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Understanding Movies

The Art and History of Film

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Understanding Movies

By: Professor Raphael Shargel
Narrated by: Professor Raphael Shargel
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About this listen

Why does the cinema have the power to move the heart, stimulate the mind, and dazzle the imagination? How did the art of film develop from its origins to the present day?

This course covers the history and aesthetics of the movies. It traces the experiments and innovations that gave rise to the modern cinema, developing a vocabulary that helps explain the variety of choices filmmakers make when they construct shots and edit them together.

In each lecture, Professor Raphael Shargel introduces a period of film history, talks about its importance, covers aspects of cinematic technique, and illustrates his points by analyzing specific movies from the era under discussion. The course thus has both breadth and depth, covering the major movements in film history while at the same time focusing on key pictures worthy of study and enjoyment.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2008 Raphael Shargel (P)2008 Recorded Books,LLC
Art Education Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV Higher & Continuing Education Film History
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Recommended for its energy and enthusiasm - this is an enthralling gallop through the history of cinema.

The focus is on Prof. Shargel's taste for the Art within film-making so it is personal and subjective. His contempt for vacuous Hollywood action movies is evident! But his exploration is never showy or high-minded, grounded as it is, in the speakers humility, his authentic love of film and its power to touch the human soul. The theme of each illuminating lecture (14 in all) is well chosen and leads naturally into the next.

One minor complaint; Shargel seems to suffer from an excess of saliva production - his delivery is peppered with squelchy gulps which slightly grossed me out! Once over this however, I was riveted for the duration - even by areas which I feared may be dull.

Left me feeling inspired to re-watch some classics and seek out some hitherto unknown films. Great stuff.

Pace, Passion... and Gulping

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What did you like about this audiobook?

Interesting and catching attention interpretation of films. Listening to the lectures has changed they way I will look and think about films. I bought few audiobooks about films and this is definitely the best one, comes with access to on-line resources which is a bonus.

Does the author present information in a way that is interesting and insightful, and if so, how does he achieve this?

Mr Shargel is very passionate and convincing about films and that makes listening even more interesting (not like some emotionless narrators), great knowledge!

What did you find wrong about the narrator's performance?

The performance could be improved a bit .. but content is worth listening despite some faults in performance..

Do you have any additional comments?

Very much recommended for film students and anyone interested in films - you will look at films in a new way after listening to these lectures..

Very interesting.. highly recomended..

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Great variety of films discussed, interesting insights and questions posed to the listener. Would happily listen all over again!

So interesting, I learned so much!

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Tip: watch all the movies mentioned before starting this course.
I am a person who loves watching movies, but knows little about the history of film. I was greatly confused by this course and although I did learn new things, I felt that I don't have sufficient knowledge to get the most of it.

Course not for begginers

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This is an excellent series of lectures about the history of movie making. It covers the silent to contemporary periods with acknowledgement of key movies and directors.There is a website address to for follow up. Thoroughly recommend.

Understanding Movies

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