Writing Movie Reviews

[Bryce Canyon]

I'm going to start writing some movie reviews for my school, and was wondering if anyone could give me some good tips on writing good reviews. Thanks a lot.

[Puck Bond]

BE TRUE TO YOURSELF!

If you like a movie...and you see that many other critics are just blasting it...don't change your opinion of a film to fit the norm. I respect honesty and not popular opinion...that would be the best advice I can give...and have fun with it of course!

[inglourious basterd]

Try to figure out why you like/dislike a movie or a particular sequence. People will respect your opinion more if you know what you are takling about.

If you grade on pure emotion or if you grade without clearly illustrating yourself, like it or not, people will brush your opinion to the side.

[bskutle]

I would have to agree with these guys on all accounts. They've more or less said it all. Also, I don't know if you have a set number of words or paragraphs you have to write, but be concise, with trying to get everything you may want to say in. Also, make sure one idea- or one paragraph- flows smoothly into another. I know that's basically Writers' Class for Dummies advice, but it's still worth mentioning. There are times in longer reviews I've written for friends and family via email I've forgotten that, and the review just doesn't readback well.

One last thing: Regarding plot, don't give it all away, and if there's a "surprise twist," don't blow it. http://www.joblo.com/ubb/wink.gif But then again, I doubt I even have to bring that up.

Good luck! I hope it goes well for you.

[Raena]

This may be dumb advice, but don't read criticism for the movie you are reviewing BEFORE you write your review. You don't want to be influenced by other people's thoughts.

[Strider]

Always stick to your opinions. If you like a movie, give it a good grade. If you hate a movie, give it a bad grade. Don't ever change your opinions just because it's the popular thing to do. Stand by your grades!

And never change your opinions just because Ebert and Roeper liked/hated it, or because your friends or family liked/hated it. Say this to yourself: I don't care what they think.

And BTW, if someone calls you an "asshole" for liking this movie or hating this movie. Fuck them! Don't ever let them get to you. Oh yeah, if anybody tell you suck as a critic. Once again: Fuck them! Don't let that get to you either. http://www.joblo.com/ubb/smile.gif

Good luck man!

Strider

[Andrew Tom]

Try to review the movie inside it's own genre. Do not compare movies like The Others with Ice Age(well, that would be stupid) and write reviews that look like you.

[inglourious basterd]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Andrew Tom:
Try to review the movie inside it's own genre. </font>

Thats a very interesting point. It is pretty often that I see 10/10 reviews for what I consider to be "typical" films. Before you assign a numerical rating, try to think of all the similar movies youve seen and rank accordingly.

For instance, if I were to enjoy "You've Got Mail", I would compare it to other similar movies before I were to give a numerical rating. After considering all the reasons I liked or disliked that film, I would quickly rank it with my short list of similar films and it is then that I would give the movie in question its rating. Even if I were to love Youve Got Mail thoroughly, it would still not get a 10/10 or 9/10 from me because of the hundreds (over-exaggeration) of other, better romantic comedies that were out there.

To some this process is intuitive. To others, it sounds like a lot of unnecessary thinking. The thing is that it isn't that difficult at all. The reason I mentioned this is because if you think that way, you will be less likely to have a wavering opinion. I thought it was a valid point to point out..



[This message has been edited by psudoazn (edited 04-12-2002).]