Once you finish reading, think whether you demand an extra help with your homework. If you do, please find an expert academic writing company a smart and quick solution to your college writing assignments, including the question, “how to write a film review?”. How to Write a Movie Review for College or Professional Purposes? Check out our film review samples to gain a better understanding of how to. Is a film mainly about the relationship between a music teacher and his student,.
Some students may be relieved with the assignment of watching a movie for homework. However, composing a movie review can be more difficult than it sounds. According to the Nova Scotia Department of Education, the key to a movie review is providing enough detail so that the reader knows whether or not he would enjoy the movie, while avoiding giving away intricate plot surprises or details. Creating an outline of your information before writing the actual review can help you keep your thoughts organized and your information accurate.
Watch the movie at least twice. Take notes about the movie as you watch it, regarding basic plot points (that don't give away any surprises), acting, special effects and other characteristics of the movie.
Break your outline into sections; each section can represent a paragraph of your final review. Use the first section to describe the basic plot of the movie and basic character descriptions. Include your opinion of the plot and characters: was it boring, exciting, difficult to follow? Were the characters believable and likeable?
Include acting details in section two of your outline. How did the actors handle their roles? Did they help bring the characters to life, or fall flat? For more famous actors, how did this role vary from others roles the actor has filled?
Create a third section of your outline with information regarding the technical aspects of the film. How did the sound, lighting, special effects and music affect the film as a whole? Do you feel any or all of these points could have been better?
Finish your outline with overall reflections on the movie. Consider giving the movie a grade, such as B+ or C-, or a number of stars (generally out of five). This will help you draw an overall conclusion and summary of the movie when you write the final review.
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Tips
- Your outline does not need to be in complete sentences or grammatically correct. You will use the outline to compose a longer paper; write the outline in a way that you feel will best benefit you with your later work.
Warnings
- Check with your teacher to find out if any other information is needed for your specific assignment.
Things Needed
- Required movie
- Movie player (VCR, DVD player, etc)
- Paper
- Pen or pencil
References
Whether you are an actor, a filmmaker or a film geek through and through, writing film reviews can help hone your ability to think critically and watch movies with a response that goes deeper than “that movie was awesome!” And for you future film reviewers out there, it’s never too soon to start. Here are nine tips for writing a film review that people will want to read.
1. Watch the film.
Once is necessary twice is preferable. Taking notes is also a good idea and will help the writing process by making it easy to refer to your in-the-moment thoughts and reactions.
2. Express your opinions and support your criticism.
Professional reviewers do not shy away from telling their readers whether they thought the movie was good bad or indifferent, and in fact readers come to rely on those reviewers whose tastes reflect their own when deciding whether or not to spend their time and money. Professional reviewers also have watched a lot of movies and can express why and how they came to their criticism. Be sure to back up your thoughts with specifics–a disappointing performance, a ridiculous plot, beautiful cinematography, difficult material that leaves you thinking, and so on.
3. Consider your audience.
Are you writing for a fan site, a national news outlet, or a Teen Magazine? Knowing who your readers are can help you decide what elements of the movie to highlight. You should also adjust your writing style to fit the publication.
4. The actors.
Many casual filmgoers will be inspired to see a movie if a favorite actor is in it, so you should probably spend a little space talking about the performances: seasoned actor in a new kind of role, brilliant performance from a rising star, excellence despite a lackluster script, dynamics in an ensemble, and so much more can be said about the actors in any given film.
5. Directors, cinematographers, special effects.
This is where your film geek can really shine. Tell your readers about the highlights or missteps of directors, cinematographers, costume designers and CGI magicians. What worked, what surprised, what fell short of expectations, are all great questions to address in the body of your review.
6. No spoilers!
Give your readers some idea of the plot, but be careful not to include any spoilers. Remember the point of a good review is to get people interested in going to the movie. Don’t get over excited and ruin it for them!
7. Study the professionals.
As with all writing endeavors, the more you read the better you will be. And when you read film reviews that you like (or don’t like), think about why. Use your critical eye to think about why one reviewer has a hundred thousand followers and another two. Be sure also to read the publications where you’d like your writing to appear as a template for your own reviews, and don’t forget to read the submission guidelines!
8. Reread, rewrite and edit.
Edit your work; your opinions will not be taken seriously if you misspell the director’s name or can’t put together a grammatically correct sentence. Take the time to check your spelling and edit your piece for organizational flow.
9. Find your voice.
The best reviewers have a distinct personality that comes across in their writing. This does not happen overnight, so take every opportunity to write as an opportunity to develop your own style and voice that will grab reader’s attention and keep them coming back for more.
Ready to learn more about filmmaking? Check out the New York Film Academy’s many program options.