Rating: 
Summary: A great collection of great movies
Review: About a year ago, Roger Ebert sent me an autographed copy of his "Great Movies" book. I had sent him an e-mail and explained that I was an Internet critic, and that I had a real interest in film, and his response was very kind and supportive.After reading the book, I think it is a "must-read" for anyone interested in films. Why? Because even if you don't LIKE the movies (I'm sure Ebert doesn't love all of them), these are *the* essential films for film critics, lovers, enthusiasts; whatever. If you really have a serious interest in movies, these are 100 movies that are extremely popular, milestone motion pictures. Ebert later told me that he does not like The Godfather Part II as much as The Godfather. That is probably one of the only movies I'd add to the list, and I couldn't believe he didn't like it very much. But other than perhaps one missing title, the book is great. And if you look online, you can find a bigger list at suntimes.com/ebert--and my favorite comedy of all time, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," is on there, which means the list can't be very bad at all! The Great Movies II is coming out soon, and I'll be first in line to buy it!
Rating:
Summary: A great collection of great movies
Review: About a year ago, Roger Ebert sent me an autographed copy of his "Great Movies" book. I had sent him an e-mail and explained that I was an Internet critic, and that I had a real interest in film, and his response was very kind and supportive. After reading the book, I think it is a "must-read" for anyone interested in films. Why? Because even if you don't LIKE the movies (I'm sure Ebert doesn't love all of them), these are *the* essential films for film critics, lovers, enthusiasts; whatever. If you really have a serious interest in movies, these are 100 movies that are extremely popular, milestone motion pictures. Ebert later told me that he does not like The Godfather as much as The Godfather Part II. That is probably one of the only movies I'd add to the list, and I couldn't believe he didn't like it very much. But other than perhaps one missing title, the book is great. And if you look online, you can find a bigger list at suntimes.com/ebert--and my favorite comedy of all time, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," is on there, which means the list can't be very bad at all!
Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful undertaking
Review: Although his choices are generally predictable and non-controversial (and maybe that's part of the point), one can't fault Ebert's worthy attempt to briing some attention to the great films of the past that are so often unseen by today's audiences. Ebert's love of film is wonderfully apparent and contagious. This is a great guide for anyone who is starting out as a "film buff" but probably contains no surprises for old-time film enthusiasts.
Rating:
Summary: See the films
Review: An excellent summary of some of the top films ever made, Eberts top 100 films contains lots of accessible, and some difficult films. Obviously many of these films hold special memories for Ebert, as he tells in the essays about when he first saw a particular film, or how it affected him. Sometimes derided for being the 'thumbs up' TV movie reviewer, Ebert shows in this book that he is not only a capable, well informed critic, but also an excellent writer. The man knows his movies. Browsing through this book, I have found many films that I have seen over the years, and during the past several months, have picked up new old films that I probably never would have watched. From Ozu's "Floating Weeds" to Satyajit Ray's "Apu Trilogy" Ebert has encouraged me to go further. Check out his Top 100 on the Chicago Sun Times website for more suggestions. This is a good introduction to the world's best films and directors, and is accessible to mainstream readers. I've thoroughly enjoyed it so far.
Rating:
Summary: Nice Intro to 100 Great Movies -- Something New for All
Review: Any sort of list of "great" movies (or anything else for that matter) is surely going to raise questions of what is included or what is excluded. This is an excellent book, and my guess is that most readers who like movies (and not just what has played in the past five years or so) are going to find many of their favorites here, along with some movies that they have never seen or perhaps even heard of. Ebert is an excellent writer, and with a 3-4 page discussion for each movie, he concisely sketches the plot of each film and really tries to identify what makes the movie worth watching -- the script, the performances, the look of the film, etc. His chapters (really short essays about individual films) are much more than "book reports" and really bring out what there is to love about these films. For me, reading this book was like getting reaquainted with some old friends and getting to know some new ones. This is a nice book that can be happily dipped into many times -- the only complaint about the book is that it is too short, both in terms of the length of writeups and the number of films it covers. I suspect Ebert could write another book to describe what is worthwhile about 100 other films (great of near great)-- Let's hope he does!
Rating:
Summary: What makes a movie great?
