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How to Write a Movie Review for College

Adela B.

Table of contents

You’ve been asked to watch the recently released movie, Joker.

You squeal with joy. “Best assignment ever,” you say, and the next thing you know, you’re asked to write a movie review on it.

If only reviewing a movie was as enjoyable as watching it. Am I right, or am I right?

You might know by now that writing a movie review for college isn’t all fun and games. It’s serious business - just like any other academic writing assignment.

A movie review is meant to be a holistic evaluation and analysis of the movie. You’re expected to share your opinion on the technical and creative aspects while providing thorough evidence to back up your statements.

The purpose of a film review is to help the reader decide whether they need to watch it. There is no right or wrong point of view - everything depends on your approach, attention to detail, and how you choose to demonstrate your personal opinions.

If you’re stressing about how to write a movie review for college - read on to learn how you can ace this assignment and submit a winning review.

How to Write a Movie Review for College in 6 Steps

Writing a movie review helps instructors review your critical thinking, analytical, and evaluation skills. It takes careful planning and exemplary writing skills.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on writing a movie review for college (and doing a great job at it!).

Watch the Movie (More Than Once) and Take Notes

Remember - you’re watching the film as a critic and not as just another audience which means you need to be extremely vigilant while watching it.

When you sit down to watch the movie, sit with a notebook and make it a point to take notes. You cannot expect to remember every little point after watching a three-hour-long film.

Note-taking enables you to jot down your thoughts and makes it easier to organize them during the writing stage. Take notes about critical dialogues, characters, and scenes that stood out. Look out for patterns and assess how the movie made you feel.

Apart from that, it also looks into the underlying themes and technical aspects such as the film-making technique used or cinematography.

While writing a movie for college, one watch is certainly not enough. Watch it at least two to three times. Let the first time be purely about watching the movie for what it is. After that, you can go on to re-watch it with the objective of reviewing or critiquing it.

Do Background Research

In the case of a movie review writing assignment, the movie is undoubtedly your go-to source and the holy grail, but it’s not enough.

Consider researching the director, the year it came out, what was the socio-political environment like, what were the director’s motivations, whether there was any inspiration behind the movie, where it was shot, etc.

Doing this additional reading will give you valuable insights that will help you write a qualitative and well-rounded movie review.

Analyze the Movie in Parts

How will you write a movie review if you don’t know what you’re watching it for?

It’s a good idea to analyze it in parts.

Crucial elements you must consider during your movie analysis

  • direction - how did the director translate the script into a film, can this movie be compared to his/her previous films, etc.;
  • cinematography - what are the camera angles and shots, what is the filming technique, what is the lighting technique, and how does it impact the scenes, etc.;
  • writing - how developed are the characters, was the plot predictable, how does it start and end, how are the dialogues, etc.;
  • acting - how would you judge the actors’ performances, etc.;
  • music - how does the music and background score accentuate the story;
  • editing - how to do the scenes transition, did the cuts seem realistic and smooth, how was the length, etc.;
  • costume and set design - were they appropriate to the era and the theme, etc.

Let this serve as a checklist while you’re watching the movie and making your notes.

Here’s a useful video by The Misfit Pond on how to analyze movies

Create an Outline

Now that you have your notes and analysis-ready, you can go on to the next stage - writing.

The first step of this stage is to create an outline that forms the skeleton of your paper and gives it direction. The idea is to jot down the sub-headings and include the points you plan on including under each of them.

This is the ideal structure of a movie review for the college

  • Introduction - start with a hook and include basic details of the movie such as name, year of release, director, actors, and central theme. This paragraph should end with the thesis statement;
  • Summary - provide a concise summary of the plot;
  • Analysis - discuss the film’s creative and technical aspects while enlisting its strengths and/or weaknesses;
  • Opinion - put forth your opinion objectively while backing it up with evidence;
  • Conclusion - reinstate your thesis and highlight whether the reader sees the film or not.

Start Writing

This is where your efforts will culminate - it’s time to put down your thoughts into words and get writing.

Even though movie reviews are generally not that long, they can make for an overwhelming writing experience because there’s so much you’re juggling with.

It’s a good idea to break down the writing process and give yourself breaks in between. There’s no way you can do justice to the paper if you’re tired or burnt out.

Edit and Proofread

Once you’re done writing, make sure you read it multiple times to submit a well-written and polished paper.

Let the first round of reading be about checking the logical flow and structure of the paper while ensuring there is no plagiarism . Make sure you’ve added all the points you intended to and that they flow in smoothly.

Next up, proofread the review and check for typos, and grammatical and spelling errors. It’s also worth getting a friend or family member to read the review to check for errors that you may have missed out.

6 Smart Tips to Write an Excellent Movie Review

The best film reviews are those that strike a balance between sharing one’s personal opinion and being objective.

Now, that’s a tough thing to achieve because sometimes we get so swayed by our personal point of view that we don’t realize that we are expected to be unbiased and objective in this assignment.

Well, here are 6 smart tips to help you write an excellent movie review for college.

Read Other Reviews

Writing movie reviews is an art - and not everyone can review a movie the way it needs to be reviewed.

So, before you even start watching the movie in question, you should read reviews by notable film critics just to understand how movie reviews are written.

You can read reviews by Andrew Sarris, Judith Crist, Peter Travers, Peter Bradshaw, and Roger Eber, among many others.

That said, try not to read reviews on the same movie you’re reviewing because that might influence your perspective and writing.

Watch Like a Critic

There’s a huge difference between watching a movie like a general audience and watching it like a critic. For this assignment, you need to do the latter.

What does that mean? Analyze the direction, story, and characters, make comparisons, understand the context, look out for motifs, and pay attention to the camera angles and shots, loopholes in the plot, and every little element that’s part of the movie (on and off-screen).

Watch Ann Hornaday , The Washington Post’s film critic, share insights on what it means to watch movies like a critic

Stay Focussed on the Movie

This is an assignment and you have a word count to abide by. Make sure you don’t go off-topic or get derailed while writing the movie review.

Ultimately, everything you write needs to be correlated to the movie you are reviewing. It helps to have your thesis statement written boldly where you can see it. This ensures you don’t wander off-topic.

While proofreading, do keep this in mind and ensure you haven’t added irrelevant information that’s not in line with the topic because that’s likely to go against you.

Be Objective and Support your Opinions

It’s important to note that just because a movie isn’t suited to your taste, does not make it a bad movie.

You need to be objective while writing a movie review. If there is something you disagree with or are critiquing, do include enough evidence in the form of facts, statistics, quotes, and examples to strengthen your argument.

At the same time, if you happen to review the movie of a director you’ve been a fan of, don’t let that come in between your writing.

Basically, keep your biases out of the equation.

Look into the Details

Be specific while expressing your opinion. Making generic statements such as “the story was poorly written” or “the characters were well-developed” does not cut it. You need to dive deep and back your claims up to convince the reader about what you’re saying.

The trick is to keep asking yourself questions until you cannot further.

One of the things you will be assessed for will be your attention to detail. Merely touching upon the surface will be reflected in your writing and will cost you your grades.

Avoid Giving Away the Plot

One of the most common mistakes students make while writing movie reviews is including spoilers. This is a grave error because it goes against the concept of writing reviews because adding spoilers ruins the reader’s experience of watching the movie.

While you are expected to give an idea about what the movie is about, you have to keep spoilers out of the way.

Once you understand how to write a movie review for college and what it takes to submit a winning paper, you’ll realize it’s not all that challenging.

Still asking, “how to write a movie review for college”? You can turn to the experts for help. We at Writers Per Hour have a team of professional writers who specialize in writing college movie reviews.

Regardless of whether you have a tight deadline or are stuck while writing a movie review, all you have to do is send us the brief, and we’ll get the best-suited writer for the job.

When you work with Writers Per Hour, you can be sure to receive a high-quality and original movie review written to meet your specific requirements.

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college paper on movie review

Quick Guide on How to Write a Movie Review Essay

college paper on movie review

What Is a Movie Review

The internet has revolutionized the realm of film criticism. No matter a movie's level of quality, it is always worth analyzing. Despite the growing number of individuals attempting to write about movies, few are successful. Most people do not provide insightful analysis, instead simply state how much they liked or disliked the film.

A movie criticism, usually composed by a professional in film studies, takes a comprehensive look at the film from a historical, social, political, or theoretical standpoint. This is unlike the opinion or suggestion given in a movie review, which is shorter and more concise.

A remarkable aspect of a good film review is that it doesn't just rate the movie but provides explicit views that form the critique's basis. This form of writing, like crafting essays, research papers, and term papers, should be insightful and draw the reader in quickly. It's important to discuss the reputation of the lead actors and directors and to write about what you expected and if they were met. The reviewer must explain a story's development without recalling major plot points and endings. The review must be concise, engaging, and should involve metaphors, specific words, analogies, etc.

Movie Review Purpose

Most film reviews are intended to guide readers in deciding whether to view, rent, or purchase the film. They should provide the necessary information to aid readers in deciding without divulging any fundamental details, such as the storyline or any surprises. This paper is common in schools because the lecturer wants to evaluate the student's ability to think critically and report the event easily for others to understand.

Movie reviews typically present a brief summary of the film's storyline. They provide readers with an overview of the characters, relationships, and scenarios but do not convey the complete narrative. Perusing the review should be different from seeing the movie. Nonetheless, feel free to highlight the essential moments or pivotal points that make the film worthwhile viewing.

Our college essay writing service has put together some advice on composing a movie review essay like a real critic, so let's explore the article further!

How to Write a Movie Review: Movie Review Outline

The structure is key when it comes to the quality of your paper. Don't neglect the power of a good outline, no matter what paper you're writing. Outlines help you stay on track and make sure your paper flows well.

Taking the time to arrange your ideas before starting to write is an effective way to save time further down the line. With a well-structured plan already in place, you won't have to worry about other elements. This will also make the writing process less stressful. Here is a guide on how to organize your movie review outline:

Writing a Movie Review_ Step-by-Step Guide

How Do You Start a Movie Review Essay: Introduction

The introductory paragraph is the first obvious step in crafting a movie review essay outline. Here, you want to quickly captivate the reader. Deliver your viewpoint instantly and make it unambiguous. Don't leave the audience wondering whether you enjoyed the film. Tell them right off the bat so you have time to justify your assessment throughout the remainder of the process.

In the introduction movie review should also describe your thesis. Develop the main concept for your essay that you can support using your perceptions of the movie's various aspects. The reader should be able to tell from this statement if you thought the film was fantastic, awful, or simply alright. By including a thesis statement, you may move your analysis beyond the plot synopsis phase into the movie critique category, which is considered a separate creative process.

Crafting Your Essay Movie Review Analysis

According to our research paper service , film analysis is similar to building a case. You're attempting to influence the reader to follow your recommendation to watch or disregard the film. So, you must ensure your essay movie review will be convincing. Giving instances that demonstrate the validity of your personal opinion is the only method to do this. If you find any dialogue in the movie that you think best exemplifies whether the work is strong or not, utilize quotes. This also applies to all of the movie's artistic decisions. But, just because a movie's narrative isn't strong or engaging doesn't indicate the rest of the film is worthless. Carefully highlight how some factors might undermine the movie in your explanation.

The movie's plot is only one component and shouldn't dominate the overall piece. The following are the important aspects to include in your movie review structure:

Cinematography - Cinematography covers much more than simply camera angles. It includes how the picture is lit, how it moves, appears, and what lenses are used. Here you can try the following analysis: 'Warm, gentle colors are used throughout the film, combined with soothing whites and grays, to simultaneously create and gradually tear away the characters' romantic sentiments for one another. There is a painting-like quality to each image.'

Editing - The editing is arguably the absolute star of what creates a good movie review example. It affects both the duration and the flow of a movie. Without effective editing, there would be uncomfortable gaps between pictures and many errors.

Costuming - The clothing the characters wear is called a costume, but there are a number of things to consider while evaluating movie costumes. You should be able to decide if the outfits suit the characters and the movie's atmosphere.

Casting and Acting - Finding the ideal performers to bring characters to life is the goal of casting. This sometimes entails seeing performers portray both familiar personas and figures who are entirely at odds with who they are. Casting, therefore, involves more than just finding talented performers. You can assess the acting in the following way: 'Even though he excels while on the go, his stoic behaviorism causes him to fall short of his co-star during calm scenes where he keeps a blank look on his face.'

Once you have finished analyzing the acting, directing, cinematography, setting, etc., wrap up with concise, stimulating wording to sustain readers' attention. Don't forget to provide a few examples to support your statements about the film.

Concluding Your Essay Movie Review

Finalize your review by coming full circle. Close the review by returning to your introductory fact or thesis. Give your readers a refresher on the movie's most intriguing aspects. It's important to remember that before choosing a movie, viewers check reviews. Finish with a statement indicating whether it is worthwhile for them to view. Be specific about who this movie will be more fascinating to and why in your suggestions. Remember that your ending is your last shot at influencing your audience, so use it wisely.

No matter the kind of movie review you have to complete, our professional specialists are willing to help you. Directly forward your needs to our research paper service and get it done quickly.

Need Help With MOVIE REVIEW WRITING?

No matter what type of movie review you want, our qualified specialists are ready to assist you.

Short Movie Review Form

If you are currently working on a new or old movie review, reading our suggestions should be sufficient to help you earn an A. So what if you'll be writing many reviews in the future? In this situation, we advise you to develop a uniform movie review template, which will enable you to save time and complete your upcoming projects successfully.

So, how to write a movie review template, you may ask? Well, our essay helper prepared a simple yet great movie review template you may use as a foundation for your own writing if you need some help getting started:

movie review form

Example Papers

Once you know how to review a movie and learn the most valuable tips to handle this assignment, it is time to look at some movie review examples to get you on the right track.

Check out the following pieces to see which of these movie review essay examples you might want to keep at hand when working on your own assignment:

Helpful Tips on Writing Movie Reviews

Here are some extra helpful tips to keep in mind when unsure how to write a movie review essay:

Mistakes to Avoid While Making a Movie Review

  • Add Your Own Personal Feel to Your Movie Critique - You might not have much spare time for your pastime of reviewing. You won't be able to write a movie review, though, if you just wing it without reading what others have said. Make a note of the things that intrigued you, alarmed you, made you uncomfortable, or caused you to pause and consider something, and then use that list as the basis for your research.
  • Develop a Distinctive Writing Style - Have an idol—it's good for you. You must be careful not to just paraphrase and duplicate what they say without adding your own original viewpoint. Instead, in order to stand out from the throng, you must discover your own voice. When writing movie reviews, you should also have a distinct writing style.
  • Include Extensive Information -Mention the film's photographer, special effects designer, and director. Your review might be significantly impacted by this. Then you may list all the memorable movie moments that also stuck with you.
  • Voice Your Views and Back Up Your Criticism - Give your own assessment of the film. Make sure you have evidence to support your criticisms. Use the movie's details that most shocked or humiliated you. Review genuine information rather than merely expressing your opinions without supporting details.

