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Lesson 7: Task: Write a film review

This is the lesson where you put everything together. We want you to write a review of a film.

Writing a Film Review

This is the lesson where you put everything together. We want you to write a review of a film. You will see two examples of film reviews which you can use to help you write your own review. When you’ve finished your review, post it in the comments section and read other participants reviews and tell them what you think. In lesson one we looked at film vocabulary, in lesson three we gave you some advice about using film to improve your English and gave two short reviews of films about football, in lesson four we focussed on the passive which is a common form to use when writing about films, and in lesson six we showed you some websites where you can read lots of film reviews. While you are writing your review, you can go back to these lessons for some help.

What should I include in my film review?

It's up to you! Here is a list of some common things that you see in film reviews. Have a look at the Bend It Like Beckham film review and match the five colours to the things in this list. Is there anything extra included in the review? Is there anything missing?

• The film's title.
• An eye-catching heading.
• The genre (type of film). 
• The audience. Who is the film for?
• The director, main actors, when it was made, has it won any awards?
• The plot. A brief summary that doesn't mention the ending!
• Your opinion.
• Your evaluation.

Film Review 1

Bend it like beckham – brilliant and funny.

How can I describe Bend It Like Beckham? If I had to choose a genre, I would say it’s a romantic comedy-drama sports film!

The film was made in 2002 and directed by Gurinder Chandha who is well-known for films which explore the lives of Indians living in the UK. 

The film is set in London and stars Jess (Parminder Naghra) , who is an 18-year-old girl with Indian parents. One of the main storylines is the tension between Jess, who loves football, and her parents, who don’t allow her to play. Jess’s friend and teammate, Jules, who is played by Keira Knightly (Pirates of the Caribbean) encourages Jess to play despite her parent's wishes. 

The film deals with serious social problems such as sexism and racism, but the film is very funny at the same time! The acting is very good and of course, there is a happy ending! Oh, and David Beckham is in the movie, but you must wait until the end for that! I would give Bend It Like Beckham four and a half stars out of five and definitely recommend you watch it!

Now, look at the second film review. Is it a good review ? What does it include? Is there anything missing?

Film Review 2

Fever pitch – funny, dramatic and a perfect finish.

I love football and I love films, so Fever Pitch was the perfect movie for me. It tells the story of a school teacher who is mad about his football club – Arsenal! The film was made in 1997 and is based on a best-selling book of the same name. The film has also been remade for American audiences based on baseball.

The main role is played by Colin Firth (Paul) one of the UK’s most famous actors. Paul falls in love with a new teacher (Sally) at his school during the 1989/90 football season, one of the most important seasons in Arsenal’s history. The plot follows the ups and downs of Paul’s romance with Sally and the fortunes of Paul’s football team. But who does he love more? Sally or Arsenal? You’ll have to watch the film to find out!

There are strong performances by Colin Firth and Ruth Gemmell (Sally) in this romantic comedy-drama. If you are a football fan you will love this film, but it definitely has a wider appeal, too! I will give it five-stars and not just because I’m an Arsenal fan!

Write a film review

Write a film review in the comments section below.

Write about a film you enjoyed or a film that you didn't like. It could be a recent film or a film that you watched a long time ago.

The film doesn't have to be about football.

Reply to other learners and tell them if you have seen the film. Did you like it? Do you agree with their opinions?

When you have finished, mark the page  complete  on the side of this page and go to the end of week quiz!

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I would say that An Angel at my table is one of my top ten most favourite films. It’s a drama film which directed by Janet Campion and shot in 1990. The film is based on Janet Frame’s three autobiographies. Kerry Fox plays the role of Janet Frame, a famous New Zealander writer and poet. The film is about the life of Janet Frame who was a very clever child until, as a teenager, she was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia and sent to a mental institution……… The story takes place in Australia, New Zealand and the UK in the different parts of Janet’s life. It ’s a flawless masterpiece. The storyline is so beautiful and inspiring and Kerry Fox’s acting is just incredible. I was mesmerized by that shy, intelligent and lonely girl and could totally relate to her. Besides, his movie makes New -Zealand look like the most gorgeous place on earth Another thing I loved about Another thing I loved about the movie was the excellent music score.

