Maybe you’ve seen a movie that you had some pretty strong thoughts about that you’d like to share with the world. Perhaps you’ve pored over the works of the greatest film critics in history, such as Roger Ebert and Gene Shalit, and have been inspired to try your own hand at being a critic.
There are lots of reasons to decide to start writing your own film reviews, ranging from the personal to the commercial. However, it’s not as simple as simply listing what you liked or didn’t like about a movie. Writing a review that people will actually read is a craft, one that takes practice to master. If you want to write your own movie reviews, here’s exactly how to do it the right way.
1. Choose Your Movie and Take Notes
The first step is to decide what movie you’re going to review. It could be a recent blockbuster or an off-the-radar indie film, but the most important thing is that you feel like you have something to say about it. Once you know what you’re going to review, it’s time to re-watch it, armed with a pen and paper. Take detailed notes throughout the movie. Focus on the plot, acting, technical feats, and note any funny, powerful, or cringe-worthy lines that are worth repeating in your review. If you’re in a darkened movie theater, follow thematinee.ca’s advice for etiquette and note-taking.
2. Check Out Different Types of Reviews
To learn how to write a review that readers will find useful, it helps to check out other review sites online. You don’t have to stick to just movie review sites like Rotten Tomatoes – sites that offer reviews of other media, such as online games, can be highly instructive for first-time critics. Take the world of online casino gaming for example, with the reviews and list of spins from Bonus.net.nz being an illustrative starting point. This site gives casino fans all of the information about the media that they could need, including bonus spins, most popular slots, and sign-up offers. This is the kind of attention to detail you will need to provide in your reviews.
3. An Eye-Catching Introduction is Key
As with any piece of writing, the first few sentences are the most important and will determine whether your intended audience actually sticks around to read the whole thing. According to the writing website Verblio.com, the most powerful way to catch attention with your introduction is to start with either a question, a controversial statement, a quote, or a surprising fact about the film. This will intrigue your readers enough to keep going.
4. Use Your Own Voice
Perhaps the most important thing is to use your own unique voice and perspective. Successful critics are those who have an instantly identifiable style of writing and rhetoric, who are able to build up a relationship with their audience on the backs of that. Do not shy away from using your own sense of humour or sharing any details about your life or personality that you feel will enrich the review. Write in a personal, informal style, whilst taking care not to neglect the elements of the film that you need to evaluate. If you can pull this off, you’re on your way to being a successful movie critic.
With these simple steps, you will be able to write the kind of movie reviews that people will want to read. Just remember, no spoilers!
