Film Review Mr. Ochoa

 Students will write (2) film reviews. The first review will be written about "Good Will Hunting". This film will be watched as a class. Then, students will choose (1) film from the AFI Top 100 list and write a review about that film. The students should watch a film that they have never seen before.  Suggestions: Do your homework/research. Check out reviews from Roger Ebert, Gene Siskel, Peter Travers, Richard Roeper, or others. Find out about actor and director history, awards won, inside information, etc.  I would suggest that you use the following sources:  -IMDb.com  -Moviefone.com  -Roger Eber'ts official site  -Rottentomatoes.com

 Check off all of the movies that you have seen on the top 100 list  Count out the exact number of films What have you seen?

 What was the first film that you ever saw? What are your personal/emotional connections with the movies? What do you like/not like in the movies you watch? Do you prefer books or movies? What are your favorite films? Who are your favorite actors/actresses? Is music important in movies?  Deserted island: What five movies are you taking with you?  Torture: What five movies would you consider torture to watch? Journal: Film

 Gather basic facts about the film such as…  Title of the film  Director  Lead actors  Genre  Setting  Plot overview Step 1

 Take notes on the movie as you watch it  Movies are long  You will easily forget the little details or major plot points  You can return to the little things later  If something sticks out to you, whether good or bad, write it down  How does the detail relate to the rest of the movie  What does this mean in the context of the movie Step 2

 Consider the mechanics of the movie  Ask yourself what impression the movie left with you in the following areas:  Next slides Step 3

 Consider the director and how he or she choose to portray/explain the events in the story.  Think about the way they presented the movie to the audience. If the movie was slow, or didn't include things you thought were necessary, you can attribute this to the director.  If you've seen other movies directed by the same person, compare them and determine which you like the most. Directions

 Evaluate the script, including dialogue and characterization.  Did you feel like the plot was inventive and unpredictable or boring and weak?  Did the characters' words seem credible to you? Writing

 Was the movie choppy or did it flow smoothly from scene to scene?  Take note of the use of lighting and other ambient effects.  If the move has computer-generated graphics, think about whether or not they looked realistic/fit in with the rest of the film. Editing

 Did the clothing choices fit the style of the movie?  Did they contribute to the overall tone, rather than digressing from it? Costume Design

 Consider how the setting of the film influenced its other elements.  Did it add or subtract from the experience for you?  If the movie was filmed in a real place, was this location well-chosen? Set Design

 Did it work with the scenes?  Was it over/under-used?  Was it suspenseful? Amusing? Irritating?  A soundtrack can make or break a movie, especially if the songs have a particular message or meaning to them. Background Music

 Write down your thoughts  As you mull over these aspects of the movie, jot down what you're thinking. Don't worry about editing your work right now - just get it out, and worry about cleaning it up later. Think of this part of the process as similar to brainstorming before you write an essay. Step 4

 Watch it again  Many reviewers watch the same movie more than once to ensure the review is as comprehensive as possible. Step 5

 Understand that just because the movie isn't to your taste, that doesn't mean you should give it a bad review. A good reviewer helps people find movie's they'll like, and since you don't have the same taste in movies as everyone else, you need to be able to tell people if they will enjoy the movie, even if you didn't.  If you don't like the movie, don't be abusive and mean. If possible, avoid watching the movies that you would surely hate.  Read a lot of movie reviews, and think about what makes some of them more helpful than others. Again, the value of a review is not always in its accuracy (how much the reader agrees with the reviewer) but in usefulness (how well the reviewer can predict whether the reader will enjoy the movie). Tips

 Class: Watch and review “Good Will Hunting”  Individual: Watch and review a film from a list of options Assignments

 php php   movies/#slide/all/?&_suid= movies/#slide/all/?&_suid=  Top 100 Movies of All-Time