Recommended Resources for Film Criticism
1) WEBSITES
There are
hundreds of film review sites on the Web. The ones listed below are
well-established, rich in content, and regularly updated. Researchers are
encouraged to verify and supplement any information found on the Internet with
library databases and reliable print sources.
Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
Created in 1990, the IMDb website consists of the largest known single accumulation of data on individual films, television programs, direct-to-video product and videogames. Here, you can find detailed information about films. This information includes complete cast and crew listings, genre classifications, run times, synopsis, MPAA ratings and similar attributes, presented in a well organized manner . Over the past 10 years imdb has become the universally accepted source for film related information . As of mid 2006, the website contained articles about nearly half a million titles.
Perhaps the most usable feature of imdb is its rating of movies. the IMDb offers a rating scale which allows users to rate films by choosing one of ten categories in the range 1-10, with each user able to submit one rating. Popular films are have been rated by thousands of users. The average rating of a film listed on imdb has become the de rigueur standard to guage the quality of productions.
Established in 1991, All Movie Guide is a commercial database of information about movie stars, movies and television shows. The All Movie Guide database is rich and comprehensive, including basic product information, cast and production credits, plot synopsis, professional reviews, biographies, relational links, and more.
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of movies and video games. The website created a distinctive means to summarize the general critical opinions about these works. The Rotten Tomatoes staff search the Internet for as many websites as possible that contain reviews of particular films and games; from the amateur to the professional. Once found, the staff uses the aggregate data to determine if the review is positive or negative.
Founded in 1993, the Movie Review Query Engine claims to be the largest online database for movie reviews Provides links Over 564,000 articles on more than 64,000 titles. Newspaper and journal film reviews may be searched. Enter a keyword or use the pre-compiled lists of titles in various film categories.
This site seeks "to both
provide access to and summarize the vast amount of entertainment criticism
available online" for film, video, music, books and games. It is particularly
useful for locating film reviews in major American newspapers and magazines. The
website concentrates on new releases only.
Since its creation in 2001, Wikipedia has rapidly grown into the largest reference website on the Internet. articles about more than 13000 titles. Wikipedia contains very detailed articles about films. These articles provide hyperlinks to other articles about these films.
Established in 1996, filmsite contains nearly 300 in-depth reviews of what its creator, Tim Dirks, judges to be the "greatest films" of all time. In many cases, the review is scene-by-scene. The article on Lawrence of Arabia (1962), alone, contains nearly 11,500 words. A unique resource for the newcomer to cinema studies. A myriad of articles on all things pertaining to film: biographies, results of polls, articles about film critique, to name a few. A comprehensive decade-by-decade history of cinema from the 1910s to the present day is another highlight of filmsite.
2) FILM GUIDES
Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide
Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide has been published annually since 1969. 'The Guide' has become an indispensable tool for film fans. His ‘Movie & Video Guide 2000’ is incredibly extensive, offering summaries and ratings of nearly 20,000 movies. Alphabetized by title, each of its entries lists year of release, running time, director, principal cast, and availability on video. Other guides may offer even more information, but Maltin's is distinguished by the quality of its reviews. Rating films on a scale from "****" to "BOMB," it offers a comprehensive introduction to the American and international cinema and covers the classics with the respect they deserve.
Halliwell's Film, Video and DVD Guide
With over one hundred years of entertainment and cinema information at your fingertips, this is widely recognized as the biggest and the best film guide available. Since 1977, it is the undisputed bible for film enthusiasts and trivia buffs everywhere - a must-have for every moviegoer. is packed full with cast and credit information and pithy comment on the classics of the silver screen, the latest blockbusters, and everything in between. The 2005 edition delivers all the cast and crew credits, fun trivia and behind-the-scenes information you need on over 23,000 movies including hundreds of new ones. This perennially entertaining, comprehensive and indispensable guide also includes plot synopses and evaluations, video cassette, laser disc and DVD availability.
3) FILM JOURNALS
Published since 1932, Sight & Sound is a British monthly film magazine published by the British Film Institute. Sight & Sound has a more highbrow reputation than other film magazines. It claims that it reviews all film releases each month, including those with a narrow art house release, as opposed to the more mainstream focus of its competitors. In-depth interviews with leading directors are another feature. Retrospective articles vividly bringing film history to life can also be found.
Established in 1945, Film Quarterly is a film journal published by the University of California Press, in Berkeley, California. Film Quarterly features insightful interviews with important film- and video-makers, writers, producers, and cinematographers. Rigorous reviews and articles on independent, international, experimental, avant-garde, and documentary films are also included. Another highlight is a unique, comprehensive survey covering major film books published each year.
4) COLLECTIONS OF REVIEWS
These sources contain collections of reviews that were written for major publications.
Magill, Frank N. Magill's Survey of Cinema: English Films, First Series. 4 volumes. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Salem Press, 1980.
The sets comprising Magill's Survey of Cinema contain lengthy, signed reviews by film scholars. These revies discussion production, direction, screenwriting, acting cinematography, and editing, as well as plot. Arranged alphabetically by title, there are also numerous indexes at the end of the fourth volume. Magill, Frank N. Magill's Survey of Cinema: English Language Films, Second Series. 6 volumes. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Salem Press, 1981.
Magill, Frank N. Magill's Survey of Cinema: Foreign Films. 7
volumes.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Salem Press, 1985.
The Motion Picture Guide. Chicago: Cinebooks, 1985-88.
12 volumes, plus 3 annual volumes (1986-1988). The first twelve volumes were published in 1985, then the publication continued as an annual. The first nine volumes cover all sound films released between 1927-1983. Volume 10 covers silent films, and volumes 11 and 12 are indexes. Arranged alphabetically by title, with numerous indexes.