Rating: 
Summary: Getting beyond, "The movie was good."
Review: If you're looking for very readable guide that will help you gain better insight about movies, you can do no better than Jim Piper's Get the Picture? Jim is a watcher, producer, and teacher of movies. In his guide outlines what to look for in movies: cinematic aspects--various shots, frames, angles, lighting, dialog, music, art space; and literary (story) aspects--plot, point of view, characterization, setting, tone, and meaning. He covers these aspects of film by providing over an hundred references to early, comtemporary, modern, foriegn and independant movies. His writing is clear, sometimes personal, and well organized. I like how he included exercises using suggested movies you rent from the video stores. This book will be useful for those who may want to write movie reviews, teach about movies, old movie discussion groups, or even producer/directors of movies. It's also just a good book for lovers of movies in general. My only suggestion for a second edition is that he add a list of other books for those who want to delve deeper into the study of film. He could also focus more on ethnic films, particularly ones that don't get the attention they deserve in mainstream in media.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: This book could very easily have been a dry, scholarly Film Appreciation 101 text. Fortunately, it's entertaining and written in a breezy style. Another good point is the use of popular contemporary films as examples. Yes, Orson Welles and Akira Kurosawa are mentioned throughout, but so are The Fugitive and Enemy of the State. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: This book could very easily have been a dry, scholarly Film Appreciation 101 text. Fortunately, it's entertaining and written in a breezy style. Another good point is the use of popular contemporary films as examples. Yes, Orson Welles and Akira Kurosawa are mentioned throughout, but so are The Fugitive and Enemy of the State. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Film Go'ers Handbook!
Review: This is a fine film text, It shows the average film goer how to better to understand the sublety of story-telling that is employed in the medium of film, with engaging and easy to understand examples. that allowed me, the average film goer to better enjoy my film going experience. I highly reccomend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: The Worst Book I Ever Read
Review: WHAT A STUPID BOOK - WHAT A STUPID AUTHOR - This book goes beyond boring and straight into lame. The opinions expressed on film theory are so basic that it must have been written by a four year old with down syndrome. IF YOU BUY THIS BOOK YOU'LL REGRET IT!!!!
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