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The other side of the door-thriller

the other side of the door is a horror movie that was made in 2016-the stars is Sarah Wayne and Jeremy Sisto and it is directed by Johannes Roberts the movie is set in India and it tells the story of maria whose her son died in an accident and she blame herself because she is the one who caused this accident and therefore she is doing a spell ritual to bring her son back to life Or feel his presence which causes harm to her and her family

I love this film because the plot was interesting as it means don't try to life in past and accept the situation you are in trying to adapt.

That isn't a just horror movie but actually it is a movie Know the consequences of what you do so if you are fan of wisdom movie ,I recommend this movie to you, I give it four star of five Don't miss it .

El Ruby House

El Ruby House is a comedy-drama Movie that was made in 2023. the stars are Kareem abdelaziz and Nour, and directed by Peter Mimi.

The movie is set in Boston and it tells the story of private family event gets leaked on social media, Ibrahim Al Ruby decides to live in a village with his wife and children, far from people and the pressure of modern life. After his younger brother, Ihab, convinces Ibrahim to go back to the city for some important paperwork, the family embarks on a trip full of surprises that is bound to change the lives of the "Rubies".

The film deals with serious social problems, but the film is very funny at the same time! The acting is very good and of course, there is a happy ending!, I love this movie because the plot was interesting. I am also a big fan of Kareem abdelaziz

I would give It four and a half stars out of five and definitely recommend you watch it!

Assel Aswad dramatic - comedian Aseel Aswad is a drama - comdey film. The film was made in 2010 . it tells the story of an Egyptian person (masry) he was live in America along his life .then came back home(Egypt).he surprised about deferent between the life in America VS Egypt. he discovered that deference when he dose some files in government interests school transportation . The main role is played by Ahmed Hilmy(masry) one of Egyptian famous actors share with Anaam Salosa ' Edward 'Lotfy Labib ' Emy Samir ghanim. The film directed by KHaled maray. I would give Asel Aswad four stars out of five and definitely recommend you watch it!

Hatchi: a dog's tale It's a drama film The film was made in 2009 and directed by ( lasse hallstrom ) and the stars are (Richard Gere ) ,( Jason Alexander) and ( Joan Allen) The story is based on Barker who works as a professor and he goes to the university by the train And one day he found a little dog at the train station, he took it home with him and called it ( hatchi ) Then ( hatchi) grown up and it's attachment to the professor ( Barker ) increased, the dog used to drive the professor every day to the train station and wait until his return The dog was very popular with the people at the train station And on day the professor didn't come back to take ( hatchi) home with him So what's happened to the professor and hatchi ?!! Watch the film to know the end This is one of my favorites movies Definitely recommend you to watch it ❤️

Pride and prejudice It's a romance and drama film. It's directed by (Joe Wright) in 2005 the story is based on (Jane Austin's) novel. The film is set in United States . the stars Mr.Darcy (Matthew Macfady) and his best friend Bingley( Simon Woods) Jane (Rosamund Pike), Elizabeth (Keira Knightley),Mary (Talulah Riley),Kitty (Carey Mulligan)and Lydia Bennet (Jena Malone) . The story tells about Mr and Mrs Bennetts five unmarried daughters after the rich and eligible Mr . Darcy and his best friend Mr . Bingley have moved into their neighborhood. While Mr . Bingley takes an immediate liking to the eldest Bennet daughter Elizabeth ,Jane and Darcy has difficulty adapting to local society and repeatedly. You must wait until the end to know what will happen! I like Pride and prejudice and I would like to give Pride and prejudice eight and half stars out of ten and definitely recommend you to watch it ♡

Work it It’s dance comedy film that was made in 2020 . The stars Sabrina carpenter and Liza koshy and Jordan fisher , and it directed by Laura Terruso . The film talk about quinn Ackerman she is a nerd and she want to Join in college duke because was dreaming her like her father because father Quinn joined this college but she can’t because they won’t accept her , she has to do something different, so she will apply to a dance competition and be her team . But my favorite character is jake Taylor in this film . Watching a jake Taylor dance is very funny and fantastic. I recommend this film to watch it who wants to laugh and exciting watch this film , so go to see it with your friends. I give jake Taylor 5 stars because he deserve this 5 stars . Don’t miss it.

I agree with you ♡

John Wick 3. It is an action film directed by Chad Stahelski and the cast includes Keonu Reeves and Scott ADKINS SET IN 2023. The plot is about Johnwick taking his fight against the high table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld. The performance of the cast was thrilling and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats from the beginning to the end. I would give it a four rating and strongly recommend others to watch it.

