PURPOSES OF THESE PAGES
Films can provide entertainment, an opportunity for intellectual reflection, and a means to understand the depths of the human heart. But it has become harder to find films that provide all of these things. Often, critical praise and box office reports are poor indicators of quality.

These pages were designed with the following purposes in mind: (1) to provide a guide to quality films; and (2) to provide resources for both popular and academic criticism of films. Links to sites supporting other critical perspectives are not necessarily endorsements on my part of the views expressed at these sites; they simply express views I feel deserve more attention.

In addition, I have supplied some comments on films and some alternative groupings of films. The structure of social narratives intrigues me, as does the phenomenology of film and the structure of film. There are many sites dedicated to similar topics and many scholars spend their full time on such topics; these pages may be a useful starting place for further research. Seven Mistakes of Film Criticism is a popular page. I recommend everyone read the excerpt from the Magic Mountain. The entire topic of the relationship between the thematic content of films and globalization is probably still an under-explored area. - A. D. Birch, Ph.D.

THE STRUCTURE OF FILM NARRATIVE
Diagram interface for 15 additional pages that explore the relationships of elements involved in the production and viewing of films. A combination of ideas from Plato and Aristotle, with some common sense about narrative structures. Click on each node to show pages. The interface is a little temperamental, and it can be difficult to get the "little hand" to pop up for each node, but there are 15 pages accessible through the diagram. The diagram is meant to indicate the built-in transcendental nature of film narrative structure as well as the common-sense interrelationships among the various sources of meaning (interpretive contexts) available in contemporary life. In progress.

BEST OF 2008

Like many other recent years in film, not a particularly good year. Use of CGI and inventive scripts calling for this technology continues to expand. Best films using CGI and digital image enhancement techniques will be surreal fantasy (e.g., 300 - the 2006 film recounting the famous last stand of the Spartans).

Slumdog Millionaire - Life as a game show. Explores role of fate (Islamic conception), truthfulness, idealism, and romantic love in a postmodern world. Among the best of 2008 for its innovation and multi-layered approach. Compelling depiction of life in slums contrasts sharply with contemporary world of violence and rampant globalization. Crying out for student papers on postmodern narrative style. Example: Mandatory element in Indian films is the music video segment. In this case, it is placed at the end of the film.

The Dark Knight - Most over-rated film of 2008. Good, in that it addresses the reality of evil. Optional viewing.

Frost/Nixon - Not seen. But student papers should address the extent to which this film is accurate to the actual events. This may well be just another in the series of films that deal with creative history (K-19, The Hurricane, JFK). While some creative history is instructive and beneficial, it can also be negative. Freudian questions: are such "histories" wish fulfillment? The great classic in the genre is probably Tora Tora Tora!

Iron Man - Most under-rated popular film of 2008. Emotionally compelling acting, smart script, and most apt to the age of terrorism. Since Spider Man I, films that explore the relationship between power and responsibility appear on a regular basis. This is one of the best examples of that genre.

Hell Boy II - Like Iron Man, a further, and more mystical, search for values in a world where evil powers can be unleashed. Reassertion of family values, and the themes of love an rebirth confirm the idea that a "conservative bias" is essential to popular culture and to the predilections of script writers (as noted elsewhere in these pages). Also contains the funniest scene of 2008: Hell Boy meets Barry Manilow.

Atonement - Actually a 2007 film, but released late in 2007 in the U.S., so most viewers saw it in 2008. One of the best in recent years. Has a nice example of intrashot montage: soldier cavorts in background riding a Ferris wheel while main action occurs in foreground.

IMAGE PROCESSING IN THE VISUAL ARTS
Image Processing in the Visual Arts - Entering the Imagosphere. Slide show with sound commentary. Note: This is a prototype; the "speech" is more or less spontaneous. There are a few cases where the last item on the slide is not fully explained. I was limited to 60 seconds per slide. The sound starts simultaneously with each slide. Disable popup blockers if you do not hear sound. Feedback welcome for this experimental talk.

HOW TO VIEW A FILM
This section would be longer, but for the fact that it is now virtually impossible to view a film in the United States, since most theaters are populated with people who are CONSTANTLY TALKING. The only solution I know is to try to go when no one else does. Try the last show on Sunday.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT? DO YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS SITE?
Feel free to contact me if you have a comment or question regarding any material on this site. I welcome your suggestions for additional links.