The Movie Review

1
The Movie Review

• Writing a movie review that will do more than
  just give a plot summary.

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only after contacting the ADE DLC at
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2
Beware!

• Beware of
• Plot summaries
• Opinion statements not backed up with explanation

3
The Task

• Reviewers must
• Understand the film
• Understand their feeling and reactions
• Support their opinions with evidence

4
Title

• What does the title mean?
• Jaws Sharks and their mouths
• Deep Impact A comet and Earth collide
• Friday Night Lights High School Football

5
Beginning

• Why does the movie begin as it does?
• What do you learn from the opening scene?

6
Ending

• Why does the film end as it does?
• What is the final image?
• What does the final scene contribute to the
  overall meaning of the film?

7
Compare / Contrast

• How is this film similar or different from
• Other movies out there right now?
• Other movies from the same genre?

8
Cameras

• Camera movements
• Rapid cutting
• Long shots
• Dissolves
• Camera angles
• Person speaking
• Viewpoint

9
Sounds

• Carry over between scenes
• Before scenes
• Music selection
• Music meaning

10
Lighting

• Effective
• Important
• Symbolic

11
Theme

• What is the movie about?
• Lion King The responsibility of the young to
  make a better world
• Major characters
• How do they feel about themselves and each other?
• How are they important to society?
• Do they reveal a strength, compassion or weakness
  or some other human characteristic?
• Conclusion about life? What is being examined?

12
Plot

• Chronologically or rearranged events? Why?
• What is left out or has a delayed description?
  Why?
• Is a voice-over being used?
• Do you know more than the main characters? What
  do you know? Why?
• Technical elements?
• Wizard of Oz switches between black and white and
  color photography.

13
Characters

• Realistic? Strange? Fantasy?
• How do they dress?
• Actions contribute to the theme?
• Main character? If none, why?
• How does the character change?
• Is the acting realistic or does it seem forced?

14
Setting

• Do the objects and props have a special
  significance to the character, plot or theme?
• How about within each individual setting?

15
Special Effects

• Musical theme song with significance? What does
  it make the viewer think about?
• Jaws
• Lighting natural or dramatized?
• Special effects? Explosions, war scenes
• Unusual camera angles.

16
Writing the review

• Give your opinion then back it up with facts from
  the movie. Examine the five areas to find your
  proof.

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Tips

• Get the opinion in the lead. What you think of
  the move is the story.
• Back up that opinion with specific examples.
• Give enough of the plot so the readers knows what
  the movie is about, but do not give away the
  ending or important elements.
• Convince your reader the movie is, or isnt,
  worth the money to spend on it.

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Tips

• No wrong opinion Just a wrong way of stating
  that opinion.
• If you are on the fence, kind of liked it and
  kind of didnt, that is ok. Just explain why.
• Conclude the review by summarizing your opinion.

19
Website

• Use the following website for basic information
  about cast, plot, photos, awards, etc.
• www.imdb.com

20
Most Important!

• Have fun.
• Let your creative juices flow.