Review by Booklist Review
The visual nature of comic strips proves to be the ideal format for examining that other visual-storytelling medium, cinema. Scottish cartoonist Ross self-published comic books explaining film theory and history that he sold at an Edinburgh arthouse, and he's expanded them into this book-length treatise. Ross uses an engaging cartoon version of himself to guide readers through myriad concepts and techniques, much in the fashion of Scott McCloud's self-drawn doppelgänger in Understanding Comics (1993). Hand-drawn images from movies both familiar and obscure illustrate the topics under discussion, which range from the origins of cinema, sets and architecture, and exploring time through editing to film as language, subjectivity, and the male gaze. Ross uses simple, unbusy line drawings, all the better to clearly convey his complex ideas. His illustrated lecture involves some fairly heady aspects of film theory, derived from the cited works of dozens of scholars and historians. But it all goes down easily and enjoyably, thanks to Ross' adroit use of the comics medium.--Flagg, Gordon Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Writer/artist Ross uses a drawing style and approach similar to that of Scott McCloud in the 1993 classic Understanding Comics to produce this illustrated crash course in cinema history and technique. Pertinent scenes and dialog from a wide range of movies are reproduced alongside Ross's concise prose, which digests and clarifies academic film theory. Just as McCloud in his work, Ross lightheartedly inserts himself into the proceedings as guide and narrator. Discussions of politics in film and criticism vs. reviewing are absent, analysis skews toward contemporary and fanboy movie favorites, and scholars and snobs may carp about the depth and breadth of its bibliography, but Filmish is illuminating, accessible, and hugely enjoyable. Verdict Highly recommended to anyone interested in cinema (and who isn't?); it's informed enough to be an introductory film studies textbook. Some disturbing images but suitable for most readers.-J. Osicki, Saint John Free P.L., NB © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 10 Up-Part film studies course and part cineast montage, Ross's title describes the power of cinema through unpacking tropes and exploring how movies reinforce and reveal cultural ideals and fixations like objectification, body horror, and technophobia. Casual readers will be drawn into Ross's thoughts on subtext and the structure of entertainment through his re-creations of iconic cinematic moments. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
