ALWAYS USE ITALICS FOR FILM TITLES. ALWAYS. EACH AND EVERY TIME YOU
MENTION THE FILM.
Writing a Film Review
Writing a film review is a great way to express your opinion of a film. The purpose of most film reviews is to help readers determine if they want to watch, rent, or buy the film. The review should give enough details about the film so that the reader can make an informed decision, without giving anyway any essentials such as the plot or any surprises.
Reviews analyze the effectiveness of the plot, theme, acting, direction, special effects, musical effects, cinematography, and all other elements that created the film. There are qualities and guidelines that a critique of a film should possess. Avoid the use of generalized opinions such as “it was a great film” or “the acting was horrible,” but rather give specific reasons and the whys.
Steps to Writing a Film Review:
1. Watch the film
The first step in writing the review is to watch the film. Watching the film a second time will help you absorb a lot more detail about the film. Most film reviewers take notes as they watch the film.
2. Evaluatethefilm
Most film reviewers will give their opinion of the film. However, as in all good journalism, the reviewer should also give impartial details and allow the reader to make their decision over an issue the reader liked or disliked. Opinions should be explained to allow the reader to determine whether they would agree with your
opinion.
3. Whoisyouraudience?
You need to consider who your audience will be. Writing a film review for children requires a different approach than if writing for a film club. Ensure you report on the factors that matter to your likely audience.
4. Actors
Detail who is starring in the film and how well you think they acted.
5. Structure
Did the film follow a regular predictable story line, or did it get you thinking, like a Quentin Tarantino film?
6. Cinematography and lighting
Give details about how well the film was shot and directed. Was the lighting good in the moody scenes?
7. Music
Did the film have its own score like ET, or did it feature songs from popular artists?
8. Proofread
Read and check your review thoroughly. It can be embarrassing to find errors in your work after it has been published. This is especially important for reviews that will be published on the Internet as search engines are always looking for the correct spellings of key words.
Guideline for a Film Review
Paragraph 1: You will need to include the following: name of the film, prominent stars
of the film, basic setting (time and place), and genre.
Paragraph 2: You will need to write a short plot summary for the film. Do not reveal the ending.
Paragraph 3: Discuss one aspect of filmmaking. You may choose from acting, direction, editing, costume design, etc. Be sure that you are specific and cite
examples from the film.
Paragraph 4: Discuss another aspect of filmmaking different from the one you discussed in paragraph 3.
Paragraph 5: Give your overall reaction to the film as well as your opinion on the quality of the film. Include your recommendations for potential viewers.
Film Review Assignment Instructions and Film List
Read the instructions, then scroll down to see a list of films from which you must select to write the review. If you choose a film you have seen, please watch it again before you write the review.
You can rent films on Amazon for approx. 4.00. To open an Amazon account: https://www.amazon.com
It is also possible to rent from HULU, Netflix, and similar services.
If you own a film from the list (below) and want to review it, no problem.
You must consider such aspects as acting, plot, special effects, sets, and costumes, etc. Use the following questions below to help you develop your critique for your film:
• Do the actors fit the roles they are playing?
• How effectively did the film makers of this film use symbols/images to convey
the theme(s)?
• What message did you get from the film? Do you think those are the
messages that the writer of the film work intended? Explain.
• What scenes in the film sum up the theme effectively? How do camera shots,
lighting, setting, and acting contribute to the impact of the theme in the scenes.
You can read professional film reviews at: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/
SAMPLE REVIEW
APRIL 5TH, 2021 | POSTED BY ALLEN ALMACHAR GODZILLA VS. KONG
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), the latest in WB’s “MonsterVerse” franchise, is the best of the bunch so far. It capitalizes on the potential set by its predecessors –
Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island (2017), and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) – while giving audiences all the oversized action they’ve been clamoring for. It mixes classic kaiju stylings with shades of the horror, sci-fi, and fantasy genres. There are scenes and images that recall everything from Flash Gordon (1980) to Die
Hard (1988). And yet, even with all of these different ingredients splashed together, it somehow makes sense. In terms of sheer entertainment, this delivers in spades.
If there is one thing director Adam Wingard (along with writers Eric Pearson and Max Borenstein) seems to understand, is that the protagonists of this series are not the humans, but the skyscraper tall kaiju (or “Titans” as they’re described). When we dig deeper, we realize that Godzilla and Kong are victims of human meddling. In the original Japanese Gojira (1954), the monster came to be because of the effects Japan suffered from the atomic bombings of WWII. In King Kong (1933), it can be argued that the giant ape terrorized New York City because he was kidnapped from his home island, a direct result of western colonialism. Wingard and his team grasp this idea. Audiences are not only drawn to these characters because of the destruction they leave behind, but the empathy they generate.
This is especially true for Kong. He is treated as the central character and is relegated to the underdog role (he can’t shoot blasts of energy out of his mouth the way Godzilla does). When we reunite with him, Kong is stuck in a secure underwater location by the Monarch Project (the secret organization that links all the MonsterVerse films). We learn that Kong wants to escape the prison and reunite with others like him. His only connection is a young mute girl from Skull Island, Jia (Kaylee Hottle). Unfortunately, Godzilla has re-emerged to lay waste to Earth. The Monarch Project – along with tech company Apex Cybernetics – decide to release Kong in hopes he can stop Godzilla before it’s too late.
