The Student Room Group

Film Reviews Thread

*Warning: May Contain Spoilers*

Hey,

I thought it would be good to have a thread that would let people read your own reviews about the latest films. :biggrin: So feel free to add your reviews :smile:

To join the society, please click here.

If you are new to film reviewing and looking for advice, the post below ("A Beginner's Guide to Film Reviewing[noparse]"[/noparse]) should help you get started.

Film Review Competitions:

In the film forum we have recently started holding competitions for writing film reviews. These are good fun and open to everyone of all abilities, so if you're interested look out for the threads or drop me a PM to find out more!

#1: There Will Be Blood
:king1: Phalanges
:king2: unknownking321
:king3: SirRamAlot and S-man10

#2: Cloverfield
:king1: thejonsmith
:king2: Phalanges
:king3: SirRamAlot

Film Review Archive:

3:10 to Yuma - Review by Jayk Bakner.
9 Songs - Review by asdasta.
21 Grams - Review by Fjarskafinn.
30 Days of Night - Review by asdasta.
30 Minutes Or Less - Review by Phalanges.
50/50 - Review by Abiraleft.
(500) Days of Summer - Review by Phalanges.
Aliens vs Predator: Requiem - Review by Jayk Bakner.
American Gangster - Review by Clubber Lang.
American History X - Review by SaphMB.
An Education - Review by abiraleft.
Arthur - Review by Phalanges.
Atonement - Review by Epitomessence.
Audition - Review by quadruple_twist.
Awake - Review by asdasta.
Away From Her - Review by asdasta.
Avatar - Review by asdasta.
Battle Royale - Review by asdasta.
Babylon A.D. - Review by asdasta.
Bee Movie - Review by asdasta.
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - Review by asdasta.
Beowulf - Review by Jayk.
Black Swan - Review by DrummingThunder.
Blue Valentine - Review by larry9011
Blindness - Review by asdasta.
Body of Lies - Review by FK.
Brick - Review by SaphMB.
Brick - Review by the victory james.
Brokeback Mountain - Review by Epitomessence.
Cabin in the Woods - Review by Phalanges.
Captain America: The First Avenger - Review by Abiraleft.
Carnage - Review by Phalanges.
Cars - Review by Jayk.
Clay Pigeons - Review by creamcrackered.
Cloverfield - Review by Phalanges.
Cowboys And Aliens - Review by Picnic1.
Cowboys And Aliens - Review by DrummingThunder.
Crash - Review by lil_groovy_dude.
Crazy Love - Review by asdasta.
Clerks II - Review by Jayk Bakner.
Daybreakers - Review by asdasta.
Death Race - Review by asdasta.
Death Sentence (2007) - Review by asdasta.
Die Hard 4.0 - Review by Jayk Bakner.
District 9 Sabrine
Dragonball Evolution - review by asdasta.
Drive - Review by DrummingThunder.
Drive - Review by Abiraleft.
Drive - Review by Sirocco11.
Dumplings - Review by creamcrackered.
Eagle Eye - Review by asdasta.
Eastern Promise - Review by Jayk Bakner.
Edge of darkness - Review by asdasta.
Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Review by Jayk Bakner.
Employee Of The Month - Review by wiwarin_mir.
Enchanted - Review by asdasta.
Failure To Launch - Review by January Victim.
Fast and Furious - Review by asdasta.
Fast and Furious - Review by FK.
Fast And Furious: Tokyo Drift - Review by January Victim.
Farewell - Review by DrummingThunder.
Fifty Dead Men Walking - Review by asdasta.
Finding Nemo - Review by Epitomessence.
Flashbacks of a Fool - Review by asdasta.
Four Brothers - Review by DuncanHep.
Fracture - Review by asdasta.
Fright Night - Review by Phalanges.
Frost/Nixon - Review by asdasta.
Futurama: Bender's Big Score - Review by asdasta.
Ghost Rider - Review by Jayk Bakner.
Ghosts of Cité Soleil - Review by asdasta.
Gone Baby Gone - Review by asdasta.
Gone Baby Gone - Review by Abiraleft.
Goodbye solo - Review by asdasta.
Grosse Point Blank - Review by creamcrackered.
Halloween - Review by James1991.
Halloween 2 - Review by asdasta.
Hanna - Review by Phalanges.
Hannibal Rising - Review by January Victim.
Happy-Go-Lucky - Review by SaphMB.
Hard Candy - Review by Jayk Bakner.
Hatchet - Review by asdasta.
He Was A Quiet Man - Review by asdasta.
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army - Review by Jayk.
Hell Comes To Frogtown - Review by asdasta.
Hero - Review by vin.
Hide and Seek - Review by lil_groovy_dude.
Hitman - Review by asdasta.
Hoodwinked - Review by Jayk Bakner.
Hot Rod - Review by asdasta.
I Am Hot - Review by asdasta.
I Am Legend - Review by Jayk Bakner.
I'm a Cyborg, but that's OK - Review by n-qia.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - Review by Jayk.
Inside Job - Review by Phalanges.
In Her Shoes - Review by January Victim.
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale - Review by asdasta.
Jumper - Review by asdasta.
Juno - Review by asdasta.
Killer Elite - Review by Abiraleft.
Knowing - review by Jack Sparrow.
Kung Fu Panda - Review by Jayk.
Lady In The Water - Review by Jayk.
Last Holiday - Review by January Victim.
Last King of Scotland - Review by mevidek.
Le Boucher - Review by Epitomessence.
Leon - Review by vin.
Like Crazy - Review by Abiraleft.
Limitless - Review by Phalanges
Lions For Lambs - Review by asdasta.
Love happens - Review by asdasta.
Mad Max - Review by asdasta.
Mad Max 2 - Review by asdasta.
Madagascar 3 - Review by Abiraleft.
Mamma Mia - Review by rotor.
Margin Call - Review by Phalanges.
