How to Write an Effective Movie Review
The movie review is an incredibly popular way for many people to express their opinion of a recent movie. However, the reviewer should not just say whether they liked or disliked the movie. Anyone can do that. What they should be doing is engaging with the movie, providing a deep analysis of every aspect of the movie and providing reasons why the reviewer has provided a certain point of view. A movie review that seems to be quite well received by the general public is ‘The Pursuit of Happiness’. Although many of the reviews I have seen of the movie seem to focus on its apparently ‘life-affirming’ message or its portrayal of the American Dream, I hope that I may be able to offer a fresh perspective. The essay is about how the moving power of the plot should be effectively generated and the way this plot is acted and directed. Most students will be asked to write a movie review, often of a recent film that they have seen, because so many people now want to know what you think, not what the critics say. However, the process of writing it, and then editing it, is crucial in developing critical thinking. Unlike many other writing tasks, the process of writing a movie review starts well before the pen hits the paper. It isn’t just the writing process, it is seeing the film and thinking about that is important.
When analyzing the plot of a film, it is essential to consider the key elements that comprise it. There are a few different options when it comes to looking at the plot on a more intricate level. These include creating a “Tale Map,” which does exactly what it says on the tin. This process involves locating the main storyline, mapping out the scenario, and finding out whether this film fits into that particular genre or style. To create a “Tale Map,” first try and boil down the main events into just a few sentences – those are the basic outline. Then, try focusing on the main character and how the plot affects them, as their journey is typically the focus of the film. Look at the range of tools and techniques the director has used such as props and language, and see if they apply to the characters on screen. It may also be a good idea to look at the narrative theories behind the structure of the plot and how it all unfolds; something like a “Syd Field Paradigm.” Field was a famous screenwriter who created a universal system for creating storyline and the “Syd Field Paradigm” assesses three acts and certain points within each, such as key incident and a possible reversal of the original motion. Using different narrative theories to assess various points in the movie can be really helpful in breaking down the plot. One could focus on a “micro-analysis” which looks at close-up filming techniques e.g. Adobe Premiere frames, or a “macro-analysis” which is more concerned with narrative theories and characters’ personal journeys throughout the film. Also, familiarity with the narrative theories mentioned is an important factor of the final result in the analysis; this is more suited to professional reviewers who would be expected to have an extensive knowledge of the genre, but can still be useful to consult for A level standard critiques. All of these ideas can be included and expanded upon in a review and the writer can pick and choose the elements they wish to explore, to suit the nature of their work or to cloud out the fact that they have met the upper word limit. This will give their analysis a direct focus and make it easier for the reader to follow. It has been suggested that with the analysis of the “plot” in the film, one should clearly evidence the different options considered and elaborate on them as fully as possible. However, there are many opportunities to include and expand upon the theory of the different types of analysis that one could explore when focusing on the plot. All of these ideas can be included and expanded upon in a review and the writer can pick and choose the elements they wish to explore, to suit the nature of their work or to cloud out the fact that they have met the upper word limit. By breaking down the film into different aspects and focusing on each one, not only will a greater understanding and interpretations for the intended audience be cultivated, but also different layers of the storyline will be revealed. A movie review is slowly achieved by building a step by step analysis, and concrete decisions can be made when you reference a narrative theory. This will give their analysis a direct focus and make it easier for the reader to follow. Also, if a director has used a particular technique featured in a narrative theory, pointing it out can contribute to the support and relevance of the review. By breaking down the film into different aspects and focusing on each one, not only will a greater understanding and interpretations for the intended audience be cultivated, but also different layers of the storyline will be revealed. A movie review is slowly achieved by building a step by step analysis, and concrete decisions can be made when you reference a narrative theory.
