movie review guide questions

9 Thought-Provoking Discussion Questions To Spark Meaningful Conversations About Movies In English

by EFL Listening Teacher | understand English movies | 5 comments

“So, did you like the movie?”

“Yes”

“So, shall we go get a drink or something…?”

Have you ever had a conversation like that one after coming out of the cinema?

Movies immerse you into the authentic language and culture of English-speaking countries. But, to get the most from watching films, and to connect in English with others, you need to talk about what you watch.

If you want to have deep discussions, you’ll need some thought-provoking discussion questions, like the ones you’ll discover in this post. No more asking yes-no questions and then running out of things to say.

You can use these questions by yourself. For example, you can write about them in your journal . Or you could record yourself answering them in the dictation app on your smartphone.

Otherwise, you could chat with a teacher or classmate about them to practise your English conversation skills.

You’ll find questions to make you think as well as questions to help you develop your English. So let’s get into it so you can start having meaningful discussions in English about the films you’re watching.

#1 How would you describe the main character and/or your favourite character(s)? And how does this compare with others people’s descriptions?

This is a great question to help you practice using the language of descriptions. But I encourage you to go a lot deeper that a physical description of the character.

You can describe how they move, how they interact with others, their personality, their fears, their deepest desires. Try to describe this person and their motivations in as much detail as possible.

Getting under the character’s skin is a great way to understand them better and develop empathy for them, even if you have a hard time understanding some their behaviour.

You can also compare your description of this character with other people for an insightful discussion.

• Do they see this character in the same way? As a victim, a bully, someone misunderstood, someone complicated etc.
• Or do they have a completely different interpretation of this person?

#2 If you could speak to the screenwriter/director, what would you ask?

What questions do you have about the screenplay, the story, the characters and other choices the screenwriter and director made?

• Are there sections of the movie you would remove? Are there parts you would add?
• Did you not understand a part of the movie, like the ending?
• Are there characters you felt deserved more screen time? Or less?

Think of all the things that bothered you about the movie. And maybe some things you liked. And then decide what questions you would ask.

Even if you probably won’t be able to speak to the screenwriter or director, you could try to imagine their response.

Or, you can turn this into a listening or reading activity. You could look for interviews with the director on YouTube, on podcasts or in movie magazines or websites.

Perhaps you’ll find answers to your questions there. Perhaps journalists and movie fans have also asked similar questions. Or completely different ones. In any case, you’ll get a new perspective on the film this way.

#3 What are the themes of this movie?

So here you’re going deeper than the story of the movie. You want to dig deep into the big themes and also the sub themes of the movie. When you take a step back, ask yourself – what is this movie asking us to explore about the human condition?

As part of Movie Club , we watched the 2009 Clint Eastwood Movie “Gran Torino” . One of the big themes of this movie is racism.

But another thread running through the film is masculinity.

• What does it mean to be a man?
• Which “men” in the movie are considered not masculine enough and why?
• Who defines masculinity in this Detroit neighbourhood where demographics are changing?

It can be interesting to explore the various themes and how they interact with each other. You can also compare this movie with others that explore the same themes. How are they similar or different? What is their particular approach to the theme? Which movie deals with it better? And why?

#4 What’s the message of the movie?

Again, to answer this question, you’ll need to go deeper than summarising the story or describing the movie. What did this movie leave you with? What is the message about the human condition that it touches on?

There is no one right answer to this question and that’s what makes it excellent for sparking discussion.

Other people may have different interpretations and that’s something you can discuss. There may also be multiple messages that this movie sends and people might classify them differently too.

Once again, you can compare movies with a similar message and look at how the approach it in similar or different ways.

#5 How did this movie make you feel?

This can help with some of the other questions as we can’t always explain our analysis with reasoning or logic. Often it comes down to what this movie made us feel – moved, frustrated, humbled, scared, confused, angry, outraged, delighted, surprised and more.

• So how did you feel as you watched it?
• What about afterwards?
• Did you expect to feel a certain way? If so, did your expectations and your actual feelings match up or not?
• How do your feelings compare with those of others? Did they feel them same way? Were you surprised but how the movie made them feel?

#6 What star rating would you give this movie? What review would you write? How does this compare with other published reviews?

This is a great question to play with if you’re working on your own and practising your writing skills. You can decide on your own rating and write a short review and then check out the reviews of fans and critics on sites like IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes .

Were the reviews of the movie generally positive or negative? What about at the time compared to now? Some movies are misunderstood on their release, but then become classics in the years that follow as new audiences discover them.

Here are a couple of examples:

Blade Runner  didn’t do well on its release in 1982 and the critics disagreed about it. But in the years that followed it became a cult classic. And it’s now regarded as one of the greatest science fiction films of all time.

The Princess Bride was well-received by critics on its release, but didn’t do so well in cinemas. Again, over time, it became a cult classic.

#7 Which character did you identify with the most/the least? Why?

This is another great question to ask a group or a partner . It can be interesting to see how people’s background, culture, assumptions, preferences affect their answers.

It’s no doubt easier to identify with a character that resembles you in some way. It might be easier for you to relate to the characters if people from your background have a lot of representation on screen (white, male, young etc).

If the movie is set in a different time and place, then it might be trickier to relate to the characters when we look at them through a modern lens. But some themes, characters, experiences, transcend time and space.

#8 Has this movie aged well? Would it get made today?

We live in rapidly changing times. And our societies are going through a reckoning to do with sexism, racism, ableism, fatphobia, homophobia and transphobia.

You may have noticed that even certain recent movies and TV series are out of step with some of these rapidly changing attitudes.

We watched “Love Actually” as part of the Movie Club and we were shocked by the casual fat-shaming of one of the characters, as well as many other problems. 

The messages of certain movies may be timeless. But even so, the films may be in need of an update. We have watched some beautiful period dramas recently, but these movies are very white.

Now, you may argue that this is an issue of historical accuracy. Yet, Netflix period drama hit Bridgerton is set in the early 1800s, but in an alternate history where London is racially intergrated. That means they were able to cast black actor Regé Jean-Page to play Simon Bassett, Duke of Hastings.

#9 Did anything in this movie remind you of something that has happened in your own life or in the lives of others?

Movie are supposed to be fiction, but sometimes as we say “the truth is stranger than fiction”. Perhaps you relate well to a particular film because you’ve been through something similar in your life. In which case, did the movie do a good job of conveying that experience? Why or why not?

Sometimes though, even if we’ve never experienced the same things as the characters, a good movie draws us in. And good character develop enables us to empathise with them, and feel with them. Which is why we end up experiencing the same emotions as the characters when we watch!

Want to talk about movies and connect with film lovers from around the world?

“Movie Club” is a supportive and friendly community of movie lovers where you can learn and practice your English in a safe space. The club opens for enrolment three times a year. The next round, May to July, will open in April to new members. Find out more and join us. 

Great post Cara! Watching movies and TV shows became one of my favorite things to do during the pandemic. Your post reminded me of my conversations with my wife about the movies we watch. I always like to trigger conversations with one question:

-What would you do if you were [a character from the movie] when [A specific event of the movie] happened?

I know it’s a little lame, but I think it’s fun when you imagine yourself being the hero or the villain of the movie lol.

Besides, it’s amazing to see how a single question can trigger long conversations, we’ve even talked about deep matters after movies.

That’s such a great question Diego, I’ll have to add it to the list. Thanks! Almost all we talk about are deep subjects after watching the movie, even if the movie itself wasn’t necessarily serious. An example – fat shaming in “Love Actually”!

Yep, that’s the way to enjoy a movie, a good conversation afterward, instead of passively watching it and then forget about it.

Absolutely. I watched mamma mia 2 last night, and I felt it hit me harder than it did the first time I watched it. I think being able to discuss a movie after watching it is a good thing rather than just passively watching it.

In the movie Possession starring Sarah Gellar made 2008. Did the brothers have matching tatoos

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Film Analysis Questions

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How to Write a Movie Review: 10 Essential Tips

As long as there have been films, there have been film critics. Starting with the early days of cinema, where reviews appeared in newspapers and magazines as brief, descriptive pieces, as filmmaking evolved as an art form, so did the role of the critic. James Agee, André Bazin, and Pauline Kael shaped the discourse around cinema, and today, famous film critics like the iconic Roger Ebert , The New York Times’s A.O. Scott , and The New York Times’s Manohla Dargis continue to leave an indelible mark on the world of cinema.