Martha Marcy May Marlene - Review by Abiraleft.
Max Payne - Review by Jayk.
Miami Vice - Review by Jayk Bakner.
Michael Clayton - Review by asdasta.
Mirrors - Review by asdasta.
Mission Impossible III - Review by January Victim.
Night Of The Living Dead - Review by creamcrackered.
One Missed Call - Review by asdasta.
P2 - Review by asdasta.
Paranoid Park - Review by asdasta.
Pathology - Review by asdasta.
Persona - Review by asdasta.
Pi - Review by creamcrackered.
Pirates Of The Caribbean 2 - Review by vin.
Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Review by DrummingThunder.
Poseidon - Review by January Victim.
Pride And Prejudice - Review by Epitomessence.
Primer - Review by Phalanges
Princess Mononoke - Review by vin.
Quantum of Solace - Review by asdasta.
Quantum of Solace - Review by Jayk.
Rabbit Hole - Review by Phalanges
Rataouille - Review by Jayk Bakner.
Real Steel - Review by Phalanges.
Redline - Review by asdasta.
Rescue Dawn - Review by asdasta.
Resident Evil - Review by asdasta.
Resurrecting the Champ - Review by asdasta.
Righteous Kill - Review by Jayk.
Rise: Blood Hunter - Review by asdasta.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes - Review by Abiraleft.
RocknRolla - Review by Jayk.
Rocky Balboa - Review by barfee.
Romeo And Juliet - Review by Epitomessence.
Rush Hour 3 - Review by asdasta.
Saw - Review by asdasta.
Saw IV - Review by asdasta.
Saw V - Review by asdasta.
Scream 4 - Review by Phalanges.
Senna - Review by Phalanges.
Serenity - Review by Jayk Bakner.
Shadow Dancer - Review by Phalanges.
Sherlock Holmes - Review by Phalanges
Shoot 'Em Up - Review by asdasta.
Shrek 3 - Review by Journey.
Sicko - Review by asdasta.
Sling Blade - Review by asdasta.
Smokin' Aces - Review by Jayk.
Snakes On A Plane - Review by vin.
Source Code - Review by Abiraleft.
Spirited Away - Review by vin.
Stardust - Review by Jayk.
Stardust - Review by asdasta.
State of Play - Review by FK.
Step Brothers - Review by FK.
Stranger Than Fiction - Review by wiggles.
Submarine - Review by Abiraleft.
Sucker Punch - Review by Mo-Amin
Sucker Punch - Review by Phalanges
Superman Returns - Review by Jayk.
Superman Returns - Review by vin.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Review by asdasta.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Review by Jayk Bakner.
Swimming With Sharks - Review by Decent_Jam.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day - review by asdasta.
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn - Review by Abiraleft.
The Air I Breathe - Review by asdasta.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - Review by asdasta.
The Avengers - Review by Abiraleft.
The Bourne Identity - Review by asdasta.
The Bourne Supremacy - Review by asdasta.
The Bourne Ultimatum - Review by asdasta.
The Bourne Ultimatum - Review by Jayk Bakner.
The Brave One - Review by asdasta.
The Bucket List - Review by asdasta.
The Children's Hour - Review by Epitomessence.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - Review by Jayk.
The Dark Knight - Review by asdasta.
The Departed - Review by Jayk Bakner.
The Devil Wears Prada - Review by quadruple_twist.
The Fountain - Review by Jayk Bakner.
The Guardian - Review by Jayk Bakner.
The Happening - Review by asdasta.
The Help - Review by Phalanges.
The History Boys - Review by Epitomessence.
The Holiday - Review by January Victim.
The Hunger Games - Review by Phalanges.
The Hurt Locker - Review by DrummingThunder
The King of Kong - Review by asdasta.
The Kingdom - Review by Jayk Bakner.
The Kingdom - Review by asdasta.
The Nines - Review by asdasta.
The Notebook - Review by unfinished_sympathy.
The Omen (2006) - Review by xXLil'-AnGelXx.
The Orphanage - Review by Jayk Bakner.
The Prestige - Review by Jayk Bakner.
The Third Man - Review by Decent_Jam.
The Queen - Review by Epitomessence.
The Raid: Redemption - Review by Phalanges.
The Simpsons Movie - Review by asdasta.
The Social Network - Review by Phalanges.
The Social Network - Review by DrummingThunder
The Visitor - Review by asdasta.
There Will Be Blood - Review by Phalanges
There Will Be Blood - Review by SirRamAlot
There Will Be Blood - Review by S-man10
There Will Be Blood - Review by unknownking321
They Live - Review by asdasta.
Things We Lost in the Fire - Review by asdasta.
Three Burials - Review by Jayk Bakner.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Review by DrummingThunder.
Transformers - Review by Jayk Bakner.
Transporter 3 - Review by asdasta.
Tron: Legacy - Review by Phalanges
Turtles Can Fly - Review by Epitomessence.
Twilight - Review by Jayk.
United 93 - Review by the victory james.
Untraceable - Review by asdasta.
UP (3D) - Review by asdasta.
Up in the air - Review by asdasta.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Review by Epitomessence.
Volver - Review by Epitomessence.
W - Review by asdasta.
Waitress - Review by asdasta.
Walk The Line - Review by Epitomessence.
Wall-E - Review by SaphMB.
War Horse - Review by Phalanges.
War Horse - Review by hr30.
We Need To Talk About Kevin - Review by DrummingThunder.
We Need To Talk About Kevin - Review by Notethis.
X-Men: First Class - Review by abiraleft.
Zack and Miri Make a Porno - Review by Jayk.
Zombieland - Review by asdasta.
(edited 11 years ago)

