How to write a good film opinion (but not necessarily get a crown) (How To Write A Good Movie Review)

Member Name: TJ-Mackey

Product:	How To Write A Good Movie Review
Date:	12/08/01 (1177 review reads)
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Rather than providing some general advice on writing dooyoo opinions, I've decided to concentrate on writing on one particular topic: films. If you're after some broader information, there's a multitude of articles in this section precisely for that purpose. Having said that, however, much of what I will mention here can equally be applied to many of the other categories on dooyoo.

"What should I write about?"

Write about what you know. Dooyoo are looking for personal opinions on films, so do try to provide more information than the simple blurb on the back of the box. Anyone can pick up a video in a shop and read the commercial advertising; people looking for film reviews on dooyoo are after a more objective viewpoint, which is where you come in. If you've watched the film on DVD, consider writing an opinion in the relevant DVD category on dooyoo, where you can go into more detail about the content of the DVD rather than the film itself. If you've only seen the film, make sure you write in the category for the film, not the DVD. As obvious as this sounds, it's one of the commonest mistakes to be made.

"How much of the plot should I reveal?"

This is a difficult one, and is entirely dependent on the film you are writing about. From a personal viewpoint, I prefer a simple description of the premise, with perhaps a mention of any particular scenes that stood out. Don't make the mistake of going into too much detail, as this is likely to not only give too much of the film away, but also bore the reader. As already mentioned, your potential readers will be looking for your personal opinion on the film, not a scene-by-scene synopsis.

Although it may be tempting to write several paragraphs focussing purely on the film's plot (and I may have been guilty of this myself), a much better approach is to look at the themes that are revealed through the telling of the story. This not o
nly describes the movie in a different way, but also shows more of your own insights into the film.

If you really must write about crucial plot points that would spoil the film for someone who hasn't seen it before, please do mark the relevant paragraphs with SPOILER warnings. There's nothing worse than having the enjoyment of a good twist in the tale ruined before you even see the film, so remember that spoiler warnings are essential.

"So if not plot, what else can I talk about?"

Plenty of things! What type of film is it? Who is it most likely to appeal to? These are the questions most people would have about a film they are thinking of watching, so do make sure you cover the essentials. If it's a no-brainer action movie, then say so. If it's a dialogue driven character study, then make sure you emphasise that point. If you liked the film, don't just say, "I really liked 'I Forgot What You Did Last Summer', it rocked!" - say WHY it rocked. After all, the average reader will have no idea as to your movie preferences, so the fact that you liked it doesn't really carry much weight.

Who was in the film? Do they give good performances? Are the actors well suited to their roles? Often, an average movie can be worth seeing for a standout performance, or an otherwise good movie can be let down by wooden acting. Does it seem like an actor is playing the part in her sleep, or does she really bring something to the character? Will I ask any more questions in this paragraph?

The director of the film is also worth a mention. If he's well established, then compare this to his other movies. If you've never heard of him before, compare and contrast. Compare with other, better-known directors, and contrast with his contemporaries. Why would you want to bother seeing this guy's films anyway?

What else stands out about the film? Some screenplays have great dialogue, o
thers simply provide outstanding set pieces. More often than not, the genre of the film will determine what is most likely to shine. Sometimes, an amazing musical score will stick in your memory, other times it will be the editing, other times the camerawork. If you're really lucky, it'll be all three. Make sure you mention these pertinent facts - they all give a better overall picture to the reader.

"You mentioned DVD earlier. How's that any different, then?"

So you just got yourself one of those nice shiny things, huh? You're probably dying to tell the world just how goddamn great it is, and so good ole dooyoo have been kind enough to provide a separate set of categories precisely for this purpose. Less emphasis on the film, more on the actual DVD is the rule of thumb here.

"So can I mention the film at all?"

Sure, you can mention the film a little bit if you want to. In fact, it's probably a good idea, although a paragraph or two should be sufficient. Remember that most of your readers will want to know whether the DVD is worth buying, rather than if the film is worth seeing. Talk about what's on the disc - you know, the superior picture/sound quality and all those nice extra features. Just the trailer, huh? Ah well...

"But it was a good trailer. Anyway, where do I start?"

First off, you'd better say which Region DVD you bought. They differ quite a bit sometimes, so make sure this is clear from the outset. If you know for a fact that one region's version of the film is better than another, try and slip this into your opinion as well. Better Buying Decisions and all that.

One of the most important aspects to DVD buyers is the actual picture quality. Try and include as much information about it as possible, but do try to give your own opinion rather than just stating the aspect ratio, etc from the back of the box. If you noticed any problems
with the print, or if there was anything you weren't entirely happy with; now's your chance to say. Ditto for sound quality. If you have a super-duper DTS sound system, don't boast about it. ;)

With regard to extra features, some DVDs have a lot more than others. The best are usually audio commentaries, and if your DVD is blessed with one of these then good for you. Be sure to say who is speaking on it, and whether you think it was worth listening to. Again, simply listing the extras isn't really enough - you need to explain what you liked/disliked about each of them and mention any points of interest that can't be found on the commercial advertising.

Similarly, any quirks with the packaging, or the disc is general, are also worth noting.

"So where can I find examples of good film opinions?"

If you want to read some great movie and DVD reviews, I'd recommend the following writers here on dooyoo: Silent Bob, MykReeve, george_lazenby, Jayne and Rumblefish. These are by no means a definitive list, but they've certainly written some excellent film reviews and you'll definitely pick up some great tips by reading a few of them.

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