On Film [Paperback]

The first edition of Stephen Mulhall's acclaimed On Filmwas a study of the four Alienfilms, and made the highly original and controversial argument that films themselves can philosophise. In its second edition, On Filmincreased its breadth and vision considerably to encompass films such as the Mission: Impossibleseries and Steven Spielberg's Minority Report.

In this significantly expanded third edition Stephen Mulhall adds new chapters on the Jason Bourne films, the fourth Mission: Impossiblemovie, JJ Abrams' Star Trek and Star Trek: Into Darkness, and Ridley Scott's Prometheus (in which he returns to the Alienuniverse he created). In so doing, Mulhall reappraises in fascinating ways the central issues taken up in earlier editions of On Film: the genres of science fiction and thriller, the impact of digital as opposed to photographic modes of technology on the nature of cinema as a medium (and its relation to television), and the fate of sequeldom in mainstream contemporary cinema (with its emphasis on remakes, reboots and multi-media superhero franchises).

On Film, third editionis essential reading for anyone interested in philosophy, film theory and cultural studies, and in the way philosophy can enrich our understanding of cinema.

Preface to the Third Edition  Preface to the Second Edition  Part 1  Introduction  1. Kanes Son, Cains Daughter: Ridley Scotts Alien  2. Making Babies: James Camerons Aliens  3. Mourning Sickness: David Finchers Alien^3  4. The Monsters Mother: Jean-Pierre Jeunets Alien Resurrection  Part 2  5. Film as Philosophy: The Priority of the Partlâ