Movies can be entertaining, original, breath-taking, and brilliant – or they can be a waste of time. This is why we need well-written movie reviews. Your great review can save someone from pointlessly throwing away an hour or two of their life.
On the other hand, writing a movie review can be a fun assignment. It is safe to say that it holds the title of the favorite task among students. And yet again, the need for great writing appears.
If you are on a mission to write a compelling movie review, you are in the right place. Here are a few key tips on how to write an analytical and interesting review.
Watch and Rewatch the Movie
While watching the movie once is compulsory, rewatching it is a strong recommendation. The reason is simple – when you watch a movie for the second time, you can get a completely different feel.
The first time you encounter a new work of art you are primarily consumed by the visual and storytelling aspect. However, the second round allows you to turn your attention to the details.
Take Notes
Don’t think that you can recall every little detail. Relying on your memory is a risky game. Not to mention unnecessary, when you can take notes and safely store all relevant opinions.
If you do follow the first tip and watch the movie twice, leave note-taking for the second round. When you watch the movie without writing pauses, you’ll get a better overall impression. This is your chance to jot down the more general statements of the review.
The second time you press play, you want to write down the details. Get ready to click the pause button from time to time. When you need to write a lengthier thought, pause the scene not to miss something of value.
When the time comes for you to put your opinion to paper, your notes will be there to help you cover it all.
Compose a Compelling Hook
Every great movie review has a strong hook. The reaction you need to provoke is “Tell me more!”
You want the reader to start asking questions in their mind. If you manage to do that, you got it right.
To exemplify what a great hook is like, here’s an example from a movie review of Craig Gillespie’s Cruella:
Disney’s “Cruella” was not a film I personally wanted. How can you improve on Glenn Close‘s perfection, bringing the madwoman to life?
This hook instantly hooks you (pun intended) to know more. The moment you read the first sentence, you are curious about the impression of a doubtful reviewer. The fact that the reviewer was skeptical at first increases the readers’ interest in the aftermath.
Sharing your initial disinterest or excitement for the film is just one of the ways you can start the review. Some other options are:
- Providing some background on the movie
- Referencing a different movie or relevant event
- Stating a common opinion on the movie
- Sharing a concise overview
Overall, try to stand out with an impressionable and unique statement or questions. That’s the goal for the hook.
Take Your Stance from the Very Start
Before you get down to details, let the readers know how you liked the movie. You can take three stances: you liked it, you didn’t like it, or it was okay but nothing special.
Let your creative side uniquely express your evaluation since writing “I like it” won’t do. Concisely explain your general opinion on the movie at the beginning and leave the analysis and dissection for the rest of the review.
Address the Essentials
Readers have expectations from movie reviews. They want to know the specifics. Is the music good? How well-developed are the characters? Is this movie better or worse from the director’s past achievements? These are just some of the questions that readers have prepared in their minds.
For a movie review to be a success, it needs to rise to the expectations. Some of the topics you want to touch upon in the review are:
- Basic facts (release date, director, genre, and lead actors)
- The director’s past masterpieces (if they had any)
- A brief summary of the plot
- Character analyses and development
- Themes
- Cinematography
- Story structure
- Special effects
- Soundtrack
- Costume design
- Choice of actors
- Acting
- Comparison to similar movies (similar genre, theme, topic, etc.)
Don’t forget that you need to argument your opinions. Writing that the lead actor wasn’t a good choice isn’t enough. You need to explain and exemplify why. The details from the notes can help you support your statements.
Provide a Closure
To finalize this endeavor, conclude the review with a few sentences that tie the whole piece together.
The conclusion should refer back to your initial standpoint. Now that the readers have read your supporting evidence of the evaluation, tie your conclusion to your general opinion of the movie.
You can end the review with a recommendation on whether the readers should watch the movie.
Final Thoughts
A great movie review is structured, detailed, and enjoyable to read. You can achieve this greatness with the help of the above-mentioned tips.
So, with these guidelines in mind, get your note-taking kit ready and get down to business. May your movie review uncover the true nature of any film you set your eyes on.
Author’s bio. Jessica Fender is a professional writer and educational blogger. She is also an editor at EssaySupply, where you can order movie review writing. Jessica enjoys sharing her ideas to make writing and learning fun.
