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First, choose a film to review. It doesn’t have to be a new film, though it is helpful if you have seen it recently, and you don’t have to have enjoyed it. Sometimes it’s easier to pinpoint what you don’t like about something than what you like! Think about what you liked or didn’t like about the film.
The purpose of a review is firstly to give factual information about the subject, and secondly to give an opinion about it which will help the reader to decide whether to buy the book, see the play or film or visit the exhibition.
Reviews normally contain three main ingredients: overview, pros and cons, and verdict. The writer may decide to describe an aspect of the subject and comment immediately on strengths and weaknesses, for example, before going on to describe another aspect of the subject.
Overview – a description of the subject • Play / film / TV programme • What is it about? Is there anything special / unusual about the production? • Play / film: Where is it on? Are there any well-known actors? Who is the director? • TV programme: Which channel? Is it part of a series? Who is the producer?
Pros and cons • Your comments will probably include both objective views andsubjective views (based on personal feelings) – the story wasn’t interesting or the film was too violent. Make sure, however, that you give reasons for your comments. • You may have strong positive or negative feelings about the subject of the review and this is no bad thing. A strong opinion, clearly argued, is often more interesting to read than a carefully balanced assessment. Even so, try not to be completely one-sided.
Verdict – summing-up and recommendation • The last paragraph should sum up your feelings and make it clear to the reader whether you recommend the subject without any reservations, recommend it with one or two reservations, or don’t recommend it at all. In real life, readers often look at the last paragraph of a review first to see what the general verdict is. Make sure your review gives a clear verdict.
Useful language • Overview • The (film) I would like to review is….. • The last Film I saw / book I read was……. • The film / programme concerns … • deals with … • shows … • describes … • tells the story of …
PROS AND CONS • really extraordinary quite interesting boring • fascinating amusing unimaginative • absolutely amazing fairly entertaining • completely humourless • beautiful exciting hopeless stunninginformative amateurish superb attractive over the top • brilliant successful predictable
verdict • - I would recommend this film to anyone. • – Although I enjoyed it, I would not recommend it for…. • – It’s one of the best (shows) I’ve ever seen. • – Although I am not normally keen on (musicals), I am gladthat I decided to go. • – The (film) lifts you out of your everyday life.
EXAMPLE OF A FILM REVIEW • Crazy Plumber – Plaza Cinema • If you have seen the advance publicity, you might imagine that this was a funny film. Wrong. It’s a film which tries very hard to be funny and fails consistently. The story concerns a plumber who isn’t very good at his job. When his customers desert, and he can’t pay his bills, he decides to turn to crime. He tries a little shoplifting (he isn’t very good at it, of course) but then he gets involved in bigger things. • Wayne Gibson, who plays the hero, has one or two good lines but most of the time he’s struggling with a terrible script. There are a few good moments – the car chase sequence is memorable – but the storyline is very slight and the director seems to have run out of ideas very quickly. As the film progresses, the level of violence increases. Despite the publicity, this is not a film for young children. • A great deal of money went into the making of Crazy Plumber but in the end spectacular effects are no substitute for real humour.