With the rise of the internet, film criticism now encompasses a wide range of voices and perspectives from around the globe. Sites like Letterboxd make it possible for anyone to write short-form reviews on film. Even stars like The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri have accounts and share opinions on the latest box-office hits.

How to Write a Movie Review

Today, contemporary YouTube and TikTok critics such as Red Letter Media , deepfocuslens , and DoMo Draper don’t just write film reviews, they shoot videos and skits. Through their creative formats, they offer refreshing and unique perspectives while building communities of diehard film and television enthusiasts. Whether you choose to write reviews for your own blog, other websites, or social media channels, by learning how to write a movie review, any aspiring filmmaker can start to watch films intentionally. 

@domodraperr Replying to @xsindeviltriggerx I’ll get right on that, Sir!🫡 #comments #movies #film #satire #fyp #mulan #disney ♬ I’ll Make a Man Out of You (feat. Black Gryph0n) – Cover – Samuel Kim

TikTok film critic “DoMo Draper” provides commentary on new and old films, often calling out racism, social injustice, misogyny, and prejudice.

While there’s no perfect approach to writing a review, there are best practices that every aspiring reviewer should consider.

Here are ten tips on writing a compelling piece.

1. Watch the film at least once.

For new reviewers, it’s impossible to capture everything after one viewing. Watching the film first, then watching to take notes, is an easy way to improve the quality of your final review. This will also make it easy to recall in-the-moment thoughts and reactions.

Take a review by Christian Blauvelt of Charlie Chaplin’s silent film The Circus , for example. Since the film does not have sound, properly critiquing the film requires close attention. Viewers have to pay attention to the various nuances in Chaplin’s performance, follow the story, and take in the cinematography. Regarding The Circus , Blauvelt writes, “The film lacks a conventional plot, but is rather a pearl necklace of strung-together episodes. ” The statement isn’t a criticism, but a keen observation likely gleaned from more than one viewing. 

So while every film reviewer has their own approach, many choose to watch a film more than once to deliver the best possible review. Image The Criterion Collection.

2. Express your opinions and support your criticism.

Professional reviewers do not shy away from sharing whether they thought a movie was good, bad, or indifferent. In a review for the film Mother!, reviewer Candice Frederick describes the film as “uncomfortable,” and “controversial,” helping viewers understand the tone of the movie. While Frederick seemed to enjoy the film, her honesty about how it would make audiences feel was vital in writing the review.

Be sure to back up these thoughts with specifics–a disappointing performance, beautiful cinematography, difficult material that leaves you thinking, and so on. Professional reviewers should express why and how they came to their criticism.

3. Consider your audience.

Are you writing for a fan site or a news outlet? Who will read your pieces, and what are their interests? Knowing who your readers are and where the review will be published can help you decide what elements of the movie to highlight. For example, take these two very different reviews for the film ‘Synecdoche, New York’.  

The first review was written by Alonso Duralde for The Today Show , and clocks in at around 500 words. The film focuses on the bullet points: characters, plot, and a concise review. The second review is over 3,000 words and published on the Critical Critics blog . This review goes into massive depth (and yes, includes spoilers) about the film, providing an incredible amount of analysis. The first review is tailored for the casual filmgoer, while the second is for cinephiles. Each review serves a different purpose.

It’s also a good idea to adjust your writing style to fit the target audience. For example, Alonso Duralde is a talented film reviewer and likely wrote the review to fit the tone of The Today Show site. Image via Director’s Library.

4. Talk about the acting.

When reviewing a film, it’s important to take space to discuss the performances. Does the film feature a seasoned actor in a new kind of role or a brilliant performance from a rising star? How was the acting? In a review by Brett Milam for the award-winning film Whiplash , he goes into rich detail about performances by both breakthrough actor Miles Teller and seasoned professional JK Simmons.

Regarding Teller, Milam writes, “This is a performance. This is art,” and about Simmons, “I found him fascinating to just look at.” Those are just small examples of the analysis he provides regarding their acting. As the film mostly focuses on the relationship between their two characters, Miles as the protagonist and JK as the antagonist, the review of the performances lends well to the plot of the film: student and teacher going head to head in an intense and determined showdown. 

Feedback about how well the actors handled the script, the dynamics in an ensemble, and so much more can help describe how the actors did in any given film.

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

Reviews that include highlights or missteps of directors, cinematographers, and costume designers can help provide support to your critiques. By providing specific examples of what worked, what surprised you, and what fell short of expectations, reviewers can write a well-thought-out review that goes beyond whether or not you liked it.

In a review for A Wrinkle in Time , Monique Jones artfully crafts a piece that diplomatically cites the missteps of the film. From analyzing the quality of the CGI to the camera techniques to inconsistencies in the rules of the fantasy universe, Jones fairly offers a critique that guides the filmmakers and crew on future endeavors. To write this type of review, it helps to have some knowledge of the filmmaking process so you can properly assess the screenwriting, cinematography, special effects, acting, and more. Image via Disney.

6. No spoilers!

The point of writing a movie review is to get people interested in seeing a movie. That’s why it’s absolutely best practice to not reveal spoilers in a film review. Film reviewer Robert Daniels approaches this creatively. In his review of Annihilation , he provides commentary on what would be considered spoilers. However, he places that part of the review at the bottom of the article under a bold header/image that warns the reader he’s about to spoil the film. For reviewers who want to dissect the entire film, this is a good way to both tease the film for anyone who hasn’t seen it and cater to people who want to know what the ending is.

Remember: the goal of any film review is to discuss the plot without revealing any twists or the ending of the film. 

7. Study the professionals.

As with all writing endeavors, the more you read, the better. However, with the modern landscape of film reviewing, which can go beyond writing and extend to content creation for social media platforms, there are a ton of reviewers to take notes from. First, determine what kind of reviewer you want to be, and what kind of medium you plan to deliver your reviews on. If you plan to post to Medium, for example, studying the reviewers already established on the site can be a great starting point.

Then, read film reviews for some of your favorite films. Determine which style of review you like and don’t like. Question why, and use your critical eye to consider why one reviewer has a hundred thousand followers and another only has two. If you’re looking to be featured on a website or a magazine, read the publications where you’d like your writing to appear as a template for your reviews, and don’t forget to read the submission guidelines. A few examples of film review professionals include Rotten Tomatoes , Roger Ebert , and Film Comment. 

8. Reread, rewrite, and edit.

While writing film critique is based on opinion, and follows the style of the reviewer, it’s still important to edit work. Writers should check for spelling, grammar, and readability. No matter how good a writer’s opinions are, they will not be taken seriously if the director’s name isn’t spelled correctly. Tools such as Grammarly and Hemingway Editor can be great for correcting and finding areas that need improvement. 

9. Find your voice.

The best reviewers have a distinct personality that comes across in their writing. Los Angeles Times film reviewer Carlos Aguilar wrote an impassioned piece about the film Beatriz at Dinner , going into a lot of detail about his experiences working in the film industry and his Mexican heritage. By sharing anecdotes about casual racism he’s experienced and connecting it to the film’s protagonist, and what she goes through, the review feels personal and relatable.

“If at a film festival – to which I’ve gotten access to because I’m a published writer – in a progressive city like Los Angeles, I must keep my guard up when people question my right to be there, then how are the voiceless supposed to feel safe, respected, or hopeful?” Aguilar writes. 

For new reviewers, developing this type of unique voice does not happen overnight, so take every opportunity to write as an opportunity to develop your style. Image via BBC.

10. Know your taste.

As a film reviewer, it can be helpful to identify your taste in film. By knowing specific preferences, strengths, and biases, reviewers can offer nuanced critiques that resonate with audiences and provide valuable guidance on which films they might enjoy. Additionally, it helps to maintain credibility and integrity as a reviewer by ensuring that assessments are authentic and reflective of personal cinematic sensibilities.

Try to explore various genres, directors, and themes to understand what resonates emotionally, intellectually, and aesthetically. Pay attention to the types of stories that engage you, which can help define your preferences.

