Customer Reviews:
 interesting information June 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I just finished the book, it has a lot of interesting information that I haven't seen in other books. it can get a bit boring at a time as it seems to reuse some movies a bit too much..
I have to agree with one of the other readers that the images could have been a bit better..
I had one problem with the book.. It misses the last 4 pages for some reason (it is a brand new copy), maybe even more, but item 99 and 100 are missing from my copy of the book..
 Good written, bad images. July 4, 2007
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
The written content of the book itself is very useful, however, the quality of the stills taken from the films they are describing is terrible.
This is a book about film and yet all of the reference pictures are black and white (even when they are talking about colour) hard to see, bad quality.
The book should be reprinted with better quality photos. No doubt about it.
 A very clear and helpful book April 21, 2006
28 out of 28 found this review helpful
There is a huge amount of information in this book. It is very clearly and logically laid out with sections on, for example, space, framing, editing, locations, wardrobe, music, camera movement, editing, transitions. The key point is how all these elements can be used to support the story, and guide emotional responses.
I had already made two short films when I discovered this book, and it was a revelation to understand the logic behind many of the things I had done intuitively. It has also broadened my awareness of many other elements to consider in the cinematic storytelling process.
One of the great aspects of this comprehensive book is that it can be dipped into at will. There are a hundred different conventions, all illustrated with examples from real films, and often with the screenplay printed alongside. Every time I pick it up I learn something new. I recommend it to all directors who believe that a great story, cinematically told, is the end goal of all our filmmaking efforts.
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