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REVIEWS

A review is an article in a newspaper or magazine, on the Internet, television or radio in

which someone gives their critical analysis of a book, play, film, TV programme, art
exhibition, website, concert, computer game, hotel, restaurant, advertisement, etc.

The purpose of a review is:

 firstly, to give factual information about the subject, and
 secondly, to give an opinion about it, which will help the reader make a decision.

Reviews normally contain the three main elements listed below. A review may not always
fall into three neat sections, however. The writer of a review (= reviewer = critic) may
decide to describe one aspect of the subject and comment immediately on strengths and
weaknesses, for example, before going on to describe another aspect of the subject.

1) OVERVIEW (a description of the subject)

a) Book _ non-fiction
What is it about? Who is it for? How technical is it? How is it organised? What topics
are covered? What special features are there?
b) Book _ fiction
Who is its author? What genre is it? (a thriller/ historical novel/ science fiction) What is
its setting? What is its theme? Briefly outline the plot (but don’t give the ending away!).
Remember to use the historic present.
c) Play / Film / TV Programme
What is it about? Is there anything special or unusual about the production?
Play / Film : Where is it on? Are there any well-known actors and actresses? Who is
the director?
TV programme: Which channel shows it? Is it part of a series? Who is the producer’

2) DETAILED COMMENTS ON THE SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL

FEATURES OF THE SUBJECT
Your comments will probably include both:
 objective views (based on fact) e.g. the photographs were poor quality or the costumes
did not fit the actors properly
 subjective views (based on personal assessment) e.g. the story was (not) gripping or the
film was violent
Make sure, however, that you offer REASONS for your comments. You may have strong
positive or negative feeling about the subject of the review. A strong opinion, clearly argued,
is often more interesting to read than a carefully balanced assessment. Even so, try not to be
completely one-sided.

3) VERDICT (summing up and recommendation)

The last paragraph should make it clear to the reader whether you
 recommend the subject without any reservations,
 recommend it with one or two reservations, or
 don’t recommend it at all.
Make sure that your review gives a clear verdict
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FILM REVIEWS Source CAE Gold Plus Teacher’s Book

The paragraphs of the following review have been jumbled. Put them in the right order,
bearing the three main elements of the review in mind.
Nevertheless, this is a gripping and occasionally horrific film as well as being an acute
commentary on the dangers and attractions of modern gang culture. It must definitely
rank as one of the best to come out this year.

The story is set in an unnamed seaside town in the South of England. The central
character is Kevin, an only child of 14, whose life has been devastated by the death of
his father. We see how Kevin, bored and continually bullied at school, falls in with one
of several gangs of local youths. Norton makes it clear how loyalty to the gang acts as a
substitute for the family ties he has lost. However, things turn much uglier with the
arrival of ‘Starman’, a previous leader of the gang, recently released from prison. After
this new character turns up, we have a growing sense that events are building up to a
catastrophe and when it happens, it is felt to be both shocking and the inevitable
culmination of everything that came before.

Eric Norton is a gifted film maker and his latest work, Stars in Darkness, is close to
being a masterpiece. Other works of his, such as My City, have dealt with the troubles
of adolescence, but this work is probably his best yet.

Brian Turnbull gives an impressive performance as Kevin and the other young members
of the gang are equally strongly cast. Grant Jackson’s Starman, by contrast, seems a
little overplayed and his immediate influence over even older members of the gang does
not quite ring true.

USEFUL VOCABULARY FOR FILMS REVIEWS:

