1. Writing a film review

2. Twilight: New Moon (12A)
By E. Jones
Plot
After an unfortunate near-death incident at Bella’s (Kristen Stewart) 18th birthday party, vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) vows to leave
his true love for her own good. Bella is devastated, but the help of her friend Jacob (Taylor Lautner) helps her through. But Jacob is dealing
with issues of his own…
Review
Let’s assume that you’re going into the second episode of Stephenie Meyers’ vampire saga with an open mind, having been pleasantly surprised
that the first film didn’t turn out to be Vampire High School Musical. If that’s the case, you’ll probably enjoy this slice of high melodrama. If
not, stay away. This is a series almost entirely lacking in irony, one that takes its central tortured romance too seriously to waste good gazingsoulfully time on filling in the background or winning over naysayers. There’s moping to be done, after all.
That’s not entirely a criticism. To berate the Twilight saga for indulging in moping would be like suggesting that perhaps John McClane and
Hans Gruber could have sat down and talked their differences out. This is a series about the all-encompassing, deadly seriousness of first
love, and judged on those terms the first Twilight did convey that feeling of mad romance and the second film picks up that theme and snogs
it senseless. But in the same way that most second superhero movies are about our hero trying to give up the cape, this sequel is about the
heartbreak that almost certainly follows such unthinking passion.
Robert Pattinson’s upright, buttoned-down Edward gives up Kristen Stewart’s Bella for her own good (as it seems to him) and disappears from
her life. After turning into a virtual zombie as a result, the heartbroken Bella finds some comfort in the friendship of Native American Jacob
Black (Taylor Lautner), himself afflicted with a searing crush on the self-effacing heroine. Unfortunately, it turns out that that’s not the only
thing Jacob’s afflicted with, as he starts turning furry and lupine and also abandons Bella for her own protection.
Amid such masculine faffing about, Bella’s character is the only constant, and she comes across as a little stronger this time around, gradually
pulling herself out of the fog of depression and fighting to keep both men in her life – if only in hallucinations in Edward’s case. Stewart still
relies a little too heavily on the tactic of blinking a lot, but then the same could be said of the male leads’ reliance on slight frowns, and all
three are doing a good enough job to win over the fans and convey the high drama of the novel. Incoming director Chris Weitz, taking over
from Catherine Hardwicke, is more reserved and perhaps slightly less attuned to his teenage stars, but handles the action and the effects
well despite the breakneck production schedule.
While there’s only a tiny and very occasional hint of humour from the love triangle members, however, the addition of Jacob’s fellow Wolf
Pack members and more traditional high vampires the Volturi allow for a little looseness and the opening up of the Twilight world. The Wolf
Pack are given, at best, momentary character sketches but receive just enough attention to establish them for future instalments, while the
Volturi threaten to romp away with the film in just moments onscreen. Then what can you expect when they’re led by Michael Sheen’s
deliciously dangerous Aro, and boast a psychic torturer played by an immaculate Dakota Fanning?
The plethora of shirtless men (sometimes shot in – god help us – slow-motion) and general fetishisation of Bella’s love interests may raise a
giggle or an eyebrow in audiences more accustomed to seeing women in their scanties, and the pace does sometimes slow to a crawl, but this is
another faithful and largely successful adaptation of Meyers’ old-fashioned love story.
Verdict
If you buy in to the central romance, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll swoon. Otherwise, the lingering glances, lip-chewing and regular de-shirting
may cause uncontrollable giggles.
To learn what needs to be included when writing a film review

3. Twilight: New Moon (12A) By E Jones
Full
title of
film is
given.
Age
certificate
of film
included
To learn what needs to be included when
writing a film review
Rating given to
show opinion of
film quality/
enjoyment
Name of critic
reviewing the
film

4. Image shows the actors
in the film – one selling
point of the film –
usually good looking
leads or big name stars.
At least one image
from the film used to
show film stars and
indicate genre or action
in the film.
To learn what needs to be included when
writing a film review
This image shows the 2
main stars gazing into
each others eyes,
suggesting the film is a
romance, or has romantic
themes.
The young couple also
suggest it is aimed at
teenagers.