Learn More About Filmmaking at NYFA

Film students with writing experience actually make great reviewers, as many of them are required to study a range of topics relating to film that can include cinematography, screenwriting, producing, and much more. Ready to build even more skills in filmmaking? Request more information about New York Film Academy’s filmmaking programs and workshops today!

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24 Interesting Film Discussion Questions.

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Did you like the movie?

I’m sure you’ve asked and heard this question dozens of times. At the same time, talking about the film can be even more interesting than the picture itself. But this is possible only when all participants are ready to open their minds and you have interesting questions for discussion.

Today I want to share questions – puzzles that will give you a flight of thought and turn the film chat into a captivating dialogue.

But first, I’ll tell you how I use these queries myself.

First, I love to philosophize about cinema quietly to myself. It works great when a movie is stuck in my head and I’m trying to figure out why. This quiz is always the first step to understanding my movie obsession . Movie journals are always on my work shelf. In addition, I have an excellent article about why do I feel sad when a tv show ends.

Secondly, questions help me to have fascinating conservations with friends. Now we even come up with alternative movie plots while we eat pizza. Also, this quiz can help you chat up on a date or warm up an evening with your family. Or you can host a movie night with friends and discuss the movie later; it will be a lot of fun for movie lovers! 

Thirdly, I love to talk about films with my husband. We chat about our thoughts and feelings after the film, laugh and spend extra time together. It brings us very close!

But remember, this is not an interrogation. It is not a list of questions to be asked in a strict order. These queries are just ideas that can be developed. It is essential to respect each other opinions, even if it does not strongly coincide with your own. So don’t turn the chat into a fight.

24 cool film discussion questions.

1. Is it a big film?

2. What is this film about for you?

3. What is your first thought after the credits?

4. What can you say about a particular film hero (about the main character, about the most pleasant character for you)?

5. What can you say about a particular situation in the film?

6. Which line from the movie made the biggest impression on you?

7. Have there been similar situations in your life?

8. How can this movie help you in your life?

9. What moment of the movie made the biggest impression on you? It may be connected with you or causes some associations.

10. What characters did you like, dislike or surprise? What exactly?

11. Which of the characters is like you?

12. What role would you like to play in this film? Why?

13. The actions of which heroes caused you misunderstanding, disagreement or approval? What else could a hero do? How would the film have changed if the hero had acted differently?

14. If you could ask the characters about something, what questions would you ask them?

15. What other endings could the movie have?

16. What do you think the author wanted to convey with this film? Do you see some sense of your own in this film?

17. What title would you give this film? Why?

18. Did you enjoy the music, lighting, special effects, sets, costumes, etc.?

19. Would you ever like to see this picture again?

20. What did you learn from this movie? 

21. Вid you get goosebumps? What moment?

22. What will happen to the film’s characters in 10 years, in 20 years?

23. Would you recommend this movie to your friends? Why?

24. How does the film relate to reality? 

I hope you will use these excellent film discussion questions next movie night.

Share this blog post if you enjoyed it. I would appreciate it! 

I`m in love with movies and psychology. Here I write how we can use movies for healing and self-growth. Also, be sure to check out my movie lists. You will find cool suggestions for movie night.

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16 comments

Great questions and definitely help to discuss a movie. Me and my cousin love to do this all the time.

I love going into in-depth discussions about things, especially movies! There’s no boring ‘I liked this movie because…’ stuff in here; THOSE are the group discussions I enjoy with other people. Thank you so much for sharing these!

These are wonderful questions! And such good conversation starters! My current movie of choice is Top Gun Maverick! LOL

Fun ideas for discussing films. This brings me back to one of my favorite college courses on the topic.

These are excellent questions for film discussion. I am watching The Broken Hearts Gallery while I work out, and it’s a great flick.

Interesting. These are good review questions to ask my students.

These are very interesting questions! Really allows you to digest the film’s content even better.

Thank you so much for these! I’m always at a loss when discussing movies so these are just perfection!

I love all these questions! They make having a discussion about a film so much easier! I am working with my daughter on her comprehension skills, so I will use a few of these after we watch a movie to help her think more about what she watched.

Great starter questions, I always enjoy discussing movies with my husband after we watch them.

I love these Questions and ideas. You could get to know who is the comedian and psychopath in your friends by asking them these questions. Hahaha

I really love all of these questions. My husband sometimes asked me a question about the movie or film that we watch it helps me to understand more what was the film is all about.

These are all really good questions to get a discussion going about a film(s). I am about to watch a horror with my daughter. I hope it doesn’t relate to my life lol.

These are great questions. My favorite is number 14 and 19. There are many times that we actually try to come up with our own titles for the film. Anyway, I am bookmarking this post for future reference.

Nnniiicccceeeeee….questions 25 and 26 have really caught my attention! I would ask those two, in a heartbeat!

Your questions are too good as they caught my attention. These points are worth discussing with any movie lover friend of mine.

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How to Write a Movie Review: A Step-by-Step Guide with Examples

• backlinkworks
• Writing Articles & Reviews
• October 3, 2023

Introduction

Watching movies is a popular pastime for many individuals. While some enjoy being entertained by the latest releases, others find satisfaction in analyzing and critiquing films. If you fall into the latter category, then writing a movie review can be a rewarding activity. Whether you aspire to become a professional film critic or simply want to share your opinion with others, this step-by-step guide will help you craft a compelling and engaging movie review.

Step 1: Watch the Movie

Before you can write a movie review, you need to watch the film attentively. Take notes while watching, paying attention to the plot, characters, cinematography, acting, and any other elements that stand out. Understanding the movie in its entirety is crucial to providing an informed perspective in your review.

Step 2: Gather Your Thoughts

After watching the film, take some time to gather your thoughts and reflect on your overall impressions. Did you enjoy the movie? What were its strengths and weaknesses? Consider the movie’s themes, messages, and intended audience. Jot down key points to use as the foundation of your review.

Step 3: Start with a Strong Introduction

The introduction sets the tone for your movie review. Begin with a captivating hook that grabs the reader’s attention and provides a brief overview of the film. Offer some context, such as the genre or director, and any interesting background information that adds value to the review. Make sure to state your overall opinion clearly and concisely.

Step 4: Analyze the Plot and Storyline

Provide a detailed analysis of the movie’s plot and storyline. Discuss the main narrative, subplots, and any twists or surprises. Evaluate the pacing, coherence, and depth of the story. Highlight any standout moments or memorable scenes that contribute to the overall narrative experience.

Step 5: Evaluate the Acting and Characters

An important aspect of any movie review is assessing the acting performances and the development of the characters. Discuss the actors’ portrayals, their chemistry, and whether they effectively brought their characters to life. Analyze the characters’ depth, growth, and believability. Give examples to support your claims.

Step 6: Critique the Cinematography and Visuals

The cinematography and visual elements greatly impact a movie’s overall appeal. Evaluate the camera angles, lighting, set design, costumes, and any special effects used. Explain how these choices contribute to the storytelling and enhance the viewer’s experience.

Step 7: Assess the Sound and Music

The sound design and music play a vital role in creating the right atmosphere for a film. Analyze the sound effects, soundtrack, and any background music utilized. Discuss how the audio elements complemented the visuals and enhanced the emotional impact of key scenes.

Step 8: Highlight the Strengths and Weaknesses

In this section, discuss the movie’s strengths and weaknesses. Offer constructive criticism where necessary, but also acknowledge the film’s positive aspects. Be specific and provide examples to support your claims, giving readers a well-rounded perspective of the overall quality of the movie.

Step 9: Conclusion

The conclusion should summarize your main points and provide a final assessment of the film. Reiterate your overall opinion and encourage readers to watch or avoid the movie based on your review. End with a thought-provoking statement or a call-to-action to engage your audience further.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. how long should a movie review be.

A movie review can vary in length, but a typical review ranges from 500 to 1000 words. However, if you feel the need to provide a more in-depth analysis, IT can extend beyond the usual word count.

2. Should I include spoilers in my review?

IT is best to avoid spoilers, as they can ruin the viewing experience for those who haven’t seen the film. If you must discuss specific plot details, clearly indicate spoiler warnings and use HTML tags to hide text, ensuring readers have the option to read or skip the spoilers.

3. How do I maintain objectivity in my review?

While a movie review reflects your personal opinion, try to maintain objectivity by offering balanced arguments and supporting your statements with evidence from the film. Acknowledge that different viewers may have different tastes and perspectives.