- film goers/cinema goers = the audience

- ‘………………………..’ is on at The Monumental Complex = The Monumental
Complex is showing ‘…………………………’
- premiere = first night (Br. E.) = opening night (Am. E.) (‘………………………’ had
its premiere in July) (‘………………………’ premieres in N.Y. this week.)
- the release of ‘……………………………’
- the trailer for the latest Spielberg film
- a box-office hit (financial focus) VS a commercial flop
- a blockbuster (exciting content)
- a howling success
- the director (‘……………………………..’ is directed by …………………….)
- the producer (‘ …………………………….’ is produced by …………………...)
- the cast :
 the leading roles = the leads = the protagonists (‘…………….’ stars …………..)
 (character’s name) was played by (actor’s name)
 (actor’s name) gave a marvelous performance
 the supporting cast
 the stunts
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 the extras
- the setting = the place and time (‘……………………’ is set in ………………...)
- location shots (‘…………………….’ was shot on location in …………………)
- (‘…………………….’ was shot on a studio/set)
- the characters and their conflicts
- period costumes
- theme VS plot = storyline (The plot centres on … The film tells the story of … The
film deals with … The story is based on …/draws on inspiration from …
- the pace / climax / moment of epiphany / resolution
- flashbacks
- scene = the action in one place for a continuous period of time (the funeral scene)
- special effects
- the script
- the screenplay = the script + the instructions for the cameras
- dubbing
- subtitles
- the soundtrack
- the credits (began to roll): given or shown at the beginning or end of a film, TV or
radio programme
- Films may fall into several categories:
 a love story = a romance
 a thriller = an exciting story, often about solving a crime
 an adventure film
 an action film = a film with a lot of exciting action and adventure
 a spy story
 a horror film
 a comedy
 a historical drama
 a gangster film
 a musical
 a cartoon film (with a lot of computer animation at present)
 a science fiction film
- Film-rating:
 U (Br. E.) = G (Am. E.) (‘……………………..’ is classified as a U/ is rated U)
 PG = parental guidance (PG – 13)
 an X-rated film = film that people under 18 are not allowed to see because it contains
sex and/or violence

TYPICAL LEXICO-GRAMMATICAL PATTERNS OF REVIEWS

1- ADVERB + ADJECTIVE COMBINATIONS

- The film is highly amusing.
- The historical facts included in the plot are wildly inaccurate.
- The pace of the play is remarkably dynamic.

2- ADVERB + ADJECTIVE + NOUN COMBINATIONS

- an eagerly awaited release
- considerably improved special effects
- an elaborate and remarkably effective make-up based on contemporary photographs
- our first full-faced glimpse is a superbly calculated shock
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- The Elephant Man is a genuinely remarkable film.

- two particularly memorable moments: the introduction of Hannibal Lecter and the parallel
action scenes at the end.

3- ADVERB + -ED PARTICIPLE COMBINATIONS

- The film is appallingly directed.
- The script was pretentiously written.
- The soundtrack is superbly sung.
- Richard’s feelings are vividly registered and the painfulness of the choices is acutely felt.
- Beautifully written and directed, superbly acted, The Elephant Man is a genuinely
remarkable film.
- Brilliantly directed, with excellent performances by the three leading actors, the film grips
the audience from the first shot and the pace keeps rising up the nail-biting finale.

4- PUTTING FORWARD OPINIONS FORMALLY IN REVIEWS

- _____ my mind, …
Such roles, _____ my mind, are likely to occur once in a lifetime.
- _____ my opinion/view, …
_____ my opinion/view, the play deserved its rave reviews.
- _____ XXX’s point of view, …
_____ the point of view of the audience, the film is far too long.
- It is my belief that …
It is my belief that James Wolf will prove to be one of the great actors of the future.
- It is + adjective + clause with ‘should’
It is disgraceful that such a second-rate musical ______ be given media coverage.
- Adverbs indicating an opinion: undoubtedly, not surprisingly, predictably, certainly
The release of ‘…………………….

Rubric and model answer from Advanced Expert CAE. Old Edition. Peason/Longman

The editor of an international student magazine has asked you to write a review of two action
films you have seen recently. Compare the two films from the point of view of
 the story
 the acting
Write your review in 220 – 260 words.

TWO ACTION FILMS

Never mind the plot, just watch the action and the special effects. That seems to be
the message of Die Another Day, the 20th in the James Bond series, and Matrix
Reloaded, the follow-up to the incredibly successful Matrix.
Die Another Day, about a wealthy lunatic who’s threatening the safety of the world,
moves very quickly, really too quickly at times, and the plot is so confused that the
characters never get the chance to develop properly. Having said that, the action
sequences are fantastic and the visual effects are stunning. Pierce Brosnan makes a
believable Bond, the best since Sean Connery, and Halle Berry as his ruthless ally is
amazing, playing a character just as uncomplicated as Bond himself.
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The action in Matrix Reloaded, a science-fiction movie about a group of humans

struggling for freedom against a machine army, is much slower to get started and,
unlike Bond, there is a lot of phoney philosophical talk mixed in with the comic-book
story-telling. Fortunately, once the action starts, there are lots of fights and chases,
done of course with all the incredible special effects that we expect in a Hollywood
movie. The actors who play the heroes are all impressively physical in their numerous
fight scenes, but unfortunately elsewhere their performances are rather wooden. Only
Harold Perrineau as the navigator brings some life to the film with his shouts of ‘Yes!’
from the control room when something goes right. He at least seems not to take his
part too seriously.
So, all in all, if it’s action, excitement and escapism you want, these two films are
for you.