Film As Film: Understanding and Judging Movies by V F Perkins

Description

“Film as Film: Understanding and Judging Movies” is a book written by V. F. Perkins, a British film theorist and critic. First published in 1972, the book has been influential in the field of film studies. V. F. Perkins was a key figure in the British film journal Movie and contributed significantly to the development of film criticism.

In “Film as Film,” Perkins offers a thoughtful and insightful examination of cinema as an art form. The book explores the formal elements of film, such as cinematography, editing, sound, and narrative structure, emphasizing the importance of understanding and analyzing these elements to appreciate and judge movies.

Perkins encourages readers to approach films with a critical and discerning eye, moving beyond mere entertainment to engage with the artistic and expressive qualities of the medium. The book provides a foundation for thinking about film in terms of its unique language and artistic possibilities, and it advocates for a more rigorous and disciplined approach to film criticism.

The title itself, “Film as Film,” suggests an emphasis on understanding cinema as a distinct art form with its own set of rules and conventions. Perkins’ work has been influential in shaping the way scholars and enthusiasts think about and analyze movies, and “Film as Film” remains a significant contribution to the study of film aesthetics and criticism.