How to Write a Movie Review

Are you interested in learning how to write a movie review? While it may seem like something simple, many people often have trouble when they sit down to try and write a movie review. They often get bogged down thinking about how they should say things rather than thinking about what they should say. However, learning how to write a movie review can be a helpful skill to have whether you are looking to make a few dimes off of your reviews or are aiming to be the next Ebert.

Writing a movie review is generally a four step process:

1. Researching the movie
2. Watching the movie
3. Writing the review for the movie
4. Editing the movie review

You may ask yourself why you would need to research the movie. After all, aren't you writing a review of this movie and not some related movie? The answer to that question is yes. However, when you are able to research a movie, it can often give you a background to the characters and the actors. Perhaps one of the actors is choosing this film to launch a comeback in their career. It might be great to know this type of information for a review. Another reason it helps to research a movie is that some plots have backgrounds that run much deeper than the movie itself. Often, movies are based on books or real life. Understanding where a movie script is coming from can not only help your enjoyment of the film but provide a more quality review.

Depending on the movie, reading the script might help.

When watching a movie that you know you will be reviewing for whatever reason, try to bring a pad of paper and pen. Jot down notes during the movie that are of interest to you such as character names or specific details. If you think there is a great comment on the film that can be made due to the color of the coat a character wears in a given scene, be sure to write this type of information down so that you don't forget it.

When you sit down to write the actual review, it can sometimes be difficult to phrase your words. In order to get past this, just write how you feel. You have the next step of writing a review to edit your words. Get your opinion on the movie out on the page and see how it looks.

While not as difficult as movie editing, editing a review is crucial. Once you have gotten everything out of your head and onto the page, begin to edit your words. While you want to make sure your English is correct, make sure that your review is accurate. A common mistake is confusing character names. Also, make sure that you do not give too much of the movie away. If you find your review giving the whole story away, edit for restraint.

Still having trouble writing your review? Here are a few tips to help:

• Don't forget to express your opinion. If there is something you strongly hated or that did not make sense, say it. Movie buffs prefer honesty over a fluff piece.
• If you are at a loss for words, talk about the structure of the movie. Did it start off slow and become fast paced? Was it slow from the starting scene to end? Writing about the pace of a movie makes a review more useful to readers because they can gauge their interest in the movie.
• If all else fails, talk about the plot points themselves but be sure not to give it away. While it can be a thin line, no fan wants a movie spoiled by a review. However, if you can't think of what to say, talk about how one of the strongest scenes made you feel but be vague on the details of the scene itself.
• Remember who you are writing for. Writing a review for a popular consumer site like Amazon.com is entirely different than writing about a hit movie for the local paper. Address and consider what your audience is interested in hearing.

The most important tip about writing a movie review is that if you don't get started, you'll never finish. Go catch a movie and write a review!

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