Final Thoughts

Composing a good movie review essay sample is easy if you follow this article's main steps and techniques. Furthermore, we strongly believe that this guide will assist you in achieving remarkable outcomes and ease your writing process. The staff at EssayPro is always available to provide a helping hand if you need a little additional push with movie review examples or even if it's simply coming up with a catchy essay title .

Order an essay and await excellent results! Contact our expert writers and ask them to ' write my essay for me ' – and they will ensure your academic success!

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FAQs on Writing an Essay Movie Review

Here are the most frequently asked questions on how to write a movie review. We provided extra details on movie analysis to simplify writing film reviews.

What are the 6 Important Things to Include in a Film Review?

How long should a movie review be, what are the 5 c's in film, related articles.

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How to Write a Movie Review for College Step-by-Step and Fast

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by  Antony W

October 28, 2021

movie review

A movie with hundreds of thousands of views is worth analyzing, or isn’t it? Whether it’s an epic show on Netflix or a single on Amazon Prime, if people are watching, there is something worth saying about it.

Look at Rotten Tomatoes and Meta Critic . They’re platforms for the movie fanatics who don’t hold back their breath and thoughts after a 2-hour long flick.

How they tear down movies and TV show in extremely incredible, with their thoughts quite so authentic enough to appear on such respected platforms.

It’s not just on Meta Critic and Rotten Tomatoes that movie reviews appear. Even your instructor in college may ask you to do is as part of your assignment. Which is why it’s important to learn how to write a movie review for college.

In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to review a movie without trying so hard. You’ll learn the exact steps to follow. Plus, some tips to help you write a movie review that simply stands out.

What is a Movie Review?

what is a movie review

A movie review is a holistic assignment where you have to watch a movie and share your opinion about it.

Quite too often, you’ll have to concentrate on the creative aspect of the story in the movie, although it’s not uncommon for your instructor to ask you to analyze the technical aspect of the assignment as well.

Even more significantly is that you have to provide objective evidence to defend your view.

What’s the Purpose of a Movie Review?

purpose of movie review

The purpose of a movie review is to help an audience or readers to determine whether a certain movie is worth watching in the first place. Since there are just too many movies to watch these days, reviews let people know whether a particular show is interesting or otherwise. 

As far as writing a movie review is concerned, it’s important to know that there’s no such thing as a wrong point of view.

At the end of the day, people have varied opinion about what they see and perceive, which is totally acceptable when it comes to reviewing a movie.

In other words, your point of view will highly depend on how you choose to demonstrate your opinion and partly on your attention to details.

A Guide to write a Movie Review for College

Writing a movie review may not be as fun as your 2-hour long or so flick. But if you follow our step-by-step guide to writing movie reviews, you stand the chance to earn the best grades for the assignment.

how to write a movie review

You need to have a holistic approach to the assignment. In other words, the way you handle the work should demonstrate your critical thinking, analytical skills, and ability to think outside the box.

Therefore, below is how to approach your movie review assignment:

Step 1 Watch the Movie

It’s tempting to read reviews about the movie in question online and write your own version from the material. But that’s not exactly the right approach for the assignment. Why? It’s because you have to come up with your very own unique critique, so exercising vigilance is quite significant in this case.

So instead of compiling tons of reviews on the movie from different sources, set aside some time to watch the film from start to finish.

Watch the movie

We advise that you watch the movie more than once. Your first round should be to get a clear idea of what the movie is all about. This way, you can be able to briefly explain the primary theme of the film, if not in its entirety.

Watch the movie for a second time, and, this time, take notes. Write down your thoughts on what you see and hear. Focus on critical dialogues, important scenes, technical aspects, and significant character in the film. If you noticed some common patterns in the movie, write them down. If the movie made you feel a certain way, be sure to note that down.

It’s hard to conclude that you can collect all that information by simply watching the movie once or twice. If you can, fine. If you can’t, don’t beat yourself up. Watch as many times as you like so that you can collect the most critical information to use to write your review.

Step 2 Add Some Background Research

While the film is your go-to source for the assignment, it may not be enough to write a solid review. Dive into some background research to learn more about the movie beyond what you’ve seen on the screen.

When did the movie come out? Who was the director? Where was the film shot? What do you think is the writer and director’s objective with the movie?

As you can see, you’re collective valuable information that you can use to add more insights to your movie review.

Step 3 Analyze the Movie

Next, analyze the movie keenly. It’s important to do so in parts to get this right. Consider evaluating the most critical elements of the film.

For example:

  • Was the costume design and shooting locations appropriate for the theme of the film?
  • Did the actors perform their roles well?
  • Did the directors do a good job in translating the script into a film?
  • What’s your opinion on the scripts, music, and the editing?

By the end of your analysis, you should have sufficient information to use to write a good review for the movie.

Step 4 Create an Outline for Your Movie Review

Now that you’ve watched the movie, done some background research, and analyzed the movie, it’s time to take that information and put it into an outline.

Outlining shouldn’t take much of your time. Create your subheadings and include the most important points under each.

Your movie review will be a   5-paragraph essay .  It should have an introduction, three body paragraphs (with a summary, analysis, and your opinion), and a conclusion paragraph.

Step 5 Write Your Movie Review 

Now it’s time to take the points in your outline and put them into words.

When writing the review, try to stick to the word count suggested in the prompt. And even if there isn’t a suggested word limit for the essay,   don’t make the assignment unnecessarily too long.

If it helps, take breaks in between writing so that you can do a better job.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

How to Write a Movie Review

How to Write a Movie Review

college paper on movie review

Writing a Film Review

Movies have become a cultural mainstay of our society. Not only are they art and entertainment, but they have also become a way for people to bond and make connections. Finding someone who has a similar taste in movies can create new friendships and start interesting conversations. That's why understanding how to analyze a movie and write movie reviews is such a useful skill. 

Do you need to know how to write a movie review for college? Or how to write a movie critique? Or maybe just how to do a movie review? In this article, you will learn how to write a movie review step by step, as well as get an in-depth guide into each section of a movie review.

What is a Movie Review?

A film review essay is more than just a plot summary followed by a recommendation. A movie review analyzes different elements of a movie and mixes personal opinion with objective analysis. The goal of the movie review is to tell the reader about the details of a movie while giving them enough information to decide for themselves whether it's worth watching or not. Of course, a good movie review also has to be interesting and engaging! 

How to Write a Good Movie Review

More than most other pieces of writing, there are a lot of steps to take before actually getting into writing a movie review. But don't worry though, most of these steps are pretty fun and if you follow them, you will know how to review movies. 

Watch the film! 

It goes without saying that you need to watch a movie before you write a review for it, so, before you do anything else, watch the movie at least once. Don't worry about trying to pick up specific details on your first watch, just enjoy the movie and get a general impression of whether you liked it or not and what you liked or disliked. Ideally, you should watch the movie at least two times. On your second and third viewings, pay attention to movie review criteria like cinematography, acting, dialogue, character development, deeper meanings, etc. Read some film review examples to get a sense of the things they talk about.

Pause the movie on your second and third viewings and take notes on things that stand out to you. Don't be afraid to take as many notes as you want, after all these notes are just for you.  You might not use all the notes you have taken, but they will help you compose the main part of your body paragraphs.

Express your opinions

Once you have watched the movie a few times and taken notes, make a list of the strongest opinions you have about the movie. If you think that the quality of acting was one of the best parts of the movie, use your notes to come up with specific examples. You should have between 3 and 5 key opinions that you will elaborate on when writing a film review along with examples to back up your claims.

Think about your audience

The language you use is going to change based on who you are writing the movie review for. If it is an assignment for school or university, then you may have to use more technical language.  If you're writing an article for a website or personal blog, then think about who the audience is and use language appropriate for them. Keep in mind that your audience also depends on the genre of the movie you are critiquing. A movie review for a serious period drama will have a different audience than a buddy cop comedy and therefore different language. Look at a movie review sample from different genres to get an idea of the type of language to use. 

Research the actors

Having big movie stars associated with a film is often one of the main selling points of a movie.  If an actor is critically acclaimed, it’s especially important to mention the awards they have won as this is often a sign of the overall quality of the movie. It's also possible that you didn't like the movie overall, but one of your favorite actors was in it so you enjoyed the movie and another fan might enjoy it too. 

Do background research

An easy way to make a movie review interesting is to search for interesting details about the making of the movie. It may be worth mentioning if it was shot in a particularly beautiful place or a unique location, or if the special effects were practical rather than CGI. Include interesting casting decisions or other actors that were considered for a particular role. Think about what information could be interesting to someone who might want to watch the movie and include those details. Go over some movie critique examples to get inspiration. 

Research the professionals

People can be fans not just of the actors, but of directors, writers, cinematographers, costume designers, and many other elements of filmmaking. Many directors are auteurs, which means they have a very particular visual style or storytelling method. How much time you spend on this section is dependent on your audience. If you're writing for social media or a blog for general people, then this might not be interesting to most. But if you're writing for film school or for a specific audience interested in filmmaking, then this section will need to be more elaborate. Look at a film review example written for different audiences to understand the differences. 

Draft an outline

Now that you've done all the required research, it's time to come up with a review outline. An outline is always useful when doing any piece of writing because it gives you a  chance to visualize the structure and plan how you want to incorporate information. This is the general film review format.

Introduction

  • Brief summary of the film
  • Discuss plot, tone, characters
  • Discuss creative and technical elements
  • Your opinions

Conclusion 

Come up with a catchy title.

Almost more than any other piece of writing, a movie review’s title needs to be engaging. A title like ”film review of (name of the movie) might be to the point, but isn't going to stand out. A good title should grab the reader's attention and make them want to read more. A few ways you can do this is by talking about a specific actor or director, or by using one of the main plot points of the movie. For example, “A Romantic Comedy for the Unromantic”,  or “Chris Pratt Plays Against Type in the Best Possible Way”. Look at the titles of some movie review examples for inspiration!

Write your review

It's finally time to get to the actual writing! The next part of this article talks in-depth about each section of a film review. 

People aren't going to take a review seriously if you have spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. If it's an assignment for school, then you’re going to lose marks because of mistakes like that. Make sure you reread your paper a few times and check for typos and other silly mistakes.  Read the paper out loud once or twice to get an idea of if it has a good flow. Don't be afraid to move sections around if you think it helps you build a stronger case.

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How to Write a Film Review

Do you want a ‘how to write a movie review’ template? Let's go over the specific parts of a film review and what to include in each one.

Your first sentence needs to capture the reader's attention. You can do this by stating an interesting fact about the movie, starting off by expressing your opinion of whether it's good or bad, mentioning some of the important actors, comparing it to other movies in the genre or to real-world events, whatever it is, make sure it's catchy!

Next, give background information about the movie. This includes things like the title, release date, studio, important cast members, director, budget, etc. Make sure to highlight any achievements of the movie, for example, if it was nominated for any awards. The same goes for the director as well as important members of the cast. This shouldn't just be a dry stating of facts, rather this should be a collection of interesting information about the background of the movie. 

Finally, end your introduction paragraph with your thesis. In the case of a film review, your thesis is essentially what you thought about the film. Without giving away too much, express your overall impression of the movie noting particular things that you thought stood out or were weak.

Summary of the story

The trick to writing the summary of the story is giving readers an idea of what to expect without giving away any important plot points or spoilers. The goal of this section isn't to explain the plot of the movie, It's to make sure that people have a basic understanding of the story so that the rest of the review can make sense. Describe the setting of the movie, which includes the main locations and time period. Introduce the main characters (including the name of the actor in parentheses after the name of their character). And go over the general storyline. 

Plot elements

This is when you start explaining what you thought about the movie. Start with an analysis of the plot itself. Did it have a rising action that builds suspense? Was the climax a good payoff? What were your overall impressions of the movie? How did it make you feel? What do you think the purpose of the movie was and did the director succeed in their goal? 

This is also the section where you get to talk about the different characters in the movie. Why did you enjoy certain characters? Were some characters better developed than others? Could some characters have benefited from more development? Was the villain particularly interesting? 

Think about the overall mood of the movie, did it change over time? How did the tones and symbols of the movie emphasize elements of the plot? Remember that any point you make in this section has to be backed up by examples. So if you say that there are several plot holes that make the movie complicated to understand, mention the specific scenes.

Creative elements

There are a lot of technical and creative elements in a movie that can stand out even if the overall plot and story weren’t the best. On the other hand, even a great story can be spoiled by bad dialogue or set design. These are some of the creative elements you should pay attention to especially when rewatching the movie and taking notes.

Dialogue : This can refer to the overall writing of the movie as well. If you can get your hands on a script then read it! When thinking about dialogue ask yourself, did the conversation between characters seem natural and flow easily? Or did it seem choppy and unnatural? 

Cinematography : Cinematography refers to the camera effects and the choices of how to film a certain scene. The lighting, the choice of camera angles, essentially the unique perspective of the story as told through the camera. 

Editing : Editing refers to the transition between different scenes as well as how well the movie flows together. This could include things like clever montages, longshots, different perspectives, etc.  

Costumes : Some movies, especially historical movies, fantasy films, and science fiction films, depend heavily on costume design. Costumes are an integral part of making a character stand out or making the world seem more real.

Set Design : Set design refers to the backgrounds of scenes. Some sets might be more elaborate whereas others can be minimalistic. Each choice has its pros and cons and effective set design creates proper ambiance, setting the tone and mood for a scene or the movie.

Music and Sound : Sometimes the movie has a great soundtrack or just incredible sound effects that help make it stand out.

Stunts : More important for action movies, but in general stunts and action sequences can be a major selling point for a film.

Special Effects : Most movies rely on some amount of special effects, and whether it be CGI, or practical, or a combination of the two, the quality is important.

Once you have analyzed multiple different elements of the story from its plot, characterization, and other technical and creative elements, you can state your opinions and provide evidence for them. Make sure you refer to specific scenes or specific situations when looking for substantiating evidence. Remember that the goal of a movie review is not to just state whether you liked or disliked a movie, it is to analyze it in an objective way, and give information so that somebody else can decide whether they want to watch the movie or not.

In the conclusion you express your main opinion of the movie along with the most important pieces of evidence. You can talk about the purpose of the movie and whether the director was successful in showing that purpose. End with a recommendation of whether the movie should be watched or not, along with suggestions of movies that are similar to it.

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Mistakes to avoid

You now know how to write a review on a movie but let's take a look at some mistakes that you should be careful to avoid.

Not focusing on the film

It's easy to start writing about things like the historical events the movie you loved is based on or the importance of the Marvel Cinematic Universe overall rather than focus on the movie itself.  While those elements can be interesting to include as background information, the point of a film review is to go over a particular movie so that is what you should spend the most time on.

Not providing evidence 

A common mistake people make when they write movie reviews is to state their opinions without any objective analysis. An easy way to overcome this mistake is to make sure that you provide evidence for any claims that you make.

Spoilers are an easy way to make sure that people will be upset with your movie review. It is common to accidentally give away too much, especially when writing the plot summary. Find the line between giving enough information so that people understand the general story and revealing important plot twists and turning points. Read some sample movie reviews for examples of how to avoid spoilers.

