historical movie review assignment

                        DUE DATE: ______________________________

Alexander (2004)

Barabbas (1961)

Ben Hur (1959)

Caligula (1979)

Clash of the Titans (1980?)

The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the

Forum (1966)

Gladiator (2000)

Helen of Troy (1950?)

Hercules (1997)

I, Claudius (1976)

The Last Days of Pompeii (1959)

The Life of Brian (1980)

Rome (television mini-series)

Spartacus (1960)

Titus (1999)

Troy (2004)

Year One (2009)

You have to do some on your film and the topic covered.  You MUST put all information into your own words AND include citations and a list of works cited.

Totals: K _______ T _______ C ________ A _________

        Learning Skills

Movie Review Assignment

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How to Write a 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, including online assignment help , coursework writing services, and custom essay writing. Our team of experienced writers is well-equipped to handle any writing task you may have, no matter the complexity or urgency. Just say, ‘ do my Excel project for me ,’ ‘ write my discussion post ,’ or ‘ do my PowerPoint for me ,’ and we will ensure that you receive high-quality work that meets all your requirements. Trust us to provide you with the best support to help you achieve your academic goals.

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Film Analysis

What this handout is about.

This handout introduces film analysis and and offers strategies and resources for approaching film analysis assignments.

Writing the film analysis essay

Writing a film analysis requires you to consider the composition of the film—the individual parts and choices made that come together to create the finished piece. Film analysis goes beyond the analysis of the film as literature to include camera angles, lighting, set design, sound elements, costume choices, editing, etc. in making an argument. The first step to analyzing the film is to watch it with a plan.

Watching the film

First it’s important to watch the film carefully with a critical eye. Consider why you’ve been assigned to watch a film and write an analysis. How does this activity fit into the course? Why have you been assigned this particular film? What are you looking for in connection to the course content? Let’s practice with this clip from Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958). Here are some tips on how to watch the clip critically, just as you would an entire film:

• Give the clip your undivided attention at least once. Pay close attention to details and make observations that might start leading to bigger questions.
• Watch the clip a second time. For this viewing, you will want to focus specifically on those elements of film analysis that your class has focused on, so review your course notes. For example, from whose perspective is this clip shot? What choices help convey that perspective? What is the overall tone, theme, or effect of this clip?
• Take notes while you watch for the second time. Notes will help you keep track of what you noticed and when, if you include timestamps in your notes. Timestamps are vital for citing scenes from a film!

For more information on watching a film, check out the Learning Center’s handout on watching film analytically . For more resources on researching film, including glossaries of film terms, see UNC Library’s research guide on film & cinema .

Brainstorming ideas

Once you’ve watched the film twice, it’s time to brainstorm some ideas based on your notes. Brainstorming is a major step that helps develop and explore ideas. As you brainstorm, you may want to cluster your ideas around central topics or themes that emerge as you review your notes. Did you ask several questions about color? Were you curious about repeated images? Perhaps these are directions you can pursue.

If you’re writing an argumentative essay, you can use the connections that you develop while brainstorming to draft a thesis statement . Consider the assignment and prompt when formulating a thesis, as well as what kind of evidence you will present to support your claims. Your evidence could be dialogue, sound edits, cinematography decisions, etc. Much of how you make these decisions will depend on the type of film analysis you are conducting, an important decision covered in the next section.

After brainstorming, you can draft an outline of your film analysis using the same strategies that you would for other writing assignments. Here are a few more tips to keep in mind as you prepare for this stage of the assignment:

• Make sure you understand the prompt and what you are being asked to do. Remember that this is ultimately an assignment, so your thesis should answer what the prompt asks. Check with your professor if you are unsure.
• In most cases, the director’s name is used to talk about the film as a whole, for instance, “Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo .” However, some writers may want to include the names of other persons who helped to create the film, including the actors, the cinematographer, and the sound editor, among others.
• When describing a sequence in a film, use the literary present. An example could be, “In Vertigo , Hitchcock employs techniques of observation to dramatize the act of detection.”
• Finding a screenplay/script of the movie may be helpful and save you time when compiling citations. But keep in mind that there may be differences between the screenplay and the actual product (and these differences might be a topic of discussion!).
• Go beyond describing basic film elements by articulating the significance of these elements in support of your particular position. For example, you may have an interpretation of the striking color green in Vertigo , but you would only mention this if it was relevant to your argument. For more help on using evidence effectively, see the section on “using evidence” in our evidence handout .

Also be sure to avoid confusing the terms shot, scene, and sequence. Remember, a shot ends every time the camera cuts; a scene can be composed of several related shots; and a sequence is a set of related scenes.

Different types of film analysis

As you consider your notes, outline, and general thesis about a film, the majority of your assignment will depend on what type of film analysis you are conducting. This section explores some of the different types of film analyses you may have been assigned to write.

Semiotic analysis

Semiotic analysis is the interpretation of signs and symbols, typically involving metaphors and analogies to both inanimate objects and characters within a film. Because symbols have several meanings, writers often need to determine what a particular symbol means in the film and in a broader cultural or historical context.

For instance, a writer could explore the symbolism of the flowers in Vertigo by connecting the images of them falling apart to the vulnerability of the heroine.

Here are a few other questions to consider for this type of analysis:

• What objects or images are repeated throughout the film?
• How does the director associate a character with small signs, such as certain colors, clothing, food, or language use?
• How does a symbol or object relate to other symbols and objects, that is, what is the relationship between the film’s signs?

Many films are rich with symbolism, and it can be easy to get lost in the details. Remember to bring a semiotic analysis back around to answering the question “So what?” in your thesis.

Narrative analysis

Narrative analysis is an examination of the story elements, including narrative structure, character, and plot. This type of analysis considers the entirety of the film and the story it seeks to tell.

For example, you could take the same object from the previous example—the flowers—which meant one thing in a semiotic analysis, and ask instead about their narrative role. That is, you might analyze how Hitchcock introduces the flowers at the beginning of the film in order to return to them later to draw out the completion of the heroine’s character arc.

To create this type of analysis, you could consider questions like:

• How does the film correspond to the Three-Act Structure: Act One: Setup; Act Two: Confrontation; and Act Three: Resolution?
• What is the plot of the film? How does this plot differ from the narrative, that is, how the story is told? For example, are events presented out of order and to what effect?
• Does the plot revolve around one character? Does the plot revolve around multiple characters? How do these characters develop across the film?

When writing a narrative analysis, take care not to spend too time on summarizing at the expense of your argument. See our handout on summarizing for more tips on making summary serve analysis.

Cultural/historical analysis

One of the most common types of analysis is the examination of a film’s relationship to its broader cultural, historical, or theoretical contexts. Whether films intentionally comment on their context or not, they are always a product of the culture or period in which they were created. By placing the film in a particular context, this type of analysis asks how the film models, challenges, or subverts different types of relations, whether historical, social, or even theoretical.

