Name: Iestyn Lloyd's review of Filmish: A Graphic Journey Through Film by Edward Ross
Item: Filmish: A Graphic Journey Through Film
Rating: 4
Author: Iestyn Lloyd

Edward Ross

Edinburgh-based cartoonist Edward Ross uses comics to illuminate the ideas behind our favourite films. In Filmish, Ross's cartoon alter-ego guides readers through the annals of cinematic history, introducing us to some of the strange and fascinating concepts at work in the movies. Each chapter focuses on a particular theme - the body, architecture, language - and explores an eclectic mix of cinematic triumphs, from A Trip to the Moon to Aliens. Sitting within the tradition of bestselling non-fiction graphic novels like Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics and the Introducing... series, Filmish tackles serious issues - sexuality, race, censorship, propaganda - with authority and wit, throwing new light on some of the greatest films ever made.

Filmish: A Graphic Journey Through Film

Iestyn Lloyd

Maggie Gordon

Star rating: 2.5

Filmish is an introductory text on film studies, so if you want a very broad, but shallow overview, this book will probably fill your needs. However, despite not being much of a film studies buff, I found myself bored by Ross' explanation of the field. Since he is covering so much, he does not have a lot of time to expand on the concepts that he's talking about. Unfortunately, this made it hard for me to really engage with the ideas. 

The art is competent and quite reminiscent of Scott McCloud's comic theories. If you enjoyed that series of technical books, you may like Filmish as well.

Iestyn Lloyd &
Filmish: A Graphic Journey Through Film by Edward Ross

Reviews

Join the club

Iestyn Lloyd &Filmish: A Graphic Journey Through Film by Edward Ross

Reviews

Join the club

Iestyn Lloyd &
Filmish: A Graphic Journey Through Film by Edward Ross