John Wick 4. It is an action film directed by Chad Stahelski and the cast includes Keonu Reeves and Scott ADKINS SET IN 2023. The plot is about Johnwick taking his fight against the high table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld. The performance of the cast was thrilling and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats from the beginning to the end. I would give it a four rating and strongly recommend others to watch it.

I would like to give a film review about 'Titanic.' It was written, directed and also produced by James Cameron. It is a genre of romance and drama. The film was made in 1997. It's about two characters falling in love during a voyage. The plot was remarkable and brilliant. It was first-rate and I would give it five stars and also strongly recommend those who missed this film to watch it.

I love the Long Shadow movie, an animated series, a comic series about the story of an orphan girl named Judy Abbott, who got a scholarship to Lincoln High School, by someone she doesn't know named John Smith, Judy called him the Long Shadow Owner, because she had never seen anything but his shadow . Her story contains sad clips, but she overcomes all misfortunes. Her story ends with a happy marriage with the owner of the long shadow.

Django Unchained-Action,romantic and comedy.

Django is a action movie and a one of the best movies have directed and it was made in 2012.The stars are Jamie Foxx (Django),Christoph Waltz (Dr.Schultz) and the infinite Leonardo Dicaprio(Candie) and it is directed by Tarantino.The story tells about Django the slave whose wife was kidnapped by Englishmen then Django try to find his wife with Dr.schultz.So can he find his wife ?

I was interested in this movie because the plot is wonderful and graphics is outstanding and i am a big fan of Dicaprio but my favorite characters in this movie is Dr.s schultz .

I think this movie is not for children because there is blood and screenshots +18. I recommend this movie to adults .I give the movie four stars Don`t miss it.

Enchanted - Real world and the animated world collide I am fond of princesses and fantasy world , so enchanted is my favourite film i would say it's animation adventure comedy family romance film it was made in 2007 at New York City it's related PG for some scary images and mild innuendo. It was produced by Alan menken and stephen schwartz and performed by Amy Adams and james marsden its story line is about the beautiful princess Giselle is banished by evil queen narissa from her magical land shocked by this strange new environment,but when Giselle begins to fall in love with a divorce lawyer, Can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world?. I think it's a great choice for a movie night. I would give it five stars.

Jumanji is an amazing adventure movie and its comedy at the same time that was made in2017. The stars are (dwayne Johnson)and (Karen Gillian) and it’s directed by (Jake Kasdan) while a group of teenagers were in detention at school one of them found a video game which took them inside it and they stuck at that video game until they complete the missions I am in love with this movie because it’s make me laugh and excited to watch the end This movie for children and adults so I recommend it for a family night. I give jumanji five stars

Marvel Age of Ultron Its my favourite film cause i like the gerne and from all marvel films its my favourite. i like the characters and i like the plot and everything that happends in the film

avenger is an amazing action superhero film that is made in 2012 in United Kingdom it is directed by Joss Whedon its cast including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, and Jeremy Renner as the Avengers, alongside Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, and Samuel L. Jackson. i am abig fan of this film and i recommened the all to see this film

Africano Africano is an amazing adventure, comedy movie I have ever seen. It was made in 2001.Ahmed El Sakka and Mona Zaki played the leading role, Hassan Hosny was in it. The movie was directed by Amr Arafa. It was set in South Africa and it tells the story of Badr who workes as a vet. His wish is tragically granted when his uncle who lives in Africa dies and Badr travels to get his inheritance as he meets his cousin Gamila. I love this movie because, the plot was interesting. I am also a big fan of Ahmed El Sakka. Hoever my favourite character in this movie is Gamila . Also the music is fantastic. I highly reccommend this movie, So go see it with your friends. I give it three stars, Do not miss it.

Spider man is my favourite movie

My fav is marvel movies

yes that is a good movies company

World war Z is my favorite movie , It has been my favorite movie since I watched it , it's my favorite movie cause i love zombie movies and every one liked it ; The film was made in 2013 and the director is Marc Forstar He is a German film producer and screenwriter , The film won an Empire award. U.K .The film is set on U.S.A and the star is Brad pett (Gerry Lane), Former United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop a zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatens to destroy humanity itself. it is the best film i had watched it ever I would give it five stars and I recommend everyone to watch it!.