4. Is IT necessary to include a rating in my review?

Including a rating is not essential, but IT can provide a quick summary of your overall opinion. You can use a numerical scale, stars, or any other rating system you find suitable. Just ensure you explain the reasoning behind your rating within the body of the review.

5. How can I make my review stand out?

To make your review stand out, write in a clear and engaging style. Incorporate your unique voice and use captivating language to draw readers in. Including relevant screenshots from the movie or embedding a trailer can also enhance the overall appeal of your review.

writing a movie review provides an opportunity to express your thoughts and opinions about a film while helping others make informed decisions about their movie choices. By following this step-by-step guide, you can craft a well-written and insightful review that captures the essence of the movie. Remember to watch the film attentively, gather your thoughts, and provide a balanced assessment of its various elements. With practice, you’ll refine your skills as a movie reviewer and contribute to the world of film criticism.

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Every movie in some way can act as a mirror to better understand our own self and a lens to help us better understand the culture in which we live. Here are some questions that we can ask for any movie.

Discussion Questions:

• What thoughts does this movie spur in you? What does it make you think about?
• What is your emotional response to this movie? What did this movie make you feel?
• What moments, character, or ideas resonated with you while watching this movie? What about them? Why did you connect with them?
• What themes are present in this movie?
• What is this movie saying about our world?
• Why would someone want to watch this film? 
• What is one good or winsome thing you could say about this movie to someone else?
• What does this movie have to say about the big story we are in?

Here's a link to a printable pdf for this discussion guide.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS FOR USE WITH ANY DOCUMENTARY

Discussion questions:.

1. Identify the people, places, events, or aspects of people, society or nature that are the focus of this film. Describe and clarify the significance of each. 2. List six facts described in the film that impressed you and explain how each fact relates to the film’s premise or theme. 3. Did you learn anything from this movie? What was it? 4. Nonfiction can enrich viewers in several important ways. Describe any aspect of the film that showed you something you hadn’t seen before, caused you to think in a new way, or helped you understand something more thoroughly than before. In addition, describe how it changed your thinking. 5. Was there anything that you saw or heard in the film that was unconvincing or which seemed out of place? 6. What particularly appealed to you in the cinematic presentation of the film, such as the way in which particular scenes, images, or sounds were presented? 7. Describe the progression of the film: how it begins, what stages it passes through, and how it concludes. 8. How did the filmmakers try to convince you of the position that the film supports? Look for appeals to logic, emotion, and prejudice. 9. Did any of the reasoning given in support of the position advocated by the film seem to be weak or misleading? If so, describe the concept put forward in the film and why you thought the reasoning was flawed. 10. Did the film change your mind about any aspect of the subject that it presents? What information, argument or persuasive technique caused you to change your mind? 11. Was there something you didn’t understand about the film? Is so, what was it? 12. What did you like best about the movie? Why? 13. What did you like least about the movie? Why? 14. Describe any cinematic techniques used in presenting particular scenes, images, or sounds which were designed to appeal to the viewer’s emotions and to encourage the viewer to agree with the position advocated by the film, without reliance upon fact or logical argument. 15. Did the narration always work well with what was occurring visually in the film? Describe any scenes in which you thought it didn’t and your reasons for this conclusion. 16. Describe the use of color in the film. Did it advance the emotions the filmmakers were trying to evoke? How would you have used color in this movie? 17. Analyze the use of music in the film. Did it enhance the story that the visual images and the narration were trying to tell? How would you have used music in this movie? 18. What was the structure of the movie? Did there appear to be any manipulation in the way in which the scenes were presented or did the presentation appear to be straightforward? 19. How did the editing of the film advance the narrative and help the director get his point across? 20. If someone asked you whether you would recommend this film, how would you respond? Fully explain your reasons. 21. If the filmmakers were to ask you how the film could be improved, what would you tell them? Describe the changes you would suggest in detail and the reasons for your suggestions.

See TWM’s Worksheet for Informational Documentaries and Worksheet for Films that Seek to Persuade on Issues of Political or Social Significance

Assignments:

• Students can be asked to write an essay marshaling facts to support or challenge any claim, fact or position taken in the film.
• Students can be asked to write a review of the film.
• The class can be asked to take positions on and to debate any of the issues raised or positions taken in the film. Consider this for a group activity.

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How to write a movie review [Updated 2023]

Writing a movie review is a great way to practice critical analysis skills. In this post, we explore what a movie review is, how to start a film review, and steps for writing and revising it.

What is a movie review?

A movie review is a concise evaluation of a film’s content and formal elements (cinematography, sound, lighting, etc.). Also known as a film review, a movie review considers not just what a film means, but how it means. Essentially, when you write a film review, you are conducting a critical analysis or close reading of a movie.

How to write a movie review

To write a successful review about a movie, you need to evaluate a film’s content, as well as its form. In this section, we break down these two components.

A film’s content includes its plot (what it’s about), characters, and setting. You’ll need to determine the main plot points of the film and how the film’s story works overall.

Are there parts that don’t make sense? Are certain characters more important than others? What is the relationship between the movie’s plot and its setting? A discussion of a film’s content provides good context for an analysis of its form.

Form refers to all of the aesthetic and/or formal elements that make a story into a movie. You can break down form into several categories:

• Cinematography : This element comprises all aspects of the movie that derive from the way a camera moves and works. You’ll need to pay attention to elements like camera angles, distances between the camera and the subject, and types of shots (i.e. close-up, aerial, etc.).
• Lighting : Films use lighting in various ways to communicate certain effects. For instance, noir films tend to utilize chiaroscuro lighting (deep contrasts between light and dark) to express a sense of secrecy or foreboding.
• Sound : The way a film uses sound can vary considerably. Most movies have a soundtrack, sometimes with music composed specifically for the film. Some films play around with ambient sounds or use silence at key points to signify important moments. What is the relation of sound to the image in specific scenes or sequences? Do sounds link images? Does it ever become more important than the image?
• Editing : The movies we watch online or in theaters have been heavily edited in order to achieve a particular flow. When you are preparing to write a movie review, pay close attention to elements like the length of shots, transitions between scenes, or any other items that were finalized after filming.
• Costumes, Props, and Sets : Are the costumes and props believable in relation to the film’s content and setting? Are costumes particularly elaborate or understated?

The important thing to remember when you are analyzing the formal elements of a movie is that every image, sound, movement, and object has meaning and has been planned. Your review needs to take into consideration how these elements work together with the film’s storyline to create a whole experience.

Once you’ve considered both the content and form of the movie that you’re reviewing, you can begin to evaluate the film as a whole. Is it a successful movie? Would you recommend it? Why or why not?

Step-by-step review writing tips

1. watch the movie.

The first time that you watch the movie, look for overarching themes or patterns, and establish what the film is primarily about. Take note of the main characters, as well as the setting.

2. Watch the movie again and take notes

Next, watch the movie again and take notes as you are doing so, keeping in mind the formal aspects discussed above. Write down anything that seems significant.

3. Evaluate the film’s form and content

Using the categories described above, and any handouts or guides provided by your instructor, evaluate the film’s formal elements along with its content. Are there elements of the movie that strike you as unfamiliar or perplexing? Are there elements that are repeated to emphasize a point or perception?

4. Write your review

A good movie review will contain:

• an introductory paragraph that tells the reader what movie you’re reviewing
• a paragraph that summarizes the movie
• several body paragraphs that explore significant formal elements and how they relate to the content
• a concluding paragraph that discusses your overall reaction to the film and whether or not you would recommend it to others

5. Create citations

You’ll need cite the film and any secondary sources that you consulted while writing. Use BibGuru’s citation generator to instantly create accurate citations for movies, as well as articles, books, and websites.

You may also want to consult a guide on how to cite a film in MLA or another major citation style .

6. Revise and proofread

Once you’ve written your review, you should set aside some time to revise and proofread it before you turn it in.

