Why or why did I find the second book first? The story of my life. Now I have to backtrack and read Book one too. The book is a collection of essays by Ebert discussing some of the greatest movies of all time.

This is not a second tier ranking after the films discussed in book one. It is simply a compilation of essays from Ebert based on his watching and re-watching of many of these films as well as reviews by he alone and those he worked on with Gene Siskel.

One thing I love about Ebert is the emotion he writes with when discussing these films. His true love for the medium as well as his deep knowledge of all things film, comes across in his writing.
The movies cross eras, genre’s and nationalities. From France to China, from Japan to Italy, from the United States and Kingdom’s to Russia, Ebert covers so many films that you are inspired yourself to seek out some of the more difficult to find titles.

Streaming has opened film buffs to a bevy of opportunities to see films that would have been restricted to their home countries or only available to true film buffs in obscure, hard to find places. Netflix, Hulu and others have opened doors not just to great movies but also great directors and character and leading actors who have not worked in the United States.

Roger Ebert’s untimely death was a huge loss for all of us. His love and warmth regarding films just pours out onto the page and you as a reader fall in love with film as you read. It is like having Ebert beside you bringing detail and ideas to your attention as you both eat popcorn with a tall coke and get lost in celluloid. ( )

2011, Jan.: #5
Another leftover from last year and another 100 essays on 100 'Great Movies.' It's hard to rate a book like this. There's never anything wrong with the essays, they serve their function, they teach me a great deal 98% of the time,* open my mind to new directors and interpretations and movies, but it's impossible to rate this above an 80 simply because of what it is. Anyway, I'd always be quick to recommend Ebert's Great Movies series of essays (available free on his website). There's not much bad can be said about Ebert. He's incredibly humble and honest--particularly with himself--and those are qualities all too rare these days.

For those interested, reading Ebert's thoughtful essays is a wonderful introduction to film. Also check out his online journal.

80%
[117]

*(Like with the first collection, there may be an essay or two that don't really expand beyond your basic plot summation.) ( )