People usually use the word “escapism” in the same sentence as movie or film. As most people go to the movies to escape from the realities of their everyday strife. As I remember growing up, going to the movies was a family event, something that was considered quality time.  I am old enough, to remember drive-ins, as when I lived in Trinidad, my family used to go to the local drive-in, and eat popcorn and hotdogs while watching a movie, with the speaker that you would put on your car door window.

When I moved back to New York, I was a teenager, and going to the movies was more about picking up girls. Eventually my love of movies, would become part of my life once again, once I joined the military. Now, I can practically connect a movie to a certain year or historical event, either way I am a full on cinephile. In Edward Ross’ Filmish: A Graphic Journey Through Life, he has a love for the medium as well, so much so, that he gives the reader a wealth of knowledge from its inception to its milestones.

Ross as a character within the book, narrating highlights in film to explain appoint. He breaks down simply how film operates a how one should observe this well-traveled medium of storytelling. Each chapter highlights elements of storytelling that can only be captured on celluloid, as the highlights that caught my attention were “Body” and “Power and Ideology.” By book’s end, you will never look at film the same way again much less the movies that are highlighted in this book.

Overall, an excellent book, which other writers would not have made as much fun as Ross does here. The story told by Ross, not only tells the story of film but the how we see film. The art by Ross, feels like Mondo art sometimes, which makes the sequential art even more beautiful. Altogether an excellent book for every movie fan, casual and serious.

Story: Edward Ross Art: Edward Ross
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy