How to write a movie review (with pictures)

Regardless of whether a movie is a complete disaster or a brilliant work of art, if people see it, it is worth criticizing. A decent movie review should entertain, convince, inform, and provide an original opinion without straying too far from the plot. An excellent movie review can be a work of art in its own way. Read on to learn how to analyze a movie, create an interesting thesis, and write a review that's as entertaining as the material on which it's based.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Write a draft of the review

Step 1. Start with a compelling fact or opinion about the movie

You need to immediately grab the reader's attention. This sentence should give you an idea of your review and the movie (is it good, great, terrible, or fair?) And keep them reading. Some ideas are as follows:

• Make a comparison with a relevant event or movie:

  “On a daily basis, our leaders, politicians and experts demand‘revenge’against terrorist organizations, rival sports teams, other political parties. Yet very few understand cold, destructive, and ultimately consecrated emotion as well as the characters in the movie Blue Ruin."

• Summarize the review:

  "Despite Tom Hanks' compelling performance and incredible soundtrack, Forrest Gump never lets go of his weak plot and questionable premise."

• Context or general information:

  “Boyhood: Moments of a Life could be the first movie made knowing how it was produced (slowly, over the course of 12 years and with the same actors). That is as crucial as the movie itself."

Step 2. Provide a clear and well-established opinion from the start

Don't let the reader guess if you like the movie or not. Make it clear from the start so that you can spend the rest of your time 'proving' your qualification."

• Using a star rating, a score of 10 or 100, or a thumbs up or down is a quick way to express your thoughts. Then you can write the reason why you chose that rating.

• Excellent:

  it is a rare film that is successful in almost every aspect, where every person, scene, costume and joke is taken to the highest level to make the film worth seeing more than once."

• Bad movie:

  "No matter how much you like kung-fu and karate movies, with The Legend of the 47 ronin, better save your money, popcorn and your time."

• Acceptable film:

  “I liked the uneven Interstellar much more than I should have, but that doesn't mean it's perfect. Ultimately, sheer awe and the spectacle of the space swept away the really dense plot and dialogue."

Step 3. Write your review

This is the point where taking notes during the movie is beneficial. No one will care about your opinion if you cannot provide information to support your argument.

• Excellent:

  “The chemistry between Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer was beneficial for the Fruitvale Season movie even though the script wasn't that great. In particular, the prison scene in the middle of the film, where the camera never stops focusing on their faces, shows how much they can transmit with just their eyelids, the intermittent tension of the neck muscles and a slightly breathy voice ".

• Bad:

  "The biggest flaw in Jurassic World, a complete lack of relevant female characters, is only surpassed by an unrealistic and laughable shot of our heroine running to escape a dinosaur, all while wearing heels."

• Acceptable:

  “In the end, The Fear Express can't decide what kind of movie it wants to be. The attention to detail in the combat scenes, where attention is paid to every weapon, lightbulb and trace of dirt, does not translate into an ending that seems powerful but is ultimately insubstantial."

Step 4. Go beyond the obvious plot analysis

The plot is only part of the movie and should not suggest your entire review. Some movies have great or compelling plots, but that doesn't mean the movie itself is bad. Other things you should focus on are:

• Cinematography:

  "She is a world full of color, where she uses bright and subdued reds and oranges, as well as calming whites and grays that form, and little by little blur, the feeling of love between the protagonists. Each frame looks like a painting worth looking at”.

• Tone:

  “Despite the insane loneliness and the great risk of being trapped on Mars, Mission Rescue's witty script keeps the humor and excitement alive in every scene. Space can be dangerous and terrifying, but the joy of scientific discovery is intoxicating."

• Music and sound:

  “The bold decision in the movie No Place for the Weak to completely omit the music was extremely successful. The strange silence of the desert, marked by the brief periods of violence, and the close and personal sound effects of the hunter and the prey, continually keep you on the edge of the seat”.

• Performance:

  “While he's fantastic every time he's on the go, employing his cool stoicism to counteract the bullshit atmosphere on the bus, Keanu Reeves can hardly fit in properly with his co-star in the quiet moments of the movie Maximum Speed, who hesitates at his expressionless look”.

