Writing (books, films, plays, CDs) reviews

Writing   (books, films, plays, CDs) reviews

Reviews are brief accounts of books, films, plays, CDs, etc. Their purpose is to inform readers and viewers, while also giving opinions and recommendations about whether or not they should buy a CD, read a book, watch a film, etc.

Reviews should include:

-          an introduction which gives facts and background information concerning the book, CD, etc. (i.e. the title, the name of the artist/author, type, etc)

-          a main body, usually is made of two paragraphs: one describing the main features of the subject (e.g. the plot), and another including general comments and the writer’s opinion (e.g. the acting, musical style, etc)

-          a conclusion which includes a recommendation of the book, CD, play, etc, supported by reasons.

Reviews are normally found in newspapers, magazines or as parts of a letter. The style used depends on the publication and the intended reader; therefore, it can be either formal or semi-formal. Present tenses are normally used, as well as a variety of adjectives to make the review more interesting to the reader.

A film review

Erin Brockovich is a true story about one woman’s courageous fight to beat the system. The film’s director is Steven Soderbergh and the cast includes Julia Roberts as Erin Brockovich, a single mother of three, and Alberth Finney as Ed Masry, her sympathetic attorney and later boss.

Set in a small California town, the story begins when, after a car accident leaves her with no money and no job, Erin begs Ed to let her work at his law firm. While working there, she accidentally comes across some medical files. Sensing that something is not right, she convinces Ed to let her look into the matter. Soon, Erin discovers that a power company has been polluting the city’s water supply, causing many of its residents to develop serious illness.

The film is full of emotional moments as Erin wins the trust of the suspicion but frightened local citizens. The actors – especially Roberts, who won the Oscar award for Best Actress – give moving and believable performances, and the directing is excellent.  

This film is well worth seeing. It will touch your heart and make you cheer for ordinary people. Don’t miss it!

USEFUL LANGUAGE

Background

The film/story is set in…

This well-written/informative/fascinating book…

This original first novel…

The film/book tells the story of …

The book/novel was written by…

The film is directed by…

This work is based on…

It is a comedy/horror film/love story…

Main points of the plot:

The plot is focused on…

The story begins/concerns/is about…

The plot has an unexpected twist…

The film reaches a dramatic climax…

The plot is (absolutely) thrilling (rather)boring…

General comments and opinion

It is rather confusing/long/slow/boring.

The cast is excellent/weak/awful/unconvincing.

The script is dull/clever/exciting.

It has a tragic/surprising/dramatic end.

It is beautifully/poorly/badly written.

It doesn’t come across as…

The arrangements are simple/effective/complicated.

Rich/dull sound

Catchy tune

Features a variety of musical instruments

Powerful/ weak voice

Musically satisfying

Recommendations

Don’t miss it.

It is well worth seeing.

It will change the way you see…

I wouldn’t recommend it because…

It’s bound to be a box-office hit.

I highly/thoroughly/strongly recommend it.

Wait until it comes out on DVD.

It is a highly entertaining read.

It’s a bore to read.

It’s certainly at the top of my list.

Fans will no doubt be thrilled with this.

It’s a must!

Don’t bother with this one.

I definitely recommend that you add this CD to your collection!

A book review

Woman in the Mists, by Farley Mowat, is an inspiring story that takes places in the Varunga Mountains in Rwanda, Africa. This wonderfully written book is the biography of Dian Fossey, an intelligent and determined woman who devoted her life to protecting the wild mountain gorillas.

The book relates how Fossey, a zoologist, moves to the Varunga mountains to study gorillas. After months of hard work, she is finally accepted into their group, playing wrestling and even hugging these animals. Soon, however, Fossey’s world is threatened as poachers start to hunt and kill her beloved friends.

The drama-filled story is gripping from beginning to end. It is full of touching moments as Fossey struggles to save these often misunderstood but affectionate animals. Mowat’s admiration for Fossey shows clearly in the book’s description of her love for the gorillas and her deep respect for the natural environment in which she lived.

I highly recommend Woman in the Mists. It is beautifully written and will leave the reader with a better understanding of this truly remarkable woman.

A CD review

Sting: Brand New Day

Brand New Day, by Sting, is a brilliant CD which is by far one of his best. There are ten tracks to enjoy, each one better than the last. And although the main theme of the CD is love, each song tells its own different story.

