Search results
- Asking students to write film reviews allows them to generate a personal commentary and perspective that is more descriptive and analytical. This synthesis helps deepen students’ understanding of the subject matter and films, as well as strengthening their skill in self-expression through writing.
www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/using-films-encourage-reflection-and-critical-thinking-your-teachingUsing films to encourage reflection and critical thinking in ...
Oct 25, 2023 · Film reviews, in particular, provide a unique opportunity for students to develop critical thinking skills, improve their writing abilities, and explore various cinematic techniques and storytelling elements.
- The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Film Review: Structure and ...
writing a film review can be both an enjoyable and...
- A Student’s Guide to Writing an Effective Film Review ...
Whether you’re studying film or simply have a passion for...
- The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Film Review: Structure and ...
writing a film review can be both an enjoyable and educational experience, allowing students to analyze and critically evaluate a movie. This guide aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the structure and format of a film review.
Jan 1, 2024 · Whether you’re studying film or simply have a passion for movies, knowing how to write an effective film review is a valuable skill. In this guide, we will cover the structure, examples, and proven techniques for writing a compelling and insightful film review.
- Show Students Film Review Examples. To begin, I like to lead a brief whole-class discussion where we chat about the difference between getting a recommendation from a friend and reading a professional movie review.
- Know Your Audience. As we wrap up this lesson, I ask students to consider the audience of each review. For example, is the review aimed at children, adults, or even a teen magazine?
- Teach How to Watch the Film. The next step is to teach students how to watch a film with purpose, rather than simply for pleasure! In an ideal situation, I recommend watching a film twice.
- Provide Common Vocabulary. As part of a film study, it’s important for students to be able to speak the “language” of movie making. After viewing the movie, I like to take some time to outline some key terms to help students write their reviews.
- Watch The Film at Least once.
- Express Your Opinions and Support Your Criticism.
- Consider Your audience.
- Talk About The Acting.
- Call Out Directors, Cinematographers, and Special Effects.
- No Spoilers!
- Study The Professionals.
- Reread, Rewrite, and Edit.
- Find Your Voice.
- Know Your taste.
For new reviewers, it’s impossible to capture everything after one viewing. Watching the film first, then watching to take notes, is an easy way to improve the quality of your final review. This will also make it easy to recall in-the-moment thoughts and reactions. Take a review by Christian Blauvelt of Charlie Chaplin’s silent film The Circus, for...
Professional reviewers do not shy away from sharing whether they thought a movie was good, bad, or indifferent. In areview for the film Mother!,reviewer Candice Frederick describes the film as “uncomfortable,” and “controversial,” helping viewers understand the tone of the movie. While Frederick seemed to enjoy the film, her honesty about how it wo...
Are you writing for a fan site or a news outlet? Who will read your pieces, and what are their interests?Knowing who your readers are and where the review will be published can help you decide what elements of the movie to highlight. For example, take these two very different reviews for the film ‘Synecdoche, New York’. The first review waswritten ...
When reviewing a film, it’s important to take space to discuss the performances. Does the film feature aseasoned actorin a new kind of role or a brilliant performance from a rising star? How was the acting? In a review by Brett Milam for the award-winning film Whiplash, he goes into rich detail about performances by both breakthrough actor Miles Te...
Reviews that include highlights or missteps of directors, cinematographers, and costume designers can help provide support to your critiques. By providing specific examples of what worked, what surprised you, and what fell short of expectations, reviewers can write a well-thought-out review that goes beyond whether or not you liked it. In areview f...
The point of writing a movie review is to get people interested in seeing a movie. That’s why it’s absolutely best practice to not reveal spoilersin a film review. Film reviewer Robert Daniels approaches this creatively. In hisreview of Annihilation, he provides commentary on what would be considered spoilers. However, he places that part of the re...
As with all writing endeavors, the more you read, the better. However, with the modern landscape of film reviewing, which can go beyond writing and extend to content creation for social media platforms, there are a ton of reviewers to take notes from. First, determine what kind of reviewer you want to be, and what kind of medium you plan to deliver...
While writing film critique is based on opinion, and follows the style of the reviewer, it’s still important to edit work. Writers should check for spelling, grammar, and readability. No matter how good a writer’s opinions are, they will not be taken seriously if the director’s name isn’t spelled correctly. Tools such as Grammarlyand Hemingway Edit...
The best reviewers have a distinct personality that comes across in their writing.Los Angeles Times film reviewer Carlos Aguilarwrote an impassioned piece aboutthe film Beatriz at Dinner, going into a lot of detail about his experiences working in the film industry and his Mexican heritage. By sharing anecdotes about casual racism he’s experienced ...
As a film reviewer, it can be helpful to identify your taste in film. By knowing specific preferences, strengths, and biases, reviewers can offer nuanced critiques that resonate with audiences and provide valuable guidance on which films they might enjoy. Additionally, it helps to maintain credibility and integrity as a reviewer by ensuring that as...
Oct 15, 2021 · Asking students to write film reviews allows them to generate a personal commentary and perspective that is more descriptive and analytical. This synthesis helps deepen students’ understanding of the subject matter and films, as well as strengthening their skill in self-expression through writing.
People also ask
Why are film reviews important for students?
Why should you write a film review?
Why should students watch movies?
How can I help my students write a film review?
What should students learn during a movie study?
What does a movie reviewer consider?
Nov 6, 2019 · Learning the basics, with help from a Times review of “Black Panther” and a student review of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”
