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Seeing Cinema in a New Light / essays by Ian C. Bloom


I l l u m i n e d   I l l u s i o n s  is best viewed with Internet Explorer.  

 

 

 


This is a site of film criticism.  Some essays constitute in-depth analyses, while others better fit the parameters of a review. 

No attempt is made to hold back crucial plot points.  Just remember that we only have one chance to see a movie for the first time.


 

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)

 ALADDIN (1992)

AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
AMITYVILLVE HORROR, THE (1979)
 AVIATOR, THE (2004)
 BATMAN BEGINS (2005)
 BEN-HUR: A TALE OF THE CHRIST (1959)
 BEVERLY HILLS COP (1984)
 BOB ROBERTS (1992)
 BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
 CASINO ROYALE (2006)
 CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (2002)
 CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (1958)
 CHARIOTS OF FIRE (1981)
 CITIZEN KANE (1941)
CONVERSATION, THE (1974)
DARK KNIGHT, THE (2008)
 DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1989)
 DECLINING MONROE
 DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971)
DOWNFALL (2004)
 EDGE, THE (1997)
 ENDLESS SUMMER, THE (1966)
 E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
FANTASIA (1940)
 FARGO (1996)
 FATHER OF THE BRIDE (1991)
THE FECKLESS FAITH OF INDIANA JONES
FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF (1986)
GODFATHER, THE (1972)
 GODFATHER PART II, THE (1974)
 GODS AND GENERALS (2003)
 GOODBYE GIRL, THE (1977)
 GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY, THE (1967)
 GRADUATE, THE (1967)
 GRAN TORINO (2008)
 GREASE (1978)
 HEARTS OF DARKNESS (1991)
  HE'S GOT YOUR BACK, TO THE FUTURE
 HOME ALONE (1990)
 HOOSIERS (1986)
 HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, THE (1990)
 IN THE BEDROOM (2001)
 IN THE LINE OF FIRE (1993)
 IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
 JAWS (1975)
 JFK (1991)
 KNIFE IN THE WATER (1962)
 LADY FROM SHANGHAI, THE (1947)
 LADY VANISHES, THE (1938)
LAKEVIEW TERRACE (2008)
 LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (2006)
 MANHATTAN (1979)
 MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, A (1999)

 MOONSTRUCK (1987)

MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING (1997)

 NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)

 OCEAN'S ELEVEN (2001)

 ODD COUPLE, THE (1968)

 ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)

OUTSIDERS, THE (1983)

 PATRIOT GAMES (1992)

PATTON (1969)

PEE WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE (1985)

 PHILADELPHIA STORY, THE (1940)

PRESUMED INNOCENT (1990)

 PSYCHO (1960)

THE ROCKY STORY

RUSSIA HOUSE, THE (1990)
SAYONARA (1957)
SECRET OF NIMH, THE (1982)
SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1943)
THE SHIFTING SANDS OF STAR WARS 
 SIGNS IS FOR THE BIRDS
 SILVERADO (1985)
 SINCE YOU WENT AWAY (1944)
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
 SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS (1999)
SOUND OF MUSIC, THE (1965)
SPACE CAMP (1986)
SPARTACUS (1960)
STAR TREK (2009)
SUNRISE (1927)
SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
SUPERMAN REDUX
TAKEN (2009)
THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, THE (1968)
THUNDERBALL (1965) 
TOOTSIE (1982)
TORA! TORA! TORA! (1970)
TOWERING INFERNO, THE (1974)
 VERTIGO (1958)
WHAT ABOUT BOB? (1991)
 WHEN HARRY MET SALLY... (1989)