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
A Beginner's Guide to Film Reviewing

So you've watched some movies, developed opinions on them and now you'd like to get involved but are unsure how? First of all, don't worry - we are all amateurs here, and are a pretty friendly bunch who will be more than happy to help you out along the way. If you're happy to write a review off your own back, then that's great; I look forward to reading it. Alternatively, if you're not sure how to start and would like a little structure, the following pointers can serve as rough guidelines for what to include.

You should:

• Include a brief summary of the plot
Set the scene for those readers who may not have seen the film, and explain the overall events in the film. Try not to reveal major spoilers as ultimately your review should determine whether or not someone else should watch the film, not act as a substitute for it.
• Express your opinions about the film
The most important part of any review, this is what makes it personal to you and different from anyone else's. Did you enjoy it? Did it interest you, or bore you? Did you connect with any of the characters? Make sure you justify each of your opinions.
• Discuss the acting
Do you think the actors were believable as the characters they were playing? What did you like or dislike about their performances? Can you think of anyone else who would be better suited to the role?
• Discuss the direction
Many directors have a distinctive visual style; did this film? What did you or didn't you like about the style of direction? Was there anything you think should have been done differently?
• Discuss the script
What was the structure of the film (did it have a linear storyline)? Was the dialogue natural or stilted? Was the story told well?
• Review a film relative to it's competitors
Films come in many different flavours. A film like Die Hard may not stack up well if compared to Rear Window, but this doesn't mean it's not a good film. Keep in mind similar films when discussing if it is good or bad.
• Do your research
When talking about facts, dates, names, etc. try and be specific.