For example, the clip from Vertigo depicts a man observing a woman without her knowing it. You could examine how this aspect of the film addresses a midcentury social concern about observation, such as the sexual policing of women, or a political one, such as Cold War-era McCarthyism.

A few of the many questions you could ask in this vein include:

• How does the film comment on, reinforce, or even critique social and political issues at the time it was released, including questions of race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality?
• How might a biographical understanding of the film’s creators and their historical moment affect the way you view the film?
• How might a specific film theory, such as Queer Theory, Structuralist Theory, or Marxist Film Theory, provide a language or set of terms for articulating the attributes of the film?

Take advantage of class resources to explore possible approaches to cultural/historical film analyses, and find out whether you will be expected to do additional research into the film’s context.

Mise-en-scène analysis

A mise-en-scène analysis attends to how the filmmakers have arranged compositional elements in a film and specifically within a scene or even a single shot. This type of analysis organizes the individual elements of a scene to explore how they come together to produce meaning. You may focus on anything that adds meaning to the formal effect produced by a given scene, including: blocking, lighting, design, color, costume, as well as how these attributes work in conjunction with decisions related to sound, cinematography, and editing. For example, in the clip from Vertigo , a mise-en-scène analysis might ask how numerous elements, from lighting to camera angles, work together to present the viewer with the perspective of Jimmy Stewart’s character.

To conduct this type of analysis, you could ask:

• What effects are created in a scene, and what is their purpose?
• How does this scene represent the theme of the movie?
• How does a scene work to express a broader point to the film’s plot?

This detailed approach to analyzing the formal elements of film can help you come up with concrete evidence for more general film analysis assignments.

Reviewing your draft

Once you have a draft, it’s helpful to get feedback on what you’ve written to see if your analysis holds together and you’ve conveyed your point. You may not necessarily need to find someone who has seen the film! Ask a writing coach, roommate, or family member to read over your draft and share key takeaways from what you have written so far.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Aumont, Jacques, and Michel Marie. 1988. L’analyse Des Films . Paris: Nathan.

Media & Design Center. n.d. “Film and Cinema Research.” UNC University Libraries. Last updated February 10, 2021. https://guides.lib.unc.edu/filmresearch .

Oxford Royale Academy. n.d. “7 Ways to Watch Film.” Oxford Royale Academy. Accessed April 2021. https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/7-ways-watch-films-critically/ .

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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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.

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

Finished papers

Customer reviews

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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Extra Credit

The 50 Best Historical and Educational Films Streaming Now

Great true stories, biopics, and family movies available online and streaming to bring into your home classroom

Emily Gaudette

• May 15, 2020

When you’re streaming movies at home, it can be tempting to let your eyes glaze over as you watch sitcom reruns or the same animated classics. But streaming platforms include as many classics and educational films as they do popcorn fare. You just have to know where to look.

Here are 50 of the best true stories, biopics, and historical dramas available on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and other streaming services, presented in alphabetical order. All of us can afford to learn something new with the time we’ve been given during the coronavirus pandemic. And if you’re a student or are quarantining with students, watching a significant film to learn a bit more about our world is an intellectual investment. But don’t worry—none of the movies on the list are dry. (Streaming services can drop titles at the end of each month, so it’s possible the availability of these movies will shift over time.)

Warner Bros. Inc./Getty Images

All the President’s Men

This 1976 political thriller from director Alan J. Pakula ( Sophie’s Choice, Klute ) casts Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, two Washington Post reporters who investigated the Watergate scandal. Their articles, of course, eventually led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. (Rent on Amazon)

This historical film following Mozart (Tom Hulce) and his artistic rival Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) won the 1984 Best Picture Oscar and is considered by the American Film Institute and United States Film Registry to be one of the greatest movies ever made. From an educational standpoint, Miloš Forman’s ( One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest ) film is a deep dive into the history of opera and classical music and an exploration into what defines a genius. (Rent on Amazon)

Steven Spielberg directed this 1997 historical drama depicting the events that unfolded on the slave ship Amistad in 1839. African men sold into slavery from the Mende tribe of Sierra Leone managed to overthrow their captors, and they were tried in a Supreme Court case in 1841. Djimon Hounsou stars as Cinque, a leader of the rebellion, alongside Anthony Hopkins as congressman and former President John Quincy Adams. (Stream on Hulu)

Tom Hanks stars in Ron Howard’s 1995 dramatization of the ill-fated Apollo 13 lunar mission, which would have ended in a horrific disaster had the spacecraft’s crew not been able to work with NASA scientists on Earth to engineer an insane solution to get the crew home. (Stream on Hulu)

Much like the historical drama Girl With a Pearl Earring (also a good educational home-watch!), the 2013 film Belle is a slightly editorialized dramatization of a classic painting. In this case, the portrait of Dido Elizabeth Belle, a girl of mixed race who grew up on the estate of her great uncle William Murray, the Lord Chief Justice of England in 1779. The film, written by Misan Sagay and directed by Amma Asante, dramatizes the Zong massacre of 1781 and the path to abolition. (Rent on Amazon)

The Best Years of Our Lives

William Wyler’s 1946 post-World War II melodrama, which won a Best Picture Oscar, isn’t a true story, but it is one of the first films devoted to the lives of returning American servicemen, who came back from the war with physical wounds and psychological conditions that challenged them, their families, and their communities. The film’s depiction of PTSD was way ahead of its time. (Rent on Amazon)

This 2005 drama features an unforgettable performance from the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor playing author Truman Capote. The film illuminates several subjects in literature and American history, ranging from Capote’s development of the now-ubiquitous “non-fiction novel” subgenre with his book In Cold Blood to his complex (and competitive!) partnership with Harper Lee (Catherine Keener). (Free on YouTube)

Dallas Buyers Club

This 2013 drama tells the true story of Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey), an AIDS patient who smuggled medication into Texas and illegally distributed it to those suffering from the disease. (Stream on Netflix)

The Death of Stalin

As far as films on this list go, writer-director Armando Iannucci’s 2017 black comedy probably takes the most liberties with its true story, but you’d be hard pressed to find a more cutting (and interesting!) depiction of Soviet Russia in the 1950s. (Stream on Netflix)

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

This 2007 French biographical film directed by Julian Schnabel follows the life of Elle journalist Jean-Dominique Bauby (Mathieu Amalric), who was diagnosed with locked-in syndrome following a massive stroke in 1995. (Stream on HBO Now)

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Director Christopher Nolan’s 2017 war epic tells the true story of the British evacuation of troops from the French beach town of Dunkirk in the early days of World War II, a civilian-led event that saved the lives of hundreds of soldiers. (Rent on Amazon)