Using personal pronouns

Statements like “I did not like the special effects” or “I did not like the pacing of the movie” are clearly expressions of opinion. It is better to make statements like “the special effects in certain action scenes were cartoonish and took away from the realism of the film”. 

A movie review essay can be incredibly fun to write, especially if you have a strong opinion about the movie. But keep in mind that a movie review isn't just about your opinion, it has to include an objective analysis with claims backed up by evidence from specific scenes. It's difficult to have a movie review definition, but a great movie review is a blend between personal opinion and objective analysis. It informs the reader about the strengths and weaknesses of the movie while letting them make the decision whether they want to watch it or not. 

If you found your way to this article because you were looking for help on how to write a movie review for college, then you're in the perfect place. If you need any help, don't hesitate to reach out to the experts at Studyfy. At Studyfy, we offer a wide range of custom writing services, coursework writing services, and essay writer service . Our team of experienced writers is well-equipped to handle any writing task you may have, no matter the complexity or urgency. Just say, " write a paper for me ," and we will ensure that you receive a high-quality custom essay that meets all your requirements. Trust us to provide you with the best coursework writing services and custom essay writing that will help you achieve your academic goals.

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How to Write a Movie Review: 9 Essential Tips

Whether you are an actor, a filmmaker, or a film geek through and through, writing film reviews can help hone your ability to think critically. With experience writing reviews, cinephiles can watch movies with a more thoughtful and intentional perspective. This skill enables viewers to have a response that goes deeper than “That movie was awesome!” And for you future film reviewers out there, it’s never too soon to start.

How to Write a Movie Review

While there’s no perfect approach to writing a movie review, there are definitely best practices that every aspiring reviewer can consider. Here are nine tips on writing a compelling piece.

1. Watch the film at least once.

When writing a film review, once is necessary, but twice is preferable. It’s impossible to capture every detail and thought only after one viewing. Throughout watching the film, taking detailed notes is also a good idea. This will help the writing process and make it easy to refer to your in-the-moment thoughts and reactions.

2. Express your opinions and support your criticism.

Professional reviewers do not shy away from telling their readers whether they thought a movie was good, bad, or indifferent. In fact, readers rely on those reviewers whose tastes reflect their own. Be sure to back up these thoughts with specifics–a disappointing performance, a ridiculous plot, beautiful cinematography, difficult material that leaves you thinking, and so on. Professional reviewers can express why and how they came to their criticism.

3. Consider your audience.

Are you writing for a fan site or a news outlet? Who will read your pieces, and what are their interests? Knowing who your readers are can help you decide what elements of the movie to highlight. You can also adjust your writing style to fit the target audience and the tone they’re used to reading.

4. Talk about the acting.

Many casual filmgoers will be inspired to see a movie if a favorite actor is in it, so you should probably spend a little space talking about the performances. Does the film feature a seasoned actor in a new kind of role or a brilliant performance from a rising star? How was the acting? Feedback about how well the actors handled the script, the dynamics in an ensemble, and so much more can help describe how the actors did in any given film.

5. Call out directors, cinematographers, and special effects.

This is where your film geek can really shine. Tell your readers about the highlights or missteps of directors, cinematographers, costume designers, and CGI. What worked, what surprised you, and what fell short of expectations are all great questions to address in the body of your review. It helps to have some knowledge of filmmaking , as well. That’s why film students with writing experience can actually make great reviewers. At NYFA, for instance, many film students study a range of topics relating to film that can include screenwriting, producing, and much more.

6. No spoilers!

Give your readers some idea of the plot, but be careful not to include any spoilers. Remember, the point of a good review is to get people interested in going to the movie. Don’t get over-excited and ruin it for them!

7. Study the professionals.

As with all writing endeavors, the more you read, the better. And when you read film reviews that you like (or don’t like), think about why. Use your critical eye to consider why one reviewer has a hundred thousand followers and another only has two. Be sure to read the publications where you’d like your writing to appear as a template for your reviews, and don’t forget to read the submission guidelines. A few examples of film review professionals include Rotten Tomatoes , Roger Ebert , and Film Comment . 

8. Reread, rewrite, and edit.

Edit your work. Your opinions will not be taken seriously if you misspell the director’s name or can’t put together a grammatically correct sentence. Take the time to check your spelling and edit your piece for organizational flow.

9. Find your voice.

The best reviewers have a distinct personality that comes across in their writing. This does not happen overnight, so take every opportunity to write as an opportunity to develop your own style and voice that will grab the reader’s attention and keep them coming back for more.

Learn More About Filmmaking at NYFA

Writing film reviews is a great way to pursue your passion for film. Ready to build even more skills in filmmaking? Request more information about New York Film Academy’s filmmaking programs and workshops today!

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Writing A Perfect Movie Review

Essays that you usually write in college are not limited to only descriptive and argumentative ones. Other types of writings that are quite widespread in the world of academic studies. Some of them have to do with writing about various works of literature. Others are closer to historical studies. Writings about films are also very popular. They mainly include writing a film review, so if you are a diehard movie fan and fond of writing, this is an excellent opportunity to blend these talents into one activity. In spite of the fact that there are many movie enthusiasts around, most of the people feel struggled when it comes to creating a good film review as it involves considering a given film from different angles. In case you have such an assignment, don't be scared of it and read our tips below. They will surely help you with this task.

What is the main point of writing film reviews?

To those of you who question the importance of writing film reviews, there are several known facts. First of all, writing such types of essays stretches your imagination and helps you to use various skills that you got during your studies. Secondly, they have long become a very common task in the world of academic writings.

Writing a film review is not unlike writing the same paper about a book. In both cases, you have to consider the work from different angles, dwell upon stylistic devices, plot and characters described. Such types of works require general knowledge about cinema as well as knowing peculiar facts about a film itself and the genre to which it belongs. You have to be very attentive to each detail of the film even the ones that seem to have no meaning whatsoever.

As you analyze the film, you start to watch it more attentively. This helps you widen your perception of the film industry itself. You may notice that it is a hard task to shoot a good movie so that you can feel more respect to people involved in the creation of films. Moreover, you will have an excellent opportunity to discover a new genre or a great director whose works are quite worthy. This can turn you into a newbie fan of an entirely different genre that you weren't familiar with before.

Such types of essays are remarkably popular with many professors as they serve quite well to illustrate the abilities of a student to carry out a respectable piece of analytic work. A paper like this mainly stems from describing your own opinions and feelings about a movie watched. Also, one can appreciate your vocabulary and writing skills. Each review is unique, that is why it is hard to find two similar papers that concern the same film, as every person gets impressed differently. Finally, it is more interesting to write about a movie than about a boring book or a historical event, so some professors use these tasks as a means of motivation for those students who are not fond of writing.

Necessary parts of a film review

In most cases, professors give their students a task to analyze a film chosen beforehand. There are cases when tutors give their students an opportunity to pick a movie themselves, but such cases are not too often. In any way, the movie that you end up reviewing should be significant and have a value in the world of cinematography.

In your paper, you should note what value has the movie for your studies, how it may influence your progress in learning, and also present your own opinion about the film under your consideration. Don’t forget that you are to be very careful with expressing your personal views about the film. Try to avoid such phrases as "I think that" or "I expected this film to be," etc. Your review has to be objective and biased.

The form and shape of your review may be defined by the program of your course and professors demands. Despite this, several essentials are necessary within your paper. Among them are:

What is the title of the film? -Even if you mentioned the name of the movie in the title of your analysis, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t repeat it once again within your text. The best place to do it is the introduction part of your paper. Many students do not pay attention to such moments, thinking that it is not too important. Though, some professors may perceive it as a mistake.

The plot - no doubt, that one of the primary things to be done is to give a summary of the movie for those people who are not familiar with it. To do it the best way, keep in mind that the professor who will read your essay is one of those people too. Be very careful with all the details, try to present them with all the possible attention. Your primary goal is to present the events that happened in the movie and to write if the director managed to deliver a film worthy of the viewer's attention or not. However, be careful with expressing your personal opinion about the film if you feel tempted to write things like "I like it" or "I hated it" as they may sound completely unviable. Support every statement with evidence.

The director – an essential part of your analysis is the one connected to the creator of the film. Dwell upon the style of a filmmaker, His/her political agenda and any controversy about the director's persona. What are his/her most important influences? Is the film connected to any earlier works done by the same director? Don’t forget that each film bears a significant mark of a filmmaker who created it.

The importance of the film within your course – Think over what significance the film has for your studying. Is it based on some historical events that you may study during your history classes? Or maybe it is connected with some works of literature that you've read while doing some other essay ? If yes, how does the script of the film correspond with the story written in the book? The more connections you will find, the more significant your work will be.

Creativity – good directors are always very attentive to the smallest details that can trigger viewer's imagination and create the feeling of a total submerging into the atmosphere of the film. Did the director succeed? What can you say about the locations where the film was shot? Were the costumes well crafted? Did the whole interior correspond with the historical setting of the plot? Write about the score of the film. Was the choice of a composer good? What style of music did he/she prefer to make for the film? How do you estimate the work of the cameracrew? Does the movie have any hidden meaning? Don't miss writing about these moments.

The cast - it is imperative to write about the actors. Was the choice of actors successful? Do they succeed in playing this or that part? Is there something outstanding about their acting? Were any of them perfect to perform their parts?

What is essential : There is no absolute way you should put these items in your work. Everything you will write will be dependent on the demands of your professor, the type of the film you will write about, the course, and your own personal views on what your paper should be like. The perfect way to create an excellent and relevant paper is to do it carefully and naturally. Try to provide it with all the necessary information, include all the significant facts in your work, and try to write it with a sense of joy.

Form of your review

In case your review is destined to become a part of your work in literary studies, there are specific MLA rules that you are to keep to. Here are some of them:

  • Introductory part (the title of the film, the date of its release, the essential information about the film)
  • The part that summarizes the plot
  • The plot elements analysis (action, climax, etc.)
  • Describing the creative part of the film (script, actors, special effects, work of the camera crew, locations, hidden meanings, the mood, the atmosphere)
  • Expressing an opinion about the film (you should substantiate it with vivid examples from the film)
  • Summing all up (dwelling upon the success or failure of a director, the importance of the film within the world of cinematography, the reception of the movie by the viewers, the value of the
  • film for the educational course)

In case you have a documentary under your consideration, try to keep the scheme below:

  • Historical accuracy
  • Reliability of the sources used
  • The usage of creative elements
  • Your own opinion of the film
  • Summarizing the whole analysis

Don't forget to create a distinct outline for your film review. This will help you with organizing your work and keeping it logical and relevant. This is very important if you want to create a good and well-written film review.

how to write a movie review

The process of writing a film review

It is very entertaining to watch a film and to discuss it, so even such a task can turn into a great experience. To make it as much fun as possible, follow these tips:

  • Give the film more than one watch. This should help you to memorize as many details of it as possible. The more information you will put in your work – the better.
  • Surf through the Internet to gather as much information about the film as possible. Pay attention to the personality of the director, the cast, the locations and the background of the film.
  • Think about the film as a whole. It is instrumental, as such technique will help you to get the full understanding of the film under your consideration. If it is based on the book, try to analyze it too.
  • Write a distinct outline
  • Write your own opinions about the film, its cast, locations, script, dialogues, etc. Don’t forget to support your statements with evidence from the film. This is the best way to show the professor that you are capable of thinking critically.

The most widespread mistakes

  • Lack of concentration on the film itself – avoid writing about cinematography in general, the traditions of the genre, the personal life of director or actors, etc. Concentrate on the given piece
  • Try not to make your text too personal. Don't write things like "I think"? "It seems to me," "I hated things like…" as they can interfere the objectiveness of your paper with biased and too personal information.
  • Do not use unreliable sources of information about the film
  • Don’t express your personal opinion without saying why you think like that
  • Write only about relevancies
  • Do not produce an unstructured review

Summing all up

Writing a film review is a great chance to demonstrate your ability to think critically and to analyze a work of cinematography which is by far not the easiest thing to do properly unless you do it carefully. Pay attention to the smallest details, do not overload your paper with the unnecessary information, try to provide your work with vivid examples and don’t be too personal when you analyze the film. Check all the background information, the history of creating the film and the original source of its idea if there is any. In case the film is based on a book, try to analyze it too. It may take some time, but if you do this, your film review has all the chances to be relevant and successful.

Dwell upon the importance of the film for the educational process and how useful it may be to your studies. Such papers are remarkably illustrative and show your ability to think critically. That is why try to write with as attentive as possible, and you will surely succeed with your essay.

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How to Write a Movie Review

Last Updated: March 13, 2024 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 178 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 5,546,911 times. Learn more...

Whether a movie is a rotten tomato or a brilliant work of art, if people are watching it, it's worth critiquing. A decent 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 like a professional film critic, come up with an interesting thesis, and write a review as entertaining as your source material.

Sample Movie Reviews

college paper on movie review

Writing an Intro for a Movie Review

Step 1 Start with a compelling fact, quote, or opinion on the movie.

  • Comparison to Relevant Event or Movie: "Every day, our leaders, politicians, and pundits call for "revenge"– against terrorist groups, against international rivals, against other political parties. But few of them understand the cold, destructive, and ultimately hollow 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."

Step 2 Give a clear, well-established opinion early on.

  • 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: ABC 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."

Step 3 Support your opinions with evidence from specific scenes.

  • Great: "Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer's chemistry would carry Fruitvale Station even if the script wasn't as good. The mid-movie prison scene in particular, where the camera never leaves their faces, shows 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."

Step 4 Create an original...

  • 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.

Composing Your Review

Step 1 Follow your thesis paragraph with a short plot summary.

  • 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.

Step 2 Start to talk about the film’s technical and artistic choices.

  • 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."

Step 3 Move into your...

  • 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."

Step 4 Use plenty of examples to back up your points.

  • 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 finds 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."

Polishing Your Piece

Step 1 Edit your review.

  • 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?

Step 2 Proofread your review.

Studying Your Source Material

Step 1 Gather basic facts about the movie.

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

Step 2 Take notes on the movie as you watch it.

  • 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.

Step 3 Analyze the mechanics of the movie.

  • 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? Did they incorporate a montage to help build the story? And was this obstructive to the narrative or did it help it? Did they use long cuts to help accentuate an actor's acting ability or many reaction shots to show a group's reaction to an event or dialogue? If visual effects were used were the plates well-chosen and were the composited effects part of a seamless experience? (Whether the effects looked realistic or not is not the jurisdiction of an editor, however, they do choose the footage to be sent off to the compositors, so this could still affect 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.

Step 4 Watch it one more time.

