Decently prepared film history book with enough information to make it interesting but it tends to wander a little bit too much in the middle instead of staying with the intended structure.

This book, written by Noah and James Charney, is a distilled film school. A guide to film-making illustrated through particular films. They drill down into different genres, their tropes and the techniques the developed that make them interesting and into the modern era a useful chapter on special effects and what different parts of the CGI process are, e.g. compositing.

Their choices of films are usually excellent, although I judge harshly anyone who think the remake of 'The Italian Job' is either a good film or one superior to the original. That was the only moment in the book when I was made to question their opinions on EVERYTHING.

As the title suggests this isn't a film studies course that goes into granular detail on all aspects of the film making process. It is more a 'this is what a Western is, if you want to see some good examples here are three we're going to talk about in detail.'

The also deal, briefly, with a little bugbear of mine whether British films counts as Art House to Americans or not. A lot of the films that people talk about as British blockbusters in recent years, like Harry Potter, seem to me to be American financed films made in Britain but with British casts. But the nuts and bolts of the British film industry makes small scale 'art house' films. That occasionally go gangbusters at the box office.

I found it useful in providing me with language and concepts to analyse film that I might have heard mention or seen but which I haven't had a clear understanding of until now. And I really, really want to read a good book on Expressionism. They explain things in clear and simple language too - which is harder to do than you think.

And, worst comes to the worst, this gives you an excellent list of films to watch and enjoy. Recommended if learning more about film and film-making is your bag.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable yet informative read for film buffs and anyone looking to broaden their film knowledge. In contrast to other books in the same field, the two authors write in an easy-to-read style.

It is divided into 12 chapters that correspond to different periods in film history and genres. Chapters describing the origins of film were especially interesting, from the forefathers and directors who pioneered the early days of film, such as Muybridge and Eastman, to early actors like Chaplin and Keaton.

The writers cover a wide range of films, from Mel Brooks spoofs to Truffaut arthouse films, and each is highlighted for its own special qualities. What's noteworthy is that they never come across as judgmental in their choice of films. It's likely that your favourite movie will be mentioned, regardless of your preferences.

The 12-hour Film Expert is full of interesting facts and film techniques, but it's also a useful guide that explains what to look for when watching films Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys films. Perfect for reading from cover to cover or dipping in when needed.

What a delightful and informative read! I am a huge film lover and thought I knew all I need to know about films - I was mistaken -- this book is great for everyone - from novices to experts! What really impressed me about this book is how the authors were able to distill down so much information about film in such a concise way. This book is incredibly comprehensive -- covers everything from the discovery of moving pictures, silent movies, classic Hollywood, and then have chapters on 9 different genres of film, centering on 3 films in each. The final genre is on International Art house which again I was amazed, effectively teased out the differences between "Hollywood Films" and "Art House Cinema" with a very helpful list of what differentiates these. Reading this book not only has compelled me to watch films they mentioned that I have not yet seen but also re-watch those I have (with additional insights gained from this book). Another thing I really liked is throughout the book, the authors explain different terms (helpfully in bold) - such as "Lewton bus," "Chechov's Gun" 'Macguffin device," CGI terms as well as a list at the back of key behind-the-scenes roles (gaffers, best boys, grips, etc.) There is also a playlist of additional movies sorted by genre and recommended additional reading. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Rowman & Littlefield for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

so good! I loved how this spoke about actual films instead of just the history. I do kind of wish it covered more genres, such as coming of age and drama (think cmbyn, ladybird, etc), but other than that, this was great

This book is a little too dense as a whole read but would be very useful in my film classes if broken down into excerpts and topical chunks. The author was extremely knowledgeable but the book stays at a technical level and never feels like achieves any story telling and personality.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Rowman & Littlefield Publisher for an advanced copy of this guide to watching and enjoing movies both as art and as entertainment, with many suggestions to view and enjoy.

My first movie experience was seeing Walt Disney's Robin Hood in a small theater in the Bronx. My mom and I got there early and we had to line up outside the doors while the movie was still playing to wait to get in. Occasionally the doors would open and I could see a castle. Later a snake, after that a fox. With loud music and sounds. I was hooked just from what I saw outside the theater and a long love affair began one with a few breaks and for a while a long separation. My DVD and VHS collection and laser discs for that matter are awkwardly big, as are my watch lists on Kanopy, MAX and others. And I have always read about movies, even when not watching them, from magazines to film booklets, and more. This is the kind of book I would have loved years ago, and I am glad to be reading now. The 12-Hour Film Expert: Everything You Need to Know about Movies by Noah Charney, James Charney is a guide with what to watch, how to watch, and the tricks of the trade that keep people watching, along with a history of films, and some of the important people who played a role in film history.

The book starts with the authors, son and father, discussing how they became interested in films and how they started watching. The book than goes into a history of the moving picture, how it came about, with names like Edison, Georges Méliès, and others. Readers follow the growth of films from shorts, to longer movies, from silent to talkies, along with the advent of technology, and ideas of how to make a scene that are still used today. Once sound is introduced the book breaks into genres film noir, musicals, science fiction and more. Films are recommended to be of importance, key directors, actors and changes in the studio system, and film distribution is looked at and discussed. And as always lots of movies.

The title comes from the idea that the book should take about 12 hours to read and at the end one should have a better appreciation for films. As an uncle who has a hard time getting nephews to watch movies, I can understand how hard it is for people to appreciate older movies. Once my nephews see a black and white film they are over it. This is a good introduction to film as it covers quite alot, from the people behind the camera, the terminology, and what appears on the screen. The writing style is very good, never bogging down on technique, or getting lost in the ideas of so many film movements, but explaining ideas clearly and moving on. Film choices will always cause in argument, but the films suggested really do serve as prime examples of their genre.

Recommended for beginners in film who want to know more, and for film lovers who can't get enough information about movies. A good collection of history and information, and a lot of fun to boot.