The Elephant Man

The real “elephant man”—a 19th century British man who had severe physical disabilities—was named Joseph Merrick, but director David Lynch’s masterpiece refers to him as John Merrick. The significant departures from Merrick’s true story end there. The film was both a critical and commercial success upon its release in 1980, and it cemented Merrick as a permanent fixture in pop culture. Most people have heard someone in their lives quote the film at some point: “I am not an animal!” Yep, comes from this movie. (Rent on Amazon)

Empire of the Sun

Director Steven Spielberg’s World War II drama features a young Christian Bale as J. G. Ballard, who was held as a prisoner of war when he was a boy by Japanese forces. The film is beautifully shot, but most importantly it’s a look at the war from a POV American audiences don’t often see — a child’s. (Ballard would grow up to become an acclaimed novelist, and the movie is based on his memoir.) (Stream on Amazon Prime Video)

Erin Brockovich

Director Steven Soderbergh’s 2000 film dramatizes the legal case of Anderson, et al. v. Pacific Gas and Electric , in which a then-untrained lawyer named Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts) sued the gas company for poisoning the drinking water of Hinkley, California. Roberts gives one of the best performances of her career, and it earned her the Oscar for Best Actress. (Stream on Hulu)

A rare biography of an American cultural figure that doesn’t sugarcoat things, director Damien Chazelle’s 2018 film reimagines the life of astronaut Neil Armstrong as a relentless, near-stoic drive off our planet. Portrayed by Ryan Gosling, Armstrong is portrayed as a man meant for one thing only: space exploration. (Stream on Hulu)

A pre-Wakandan Chadwick Boseman stars as Jackie Robinson, the first African American player in MLB. This film will satisfy history nuts and sports fans alike—especially during this period where there’s nary a single live game to watch. (Rent on Amazon)

Salma Hayek plays surrealist Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, whose contributions to Latinx culture and feminist discourse have been sadly overshadowed in modern pop culture by the Warholian treatment of her face. You’ve almost definitely seen a tote bag or mug with Kahlo’s face on it, but until you’ve seen the film it’s difficult to understand how much torment she fought through to get her work into the world. (Rent on Amazon)

Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman star as fictional members of the real 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the few African American units in the American Civil War. (Free on Crackle)

Good Night, and Good Luck.

George Clooney directed this 2005 black-and-white drama, which is one of the most arresting films to explore McCarthyism—especially because it deals with real events. David Strathairn plays Edward R. Murrow, the CBS journalist who was accused by Sen. Joseph McCarthy in 1953 of having ties to Communists. McCarthy was slinging a lot of such accusations at the time, but he met his match in Murrow, who had as much to do with ending the senator’s reign of suspicion and hysteria as anyone. (Rent on Amazon)

The Grapes of Wrath

If the murmurings about a second Great Depression have begun to vex you and your family, consider watching the quintessential film about the most severe economic downturn the United States has ever weathered. Director John Ford’s black-and-white 1940 stunner, based on John Steinbeck’s indelible novel, is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made, and its excellence is most obvious whenever star Henry Fonda is onscreen. (Rent on Amazon)

Hidden Figures

Boasting a talent-stacked trio of lead actresses (Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Taraji P. Henson), this early-1960s period drama tells the story of three African American “human computers”—women who worked at NASA and were instrumental to the launch of the Friendship 7 and other spacecraft that led to landing a man on the moon. (Stream on Hulu)

Hotel Rwanda

Don Cheadle gives a career-defining performance as Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who protected hundreds of Tutsi Rwandans during the Hutu-led genocide of 1994. The film is a horrifying true-life story, made only more disturbing by the depiction of the near-useless United Nations peacekeepers and apparent apathy of Western countries. (Stream on Hulu)

The Imitation Game

Benedict Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing, the genius British cryptanalyst who cracked the apparently uncrackable Nazi intelligence code during World War II. The 2014 film takes some artistic license with Turing’s life, though it won accolades from the Human Rights Campaign for its frank portrayal of Turing’s homosexuality, which turned the war hero into a criminal in postwar England. (Stream on Hulu)

This Hong Kong biographical drama follows the life of Ip Man, the 1930s Wing Chun grandmaster who trained Bruce Lee. (Stream on Netflix)

Pablo Larrain/Why Not Productions

Natalie Portman won critical acclaim for her turn in this 2016 biographical drama following Jacqueline Kennedy after the assassination of husband President John F. Kennedy in 1963. (Rent on Amazon)

The Last King of Scotland

Though the relationship between Ugandan leader Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker) and a Scottish doctor (James McAvoy) is fictional, it is Whitaker’s performance as the violent, erratic, and very real General Amin that puts this film on our list. (Stream on Hulu)

David James/©2012 DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Director Steven Spielberg and writer Tony Kushner focus on a very narrow part of the 16th president’s life—the fight over the passage of the 13th Amendment, which emancipated America’s slaves and banned slavery forever—but it feels like the definitive biopic of Abraham Lincoln. (It’s based in part on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s biography Team of Rivals. ) Yes, history nuts interested in the Civil War will get what they’re looking for, but it’s Sally Field’s gut-wrenching performance as a grieving Mary Todd Lincoln that’ll ring in your mind for days after you watch. (Rent on Amazon)

This Australian drama stars Dev Patel as Saroo Brierley, a writer adopted out of poverty by Australian parents in the 1980s. Brierley travels back to India, fighting to find his birth parents and discovering the differences between India’s socioeconomic structure and the culture he grew up with. (Free on Vudu; Rent on Amazon)

This romantic drama depicts the American couple behind the 1967 Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia , which overrode state laws banning interracial marriage. Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga pull at viewers’ heartstrings as Richard and Mildred Loving, a white man and black woman who fell in love after knowing each other from childhood. (Stream on Hulu or HBO Now)

Denzel Washington delivers a towering performance, in one of director Spike Lee’s best films, portraying the American Muslim leader and civil rights activist Malcolm X from childhood to his assassination in 1965. This film, which features cameos from black cultural leaders like Bobby Seale and Rev. Al Sharpton, is preserved in the National Film Registry and is based on Malcolm’s autobiography, which was completed by Alex Haley ( Roots ) and published after his death. (Stream on Netflix)

Mary Queen of Scots

Mary Queen of Scots follows the tense long-distance relationship that unfolded between Mary, Queen of Scotland (Saoirse Ronan), and her cousin Queen Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie). Ronan and Robbie simply shine. It's also the rare period drama that casts actors of color in other roles that would otherwise occupied by white performers. (Stream on Hulu or HBO Now)

Director Gus Van Sant’s emotive and delicate biography of San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), the first openly gay elected politician in California, covers, among other subjects, police raids of gay bars in cities across America. It’s one of the most detailed stories about gay American history committed to film. (Stream on Hulu)

