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A written critical evaluation and retrospective view on Lunch.
< read all 11 reviewsFilm Reviewing is Like Telling Another Story...YOUR STORY!!
-
Nov 14, 2009
- by woopak_the_thrill
- posted in WHAT CAN I SAY?
Rating:
+5
Honestly, I really don’t think I should be writing something about “reviewing” in this site; not that I think that it isn’t necessary but because I feel that I am not exactly qualified seeing as 1) I am not a professional movie critic 2) I believe reviews are a reflection of one’s personal taste 3) I believe there are better writers than I am 4) I don’t think anyone would care what I think of reviewing. My friends Sean Rhodes and Cenobite7 both gave their two cents in the art of reviewing. Both write ups were incredibly well-written and very informative. I don’t think I can add anything else to the info both of them had shared. So what the heck am I doing following their write ups under a data point? Well, I mostly review movies and most of the time, I review movies that aren’t that well known; I try to review things other than mainstream Hollywood. I guess this write up would serve me better than any other reviewer; consider it a personal reminder and maybe a “guide” if you will to movie reviewing.
As I’ve said, I may not be qualified but hey, consider this a
to Lunch.com newbies who want to review movies in this site.
As I’ve said, I may not be qualified but hey, consider this a
to Lunch.com newbies who want to review movies in this site. I am NOT a movie critic but I am a cinema fan. This is a hobby, and I am not getting paid to write reviews, but it has become a sort of a personal passion. I love comparing notes with my friends here at Lunch and I have learned from each of them. Anyway, consider what I am about to discuss my own personal guideline to reviewing movies--not to teach but to share and so maybe I can be better understood. Again, some of you may wonder how I can review Transformers 2 and give it a 2 star rating and then I review a lesser known movie (like Crank 2) and gave it a weak 3.5 stars. This is my personal guideline; it may not be perfect but it is my own…
Be Emotionally Detached and Remain Level-Headed.
Emotions can play games on our mind how we react or how we like a film. I tend to avoid reviewing my favorite movies because I may become too biased and may sound too much of a fan boy. Don’t instinctively give a film a great rating because you like the director, actor or the film’s premise. Let’s say the new STAR TREK movie which has a huge fan base or the latest Transformers movie; I try not to get too excited that a new movie from my favorite franchise is being released, it compromises objectivity. I keep my emotions in check but I do allow the movie to instill whatever emotions it should wthin my gut. Nostalgia is good and entertainment value is good, but it has nothing to do with the WHOLE of the movie you are currently watching. Not to say they’re good or bad movies, but a reviewer should be able to break a film down with pure passion and credibility. What is the plot? How's the acting...the characters? It also works the other way around, just because a movie didn’t meet your expectations means that it is a bad movie. (I will discuss this next) Above all, keep your expectations low and remain hopeful to what you are about to watch...
Look for what the Film is trying to Express…
NOT what You Want to see in a Film.
NOT what You Want to see in a Film.
Sean Rhodes and I have discussed this numerous times. As he’s stated “an apple isn’t an orange” and this is a great way to put it. Let’s say that you don’t agree with the way Ridley Scott approached the way he made “Gladiator” or how Kim Ki-Duk makes Korean movies. Don’t expect “Citizen Kane” from “Crank 2”. A viewer has to go into the mindset of the director and take in the story to really know the film inside out. Let’s say you get offended with sex scenes or you say that “boring because it is like a reality show” as with “Paranormal Activity” or if a movie is disturbing, which sometimes is the point to the film (to be disturbing); find the reason for the movie in the first place. Complaining why something is, wouldn’t make your review credible it just shows how you reacted to the movie. Your reaction isn’t how everybody else would react, therefore it would only be an opinion and not entirely a review. It is easy to just criticize or praise a movie or topic, but this is not reviewing. Myself, I usually put myself in the movie character’s or even the director's shoes. What would I do in that situation?
Read Between the Lines
Read Between the Lines
Thematic and Art House films require breaking down the films themselves. I love Asian cinema because they avoid the perfunctory happy endings. Instead of showing motivations for a scene, they may ask the viewer for the motivation. Great directors and writers know how to provoke a reaction. Learning to identify the anatomy of a scene is vital to movie reviewing. Looking for the positives of a film is vital to also identifying its negatives.
Capture the Tone of the film
I personally try to reflect the tone of the movie I am reviewing. Don’t be afraid to use the “Thesaurus” in Microsoft word. (I find it very helpful) If you’re reviewing a horror film, capture your emotions; if a drama, reflect just how dramatic the movie is and so on. Showing your enthusiasm for a movie (whether good or bad) is infectious to the reader. Adding some research to the film’s background and a summary/teaser of the film’s plot helps the reader to get into the rhythm. It also helps to know your audience.