Spiderman no way home It's my favourite superhero and the actor who role the Peter parker is Tom Holland and the other actors played the role very well also i like the genre of this movie it's action. Finally, I think that this movie can watch it teenagers and adults but I don't think youngers can't watch it.

yes its a good one too

Marvels: Endgame is my favorite movie, It has been my favorite movie since 2019, and it has been my favorite because everyone loved Avengers: Endgame, but it’s not just any other superhero flick. It’s actually the best film in the MCU. It’s emotionally resonant. Endgame has a sense of beauty behind all of the action and violence. At the center of the film, it really is a love story. Thor goes back to see his mother before she is murdered by the Dark Elves, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) reconciles with his father, and Steve Rodgers reunites with his wife back in his original time.

The equalizer the equalizer is a realistic action film, where Denzel Washington, plays Robert mccall , the film talks about how robert faked his death in order to live a quiet life, but when he sees a young woman being abused by a Russian gang, he comes out of his retirement to fight crime and reinforce justice, the movie is set in Salisbury, Hamilton, Chelsea, Haverhill, and Boston, Massachusetts and is directed by Antoine fuqua it was released in 2014 has an interesting story, the acting is fantastic, and the special effects are impeccable, to me this movie is perfect, 10/10, i recommend it to everyone, but be warned since it has a lot of violence

end game if you like action movies this movie will be perfect for you the film is talking about the marvel universe Thanos has come to the earth and he wants to take all of the infinity stones and destroy the world then the avengers came to kill him and they make many wars two on earth and one in the space the film was made in 2019 and directed by Anthony Russo The film stars are Robert Downey Jr(iron man) and Chris Evans(Captain America) I would give this film five stars because the film is very Interisting

interstellar 2014 this is an amazing sci-fi movies that was made 2014.Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway & Jessica Chastain. And its director is Christopher Nolan. the movie revolves around the Earth when it becomes uninhabitable in the future, a farmer and ex-NASA pilot, Joseph Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), is tasked to pilot a spacecraft, along with a team of researchers, to find a new planet for humans. I love this movie because the poly is amazing. I'm also a big fan of Christopher Nolan's works. I recommend this movie to everyone I'm sur that you gonna love it, don't miss it

i had to watch it twice to understand the idea

Twilight Saga

I loved this saga, I saw it many times and today in summer I saw it again and I can't get enough of it. I love the story, the characters and the villains, everything was well done. When I finished the saga for the first time, I did a lot of research on the characters, their lives, relationships etc. I saw a news that they will make a new movie based on Edwar Cullen's point of view, I hope they make it soon.

Mamma Mia! - Who is my father?

If you like musicals and the popular Swedish group ABBA, this is a perfect film for you. Dona is a single woman managing a small family hotel on a little Greek island. Her daughter, Sophie, is getting married and she decides to invite her father to the wedding. The tricky thing is that she doesn‘t know who her father is. The film was made in 2008 and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. It stars Meryl Streep (Donna), Amanda Seyfried (Sophie), Pierce Brosnan (Sam), Colin Firth (Harry) and Stellan Skarsgard (Bill). There is fabulous music, excellent acting and singing and a lot of funny scenes. The plot is funny on one side but there is a serious overtone. I would give Mamma Mia! five stars because I think the film has positive vibes and it is more important than anything else.

Films title: Mission Impossible Fallout is an action movie and is for a person that like action and tension. The Director is Christoper Mcquarrie, the main actors is Tom Cruise,Henry Cavill , Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg and more. The film was made in 2018 and it has won Prizes. My little review is that it is nice, entertaining and it´s so nice to watch. The film is about after a mission After a mission to recover a deadly weapon goes wrong, IMF agent Ethan Hunt and his team are forced to work alongside CIA agent Augustus Walker as they must race against time to continue their assignment. When Lane escapes from prison, Hunt must do whatever it takes to capture him once more.

Hello, I'm at school and have to write answers, I think it's good

So I like what you wrote

I am going to talk about Frozen. I don´t like the most of films but i thinked that i wanted to take one that i hated the most, why i hate it is becuse they sing those bad songs all the time and its just annoying.