Acting refers to the performances from the cast in the movie, such as the main characters. Directing, on the other hand, is the capability that a director has in developing a movie. Not only is the director responsible for the creative aspects of a film, he or she is also the captain of the ship. Hence, analyzing acting and directing is very important not only in the initial study of a film, but also in the interpretation of the deeper meaning behind the movie. When assessing the actors’ performances, one should not only focus on comparing the skills of the actors, but also appreciate how significant this work is when compared to what they have achieved previously. The viewers should be asking themselves questions about how each of the acting pieces corresponds to the actor’s past experiences. Apart from using the actors’ previous records as a reference point, he or she could also look for evidence of character development. This requires a critical examination regarding whether the actor manages to show a variety of emotions and multi-faceted sides of the character as the plot develops. Character analysis is crucial in scrutinizing the acting well. Also, comment on whether these characters are ’round’ – full developed and well rounded, or ‘flat’ – shallow and lack depth. As for the directing, the viewers should study how his or her interpretation colors the movie. By providing a detailed analysis of the director’s use of space, camera movements, music, the viewers could ultimately arrive a much better understanding of what he or she want to communicate to the audience. Well-established and respectable directors often leave a particular footprint, or a kind of style in his or her work. For example, “The greatest show on earth” is directed by the renowned director Cecil DeMille, who is identified as a director who loves grand spectacles, as well as addressing social and moral issues in his films. This kind of analytical comment or identification of director’s style is invaluable in the study of film. By comparing to different works of the same director, one might go even further to explore the reasons behind such phenomena.
Variety is always impressive in a review. Try to give each sentence a very different structure. This will show your skill and ability to engage with the text. Make sure that the argument has a clear introduction, a clear conclusion, and that we have no irrelevant comments or repetition. For each analysis, be specific and precise. Give a few words of explanation and reasoning to accompany that quote. Think carefully and don’t make sweeping comments that cover just half the surface of the text. Be cautious and selective. By all means, go through everything the book or play covers, but don’t stray from the point. And always try to give the text practical rather than academic value.
Start your review by quoting the film’s title. Then give a quick overview of the movie genre and director’s name. Remember, the review is not about you, it is about the film. Try to avoid “I” or “we”. Start with a compelling fact or opinion on the movie. You want to get the reader hooked immediately. This sentence will become your guiding point. All the things that you have to describe, analyze, summarize or otherwise communicate about a text have one ultimate goal: to tell your reader something about the text. Every part of your review has to be aimed at persuasion. Remember, you should use the language to convince and to persuade in what you write. Substantiate every opinion or statement with references from the text. Give specific examples. For example, you might refer to “The opening scene of the movie…”. Every expression you use has to be able to answer the question “Why?”. If you rely on opinion or generalization, you will instantly lose the argument because others will be aware… Well, why is that true?
The technical aspects of a film are often the most unappreciated elements when it comes to writing a movie review. Most people will start off by giving their opinion on the story. Then they will mention if the actors did a good job and then they will talk about the film’s directing. What’s wrong with that order? Well, film is a visual medium, so it makes sense to talk about the film’s visual elements first. The story might be amazing, but it’s how that story is told that makes a film the best movie of the year material, or just a nice way to spend a couple of hours.
Yet another review is forthcoming, and of course, you have to make a new opinion and determine about it. I mean that you do not have to write about the whole material, merely you only have to write the ultimate object and mention it in your work. As with every piece of writing, however, the process of writing a movie review should be methodical and carefully thought-out. It is also important to remember to get your thinking straight before you start writing – as a piece of writing which is simply a series of unconnected thoughts or (even worse) a series of quotations is not going to be very rewarding for you or the reader! Succinctly summarizing the most important spoken or narrated elements of the movie, together with the significant visual and auditory aspects is, however, far more challenging than it might first seem. This is where the credits to any movie are most justified. They should both conclude and compliment your review. If you are unable to find such proofs, then your argument will not sound realistic. And do not think that you will be delivering forthright with your readership if they have not watched the same movie. It is wrong to assume that everyone will know what you are talking about, so what you should do is to give a brief summary, if possible, of the most salient features – the acting, the directing, and so on. In point of fact, we actually need the full credits at the end which – I grant you – some people do view, but such information is still really just superfluous in the context of a critique.
