英语影评写作讲义

For writing good film reviews you need to do the following:

Formulate a specific opinion in one sentence. Your job as movie reviewer is to give an
opinion of the movie. Ultimately, this may come down to a "thumbs up" or "three stars out of five." But you want to have a specific thesis to drive your critique. For example, "I didn't like this comedy" becomes "The story had funny moments but it went on too long." "This horror movie is good" becomes "This horror movie works because it builds suspense right up until the end." So, try to find that very specific opinion that will be the foundation of your review.
What have the actors and director worked on before? Maybe check out some of their past work. Are they Oscar winners? Are they known for a certain style? Is the movie based on a book or an historical event? Is it a remake or a sequel? Look into those kind of things. All of this information will help you understand the movie better. You„ll pick up on（熟悉） details, allusions, trademarks of the actor or director, and probably have more insight into important story elements. You'll be able to tell readers how it lived up to the original, say, or the book. These are the things that help a critic write a solid movie review that is of interest to the fan.
Steps

2. Identify main themes.
When you have completed the initial viewing, take out a piece of paper and brainstorm the main themes and key characters and concepts of the film. Don‟t be afraid of writing down trivial(琐碎的) points --- these could be more important than you think! Simply scribble down everything that comes to mind without reserve（无保留的）- save the analysis for later. At this stage it is also a good idea to briefly write a synopsis or summary of the film. These notes will provide you with easy access to the basic concepts and themes of the film as you continue to plan your review.
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The General Structure?
The General Structure?


Your Opinion
In this part of your review, go into detail about what you think of the film. Think and write about the following: 1. What message is being told? What was the director's purpose or intention or the theme of the film? 2. Compare with other realities you know (your country, historical fact or event, other film from the same director or genre…) 3. What's your opinion?

Steps

1. Review the film thoroughly.
On your first viewing, enjoy. Good films cannot be properly appreciated if they are only viewed because compulsory for your course. The difference between a good film review article and an excellent one often depends on the author‟s ability to understand the underlying themes and emotions woven（交织） into the text. So, think about it, paint pictures of the characters in your mind, and try to appreciate what it offers you as a viewer.

Title
The title gives a very brief idea of the nature of the film and provides a starting point for the reader to focus on. Your title needs to be imaginative.
The General Structure?

A good film review usually have the following parts:
1. title 2. synopsis 3. your opinion 4. conclusion


The General Structure?
The General Structure?


Conclusion
You could state your early opinions in the synopsis part , but here don‟t give too much away too soon. Your aim is to make the audience want to finish the article. Even though your article should show from the start what your opinions are, at the end of the piece you should give a conclusion that states strongly what you think.
How to Write a Film Review
What to Write about?



A film review is typically 250 to 500 words. It serves to
Sum up the film introduce themes and issues that you have identified in the film. show your own reflections (思考) and interpretations of themes presented in the film.
Steps

3.View the film again.
This time, view the film analytically（以分析的眼光）, paying close attention to some of the deeper themes and concepts that emerged upon your initial viewing. As you come across scenes that catch your attention, note them. It is a good idea to have transcript of the film. As you view the film, write down any other themes and concepts you might have missed in the initial viewing, as these could be important when you begin to script the review.

For writing good film reviews you need to do the following

Avoid playing the spoil sport.
Writing movie reviews does not mean you must tell the whole movie and leave nothing for the reader to see. Your opinion doesn't give you the right to rob another person's interest of the movie. So you should write the basic premise, and tell them how the story builds, but don't give away key moments, especially not the ending! And keep it brief. Then get to reviewing.

Synopsis梗要 or summary of the plot:
Make sure that your summary makes sense to a reader who does not know the movie. You might also include the following items, but not as different parts (they may be included in your description of the story): Place and time: Where/ When does the action take place? Background: society, country, kind of people (age, culture social class...), historical time... Genre: horror, comedy, drama, adventure film, thriller...
For writing good film reviews you need to do the following:
Get familiar with its context.
Before you even see the movie, get to know a little about it.