FILM REVIEW SOURCES

Hint: Know the year your movie was released before you begin. You can find that information and more at Internet Movie Database.
For links to hundreds of reviews on the Internet (not scholarly) use the Movie Review Query Database. Use your judgment to decide if the source is respectable or reliable.
If you are going to use the following research databases from off campus, log in now.

Research Library
ProQuest

Includes full text with graphics

Scholarly journals and magazines and newspapers.

Coverage: 1971 - current

Search Hints: Use Advanced Search. Type the movie title in the first box and change to Abstract. Type Film Review or Movie Review in the second box and change to Document Type.

Example: Revenge of the Sith

General OneFile - Gale InfoTrac

Includes full text with graphics.

Some scholarly reviews - but mostly magazines and newspapers.

Coverage: 1980 - current

Example: Braveheart and movie reviews

Note the plural reviews. You will not get the same results if you use singular review.

JSTOR I and II

Not very many film reviews but they will be scholarly.

All full text.

Coverage: Full run of 39 major history journals. In total, over 240 journals covering many disciplines.

Use the Advanced Search screen.
Narrow your search to: "Review"
Select the journals you want to search - history, sociology, etc.

Example: braveheart (in the first search box - "All of these words")
movie or film (in the 3rd box - "At least one of these words")

America: History & Life

Historical Abstracts

Yes, scholarly here.

No full text. Use Article Linker to link to full text if available.

Coverage: 1960's to Current

You must use the Advanced Search. Use title of movie and add the word film -- in the subject search box.

Example: coming home film --- in the subject search box

History Resource Center

Some scholarly here, but also magazines.

Full text.

Coverage: Varies

Example: amistad and movie reviews

Note the plural of reviews.

Arts & Humanities Search

More scholarly, some magazines.

Some full text.

Coverage: 1980 - current

Example: schindlers list

Use the advanced search screen.

Select Film Review from the Document Type drop-down box.

LexisNexis Academic

Mostly newpapers and magazines.

Full text.

Coverage: 1970s - current (varies by publication)

Example: braveheart

Use Guided News Search

> Step 1 = Arts & Sports News

> Step 2 = Book, movie, music & play reviews

> Select a date if you wish -- helps to narrow results.

> Type movie title in search box - Use Headline

There are print sources!

Magills Cinema Annual -- 1982 - current
Reference Collection, 2nd floor, PN1993.3 .M34.
Look in the volume for the year following the release of the film.

Variety Film Reviews -- 1907 - 1996
Reference Collection, 2nd floor, PN1995 .V34

New York Times Film Reviews -- 1913 - 1990
Reference Collection, 2nd floor, PN1995 .N4