Community Q&A

wikiHow Staff Editor

  • If you don't like the movie, don't be abusive and mean. If possible, avoid watching the movies that you would surely hate. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Understand that just because the movie isn't to your taste, that doesn't mean you should give it a bad review. A good reviewer helps people find movie's they will like. Since you don't have the same taste in movies as everyone else, you need to be able to tell people if they will enjoy the movie, even if you didn't. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Structure is very important; try categorizing the different parts of the film and commenting on each of those individually. Deciding how good each thing is will help you come to a more accurate conclusion. For example, things like acting, special effects, cinematography, think about how good each of those are. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

college paper on movie review

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  • ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_film/terminology_and_starting_prompts.html
  • ↑ https://www.spiritofbaraka.com/how-write-a-movie-review
  • ↑ https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/9-tips-for-writing-a-film-review/
  • ↑ https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writing-help/top-tips-for-writing-a-review
  • ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/summary-using-it-wisely/
  • ↑ https://twp.duke.edu/sites/twp.duke.edu/files/file-attachments/film-review-1.original.pdf
  • ↑ https://www.dailywritingtips.com/7-tips-for-writing-a-film-review/
  • ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_film/film_writing_sample_analysis.html
  • ↑ https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/onnyx.bei/dual-credit/movie-review-writing-guide
  • ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/conclusions/
  • ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-movie-review/
  • ↑ https://gustavus.edu/writingcenter/handoutdocs/editing_proofreading.php
  • ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
  • ↑ https://edusson.com/blog/how-to-write-movie-review

About This Article

To write a movie review, start with a compelling fact or opinion to hook your readers, like "Despite a great performance by Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump never overcomes its weak plot." Then, elaborate on your opinion of the movie right off the bat so readers know where you stand. Once your opinion is clear, provide examples from the movie that prove your point, like specific scenes, dialogue, songs, or camera shots. To learn how to study a film closely before you write a review, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Reaction Paper to a Movie: Easy Steps

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  • Writing Metier

Such a popular question nowadays – how to write movie review for college? Yeah, writing a film review can be a really interesting assignment. Why? Well, for starters, one of the tasks you would have to do is to watch the movie, and who does not like watching movies for fun?

Afterward, it will be delightful to write a movie review for your academic curriculum and especially if this is for a job assignment, something for which you would get paid.

Writing a reaction paper on a movie is a great way to explore how you feel connected to the content. A movie review should be entertaining, thoughtful, and balanced. If you write a position paper , you should be able to narrate that you have not only watched the movie but why you are asking someone else to watch it, for good and bad reasons.

The fun part is that if you are really passionate about entertainment, you would thoroughly enjoy writing film reviews. Of course, there might be some genres or films that you do not like, but that’s the beauty of the art.

It gives college students the chance to explore different concepts, make students be aware of different creators, writers and actors, and so much more. Overall, this is an exciting assignment to do when done in the right manner.

Before we give you tips on how to write a  good reaction paper  on a movie, let’s first understand what a movie review or response papers are.

What is a Movie Review?

When you evaluate a movie and then share the summary of it with an opinion and analysis, that is what you would call a movie review. Film fanatics would always read movie reviews to determine whether they should watch a particular film or not – or even sometimes read reviews to draw conclusions from a movie that may have a controversial storyline.

Now, when it comes to writing a movie or documentary review, it can be either your personal reflection sharing what you gathered from the content, or it can be an in-depth, complete analysis.

There are different ways of how people usually go about presenting a movie review. The modern-day approach is releasing podcasts or sharing on streaming platforms, making blogs about it on Instagram and YouTube.

On the other hand, the way that never goes out of fashion (or trend) – reviews on websites. For instance, one of the most trusted platforms for movie reviews is a website called  Rotten Tomatoes

Some important points you need to keep in mind:

how to write a movie review writingmetier

DO NOT GIVE SPOILERS!

Yes, don’t be one of those. There is no need to spoil for others. Give them some sauce, but not the juice.

When you are watching the film you have to review, make sure you keep notes of the important events. When you start writing up the article/review, you do not want to go back to the film again and see it. It will be a waste of time and you will forget or might not even remember what you were trying to say in the review.

Of course, you know this. Edit and proofread your content. It is always helpful for you to make sure it is free of errors.  Proofreading  also helps in coming up with a point you thought you might have missed before. It is always nice to read the review with a fresh mind. It helps in adding updated information.

Now, let’s focus and move forward to the block on how to write a movie review and what guidelines you need to keep in mind.

Guidelines for Writing a Movie Review

Ready for hints? Now I’ll be sharing a list of tips and tricks, to make your movie response paper a top notch!

Yes, you need to watch the film to complete a film review

We started this article by saying that watching movies is a really fun activity and we stay true to that. And for movie reviews writing process, you need to watch the particular movie you wish to or are told to review. For the review to be thoughtful, honest, and thorough, you need to watch the movie.

If you are given a sufficient amount of time and flexibility you might want to watch the movie more than once. In the notes, make sure you include the narrative arcs, plot development, themes, music/background score, the cinematography, and finally, the acting. When view more than once, note that you may see the things you might have left the first time you saw the film.

Begin you review with a hook, ALWAYS!

Starting the response paper with a strong hook in the first paragraph will capture the attention of your readers. For the hook, there are numerous angles you can focus on, which essentially helps you in being different from other reviewers.

An insight of the film (maybe don’t give away too much just in the start – should have a nice balance) or a controversial opinion about the film which a lot had speculated about. You should take this moment to shed some light on the things people had been talking about so they read the rest of the review as well.

Make sure you add a summary in reaction papers

You need to be sure that the review has not only main body paragraphs but also a plot summary in it as it will allow the readers to have a general idea of the story, characters and the storyline of the movie.

Be sure that you talk about the names of the actors, the release date of the film, touch some basis on the genre and of course the director and writer names. Make sure the readers know everything they need to know regarding the logistics of the movie in your response paper.

Form your opinion

To be a successful reviewer, you need to have a firm, established opinion. Your thought needs to be well-informed, enticing and should provoke the readers to watch the movie for the sake of it.

Take particular scenes and characterization from the film as evidence to support the claims you are making. Talk about plot holes. Talk about the gripping bits of the film. Speak about key points and what stood out the most prominent to you and why. Talk about what failed or lacked in the film.

Like with a  comparison essay , to make sure that you round the reaction paper nicely, you should consider comparing the film with something. Now, this could be the work of the same writer, or the same director, or even the same actor. It should depend on what your major selling point is.

Let’s say that a director who did really well on one movie, failed in this one, then you should compare it with this. As an example, you can also compare two movies that had similar events or themes, or genres.

Now is the time to evaluate the film

After you have stated the analyses, thesis statement, and the facts surrounding the film, now is the time to critically evaluate. You talked about the facts before. You mentioned the factual information regarding the content and presented the evidence to share some bits of the opinion to give the readers an idea of where the view is headed.

Now in this part, you need to share your idea and verdicts. Do you think the movie was a hit? A flop? Where it lacked? Where was it superior to be a blockbuster hit?

Here’s where all the juice comes from. Let the audience know why or why not they should invest their time in this film.

Spend some minutes and sentences on conclusion

Most of the content should be covered in the above-mentioned paragraphs. In the conclusion, you should present the central ideas that tie the entire review together. Keep in mind that an anxious reader may skip to the conclusion part to get what they are looking for.

The idea is that they should ideally go through the entire review, right? So, make sure that you do not give away too much in the conclusion. The analysis needs to come together in a cohesive, constructive way. If you want, give a percentage score or a grade at the end.

Ready to Write Movie Review for College?

Writing a movie review is not just an academic assignment, but a journey into the world of cinema. It allows you to connect with the content on a deeper level, explore different concepts, and share your unique perspective with others. It’s a process that can be both entertaining and enlightening, especially for those who are passionate about the world of entertainment.

However, we understand that not all college students may feel comfortable or have the time to craft a compelling film review. It can be a challenging task, requiring a keen eye for detail, a deep understanding of cinematic techniques, and the ability to articulate thoughts clearly and persuasively.

That’s where Writing Metier comes in. If you’re a student in need of a professional movie review writing service, look no further. Our team of experienced writers is well-versed in the art of film analysis and review.

college paper on movie review

We can help you craft a thoughtful, balanced, and engaging review that meets your academic requirements and reflects your unique voice and perspective.

So, whether you’re grappling with a complex film or simply short on time, remember that Writing Metier is the place to go for all your film review writing and other academic papers needs. We know all the academic writing criteria for any paper and how to catch a reader’s attention.

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Vasyl Kafidoff is a co-founder and CEO at WritingMetier. He is interested in education and how modern technology makes it more accessible. He wants to bring awareness about new learning possibilities as an educational specialist. When Vasy is not working, he’s found behind a drum kit.

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How To Write A Movie Review

Barbara P

How to Write a Movie Review - Guide & Examples

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Published on: Dec 20, 2022

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Last updated on: Nov 25, 2023

How to Write a Movie Review

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A movie review is one of the most common writing assignments that students face. Many people struggle with writing, and some don't know what they should write to meet their teacher's expectations.

The best way to write a movie review is by understanding the purpose. You will get better grades if you understand what's important for a good piece of work.

There are a lot of movie reviews available on different websites on the internet.  However, some are written by amateurs only for fun, and others are written professionally. 

If you want to learn how to write a movie review for college, keep on reading. It is a great chance for you to learn about the world of film criticism. 

In this blog, you will find a step-by-step guide and examples for becoming a perfect movie critique. 

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  • 1. What is a Movie Review?
  • 2. How to Write a Movie Review?
  • 3. Movie Review Example
  • 4. Movie Review Topics
  • 5. Movie Review Writing Tips 

What is a Movie Review?

A movie review is an analysis of a film or a documentary. Writing a great movie review involves detailed research, analysis, and reporting the writer’s view in a logical and structured way.

It is a well-balanced synthesis of personal opinion and a critical analysis of themes and plots. Writing film reviews is considered creative writing. It involves both analytical and innovative approaches to come up with the best movie review.

The combination of an analytical approach and creative skills will help you craft an exhaustive and convincing piece of writing.

Purpose of Writing a Movie Review 

The reason for writing a movie review is to tell others what you think about a movie. 

When you write one, you share your opinions on whether you liked it or not and why. It helps people decide if they want to watch the movie or not. 

So, the purpose is to share your thoughts and help others make a choice about the movie.

The combination of an analytical approach and creative skills will help you craft an exhaustive and convincing piece of writing. 

Important Elements of a Movie Review

All movie reviews have in common the elements that they contain regardless of the genre. The elements of a movie review provide an overall structure on which the whole analysis is based. A good review must comprise the following components:

It is not just enough to include the title in the headlines. Make sure to include it in the text as well as in the introductory paragraph.

Another important element that you need to pay attention to is the storyline, also known as the plot. Mention it clearly and concisely for the readers who have not watched the movie yet.

Don’t forget to dedicate a paragraph to the filmmaker and discuss their personality. Provide some background information and the controversial and political side (if relevant).

The cast is one of the important factors that a movie has. Your review should properly indicate if they have acted well or not. Do not forget to mention if they have the required skills to portray the character they played.

Creative elements play an important role in the overall success or failure of the film. Your movie review must state these elements and how they contributed to the storyline. These elements include costumes, lighting, sound, camera work, etc.

college paper on movie review

How to Write a Movie Review?

Writing a movie review may seem like an impossible task, but it can be learned easily. You should know the movie review format. 

Therefore, you can present both interesting opinions and amazing writing skills clearly without any confusion.

Below are the steps on how to write a movie review that any student can follow. 

1. Watch the Movie

Watch the movie and take notes of the important points. Be focused and conscious throughout the film to record characters, events, minor and major details.

2. Research the Movie

To watch the film only once is not enough; you might have to watch the movie at least 3 times. It is important to give quality time to research as well. Reviews require great research to find some important information. Such as who the filmmaker is, characters, and events that lead to the movie, plot summary, location, symbolism, etc.

3. Create the Movie Review Outline

The best way to organize your review logically is to make an outline first. The outline is a framework on which your whole review is going to stand. It is important to have an outline before you start writing your review. 

Confused how to write a movie review template? Here is an outline for you:

4. Analyze the Movie

Once you understand the movie, start the analysis. Critically evaluate the movie from the start to the end and note each and every detail. Once you analyze and understand each point, you are all set to write a good movie review.

5. Include Examples

A great movie review needs to include relevant examples to support your claims and observations. Mention everything that you have observed while watching the movie. It is not enough to make general statements; you must support your arguments and claims with strong evidence.

6. Write Your Review

After gathering all the required information and examples, you can start the writing process by following the above outline. Make the introduction paragraph exciting and engaging. Reveal as much information as possible in the body paragraphs. To conclude, connect the information back to the introduction in a creative way.

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7. Edit Your Final Draft

Once you are done writing the first draft, make changes and re-write the final version. In the editing phase, be sure to check for important information that might have been left out. Also, check grammar or spelling mistakes before submitting it.

The steps explained above could be used for writing a movie review for middle school, high school, and college. Moreover, you can get help from the following guide.

Check out our how to write a movie review for school example for better understanding:

Writing a Movie Review

Movie Review Example

Want to learn how to write a movie review without spoilers? 

To gain a better understanding of how to write a movie review essay and how film review examples for students look, check out this sample.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green - Movie Review

How To Write A Film Review Pdf

Short Movie Review Examples

Movie Review Topics

Here are some movie review topics that can help put your work in the right direction from the very start.

  • Write a review on Titanic Movie
  • A critical review of Jurassic Park Movie
  • Write A Review on 2001: A Space Odyssey
  • One Cut of the Dead - Review
  • A review of Burning Cane Movie
  • An honest review of The Ron Clark Story Movie
  • The Miracle Worker Movie Review
  • A Comparison between The Boy In the Striped Pajamas Book and Movie
  • Discuss symbolism in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Movie
  • Write a Review about the Film Adaptation of Pride and Prejudice

Movie Review Writing Tips 

Writing a compelling movie review requires a balance of insightful analysis and engaging expression. Here are some tips to enhance your movie review writing:

  • Be Concise: Keep your review focused and concise. Aim for clarity and avoid unnecessary details.
  • Structure Matters: Organize your review with a clear structure, including an introduction, body, and conclusion. Follow a logical flow to guide your readers through your analysis.
  • Balance Opinion and Analysis: Blend personal opinions with objective analysis. Support your views with specific examples from the film.
  • Avoid Spoilers: Be mindful of spoilers. Provide enough information to convey your points without giving away major plot twists.
  • Consider the Audience: Keep your target audience in mind. Tailor your review to the interests and preferences of potential viewers.

All in all, it is not difficult to write a movie review if you know the basics. Just follow this guide and craft an amazing review.

Still if you are facing any issue in writing a movie review, consider taking help from the best writing services at MyPerfectWords.com !

We guarantee a high-quality review written by professional writers. With us, you will submit a movie review worthy of an A grade. 

So, don’t waste time and hire us today!

Frequently Asked Question

How long should a movie review be.

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A movie review is typically around 300 to 500 words, providing enough space to cover key aspects without becoming overly lengthy.

Barbara P

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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How to Write a Movie Review and Where to Get Help

The first thing you do after watching a movie is to go online and write a comment about it. Comments about movies are usually posted on social media profiles or public pages, review sites, blogs, among other platforms. You can make the process easier with tools available online.

Writing a movie review is a common assignment that students have to do in high school and college. Even though it may seem simple, movie reviews require time and proper organization. It’s not just about writing what happens on the screen, the review goes deeper than that.

