My take on a good movie review (How To Write A Good Movie Review)

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	How To Write A Good Movie Review
Date:	25/12/08 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A simple 5 step process

Disadvantages: No matter how hard you try, some will not like your review

Since my only crown has been for a film review, and since I watch around 5 films a week (sadly all so new they mostly aren't on Dooyoo yet), I think I have a good idea of what makes a good movie review. I will break it down into 5 areas:

1) A hint at the plot. The key thing here is to not give away too much of the film. A good idea is to explain the first ten minutes of the plot, and then hint at where it goes - something like this: 'Ben is a ten year old boy with cricket bats where his legs once were. Growing up in rural America, he becomes the victim of bullying, and his abusive family offer no support. His only escapism comes in the abandoned barn he often goes to to dress up in his mother's clothes, but one day he meets a convict on the run, and the relationship between the two is the topic of the movie'. A good indication of how much plot to give away is to watch the trailer for the film (most are on youtube) and make sure you don't give more away than that.
2) Your opinion of the film - was it good or bad, and what made it so? How was the acting, the music, the setting/costume/special effects etc. In this section, make sure you don't give away more of the plot than in part one.
3) Warnings - are there parts of the film that may offend certain groups of people? How about swearing/nudity/violence etc. My crown winning review was heavy on this section, and I think that helped win it the award.
4) What type of people will enjoy the film - age and sex of target audience should be considered here.
5) If you liked this film, what others might you also enjoy.

I would say the above 5 areas are a good mix of fact and opinion, and should leave the reader with a comprehensive guide on whether or not the film is for them. Of course, there are other things you can include, but these are the key ones in my opinion.

Summary: 5 steps to a perfect review!