Step 5. At the end of the review, go back to where you started

Give the review some closure, usually by picking up the initial information. Remember that people read reviews to decide if they should watch a movie or not. End with a prayer that tells them.

• Excellent:

  “In the end, even the characters in Blue Ruin know how futile their dispute is. However, revenge, like every minute of this intense thriller, is too addictive not to stop watching until the end."

• Bad:

  "Like the often-mentioned 'box of chocolates,' Forrest Gump has a couple of nice touches. However, most of the scenes, too sweet in the middle of the film, must have ended up in the trash long before the premiere."

• Acceptable:

  “Without the novel, or even without the groundbreaking concept, Boyhood may not be a great movie. It might not even be 'good'. However, the power that the film finds in the beauty that the passage of time has and the small inconsequential moments, those that can only be captured throughout 12 years of filming, makes Linklater's work essential for all those that they like the art of the cinema”.

Part 2 of 4: Analyze the source material

Step 1. Gather basic information about the movie

You can do it before or after you see it, but it should definitely be before you write your review, as you will need to weave the facts together as you write. Here's what you need to know:

• the title of the film and the year it was released
• the director's name
• the names of the protagonists
• the gender

Step 2. Take notes while watching the movie

Before you sit down to watch a movie, take out a notebook or laptop where you can make notes. Movies are long, and you can easily forget details or important points in the plot. Therefore, the annotations will allow you to have details that you can refer to later.

• Make notes whenever something catches your eye, good or bad. This can be the costumes, makeup, scenery, music, etc. Think about how the details relate to the rest of the movie and what it means in the context of the review.
• Write down the patterns that you begin to notice as the movie progresses.
• Pause the movie frequently to make sure you don't skip anything, and rewind as needed.

Step 3. Analyze the mechanics of the film

As you watch the movie, analyze the different components that make it up. During or after watching it, ask yourself what impression it left on you in those areas:

• Direction: Take into account the director and the way he chooses to portray or explain the events within the story. If the movie was slow or didn't include the things you thought were necessary, you can attribute that to the director. If you have seen other films by the same director, compare them and determine which one you liked the most.
• Cinematography: What techniques were used to make the movie? What environment and background elements helped create a certain tone?
• Writing: Evaluate the script, including the dialogue and characterization. Did you feel like the plot was witty and unpredictable or dull and weak? Did people's words seem credible to you?
• Edit: Was the movie choppy or did it flow smoothly between each scene? Have you incorporated a montage to develop the story? Was it obstructing the narrative or helping it? Have you used long cuts to accentuate an actor's acting ability or many reaction shots to show a group's reaction to an event or dialogue? If visual effects have been used, have they been chosen correctly and have the composite effects made for an integrated experience? Making effects look realistic is not an editor's job; however, they choose the filmed material that is sent to the composers, so this could affect the film.
• Costume Design: Does the costume fit the style of the movie? Did it contribute to the overall tone rather than deviate from it?
• Determine the layout. Consider how the atmosphere of the movie influenced its other elements. Do you think it added or detracted from the experience? If the movie was shot in a real place, do you think the location was right?
• Rate the soundtrack. Was it suitable for the scenes? Was too much or too little used? Did it give you suspense? Did he make it funny or irritating? A soundtrack can benefit or harm a movie, especially if the songs have a particular message or meaning.

Step 4. Watch the movie again

It's impossible to fully understand a movie that you only watch once, especially if you pause it frequently to take notes. Look at it at least one more time before writing your review. Pay attention to details that you may have missed the first time. This time, choose new approaches: If the first time you took a lot of acting-related notes, this time focus on the cinematic aspect.

Part 3 of 4: Write the Review

Step 1. Create an original thesis based on the analysis

Now that you've fully analyzed the movie, what unique insights can you come up with? Create a thesis, that is, a central idea to present and support your observations of the various elements of the film. This thesis must be indicated in the first paragraph of the review. With the thesis, you can take the review beyond a plot summary and the realm of criticism, which is rightfully its own art form. If you want to come up with a compelling thesis for your review, ask yourself the following questions:

• Does the film reflect a current event or contemporary problem? It can be the director's way of engaging in a larger conversation. Look for ways to relate the content of the movie to the real world.
• Does the movie seem to have a message or is it trying to elicit a specific response or emotion from the audience? You could talk about whether or not he achieves his own goals.
• Does the movie relate to you on a personal level? You can write a review according to your own feelings and weave some personal stories to pique your readers' interest.