Movie Review Purpose

The main purpose of a movie review is to inform the reader about the film and its ideas. Seems simple, right? Reporting all events that happen and stating one’s opinion about them is a common mistake that many students make. While movie review allows writers to express their opinions about some film or documentary, there is also the need for the unbiased and objective approach. An ideal review combines both.

The review determines whether someone will want to see the movie. Even if the professor (or teacher) assigned a specific title and film to review, one should act like this is the perfect opportunity to introduce the cinematography work to their lecturer. Always assume they haven’t seen it before. As a result, it becomes easier to analyze events that happened on the screen.

Film review should be detailed enough to provide assistance in making an honest decision i.e. whether the reader wants to see it or if they’d like it. Why is this type of paper a common school assignment? Lecturers want to get more insight into a student’s critical thinking skills and the ability to report event (one or more of them) in a manner that others understand easily.

In addition, they want to assess the way you analyze plot and characters. After all, movie reviews also involve the analysis of events that happened in a documentary or “regular” film. Reviews test writing and vocabulary skills, adapting to different genres and events they portray, and your capacity to sum up some major work and report it in a cohesive, logical, and interesting manner.

While reviews entail more responsibility than initially thought, students find them fun and with this guide, you will too.

college paper on movie review

How to Write a Good Movie Review

You have to write a movie review for school and now what? Where to start, how to make it look more “academic”? Today, we have the opportunity to use numerous tools to make every part of our lives easier, and movie review writing isn’t the exception. Throughout this tutorial, you’ll learn how to compose a report about some film and what tools to use to simplify the process.

Step-by-Step Guide to How to Write a Movie Review

Beginnings are always the hardest. This is the point where you set the pace and determine how to approach this assignment in the most efficient manner. Here are some useful tips to kick-start the movie review writing process:

  • Watch the movie or documentary twice and take notes of both major and minor events and characters. It’s a mistake to rely on the power of your memory only, there’s always something we overlook or forget
  • Carry out a thorough research . Watching the movie isn’t enough, research is equally important. Look for details such as the name of filmmaker and his/her motivation to make that film or documentary work, locations, plot, characterization, historic events that served as an inspiration for the movie (if applicable). Basically, your research should serve to collect information that provides more depth to the review
  • Analyze the movie after you watching it . Don’t start working on the review if you aren’t sure you understand the film. Evaluate the movie from beginning to an end. Re-watch it, if necessary, if you find some parts confusing. Only when you understand events that happened on the screen will you find it easier to create the review
  • Draft an outline that you will follow to write the review in a concise and cohesive fashion
  • Include examples for claims you make about the movie. If the plot has holes, then mention an example of a situation or scene when that was evident. Also, if the character(s) is poorly developed or bad casting affected the movie quality, name examples too. Provide examples when commenting dialogues, locations, plot, everything. If you want the reader to agree with you, it’s essential to back up your claims with evidence. You don’t want to make it seem like you’re praising or criticizing the movie without any reason whatsoever
  • Consider and comment a movie’s originality and quality of scenes . Explain how the movie stands out or whether it just uses the same approach that worked for previous works in the industry

How to Organize Your Movie Review

Quality of your paper depends on the level of organization you implement. Never underestimate the importance of well-structured outline, regardless of the type of paper you have to write. Outlines help you focus on the subject and contribute to a logical flow.

In addition, getting things organized before you start writing is a great way to save time later on. Instead of trying to figure out what to include, you’ll have a well-structured plan to follow. It’s needless to mention you won’t be too stressed out. Here’s how to organize your movie review:

  • Introduction (with title, release date, background information)
  • Summary of the story
  • Analysis of the plot elements (rising action, climax)
  • Creative elements (dialogues, characters, use of colors, camera techniques, mood, tone, symbols, costumes or anything that contributes or takes away from the overall plot)
  • Opinion (supported with examples and facts from the story)
  • Conclusion (announcing whether the filmmaker was successful in his/her purpose, re-state your evidence, explain how the motion picture was helpful for providing a deeper understand of course topic)

Movie Review Elements

  • The title of the film/documentary – just because your headline features the name of the movie or documentary it doesn’t mean should skip mentioning it in the text. Always name the feature you’ve watched in the introductory paragraph. This may seem like a stupid thing to point out, but it’s one of the most common mistakes that students make
  • Summary – the whole point of the review is to summarize the documentary or movie for people who haven’t watched it yet. To make this as effective as possible, always assume that your professor hasn’t seen it either (as mentioned above). Why is this important? You won’t leave out some important details thinking he/she watched it already so they won’t bother. As a reviewer, your job is to explain what happened in the film and express whether the filmmaker failed or succeeded. Again, saying you liked or disliked it isn’t a viable comment. Your opinion has to be supported by specific reasons and examples from the feature itself
  • Filmmaker – do a little research on the person who directed the piece. Is that person a controversial figure? Is he/she known for a political stance? Does the filmmaker have a significant background? Devote a paragraph or two to the person behind the movie and their other works in order to establish the significance of the film you are reviewing for the director’s career
  • Significance to your class – How does the content of the documentary or film fit into your course topic? Is it important for historical accuracy? If you are watching the motion picture for history class, make note of over-dramatization. If the motion picture is based on the book you’ve analyzed in English class, you can mention similarities, differences, or some elements that film contains, but book doesn’t and so on
  • Creative elements – filmmakers work hard to include creative elements into their motion pictures. How are these elements important to the plot and movie in general? For example, costumes can either enhance the movie or betray its intent. Colors can be vivid and lift the atmosphere or mood in the movie or they can be dull and make it seem depressing. Good sound effects enrich the viewing experience while bad ones only destroy everything. Moreover, camera movements and angles also add elements to the story. Take notes of symbols in the story, if any.
  • Actors – let’s not forget the casting! Were the actors realistic? Did they portray the role of a specific character successfully? Did they have good acting skills? Do you believe that some particular actor was the right fit for the role?

Checklist / Outline for a Good Movie Review

  • Introduction (title, topic, release date, background information)
  • Accuracy of depiction
  • Use of sources in the documentary
  • Creative elements that enhance or tarnish the overall story (quality of script, visual design, performance, lighting, hair, and makeup, costume, set design, symbolism)
  • Your opinion

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Not focusing on the film – while connecting the plot to some specific historical event is a good idea (when applicable), strive to avoid writing about unnecessary details or introducing irrelevant information such as the history of cinematography or that particular genre, snacks, among other things
  • Inserting yourself – you’re the one who’s writing the review. The paper reflects your understanding and opinion of the motion picture you’ve seen and there is no need to write in first person all the time: I noticed this, I saw that I liked this, I disliked that
  • Failing to check facts about movie background and release date, director, casting etc.
  • Giving out your opinion without mentioning any reason why you think that way
  • Talking about irrelevancies
  • Writing a review without a structure
  • Writing generalities such as great acting, cool effects, a good movie, it was bad etc.
  • Writing a review without substance or analysis of the feature

Dr. Joshua

Finished papers

Customer reviews

Mandy

Movie Review Examples

  • The Hunger Games and the idea of dystopia
  • Mean Girls review: does it exploit stereotypes about high schools or it helps to undermine them?
  • The Martian review and its connection to Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe
  • The Last Jedi review: all the reasons it’s far from the original saga
  • Manchester by the sea and ideas of forgiveness and grief
  • Forrest Gump review
  • I am Sam review
  • Runaway Bride review and its role in modern understanding of marriage

Movie Review Help

Like other types of writing, movie reviews require patience and time. Being a student isn’t the easiest task in the world and you don’t have enough time to dedicate to one assignment only while neglecting others. There’s no need to despair; you can use the internet to get much-needed assistance with this assignment. Here’s how:

By Markers Expectations / Rubrics

Clear Organization – as stated above, the clear organization is vital for a well-structured movie review. You can use the Edusson website as a guide through this process via numerous posts about writing, self-help resources, and Essay Examples that serves as an excellent platform to sharpen writing skills and compose your paper.

RobotDon Essay Checker  platform proves to be handy when you complete the writing process and want to make sure it’s unique, without fluff and wateriness, repetitive words and expressions.

Let’s not fort that you can hire an essay writer  who will write a perfect review for you.

Use of Sources – just because it’s movie review, it doesn’t mean you should avoid using sources to support your claims. Sources are particularly important for reviews of documentaries or when you’re trying to connect the review with some problem in society. Research requires more time than any other part of the process and you can easily hire a professional i.e. a helper who will do that for you

Opinion – a movie review is about the equilibrium of unbiased report and personal opinion. While it’s okay to say what you think about the movie, you also have to approach certain aspects in an objective manner to help the reader get a better understanding of the motion picture. Finding the balance between subjective and objective writing can be frustrating, which is why professional service comes handy. All you have to do is to provide title, information, your opinion and a pro writer takes it from there

Essay Writing Service – there is no need to be stressed out because you have a ton of work to do when professional writer service can write movie review easily. Services like Edusson are used by students who can’t keep up with constant demands in school or college, but they don’t want to jeopardize their grades. With over 1000 writers, Edusson is a perfect assignment writing service . You have the full control of the project through set deadlines, choosing the writer for this task etc.

Essay Editing Service – sometimes students don’t need help with the writing process, but they need someone to edit it. Don’t ask your friends and family members to do it for you, hire professionals. Improve your paper. Raise your grades! Editors and proofreaders from Edusson correct grammar, spelling, syntax, punctuation mistakes, check the style, formatting, organization and other aspects of your work to boost its quality. You can also use RobotDon to edit an essay on your own.

Movie Review FAQ

Do I have to write a movie review in a certain formatting style? Everything depends on the instructions your teacher gives you. It often happens that a movie review can be free of academic formatting. But don’t exclude the possibility that you will have to complete this paper in MLA or get task writing a paper in APA .

Can I copy an existing movie review? Well, of course, it is important to look at examples of other movie reviews to get to know the structure and ways of ideas expressing better. But if you copy a film review directly from the other source, your curator will detect plagiarism in it.

My major is not moviemaking. Why am I assigned to write a film report? Students are assigned movie report writing, first of all, to broaden their mind and evaluate the way they can analyze material and express their opinion. Don’t feel confused if on the Psychology class your professor asks you to review a movie. It is a common practice for students who are completing their degree in various fields of study.

Will you just give me someone else’s review?

No, not at all! Edusson stands out as the writing service with full transparency. All essays and other papers are written from scratch by professional writers with strong work ethic and desire to help their clients get better grades. The movie review you receive is 100% original, which you can check with RobotDon’s plagiarism checker.

Will you send my review to someone else?

The answer is – no. Not only are the clients in control of the process, but author’s rights are transferred to them the moment the review is done. Once the writing process is over, the review is yours and can never be sent to someone else.

What if I need more edits?

If you need edits or want some specific info to be added, our writers will be happy to make necessary revisions.

I need more help with movie review service, how can I contact you?

Our customer service is always available through 24/7 live chat feature.

Do you like movies? Who doesn’t? Movie and documentary reviews give you a unique opportunity to improve your writing skills by combining school assignment with someone you really like. Although it’s not that difficult to compose a review of a motion picture or some educational/informative feature, feel free to use all the available resources to get the most out of your assignment. Use the advantage of the internet to work on your review for major benefits such as:

Improve Your Paper

Practice makes everything better and the internet allows you to make it happen. For instance, Edusson acts as a perfect tutorial + professional writing service platform as it allows you to improve writing skills while getting assistance from professional writers and editors when necessary . The do-it-yourselfers benefit greatly from RobotDon, a cute little helper that analyzes the review and identifies mistakes you need to correct. The result of using these resources is a well-written movie review that meets or exceeds your lecturer’s expectations.

Raise Your GPA (Grade)

Using multiple resources and platforms to your advantage can only be a good thing for your GPA. When you’re a student, everything you do counts and contributes to GPA. It all comes down to learning how to make student life easier for you and one way to do that is to incorporate online tools into your assignments. Your professor will appreciate the effort and thanks to the improved writing skills, good grades are unavoidable.

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college paper on movie review

Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Movies — Movie Review

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Essays on Movie Review

Hook examples for movie review essays, "a cinematic masterpiece" hook.

"Prepare to be captivated by the sheer brilliance of this cinematic masterpiece. Explore how every frame, performance, and detail contributes to a visual and emotional spectacle."

"Beyond the Screen: Themes and Messages" Hook

"This film transcends entertainment, offering profound themes and powerful messages. Dive into the underlying ideas and social commentary that make it a thought-provoking experience."

"The Journey of Character Development" Hook

"Follow the compelling journey of characters who evolve throughout the film. Analyze their growth, conflicts, and relationships, making this movie a character-driven narrative."

"Visual Delights: Cinematography and Special Effects" Hook

"Be prepared to be visually stunned by the breathtaking cinematography and cutting-edge special effects. Explore how these elements enhance the storytelling and immerse the audience."

"Unforgettable Performances" Hook

"The cast delivers unforgettable performances that breathe life into the characters. Discuss standout acting moments, character dynamics, and the emotional impact of their roles."

"The Soundtrack: Music That Moves" Hook

"The film's soundtrack is more than just music; it's an integral part of the storytelling. Explore how the score enhances emotions, sets the tone, and complements the visuals."

"Cinematic Analysis: Directing and Editing" Hook

"Delve into the meticulous craftsmanship of the director and editor. Analyze their choices in pacing, sequencing, and storytelling techniques that make this film a cinematic triumph."

The Pursuit of Happiness: Review

The power of education and empathy in "freedom writers", made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

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Shrek 2: an Animated Movie Review

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The Description of The Movie "Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone"

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college paper on movie review

college paper on movie review

Learn how you can write a college movie review

May 1, 2019 | review writing , movie review

college paper on movie review

College life is laden with so many academic responsibilities that the student has to complete. Most of them impart not only knowledge but also skills that are essential even in life after college. Assignment writing is not as revered by the student as it’s supposed to be. However, that does not mean they want do it. Among the academic tasks, these students have to deal with is writing a college movie review. A movie can be too boring or a brilliant work of art, and if people are watching, then it can be critiqued. If you want to write an excellent movie review essay for college, ensure it I entertaining, persuasive and informative. More so, it should provide an original opinion without giving spoilers about the plot.

A great college movie review can be a work of art on its own. As such, you need to know how you can come up with the best college movie review essay of all time. The question you need task here is, how do you come up, with a perfect college movie review?

This is how you start the process of coming up with the best movie review essay for college.

The idea here is to get the audience hooked to your piece immediately they start reading it. The first sentence of your college movie review needs to give them a feel of your paper and the movie in general. In other words, you are telling them if the movie is good, great, terrible, or just okay. Some of the ideas you can use include the following:

  • Comparison to a relevant event or movie
  • Giving a review in a nutshell
  • Context or background information

The worst mistake here is to leave the audience wondering if you like the movie or not. You need to let them know early enough so that you can use the remaining time proving whatever that you stated. You can use stars, a score out of 10 or a simple thumbs up and thumbs-down as a quick way to show your thoughts. Then explain why you gave such a rating. You can also say it is a great movie, bad movie or okay movie.