The Motorcycle Diaries

This 2004 biopic follows Che Guevara (Gael García Bernal) as a young man in 1952, when he rode a motorcycle across South America with best friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigo De la Serna). We see the young Guevara become consumed with the lives of rural Indigenous people around the continent. As his understanding of Latinx identity evolves, he’s slowly radicalized by the dream of a better world. (Rent on Amazon)

Steve Dietl/Netflix

Director Dee Rees’ 2017 film doesn’t adapt a true story. In fact, it’s based on a 2008 novel of the same title, but it’s still a realistic portrayal of racial tensions and post-war strife in 1950s Mississippi. Two young veterans, one black and one white, return home to a rural village that doesn’t see them as equals, though they were trained in combat to work together. (Stream on Netflix)

My Left Foot

A quintessentially Irish story, My Left Foot is the biography of Christy Brown (Daniel Day-Lewis), a painter born with cerebral palsy into an impoverished family of 15. Illuminating in several ways, the film explores the complex journey of a profoundly gifted and physically challenged man while also depicting the lives of working-class Irish people. (Stream on HBO Now)

The New World

This 2005 Terrence Malick film is a way better watch than Disney’s Pocahontas . Though the latter admittedly has a better soundtrack, it takes too many artistic liberties with the story of John Smith and Pocahontas in order to count as educational. The New World , however, stars Colin Farrell and then-newcomer Q'orianka Kilcher as the ill-fated historical couple. (Free on Vudu)

BPM (Beats Per Minute)

This 2017 film follows the political activism of queer rights group ACT UP Paris in the 1990s. While telling the stories of young people frightened into hiding by the spread of HIV, the film also dramatizes the cultural shift in Pride parades, which became more celebratory in the years leading up to the new millennium. (Stream on Hulu)

Niko Tavernise/Twentieth Century Fox

Director Steven Spielberg’s 2017 historical drama is another visit into the Washington Post newsroom, this time during the First Amendment crisis over the publication of the Pentagon Papers. (The documents, illicitly copied by whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, tracked the history of the Vietnam War from 1945 – 1967 and showed the government knew it was an unwinnable conflict.) And rather than focusing on reporters, The Post follows legendary Washington Post executive editor Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks) and equally legendary publisher Katharine Graham (Meryl Streep). Oddly enough, this is the first time the two megastars appeared on screen together. (Rent on Amazon)

The Pianist

Adrien Brody plays Jewish pianist Władysław Szpilman in director Roman Polanski’s celebrated World War II drama. The critically acclaimed 2002 film follows Szpilman as he’s separated from his family in the Warsaw ghetto and then tries to evade capture by ruthless Nazi death squads. The film includes one of the most powerful moments in 21 st -century cinema: a long, uninterrupted shot of Szpilman, who ventures out of hiding for the first time, weeping as he walks alone through the streets of a decimated Warsaw. (Stream on Netflix)

Schindler’s List

Director Steven Spielberg’s landmark drama tells the story of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a German businessman who saved more than a thousand Jewish refugees from Nazi genocide. Spielberg’s film is unrelenting and powerful, thanks in part to it being shot in black-and-white and filmed as if it were a documentary .

Atsushi Nishijima/©2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Ava DuVernay’s 2014 civil rights drama skyrocketed the director to fame. Given the film’s confident and delicate framing of the Selma to Montgomery marches by African Americans demanding the right to vote, it’s easy to see why. The Southern Poverty Law Center and other social justice groups released an educational guide for anyone streaming at home. (Rent on Amazon)

Seven Samurai

Considered by many to be one of the greatest films of all time, 1954’s Seven Samurai was cowritten, edited, and directed by Japanese visionary Akira Kurosawa. The drama is set in Japan’s Sengoku period and dramatizes the lives of rōnin, or samurai with no masters. (It has also inspired numerous other classics, from the western The Magnificent Seven to a little-known arthouse fantasy called Star Wars .) (Rent on Amazon)

Kerry Brown/Paramount Pictures

Director Martin Scorsese spent decades trying to make this historical epic, an adaptation of a novel by Japanese writer Shūsaku Endō. It follows Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, and Liam Neeson as 17th century Jesuit missionaries in Japan as they find their faiths (and fates) challenged by a society that doesn’t look kindly on their religion. (Free on Crackle)

The Social Network

Director David Fincher’s 2010 film dramatizing Mark Zuckerberg’s cofounding of Facebook has become increasingly relevant in the decade since its release. The film opens on a young, lonely Zuck (Jesse Eisenberg) at Harvard as he develops the digital prototype that would soon balloon into the social media behemoth and global phenomenon at the center of fraught debates regarding privacy, propaganda, and foreign nations tampering with American elections. (Stream on Netflix)

A must-watch for any aspiring journalist, this 2015 drama won Best Picture for its tense portrayal of the Boston Globe ’s venerated Spotlight investigative reporting team, played here by Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, and Rachel McAdams, among others. The Spotlight team published a series of stories on child abuse and cover-ups in the Roman Catholic Church; their coverage of this scandal won a Pulitzer Prize in 2003 and continue to resonate nearly two decades later. (Rent on Amazon)

The Straight Story

This David Lynch-directed film is a bizarrely inspirational true story about resilience. In 1994, a farmer named Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth, who was nominated for Best Actor) drove from Iowa to Wisconsin on a 5-mph max tractor, just to visit his brother. (Rent on Amazon; stream on Disney+)

The Theory of Everything

A romanticized but still revelatory film about Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his wife Jane (Felicity Jones), whom he met at University of Cambridge before the onset of ALS, which took almost all of the physicist’s motor function. (Stream on Netflix)

To Sir, With Love

Sidney Poitier stars as E. R. Braithwaite, a schoolteacher in the East End of London, a rough neighborhood producing teenage students who are drawn into gang warfare, drug use, and dropping out. The film, which made ripples upon its release in the late 1960s, is based on Braithwaite’s autobiography. (Rent on Amazon)

A biography about the grandfather of modern fantasy that doesn’t actually delve into high fantasy, this film follows J.R.R. Tolkien (Nicholas Hoult) through his impoverished childhood, traumatic experiences in World War I, and the study of linguistics that led to writing The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings . But it’s not just a story for Middle Earth fans; Tolkien deeply explores privilege and trauma in a way that feels universal. (Stream on Hulu or HBO Now)

12 Years a Slave

Director Steve McQueen’s highly celebrated 2013 film dramatizes the 1853 memoir of Solomon Northup, a New Yorker and African American man who was kidnapped by con men in 1841, transported across the Mason-Dixon line, and forced in slavery in Louisiana. Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Northup, opposite Lupita Nyong’o in her breakout (and Oscar-winning) role as Patsey, another enslaved American living on the plantation. (Rent on Amazon)

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ASSIGNMENTS, PROJECTS, AND ACTIVITIES FOR USE WITH ANY FILM THAT IS A WORK OF FICTION

Topics for All Writing Assignments, including essays: Topics for writing assignments can be suggested by (1) a topic set out below; (2) questions in TWM’s Discussion Questions for Use with Any Work of Fiction Shown on a Screen ; and (3) any discussion question or proposed writing assignment contained in the Learning Guide for the movie.