5. Clear sub-heading
Plot
After an unfortunate neardeath incident at Bella’s
(Kristen Stewart) 18th
birthday party, vampire
Edward (Robert Pattinson)
vows to leave his true love for
her own good. Bella is
devastated, but the help of
her friend Jacob (Taylor
Lautner) helps her through.
But Jacob is dealing with
issues of his own…
Names
of
main
actors
given.
Plot is very
short (50
words).
Briefly
introduces
character
and
establishes
an element of
the storyline.
No spoilers
are given.
Very little
plot line
information
revealed.
Vague
language.
Ellipsis indicates there is
much more to the story.
To learn what needs to be included when
writing a film review

6. Review
Let’s assume that you’re going into the second episode of Stephenie Meyers’ vampire saga with an open
mind, having been pleasantly surprised that the first film didn’t turn out to be Vampire High School
Musical. If that’s the case, you’ll probably enjoy this slice of high melodrama. If not, stay away.
This is a series almost entirely lacking in irony, one that takes its central tortured romance too seriously
to waste good gazing-soulfully time on filling in the background or winning over naysayers. There’s moping
to be done, after all.
That’s not entirely a criticism. To berate the Twilight saga for indulging in moping would be like suggesting
that perhaps John McClane and Hans Gruber could have sat down and talked their differences out. This is
a series about the all-encompassing, deadly seriousness of first love, and judged on those terms the first
Twilight did convey that feeling of mad romance and the second film picks up that theme and snogs it
senseless. But in the same way that most second superhero movies are about our hero trying to give up
the cape, this sequel is about the heartbreak that almost certainly follows such unthinking passion.
Robert Pattinson’s upright, buttoned-down Edward gives up Kristen Stewart’s Bella for her own good (as it
seems to him) and disappears from her life. After turning into a virtual zombie as a result, the
heartbroken Bella finds some comfort in the friendship of Native American Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner),
himself afflicted with a searing crush on the self-effacing heroine. Unfortunately, it turns out that that’s
not the only thing Jacob’s afflicted with, as he starts turning furry and lupine and also abandons Bella for
her own protection.
Amid such masculine faffing about, Bella’s character is the only constant, and she comes across as a little
stronger this time around, gradually pulling herself out of the fog of depression and fighting to keep both
men in her life – if only in hallucinations in Edward’s case. Stewart still relies a little too heavily on the
tactic of blinking a lot, but then the same could be said of the male leads’ reliance on slight frowns, and
all three are doing a good enough job to win over the fans and convey the high drama of the novel.
Incoming director Chris Weitz, taking over from Catherine Hardwicke, is more reserved and perhaps
slightly less attuned to his teenage stars, but handles the action and the effects well despite the
breakneck production schedule.
While there’s only a tiny and very occasional hint of humour from the love triangle members, however,
the addition of Jacob’s fellow Wolf Pack members and more traditional high vampires the Volturi allow for
a little looseness and the opening up of the Twilight world. The Wolf Pack are given, at best, momentary
character sketches but receive just enough attention to establish them for future instalments, while the
Volturi threaten to romp away with the film in just moments onscreen. Then what can you expect when
they’re led by Michael Sheen’s deliciously dangerous Aro, and boast a psychic torturer played by an
immaculate Dakota Fanning?
The plethora of shirtless men (sometimes shot in – god help us – slow-motion) and general fetishisation of
Bella’s love interests may raise a giggle or an eyebrow in audiences more accustomed to seeing women in
their scanties, and the pace does sometimes slow to a crawl, but this is another faithful and largely
successful adaptation of Meyers’ old-fashioned love story.
To learn what needs to be included when writing a film review
Clear subheading
Addresses the reader
directly (uses ‘you’)
Comment on target
audience.
References to
another film
Actors names used to
introduce their
characters.
Much longer
(500 words)
Describes the
events of the film –
but no spoiler.
Good and Bad points
of film.
Use of OPINION
words.
Casual, sometimes
slang, language.