The CD’s title track and first single, Brand New Day, is an upbeat song about never giving up on love. The arrangements are simple and effective. The rich sound of Desert Rose promises to be the second single from the CD and is full of surprises. The minute-long introduction is sung in Arabic by Cheb  Mami and the song, with its Middle Eastern influences and Sting’s powerful voice, is unlike anything he has ever done before. After the Rain Has Fallen is an energetic song that tells a fairy-tale story of love. You’ll be humming this catchy tune long after you first hear it! The End of the Game features a variety of musical instruments from loud drums to calming keyboards and violins.

Once again, Sting will fascinate audiences from all over the world with his powerful voice and catchy tunes. I definitely recommend that you add this CD to your collection. It is a must!

How to Write a Movie Review

Whether a movie is a rotten tomato or a brilliant work of art, if people are watching it, it's worth critiquing. A good movie review should entertain, persuade and inform, providing an original opinion without giving away too much of the plot. A great movie review can be a work of art in its own right. Read on to learn how to analyze a movie, come up with an interesting thesis and write a review as entertaining as your source material.

Sample Movie Review

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Cast: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Director: Christopher Nolan

Synopsis: Christian Bale stars as both the classic caped crusader and his billionaire alter-ego, Bruce Wayne. In this third installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, Bruce Wayne no longer feels that the City of Gotham needs a hero and goes on a secluded hiatus. However, when a new villain, Bane (Tom Hardy), threatens Gotham City, Wayne dons his cape and mask once more.  

Review:  

Christopher Nolan brings yet another adrenaline-filled, comic-inspired movie to the big screen.  We see all sorts of familiar faces this time around, but the audience is introduced to a few new characters as well.

When crisis threatens Gotham City, Bruce Wayne jumps back into the Batmobile to fight crime. Batman is joined on his quest by an eager orphaned cop (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a seductive cat burglar (Anne Hathaway), and a violent masked villain (Tom Hardy).      

This film served as great entertainment with its colorful cast and numerous plot twists. Nolan used actors that had either appeared in previous Batman films or in his blockbuster hit Inception, and all of them shone in their respective roles: Tom Hardy was almost unrecognizable in his Bane costume, while Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard were both excellent—and obviously comfortable with Nolan’s directing style and the film’s dramatic tone.  

The one actor that gave this reviewer pause was Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle. She has historically been typecast as the girl next door, so it was a shock to watch her steal and fight her way through the City of Gotham. After a few scenes, however, we were convinced that the casting decisions was a good one, as Hathaway portrayed the darker Catwoman role brilliantly.

True to Nolan’s style, at 164 minutes, this film is fairly long. There were a few times when the movie felt a bit drawn out, but the gorgeous action scenes and impressive dialogue really held the audience’s attention and kept them on the edge of their seats. However, the timeline was a bit unclear at times. For a number of scenes, it was hard to tell whether it had been days or months or years that had passed since the last time a given character had been on screen.

Despite the films minor shortcomings, The Dark Knight Rises is exciting, creative, and dark—and well worth a few hours of your time.

Downloaded from http://www.wikihow.com

Sample Online Movie Review

I recently saw Meet the Parents and was very pleased with the movie. It is a comedy that depicts what happens when a man is introduced to his girlfriend’s family for the first time. Long story short, this guy ends up getting himself into a world of trouble that he never expected.

This movie is filled with amazing actors who truly make the film. First, Robert De Niro gives a legendary performance in this film and is absolutely hilarious. Ben Stiller as the male lead is his usual funny self. Finally, Owen Wilson is also good for a lot of laughs throughout the film, even though he is playing a supporting role. The casting for this movie is truly perfect, and the actors do not disappoint.

As mentioned, during his first meeting with his girlfriend’s family, Greg (Stiller) gets himself into sticky situations involving family pets, lies, family members, fires, and even sporting games. The problems he faces will have you in stitches. Additionally, you won’t be able to help getting so into the movie, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting to see what will happen in the end.

One of the best things about this movie is that it’s so relatable. We all have those awkward moments (many of them having to do with our love lives) that make us cringe. Regardless of your embarrassing situation, Greg has probably gotten into something worse. You can’t help but laugh hysterically at his expense.

