Wong Kar-wai's 1994 Chungking Express has quickly been recognised as one of the most important examples of 'World Cinema' in the last two decades. It explores time and desire and, on an allegorical level, the perceived loss of independence that many felt would take place post-1997. Studying Chungking Express considers these historical details but also the key issues of film form, author-ship, representation and identity. Required reading for all those studying contemporary World Cinema or Asian Studies, Studying Chungking Express considers these historical details but also the key issues of film form, author-ship, representation, and identity. In particular: Its central place within the Hong Kong New Wave film movement; its radical film form - notably the cut-and mix play with editing techniques; the signature of Wong Kar-wai as an auteur; the film's representation of the postmodern city; the film's relationship to both Hollywood cinema and European art film.

Ridley Scott's Blade Runner is now widely recognised as a masterwork of science fiction cinema, and one of the most influential of any films released in the last twenty-five years. In Studying Blade Runner, Sean Redmond uses the key concepts of Media and Film Studies& mdash;Film Language, Representation, Institutions and Audiences& mdash;to explore the many significances of the film: Its breakthrough use of special effects as a narrative tool; the film's revolutionary representation of the future city; its treatment of racial and sexual politics; iIts unique status as a text whose meaning was fundamentally altered in its re-released 'Director's Cut' form& mdash;and what this means in an institutional context.