Mac asked:
I’m writing a review for a film I have just seen, but I cannot remember many of the elements that should be there….and how long should a decent review be?
Constance
I’m writing a review for a film I have just seen, but I cannot remember many of the elements that should be there….and how long should a decent review be?
Constance
{ 3 comments }
If you learn how to write a movie review, you can enhance your appreciation of films, as well as help people from wasting money on a lousy movie. You might also get the chance to have your reviews published and get paid. Here are some steps to writing a movie review.
Things You’ll Need:
Pen
Movie ticket
Computer
Paper
Step1
See the movie. Even if you are pretty sure it will be bad. You don’t want to just see movies that you know you are going to like.
Step2
Take notes during the film. Write down the names of the stars, director and screenwriter. Note the running time of the film and the rating.
Step3
Take time to soak in the film. Think about it for a few hours before you begin writing. Let your appreciation or distaste wear off a bit so you don’t write too emotionally.
Step4
Identify your audience. It is the general public reading a newspaper review, or is it a group of movie buffs that want to dissect every inch of a film.
Step5
Go home and write. Start with the introduction. Most movie review readers like to be entertained by the review, so think up a good line to hook the reader or a theme for your review.
Step6
Start writing the review. Include the basic plot of the movie and cover the major events but do not give away surprise plot twists or the ending. Movie reviews are typically 250 to 500 words.
Step7
Discuss relevant parts of the movie. Include your opinion of the direction, script, actors and photography.
Step8
Let your review sit for a few hours, then look at it with fresh eyes and edit it.
You should learn first how to appreciate a film. You can achieve this by watching lots of titles, so that you could identify Hollywood cliches, the originality of the film you’ve just seen, and some necessary backgrounds on the crew or the stars who’ve worked on the film. You’ve got to answer some questions like:
1) What are the performances like?
Does the plot have a message? What does this movie contribute to its audience? What does this movie contribute to Hollywood in general?
2) Is the camera shots any good? Or are they mundane and bland?
3) What’s your opinion on the cinematography?
4) How’s the story flow? Is it too messy that it tends to confuse the audience, was it done in a normal way, or was it creatively written to astound the audiences?
5) How’s the script? The lines, the dialogue, etc. And how did the actors/actresses delivered their lines?
6) Is the running time appropriate? Should some scenes be trimmed down because they are unnecessary and doesn’t contribute to the plot?
7) Does the movie coincide with its rating (G, PG, R)? Are there some thematic/sexual elements that the audience should be aware of?
You can add a lot more, you can share your opinions about the art direction, the editing, the sound mixing, etc. Spell out the details in a creative way, to entertain your readers. If you’re still a beginner in this business, you got a lot of training to do just to write an effective film review.
Mostly people want to know if the movie was worth their time. Let people know about the setting, time period, and use adjectives to help people understand the genre without defining it. The plot is also important to tell, yet can be tricky because you don’t want to give away too much. Also, celebrity appeal dictates that you indicate which stars are featured. Aside from that, use your own style and try not to come off like everybody else, which can be difficult in a world of similimilarities.