Movie Review Prep. Assigned 4/21, due 4/23 - Minor

MOVIE REVIEW PREP

You will be able to watch any movie you want. I would prefer that you watch something that has come out recently. It must be a full length movie of at least 90 minutes. TV shows and series are not acceptable. This works better if it is a movie that you haven't seen before, but you are allowed to review a movie you have seen before. You should know that on newspaper staff, you will almost always review a movie that you have not seen before. Please make sure you actually WATCH the movie again if you choose one you have already seen.

One thing that I think is important is that you know a little bit about the movie you will be watching. So before you actually watch the movie, go to a little research. Remember you will be writing a review of the movie. The movie itself. Knowing a little about the movie may or may not influence your writing. Think about the books you have read like Harry Potter that have been turned into movies. Some people end up loving the movies despite the fact they might be different from what they read, while others hate some films because they changed the story from the book. The same is true for most every film.

Log into your school email account. Send me an email telling me and list your top 3 movies that you would like to watch for this assignment. My email address is mreeves1@austinisd.org. I will respond with the movie you have been assigned from your list of three. Any movie is open as long as it is school appropriate and you are willing to watch it again. The only reason I want to approve your choice is that I don't want to read about the same movie 3-4 times.

Once I approve your movie, start on the tasks below

Let's do some research:

I would recommend that you start with wikipedia and branch out from there. You are then free to use Google to do independent research. Type in the name of the movie and start reading.

On a new Google Doc titled Movie Review, please answer the following questions:

1. Who is the director?

2. What company produced the film?

3. Is the film based on anything like a book, or a real life event? If so, do some research about that book or event and write a few sentences about it.

4. Where is the movie set (the places they filmed)?

5. What is the movie rated?

6. Who was the producer?

7. What awards did it win?

8. How much did it cost to make?

9. How was it received by audiences?

10. What did other movie reviews think about the movie?

11. List five main characters by the actor's name and the part they play.

NOW GO WATCH IT!!

This may be your first time or your 10th time seeing that film, but you still need to watch it again to refresh your memories.

As you watch the movie you might want to take some notes about the plot, timing of the movie with high points and low points, thoughts about the specific actors and the characters they play and your general feelings about the movie as you watch it.

At some point you should transfer those notes to your Google Doc to refer when you are writing your review. 

Next week you will get the specific structure and style for a movie review so you can start writing.

Your Completed Movie Reviews will be due to me by Monday, May 5.