The Guinness Book of Film:The Ultimate Guide to the Best Films Ever - Hardcover

Uniquely structured in chronological order and beginning in 1927 with the first "talkie" (The Jazz Singer) the book journeys through each year of cinema to the end of 1998 and The Truman Show describing and reviewing what it considers to be the 1,000 greatest films, the criteria for which are popularity, critical acclaim, degree of influence, and whether the film broke any new ground. Glossily packaged with full colour photographs, including promotional posters and stills for many of the films, the book captures the eye as much as the mind and a surprising number of hours can be lost engrossed within its pages. Also featured are actor and actress profiles and an annual summary of Hollywood gossip and scandal, Oscar winners, and world news.

Any "greatest" book is ultimately subjective but providing it is intelligently argued with some objectivity, as this is, then most judgements will be sound. Therefore the majority of films featured will not be disputed. However, the book could benefit from more contrary opinion and a greater recognition of World cinema. There are also some notable flaws, for example, Godzilla, a box office and critical failure, is bizarrely listed as the 1998 "Guinness Choice of the Year", leading one to wonder if perhaps the entry was written before the film's release.

By concentrating on the films themselves as examples the book illustrates the history of modern cinema (post-1927) in a fascinating way. Whether for a nostalgic trip or as an enlightening experience, the Guinness Book of Film is highly enjoyable and thoroughly recommended. For film fans of any age. --Robert Brookes