(Also read : Getting acquainted with top tips of writing a custom book review )

This is when you see the importance of taking notes during the movie. The audience will not care about your opinion in the college movie review if you do not give facts and support them with relevant evidence.

The movie is made up of many things, and the plot is one of them. As such, your college movie review should not dwell on the plot alone. Some of the movies lack a great or compelling plot, but that does not imply that the movie is bad. Some of the things you need to include in your movie review essay for college are cinematography, music and sound, tone, acting.

If you want to write the best college movie review essay, you need to give it some closure by going back to your opening fact. Remember that the audience reads the review to decide if the movie is worth watching or not. You can end with a sentence that tells them if the movie is great, bad, or okay.

To do this, you need to:

This can happen before or after you have watched the movie, but you need to do it before writing your college movie review . You need to weave facts into your review as you write and this is what you need to know:

  • Title of the film and the year of release
  • Director’s name
  • The name of the lead actors

Before you can embark on watching the film, ensure you have a notepad or a laptop for you to take notes. Movies are long, and it is easy to forget some details or major plot points. If you take notes, you will identify little things that you can revisit later. Take note every time something sticks out to you, whether good or bad. It could be about costumes, makeup, music, set design, etc. think of how this detail relates to the rest of your movie and what it means in the context of your college movie review.

More so, take note of the patterns you notice as the movie unfolds. You can pause the movie as frequent as you can to ensure you do not miss anything and rewind as much as you can.

In your college movie review, you need to analyze various components that came together in the move as you watch. During or after viewing it, ask yourself about the impression that the movie made on you in these areas:

Consider how the director chose to portray or explain the events in the story. If the movie was slow or omitted things you thought were crucial, attribute this to the director. If you have watched other movies directed by the same person, compare them and determine the one you like the most.

In your college movie review, consider the cinematography. In other words, you have to talk about the techniques used to film the movie, the setting, and background elements that helped in creating a certain tone.

Evaluate the script, including the characterization and dialogue. Let the reader know if you felt the plot was inventive and unpredictable or weak and boring. Tell them in the words of the characters seemed credible to you or not.

In your college movie review essay, let the reader know if the movie was choppy or it had a smooth flow from one scene to the next. Was there a montage to assist in building the story and was it obstructive to the narrative or did it add any help? Tell if there were long cuts to accentuate the actor’s ability to act or many reaction shots to sow a group reaction to an event or dialogue.

If there are visual effects, were they well chosen and were the composite effects p[art of the seamless experience?

Talk about how the clothing choice fit the style of the movie or not. Let the reader know if it contributed to the overall time instead of digressing it.

In your movie review essay for college, consider how the setting of the film affected its other elements. Did it add or subtract from the experience for you? If the filming was done in a real place, was the location choice the best?

Let the reader know if the soundtrack worked with the scenes, and if it was over or underused. Did it create suspense? Was it irritating or amusing? Soundtracks can make or break a movie especially if the song has a specific message or meaning to it.

You cannot understand the movie that you have only watched once, especially if you are pausing too much to take notes. You need to watch it at least once or twice before you can write your college movie review. Be attentive to details that you might have overlooked during the first watch. You can pick new points of focus this time, and if you took many notes on the acting the first time you watched the film, you could dwell on cinematography this time around.

When you are composing your college movie review essay, this is what you need to do:

After having studied the movie thoroughly, you have to identify the unique insights that you need the reader to know. Formulate a thesis or a central idea to discuss and back up using observations on various elements of the film. Your thesis ought to be discussed in the first paragraph of your review. When you formulate a thesis statement , you transcend the plot summary stage and into the realm of film criticism, which is an art form of its own.

You need to consider the following aspects;

  • Is the film reflecting the current event or contemporary matter? This could be the director’s way of engaging in a bigger question. You have to look for ways that you can relate the film with the real world.
  • Does the film convey a message or does it elicit a specific response from the audience? you can discuss whether or not it achieves its targets
  • Do you have a personal connection with the film after watching it? Your college movie review can anchor on your feelings and have in some personal stories to make it more fascinating to the readers.

You can give your reader a gist of what they are going to get if they decide to watch the movie that you are reviewing. Provide a brief plot summary where you identify the major characters as you describe the setting, a sense of central conflict or point of the movie. The rule of thumb for any movies or even college movie review essay is not to give too much away because that will ruin the movie for your audience.

When naming the characters in your college movie review, list their names directly afterward in parenthesis. More so, find where you can mention the name of the director and if you are likely to discuss spoilers, warn the audience first.

You can write several paragraphs of your college movie review discussing elements of the movie that support your thesis . Talk about the acting, direction, cinematography, the setting and so on. Ensure that you use clear, entertaining prose that keeps your readers engaged. Your writing ought to be easy to understand. It is recommended you refrain from using too much film jargon. Give your facts and opinion on the movie.

If you make a statement in your college movie review about the movie, ensure it is followed by a descriptive example. Describe the way the scene looks, how a character acted, camera angles and so on. Feel free to quote dialogue to help you to make your points well. As such, you are providing the reader with a feel of the movie as you continue to express your critique on it at the same time.

Treat your college movie review like any other formal college essay , but ensure it remains fascinating. You should maintain your writing style, in that if you a witty or funny, it ought to come out in your movie review essay for college. This should be a way that you use to depict a unique perspective and personality because it is more entertaining to the audience.

The conclusion of your college movie review ought to tie back to your thesis and provide some guidance as to where the audience can watch the movie or not. Make it as compelling or entertaining as you can because it is the end of your college movie review.

After you are done with the writing process:

Read the draft of your college movie review essay and check its flow and structure. Shift paragraphs, delete sentences, add more material and so on.

The idea here is to ensure the paper is free from grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, typos, and other punctuation problems. In other words, you are looking at the outlook of your college movie review. You can have someone go through it because he can help you identify mistakes you might have overlooked. Once satisfied that the paper is intact, you can write the final copy and submit it where necessary.

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Film&Movie Review Examples and Samples

Reviewing films can seem fun, but it actually takes discipline to explain all the elements of a film and to express your opinion succinctly. Check out our film review samples to gain a better understanding of how to write one yourself.

How to Write a Movie Review: A Comprehensive Guide

Writing a movie review is an engaging process that combines film criticism, analysis, and personal opinion to create an informative and thought-provoking piece. A well-crafted review not only serves as a helpful guide for potential viewers but also deepens our understanding of the cinematic experience. In this article, we will explore the essentials of review writing, focusing on crucial elements such as plot summary, thesis, opinion, characters, cinematography, and more.

Start with a Plot Summary

Begin your movie review with a brief synopsis, offering an overview of the film’s storyline. This recap should be concise and engaging, giving readers a general idea of the movie’s premise without revealing too much. For a more structured approach, consider using an AI literature review generator to help you summarize key points efficiently. Remember that your summary sets the stage for the critique and analysis that follow.

Develop a Thesis

Your thesis is the central idea or argument that you will explore in your movie review. This main point should be clear and focused, serving as the backbone of your critique. Consider what themes or aspects of the film stood out to you, and build your thesis around these observations.

Express Your Opinion

A significant aspect of writing a movie review is sharing your personal viewpoint or perspective. Offer your judgment on the film’s strengths and weaknesses, providing specific examples from the movie to support your appraisal. Be honest and thoughtful in your assessment, considering both your own preferences and the film’s intended audience.

Analyze the Characters

Discuss the film’s characters, examining their roles, personas, and the actors’ performances. Consider how the cast contributes to the overall narrative and whether their portrayals are convincing and memorable. Analyze the characters’ development throughout the movie, as well as the relationships between them.

Examine the Cinematography

Cinematography plays a crucial role in a film’s visual style and storytelling. Delve into the camera work, lighting, photography, and framing, evaluating how these elements enhance or detract from the movie’s overall impact. Consider how the cinematography supports the film’s themes and emotions.

Conduct a Thorough Analysis

A comprehensive movie review requires a detailed examination of various aspects of the film. Study the director’s choices, the music and sound design, and the technical elements such as craftsmanship and artistry. This thorough scrutiny will help you provide a well-rounded critique that captures the essence of the movie.

Discuss the Director’s Role

The director is the creative force behind a film, responsible for shaping its vision and execution. Analyze the director’s choices, considering their impact on the film’s storytelling, pacing, and overall atmosphere. Reflect on the director’s previous work, if applicable, and how this film fits into their oeuvre.

Evaluate Music and Sound

Music and sound play an essential role in creating a film’s mood and atmosphere. Examine the soundtrack, score, and audio design, considering how these elements contribute to the movie’s overall experience. Discuss the effectiveness of the composition, melody, and soundscapes in enhancing the narrative.

Assess Technical Aspects 

Review the technical aspects of the film, such as the expertise and proficiency of the crew, the quality of the special effects, and the overall production value. Analyze how these elements contribute to the film’s success or shortcomings, and whether they support the movie’s themes and narrative.

Evaluate the Acting 

Analyze the actors’ performances, considering their delivery, expression, and interpretation of their roles. Discuss whether the acting feels authentic and engaging, and how it contributes to the film’s overall impact. Pay attention to standout performances or any instances where the acting may have detracted from the movie’s overall quality.

In summary, writing a movie review involves a careful balance of plot summary, thesis development, opinion sharing, and thorough analysis of various aspects of the film, including characters, cinematography, directorial choices, music and sound, and technical elements. By considering all these factors and incorporating the appropriate keyword density and LSI keywords organically throughout your review, you can create an engaging, informative, and well-rounded critique that will appeal to readers and enhance their appreciation for the film. Remember to be honest and thoughtful in your assessment, and most importantly, enjoy the process of delving into the world of cinema.

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Film Writing: Sample Analysis

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Summary: A sample analysis of a filmic sequence that makes use of the terminology on the OWL’s Writing About Film page .

Written by Kylie Regan

Introductory Note

The analysis below discusses the opening moments of the science fiction movie  Ex Machina  in order to make an argument about the film's underlying purpose. The text of the analysis is formatted normally. Editor's commentary, which will occasionally interrupt the piece to discuss the author's rhetorical strategies, is written in brackets in an italic font with a bold "Ed.:" identifier. See the examples below:

The text of the analysis looks like this.

[ Ed.:  The editor's commentary looks like this. ]

Frustrated Communication in Ex Machina ’s Opening Sequence

Alex Garland’s 2015 science fiction film Ex Machina follows a young programmer’s attempts to determine whether or not an android possesses a consciousness complicated enough to pass as human. The film is celebrated for its thought-provoking depiction of the anxiety over whether a nonhuman entity could mimic or exceed human abilities, but analyzing the early sections of the film, before artificial intelligence is even introduced, reveals a compelling examination of humans’ inability to articulate their thoughts and feelings. In its opening sequence, Ex Machina establishes that it’s not only about the difficulty of creating a machine that can effectively talk to humans, but about human beings who struggle to find ways to communicate with each other in an increasingly digital world.

[ Ed.:  The piece's opening introduces the film with a plot summary that doesn't give away too much and a brief summary of the critical conversation that has centered around the film. Then, however, it deviates from this conversation by suggesting that Ex Machina has things to say about humanity before non-human characters even appear. Off to a great start. ]

The film’s first establishing shots set the action in a busy modern office. A woman sits at a computer, absorbed in her screen. The camera looks at her through a glass wall, one of many in the shot. The reflections of passersby reflected in the glass and the workspace’s dim blue light make it difficult to determine how many rooms are depicted. The camera cuts to a few different young men typing on their phones, their bodies partially concealed both by people walking between them and the camera and by the stylized modern furniture that surrounds them. The fourth shot peeks over a computer monitor at a blonde man working with headphones in. A slight zoom toward his face suggests that this is an important character, and the cut to a point-of-view shot looking at his computer screen confirms this. We later learn that this is Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), a young programmer whose perspective the film follows.

The rest of the sequence cuts between shots from Caleb’s P.O.V. and reaction shots of his face, as he receives and processes the news that he has won first prize in a staff competition. Shocked, Caleb dives for his cellphone and texts several people the news. Several people immediately respond with congratulatory messages, and after a moment the woman from the opening shot runs in to give him a hug. At this point, the other people in the room look up, smile, and start clapping, while Caleb smiles disbelievingly—perhaps even anxiously—and the camera subtly zooms in a bit closer. Throughout the entire sequence, there is no sound other than ambient electronic music that gets slightly louder and more textured as the sequence progresses. A jump cut to an aerial view of a glacial landscape ends the sequence and indicates that Caleb is very quickly transported into a very unfamiliar setting, implying that he will have difficulty adjusting to this sudden change in circumstances.

[ Ed.:  These paragraphs are mostly descriptive. They give readers the information they will need to understand the argument the piece is about to offer. While passages like this can risk becoming boring if they dwell on unimportant details, the author wisely limits herself to two paragraphs and maintains a driving pace through her prose style choices (like an almost exclusive reliance on active verbs). ]

Without any audible dialogue or traditional expository setup of the main characters, this opening sequence sets viewers up to make sense of Ex Machina ’s visual style and its exploration of the ways that technology can both enhance and limit human communication. The choice to make the dialogue inaudible suggests that in-person conversations have no significance. Human-to-human conversations are most productive in this sequence when they are mediated by technology. Caleb’s first response when he hears his good news is to text his friends rather than tell the people sitting around him, and he makes no move to take his headphones out when the in-person celebration finally breaks out. Everyone in the building is on their phones, looking at screens, or has headphones in, and the camera is looking at screens through Caleb’s viewpoint for at least half of the sequence.  

Rather than simply muting the specific conversations that Caleb has with his coworkers, the ambient soundtrack replaces all the noise that a crowded building in the middle of a workday would ordinarily have. This silence sets the uneasy tone that characterizes the rest of the film, which is as much a horror-thriller as a piece of science fiction. Viewers get the sense that all the sounds that humans make as they walk around and talk to each other are being intentionally filtered out by some presence, replaced with a quiet electronic beat that marks the pacing of the sequence, slowly building to a faster tempo. Perhaps the sound of people is irrelevant: only the visual data matters here. Silence is frequently used in the rest of the film as a source of tension, with viewers acutely aware that it could be broken at any moment. Part of the horror of the research bunker, which will soon become the film’s primary setting, is its silence, particularly during sequences of Caleb sneaking into restricted areas and being startled by a sudden noise.

The visual style of this opening sequence reinforces the eeriness of the muted humans and electronic soundtrack. Prominent use of shallow focus to depict a workspace that is constructed out of glass doors and walls makes it difficult to discern how large the space really is. The viewer is thus spatially disoriented in each new setting. This layering of glass and mirrors, doubling some images and obscuring others, is used later in the film when Caleb meets the artificial being Ava (Alicia Vikander), who is not allowed to leave her glass-walled living quarters in the research bunker. The similarity of these spaces visually reinforces the film’s late revelation that Caleb has been manipulated by Nathan Bates (Oscar Isaac), the troubled genius who creates Ava.

