How to Make a Movie Review (11/26/18)

11/26/18

IWBAT understand the expectations of a journalistic movie review

IWBAT create an objective review of a short film

REMINDERS:

BRB 1 - 12/31

BRB 2 - 1/25

RPO(Ready Player One) Level 3 due 12/10

RPO Level 3: Evaluating the Text

As you read Level 3, gather evidence to help you objectively evaluate the ending. You may want to consider…

Originality

Predictability

Tone (Cringey & fake v. earned & sincere)

Character development

Resolution of conflict(s)

JOURNALISTIC Structure of a Review

ALWAYS CONSIDER AUDIENCE!

1. Deliberately title article

• The title is the first introduction to the tone/ argument/ purpose of your review
• Probably the LAST thing that you write. What do we learn from these exemplars?

     - 1. ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Unleashes J.K Rowlings’s Magic on Old New York *

• 2. Interstellar- science trumps story in latest Christopher Nolan epic

• 3. Tangled: The roots of animated tradition, with 3-D highlights

2. Credit relevant artists

• Who is important

• Director? Actor(s)? Screenwriter(S)? The original author(S)

• 2A. Credit EXPLICITLY - naming artists within your sentences/ paragraph
• 2B. Credit PARENTHETICALLY - did you mention a character, but don’t want to spend the whole review on him?

3. Provide necessary context

• What do we NEED to know about this film/ its production?

• Series?
• Does it reflect a certain current event/ trend?
• What’s happening OUTSIDE the film (or as part of the film’s PRODUCTION)?

4. Summarize plot

• AVOID SPOILERS!

Premise - the main basis/ conflict for the film

• One sentence premise: you should be able to explain the main focus of the narrative in a single sentence

5. Evaluate content

• BULK of your review: specific paragraphs REMEMBER that this is not an academic essay

• Paragraphs may be SHORT!

SPECIFIC paragraphs about SPECIFIC content

6. Evaluate meaning/ theme

Consider the text as a whole: what does it ASSERT?

Zooming BACK out at the end (gearing up for conclusion) OR as a way to zoom IN at the beginning

• BEYOND the text:

7. Conclude

• BRIED and SPECIFIC:

In 1-3 Sentences, you should be able to answer “So what?”