Finally, I love how in this film just when everything seems to finally be going right, it can turn around in an instant. Without giving too much away, there are so many times where you think that Greg is finally going to make a good impression but then ends up messing up all over again, sending you into inevitable fits of laughter.

Overall, this is a great movie with a mix of a ton of laughs and a love story all rolled into one. If you’re looking for a pick-me-up or to laugh hysterically, this is undoubtedly the movie for you.

Sample Movie Review for School Paper

This past weekend, I saw the movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. As part of the popular Harry Potter book and movie series, it was definitely one to remember.

This movie is mainly about a large-scale competition between wizards that takes place at Hogwarts over the course of the school year. Harry has been entered into the contest, which is known as The Triwizard Tournament, and many twists and turns make for quite the adventurous competition. True to Harry Potter form, the characters encounter problems, tragedies, challenges, and mysterious behavior that they are forced to decode.

New characters were introduced in this film, which was an enjoyable aspect and added a new element of intrigue that the previous Harry Potter films did not possess. Furthermore, this installment of the series seemed to follow its literary counterpart the most closely and accurately. Also, this film was a good length: not excessively long but long enough to tell the story. Another great aspect of the film was the special effects, particularly with regard to all of the scenes featuring the dragons.

This movie was also different from the rest because it had more story concerning the characters’ love lives. In one particular scene, there was a dance that all of the tournament contestants were to attend. The characters went to the ball, and it was so much fun to watch. First of all, the scenery of the ball was exquisite, and it was so cool to actually feel like you were there! This was definitely one of the highlights of the movie.

Overall, this was, in my opinion, the best Harry Potter film yet and portrays the fantastical story of wizards and the world of Hogwarts extremely well. With the addition of new characters, the fast-paced nature of the film, and the added romantic aspects, this movie was truly a great one.

Part 1

Drafting Your Review

1

Start with a compelling fact or opinion on the movie. You want to get the reader hooked immediately. This sentence needs to give them a feel for your review and the movie -- is it good, great, terrible, or just okay? -- and keep them reading. Some ideas include:

• Comparison to Relevant Event or Movie: "Every day, our leaders, politicians, and pundits call for "revenge"-- against ISIS, against rival sports teams, against other political parties. But few of them understand cold, destructive, and ultimately hallow thrill of revenge as well as the characters of Blue Ruin."
• Review in a nutshell "Despite a compelling lead performance by Tom Hanks and a great soundtrack, Forrest Gump never gets out of the shadow of its weak plot and questionable premise."
• Context or Background Information: "Boyhood might be the first movie made where knowing how it was produced -- slowly, over 12 years, with the same actors -- is just as crucial as the movie itself."
1. 2

Give a clear, well-established opinion early on. Don't leave the reader guessing whether you like the movie or not. Let them know early on, so that you can spend the rest of the time "proving" your rating.

• Using stars, a score out of 10 or 100, or the simple thumbs-up and thumbs-down is a quick way to give your thoughts. You then write about why you chose that rating.
• Great Movie: "American Hustle is the rare movie that succeeds on almost every level, where each character, scene, costume, and joke firing on all cylinders to make a film worth repeated viewings."
• Bad Movie: "It doesn't matter how much you enjoy kung-fu and karate films: with 47 Ronin, you're better off saving your money, your popcorn, and time."
• Okay Movie: "I loved the wildly uneven Interstellar far more than I should have, but that doesn't mean it is perfect. Ultimately, the utter awe and spectacle of space swept me through the admittedly heavy-handed plotting and dialogue."
2. 3

Back up your opinion with specific evidence. This is where taking notes during the movie really pays off. No one cares about your opinion if you can't give facts that support your argument.

