David Bordwell on studying cinema

Much of what Professor David Bordwell argues here is relevant for understanding the reasons for undertaking a course in film studies.

http://www.davidbordwell.net/essays/studying.php

There are several essays and articles on Bordwell's site and they are well worth reading to develop one's ability to analyse films. Here's one on film technique: The Hook: Scene Transitions in Classical Cinema. Bordwell's use of film images to support his points should also be seen as the model to follow when writing essays.
http://www.davidbordwell.net/essays/hook.php

Objective film criticism: an impossible task? by Ronald Bergan

If you liked the previous article - and it caused some debate - how about this one? I know from taking my students to see a films that had talks by critics that they've gradually become intrigued by critics and their place in the cinema.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/07/ronald_bergan_blog.html

For related film articles written by Ronald Bergan that are must-reads for various modules in AS and A2 Film Studies follow this link:

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/film/authors/ronald_bergan/index.html