Short Writing Assignments

Topics for short writing assignments can include the contribution to the film’s story made by one of the following: (1) a cinematic element, such as music; (2) a theatrical element, such as lighting; or (3) a literary element of the film’s story, such as expository phase, theme, plot, conflict, symbol, or characterization. Topics for short writing assignments can also include:

1. What was the strongest emotion that you felt when watching the film?

2. What did you learn from this movie?

3. Which character did you [admire, hate, love, pity] the most?

Journal Entries:

Students can be assigned to write a journal entry, either in class or as homework, responding to the events or episodes in the movie as it progresses. The journal may or may not be focused on one topic; topics can change each day.

Sample Assignment:

We are going to be watching the movie, “Remember the Titans,” for part of the class period each day this week. As homework, every day after a class in which we watch the film, I’d like you to write a short journal entry about your reactions to the movie so far. [Describe the length of the entry desired or the amount of time students should spend writing the entry.]

Ruminations:

Students can be required to write ruminations in which they respond to the motivations, values, or attributes of characters in the film.

Sample assignment:

We are going to be watching the movie “Cyrano de Bergerac.” After you have seen the movie, please write a page or two of your thoughts about whether Cyranno was a bully. Include a comparison of his actions in the play to those of a bully you know or have heard about.

Single Paragraphs:

Students can be asked to write a single paragraph about an element of a film and how that element contributes to the story or to the artistic presentation.

Write a paragraph about the use of camera angle in the scene in which Dorothy first meets the Wizard of Oz. The topic of your paragraph is: “What does the camera angle add to the scene?” The paragraph should have a topic sentence, citations to evidence to support the point being made, and a conclusion.

Quickwrites:

Students can be asked to write without preparation and in a set period of time, their thoughts or observations on a topic selected by the teacher. Quickwrites often become a ritual at the beginning of each class.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” ends with two ironic twists. Name one of them, describe why it is ironic and what theme of the story is highlighted by the ironic events.

Essays - Formal and Persuasive

Topics for Formal or Persuasive Essays with Research Outside the Confines of the Story

Historical Accuracy:

Students can research and evaluate the historical accuracy of the film or of a scene in the film and, where inaccuracies are found, students can theorize about the filmmakers’ reasons for making the change from the facts.

Historical, Cultural, or Literary Allusions:

In many films, historical, cultural, or literary allusions are important in conveying ideas. Students can be assigned to investigate one or more of these references.

Differences Between the Book and the Movie:

When a movie is based on a book, students can be asked to describe those differences, ascertain whether the movie is true to the story told by the book, and make a judgment about whether the changes made by the movie improved the story.

Themes and Messages:

Students can be asked to identify and evaluate, using research from sources other than the film, the wisdom of any theme or message which the filmmakers are trying to convey.

Issues of Interest Relating to the Subject Matter of the Story:

All films present issues of interest to the audience aside from the story itself. For example, the concept of attachment disorder is important in the film “Good Will Hunting” even though the film can be appreciated without knowing much about the disorder. However, the film may motivate students to research and write an essay about attachment disorder. The movie “October Sky” refers to the early U.S. and Russian space programs. Students who have seen this movie can be assigned to write an essay about what has occurred in space exploration in the last twenty years and how it differs from what occurred in the 1950s and 1960s.

Topics for Essays Based on an Analysis of the Film

Literary Elements and Devices in the Story Presented by the Film:

These include the plot, subplot, theme, irony, foreshadowing, flash-forward, flashback, characterization, and symbol. Students should be required to describe the use of one element or device and its contribution to the overall message of the film. TWM offers a Film Study Worksheet to assist students in organizing their thoughts for this assignment.

Cinematic Elements in the Film:

Cinematic elements include shot (framing, angle, and camera movement), sound (including music), lighting, and editing. Students can be asked to identify and discuss the cinematic elements in an entire film or to focus their analysis on a particular scene. The analysis can be limited to the use of one cinematic element or it can include several. Students should be required to describe the use of the cinematic element as well as its contribution to the overall message and artistic presentation of the movie or the scene. See the TWM student handout: Introducing Cinematic and Theatrical Elements in Film . TWM also offers a worksheet to help students identify theatrical elements in a film. See TWM’s worksheet entitled Cinematic and Theatrical Elements and Their Effects .

Theatrical Elements in the Film:

Theatrical elements found in movies include costumes, props, set design, and acting choice. Students can be asked to identify and discuss the theatrical elements in an entire film or to focus their analysis on a particular scene. The analysis can be limited to the use of one theatrical element or it can include several. Students should be required to describe the use of the theatrical element as well as its contribution to the overall message and artistic presentation of the movie or the scene. See the TWM student handout: Introducing Cinematic and Theatrical Elements in Film . TWM also offers a worksheet to help students ” identify theatrical elements in a film. See TWM’s worksheet entitled Cinematic and Theatrical Elements and Their Effects .

Creative Writing Assignments and Film Critiques

Creative Writing Assignments:

Tasks which will stimulate students’ creativity include: (1) write a new ending to the story; (2) add new characters or new events to an existing scene and show how the story changes as a result; (3) write an additional scene or incident, with its own setting, action, and dialogue; (4) expand the back-story of one of the characters and make it into a separate story; (5) write a letter from a character in the story to the student, or from a character in the story to the class, or from one character in the story to another character in the story, or from the student to a character in the story; (6) outline, storyboard, or write a sequel.

Imagine that Jean Valjean is still mayor of his adopted town of Montreuil-sur-mer. You are Bishiop Myriel, the man who had faith in Jean even though Jean stole his candlesticks and other silver. Jean has requested that you write a letter to Javert asking Javert to leave Jean Valjean alone. What would you say in that letter? Think about the nature of the man the Bishop is trying to convince, the tone he would take, and the arguments he would present. [Describe the length of the letter.]

Film Critiques:

Some students will enjoy writing a review of the movie, possibly for publication in the student newspaper. Students should be instructed to make sure that they cite evidence to support their views.

Imagine that you are a film critic for a major newspaper. Write a critique of the film, “The Outsiders.” Be sure to support your conclusions with evidence and logical arguments. [Describe the length of the critique.]