The Twilight Saga, a franchise you've probably all heard of. But it is actually that good? Here's what I think:

The movies are based on the book series with the same name, written by Stephenie Meyer. I would describe them as your high school-dream books: you've got the romance, the rivalry, the drama, and an amazing story! What more could you ask for. In the first movie from 2008, we see Bella (Kristen Stweart), Edward (Robert Pattinson), and Jacob (Taylor Lautner) live out their triangle-drama just the way we imagined from the books we already know and love!

If you, like me, love watching a cheesy, teenage drama and would like to fall in love with your new favorite vampire family over and over again - I suggest you watch and/or read the amazing Twilight saga, written by the one and only Stephenie Meyer, brought to life by Melissa Rosenberg.

The Bourne identity is really good action spy movie. The main actor Matt Damon is just perfect for his role. This movie is about a good-looking young man suffering from amnesia, trying to find out his identity. On the beginning we can see a fisherman on a boat spots a body floating … When they got him on board, the body turns out to be alive. The friendly fisherman rescued him, gave him some money to go to Switzerland, because he has a capsule embedded under his skin, contains the code to a Swiss bank account. He was welcome in that country, he took a lot of money despite lacking a name or any form of personal identification. Also, he finds several passports, one saying his name is Bourne. The problem was that he really wanted to know why he was in the sea, and his real name, because he noticed about himself that he is not like everyone else. He speaks several languages, has highly trained power observation and memory, know all the spy tricks and was perfect driver. In a fact he was a special agent, he was hired by special service to kill important political people. When he finds out who he really is, he decided to leave his job, because he was a good person, he did not want to kill anyone anymore. And of course, there was a girl, why helped him a lot and he was in love with her. In the end of that movie, he has found his girl Maria and decided to live with her a simple normal life… far away from his past life. I like that movie a lot it has everything. I would definitely recommend that movie.

The book of life It is an animated film directed by Jorge Gutiérrez with a duration of 95 minutes, released in the United States in 2014. It is a legend-like story of two young men, Manolo and Joaquín, who live in a traditional Mexican town and compete for the love of María. Behind that bet are also two spirits, La Muerte and Xibalba, who will take part for each young person, tipping the balance for one of them to know who will conquer the sweet Maria? From that moment on, a very dizzying adventure begins that takes the viewer into the world of the living and the dead with fantastic colors and definition. It amazes so much level of detail and authenticity. The movie offers unique universes. The Book of Life is an entertaining animated film, suitable for children from the age of seven (more or less), it is a fairly elaborate film, with easy and simple content to digest. For me, the film also has authenticity, it is that although there is a stamp of the producer, it does not go beyond the creativity of the author.

I'm not a big fan of superhero films, but the movie Black Panther really caught my attention. It was directed by Ryan Coogler and it came out on February 16, 2018. The film is about a young man name T'Challa, play by the late Chadwick Boseman, who returns home to the African country of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. But when he's tested by a sudden enemy, Erik Killmonger play by non other than the talented Michael B Jordan, he must resolved this conflict because the fate of Wakanda and the world is at risk. With that said, he must gather an army, the Dora Milaje(adore ones) and the lead Okye (Danai Gurria), his wife to be Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) and his brilliant little sister Shuri(Letitia Wright) that must fight with him till the end to defeat their enemy and keep their country safe. Overall the movie was amazing. I like that it appreciated the cultures of blacks in the United States and African cultures. Also the actors and actresses put their heart, soul, mind and body into each of their roles. Last but not least, the customs changes and effects was flawless.

Film title "Eddie the Eagle" Directed by Dexter Fletcher.This movie based on real life of British first ski-jumper Eddie Edwards. Film gives us an idea about the power of encouragement, dedication and passion. All the person should have a target and must try to pass barriers.Then "the light will appear at the end of the tunnel" In my opinion this movie must be watched by all the students who at the beggining of their life journey. Don't give up and try and try again. This is motto of this film.

I learnt about the genre of film. props that characters use to make the movie realistic.

Five feet apart Romance This film is a 2019,directed be Justin Baldony.The stars are Cole Sprouse,Geyly Lu Richardson,Emily Baldony. The movie tells about girl Stella,who was sick on cystic fibrosis.She met a guy Will.He was also ill.But they weren’t allowed to approach each other’s,because they could infecting deadly viruses. But they didn’t heed all the bons... This film is very interesting and exciting. I highly recommend watching this movie to everyone.This story won’t leave anyone indifferent.