[ Ed.:  In these paragraphs, the author cites the information about the scene she's provided to make her argument. Because she's already teased the argument in the introduction and provided an account of her evidence, it doesn't strike us as unreasonable or far-fetched here. Instead, it appears that we've naturally arrived at the same incisive, fascinating points that she has. ]

A few other shots in the opening sequence more explicitly hint that Caleb is already under Nathan’s control before he ever arrives at the bunker. Shortly after the P.O.V shot of Caleb reading the email notification that he won the prize, we cut to a few other P.O.V. shots, this time from the perspective of cameras in Caleb’s phone and desktop computer. These cameras are not just looking at Caleb, but appear to be scanning him, as the screen flashes in different color lenses and small points appear around Caleb’s mouth, eyes, and nostrils, tracking the smallest expressions that cross his face. These small details indicate that Caleb is more a part of this digital space than he realizes, and also foreshadow the later revelation that Nathan is actively using data collected by computers and webcams to manipulate Caleb and others. The shots from the cameras’ perspectives also make use of a subtle fisheye lens, suggesting both the wide scope of Nathan’s surveillance capacities and the slightly distorted worldview that motivates this unethical activity.

[ Ed.: This paragraph uses additional details to reinforce the piece's main argument. While this move may not be as essential as the one in the preceding paragraphs, it does help create the impression that the author is noticing deliberate patterns in the film's cinematography, rather than picking out isolated coincidences to make her points. ]

Taken together, the details of Ex Machina ’s stylized opening sequence lay the groundwork for the film’s long exploration of the relationship between human communication and technology. The sequence, and the film, ultimately suggests that we need to develop and use new technologies thoughtfully, or else the thing that makes us most human—our ability to connect through language—might be destroyed by our innovations. All of the aural and visual cues in the opening sequence establish a world in which humans are utterly reliant on technology and yet totally unaware of the nefarious uses to which a brilliant but unethical person could put it.

Author's Note:  Thanks to my literature students whose in-class contributions sharpened my thinking on this scene .

[ Ed.: The piece concludes by tying the main themes of the opening sequence to those of the entire film. In doing this, the conclusion makes an argument for the essay's own relevance: we need to pay attention to the essay's points so that we can achieve a rich understanding of the movie. The piece's final sentence makes a chilling final impression by alluding to the danger that might loom if we do not understand the movie. This is the only the place in the piece where the author explicitly references how badly we might be hurt by ignorance, and it's all the more powerful for this solitary quality. A pithy, charming note follows, acknowledging that the author's work was informed by others' input (as most good writing is). Beautifully done. ]

College Nut

The Art of Writing College Essays Inspired by Movies

Why movies are a great inspiration for college essays.

Movies have the power to move us emotionally and intellectually. They can make us laugh, cry, and even change our perspectives on life. As such, movies are a great source of inspiration for college essays. Not only do they provide an opportunity to showcase your creativity, but they also allow you to convey your thoughts and ideas in a unique and memorable way.

How Movies Can Help You Choose a Topic

One of the biggest challenges of writing a college essay is choosing a topic. You want to write about something that is meaningful to you, but you also want to impress the admissions committee. Movies can help you with this by providing a wide range of subjects to explore. For example, if you are passionate about social justice, you could write about the themes of discrimination and inequality in the movie “The Help.” Or, if you are interested in science, you could write about the ethics of cloning in the movie “Jurassic Park.”

How to Incorporate Movie References in Your Essay

Once you have chosen a movie to draw inspiration from, the next step is to incorporate it into your essay in a meaningful way. One way to do this is by using quotes or references from the movie to support your argument. For example, if you are writing about the importance of perseverance, you could use the quote from “Rocky Balboa” where he says, “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

How Movies Can Help You Stand Out

One of the main goals of a college essay is to stand out from the crowd. Movies can help you achieve this by providing a unique lens through which to view your experiences and ideas. For example, instead of writing a generic essay about your summer vacation, you could write about how watching the sunset in “The Notebook” inspired you to pursue a career in environmental conservation.

How to Use the Structure of Movies in Your Essay

Another way to draw inspiration from movies is to use their narrative structure in your essay. Just like movies have a beginning, middle, and end, your essay should also have a clear structure. You could use the three-act structure of movies to organize your thoughts and ideas. The first act could introduce your topic and thesis statement, the second act could provide supporting evidence and arguments, and the third act could conclude with a powerful message or call to action.

Tips for Writing an Effective College Essay Inspired by Movies

1. choose a movie that resonates with you.

The key to writing a great college essay is to choose a topic that is meaningful to you. When selecting a movie to draw inspiration from, choose one that resonates with you on a personal level. This will make it easier for you to connect with the material and write a compelling essay.

2. Use Your Own Voice

Another important aspect of writing a college essay is to use your own voice. Don’t try to sound like someone else or use big words that you don’t understand. Be yourself and write in a way that feels natural to you. This will make your essay more authentic and memorable.

3. Show, Don’t Tell

One of the biggest mistakes that students make when writing college essays is telling rather than showing. Instead of simply stating that you are passionate about a certain topic, show it through a personal anecdote or example. This will make your essay more engaging and persuasive.

4. Edit and Revise

Writing a great college essay takes time and effort. Don’t be afraid to revise and edit your essay multiple times. Have someone else read it and provide feedback. This will help you catch any mistakes or inconsistencies in your writing.

5. Be Honest and Vulnerable

Finally, don’t be afraid to be honest and vulnerable in your essay. Admissions committees want to see the real you, not a perfect version of yourself. Share your fears, doubts, and struggles. This will make your essay more relatable and memorable.

In conclusion, movies can be a great source of inspiration for college essays. They provide a unique lens through which to view your experiences and ideas. Use them wisely and incorporate them into your writing in a meaningful way. Remember to be yourself, show, don’t tell, and be honest and vulnerable in your writing.

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Movie Review College Essays Samples For Students

12 samples of this type

Do you feel the need to check out some previously written College Essays on Movie Review before you begin writing an own piece? In this open-access catalog of Movie Review College Essay examples, you are provided with a thrilling opportunity to discover meaningful topics, content structuring techniques, text flow, formatting styles, and other academically acclaimed writing practices. Adopting them while crafting your own Movie Review College Essay will definitely allow you to finalize the piece faster.

Presenting high-quality samples isn't the only way our free essays service can help students in their writing ventures – our authors can also compose from scratch a fully customized College Essay on Movie Review that would make a genuine basis for your own academic work.

Learn To Craft Essays On Why Is Society Fascinated By Serial Killers? With This Example

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English 102 Reflections

Looking back the past semester in the course of English 102, I have made some tremendous improvements in my writing skills and feel that I have really benefitted from the course. Of course, nothing good comes easy, and true to this, I faced some challenges which I braced and came out really successful and improved.

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‘The Gentlemen': Privileged Brits are peddling pot in Guy Ritchie’s darkly funny series

Based on the 2020 film, violent netflix show stars theo james as a newcomer to england’s upper-class weed wars..

Eddie (Theo James) is surprised to learn that the family estate he inherited comes with a large-scale marijuana plantation in "The Gentlemen."

Eddie (Theo James) is surprised to learn that the family estate he inherited comes with a large-scale marijuana plantation in “The Gentlemen.”

Guy Ritchie’s slick and sly and darkly funny Netflix series “The Gentlemen” is a spinoff of Ritchie’s crackling good crime comedy/drama feature film of the same name from 2020, but don’t expect any cameos from Matthew McConaughey or Charlie Hunnam or Michelle Dockery or Hugh Grant or anyone else from the movie.

We’re still in the same world, i.e., an England in which lucrative cannabis labs operate under the estates of aristocrats who need the fat cash influx to keep running their monstrously large homes.

From that jumping point, the series introduces a whole new set of characters from a myriad of locales and backgrounds who have one thing in common: They’re all willing to do whatever it takes, whether it’s scheming and double-crossing or using fists, swords, knives, guns, etc., to eliminate the competition and/or exact revenge.

Also, as you’d expect from the prolific and provocative filmmaker behind “Snatch,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” the Robert Downey Jr. “Sherlock Holmes” movies, etc., “The Gentlemen” is filled with cheeky humor, sweeping camera movements, callbacks to previous plot developments and the occasional use of a graphic that spells out definitions and sometimes does some convenient math for us.

It’s a complex and layered story, but it’s also relatively easy to keep track of the various bounders and cads and gangsters and high-society wolves in sheep’s clothing maneuvering to gain control of the cannabis market.

Theo James, fresh off his Emmy-nominated turn on “The White Lotus,” is perfectly cast as the leading-man-handsome and born-to-the-manor yet hardnosed Eddie Hornaman, a British Army captain in charge of a UN outpost who is summoned home because his father is dying. And when we say “home,” we mean enormous estate, as Eddie’s dad is the Duke of Halstead.

To the outrage of the oldest son, the coke-addled, impetuous and entirely unreliable Freddy (Daniel Ings), the reading of the will reveals that dear old pops has skipped over Freddy and left everything, including his title and the run of the manor, to Eddie. He's a duke now, and everyone calls him "your grace." Nice!

No sooner has Eddie wrapped his mind around this development when he’s hit with two other surprises: (a) Freddy is $8 million in debt to a ruthless clan of Liverpool drug-dealing gangsters, and (b), speaking of drugs, there’s a thriving marijuana plantation underneath the dairy farm. It’s one of a dozen such underground labs spread throughout England, all run by the stylish and droll and quite dangerous Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario), who rarely makes a move without consulting her father, the mob boss of mob bosses Bobby (the great Ray Winstone), who is serving a long prison sentence but has a posh setup that puts to shame Paul Sorvino’s cell in “Goodfellas.”

Kaya Scodelario plays the smooth criminal who oversees the weed plantations for her imprisoned mob boss father (Ray Winstone).

Kaya Scodelario plays the smooth criminal who oversees the weed plantations for her imprisoned mob boss father (Ray Winstone).

For the run of the series, Eddie keeps talking about how he wants to separate from the mob and get out of the pot-growing business, but as the blood spills frequently and often in creative fashion, it turns out Eddie has a real knack for this sort of thing. At times, Eddie and Susie make for a formidable team, and there’s no denying the electric chemistry they share; just as often, they’re at odds, with each not trusting the other, and for good reason.

Even when we’re not spending screen time with the two leads, “The Gentlemen” never lags, as it boasts a fascinating array of supporting characters.

  • Giancarlo Esposito is Stanley Johnston, a meth kingpin who loves the finer things in life, from bespoke suits to million-dollar wine collections; think Gus Fring, only with an extra couple of zeros in his bank account.
  • Vinnie Jones is Geoff, the gamekeeper of Halstead Manor who knows all and sees all; he's kind of like Carson from “Downton Abbey,” only with shotguns.
  • Michael Vu is the horticulturalist Jimmy, who is high on his own supply 24/7, which leads to some really bad decisions.

We’re also introduced to Irish travelers, a Nazi sympathizer, a money-laundering fight promoter, a crazed and machete-wielding luxury car dealer, and let’s just say not everyone is getting out of this adventure alive. In typical Guy Ritchie fashion, the action often turns absurdist, e.g., when a certain character loses it while wielding a shotgun worth six figures and wearing a chicken suit.

There are times when “The Gentlemen” wanders off into the woods and we get a little impatient waiting for the gears to grind again, but thanks in large part to the sharp writing and the stellar performances from Theo James and Kaya Scodelario and the entire ensemble, this is a worthy addition to the Guy Ritchie library of stylish and violent crime thrillers.

Chicago police gather near East 89th Pl. and Indiana after an officer and two ATF agents were shot on Wednesday, June 7, 2021.

MAR10 Day 2024: Everything Announced Including a New Super Mario Bros. Movie

We also got release dates for big switch games and a few game boy titles for nintendo switch online..

Adam Bankhurst Avatar

Mario Day 2024 was a big one as Nintendo revealed a new Super Mario Bros. Movie was on the way, confirmed the release dates of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake and Luigi's Mansion 2 HD, and announced that Game Boy's Dr. Mario, Mario Golf, and Mario Tennis are headed to Nintendo Switch Online.

While we didn't learn a ton of new details about all these projects, there is a lot to be excited about as a Mario fan and we're here to gather everything right here so you don't miss a thing!

A New Super Mario Bros. Movie Is Officially in Development and Will Arrive in April 2026

Nintendo and Illumination have announced that a new Super Mario Bros. Movie is officially in development and will be released on April 3, 2026.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Remake Release Date Announced

Nintendo announced that the remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door will be released on Switch on May 23, 2024.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD Release Date Announced

Nintendo announced that Luigi's Mansion 2 HD will be released on Switch on June 27, 2024.

What's the Best Mario Game of All Time?

Pick a winner.

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Game Boy's Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, and Dr. Mario to Join Nintendo Switch Online This Week

Nintendo has announced that Game Boy's Dr. Mario, Mario Golf, and Mario Tennis will all arrive on Nintendo Switch Online on March 12, 2024.

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LEGO Mario Kart Sets Announced for 2025

LEGO and Nintendo have announced that LEGO Mario Kart sets will be racing to store shelves in 2025.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected] .

Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.

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Britt Tells Misleading Border Story in State of the Union Response

The Alabama senator used a story about sex trafficking to criticize the Biden administration’s border policies. But the events occurred in Mexico years ago.

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Katie Britt gives a speech on a screen. Statues are in the background.

By Ken Bensinger

  • March 9, 2024

The opposition party’s response to the State of the Union address is a golden opportunity for up-and-coming and lesser-known politicians to introduce themselves to the nation and boost their political profile.

Such was the case for Katie Britt, a first-term Republican senator from Alabama who, despite being a newcomer to the national stage, has been mentioned as a possible choice to be Donald J. Trump’s running mate. But her big debut on Thursday night has been marred by intense scrutiny of an anecdote at the center of her speech, which was delivered from her kitchen in Montgomery, Ala.

The story, about a Mexican who was a victim of sex trafficking at the age of 12, came in the context of an attack on President Biden’s border policies. In impassioned tones, Ms. Britt described a girl being raped multiple times a day in dire conditions at the hands of cartels before she was able to escape.

“This is the United States of America, and it is past time, in my opinion, that we start acting like it,” Ms. Britt said. “President Biden’s border policies are a disgrace.”

As a rhetorical device, it would be hard conjure up a more powerful and resonant example. But the story was highly misleading and improperly contextualized.

The woman referenced by Ms. Britt was, in fact, never trafficked across the border, nor has she sought asylum in this country. And her harrowing experience took place between 2004 and 2008, while a Republican, George W. Bush, was in the White House and President Biden was still a senator.

In other words, it had nothing at all to do with the current administration’s border policy. But that didn’t stop Ms. Britt from inflaming public fears about immigration and placing blame at Mr. Biden’s feet.

“We know that President Biden didn’t just create this border crisis,” she said. “He invited it.”

Although Ms. Britt did not name the victim in her speech, she has previously shared the story of a woman who appears to be the same individual based on congressional testimony, news releases and news reports.

That woman, Karla Jacinto Romero, is a Mexican citizen who does not live in the United States and who has spoken frequently about her experiences of being forced into sexual slavery for four years. In 2023, Ms. Jacinto participated in an event in Texas near the border with Mexico that was also attended by three senators , including Ms. Britt. In a video released shortly after that trip, Ms. Britt discussed Ms. Jacinto’s experiences.