• Great: "Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer's chemistry would carry Fruitvale Station even if the script wasn't so good. The mid-movie prison scene in particular, where the camera never leaves their faces, show how much they can convey with nothing but their eyelids, the flashing tension of neck muscles, and a barely cracking voice."
• Bad: "Jurassic World's biggest flaw, a complete lack of relatable female characters, is only further underscored by a laughably unrealistic shot of our heroine running away from a dinosaur -- in heels."
• Okay: "At the end of the day, Snowpiercer can't decide what kind of movie it wants to be. The attention to detail in fight scenes, where every weapon, lightbulb, and slick patch of ground is accounted for, doesn't translate to an ending that seems powerful but ultimately says little of substance."
3. 4

Move beyond the obvious plot analysis. Plot is just one piece of a movie, and shouldn't dictate your entire review. Some movies don't have great or compelling plots, but that doesn't mean the movie itself is bad. Other things to focus on include:

• Cinematography: "Her is a world drenched in color, using bright, soft reds and oranges alongside calming whites and grays that both build, and slowly strip away, the feelings of love between the protagonists. Every frame feels like a painting worth sitting in."
• Tone: "Despite the insane loneliness and high stakes of being stuck alone on Mars, The Martian's witty script keeps humor and excitement alive in every scene. Space may be dangerous and scary, but the joy of scientific discovery is intoxicating."
• Music and Sound: "No Country For Old Men's bold decision to skip music entirely pays off in spades. The eerie silence of the desert, punctuated by the brief spells of violent, up-close-and-personal sound effects of hunter and hunted, keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat."
• Acting: "While he's fantastic whenever he's on the move, using his cool stoicism to counteract the rampaging bus, Keanu Reeves can't quite match his costar in the quiet moments of Speed, which falter under his expressionless gaze."
4. 5

Bring your review full-circle in the ending. Give the review some closure, usually by trying back to your opening fact. Remember, people read reviews to decide whether or not they should watch a movie. End on a sentence that tells them.

• Great: "In the end, even the characters of Blue Ruin know how pointless their feud is. But revenge, much like every taut minute of this thriller, is far too addictive to give up until the bitter end.""
• Bad: "Much like the oft-mentioned "box of chocolates", Forest Gump has a couple of good little morsels. But most of the scenes, too sweet by half, should have been in the trash long before this movie was put out."
• Okay: "Without the novel, even revolutionary concept, Boyhood may not be a great movie. It might not even be "good."But the power the film find in the beauty of passing time and little, inconsequential moments -- moments that could only be captured over 12 years of shooting -- make Linklater's latest an essential film for anyone interested in the art of film."

Part 2

Studying Your Source Material

1. Gather basic facts about the movie. You can do this before or after you watch the movie, but you should definitely do it before you write the review, because you'll need to weave the facts into your review as you write. Here's what you need to know:

• The title of the film, and the year it came out.
• The director's name.
• The names of the lead actors.
• The genre.

2. Take notes on the movie as you watch it. Before you sit down to watch a film, get out a notepad or a laptop to take notes. Movies are long, and you can easily forget details or major plot points. Taking notes allows you to jot down little things you can return to later.

• Make a note every time something sticks out to you, whether it's good or bad. This could be costuming, makeup, set design, music, etc. Think about how this detail relates to the rest of the movie and what it means in the context of your review.
• Take note of patterns you begin to notice as the movie unfolds.
• Use the pause button frequently so you make sure not to miss anything, and rewind as necessary.

3. Analyze the mechanics of the movie. Analyze the different components that came together in the movie as you watch. During or after your viewing, ask yourself what impression the movie left with you in these areas:

• Direction. Consider the director and how he or she choose to portray/explain the events in the story. If the movie was slow, or didn't include things you thought were necessary, you can attribute this to the director. If you've seen other movies directed by the same person, compare them and determine which you like the most.
• Cinematography. What techniques were used to film the movie? What setting and background elements helped to create a certain tone?
• Writing. Evaluate the script, including dialogue and characterization. Did you feel like the plot was inventive and unpredictable or boring and weak? Did the characters' words seem credible to you?
• Editing. Was the movie choppy or did it flow smoothly from scene to scene? Take note of the use of lighting and other ambient effects. If the movie has computer-generated graphics, think about whether or not they looked realistic/fit in with the rest of the film.
• Costume design. Did the clothing choices fit the style of the movie? Did they contribute to the overall tone, rather than digressing from it?
• Set design. Consider how the setting of the film influenced its other elements. Did it add or subtract from the experience for you? If the movie was filmed in a real place, was this location well-chosen?
• Score or soundtrack. Did it work with the scenes? Was it over/under-used? Was it suspenseful? Amusing? Irritating? A soundtrack can make or break a movie, especially if the songs have a particular message or meaning to them.