The Theory of Everything Drama/melodrama/biography, 2014 This film directed by James Marsh. The stars are Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones. This movie is based on a book. This is the story of the life of the famous physicist Stephen Hoging. Stephen goes to university, where he meets Jane. She became his wife in the future. Then, he learns of his incurable illness. His friends and wife support him. Man tries to fight. They are born children and all are happy in the family. But his health is deteriorating. Stephen makes great discoveries in physics. He becomes known worldwide. This film is very moving and romantic. The most touches is the love of Steven and Jane. I recomend this film everyone because it's very interesting and good. It has strong points.

my favourite film is THE DARK KNIGHT i think is action and drama and crime, itis the most brilliant movie made by nolan, it was awsom movie, full of shoking seens.

Skills: Writing a film review

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Writing a Movie Review: Teaching Tips and Lesson Ideas

To me, there’s nothing more enjoyable as a middle school teacher than blending films into English language arts classes. I’m a real movie lover, and I find that a good film-based activity is the perfect way to engage students in work on essential ELA skills in the last few weeks of school.

Thanks to Netflix, Disney+, and other streaming services, our students have more access to films than people at any other time in history! But I’ve noticed that even with so much exposure to movies, students need quite a lot of guidance to view films critically and with intention. 

This is why I find an end-of-year film review project to be so useful in the ELA classroom. Most students are natural movie reviewers already. They always come in on Monday mornings buzzing about the movies they saw over the weekend!

With this in mind, I like to tap into their natural instincts to share what they love, and help them learn the step-by-step organizational skills for writing a film review in the process. Here’s how this looks in the classroom:

1. Show Students Film Review Examples

To begin, I like to lead a brief whole-class discussion where we chat about the difference between getting a recommendation from a friend and reading a professional movie review . During this discussion, I point out that there are some specific things that a movie reviewer considers, including cinematography, actors, lighting, and sound.

Once students have the basic idea, I like to show them several examples of film reviews in different formats. If your school receives a newspaper subscription, you could collect and save film reviews to share with your class. Or, you may prefer a more modern approach and search online! Written film reviews tend to follow a similar structure and provide students with a good understanding of what they need to include.

Because most students also enjoy video content, we spend time looking at YouTube reviews as well. I might be dating myself, but I like to show old clips of Siskel and Ebert, the famous “two thumbs up” reviewers from the ‘80s and ‘90s! What I especially enjoy about their style is that they don’t always agree, but their reviews are still effective and engaging.

2. Know Your Audience

As we wrap up this lesson, I ask students to consider the audience of each review. For example, is the review aimed at children, adults, or even a teen magazine? The target audience affects not only tone and style, but also impacts the focus of the review. For example, a teen magazine review might focus on the famous actors of the film. By contrast, a special effects magazine might provide insight into a particular element of the filmmaking process.

3. Teach How to Watch the Film

The next step is to teach students how to watch a film with purpose, rather than simply for pleasure! In an ideal situation, I recommend watching a film twice. The first time is to get an overall understanding of the plot, and then to consider the choices the director and actors made in creating the film.

In the classroom, I like to pause the film frequently and let my students jot down notes. While they are watching, I remind them to consider each scene with an observant eye. I ask:

• What does the director choose to show (or not show)?
• How do the actors convey emotion, depth, and intention through their movements, as well as their words? 

4. Provide Common Vocabulary

As part of a film study, it’s important for students to be able to speak the “language” of movie making. After viewing the movie, I like to take some time to outline some key terms to help students write their reviews.

Words like blockbuster, avant-garde, disjointed, or uninspired can help elevate movie reviews in ELA from “friendly recommendations” to “review quality.” I find a printable list of useful writing terms is especially helpful. This is especially true if you want to avoid the “It was a good movie,” trap! 

5. Provide An Organizational Framework

When it comes to actually writing the review, I like to be quite specific in my instructions, breaking down the review into specific paragraphs .

For example, introductory paragraphs should start by engaging the reader with a strong opinion, thought-provoking statement, or even a quote to act as a “hook.” I like to remind students that the purpose of this paragraph is also to share some basic information about the film. This should include title, director, genre, and setting, as well as a brief plot overview. No spoilers, please!

Next, I have students plot out their paragraph about the main characters of the movie. I like to begin this process by having them reflect on the portrayal of the characters, and whether the actors are well-suited for their roles. As they evaluate the performances, middle school ELA students can support their opinions using evidence and examples from the film.