Movie review checklist

You can use this checklist to ensure that you’ve considered all of the formal elements, as well as the content, of the film that you’re reviewing:

🔲 Cinematography (camera moves and types of shots)

🔲 Lighting (natural vs. artificial light, contrasts between light and dark)

🔲 Sound (soundtrack, sound vs. silence, loud vs. soft sounds)

🔲 Editing (length of shots, transitions between scenes)

🔲 Costumes, props, and sets (believable vs. staged)

🔲 Content (plot, characters, setting)

Frequently Asked Questions about how to write a review about a movie

A movie review should contain a brief summary of the film, several paragraphs of analysis that focus on form and content, and a concluding paragraph that sums up your reaction.

Before you write anything, you need to watch the film at least once. Take notes as you’re watching and pay attention to formal elements and patterns. Then, write your review. The final step is to revise your work before you turn it in.

The tone for a movie review should be critical, yet objective. The goal of most reviews is to persuade a reader to either see a film or not.

The best film reviews balance plot summary with critical analysis of significant formal elements. A reader should be able to decide if she wants to see the film after reading the review.

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How to Write a Movie Review

Last Updated: March 13, 2024 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 179 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 5,589,780 times. Learn more...

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

Sample Movie Reviews

Writing an Intro for a Movie Review

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

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

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

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

Composing Your Review

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

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

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

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

Polishing Your Piece

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

Studying Your Source Material

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

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

• Direction: Consider the director and how he or she choose to portray/explain the events in the story. If the movie was slow, or didn't include things you thought were necessary, you can attribute this to the director. If you've seen other movies directed by the same person, compare them and determine which you like the most.
• Cinematography: What techniques were used to film the movie? What setting and background elements helped to create a certain tone?
• Writing: Evaluate the script, including dialogue and characterization. Did you feel like the plot was inventive and unpredictable or boring and weak? Did the characters' words seem credible to you?
• Editing: Was the movie choppy or did it flow smoothly from scene to scene? Did they incorporate a montage to help build the story? And was this obstructive to the narrative or did it help it? Did they use long cuts to help accentuate an actor's acting ability or many reaction shots to show a group's reaction to an event or dialogue? If visual effects were used were the plates well-chosen and were the composited effects part of a seamless experience? (Whether the effects looked realistic or not is not the jurisdiction of an editor, however, they do choose the footage to be sent off to the compositors, so this could still affect the film.)
• Costume design: Did the clothing choices fit the style of the movie? Did they contribute to the overall tone, rather than digressing from it?
• Set design: Consider how the setting of the film influenced its other elements. Did it add or subtract from the experience for you? If the movie was filmed in a real place, was this location well-chosen?
• Score or soundtrack: Did it work with the scenes? Was it over/under-used? Was it suspenseful? Amusing? Irritating? A soundtrack can make or break a movie, especially if the songs have a particular message or meaning to them.

Community Q&A

• If you don't like the movie, don't be abusive and mean. If possible, avoid watching the movies that you would surely hate. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 2
• Understand that just because the movie isn't to your taste, that doesn't mean you should give it a bad review. A good reviewer helps people find movie's they will like. Since you don't have the same taste in movies as everyone else, you need to be able to tell people if they will enjoy the movie, even if you didn't. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• Structure is very important; try categorizing the different parts of the film and commenting on each of those individually. Deciding how good each thing is will help you come to a more accurate conclusion. For example, things like acting, special effects, cinematography, think about how good each of those are. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

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

About This Article

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

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Overcomer & Breakthrough discussion questions for small groups and review

Overcomer & Breakthrough Small Group Discussion Questions and Review: The Good, The Bad, The Frustrating… But Mostly The Good.

Movie : Overcomer Rating : PG Age Suggestion : 8+ long stretches of intense drama Running Time : 2 hours Release Date : August 23rd, 2019 Stars : 3 out of 5 Themes : Courage, Authenticity, Hypocrisy, Encouragement, Identity, Faith, Work, Community   Warnings : Parental death, Stereotypical adoption portrayals

Quick Summary :

     A plant shuts down in a small town, impacting thousands of residents. As the local Christian school scrambles to deal with the sudden decline in student population, the teachers and coaches are asked to step outside of their comfort zone to cover classes. In this case, Coach Harrison, the basketball coach and Hannah Scott from the track team have to learn how to work together to move forward. One has nothing to lose and everything to gain and the other has a lot to lose and gain. Their lives are both changed forever. Viewers should be aware that this movie deals with adoption (and reunification) in extremely stereotypical ways. They should also be aware of who the movie was made for: an evangelical Christian audience. (Personally, I would not take my friends who do not believe in God to see this movie and I would not want my adopted child to see this movie without me). That being said, the movie was encouraging and had messages that are needed within evangelical circles right now. I would watch this again with a small group or friends.

**Spoilers Beyond This Point**

Overcomer discussion questions : .

1) Have you ever had a dream derailed and pushed aside like Coach Harrison?

2) Is there something that you believe you can do, that you want to get better at or pursue more, that seems physically or mentally impossible? (Like Hannah trying to place in track meets even though she has asthma)

3) One of the most inspiring points of this movie to me was the way that the teens rallied around this shy athlete without a team- to give her a team! How can you lift up someone that might need encouragement? Ethan certainly could have pouted about his situation instead of celebrating Hannah’s effort. Who are you actively cheering for right now?

4) It’s massively important to have people who are encouraging you and speaking life into you. Who are the mentors or coaches in your life who inspire and encourage you?

5) John and Thomas have some very raw and honest conversations. Who in your life is really honest with you and can call you out when you need it?

Overcomer Review : 

Characters & Acting: -As a teacher who has experienced pay cuts and team cuts, I felt like the teacher’s characters were a little one sided and not developed as well as they could have been. I felt the same way about their kids’ characters. The grandmother was also not given a lot of depth to work with. On the other hand, the principal and the main character, I felt, had some deeper character development. -I thought that all of the actors did well. Particularly the youngest son, the lead teen and the biological father. They really stood out. The acting over all was not as believable as your typical summer blockbuster, but it also wasn’t distracting like you might say is typical of religious movies on the big screen.  

Script & Story:

-Everyone near us cried and laughed multiple times throughout the movie. -This movie was definitely made with the evangelical Christian audience in mind. For that specific audience, the message (overall) was a good one. However, there were some points that concerned me. Which I discuss in the negative points section.

Film Quality:

– I had seen other reviews talk about the terrible lighting and bad sound effects, but I did not find that to be true of my viewing experience. This is not a high budget film, so of course the quality isn’t going to be on that level. -The film was scored well. We really enjoyed the music and thought it really added to the storyline.   -The only thing that distracted me were the direct close up shots of people when they were having conversations with other people- but that’s a personal preference and common complaint for me.

Negative Points:

– In general, faith-based movies seem to very closely toe the line of the prosperity gospel or Christian triumphalism (Jesus fixes everything and your status is elevated because of your faith). In other words, not being a Christian is miserable and awful but once you find Jesus everything magically falls into place and you succeed. This movie is not the exception to this rule. -This story very, very narrowly avoids glorifying authority issues and seeming racist.  Avoided with the character of the powerhouse principal but it wasn’t quite enough. -Having the daughter sneak out of her house for a parental re-unification, with her teacher’s encouragement, behind her grandmother’s back was incredibly painful for me to watch as an adoptive momma and teacher. They could have easily gone a different way with that storyline and it is absolutely not realistic or reasonable that there were no consequences for any of that, and it is not something that is ok to encourage.

Positive Lessons :

-The central theme was a great message about our identity. It was a little heavy handed, but still so good. As a child of God you are valuable, loved, and can be an overcomer. We often struggle with finding our identities in today’s performance culture. God wants us to be countercultural and find out identities in Him. I loved when Thomas was talking to John about understanding that wherever he spent his time and energy was where he was going to find his identity. -The coach seeks out and listens to authority in his life. He openly admits to struggling with pride and frustration. He has very open, encouraging, and honest conversations with his kids and students. -The kids see their parents struggling, praying together and communicating well. -The principal gives the main character next steps after she prays a salvation prayer with her. This step really stuck with me in particular because it is something that we all need to do and be reminded of as Christ followers. In this case she was asked to read the first two chapters of Ephesians and write out the promises of who she was as God’s beloved child. She kept that list with her so that she could remind herself of those truths and promises. -The father positively modeled for his son an appropriate response to failure and having your dreams de-railed. I loved at the end when he reminded his son that no matter what happened or what he achieved, he was always going to be loved and valued. -The other kids rallying around Hannah and encouraging her was wonderful. Again- this countercultural idea that there is actually enough room for all of us at the table. That we need to be encouraging and lifting each other up in our successes and even just in our daily attempts, that was extremely impactful.