You could:

• Talk about the wider context of the film
Many films have rich histories or are important pioneers of film-making techniques; was this one?
• Analyse some of the ideas expressed
Is this film trying to push a message on it's viewers? Is it acting as a social commentary? Does it contain any hidden meanings or metaphors?
• Discuss the sounds of the film
Was an original score used or did it use pre-recorded songs? How did it complement the film?
• Discuss the cinematography of the film
How well was it shot? How was the film lit?
• Deconstruct the film into it's elements
Take a look at each individual area that the film is trying to perform well in (e.g. acting, special effects, plot) and then build that up to look at the film as a whole.

You shouldn't:

• Pass off other people's opinions as your own
If you have a view of a film which is different to everyone else, you shouldn't suppress it. Don't be afraid to write something different to the general consensus if you can justify it.
• Describe things (plot, acting etc.) without giving your opinion
When discussing something about the film, always bring it back to what you think about it, or your interpretation of it.
• Ramble
Clarity is important in your review, as without it people can get bored and your meanings can get lost. Reread your writing and make sure you aren't repeating yourself or muddying the waters. Similarly, don't include pretentiously long words just for the hell of it, they don't add anything to the review.
• Be overly vague in your opinions
Include some overviews of the film as a whole, but also be specific when discussing certain aspects of the film.

A lot of people are worried about the style of their reviews when they start writing. Style is something which comes with experience, yet the content should always be intuitive. Think about the film thoroughly, and then decide on what you want to tell the reader about.
Reply 2
Cool, so we get to diss Happy Feet before it's released?:cool:


Just kidding:biggrin: It looks awesome...
Reply 3
I can't wait to see Final Destination 3. :biggrin:
Reply 4
I'm seeing Hidden on Thursday...looking forward to that.
Reply 5
Reply 6
LPK
I can't wait to see Final Destination 3. :biggrin:

FD1 was my favourite!:biggrin: You can't beat a plane blowing up in mid-air or that guys head getting cut off when that train passed...:cool: :eek:
Reply 7
yo-less
FD1 was my favourite!:biggrin: You can't beat a plane blowing up in mid-air or that guys head getting cut off when that train passed...:cool: :eek:

What about on FD 2 when the barbed wire cuts that man into tiny pieces and he falls apart? :eek:
Reply 8
Best one was where the dude slipped on the noodles :yy:
Reply 9
And I had such high hopes when I clicked on this thread...ah well.
Reply 10
Go back to watching your Art House films :rolleyes:



:biggrin:
Reply 11
Gravastar
And I had such high hopes when I clicked on this thread...ah well.

Ah well indeed. :eek:
Reply 12
LPK
What about on FD 2 when the barbed wire cuts that man into tiny pieces and he falls apart? :eek:

But Saw and Saw2 totally kick FD and FD2's arses:biggrin: :love: I worship those films:adore:
Hey I'll join! :biggrin:

There was another thread about Underworld (first movie) being rubbish :eek: I didn't think it was that bad, I don't see what was wrong with it :confused:
Reply 14
yo-less
But Saw and Saw2 totally kick FD and FD2's arses:biggrin: :love: I worship those films:adore:

Saw 2 is brilliant. :biggrin:



I never really liked Underworld. Had a strange story to it. :hmmmm:
Hey! I don't JUST watch art house films. I liked Saw, I thought it was a good idea. And Underworld was quite snazzy in its visual style. And Final Destination was...well - I can't think of any redeeming features there. I just thought that none of those films have much scope for any kind of insightful criticism - i mean it's just "hey, did you see when that girl got impaled by the pole!", which everyone blatently DID see, unless they went for popcorn at that particular moment.
I consider myself a cinephile, and a snobby one at that but I did enjoy FD2, it's the latent gorehound in me you see...
I'll throw one out though - anyone seen Crash? I'm talking about the new one that isn't by J.G. Ballard (I have seen the old one too if you want to talk about it, but it seemed mostly gratuitous). I liked this one though - had a lot of smart points.
Gravastar
I'll throw one out though - anyone seen Crash? I'm talking about the new one that isn't by J.G. Ballard (I have seen the old one too if you want to talk about it, but it seemed mostly gratuitous). I liked this one though - had a lot of smart points.
Yeah the one Paul Haggis directed, not the Cronenberg one...

Yeah I thought it was excellent, one of the best films I saw at the cinema last year.
Reply 19
The Cronenberg one is frickin weird. Car crash victim fetishes, what the hell.

I thought the new one was overly pretentious and seemed to shove the racism issue down my throat. It wasn't subtle enough.

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