Step 2. After writing the thesis paragraph, write a brief summary of the plot

It will be good to give readers an idea of what they will see in case they decide to go see the movie described in your review. Provide a brief summary of the plot in which you identify the main characters, describe the setting and give an idea of the conflict or central point of the film. Never break rule number one of movie reviews: don't give too much information. Don't ruin the movie for your readers!

• When you name the characters in the plot summary, place the names of the actors in parentheses next to them.
• Find a place to mention the director's name and the full title of the film.
• If you think you need to mention information that could "ruin" the movie to readers, provide a warning.

Step 3. Next, perform the analysis of the film

Write several paragraphs where you mention the interesting elements of the film that support your thesis. Talk about acting, directing, cinematography, setting, etc. employing entertaining prose that will hold your readers' interest.

• Make sure your writing is clear and understandable. Don't use overly technical words and make your language crisp and accessible.
• Present the facts and your opinion. For example, you could say, for example: "The baroque background music was a jarring contrast to a setting set in the 20th century." This phrase will provide much more information than simply saying, "The music was a weird choice for the movie."

Step 4. Use a large number of examples to support your views

If you make a statement about the movie, support it with a descriptive example. Describe the appearance of the scenes, the way a certain person acts, the angles of the cameras, etc. You can also cite dialogue to support your views. In this way, you will give readers an idea of the film while you express your criticism.

Step 5. Give your review a little personality

You can write the review as a formal college essay, but it will be more interesting if you style it your own way. If your writing style is usually witty and fun, the review will be no exception. If you are serious and dramatic, it will be great too. Let your language and writing style reflect your unique perspective and personality, which will make the reader more interesting.

Step 6. End the review with a conclusion

This conclusion should go back to your original thesis and recommend to the audience whether they should see the movie or not. It should also be compelling or entertaining on its own, as this is the final part of your writing.

Part 4 of 4: Hone the Details

Step 1. Edit the review

After you finish the first draft of the review, read it carefully and determine if it flows naturally and has the proper structure. Maybe you need to move the paragraphs, remove sentences, or add a little more information to fill in the weak spots. Edit the review at least once (maybe two or three) before finding it acceptable.

• Ask yourself if the review stayed true to your thesis. Is your conclusion related to the initial ideas you came up with?
• Determine if the review contains enough details about the movie. You may need to go back and increase the description in certain places to give readers a better idea of what the movie is about.
• Decide if the review is interesting enough as standalone material. Did you contribute something original to the discussion? What will readers get that they couldn't get just by watching the movie?

Step 2. Review the review

Make sure that you have spelled the names of all the actors well and that you have written all the dates correctly. Check for spelling, grammar, and writing errors. A neat, revised review will look a lot more professional than one filled with silly mistakes.

Step 3. Post or share the review

Post it on your blog, share it on a movie discussion forum, post it on Facebook, or email it to your friends and family. Films are the quintessential art form of today and, as with any art, they stir controversy, provide a place for self-reflection, and significantly influence our culture. All of this means they're worth talking about, regardless of whether they're a flop or completely great works. Congratulations on contributing your valuable opinion to the discussion.

Advice

• Keep in mind that just because a movie isn't to your liking doesn't mean you should give it a bad review. A good critic helps people find movies they like, and because you don't share the same tastes as everyone else when it comes to this, you need to be able to tell people if they'll enjoy the movie, even if you don't. you have done it.
• Make sure you get many people's opinions on the movie and include them in your review. Also, indicate if you enjoyed it and mention why.
• Read lots of movie reviews and think about what makes some of them more useful than others. We reiterate: the value of a review is not always in its accuracy (how much the reader agrees with the writer), but in its usefulness (how well the writer can predict whether the reader will enjoy the movie or not).
• If you don't like the movie, don't be abusive and cruel. If possible, avoid watching movies that you don't like.
• Make sure you don't count parts of the movies in your review!
• The structure is very important; Try to categorize the different parts of the movie and comment on each of them individually. Determining how good each part is will help you come up with a more accurate conclusion. For example, reflect on how good elements such as acting, special effects, cinematography are.