– What to check out next : Soul Surfer , Facing the Giants , The Resurrection of Gavin Stone , Fireproof

– For more posts like Overcomer and Breakthrough Discussion Questions & Reviews to check out next from our blog : The Chosen Series Bible Study , I Still Believe Movie Review , Unstoppable- Bethany Hamilton Documentary , The Call to Courage Brene Brown Special , You Vs. Wild , Tolkien

– Articles to check out next from our blog : Family Discussion Questions , Building Your Village , Impostor Syndrome and Mother Theresa

Breakthough Discussion Questions and Review

Movie : Breakthrough discussion questions Rating : PG Age Suggestion : 8+, long stretches of intense drama Running Time : About 2 Hours Release Date : April 17th, 2019 Stars : 3 1/2 out of 5 Themes : Prayer, Miracles, Family Relationships, Sports, Community, Religion   Warnings : This movie deals with extreme medical drama, foster and adoptive parents should be aware that the main character is adopted and it is portrayed in a very stereotypical way that will definitely require some discussion after the movie with your kiddos.  

    When 14 yr. old John Smith drowns in an awful accident on a lake, his mother believes that a miracle is coming for him in spite of impossible odds. The basketball team and community comes together in new and inspiring ways to support the family.    Viewers should be aware that this movie deals with adoption in extremely stereotypical ways. They should also be aware of who the movie was made for- an evangelical Christian audience. I would not take my friends who do not believe in God to see this movie and I would not want my adopted child to see this movie without me. That being said, the movie was encouraging and had some really positive messages. I would watch this again with a small group or friends.

Breakthrough Discussion Questions for friends or a small group setting : 

1) Have you ever done something that you knew was dangerous because of peer pressure? Even in adult work environments we encounter peer pressure. How do you stand up to peer pressure now?

2) How do you feel about viral prayer groups?

3) Have you ever passionately believed something like Joyce did, even though all the odds and everyone was against it?

4) I loved the relationship between Pastor Jason and Joyce. Are there things at church that rile you up that might be a little more inconsequential than you give them credit for? Is there somewhere where you can connect better with people you disagree with or show more grace to?

5) Pastor Jason was the only one who supported Joyce in her belief that there was another miracle headed her son’s way because of prayer and positive thought. When push comes to shove- do you actually believe that prayer is powerful or is it something that you say you’ll do without really thinking about it?

6) Why do you feel like God is still a good God even though some people are healed and some are not?

Breakthrough Review : 

Characters & Acting: – I was excited to see this movie because Chrissy Metz was in it and she did not disappoint. I absolutely believed that she was a grieving, fierce mother. Topher Grace, Josh Lucas, Mike Colter and Dennis Haysbert all do amazing jobs as well. -I was especially impressed with the teen actors and how believable they were on screen.

-This movie differs from the typical Christian cookie cutter film because it is based on a true story. While the script does occasionally get stuck in the typical religious movie tropes, it’s not as ‘beat you over the head’ as it easily could be. -I was also very impressed that the movie dealt with the after math of the miracle for the people directly involved.

– The quality is very similar to a really good, made for TV, movie. -The lighting and shots did not distract me. -The water shots are really difficult and I thought that they did them all very well! (especially those teen actors!)

Favorite Moments :

-My favorite moments, outside of the big film moments, were when the pastor and mom really connected and realized how petty the things they had conflict over at church were. -I’ll also admit to tearing up at a pivotal moment in the movie when the whole community shows up in a big way.

Overall Opinion:

– On the plus side, this movie is an enjoyable film that is based on a true story. An encouraging watch for your Bible study group. One you could definitely have some great conversations about. -However it is not necessarily one that I would ask friends who aren’t believers to see or one that I would want my adopted children to watch alone.  

Negative Points: 

-John’s issues are all attributed very stereotypically to adoption and there’s some very shallow, one sided character development around that. While it’s not unusual for adoptive kids to have issues with their birthdays, it just unsettled me the way it was handled in this movie. Trauma is a part of adoption, but other kids experience trauma as well. Usually trauma (in this case stemming from adoption) is not, in fact, healed by another trauma (almost dying and miraculous healing). -It’s tough to tackle miracles authentically on screen and everything that surrounds that. -Prayer and faith-based language was not portrayed in a way that would be encouraging or intriguing to people who do not share the Christian faith in my personal opinion.

Positive Points :

-I appreciated that the film really showed that the aftermath of a miraculous healing and trauma is not all positive. It was difficult to adjust back to real life and other people had issues with him and his miracle. -They tacked the hard subject of God miraculously healing some but not all. -They showed modern difficulties in church and church culture without being too over the top or stereotypical. -The community really showed up and so did the teens. That was incredibly encouraging to see that displayed on screen in this story.

What To Check Out Next

– Similar Movies: Heaven is Real , Same Kind of Different as Me , Miracles from Heaven, Soul Surfer

– For more posts like Overcomer and Breakthrough Discussion Questions & Reviews, check out next from our blog : Unstoppable- Bethany Hamilton Documentary , I Still Believe Movie Review , The Chosen Series , The Call to Courage Brene Brown Special , You Vs. Wild , Tolkien – Articles to check out next from our blog : Family Discussion Questions , Building Your Village , Rachel Hollis Books and Conference , Impostor Syndrome and Mother Theresa

Down The Hobbit Hole Blog and this Breakthrough Discussion Questions post uses affiliate links, we only link products we think you’ll like and you are never charged extra for them. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. We also use cookies to gather analytics and present advertisements. This allows us to keep writing discussion questions and telling ridiculous dad jokes. Find our other reviews with discussion questions here. Our posts about faith here. And our posts about family stuff here.

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What’s the best way to pen down some phrases for tantalizing plots, spectacular plot twists, and beguiling characters to create the hype for any movie? You guessed it right, It’s a movie review. Now, the question arises how to write a movie review?

For the film buffs who have an underlying penchant for watching the latest movie in the market, movie reviews are the perfect salvation for them to determine if the latest flick is worth it or not.

Some avid fans also love spilling the beans about a movie after watching it. However, the remarks greatly vary on whether the film was a hit or miss. Even writing a movie review is art given it has to be a seamless blend of opinion, some vivid imagery, and conclusive remarks.

The majority often miscalculate the importance of acing the technique to jot down a movie review. If you are one of the people who are confused about how to write a movie review or wish to perfect your movie review writing skills, then fasten your seat belt and prepare for takeoff!  

Table of Contents

What is a movie review?

In general, a movie review is a genre of art criticism and journalism. It is a complex overview, usually made by a professional critic, of films that have just been released, to help decide what film to watch.

Professional reviews differ from those made by amateurs. Without a doubt, reviews by experienced critics are far more structured, sharper, and detailed. That’s not all! They are more compact in wording. In a professional movie review, you will always find awareness of the film’s director, their previous works, and previous filmmaker’s pictures, as well as a deep understanding of different film genres and classics for each of them, and filming techniques and modern trends.

Purpose of movie review

For starters, reviews and comments about movies are usually posted on social media profiles or public pages, review sites, and blogs, among other platforms. The primary purpose of a movie review is to advise the reader about the film and its sentiments. Seems simple, right? Reporting all events that happen and stating one’s opinion about them is a common mistake that many people make. Of course, the movie review allows writers to express their opinions about some film or documentary without any restraint. But one can only strike the perfect balance when there is an unbiased unanimous critique. So the bottom line is that an ideal review will combine both – the writer’s opinions and the element of an enigma.

Be it a successful trilogy or top Netflix, ratings and reviews are the detrimental factors of  whether someone will want to see the movie or would skip it. Like an untapped portal, one should act like this is the perfect opportunity to introduce the cinematography work to its readers while writing. Always assume they haven’t seen it before. As a result, it becomes easier to analyze events that happened on the screen.

A film review should be precise enough to provide assistance in making an honest decision i.e. whether the reader wants to see it or if they’d like it. If you are a media student who is assigned the task of movie review writing, then the lecturers want to get more insight into your critical thinking skills and the ability to report events in a comprehensible manner.