4. Watch it one more time. It's impossible to fully understand a movie you've only seen one time, especially if you're pausing it often to take notes. Watch it at least once more before you compose your review. Pay attention to details you might have missed the first time around. Pick new points of focus this time; if you took a lot of notes on the acting the first time you watched the movie, focus on the cinematography the second time around.

Part 3

Composing Your Review

1. Create an original thesis based on your analysis. Now that you've thoroughly studied the movie, what unique insights can you bring to the table? Come up with a thesis, a central idea to discuss and back up with your observations on the various elements of the film. Your thesis should be discussed in the first paragraph of your review. Having a thesis will take your review beyond the plot summary stage and into the realm of film criticism, which is rightfully its own art form. Ask yourself the following questions to come up with a compelling thesis for your review:

• Does the film reflect on a current event or contemporary issue? It could be the director's way of engaging in a bigger conversation. Look for ways to relate the content of the film to the "real" world.
• Does the film seem to have a message, or does it attempt to elicit a specific response or emotion from the audience? You could discuss whether or not it achieves its own goals.
• Does the film connect with you on a personal level? You could write a review stemming from your own feelings and weave in some personal stories to make it interesting for your readers

2. Follow your thesis paragraph with a short plot summary. It's good to give readers an idea of what they'll be in for if they decide to see the movie you're reviewing. Give a brief summary of the plot in which you identify the main characters, describe the setting, and give a sense of the central conflict or point of the movie. Never break the number one rule of movie reviews: don't give too much away. Don't ruin the movie for your readers!

• When you name characters in your plot summary, list the actors' names directly afterward in parenthesis.
• Find a place to mention the director's name and the full movie title.
• If you feel you must discuss information that might "spoil" things for readers, warn them first.

3. Move into your analysis of the movie. Write several paragraphs discussing interesting elements of the movie that support your thesis. Discuss the acting, the direction, the cinematography, the setting, and so on, using clear, entertaining prose that keeps your readers engaged.

• Keep your writing clear and easy to understand. Don't use too much technical filmmaking jargon, and make your language crisp and accessible.
• Present both the facts and your opinion. For example, you might state something such as, "The Baroque background music was a jarring contrast to the 20th century setting." This is a lot more informative then simply saying, "The music was a strange choice for the movie."

4. Use plenty of examples to back up your points. If you make a statement about the movie, back it up with a descriptive example. Describe the way scenes look, the way a certain person acted, camera angles, and so on. You can quote dialogue to help you make your points as well. In this way you are giving your readers a feel for the movie and continuing to express your critique of the film at the same time.

5. Give it some personality. You could treat your review like a formal college essay, but it's more interesting if you make it your own. If your writing style is usually witty and funny, your review should be no exception. If you're serious and dramatic, that works, too. Let your language and writing style reflect your unique perspective and personality - it's much more entertaining for the reader.

6. Wrap up your review with a conclusion. It should tie back to your original thesis and provide some guidance as to whether the audience should go see the movie. Your conclusion should also be compelling or entertaining on its own, since it's the end of your piece of writing.

Part 4

Polishing Your Piece

1. Edit your review. Once you've finished the first draft, read it through and decide whether it flows well and has the right structure. You may need to shift paragraphs around, delete sentences, or add more material here and there to fill out parts that are stunted. Give your review at least one editorial pass, and maybe two or three, before you consider it to be editorially sound.

• Ask yourself whether your review stayed true to your thesis. Did your conclusion tie back in with the initial ideas you proposed?
• Decide whether your review contains enough details about the movie. You may need to go back and add more description here and there to give readers a better sense of what the movie's about.
• Decide whether your review is interesting enough as a stand-alone piece of writing. Did you contribute something original to this discussion? What will readers gain from reading your review that they couldn't from simply watching the movie?

2. Proofread your review. Make sure you've spelled all the actors' names correctly and that you got all the dates right. Clean up typos, grammatical errors, and other spelling errors as well. A clean, proofread review will seem much more professional than one that's full of silly mistakes.

3. Publish or share your review. Post it on your blog, share it in a movie discussion forum, put it up on Facebook, or email it to your friends and family. Movies are the quintessential art form of our time, and like all art, they spark controversy, provide a venue for self-reflection, and greatly influence our culture. All this means they're worth discussing, whether they're flops or works of pure genius. Congratulations for contributing your valuable opinion to the discussion.