The plot itself has so many moving parts that it’s damn near labyrinthine. On one end of the spectrum is Jia, accompanied by scientists Nathan Lind (Alexander Skarsgård) and Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall), who follow Kong on his quest. On the other end is Madison (Millie Bobby Brown) who – after surviving the events of Godzilla: King of the Monsters – has become obsessed with Titan attacks. Joining her is her friend Josh (Julian Dennison) and conspiracy theorist Bernie (Brian Tyree Henry). All of them circle one another, coming closer and closer to unraveling the truth of the Titans. Throw in crooked corporate CEOs, deep Hollow Earth theories, high tech weaponry, and a dash of silliness, and you have yourself a melting pot of goofy fun.
But even with all these different plates spinning at the same time, the main attraction is clearly the action. One of the biggest issues of the previous installments was that much of the action was hidden behind dark, gloomy visuals. This time, Wingard (with cinematographer Ben Seresin) bathe the action underneath bright lights. There’s a
kind of pro-wrestling, WWE vibe in the way Godzilla and Kong do battle, with the humans cheering on from the sidelines. Wingard and his team execute the action with creative flair. One battle set in the middle of the ocean is ingenious in approach, with both creatures jumping in and out of the water, hoping across boats and battleships like frogs on water lilies.
There is an abundant use of neon light in almost every section of the narrative. From vehicles to laboratories and city streets, everything is covered in bright glowing lights. When Kong and Godzilla duke it out in the middle of Hong Kong, every building appears to be adorned with greens, blues, and hot pinks. As the two crash and explode through towers, the lighting makes them look like two drunks dancing in the middle of a 1980s nightclub. And in another section, when our human characters take a hazardous, otherworldly journey, they are subjected to a vast light show, like a rollercoaster speeding through space and time. The imagery will call to mind Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Is that the first time a Godzilla/Kong film has been compared to 2001?
But none of the visual fireworks would matter if we didn’t care about the characters. Yes, despite being enormous “monsters,” there is a human element to Godzilla – and to a higher degree Kong – that makes their journeys all the more fascinating. Watch how Kong communicates with Jia through sign language, or how he looks around a new environment with confusion and bewilderment, or how he exudes exhaustion, power, and fear through his gesturing. Terry Notary’s physical performance as Kong is on par with the work of Andy Serkis and Doug Jones, winning us over without uttering a single word.
I could talk about how the story moves at a breakneck pace, or how the human characters are mostly one dimensional, or how Kyle Chandler is criminally underused. But of all that is as useless as the rockets and missiles bouncing off the kaiju like toothpicks. Godzilla vs. Kong promises a heck of a good time and keeps that promise.
SELECT A FILM FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST TO WRITE YOUR REVIEW.IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE FILM, RESEARCH IT FIRST TO SEE WHAT IT’S ABOUT TO BE SURE YOU WANT TO WATCH IT.
Films List. You MUST select a film from this list.
Napoleon (2023)
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Silent Night (2023)
Dream Scenario (2023)
Thanksgiving (2023)
Maestro (2023)
Poor Things (2023)
Talk to Me (2023) The Bikeriders (2023) May December (2023)
American Fiction (2023)
Origin (2023)
The Zone of Interest (2023)
Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) Maestro (2023)
Barbie (2023)
Oppenheimer (2023)
Plane (2023)
Knock At the Cabin (2023)
Creed III (2023)
John Wick Chapter 4 (2023)
Renfield (2023)
Evil Dead Rise (2023)
Scream VI (2023)
Missing (2023)
M3GAN (2023)
Air (2023)
Elvis (2022)
The Menu (2022)
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022) Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) The Northman (2022)
The Fabelmans (2022)
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Tar (2022)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Smile (2022)
The Woman King (2022)
Barbarian (2022)
NOPE (2022)
Scream (2022)
Death on the Nile (2022) The Cursed (2022)
The Batman (2022)
The Outfit (2022)
The Lost City (2022)
Top Gun: Maverick (2022) The Black Phone (2022)
Belfast (2021)
Nightmare Alley (2021)
The Last Duel (2021)
Malignant (2021)
Shadow In The Cloud (2021) Copshop (2021)
Dune (2021)
The Godfather, Part II (1974) Nobody (2021)
No Time To Die (2021)
The Card Counter (2021)
Promising Young Woman (2021)
A Quiet Place, Part II (2021)
West Side Story (2021)
The Boy Behind The Door (2021) Jaws (1975)
Up (2009)
Shazam! (2019)
The Dark Knight (2008)
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) Psycho (1960)
Alien (1979)
Incredibles 2 (2018)
Gravity (2013)
The Florida Project (2017)
The Invisible Man (2020)
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
Widows (2018)
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) La La Land (2016)
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Ambulance (2022)
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Baby Driver (2017)
Arrival (2016)
Logan (2017)
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Marriage Story (2019)
The Big Sick (2017)
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) Paddington 2 (2018)
Once Upon a Time In Hollywood (2019)
12 Years a Slave (2013)
Argo (2012)
Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Black Panther (2018)
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Knives Out (2019)
Us (2019)
Lady Bird (2017)
Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Get Out (2017)
The Irishman (2019)
The Godfather (1972)
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) Wonder Woman (2017)
A Star Is Born (2018)
A Quiet Place (2018)
Eighth Grade (2018)
Dunkirk (2017)
Selma (2014)
Spotlight (2015)
The Shape of Water (2017)
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
