Assignment guidelines for writing film reviews apply the vocabulary and concepts presented in class to the actual circumstances of a film viewing. The evaluation provides an opportunity to express informed and intelligent opinions about a films construction and it’s contents. Evaluate the way in which cinematic elements acting, directing, cinematography, editing, scenery, costumes, and sound either contribute to, or detract from, the overall production and the story line. Do not spend an inordinate amount of time on a synopsis we have all seen the movie. The film review is an important assignment because it allows you to apply the principles and concepts that you have learned in class: analyze your own reactions in order to understand your perceptions of the film express yourself with clarity, style, and effectiveness and develop and use good standards of film criticism.

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The superior film evaluation is a well composed, reasoned, and supported argument. Writing a review for credit some hints: critical film responses, whether professional or casual, ultimately involve these three major questions: how fully was it accomplished? both male and female performers are referred to as actors there are no gender specifications. Be careful to distinguish between the actors the performers and the character the roles they play. Be careful to distinguish between the films plot the story line as written by the author and the production the way it was made. It is extremely advisable that you keep a copy of your paper as insurance against its accidental loss or destruction.

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Homework study tips expert grace has worked with students for many years as an academic advisor and college enrollment counselor. She currently works as a student success coordinator at a university in georgia, where she teaches courses to help students improve academic performance, enhance research skills, and expand information literacy. Read more feature films and documentaries are sometimes useful as research sources. They are also used quite frequently as supplemental learning tools in the classroom.

The components and format of your film analysis will depend on the course and instructor’s preferences, but there are several standard components of a review. The placement of these items or the omission of them will vary, depending on relevance. You’ll have to decide, for example, if artistic elements are so important that they should be included in the body of your paper as in a film class , or if they are so seemingly insignificant that they appear at the end perhaps in an economics class. title of the film or documentary: be sure to name the film in your first paragraph. summary: what happened in this film? as a reviewer, you must explain what happened in the film and express your opinion about the success or failure of the film maker’s creation.

Don’t be afraid to express your opinion, but include specific reasons for likes and dislikes. film maker: you should do a little research on the person who created this film. Is the director or writer a controversial figure? is the film maker known for a political stance? does the film maker have a significant background? if the film maker is known for controversy, this segment of your paper can be lengthy.

Devote several paragraphs to an assessment of his or her other works and establish the significance of this work in the film maker’s career. significance to your class: why are you seeing this film in the first place? how does the content fit into your course topic? is this film important for historical accuracy? if you are viewing a motion picture for your history class. If you are reviewing a documentary for a history class, be sure to observe and comment on the sources used. Is this a motion picture based on a play you’ve read in english class? if so, make sure you specify whether the film illuminated or clarified elements you missed when reading the play.

If you are reviewing a film for your psychology class, be sure to examine the emotional impact or any emotional manipulation you observe. creative elements: film makers go to great lengths to choose the creative elements of their films. How are these elements important to the overall product? costumes for a period film can enhance a film or they can betray the intent of the film. Gradual transitions and subtle camera movements serve a specific purpose, as well.

Were the actors effective, or did poor acting skills detract from the film’s purpose? did you notice the use of symbols ? the order and emphasis of your paragraphs will depend on your class. The format will also depend on the course topic and your instructor 39 s preference. For example, a typical documentary review for a history class will follow guidelines for a turabian book review. A typical outline would be: introduction, to include film title, topic, and release date accuracy of the depiction use of sources creative elements your opinion a paper for your literature class, on the other hand, should adhere to mla formatting guidelines. The film would most likely be a feature film, so the outline might go like this: introduction, with title and release date summary of the story analysis of story elements like rising action.

Climax creative elements, use of color, camera techniques, mood and tone opinion you conclusion should detail whether the film maker was successful in his or her purpose for making this film, and re state your evidence. It may also explain how the film was was not helpful for illuminating and providing a deeper understand of a topic in your class. With storytelling, it's important to think about not only the story itself content: plot, setting, character but also about how the story is being told and who is actually telling it. As with most things in life, asking who, what, when, where, why, and how will take you deep and wide. Ultimately, you can only make sense of the story if you examine the perspective from which it’s being told. But, as with life in general, we are easily swept away by the plot and characters and seldom ponder the narrator's point of view. In film, many times the viewer will literally look through a particular character’s eyes, forging an instantaneous but potent psychological affinity with that particular character.

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What is the difference between a story narrated from a first person point of view and a story told from a third person point of view? what’s the difference between a third person limited and a third person omniscient point of view? how close are we to the characters in each case? think about the effect of a hero telling his own story as opposed to another person who witnessed the heroic deed telling the tale. If art is a creative expression that intentionally emotes a response from the viewer, then many films are works of art. nondiagetic sound is sound that is not within the scene, such as voiceover narration or background music. mise en scene whatever appears within the frame of the shot organization of things like stage props, acting, movement, lighting, makeup, costumes, etc. high angle shot from above shows weakness or vulnerability or an objective overview, i.e.

If you're looking into a small space, like a jail cell, it intensifies the claustrophobic feel of the cramped space. dutch angle shot tilted sideways on the horizontal axis creates a sinister or distorted effect that skews the view of a character and perhaps indicates a distorted viewpoint or confused state. eye level angle shot 90 95% of all shots used camera is level with the key character's point of view framing/shots: what the camera sets as the perimeter of our view. What's in and what's out? establishing shot: shot taken from a distance that establishes important locations or situates/contextualizes important characters in place, time or in relationship.