Make Educated Comparisons to an original film…
…But don’t make this the main ‘ingredient’ of your review. Comparing sequels to original movies and remakes to originals are all well and good; however, avoid falling too much into this trap. Keep the focus on the film being reviewed. I loved “A Tale of Two Sisters” and disliked its American remake “The Uninvited”--review them separately and each film standing alone. Keep the topic about the original or the remake’s plot elements not how one outdoes the other. Also, it is a bad idea to compare a new movie to a director's earlier works. Example: rating Avatar as to how it compared to James Cameron's earlier works is not credible; a director's earlier work is different from his present ones. Why should you compare "Saving Prvate Ryan" to "Forrest Gump"? It is a case of apples and oranges once again. Ok to compare but never forget that you are reviewing a stand alone movie which may be meant for a different audience.
Work Hard on the Review
A reviewer is only as good as his/her last review. I often say my reviews are only as good as the film being reviewed. I write reviews to share what I have seen about movies I am passionate about. Try to share as much as you learn in your review. Back up your opinion, minimize spoilers unless absolutely necessary to prove a point. Capture your initial reaction and jot down notes during or after you see the film. Just ‘wing it”, it is ok to make grammatical errors (it is fixable) and be as opinionated and analytical (if need be) as you can. Question Yourself. Learn to doubt your own reaction to the film. You may be wrong and it is always a smart call to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes. Write from your heart and you learn from your own mistakes. Do not review a film you haven’t finished; It is just totally unfair to the reader. Most importantly, stay on your own side of the road. Make your descriptions vivid and engaging so that the reader can MAKE their OWN decision whether the movie is for them or not. It is not about how you rated the movie after all, but how you help others make an informed decision.
Find Something that is Your Own
Be an individual, Find Your Style and know what you like and dislike. I usually open a review with a little basic background, a summary or a teaser to the film’s plot then my actual opinion of the film. My style is pretty much very basic and very simple. Open well and close the review well. Also, if you hate romantic comedies or if you hate exploitive cinema then don’t review films from this genre too often. Find what you are into and stick to it--however, be open-minded to other genres since there have been some movies under a genre I usually hate (like romance movies) but I would be caught totally by surprise. (“My Sassy Girl” and “Cyborg She” are great examples) Be adventurous and open, and think not inside or outside a box but deny that there is a box.
Make your Own Guidelines and learn to identify certain things. I have questions I ask myself:
1) Was I entertained?
2) Did all the plot elements fit the film’s screenplay or tone?
3) Is it Original, Creative or a Hack job?
4) How are the characters and performances?
5) Is it a popcorn film, an art house film or something with a theme?
6) Is it actually meant to be this way?
Reviewing itself is like TELLING A STORY.
Do not just copy product information and make a summary from the back cover. Whether by pictures and funny quips, get your readers’ attention--you can make a short humorous review. Reviewing is an art form and learn to respect (and maybe inspire) your readers. They took the time to read, the best a reviewer can do is make it worth their time but don't beat around the bush. Be as direct as possible while taking the reader on a journey. Remember a review isn't how you liked or why you liked a movie but putting your eyes in two viewpoints; the positives and the negatives. Oh, a review does not need to be long to be effective; be real, sincere and direct with your feelings/opinion about the movie. There are two types of readers: those who really like short reviews and there are those who wants to read long stories. It is your story--write whatever you feel.
I try to work hard to promote lesser known movies; Hollywood gets all the attention, so I need to find something else to review. Be credible, focused, and above all, have fun. Do it for yourself and not for anyone else. But the biggest reward in writing a review on an obscure film is that someone out there may pick up the movie on your recommendation...it is intangible but makes the effort worthwhile!
I try to work hard to promote lesser known movies; Hollywood gets all the attention, so I need to find something else to review. Be credible, focused, and above all, have fun. Do it for yourself and not for anyone else. But the biggest reward in writing a review on an obscure film is that someone out there may pick up the movie on your recommendation...it is intangible but makes the effort worthwhile!
You are a guest in a filmmaker’s art form so one needs to get himself into the film itself--whether the viewer likes it or not. Avoid presenting your assumptions about the film/director/writer as fact. Be honest with yourself; turn off the dvd player if you are getting disconnected and try again. Need two viewings? Go right ahead. First and foremost have fun in writing any review. Film reviewing is not a job, it is a passion. This is how I approach my movie reviews, whether you agree or not is all good. This is me.
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More Reviews on Lunch reviews
Prior to joining Lunch I used to post reviews of books and movies. The reason I started doing these reviews was that I read so many books (about one a week) and saw so many movies (I usually go to a theater once or twice a month) that I could never remember plots or whether or not I actually had read a book or saw a movie. The review was a way to reinforce my memory and provide a place I could search to give me just enough of a memory jog that I could remember a plot. … more
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Teddy Roosevelt (Apr. 23, 1910, France): "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great … more
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review by Sean_Rhodes.