Ms. Jacinto, who spoke with the Times Saturday from Mexico, said she had not been informed ahead of time that Ms. Britt would be discussing her in the speech and only learned about it after a video pointing out the deceptive framing of the senator’s speech was posted by the independent journalist Jonathan Katz on TikTok on Friday.

“I only found out via social media,” said Ms. Jacinto, who continues to speak frequently about human trafficking and who is supported by a U.S.-based nonprofit, Reintegra , that provides educational grants to victims of sex trafficking in Latin America. “I thought it was very strange.”

She said she preferred to keep politics out of the question of human trafficking. “I am involved in the fight to stop trafficking and I don’t think it should be political,” she said. “The work I do is not a game.”

A spokesman for Ms. Britt, Sean Ross, stood behind her speech.

“The story Senator Britt told was 100 percent correct,” he said in a statement. “And there are more innocent victims of that kind of disgusting, brutal trafficking by the cartels than ever before right now. The Biden administration’s policies — the policies in this country that the president falsely claims are humane — have empowered the cartels and acted as a magnet to a historic level of migrants making the dangerous journey to our border.”

Mr. Ross did not respond to a follow-up question about what direct responsibility the Biden administration had for what Ms. Jacinto experienced or what an anecdote about sex trafficking entirely within another country had to do with U.S. border policies.

Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, said in a statement that Ms. Britt’s remarks were “debunked lies.”

This is not the first time that Ms. Jacinto’s experience has been used as a political bludgeon.

The January 2023 event, held in Eagle Pass, Texas, was organized by Marsha Blackburn, the Republican senator from Tennessee, who framed it as a mission to “examine the disastrous effects of Biden’s border crisis firsthand.”

At the event, Ms. Jacinto was accompanied by a former Mexican congresswoman, Rosi Orozco, who is active in human trafficking matters and lives in the U.S. The two women sat on a round table panel focused on human and sex trafficking and were featured in a short video with the three senators.

Soon thereafter, Ms. Blackburn published an op-ed headlined “Biden’s open border is not compassionate or humane.” After describing Ms. Jacinto’s travails, she wrote: “It is clear that we are experiencing a humanitarian and national security crisis, courtesy of President Biden.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for Ms. Blackburn said that “for years, Senator Blackburn has fought to prevent sex trafficking and has met with victims, such as Karla, to hear about the horrific abuses that occur.” The statement added that “countless women and children are sexually trafficked into the U.S.A. due to Biden’s open border agenda. Under President Biden, human trafficking has skyrocketed from a $500 million business in 2018 to around $13 billion a year in 2022.”

Andy McCullough, the executive director of Reintegra, which first helped Ms. Jacinto in 2017, providing funding so she could finish high school, said he was stunned to learn how Ms. Jacinto was portrayed at the Texas event and, again this week, in Ms. Britt’s speech.

“They presented Karla as someone who was trafficked across the border, and that’s not her story,” he said. “This issue is so horrific, and yet the narrative is being manipulated to make it a political thing. This is re-exploiting the very victims of exploitation that we are trying to help.”

Ms. Jacinto, 31, has been speaking against human trafficking for years. In 2015, she met Pope Francis at the Vatican and also spoke at a House foreign affairs subcommittee on global sex trafficking organized by Republican Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey. The hearing focused on strategies for combating the problem in other countries, rather than describing them as a product of U.S. border policies.

Concerned about how her story was being portrayed by politicians, Mr. McCullough brought Ms. Jacinto on as staffer at Reintegra last March, hoping that the organization could protect her and her message, paying her a small stipend and arranging for speaking opportunities.

“This issue is horrendous,” Mr. McCullough said. “If we make it a political thing or a religious thing, we take away the reality of how awful it is. All of humanity should be fighting this issue.”

Ken Bensinger covers right wing media and national political campaigns for The Times. More about Ken Bensinger

Our Coverage of the State of the Union

In a raucous state of the union address, president biden sought to reassure americans that at 81, he is ready for a second term..

Biden’s Performance: The president was feisty   and displayed a newly found solemnity and blunt combativeness . Republicans jeered  from their seats. And Democrats enthusiastically cheered their presidential nominee, even as a few aired their grievances about the war in Gaza .

A Contrast With Trump: In his speech, Biden launched a series of fiery attacks  against former President Donald Trump, a competitor whom he did not mention by name but made clear was a dire threat to American democracy  and to  stability in the world .

Middle East Crisis: During the State of the Union, the president announced the construction of a port to deliver aid to Gaza. That decision, as well as the  authorization of aid airdrops  on the territory, raised uncomfortable questions  about America’s role in the war.

Seeking a Tricky Balance: As he spoke to Congress, Biden tried to demonstrate that he could be tough on the border without demonizing immigrants .

A Rare Mention: Biden briefly referenced a topic  that he has often been reluctant to embrace: marijuana. His words could signal a move toward promoting the efforts he has made to liberalize cannabis policy.

Style Choices: Democratic women in suffragist white , Marjorie Taylor Greene in MAGA red. The sartorial statement-making on the congressional floor was clear .

college paper on movie review

Mario Day 2024: Game release dates, movie news, and more

Jacob Siegal

If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.

Nintendo’s annual celebration of its iconic mascot, Mario , takes place every year on March 10 (Mar10, get it?), and this year was no different. On Sunday, the video game company shared a short video on YouTube full of Mario announcements, including the release dates of two highly-anticipated Switch games, a new collection of 3 classic Game Boy games coming to Nintendo Switch Online, news about the next Mario movie, and more.

Paper Mario and Luigi’s Mansion

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is coming to Switch on May 23, 2024.

Two of Nintendo’s biggest Switch releases of 2024 were given release dates on Sunday.

First up is Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door , which is a revamped version of the beloved 2004 GameCube RPG — and the second game in the long-running Paper Mario series — with enhanced graphics and new gameplay features. The remaster launches on May 23, 2024.

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Mario’s Game Boy adventures

New Mario Game Boy games for Nintendo Switch Online.

On March 12, Nintendo will add three of Mario’s best Game Boy adventures to the Game Boy – Nintendo Switch Online library. The puzzle game Dr. Mario and the two sports games Mario Golf and Mario Tennis make a Nintendo Switch Online subscription even more tempting.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2

Chris Pratt as Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Other announcements

Those were the highlights, but Nintendo had a few other surprises in store for Mario Day:

  • Mario Kart sets are coming to LEGO Super Mario in 2025.
  • Nintendo’s extended 14-day free trial of Nintendo Switch Online is still available.
  • Tons of Mario games for Switch are on sale on the Nintendo eShop, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe , Luigi’s Mansion 3 , Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope , and Mario Tennis Aces .

Unsurprisingly, we didn’t hear anything about the Switch 2 on Mario Day, but based on all of the leaks and rumors, it shouldn’t be much longer until we do.

This article talks about:

Jacob Siegal

Jacob Siegal is Associate Editor at BGR, having joined the news team in 2013. He has over a decade of professional writing and editing experience, and helps to lead our technology and entertainment product launch and movie release coverage.

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  1. PDF Film Review

    Writing the Film Review Although there is not a set formula to follow when writing a film review, the genre does have certain common elements that most film reviews include. 1) Introduction - In the opening of your review, provide some basic information about the film. You may include film's name, year, director, screenwriter, and major actors.

  2. How to Write a Movie Review for College

    Name of the director. Title of the book (if based on a book) Draft the review outline: Draft an outline with which you will write the review. The overview will help you organize your review concisely and logically. The outline is more like the skeletal frame on which the whole study will stand.

  3. How to Write a Movie Review for College

    This is the ideal structure of a movie review for the college. Introduction - start with a hook and include basic details of the movie such as name, year of release, director, actors, and central theme. This paragraph should end with the thesis statement; Summary - provide a concise summary of the plot;

  4. How to Write a Good Movie Review for College

    Write your first draft. Create an outline that will help you to structure your review. Typically, you will need an introduction, body (review of story, technical characteristics, cast, directing), and conclusion. 8. Edit and proofread the text of your movie review.

  5. Guide on Movie Review with Free Samples and Tips

    A remarkable aspect of a good film review is that it doesn't just rate the movie but provides explicit views that form the critique's basis. This form of writing, like crafting essays, research papers, and term papers, should be insightful and draw the reader in quickly. It's important to discuss the reputation of the lead actors and directors ...

  6. How to Write a Movie Review for College Step-by-Step and Fast

    A Guide to write a Movie Review for College. Writing a movie review may not be as fun as your 2-hour long or so flick. But if you follow our step-by-step guide to writing movie reviews, you stand the chance to earn the best grades for the assignment. ... And even if there isn't a suggested word limit for the essay, don't make the assignment ...

  7. How To Write a Movie Review Essay

    A movie review essay is a critical piece of writing that aims to give a well-rounded assessment and analysis of a film. Good assignments will consider the film from all angles, looking at everything from the writing and acting, to the direction and editing.

  8. How to Write a Movie Review

    A few ways you can do this is by talking about a specific actor or director, or by using one of the main plot points of the movie. For example, "A Romantic Comedy for the Unromantic", or "Chris Pratt Plays Against Type in the Best Possible Way". Look at the titles of some movie review examples for inspiration! ‍.

  9. How to Write a Movie Review: 5 Tips for Writing Movie Reviews

    1. Take notes. As you watch the film, note any critical elements you want to discuss in your review. Write down factors that pique your interest, like performance, lighting choices, music placement, CGI, thematic arcs, and other elements you think the audience will find interesting. 2.

  10. How to Write a Movie Review: 9 Essential Tips

    Here are nine tips on writing a compelling piece. 1. Watch the film at least once. When writing a film review, once is necessary, but twice is preferable. It's impossible to capture every detail and thought only after one viewing. Throughout watching the film, taking detailed notes is also a good idea. This will help the writing process and ...

  11. How To Write A Good Movie Review Guide (with Example) For College

    Pay attention to the personality of the director, the cast, the locations and the background of the film. Think about the film as a whole. It is instrumental, as such technique will help you to get the full understanding of the film under your consideration. If it is based on the book, try to analyze it too.

  12. How to Write a Movie Review (with Sample Reviews)

    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. 2. Start to talk about the film's technical and artistic choices. Plot is just one piece of a movie, and shouldn't dictate your entire review.

  13. How to Write a Movie Review for College?

    Talk about the gripping bits of the film. Speak about key points and what stood out the most prominent to you and why. Talk about what failed or lacked in the film. Like with a comparison essay, to make sure that you round the reaction paper nicely, you should consider comparing the film with something.

  14. How to Write a Movie Review

    Such as who the filmmaker is, characters, and events that lead to the movie, plot summary, location, symbolism, etc. 3. Create the Movie Review Outline. The best way to organize your review logically is to make an outline first. The outline is a framework on which your whole review is going to stand.

  15. How to write a Movie Review? The Complete Guide

    Evaluate the movie from beginning to an end. Re-watch it, if necessary, if you find some parts confusing. Only when you understand events that happened on the screen will you find it easier to create the review. Draft an outline that you will follow to write the review in a concise and cohesive fashion.

  16. Movie Review Essay Examples Papers and Topics

    This movie is about how Shrek saved Princess Fiona from the Dragon's Castle and then they go off and end up marrying each other. Which bring us to... Movie Review Shrek. Topics: Arthur Pendragon, Bad, Cameron Diaz, DreamWorks, DreamWorks Animation, Eddie Murphy, English-language films, Family, Female, Film. 8.

  17. Learn How You Can Write A College Movie Review

    Give your facts and opinion on the movie. If you make a statement in your college movie review about the movie, ensure it is followed by a descriptive example. Describe the way the scene looks, how a character acted, camera angles and so on. Feel free to quote dialogue to help you to make your points well.

  18. Film&Movie Review Examples and Samples

    A significant aspect of writing a movie review is sharing your personal viewpoint or perspective. Offer your judgment on the film's strengths and weaknesses, providing specific examples from the movie to support your appraisal. Be honest and thoughtful in your assessment, considering both your own preferences and the film's intended audience.

  19. How To Write A College Movie Review

    Adopt a good structure for your text. While writing a movie review, it's wise to use a structure that allows your content to flow with ease. Just like in business writing, your content requires an introduction that can hook the reader and make a clear statement of your option on the movie. Make the body brief but logical and informative.

  20. PDF Documentary Movie Reviews

    film review has evolved through the mixing of the newspaper article genre, the op-ed piece genre, and the movie genre. Individuals and society interact through the work of a producer and the cast, the opinions of a review-writer, and the events that are occurring in the world. The documentary film review is written based on the type of films made.

  21. Film Writing: Sample Analysis

    In doing this, the conclusion makes an argument for the essay's own relevance: we need to pay attention to the essay's points so that we can achieve a rich understanding of the movie. The piece's final sentence makes a chilling final impression by alluding to the danger that might loom if we do not understand the movie.

  22. The Art of Writing College Essays Inspired by Movies

    The key to writing a great college essay is to choose a topic that is meaningful to you. When selecting a movie to draw inspiration from, choose one that resonates with you on a personal level. This will make it easier for you to connect with the material and write a compelling essay. 2. Use Your Own Voice.

  23. Movie Review College Essays Samples For Students

    In this open-access catalog of Movie Review College Essay examples, you are provided with a thrilling opportunity to discover meaningful topics, content structuring techniques, text flow, formatting styles, and other academically acclaimed writing practices. Adopting them while crafting your own Movie Review College Essay will definitely allow ...

  24. 'The Program' review: Netflix doc on abusive school is riveting

    'The Program,' riveting Netflix doc, goes inside troubled-teen academy that treated students like prisoners Survivors detail how Academy at Ivy Ridge in New York state abused teenage girls and ...

  25. 'The Gentlemen' review: In darkly funny Netflix series, privileged

    'The Gentlemen': Privileged Brits are peddling pot in Guy Ritchie's darkly funny series Based on the 2020 film, violent Netflix show stars Theo James as a newcomer to England's upper-class ...

  26. 'The Program' takes a deeply personal look at the 'troubled-teen

    A deeply personal advocacy piece, "The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping" becomes messy at times over its three chapters, although in a way, that's part of its power. Director Katherine ...

  27. MAR10 Day 2024: Everything Announced Including a New Super Mario ...

    Mario Day 2024 was a big one as Nintendo revealed a new Super Mario Bros. Movie was on the way, confirmed the release dates of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake and Luigi's Mansion 2 ...

  28. 2024-25 FAFSA Student Aid Index Update and Timeline (Updated March 8

    We would like to provide you with an important update regarding the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA ®) process.This Electronic Announcement provides further details regarding aid eligibility and the post-processing experience for students, institutions, state higher education agencies, and scholarship organizations.

  29. Questions Arise About Katie Britt's State of the Union Response

    Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, said in a statement that Ms. Britt's remarks were "debunked lies." This is not the first time that Ms. Jacinto's experience has been used as a ...

  30. Mario Day 2024: Game release dates, movie news, and more

    Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is coming to Switch on May 23, 2024. Image source: Nintendo Two of Nintendo's biggest Switch releases of 2024 were given release dates on Sunday.