How to Write a Reliable Movie Review

Almost everyone loves watching movies.  Whether you go to the theater or stay home, movies are a great source of entertainment.  There are movies that will make you laugh, and there are movies that will make you cry.  There are movies that will scare you, and there are movies that will intrigue you.  Either way, movies are great.  New movies will come out every week at the theater and on DVD/Blue-Ray, and many people want to know more about the film before watching it.  The best way to know more about a film is to read the reviews, and see what others have to say about it.  However, most people like reliable reviews, so they do not waste their time seeing a film that is said to be great, when it is really horrible.  This article will provide and explain the instructions on how to write a reliable movie review.

Note:  before writing your review, you need to watch the movie thoroughly.  It is a good idea to even watch it twice.  Be sure to take proper notes on all of the key elements.  The key elements include plot, characters, setting, themes, symbols, music, costumes, etc.  Also, for further reference on writing a film review, feel free to check out the youtube video at the end of this article.

Step One:

Your first page or first section should mention the credits of the film.  This section should include the tile of the film, the genre, the director, the screenwriter, the soundtrack or musical score composer, the main actors/actresses.  Most of this information can be found in imbd.com (International Movie Database).  This section is important because most people always want to know who is starring in the film, the genre, and even the director.  If you notice, every time you mention a movie to someone, the first questions that come out of his/her mouth is, “Who plays in it? What kind of a movie is it?”

Step Two:

The second section of a reliable movie review should contain a brief summary.  Now, this section should be very small.  The summary should not give away any plot spoilers or movie twists.  In fact, the summary should be no more than four to five sentences long.  The summary should only give a general overview of the film.  Do not spoil the ending or surprising moments in the movie.  One of the best ways to avoid plot spoilers is to avoid mentioning any specific scenes, and do not explain any specific details about the plot; be general.  For example: “This movie is about three friends who get lost in the woods. They have to survive the night from wild animals.”  This section should also include the setting of the story (the time and place that it takes place).  It should also mention the class/society of people that the film represents.

Step 3:

This section should be the critical portion of the review and the longest part.  This section should be three to five paragraphs long.  In this section, you are to mention:

----What the viewer can expect from the film, such as a lot of action or a lot of drama. 

----This section should also tell the role of the actors and how well or poor of a job they did.  Again, do not refer to specific scenes; be general. For example, just say, “the main character, played by John Doe, was not convincing at all.  Every time there was a suspenseful moment, he would over emphasis his scream, which made the film look like a theatrical stage production.”

----You may also provide a brief analysis of the music and setting.  Answer if these items went well with each other, and tell if they went well with the overall film.  You can also critique the usage of film, such as cinematography, color, costumes, and scenery.  Tell your reader if these items were appropriate for the film. 

----Be sure to explain the over all message or point of the film.  Tell your reader if the film teachings something about a certain aspect on life.  Tell your reader what the movie will over all make your reader feel or realize about life. 

----Finally, give your opinion about the movie.  Tell if it is worth seeing or not, and be sure to tell what kind of an audience it is appropriate for and what kind of an audience may enjoy or not enjoy the movie.