In addition, the reader who taps on reading a film review wants to assess the way you analyze the plot and characters. After all, movie reviews also involve the analysis of events that happen. Reviews test writing and vocabulary skills, adapting to different genres and events they portray. That’s not all. It also weighs your capacity to sum up some significant twists and turns and report it in a cohesive, rational, and engaging fashion.

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 is no exception. Throughout this tutorial, you’ll learn how to compose a report about some film and what tools to use to simplify the process.

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

Step-by-step guide to how to write a movie review

New beginnings are always hard. This is the point where you set the pace and determine how to approach the task at hand (movie review writing) in the most efficient manner. Below, we list down some of the most useful tips to kick-start the movie review writing process:

First and foremost, watch the movie with a critical eye for the illustration and explanation in the review. The first time the film is watched you might have missed details owing to the entertainment and joy. So watch the movie or documentary twice and take notes of both major and minor events and characters. Never trust to gulp in the intricacies of the movie meaning do not rely on the power of your memory.

Carry out thorough research – It’s human nature to overlook or forget to carry out detailed research of the film and its makers. Just watching the movie with keen observation is never enough, research plays an equally noteworthy role. Look for details such as the name of the filmmaker and his/her motivation to make that film or documentary work, locations, plot, characterization, and historic events. Basically, the research phase should serve to collect information that provides more depth to the review

Analyze the movie after you watch it – Never start working on the review if you aren’t sure about all the fragments in regards to the film. Evaluate the movie from beginning to 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 of 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 affects the movie quality, name examples too. Provide examples when commenting on 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 on 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

The quality of your review depends on many things namely, structure, vocabulary, and much more. Never underestimate the importance of a well-structured outline, regardless of the genre of the movie.

Primarily, things should be organized before you start writing. It is a great way to save time later on. Apart from dabbling in points to add, have a well-structured plan to follow. Here’s how to organize your movie review:

• Introduction (This section will include the title, release date, and background information)
• Summary of the story
• Analysis of the plot elements (Explain the rising action alongside the 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 understanding of the course topic)

Movie review elements

Moving on, let’s discuss the movie review elements that are key features when penning the writing.

The title of the film/documentary – Mention the title of the film twice in our headline features the name of the movie or documentary. Don’t skip mentioning the headline 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 the film contains, but the book doesn’t, and so on

Creative elements – Filmmakers work hard to include creative elements in 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 and characters – 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?

Movie review format

Structuring is extremely useful in any type of paper and a movie review isn’t an exception. A written outline will help you organize your thoughts properly, not to forget anything and to actually end up writing it faster. Here is an example outline you may use:

• Introduction – In this part you need to provide some general information about the picture: title, release date, main actors, filmmakers, film company and filming budget.
• Summary of the story – This is a short exposition of movie plot, characters and their interaction.
• Analysis of the plot elements – starting point, rising action, and climax.
• Analysis of creative elements – dialogues, characters, use of colors, camera techniques, mood, tone, symbols, costumes or anything that contributes or takes away from the overall plot.
• Analysis of the topic and its implementation – viewers’ understanding of the topic, relevance of the topic, and comparison with other resembling works.
• Opinion – Your point of view supported with examples and facts from the story.
• Conclusion – Announce whether the filmmaker was successful in his/her purpose. Explain how the motion picture was helpful in providing a deeper understanding of the course topic.

Movie review format for students

Feature films and documentaries may serve as primary resources for your research. As for the fiction movies, a student may use them for inspiration while writing, for instance, a compare and contrast essay on the similarities and differences of a book and film based on that piece of literature. In any case, films can be used as great supplemental learning tools.

If you look at our movie review examples available for free, you can notice that the structure of such papers is different from an ordinary essay’s outline. By their nature, film reports are also different from essays. You should not also confuse a brief summary with a detailed review, which also implies an in-depth analysis of the chosen piece.

So, in any film critique example, you can notice the following structure:

Title of the analyzed work. A writer has to specify the movie’s title in the opening part and put down the release date.

An abstract usually refers to the summary of the main points. In the case of the samples of movie reviews, that is a summary of the plot. Discuss what happened in the video and share your thoughts: was it a success or failure?

You may say that you hated the movie, or, vice versa, believe it’s the best motion picture in the world, but make sure to provide specific reasons. That is why you need to watch the full movie and pick various details like character quotes to prove your point of view.

To answer various questions that the audience may have, an author should provide replies to meaningful questions about the movie maker/director. Decide whether this person can be considered a controversial figure. Is there any sort of political stance? Finally, think about a significant background a movie creator may have (if any). Depending on the answers to these questions, the length of your paper may vary.

Relevance to your subject

Was it a good idea to assign this movie to your class? Think about whether the video content matches the topics that you study currently or have recently covered.

Perhaps, the movie has to do with historical accuracy. Include a note of embellishments or over-dramatization if you write for your history lesson. Comments and citations from credible sources can be useful.

Creative elements

You can see from any movie critique example that a list of creative tools is listed. Those could be costumes, decorations, colors, sound effects, music, and other visual and audio elements. A paper writer should discuss which of the elements add drama and which of them have comical purposes.

Mistakes to avoid while writing a movie review

Below, we list down some of the most common mistakes while writing a movie review. If you are a student who has an assignment or a movie enthusiast who wishes you pour their emotions with fellow fans, we recommend you give this section a thorough read,

Retelling the film plot in detail – The idea of a movie review is not to put the film on paper or spill the beans. Everyone abhors spoilers. So try sharing the general story by adding some spice to make your reader curious about seeing the film.

Giving a too general opinion of the film – Some writers take the generic term of general writing

Remember that things are rarely unequivocal. Even if you don’t like the content and quality of the film, don’t forget to mention if the music was actually pretty good, or if one of the actors managed to portray a believable character.

Lack of evidence – Presenting your opinion without any explanation why you think that way won’t be considered reliable. The unfounded statement isn’t a good resource for a decision, even if we are talking about a choice of which movie to watch.

Lack of film research – Don’t force your readers to conduct their own research, or to look for another review to find out the background information of a movie.

Absence of structure – If your work is not structured properly, it will be really difficult to follow your thoughts and understand your points. Reviews should be helpful to readers, and good structure helps get your message across correctly.

No conclusions and recommendations – As we mentioned above, providing recommendations regarding the film is one of the main purposes of writing a movie review. Do not deprive readers of your findings and thoughts. By recommending a good movie to watch, you may make someone’s evening.

Movie review essay

What’s your story? Any individual who has carried on with a full life has something entrancing to impart to the world. The secret to composing a life account is to deal with it like any great story: it ought to have a hero (you), a focal clash, and a cast of interesting characters to keep individuals locked in. You might need to consider a specific topic or idea that has been available in your everyday life to rotate your story around.

The wide classification of life accounts remains among the strong classes of verifiable composition. Blockbuster records show that readers love to find out about the lives of their kindred people, especially those with recognized individual stories. An account composed by its subject is known as an autobiography. As a firsthand record of the writer’s own life, an autobiography offers an unrivaled degree of closeness to perusers of the more extensive history classification. 

If you want to know more about how to write an autobiography, then you have come to the right place. We have gathered all relevant information to help you understand everything that you need to know. Read on to figure out how to make the narrative of your life and clean your composition to make it sing.

Good movies make great reviews

Words and catchlines can pave the way to describe anything including any genre of film. So

Basically, you can write a movie review on pretty much any film. However, it is advisable by the experts and there is a general debate that is careful while dabbling in tricky or multi-themed genres. Careless choices result in trouble points and confusing reviews that fall flat on the readers. Hence, it is essential that you pick a film that you will be able to analyze and evaluate. Generally, for a movie review, students choose films they either like or don’t like.

What makes a movie great?

No critics have ever described any film as the epitome of perfection. Quintessential movies are dubbed as major successes on the basis of spectacular characters or fulfilling plotlines. Other things include visual aesthetics, the quality of directing and acting, and the impression it has.

Typically, you can suggest if a characteristic movie is great when it keeps the audience engaged. A great movie also leaves the audience with a powerful impression and then something to think about once the credits roll.

