Writing a movie review is one of the most challenging yet fun assignments you’ll get in college. As enjoyable as it is for students who love to write, it can get equally frustrating for those who are not very confident in their writing skills. On top of that, there are some important elements that must be carefully considered when you write a film review.
So, if you’re wondering how to write a movie review in a way that ensures that readers love it and you get a good grade, you’re in the right place!
1. Watch the Film at least Once
If you want to write a great review, the first step is actually to watch the movie you’re writing about. There are many students who skip this step and end up making movie reviews that aren’t up to par. Every good sample essay about movie review you’ll find online is written by someone who has carefully assessed the film in question. Such samples are a good way to get some inspiration to write your own piece of text. Before doing any of that though, be sure to watch the film so you can assess it properly.
2. Observe Characters in the Film
Observing each of the main characters carefully is an important aspect of writing informative reviews. The characters are what make or break a movie, so it is crucial to notice their personalities and story arcs. Sometimes, a single actor carries the whole movie, and talking about the story without understanding the character becomes futile. Taking notes along the way about the main characters is an effective way to ensure that you don’t miss out on anything.
3. Critically Review the Movie
As a writer, you shouldn’t shy away from talking honestly about the film. A good film review is as critical as it is appreciative. If you feel like something was amiss, either in the storyline or the production, be sure to talk about it. Remember to include your own opinions too so that readers can get an honest impression of the title. Other than that, the critical analysis also shows your understanding of moviemaking and storytelling.
One thing to remember is that if you’re criticizing something for not being up to par, you should include valid reasons for doing so. Don’t just say that the storytelling was lacking; explain why you think so. Provide references and include careful observations. This is often what differentiates a strong analysis from a weak and baseless one.
4. Mind Your Audience
Whenever you’re writing film reviews, understanding your audience can go a long way toward making an effective piece of writing. If your text is more like a research paper, it should be written formally. If it is to be published on a fan site, you can go all out with your opinions. Also, based on who is going to read your essay, you can determine which elements to highlight in it and which to skip over. For technical readers, focus on technical details like cinematography and lighting. For casual readers, shift your focus toward a friendlier tone and talk about the storyline more.
5. Draft a Review Outline
Like writing any research paper, crafting a quick outline before you write your complete film review is an excellent idea. Not only will it help you come up with the structure of your essay but it will also ensure that you include everything important in it. This outline can be quite rough at first. You can read it a couple of times, or watch the movie once more to find out if you’ve missed anything. This outline will guide your final paper very well.
6. Evaluate the Technical Element
Most essay examples online will talk about the storyline and characters. However, those that include an analysis of the technical elements are the ones that stand out. Finding and reading some more examples of such essays will give you a deeper look into how to review technical aspects like cinematography, sound, lighting, and editing. If you’re a film student, reviewing these aspects becomes even more critical. If you feel the title was lacking in any of these departments, include your suggestions in the paper.
7. Avoid Spoilers
When writing a great film review, you should always try to avoid spoilers. This is one of the most difficult things about creating such a text. Talking about a story without actually revealing most parts of it is a skill that can only be achieved with plenty of practice and going through example texts. you can find many ways to avoid spoilers when crafting your paper. Doing so is a great example of professionalism that every writer should adhere to.
The only time when it can be considered okay to include spoilers is when you talk about a title that is very old or widely known. If you cannot find a way to avoid spoilers, the least you should do is give readers a clear warning so they refrain from reading your review if they don’t want to know about the details. Some websites code spoilers in a way that they become invisible unless readers actually scroll over these areas. But of course, that might only work if you’re planning to publish your work on your own website.
To Conclude
Writing film reviews can be very fulfilling as long as you know how to write one. There are many elements to be considered if you want your writing to be considered great. It is important to give each of these elements its due attention. Once you do that and support your criticisms with valid reasons, your essay will be appreciated by anyone who reads it.
