Includes bibliographical references and index

Film, cinema, or movie: Understanding the medium -- Graphics and sound -- Film, space and image -- Film genres -- Film subtext -- Film director -- Film and literature -- Film as film -- Film criticism: Theory and practice -- Appendices: Films discussed and directors; Art vs. violence in a Clockwork Orange; Basic film library

Exploring both the humanistic and analytical aspects of film evaluation and criticism, [the book] encourages students to develop a critical awareness of film as art, as literature, and as everyday life. This highly readable and jargon-free classic illustrates the most recent film techniques and includes examples from films students are likely to have seen on television or video. This edition has been updated with examples from recent films such as Shine, Thelma and Louise, Natural Born Killers, and the Age of Innocence, as well as examples of film adaptation for film and literature classes, such as Sabrina and Clueless.-Back cover