The famed film writer and critic reviews twenty-five essential French films, featuring Amélie, Belle du Jour, La Vie en Rose, and Au Revoir les Enfants. Like a full-bodied Bordeaux wine, Roger Ebert’s e-book original 25 Great French Films will reward you with a rich variety of full-length reviews of cinematic experiences. From such classics as Belle de Jour, Day for Night, and The 400 Blows to the sweeping drama (and beautiful scenery!) of Jean de Florette and its sequel Manon of the Spring, this e-book provides a perfect primer for those new to French films and a welcome refresher course for true Francophiles. And, as an added attraction, most of the reviews are accompanied with a clip of the movies’ trailers, including gems like Mr. Hulot’s Holiday and Jules and Jim.

Crime and punishment on the dark side of French society, as reflected in the silver screen.

Ahh, love. It can be a many splendored thing, but it can also lead to the pain of a broken heart. For those experiencing such a sad eventuality, turn to this e-book only selection of Ebert's Essentials, and consider these reviews of movies to help get you through the heartbreak. While not a cure for a broken heart (what could be?), watching these films can bring hope and appreciation for the possibility of love again or just help you laugh at the total absurdity of it all. Enjoy such classic romantic comedies as Moonstruck and Annie Hall to the decidedly offbeat Lars and the Real Girl that will help bring a smile back. Appreciate quiet looks into love with films like The Scent of Green Papaya and Once.

Le Ciné Françs is an irresistible illustrated guide and primer to the best of French films, starting with the 1950s, through the spectrum of French New Wave, and on to modern-day confections. Starring the likes of Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, and Jeanne Moreau, and directed by iconoclasts such as Francois Truffaut, Eric Rohmer, and Jean-Luc Godard, French movies are as touching, beautiful, and romantic as they come in all of film. Le Ciné Françs captures their spirit in whimsical detail. Each movie is covered with a plot summary; back stories; and illustrations by author/artist Anne Keenan Higgins of highlight scenes, costumes, props, and characters that are as enchanting as the films themselves. This gorgeously gifty tribute to French cinema is not just for movie buffs or followers of international films, but for all who are enchanted by French culture.

Sometimes there's just nothing more absorbing than watching a movie that truly looks at life on the dark side, revealing those dark parts of human nature that we find so facinating. In Roger Ebert's picks of 27 Movies from the Dark Side, he offers a varied selection from a look at the seamy side of life in L.A. in Chinatown to a backwoods murder gone wrong in Blood Simple. Throw in two classics from Alfred Hitchcock, Notorious and Strangers on a Train, and two French tours de force, Bob le Flambeur and Touchez Pas au Grisbiand you've got the primer on film noir.

Marcel Lucont, France's premier misanthropist and lover, introduces the reader to the British character as seen through the eyes of the French. From food and weather to television and pets, he shares his disdainful opinion on all things British and offers advice on just why the French do it so much better. The book features: "Dans La Rue", an eye-spy parody set on the British high street; "Tits of the Brits", a poem concerning the large British bust vs the petite French cup; "Stolen French", a guide to words the British have stolen from the French; "The British Joke", Marcel's take on British humour; and, "The Monarchy", including why the French got rid of theirs.

The holidays—that time between Thanksgiving and New Year's—jam more "together" time together than any other time during the year. And all that being together calls for movies to watch together to celebrate the season or movies to watch alone to survive the season. From such classics to enjoy as a family like A Christmas Story,It's a Wonderful Life, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles to more offbeat films like Home for the Holidays (the Thanksgiving family reunion from hell) and Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (an R-rated Santa Claus origin story crossed with The Thing), Roger Ebert's full-length reviews suggest a wide range of titles sure to please everyone on your list. Also included are thoughtful films like John Huston's rendering of James Joyce's The Dead, a poignant look at life and Joyeux Noel, based on the true story of a spontaneous cease-fire between German and Allied troops on Christmas Eve 1914. As a bonus, in the enhanced version, more than half of the reviews include a clip of the movie's trailer.