Here is the reality check.
The 1st edition of Engaging Cinema (ISBN: 978-0393934915) can be found on AbeBooks or ThriftBooks for as low as $5 plus shipping. While the 2nd edition has updated examples, the core theory of the 1st edition remains 95% intact. Here is the reality check
Many intro texts save "theory" for the final chapter, treating it as an advanced topic. Nichols weaves semiotics (the study of signs), structuralism, and psychoanalysis throughout the entire book. He explains "the gaze," "ideology," and "the other" in practical terms, using scenes from The Wizard of Oz or Pulp Fiction as his chalkboard. Here is the reality check