Other Assignments, Projects, and Activities

Mock Interviews:

Students can work together in groups of two to write and perform a mock interview in which one plays a character in the film and the other takes on the role of the interviewer. The answers should reveal the values of the character.

Many films offer controversial social or political ideas which can easily become the topic of vigorous debate. Students can be divided into teams to support or oppose an idea presented by the film.

The Great Divide Separate the class into two groups representing sides taken on a particular issue. Students in support of the point should sit together facing those opposed to the point. Students should use the rules of Accountable Talk to argue their positions. Accountable Talk requires that students listen carefully and adhere to a code for responses to one another’s words. Each respondent must begin his or her point with phrases such as:

I hear what you are saying, but . . . Your point is good; however, I want to say . . . I’m unclear about what you mean . . . Granted, your point has validity; however, consider . . . I understand what you are saying; however, the facts are . . .

Students may not resort to name calling or any other insults and must back up their points with reference to the work being discussed. When students hear points that cause them to change their minds, they must get up and take a seat on the other side. Often, an entire class will become convinced of one position and all seats will be moved to one side of the room. Pro-con T-Chart organizers or any other form of note taking can be beneficial so that students can refer to points they felt were important when it comes time to write their essays.

Socratic Chairs:

Place a number of chairs at the front of the room and select appropriate students to fill them. These students will serve as a panel to discuss the issue that must be resolved or at least clarified so that the students can write their essays. Students remaining in their desks should take notes using a graphic organizer, such as a pro-con T-Chart, and can ask questions either during or at the end of the panel’s discussion. Sometimes students may want to relinquish a chair to a member of the audience in order to further the point he or she is making. Vary the rules to fit the goals of the discussion but keep to the rules of Accountable Talk.

Creative Projects:

Students can be given the opportunity to compose poetry, music, song, or dance relating to an idea in a film. They can also produce a film or create a painting or a poster.

Written by Mary RedClay and James Frieden .

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A Step-by-Step Guide: Movie Review Assignment Example

• backlinkworks
• Writing Articles & Reviews
• January 8, 2024

Movie reviews are a classic assignment given to students studying film, journalism, and communications. writing a movie review can be a challenging task, especially if you’re new to IT . In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of writing a compelling and informative movie review.

Step 1: Choose a Movie to Review

The first step in writing a movie review is choosing a film to review. You may already have a movie assigned to you by your instructor, or you may have the freedom to choose your own. If you have the freedom to choose, select a movie that interests you and is also relevant to your course. It’s important to watch the movie with a critical eye, so choose a film that you can analyze in-depth.

Step 2: Watch the Movie

Once you’ve chosen a movie, it’s time to watch it. Take notes while watching the film, paying attention to the storyline, cinematography, acting, and overall impact. Try to identify the major themes, characters, and any notable aspects of the film that stand out to you.

Step 3: Research the Film

After watching the movie, conduct some research to gather background information. This may include reading reviews from other critics, exploring the director’s previous work, or learning about the film’s production and reception. Understanding the context of the movie can provide valuable insight into its significance and impact.

Step 4: Organize Your Thoughts

Before you start writing, organize your thoughts and notes. Create an outline that includes the key points you want to cover in your review. This may include an introduction, a summary of the plot, an analysis of the film’s strengths and weaknesses, and your overall evaluation of the movie.

Step 5: Write the Review

Now that you have a clear outline, it’s time to start writing your review. Begin with a captivating introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and provides some context about the film. Then, summarize the plot in a concise and engaging manner. Next, delve into your analysis of the film, discussing its strengths, weaknesses, and any standout elements.

Make sure to provide examples and evidence to support your points. If you’re discussing the acting, for example, mention specific performances or scenes that stood out to you. If you’re critiquing the cinematography, describe particular shots or visual elements that were noteworthy.

Step 6: Revise and Edit

Once you’ve written your review, take the time to revise and edit. Check for grammatical errors, clarity of language, and overall coherence. It’s also a good idea to have someone else read your review and provide feedback. Fresh eyes can often catch things that you may have overlooked.

Step 7: Add a Rating (Optional)

Some movie reviews include a rating to provide a quick summary of the reviewer’s overall assessment. If you choose to include a rating, make sure it aligns with the content of your review and provides a clear indication of your thoughts on the film.

Step 8: Finalize and Submit

After completing your revisions, finalize your review and prepare it for submission. Make sure to adhere to any specific formatting or submission guidelines provided by your instructor. Once you’re satisfied with the content, submit your review and await feedback.

Writing a movie review can be a rewarding experience that allows you to critically analyze a film and share your thoughts with others. By following this step-by-step guide, you can produce a well-crafted review that provides valuable insight and perspective.

What should I focus on when writing a movie review?

When writing a movie review, focus on the film’s storytelling, technical aspects, performances, and overall impact. Provide specific examples to support your analysis and engage your readers.

Is it important to watch the movie more than once?

While watching a movie more than once can provide a deeper understanding, it may not always be necessary for a review assignment. However, if you have the opportunity to rewatch the film, you may pick up on new details and nuances that can enrich your review.

How should I approach critiquing a movie without being overly negative?

When critiquing a film, it’s important to provide a balanced assessment that acknowledges both strengths and weaknesses. Instead of being overly negative, focus on constructive criticism and provide suggestions for improvement when possible.

With this step-by-step guide, you should feel more confident in approaching a movie review assignment. Remember to watch the film with a critical eye, conduct thorough research, and write a well-structured review that offers valuable insights and analysis.

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Research Guides

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• Major Film Periodicals for Media Research: Series Two: Film Daily Yearbook and Predecessors, 1918-1969
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Search Catalyst for Movie Reviews

• Enter the title of your movie in quotation marks into the search box below. If the title of your movie is a common word or phrase (e.g. "The Birds"), you might want to add the director's name to the search box, outside of the quotation marks. Example: "The Birds" Hitchcock.
• Click "Search"
• Using the options to the left of your search results, filter your results under "Material Type" to "Reviews."
• Further filter your results by "Publication Date" to the years just before and after the original theatrical release of your movie.

Finding Movie Reviews

Search across a broad variety of historical and more contemporary periodicals using a selection of  ProQuest Databases , or search individual databases below.

