthusiast looking to broaden his knowledge of film (or even just his Netflix queue).
March 4, 2011
I've been reading Vern's film reviews for a long time now. He appears to have the same tastes as me; a love for classic films and of the arty independent type, but also a non-ironic appreciation for the uncompromising action film. This is a collection of his reviews from years past mixed with a few updated commentaries. A nice read and one for all lovers of film.
June 25, 2010
Amazing reviews. I've only read the reviews of the films I've seen so far. The reviews I've read are so good, that I want to see all the films in the book to enjoy the reviews fully, even though some of them look awful. I'm talking about you, transformers!
October 1, 2010
Writing verging on the non-sense, but incredibly funny and witty. Most of all, talks about bad and good movies with equal prejudice.
June 11, 2011
Ridiculously entertaining.
August 30, 2013
This is film review as it should be. Vern is hilarious and in his own way genius. I mean who does reviews of Mary Poppins AND Predator?
March 11, 2014
A fine collection of Vern's film reviews, featuring his trademark digressions and informal style.
October 17, 2014
It was ok, not as great as his Seagology Book
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews