HiMovies

Have you ever walked out of a movie theater with a flood of emotions and wished you could write a movie review to express your thoughts? Well, you can!

Anyone can write a film review, regardless of their writing experience. Writing movie reviews is an exciting way to share your thoughts and opinions about the movies you’ve watched. Whether you’re an avid moviegoer or a casual viewer, knowing how to write a film review is a valuable skill to use to express your unique point of view and contribute to the world of cinema.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no right or wrong when it comes to movie tastes and opinions. You are free to form your own thoughts and ideas about what you like and don’t like. No one can stop you from having your own unique taste, and that’s a magical thing. However, the ability to express an opinion is a bit more complicated. You need a self-analysis, why do you have this opinion? It must be broken down and dissected. Understand the reasons why you think what you do. And then you have to express that and describe it in a way that is easy to read and easy to understand.

This guide is designed to hold your hand and guide you through your first review. We want to understand how you put your thoughts into words, edit a reasonable review, and express your opinion in a way that people can understand and appreciate, regardless of whether you thought the movie was good or bad. The most important thing is that people enjoy reading your reviews.

We have broken down the review process into parts six easy steps! So grab some popcorn, have fun, and let’s dive into the exciting world of film criticism!

STEP 1 – WATCH THE MOVIE

The first step in learning the art of film criticism is, of course, watching the film itself. Watching the film carefully is essential to grasp its essence and form an informed opinion. Find a comfortable place, be it the cinema, the living room, or even a cozy blanket fort. Immerse yourself in the story, the characters, the captivating visuals and enjoy. Pay attention to plot, dialogue, a filming and the performances. Consider the emotions the film evokes and the messages it conveys. Remember, a film review is more than just a summary; it’s an exploration of the cinematic experience. If you are actually involved with the film, you will be able to provide a more honest, authentic and insightful review. So, grab your favorite movie and let the storytelling begin!

STEP 2 – COLLECT GATHERING THOUGHTS

After watching the film, take a moment to collect your thoughts and reflect on your overall impression. Did you like the movie? What stood out to you? Did the story capture your attention? Were the characters compelling and well developed? Reflecting on your initial reactions will help you form a solid foundation for the basics of your review.

Consider writing down some key points or thoughts that resonated with you while watching the film. These notes will serve as valuable references when you sit down to write your review. Remember that your review should reflect your personal experience and perspective, so don’t be afraid to be honest about what worked and what didn’t.

In addition to your initial impressions, think about the film’s strengths and weaknesses. Were there plot holes or inconsistencies? Were the presentations convincing? Was the cinematography visually stunning? By analyzing different aspects of the film, you can provide a comprehensive review that provides insight to your readers.

STEP 3 – GET YOUR OVERVIEW

Now that you’ve gathered your thoughts and made some initial notes, it’s time to structure your film review in a clear and organized way. A basic overview consists of three main sections: the “Introduction”, the “Body” and the “Conclusion”. In the “Introduction” section, you can enter basic details about the movie, including the movie’s title, director, lead actors, and release date. You can also include a short statement about your general impression or opinion. The purpose of the “Introduction” is to get the reader’s attention and direct them to what you have to say.

The “main body” part of the review is where you can dig deeper into the elements of the film. Discuss the plot, character development, cinematography, performances, and any other important aspects that stood out to you. Give specific examples or scenes to support your point. When appropriate, you can compare the film to similar ones within the genre, highlighting its uniqueness or similarities, or compare the actors’ performances to roles they’ve played before. Remember avoid using spoilers or clearly mark spoiler sections to give readers who haven’t seen the movie a spoiler-free experience. At the end of the day, no one wants to know what’s going on, and you don’t want to spoil the movie-watching experience. Be sure to break these sections into paragraphs, keep each paragraph relevant, and start a new paragraph when you talk about a different point.

A good way to think about it is if you use sections, each part of your body covers a different part of the film that you want to talk about and comment on.
For example:

Paragraph 1 – Director
Paragraph 2 – Cinematography
Paragraph 3 – Story/Plot
Paragraph 4 – Performances
Paragraph 5 – Special Effects
Paragraph 6 – Music/Soundtrack

Finally, summarize your main points and restate your overall opinion in the “Conclusion”. This is an opportunity for you to make a final judgment on whether you would recommend a film to others. You can suggest that it suits a particular audience or that it might be more appealing to certain age groups. Close your review with a concise and engaging conclusion that will leave a lasting impression on your readers. The reader should be clear about his opinion of the movie, whether he liked the movie or not, what he liked about it and what he didn’t like. A score or rating can also be used to establish feelings about the film. As a movie reviewer, your goal is to get the reader excited enough to want to watch the movie, regardless of whether they liked it or not (unless it was unwatchable!).

Want to know how to write a movie review? That way. With these three initial steps, you wrote a review. The next three steps are what will turn your regular review into a great review. These next three steps will be what keep people coming back to read your reviews. These next three steps are the most important, so make sure you don’t skip them!

STEP 4 – THE SECOND DRAFT

Now that you’ve finished your movie review, it’s best to save your work and leave. Drink yourself a coffee, eat a muffin, go for a walk. Just take your mind off the review. It could be ten minutes, it could be an hour, it could even be a day. Since you’re staring at the same piece of writing for a long time, it’s best to take a breather and come back with a clear mind and fresh eyes to start the second draft.

When you look back at your review, make sure you ask yourself questions. Do you sound confident with your words? You need to make sure that the reader understands whether they like the movie after reading the review. Do you support what you say with reasons for forming an opinion? It is essential that you find the right balance between your opinions, you must respect the opinions and views of others, your criticism must be constructive and you want to avoid harsh judgments or personal attacks. Movies are art forms and should be treated as such. Always keep other people’s thoughts and opinions in mind, we all have different tastes and preferences, so just because you didn’t like it doesn’t mean the next person won’t.

If there were elements in the movie that you didn’t like, be sure to explain why. Maybe explain how you would have done it differently, or what you would have liked to see, or what plot points you think should have been developed. Don’t be afraid to talk about what you would have liked to have seen if certain parts of the plot let you down. Constructive criticism can be valuable to a filmmaker, and you never know who might be reading your review… you’d be surprised!

The second draft allows you to refine your overview and fine-tune your tone. Make sure that what you write is opinionated but grounded, that the criticism is constructive, and that the reader clearly understands what you think of the film and why.

STEP 5 – MAKE IT YOURS

It’s your opinion, so it’s important to have your own. Do you have a history with the film, the franchise, the director? It might be good if you briefly understand the reader about his connections to the film. This will help the reader understand some of your opinions. Things like personal nostalgia or even personal experience can all affect how you see the film. By sharing this personal information, the movie reviewer puts its own unique spin on the review and informs the reader about the perspective of the movie. There are an awful lot of movie reviews out there, so it’s important to have your own opinion.

Giving the reader this personal insight will hopefully help the reader relate to you better through your writing and allow them to see the film as you would see it. Not only that, but it will hopefully make your reviews even more memorable for your readers.

STEP 6 – EDIT

In order for a film review to be accessible and attractive to a wide range of readers, it is important to use clear and unambiguous language. Avoid using overly complicated vocabulary or technical terms that may confuse readers. Instead, choose descriptive words and simple language that effectively conveys your thoughts and emotions. Know your audience and write accordingly. Remember, the goal is to get your readers’ attention and get them interested in your opinion.

Also, read your reviews for grammar and spelling mistakes. While minor errors are understandable, excessive errors can distract readers and undermine your credibility. Take the time to review and revise your writing, making sure it flows smoothly and is free of grammar and spelling issues. You can easily spell check your work on a computer, if you don’t it will look lazy and your writing will look rushed. If you take pride in your writing, so will your readers.

CONGRATULATION! Follow these steps to write your first movie review.

Hopefully this guide has helped you understand how to write a movie review. We hope this has taken your hand and made your first review easier. Following these steps will help you write rational, coherent, and informative reviews that your readers will appreciate. Remember to voice your opinion while respecting the film and the people involved in its production. Keep your writing simple and to the point, and make sure the reader walks away with a solid understanding of your opinion and the reasons why you formed it. Inject your own personality into your writing and provide your own unique perspective to make your review more memorable.

Armed with this new knowledge of how to write a movie review, go explore the world of cinema. Don’t be afraid to try something new, step out of your comfort zone, switch to another genre, discover a new director, revisit classics and find hidden gems. But the most important thing is to enjoy it!

I’m still looking for inspiration. Then check out some of our own reviews HERE.