October 26, 2009
I'm going to do a little something different with this data point, if only because it gets a chance to welcome those who might be new to Lunch to the experience. It's also a good chance for those unfamiliar with Lunch to really learn what the experience of it is all about. So let me preface this by saying this isn't a review about the website itself. If you must know, Lunch has it's own datapoint which you can find. So this is more of a welcome, and a way to talk about one … more
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review by cenobite7.
October 28, 2009
Over the years, I've managed to come across great books as well as teachers that would teach me valuable lessons in writing. Although I've managed to take poetic license with quite a bit of my work, their wisdom meant a great deal to me & actually has helped me tremendously through the years whenever I've composed any piece of writing. Although there is always something new to be learned in the world of the creative arts, there are some common elements I believe which stand the test … more
Comments (29)
Compliments (128)
The reviewing format in this lunch is one of the best I've worked with and provides total freedom. I love it that I can add photos, links (to my other reviews), and all the tools that can make reviews look much more fancy and professional looking. It is also nice that the 'unhelpful' button has been eliminated since the goal of the site is not competition but rather sharing and learning from one another with similar interests. While I usually stick … more
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review by deanbarry.
November 14, 2009
Oh what fun Lunch is providing me. Years ago as a kid, I would take my mothers typewriter and get busy clacking away my thoughts on a movie I had just watched. Showing no real journalistic ability, I kept my little "critiques" folded away in a little book for my own private viewings. I would break it out, occasionally, when I would have some friends over for a movie night. Having quite the extensive collection of video tape, (that's … more
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review by Dekeboo.
October 23, 2009
As I have just joined Lunch I thought that I would attemt to write a review. The thing is that I am rubbish at making decisions, even given a choice of only two things I can um and err for eternity. So when I am given the opportunity to rant and rave about absolutely anything I like, surprisingly I still cant choose. I like this site because of being able to review anything - but I am not a writer and puttig into words what goes on in my head is well, if you have read … more
Comments (11)
Compliments (47)
When you can talk about anything from cereal to obscure CDs and even different makes of Pizza, it's great.
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Quick Tip by Sharrie.
December 29, 2009
A micro review on Reviews? Simply follow your heart & write to your heart's content! Share it, baby, share it! ;-)
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Quick Tip by deanbarry.
November 14, 2009
Random thoughts from an overcrowed mind.
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About the reviewer
William (woopak_the_thrill)
Please "Like" Film and Movies and Keep the Economy strong....LOL!! My Interests: Movies, Anime, History, Martial … more
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Lunch is the place to share your opinions about almost anything. You can review people, places, products, media (photos, video, and audio), creative work (original writing and artwork), and even events and ideas. We give you the tools to express your likes, loves and loathes in a thoughtful review and in turn, connect you to people who share your interests.
In your day to day, you consume and experience a wide range of different things, from the sneakers you jog in and the video game you played last night, to the news show you listen to on the way to work. Lunch is the place to share your thoughts and experiences about the world around you. When choosing a review topic, pick something that strikes your passion or something you'd like to learn more about. Your reviews help Lunch determine who and what kind of content you'll like. The more you review, the better Lunch can connect you to the right people and information.
To spark review ideas, check out the Lunch homepage to see what other people are talking about. In the activity feed, check out the most recent reviews, comments and popular tags. Also, play our speed rating games in ExhilaRATE. They're the fastest way to build up your Similarity Network, compare interests with people in the community, and get ideas for new reviews.
A great Lunch review is helpful to the community and inspires curiosity and exploration of a topic. An inspiring review can be many things – we know everyone is different and what's ...
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In your day to day, you consume and experience a wide range of different things, from the sneakers you jog in and the video game you played last night, to the news show you listen to on the way to work. Lunch is the place to share your thoughts and experiences about the world around you. When choosing a review topic, pick something that strikes your passion or something you'd like to learn more about. Your reviews help Lunch determine who and what kind of content you'll like. The more you review, the better Lunch can connect you to the right people and information.
To spark review ideas, check out the Lunch homepage to see what other people are talking about. In the activity feed, check out the most recent reviews, comments and popular tags. Also, play our speed rating games in ExhilaRATE. They're the fastest way to build up your Similarity Network, compare interests with people in the community, and get ideas for new reviews.
A great Lunch review is helpful to the community and inspires curiosity and exploration of a topic. An inspiring review can be many things – we know everyone is different and what's ...
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However, Adri did an awesome answer to reviewing in one of the questions (so I asked her to do one) and Chris, I would love yours so I could pick your brain!