Writing a Film Review
Handout #027
Professor Mark Harris
Department of English
Schoolcraft College
When writing a movie review, you should remember that a
Review focuses on your opinion of the film
Review focuses on a description of elements of the film and your reaction to those elements
Review can be written in one sitting
Tester (1999) argues that “Regardless of the type of movie or the age of the movie, movie reviews allow people to determine whether or not they think they might like a movie before ever seeing it." Your job as a review is to attempt to persuade individuals whether or not they should see the movie. The guidelines Tester includes on her web site will help you make sure that you have the proper elements in your film review.
Michelle Garbis (2001) has developed a six paragraph format for writing a film review. While there are other ways to approach reviews, her guidelines are easy to understand and can be especially useful for a novice film reviewer.
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Avoiding Plagiarism
After you have finished your review, you might want to compare your opinion to the opinions of other critics. A good place to find movie reviews is at Rotten Tomatoes. Even if you and another critic agree that some element—such as the opening—is exceptional, you are not guilty of plagiarism if you have used your own words to express your thoughts.
References and Resources
Garbis, Michelle and C. Adams. “Writing a Film Review." 2001. Mrs. Garbis' English Page: Resources for Students and Teachers of English. [This web site is no longer avaliable online.]
Rotten Tomatoes.
Tester, Nicole J. “How to Write a Movie Review." 8 April 1999. The Milliken Review. [This web site is no longer avaliable online.]
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