Great book, very informative and easy to understand! Although the condition I got it in wasn't ideal (I had to put a protective cover on it), it came really quickly and useful for any film classes (theory or studio).

This book has revolutionized the way I understand narrative films. I've yet to encounter anything that comes close.

I was very surprised at the detail and explanations that this book contained. I purchased it for my Art of the Cinema class, and I found it very useful in writing the papers and reviews of the movies we had watched. I truly am not a fan of just reading a book, or purchasing a book for a class that I may never end up using, however I was very glad I did in this case. Aside from that, shipping was fine, and transaction went very smoothly with the seller.

I'm a university student studying Jounalism here in Australia, and this book has been an excellent read.

It has help me a great deal with my film studies unit, in which I achieved a High Distinction mark. My phd professor can vouch for this! Thank you to the Editors. Excellent work.

I just bought a new copy of the book directly from Amazon for a class, but it didn't come with the CD. The Amazon description does not mention a CD (however, under the "Editorial Review" heading, the CD is noted as optional, whatever that means), but the book says that it comes with a free CD (page xix). The CD is required for my class so I contacted Amazon today and I'll update this comment after I get their response. The CD is also available for purchase through the publisher website for about $25, but I don't want to pay that if it is supposed to be free with the book. This is the ninth edition of the book, but the eighth edition of the book is also available on Amazon with the CD explicitly in the description.

Update: Amazon replaced the book for free with no hassle, but the second book did not include a CD either. Apparently, Amazon direct does not include the CD, so if you need the CD, don't buy it from them. I'll be getting a refund and I'll be emailing other sellers to see if they sell the book with the CD.

This book does a great job with analyzing modern films and older films and explains all the information a beginner needs to know before studying film. However, the book is a bit short and often summaries a lot of topics.

Needed this book asap, & its in good condition used!!!!

I know that this review will not affect the students that have to purchase the book for a class, so I am instead hoping that professors will read this review and pick a different textbook for their class. As such, I will go in depth to show exactly where are my grievances.

As a senior in college that always reads the textbook, I can honestly say that this book is by far the worse book I have ever purchased. Rather than have you just take my word for it, I will break down exactly what is wrong with this book and then give you examples.

First, the binding of this book is the worst I have ever experienced. I started with a book and, by the end of the semester, I had a ream of worthless paper. Every time I turned the page, it ended up falling out. When I pay for a book, especially a textbook that cost $75, I expect for it to last a lifetime. I know that I will not use this book in my future career, but it should last longer than one read through. Sometime I hadn't even read the pages yet and the ones from farther in the book would fall out. Such a waste of money.

My grievances did not stop here. Occasionally, the text will run off the page and leave the reader wondering what happened to the sentence. Excellent examples from my book are in chapter 4, pages 123, 129 and 131, and chapter 3 page 113. The margins are so off on this page that the writing at the top does not start until an inch down the page and it ends up running off the bottom. This happens a few other times in the book.

Also, the fonts will randomly change in the book. Sometimes, this happens in the middle of a paragraph and will last a few pages. On page 202 it seems like the book randomly starts to become double spaced and then the next page it goes back to normal. There were also a few times in the book where the font would suddenly become a few sizes smaller and then last that way for a few paragraphs or pages. I couldn't find this a second time in different areas, but I showed it to a few people when I read it the first time and even they couldn't believe the lack of revision and double checking. The only example I could find was on page 93 where there is normal font, but the sentence continues on page 94 where the font decreased. On this page, the font randomly changes size but then returns to normal on the following page (number 95).

Now to talk more about this lack of double checking. Many times the paragraphs have not been indented. For example, on pages 100-101, there are three paragraphs that have not been indented. Page 7 has zero indented paragraphs. There are also spelling errors like page 6 "The fi lmakers" This continues throughout the book. This lack of unity actually detracts from the reading of the book.

Finally, the worst part of the book which severely detracts are the spelling errors. The spelling errors create problems with comprehension for the reader. I can literally quote the book and then fail a test because the spelling errors happen for some of the major subjects of the book. For example, on page 236 we learn about the 180 degree system... except the book wrongly calls it "Spatial Continuity: The 18 degree system." If I put 18 degree system on my test, then I will fail. This is a huge concept in the chapter and will undoubtedly be tested but still contains spelling errors. Also on page 58: "Very often people think of 'farm' as the opposite of something called 'content.'" Farm? Oh, you mean form. Yeah, the major concept that you are just now introducing to the students is misspelled. Even the quotes seem odd, like page 231 from Dziga Vertov needs to have its grammar checked. If you quote a foreign speaker, you could at least make sure he uses correct grammar or you could paraphrase him.

All of these spelling errors and continuity problems causes the reader to lose focus. That is the opposite of what a textbook should do. Sometimes, I would end up getting a pen and start marking the spelling errors or grammar problems. I would easily find 20 errors per page and I am not even a English major nor am I a grammar Nazi. I am a Spanish and Zoology major and these errors are readily apparent. These are the reasons why this textbook should not be assigned for any class. Please, for the sake of your future students, pick a book that does not contain problems like this. Sure the content is fine, but the grammar, spelling and style errors detracts from the book to a point where learning is just not possible.

If you are studying film or moving image at university you really need to buy this book- it will be helpful throughout your degree. It is a classic in introducing the study of film form. It's comprehensive, written in clear English (very little confusing jargon),has superb illustrations, and this ninth edition brings it bang up to date. So it is worth the relatively high cost. Check out David Bordwell's blog for more film discussion.

Very good intro book to Film History and Analyse. I needed for my university education. I recommend it very much

I first encountered Film Art on my degree course and found it to be an invaluable source of information. Decades later I wanted to read it again and found the updated version just as useful and engaging. For anyone who loves film, this is a fascinating read, expertly written and full of examples from cinema around the world. The fact that I could pick up a copy second hand so cheaply was excellent - a new copy will set you back over £70.

It was great.

A great one for the knowledge hoarders. Be prepared to have mind blown way open.