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Objective:
1) To write a critique about a film you have seen.
2) To find two professional reviews or critiques about the same film and write about those two reviews.
Instructions: In this assignment you must watch a feature film
you have not seen before. This
assignment does not ask you to watch an “R” rated movie. (Note: If you wish to watch an “R”
rated movie, that is between you and your parents. You
must ask your parents for their permission to view such a film for review.) You may select movies that are available on
TV, cable, at a movie theater, at video a rental store, or for loan at the Franklin Community Library.
Watch
the movie and then look up two movie reviews.
You should be able to find these on the Internet. Do a search for “movie reviews”
or “film reviews” It is preferable if you find critics published
in newspapers and magazines such as Roger Ebert. Write
a critique of the two film reviews. (See
instruction below.) You may not find a
big difference between film critiques and film reviews. Sometimes they seem one
in the same. Read below to find out the difference. Try your best to find in
depth film reviews that analyze the movie instead of just review it.
You are
then to write your own movie review. (See instruction below).
Some background on writing a
"Critical" Film Critique
A good film critique provides the reader with a basic idea of what the film
is about. It provides the writer’s critical assessment of the
success/failure or effectiveness/ineffectiveness of the film supported by the
evidence the writer gathers from the film. It is more than a film review. It
is deeper. For the writer, the critique is an opportunity to exhibit a
critical awareness of the elements of the film as well as to share the
delight and pleasure (or frustration and disappointment) the film offers the
viewer.
The questions below are meant to stimulate thought about a film and to
provide areas of concern you may wish to address in your critique. Early in
the critique it is desirable to sketch enough of the plot to give the reader
an idea of what happens in the film. Do not try to recount everything the key
word here is sketch.
If you provide only a plot summary, you are not writing a critique you’re
writing the equivalent of a book report. Once you introduce the main
characters and devote a few lines to the plot, thus giving the reader a good
overview, get down to the job of convincing the reader that you have something
interesting to say about the film the plot is trivial, the hero is not really
a hero, the plot and characters are fine but the\ camera work is needlessly
tricky, or whatever else you decide your thesis to be.
Always use the present tense when writing your review and avoid words such
as great, excellent and the all-encompassing really good.
Assignment, Part A:
Write a critique on a movie. Use the questions below to organize your
critique. Write it out in paragraph style, starting with the name and
director of the film, who stars in it, and its rating. You can then continue
your critique by following the order of the questions below to guide the
format of your critique but don't just give simple, one or two word replies.
Think deeper.
1) Is the film adapted from fiction or drama, or is it based on an original
idea and screenplay? Does it sacrifice the original work for unnecessary
cinematic devices? If the story is original, how fresh or innovative is it?
2) Are the characters believable?
3) Are the actors appropriately cast?
4) What is the theme of the film? Do the plot, acting, and other elements in
the film successfully impart the theme to the viewer?
5) Is the setting/locale appropriate and effective?
6) Is the cinematography effective? Does the film make certain use of color,
texture, lighting, etc. to enhance the theme, mood, setting?
7) Is the sound track effective? Is the music appropriate and functional, or
is it inappropriate and obtrusive?
8) Are camera angles used effectively? Are they ever used for a particular
effect?
9) Are there special effects (and/or special effects makeup) in the film? If
so, are they essential to the plot? Are they handled skillfully? Do they
serve a necessary function, or does the film sacrifice plot or
characterization for the effects themselves?
10) Does the film make use of symbols or symbolism? What purpose do the
symbols serve? Are they used effectively? How does the symbolism in the film
contribute to or enhance the film’s overall theme?
Assignment, Part B:
Examine two critiques (reviews) for the film you wrote about in Part A. Try
looking for "film critics" and not just reviewers. Check online and
your local paper. Print or cut out (from newspaper or magazine) the reviews
so you have hard copies to read and to turn in. Attach Part B below to the
front of the reviews.
What to write about.
1) Start with information:
a. Name of the Film
b. Director; Two main actors; Year released; Rating
2) List the two reviewer's names and where the reviews were published
(newspaper, magazine, online - give URL (web address).
3) Read the reviews with the 10 questions above in mind, and decide if the
reviews have a positive or negative opinion of the film. Give some quotes to
show this. List each reviewer by name and then give the quotes. Highlight the
quotes in the hard copies of the reviews you will hand in.
4) Do the reviews site specific examples (scenes, dialogue) from the film to
support the review? List each reviewer by name and then give the examples.
Highlight the examples in the hard copies of the reviews.
5) Do the reviews give away important plot twists or surprises? List each
reviewer by name and then give the examples. Highlight the examples in the
hard copies of the reviews.
6) Do you agree with the reviews? Why or why not? Use the reviews you agree
with to support your argument and contrast your ideas with the reviews that
have a differing opinion if there is one?
Completed assignment should be typed.
If you are not using Microsoft Word, please save the file a .rtf (rich text format) file. The file name should have your last
name_film_review.doc (or if you save as a rich text file, .rtf.) Turn it in on SchoolLoop by
the posted deadline.
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