Review: As I was reading some of Roger Ebert's essays in this book, a thought occurred to me: All the movies in this book could have been failures for one reason or another. "Apocalypse Now" was very costly and troubled and could have been easily ruined. "2001" might have been too different for audiences to handle. "Psycho" might have been too much for them to stomach. And some of these movies in the book were not as renowned upon their original release and seemed doomed for obscurity. And so on. Yet, after years of research and analyze by critics, all of these are now acclaimed films. The reason is not due to a memorable scene or a witty catchphrase (Which all the above-mentioned films have). It is because of the passion involved in making them. Many of the people working on these movies became so involved in them that they would die just to finish the film, and would drive others mad in the process. Many of them were also willing to try something new or not give in to peer pressure or criticism. And some, like the late Billy Wilder, said they only made films that they wanted to see. The involvement in the film extends beyond the director and into the actors. The actors have fun with their roles, trying out new techniques and becoming so involved with the character that they become him. Let's take for example a catchphrase, such as "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse". The line has entered largely into our lives so much that we take it for granted. Yet I am still moved whenever I hear it said by Marlon Brando. Yet, had it not been for the correct timing, tone of voice, rate of speech and pronunciation (All due to acting and direction), it could have been easily wasted. Ebert never really states this in his book, but he seems to be making that point across just by glancing at any review. He shows that same involvement in his writing. Some critics when they write reviews only outline the film's plot and say things like "Good acting" or "Great music" and that's it. Many also have that star rating system. Ebert does away with that ridiculous system, thus leaving the films open to balanced reviews, and tells about more than the events. In some of his reviews, he points out about a certain method an actor is using on screen or about how this scene is lit or filmed or what the director is doing to us in here or how sound and music are used. It may seem like overkill, but it sure shows that he was really paying attention. The Great Movies does have two problems though, both of which have ups and downs. 1. Naturally, one would have disagreement with the selections. Ebert not only makes predictable and defined choices (Citizen Kane, Casablanca, The Godfather) but also unexpected ones (Gates of Heaven, Night of the Hunter, My Life to Live). I must also say that I hadn't heard of many of these movies before getting this book. However, this also shows how more balanced the list is than say the AFI's Top 100 (Though I would have included films like "Touch of Evil" or "King Kong"). As explained above, the fact Ebert writes with enthusiasm would make people want to see them more. 2. The reviews are very well written and accessible to the public and are arguably the best of Ebert's career. But they are not brand new. In fact, they can be obtained free off the Internet at the Ebert Page of the Chicago Time website, along with dozens of other reviews for the "Great Movies" series. Many of them have been available in this capacity for years. Certainly, Ebert could have written at least some reviews exclusive to the book to compensate for this. However, one must admit that it's easier to bring a book to the video store to look for movies than to haul your computer or laptop. Ebert also somewhat makes up for this by having a film still from each movie in his essays. There are also two introductions: One by Mr. Ebert and the other by Mary Corliss (Operator of the Film Stills Archive of the Department of Film and Media at the Museum of Modern Art in New York). Overall, with its wide variety of film genres, balance of contemporary and vintage films and the well written and easy to read reviews, this is a very good book. ...
Rating:
Summary: Informed Essays
Review: Ebert delivers some of his finest writing, enthused by his obvious love for the subject. As Andrew Wyeth said of Charles Schulz's Peanuts, Ebert's Pulitzer Prize-winning style is "deceptively simple yet impossible to reproduce." There is little doubt that Ebert's depth and breadth of film knowledge - it's grammar, history and social relevance - has placed him as one of the world's leading experts on the medium. He offers this rich tapestry of experience in a writing style that is insightful and admirably concise. Ebert defines the films in the book as important; then with simple eloquence details how he arrived at his conclusions. Readers will recognize beloved films and revel in Ebert's discussion; other films may cause thoughtful disagreement with the author's view. Throughout the book, Ebert's expertise and love of film is apparent and penned with forthright enthusiasm. Any film fan will find pleasure in reading the informed opinion of one of the most eloquent film writer's in America today. David R. Bannon, Ph.D.; author "Race Against Evil."
Rating:
Summary: Accessible and smart
Review: Ebert's "The Great Movies" does not purport to be a look at the 100 best movies ever, just 100 the author thinks are really great. And it works. Compiling revised versions of essays he has written since 1997, Ebert shines the spotlight on some deserving classics, and informs the reader of some little known gems. His enthusiasm is clear throughout, and his selections run the gamut from well-known, mainstream flicks to art pieces to silent films. Most anybody but the most ardent of film fans will find something new to discover here, while also being afforded an opportunity to be reminded of classics we haven't seen in a while. (I bought Taxi Driver the day after reading this, remembering what a great film it was) A wonderful thing about Ebert's book is that you don't have to be a student of film to enjoy this. I am NOT a student of film, just somebody who has recently developed an increasing love for the artform, and I found this book to be a great introduction to some movies I had heard of but knew little about (and quite a few I had never heard of at all). Smart and informed without ever sounding lofty, accessible and direct without ever talking down to the reader, this book was a joy to read. No doubt casual film fans and students of the art alike will enjoy this. At worst, some will quibble with some of Ebert's choices. But has any such list ever been compiled without a question of "he chose THIS over THAT?" By and large, his selections are solid. Let's hope for a Volume 2.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for film lovers
Review: First, I must admit that I'm not always Ebert's biggest fan. He tends to review films with an overly favorable eye. His year-end summary books always get me arguing with his points-of-view. Therefore, I was completely surprised when, after receiving this book as a gift, I fell completely in love with this book. This book shows an author completely in love with the movies. Here's a man who just wants so badly to share his favorites with his readers. The reviews are beautifully written and completely engaging. Instead of arguing about his point-of-view, I was again reminded of what a great writer Ebert is. While this book is written so that it can be picked and put back down as a reference, I found myself tearing through it in one sitting. I've referred back to it countless times. This goes up on the shelf with Pauline Kael's works.
Rating:
Summary: An American legend and his best essays to date.....
Review: For once -- a collection of true film essays rather than "star reviews" or valueless blurbs. Ebert is, for my money, the best essayist inthe country, largely because he combines wit, intellect, and a clear understanding of film history. His imagination, especially in these essays, goes back into the past to discover, or rather, re-discover, the films that influenced our culture, current cinema, or even just Roger himself. These are great films -- musts for all buffs -- and they provide a starting point for debates about the greatest of all-time. As he no doubt intends, these films are not THE best, but rather a source of stimulation; a beginning of debate, which is all lists should do anyway. My only complaint, however, has nothing to do with the writing or selection of films, but rather has everything to do with the necessity of buying this book. After all, all of these essays are available on his website, free of charge. While I would love to keep Mr. Ebert in comfort buy purchasing this manual, it simply doesn't make sense. I would have preferred that he write at least several (a dozen, perhaps?) new essays that are exclusive to this book.
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