1. By Santiago Anllo and Agustín Rizzolo
How To Write a Review
By Santiago Anllo and Agustín Rizzolo

2. What´s a review?
A review is a text that highlights the positive and negative aspects of a subject in particular, analyses them and gives a final conclusion.
Normally, this kind of texts are divided in three main parts: Overview, analysis and verdict.
Although reviews cover books, games, movies, restaurants or even your performance at work, in this explanation we will center on how to write a MOVIE review. Don´t worry, the structure remains the same in every case.

3. First part: Overview
In the first part of the review, the writer introduces the movie which he will talk about in the text. This is called the overview. The objective of this initial part is to give general information about the movie, such as the movie name, the genre, which actors played on it and who directed it, the setting of the movie, and a sneak peek of the main plot.
The writer can talk about the actual characters of the movie, but he can only scratch the surface of the personality of each one, because he cannot spoil details of every single one. The writer must be very careful in this aspect. A review that spoils the entire plot or gives too much information about the characters will upset the readers. He can also talk about where and when the movie is set, what the society is like, and where the characters are located, socially, economically, culturally and ideologically in it.

4. Second Part: Analysis
The second part is most likely the one the readers will find most useful. When the reviewer makes this part, he has to take in account several aspects of the movie.
Direction. The writer must consider the director and how he or she choose to portray the events in the story. If the movie was slow, or didn't include things he thought were necessary, he can attribute this to the director. If he has seen other movies directed by the same person, the reviewer should compare them and determine which he liked the most.
Cinematography. The reviewer should add which techniques were used to film the movie and whether they were well applied or not . Also, he should say which setting and background elements helped to create a certain tone or atmosphere.
Writing. The author should evaluate the script, including dialogue and characterization. He should say his thought about the originality of the plot. Was it inventive and unpredictable, or was it weak and boring?
Acting. The writer needs to criticize the performance of the actors. Did their feelings seem real? Did their words seem credible? These and a lot of other aspects of the acting must be considered.
Editing. The reviewer needs to say if the movie was choppy or if it did run smoothly from scene to scene. He should take note of the use of lighting and other ambient effects. If the movie has computer-generated graphics, he should think about whether or not they looked realistic or fitting with the rest of the film.
Costume design. Here the writer should ask himself if the clothes fitted in the ambient of the movie and if whether they contributed to the overall atmosphere or did they digress from it.
Set design. The writer should consider how the setting of the film influenced its other elements. Did it add or subtract from the experience? If the movie was filmed in a real place, was this location well-chosen?
Score or soundtrack. The reviewer should ask himself these questions: 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.

5. Refining the analysis
Some tips to write a good analysis that will surely help you out .
Keep your writing clear and easy to understand. Don't use too much technical filmmaking jargon, and make your language crisp and accessible.
Present both the facts and your opinion. For example, you might state something such as, "The electro background music was a clashing contrast to the 20th century setting." This is a lot more informative then simply saying, "The music was a strange choice for the movie."
Use plenty of examples to back up your points. If you make a statement about the movie, back it up with a descriptive example. Describe the way scenes look, the way a certain person acted, camera angles, and so on. You can quote dialogue to help you make your points as well. In this way you are giving your readers a feel for the movie and continuing to express your critique of the film at the same time.
Give it some personality. You could treat your review like a formal college essay, but it's more interesting if you make it your own. If your writing style is usually witty and funny, your review should be no exception. If you're serious and dramatic, that works, too. Let your language and writing style reflect your unique perspective and personality - it's much more entertaining for the reader.

6. Final Part: Verdict
The verdict should tie back to the original thesis and provide some guidance as to whether the audience should go see the movie. This conclusion should also be compelling or entertaining on its own, since it's the end of the whole piece of writing. When the reviewer writes the verdict he may point out things that he missed in the previous parts. Also, as an option for more style points, the writer can put a score to the movie. This isn´t a must, but it gives the readers some information on how well the movie was compared to the other movies the writer has reviewed.