7. Clear
subheading
Overall conclusion and clear opinion of
film given. In this case it suggests it
is ok, but not the writer’s personal
choice
Rule of three
Who would enjoy
this film
Who wouldn’t enjoy the
film (or what is wrong
with the film)
Argument/opposite
connectives
Verdict
If you buy in to the central romance, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll swoon. Otherwise, the lingering
To learn
glances, lip-chewing and regular de-shirting may cause uncontrollable giggles.what needs to be included when writing a film
review

8. The basic framework
1. An entertaining and catchy opening line.
– The movie just keeps you entertained, excited
and is an engaging extravaganza that you expect
it to be. [Note use of alliteration here to sound 6.
catchy.]
– In the beginning, it sets the harmonious scene of
innocent landscape where dramatic and bloody
events will soon take place. [Note use of
dramatic sentence.]
2.
Who’s in it and who do they play?
–
3.
A taster of the plot - build to a cliffhanger question.
–
4.
How far will they go to demolish them off the
earth?
Comments on special effects and use of
music/sound.
–
5.
The Steven Spielberg movie, "Jurassic Park,"
stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum
as the heroes of this scientific entertainment,
the three experts are called in to observe the
astonishing comeback of extinct species
intriguing them of the scientific fun of cloning
and the consequences of playing with danger.
The first appearance of the dinosaurs is as
breathtakingly awesome as anything yet put on
film, which takes place much sooner than
expected for which the audience are still not
prepared for.
Comment on the performance of director
and actors.
–
Spielberg directs his dinosaur scenes with a
vigorous and absolute sense of terror and gore.
What genre is this? Is it a good example why? Audience appeal?
–
–
7.
–
In a culture where science fiction is often full of
gore and mutilation, Steven Spielberg's approach
to Jurassic Park is a journey into a once existing
past of extinct creatures on a human planet.
Jurassic Park is rated PG for "intense sequences
of sci-fi action with moments of suspense enough
to keep you waiting for more.” acceptable for
teenager viewing.
Add personal opinion throughout.
The last couple of minutes of the movie are
awesome with fantastic effects and action from
both humans and the dinosaurs.
An entertaining sentence to conclude
or sum up.
8.
–
Just as Jaws made us fear the water, War of
the Worlds makes us wary of the weather. You'll
think twice about science and technology from
Jurassic Park.

9. You could also
1. Include dialogue from the film.
– "A place where humans and dinosaurs don’t mix" one of the
characters imply, somewhat worriedly, to the other palaeontologists
Dr Grant and Dr Sattler as they learn about the dangers of cloning.
However, the dinosaur lover John Hammond has no worries at all and
is fascinated about his creation of dinosaurs, seemingly unstoppable
amounts of dinosaurs about to be hatched.
2. Compare the film to others by that director/ starring those
actors.
– With War of the Worlds, Steven Spielberg returns to the scary
territory of Jaws and Jurassic Park and once again proves himself to
be the most gifted movie entertainer of his generation.
– There are many moments of suspense and tension and the music just
sets the scene, while the audience awaits trying to elude the peak
moments of terror, that is a mini-masterpiece of sustained suspense
for its own sake.

10. •Casual tone
•References other films,
popular culture and news
events.
•Lists actors in connection
with character.
•‘Nickname’
•Descriptive phrases
depicting characters
•Use of parenthesis to
give little ‘asides’.
•Byline in bold
•Final Verdict
•Personal, witty, casual
tone, opinion based, adult
in reference.

11. We have the following reviews from
Empire (or you could scan your own)

12. Conventions of film poster
Main Actors
Main image –
usually posed of
main actors –
not a shot from
film.
Film
credits/info
Genre is clear
Release Date
Film name
Institution
Other
production
info - Format

13. When analysing a poster, you should consider the following broad
questions before you start to focus on the details:
• What are the main colors used in the poster? What do they connote?
• What symbols are used in the poster? Do you need audience
foreknowledge to decode the symbols?
• What are the main figures/objects/background of the poster? Are
they represented photographically, graphically, or illustratively?
• Are the messages in the poster primarily visual, verbal, or both?
• Who do you think is the intended audience for the poster?
Given that all movie posters have the same purpose - to get audiences
to go see a movie - what persuasive techniques are used by the poster?
• Which genre conventions are referred to?
• Is a star used as a USP?
• Are "expert witnesses" (ie critics) quoted?
• What pleasures (gratifications) are promised by the poster?
• How is attention gained (humour, shock, surprise familiar face of a
star)?
• How does the tagline work? (humour, pun, alliteration etc?)

15. For your Blog/CWK
•
•
•
•
Conventions of film reviews
Conventions of film posters
Present analysis of at least 2 film reviews
Analysis of 2 film noir posters.
– Analysis to be in the digital presentation style
• Plans and designs for your own review/poster
need to be included.
• Final versions of poster and review uploaded.
• JUST as important as the rest of the tasks –
can make the difference between grade