Additional Movie Reviews and Synopses

• Film Review Annual Call Number: Ref PN1995 .F463 Availability and more information from Catalyst... This source provides the entire text of selected reviews of full length films released during the year. References to other film reviews are included.
• Magill's Cinema Annual Call Number: Ref PN1993.45 .M3 Availability and more information from Catalyst... Yearbook of technical data, credit listings, plot synopses, and reviews of films released in the previous year.
• Magill's Survey of Cinema--English Language Films, First Series by Frank N. Magill, Patricia King Hanson, Stephen L. Hanson Call Number: Ref PN1993.45 .M3 Availability and more information from Catalyst... Comprehensive technical data, credit listings, plot synopses, and reviews of films.
• Magill's Survey of Cinema--English Language Films, Second Series by Frank N. Magill, Stephen L. Hanson, Patricia King Hanson Call Number: Ref PN1993.45 .M32 Availability and more information from Catalyst... Comprehensive technical data, credit listings, plot synopses, and reviews of films.
• Magill's Survey of Cinema--Foreign Language Films by Frank N. Magill Call Number: Ref PN1993.45 .M34 1985 Availability and more information from Catalyst... Comprehensive technical data, credit listings, plot synopses, and reviews of foreign language films.
• Magill's Survey of Cinema--Silent Films by Frank N. Magill, Patricia King Hanson, Stephen L. Hanson Call Number: Ref PN1993.45 .M33 1982 Availability and more information from Catalyst... Comprehensive technical data, credit listings, plot synopses, and reviews of silent films.
• Silent films, 1877-1996 by Robert K. Klepper Call Number: Ref PN1995.75 .K57 1999 Availability and more information from Catalyst... Reviews and criticism of 646 important silent films.
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Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Movies — Movie Review

Essays on Movie Review

Once in a while, you’ll be asked to do a movie review essay. This task is a great training tool for enhancing critical thinking skills. Essays on movie review aim at presenting a film from the most important scenes, special effects, to exciting moments and may be accompanied by criticism. From an advertising perspective, such a paper is aimed at convincing readers to watch the movie in question. Your writing should let a reader draw a conclusion, i.e, whether the film is worth their time or if they should try something else. Most importantly, your opinion must be independent and accurate. But how can you create a perfect introduction if you don’t have the experience in this type of writing? Relax. A good online writer can do it for you. If you have an idea but need some guidance, simply ask for a professional outline or use evaluation essay examples for students for more insights.

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."

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How to Write a Movie Review: Tips for Aspiring Critics

Updated 02 Sep 2024

If you wish to know how to write a movie review, then you are on the right page. A movie review forms part of essays college students writes. While many cinema-loving students find it interesting, others don’t. A film review does not mean writing what happened in a film; instead, it involves doing a critical assessment of the same as an art form that reflects cultural and societal values. Also, you can proof your paper instantly with the Edubirdie plagiarism tool .

What is a movie review? A movie review is a detailed analysis of a film or a documentary. It involves analysis, research, and reporting the writer’s views in a structured way. The writer assumes a position of educating readers whether they have watched the film or not. In fact, many people read movie reviews to decide whether they want to see a film or not.

Film criticism, as a historical and evolving practice, shapes the discourse around cinema. Notable critics and the transition of film reviews from traditional media to various platforms highlight the importance of analysis and personal insights in creating effective movie reviews.

A film review tests students’ critical thinking and reporting skills. It also examines their dexterity in writing in a logical, concise, lucid, and creative manner. This post shall teach you to craft the best film review in your class without being redundant in writing , and you can find many interesting tips on how to write a movie review for college and movie reviews examples. Writing a movie review requires critical analysis and attention to detail, and if you need assistance, a literature review writing service can help you craft a comprehensive and insightful review.

How to Write a Movie Review Like a Professional Critic

Watch the movie:.

Before you can review any film, you must watch it. You cannot review a motion picture you have not watched. Therefore, for success watch the film at least twice. Note: do not watch it like you’re a regular moviegoer or movie enthusiast. Be focused and conscious through the film. Take notes if necessary.

You will need to take notes hence have a notebook and pen handy. Record all events and characters (major and minor). Try to be meticulous do not overlook anything.

Research the movie

Watching the film should give you the overview and feel of the movie. With that, it should be easy and exciting to research the movie. The research augments what you have watched in the movie. In your research, you should find out who the filmmaker is, what prompted the making of the movie, the characterization, historical events the lead to the film, location, plot and so on.

If you are aware of the details behind the movie, the movie will be more understandable and engaging. Note also that if you do not understand the movie you cannot move to the next step which involves analysis. Try not to proceed to the next step unless you vividly understand the movie. If it entails watching it again until you fully get it, do it. The following should form part of your findings regarding the film:

• Title and year
• Names of the lead actors
• 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. A good draft will yield a perfect report, and the reverse is also true.

An outline enhances the quality of the film review, and it is essential you have your outline before you start writing. A sample outline looks like this:

1. Introduction

• Date released
• Background info

2. Summary of the story

Main characters and their significance in the plot

3. Analysis of the plot elements

4. creative elements, 5. opinions (add examples to back up your claims).

• Camera techniques
• Special effects and so on

6. Conclusion

Analyze the movie.

After fully understanding the movie, you can start its analysis. Critically evaluate the film from the beginning to the end, noting every detail. While analyzing, if you observed any confusing part, re-watch to grasp the idea portrayed there fully. After you fully understand it, then you are set to write the movie review. To write a decent analysis, you need to know how to write a film critique. Observing different camera angles can enhance the viewer's understanding and engagement with the film.

Augment Your Review with Examples

While watching the movie, your observations should be supported with examples, i.e., mention scenes the event took place. If the plot is faulty, mention it but state examples to support that claim. You can also mention poorly developed characters evident in the movie and others. Everything you observed in the film must be noted.

Examples of notables include locations, faulty or beautiful dialogues, quotes that appeal to you, poorly made speeches, bloopers, editing errors and so on. Do take note that it is not enough to make general statements about how awesome or awful the movie is, you must support your claim with evidence in the film. That is why it is called a movie review and not opinion sampling interview about the movie.

Comment on the originality of the movie

Finally mention the uniqueness of the film which you noticed in the one you’ve watched. But even if the movie happens to be a standard feature with conventional approaches, you can still mention this as well. A regular film is still a film.

Write Your Review

With all the fact gathered above, you can now use the outline to write your film review. Make every part easy and enjoyable to read. Importantly, make the introduction engaging and captivating. You should go for a grand opening that will grab the attention of any reader. A good opening keeps the reader on the article.

Let us assume your introduction is watertight and engaging; any sloppy body will lose your reader. Hence, make the body informative and engaging. The review aims to reveal as much information as possible. Therefore, do your best to give all the details in the film to the reader. Engage your analytic mind. Analyzing technical aspects such as cinematography, lighting, and sound quality is crucial for a comprehensive review.

Another essential part of the review is the closing or conclusion. Here you give your view about the movie with evidence revealed in the body. Connect the conclusion with the introduction creatively.

Edit Your Final Draft

After writing your first version of the review, you can re-write the final one after editing. Also, you should check the final draft for spelling errors, grammar mistakes, and so on. Ensure sentences connects logically to each other and watch the format used. Make a final comparison of your work with the requirement by your professor or lecturer.