Key pointers to remember while writing a movie review

Understand that any piece of writing is not a do-or-die job. It demands consistency and devotion. However, the key to writing an exceptional movie review is understanding your target audience. So, keep the following key pointers in your mind while writing:

• Discuss the film plot – The goal is to discuss the movie without giving away spoilers and hurling the entire plot in your article. The more the mystery, the better the movie review.
• Share some information about the characters – Thrust the film’s main lead and supporting characters in the limelight. Discuss their relations and events. Since reading the review shouldn’t replace watching the film, just touch base on the points that make the film worth watching.
• Analyze the film – In general retrospect, the star cast or their impeccable acting skills set the film apart from its contemporaries. The work of the director, theme, music, and other features become objective and detailed in your evaluations.
• Share your opinion – Describe your feelings during, and after watching the movie and specify what you liked, and what you didn’t like. Provide your general impression about the film based on examples, descriptions, and comparisons to enable readers to make their own decisions.
• Give a recommendation – A review(no matter what kind) is a recount of opinions and is influenced by the writer’s preferences. Avoid being categorical and focus on the highs and lows of the film from a general prospect.
• Entertain the reader – The target audience has to feel entertained, amused or glad by the written material. The review should pique curiosity and many people read movie reviews because it is actually kind of fun in itself. Try to make an easy-to-read review, and write in an interesting manner.

The accomplishment of a decent movie review or any book for that matter comes from the capacity of the writer to show perusers the story from “an external perspective”, and cause the reader to feel like they are in your place and understand your point of view. Everyone couldn’t care less about your troublesome youth, your parents’ separation, or the way that in school you were the nerd with glasses. However, on the off chance that the troubles experienced by you will be shown so the peruser learns a few lessons for himself – this would qualify as a decent book.

Thus, you can see that writing a movie review is not an easy task. You should design and organize your time, read and get motivated by reading other reviews, surfing online by looking for composing styles, language structure, and artistic descriptions to describe the cinematography. Remember to sort out your last objective and why you need to compose a movie review. The entirety of this time investment with end with you feeling a sense of accomplishment and success as your labor of love gets completed.

Ideally, this article will help you in this intriguing yet hard way. So you do not have to worry anymore about writing. Just pick a pen or open your PC and start your magnum opus. Just remember that honesty is the best policy and to avoid bias at every cost.

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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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• Introduction
• Theological/missiological framework
• Media Engagement as a Lausanne Theme
• Media Awareness
• Media Ministries
• Media Presence
• Introducing Lausanne
• Global Consultation 2013
• Regional Consultation 2012
• ELF Media Communicators Network

20 Questions to Ask When Watching a Film

Focus: The Art and Soul of Cinema

First response

• How did the film make you feel? What aspects worked well, and which didn’t (think about writing, direction, cinematography, acting, editing and soundtrack)?
• To what extent did it fit with your expectations, or did it subvert them in some ways?
• What causes the major turning points in the narrative come?
• Does the world of the film work like the real world? If not, what are the differences?
• How does the film end? Is everything resolved? How? If not, why not?
• How would you describe the main characters? What are their goals? What problems do they face?
• What choices do the characters make? What motivates them? What are the consequences?
• What do the main characters learn about themselves, and how do they change? Meaning
• Whose point of view does the camera represent?
• How is our attention drawn to particular images? How are particular visual elements used as symbols or metaphors?
• How does the film’s editing contribute to the meaning of the film?
• How does the film handle the underlying themes (morality, politics, religion, sexuality, happiness, freedom, love, spirituality, identity, etc.)?
• Are there are religious themes or connections? How is faith treated (if at all)?
• What is the view of reality? Is there any place for God or other spiritual dimensions to life? Is impersonal fate used as a substitute for God?
• What is the view of humanity? What does the film say about the nature of human beings? What does the film say about communities and families?
• How is the image of God within human beings seen in this film? How is human rebellion against God expressed?
• What is the view of knowledge? How do characters know what is true (experience, logic, intuition or revelation)? How do they make decisions? Where do they find wisdom?
• What is the view of morality? What does goodness mean? How do characters make moral decisions? What are the characters’ values, and are these the same as the film’s values?
• What do human beings most need in life? Does the film identify any universal problems confronting human beings? What do humans need in order to flourish? What does it see as the point of life? What substitutes for God are there in the film?
• What good insights into life are there in the film? What does it get wrong? How might it affect viewers?

About the Author

Tony Watkins

Tony is the Network Co-ordinator for the Lausanne Media Engagement Network. He helps Christian leaders in relating media and the Bible (especially the prophets) through his work as a speaker and writer . Tony works partly in association with Damaris Norway , but lives in the UK. See all Tony’s articles on EngagingMedia.info. 

Photo credit: © Bartosch Salmanski . Used under a Creative Commons (CC-BY-NC-2.0) licence.

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Resources for Kidmin and Kidmin Leaders

Movie Review: Breakthrough + Discussion Questions for Kids

Based on a true story, “Breakthrough” is the story of a boy who, after drowning in an icy lake and being declared dead for almost an hour, came back to life when his mother started to pray.

“Breakthrough” is an inspiring, heart-tugging, must-see movie for everyone. Mark your calendars, get your tickets, and bring tissues. I had the opportunity to prescreen this movie and wow. It was amazing!

On one hand, this is a movie based on a true story about a miracle. We see the themes of prayer, faith, and God moving in the lives of the characters. What surprised me with “Breakthrough” is it went deeper.

They raised the question of, “Why does God miraculously heal some people and not others?” Why him? Why not me? Why not my dying mom? Many Christian movies stop at the miracle, but this movie brings up that question, that reality that feels unfair, and it doesn’t give an answer. I love that because that’s the truth of life and miracles. We don’t always get the miracle, and we don’t know why. The movie addresses this in a great way.

I also love the theme of faith in “Breakthrough.” We see different stages of faith from the different character and their own personal journey and struggles with faith. The movie doesn’t just present a one-dimensional faith. Even from the one who seems to have the most faith, there is struggle and growth. I love that we get to see that faith has different stages for different people.

There are also great moments of humor, particularly in the struggle between old-school and millennial church goers. Along with the humor, we see the humanity of the characters.

One of the things I’m cautious about when big film studios take on faith films is how true and authentic the movie will be to the faith of the characters of the story. I’ve seen them twist Biblical accounts, or water-down the faith aspect, or shoot church scenes is such an awkward way.

I’m so happy to say that “Breakthrough” did none of those things. The big budget from the big film studio coupled with how they stayed true to the faith of the story worked so well together in presenting an amazing movie.

Are you planning on watching “Breakthrough”? Let me know! I think it’s a great movie for everyone except for young kids who just don’t have interest in anything beyond cartoons. Other than that, with guidance and family discussion about the themes in the movie, this is a great family film to see together. I included possible discussion questions below, but SPOILER warning!

Discussion Questions for Kids:

• John had some struggles with school and classmates. What are some of the things you struggle with in school or with classmates?
• How did you feel when John fell in the ice and they couldn’t find him?
• How did you feel when John’s mom started to pray for him even when everyone else gave up already?
• John’s mom prayed for him and God answered her prayer by bringing John back to life. Have you ever seen God answer your prayers? What happened?
• What did you think when John’s mom told everyone not to say anything negative (bad) about John’s health condition?
• When John’s mom said, “It’s not a good time,” Pastor Jason said, “I know. That’s why I’m here.” What do you think that means? How can you be there for someone who’s going through a bad time?
• The doctor said John is a miracle. Have you ever seen a miracle? What happened?
• John’s teacher asked him why he thinks God saved him, but not her husband. Other people also wanted to know why John got a miracle and other people didn’t. How would you answer this question? Why do you think other people get miracles and others don’t?
• What did you learn about prayer from this movie?
• What did you learn about God and miracles from this movie?

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Kinds of Kindness

A man seeks to break free from his predetermined path, a cop questions his wife's demeanor after her return from a supposed drowning and a woman's quest to locate an extraordinary individual... Read all A man seeks to break free from his predetermined path, a cop questions his wife's demeanor after her return from a supposed drowning and a woman's quest to locate an extraordinary individual prophesied to become a renowned spiritual guide. A man seeks to break free from his predetermined path, a cop questions his wife's demeanor after her return from a supposed drowning and a woman's quest to locate an extraordinary individual prophesied to become a renowned spiritual guide.

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