With the help of free word counter check the number of words required and cut them if more than needed but if not, add relevant information to make them up. Do not add irrelevant details for the sake of space. Ensure your final submitted draft is well edited, polished, plagiarism-free and presented in the recommended format or style.

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Tips to Follow While Writing a Movie Review: Personal Opinion

Since a movie review essay requires dedication and time investment, you might want to know the special tips to get you through the assignment seamlessly. Do recall that perfect conclusion of this assignment will add to your grades, hence the need to take it seriously. If you wish to know How to write a movie critique easily, then this section will tell you that.

The useful tips you should consider are as follows:

• Watch the film at least two times
• If you have seen it before, make sure you re-watch it for the assignment.
• Watch the movie not as a moviegoer but with an analytic mindset of a professional reviewer
• Pay attention to details. Remember, your personal opinion is crucial as it provides a subjective interpretation of the film's events.
• Take notes as you watch
• Don’t be in a rush - take your time, but be aware of the deadline
• Do not write out of the contest of your coursework. Tailor your review to the target audience and their expectations.
• Follow the requirements of your professor
• Use an outline to organize your work
• Start working on the body of your film review first and the introduction next
• Write an engaging introduction and a powerful closing.
• Never forget to edit your work.

Read also: How to write an editorial Essay: Useful Tips for Those Who Want To Perfect Their Skill 

Elements of a Professional Movie Review: Plot Summary

One similar thing about these reviews is that they all should contain the same elements regardless of the genre. The elements of a movie review provide the structure on which you will base the analysis. A proper movie review format comprises the following components:

It’s not enough that the movie title appears on the headline, it must appear in the review too. Mention it in the text and feature it in the introductory paragraph; there is no harm in doing that. A movie review evaluates a particular film and helps readers decide whether to watch it.

The Storyline (Plot)

The motion picture review itself refers to the summary of the movie. Present it in a concise way for people who are yet to watch it. When you are beginning to write a movie review, never have the mindset that your professor or any would-be reader has watched the movie. Therefore, never leave important points or events out. Your job is to elucidate the movie clearly to the reader: mention the faults observed, and the filmmaker’s brilliant points or downers. Including a plot summary provides a brief overview of the film's plot, which is essential for a comprehensive review.

What is a movie analysis without the filmmaker? Your review must feature him or her. Therefore, dedicate a paragraph to him, write about the kind of personality he or she is. Reveal the filmmaker’s political stance (if relevant), background, the controversial life of the person (if he is one), etc. You can also use the opportunity to talk about other movies the director has worked on before now, and then connect it with the one under review.

Significance to your class

Relate the content of the film or documentary to your course topic. Check its importance for historical accuracy. If the film is for history class, discuss any over-dramatization noticed in the act. However, if the film was based on a book you have reviewed in one of your classes, mention the connection between the book and the movie: state variances, comparisons and other elements present in the book that are missing in the film.

Creative elements

Creative elements make or mar films, that is why filmmakers go out of their ways to add them to their movies. It is your job to state how these elements work in the plot and the film in general. For instance, comment on the effectiveness of the sound effect in enriching the viewing experience of the movie? Talk about the lighting, costume, makeup, colors, camera, etc.

The cast carry the movie; without them, there is no movie. Your review should reveal if they acted well or poorly. State if their acting was realistic or not. Do not fail to mention if they have the skills and charisma to portray the role they played. You can also state if they were the right actors to play the role they did. Furthermore, you can suggest actors who could have played certain roles better than those in the film.

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Common Movie Review Mistakes You Should Avoid

After your arduous work of submitting your film report, you might be shocked to learn that your hard work received a query. You may wish to know why, well it could be because you commit any of the following common mistakes:

• Focusing on the wrong thing: Do not shift your focus. You might want to connect the film with some historical events, however, do not give unnecessary analysis or details that are not relevant to the movie under review. For instance, avoid giving the history of motion picture unless the film is about the development of the industry. Try and be focused.
• Alienating yourself from the review: You are the one writing the review, therefore, do not insert yourself in it. The review already has your name and signature on it so adding the possessive pronoun “I” should be discarded. The mistake most student make is writing in the first person, e.g., “I like the movie a lot, I admired the lead character,” and so on. Since the review exposes your understanding, opinions, likes, and dislikes, then it is unnecessary to insert yourself in it.
• Not doing your research: As said earlier, watching the movie is one side of the coin, you need to check out other details. Researching the film is highly critical because it would expound to you all the nitty-gritty details, not in the motion picture.
• Lack of evidence: In writing about a motion picture, you must substantiate any opinion or claim. You need to state your reason for liking, disliking, etc. of the film.
• Avoid irrelevant discussion: Do not start explaining issues not related directly with the motion picture you are analyzing.
• Unstructured review: Never write a movie review without structure, it would reveal you as an unorganized student. Hence structure your review properly by first creating the outline and organize your work. A good movie review should include a structured summary, critical analysis, and a persuasive tone to guide readers in their decision to watch the film or not.
• Avoid Generalization and be Precise: Never generalize ideas when you write a movie review. Avoid general statements like “a fantastic movie,” “beautiful set,” “excellent acting,” and such like. Support any comment you make with evidence from the film.
• Review lacking substance and analysis: Avoid writing a motion picture review that does not have substance or analysis. A review is a piece of educational literature, therefore, add intelligent analysis to it.

Movie Review Example from Top Writers

Here are a few examples of movie review topics to steer you in the right direction:

• Avatar Movie Review
• Beautiful Woman Movie Review
• Black Panther and its Global Significance
• In Pursuit of Happiness: Lessons to Learn
• iRobot: The Depiction of AI in the Future
• Matrix Movie Review
• Roots and Its Implication on the Life of the Black Men
• The Good, the Bad, the Ugly Movie Review
• The Last Holiday Movie Review and the Lesson of Living Life Too Cautiously
• Titanic Movie Review

Quick & Reliable Writing Help

As you can see, a movie review essay is an interesting paper to write. Recall that the whole point of a movie review is to inform the reader about the film and the ideas behind it. Also, it reflects your unbiased and objective view about the film. Adopt all our tips, and you shall submit a professional-looking report.

However, if you don't care about movies or still have issues coming to terms with all we have explained above, then contact us for help. At EduBirdie, our movie and book review writing service  are poised to help with your assignment and guarantee a high-quality review at an affordable price. With us, you shall learn how to do a movie review that will wow any professor.

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Written by Elizabeth Miller

Seasoned academic writer, nurturing students' writing skills. Expert in citation and plagiarism. Contributing to EduBirdie since 2019. Aspiring author and dedicated volunteer. You will never have to worry about plagiarism as I write essays 100% from scratch. Vast experience in English, History, Ethics, and more.

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