Because film techniques can vary so much from movie to movie, I like to give quite a lot of freedom in the next paragraph. I ask students to consider the following film techniques and choose one to focus on in detail:

• Camera work
• Sound effects

After they have evaluated film techniques, it’s time for students to flex their ELA muscles and reflect on the overall theme of the movie. In their fourth paragraph, I ask them to consider how the director uses filming techniques, set design, characters, conflict, or other elements to express or develop this theme. I like to guide this paragraph by asking questions like:

• Has the theme been developed effectively?
• Does it have an impact on the viewer, a specific community, or the world?

Finally, it’s time to wrap up the review! In this final paragraph, students need to give the film a rating in whatever “system” they choose. Popular choices in my classroom include thumbs up, stars, or even popcorn kernels on a scale of one to five! As they justify their rating and provide their personal opinions, I also encourage the class to consider what type of person would enjoy the movie.

6. Give Prompting Questions

In my experience, prompting questions help students focus on key things to include in their ELA movie review. I like to remind my students that graphic organizers are a tool for working through their ideas. They don’t need to be filled out in complete sentences, but they provide a useful framework for structuring their review. 

7. Make time For Peer Feedback & Editing

While students always resist the peer feedback and editing stage of the writing process, it really makes a difference in their overall quality of work.

Before they finalize their review, I have students work with a peer for a closer look at the grammatical and structural elements of their movie review. One way to do this is to follow the “three stars and a wish” format. In this activity, each student has to identify three positive things about the writing and one “wish” – an area of improvement.

Alternatively, if you have an established peer editing process in your classroom, this is a great opportunity to use it!

8. Provide Options for Presentation

Now for the fun part – the presentation of the movie review! I believe that students do their best work when they can express choice and voice in their finished product. 

Movie reviews can be shared in a lot of different ways (in the ELA classroom and in real life!). First, I have students select whether they want to share their completed review as a newspaper article, blog post, podcast, pre-recorded video, or even a live presentation in class.

If you’re tight on time, one trick I love is to put students in small groups (I find four works well) and present their reviews to each other. This alternative to whole-class presentations frees me up to circulate among the different groups. You’d be surprised at how much you can see and hear while doing this! At the end of each presentation, I like to have students grade each other using a common rubric. The presenters can self-assess their work as well!

There you have it! I hope you have a blast bringing a movie review assignment into your middle school ELA classroom. Three cheers to the end of the year!

Looking to integrate more videos into your ELA classroom? Check out my suggestions for 7 Ways to Bring Videos Into Secondary ELA .

Wrapping up your year? My 9 Creative Ideas for Student Awards celebrate every student in your class!

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How to write a film review

Writing a review is an option in many different English language exams, and films are such an obvious choice for reviews, so knowing how to write a film review is pretty important. It’s a great topic for the classroom too. Everyone watches films and there is a lot of opportunity to teach vocabulary, either film-related vocabulary or film review adjectives. I like to start off a class about films with some chat, or my personal favourite, the Movie Music Quiz , which also now has an excellent Movie Picture Quiz version too.

The structure of a film review

Like any writing task, it’s essential to know the structure of a film review before you start writing. A basic film review template shows you how to write a film review using a simple structure. Film reviews for First (FCE) and Advanced (CAE) Cambridge exams, as well as Trinity ISE exams, should all use a 4 paragraph structure. Another thing to remember is that your review should always have a title, and that title should include the name of the film.

• Introduction – Essential details and mini-summary
• Summary – A description of the film and some important details
• Analysis – An evaluation of different elements
• Conclusion – Your opinion and a recommendation

Introduction

In the introduction of a film review, it is crucial to mention the film title and the names of the director and the main actors. A brief summary of the film’s plot and background information can also be included, but it should not give away too much detail. The introduction should engage the reader and entice them to continue reading the review. Additionally, it is important to mention the genre and target audience of the film, which will give the reader an idea of what to expect.

In the summary section, the film review should give a comprehensive but concise description of the film, focusing on the plot, characters, and any significant events. The summary should be written in a way that does not give away the ending or spoil the film for the reader. It is important to maintain objectivity and not include personal opinions in this section. This section should provide enough detail for the reader to have a clear understanding of the film without giving too much away.

The analysis section is where the reviewer can showcase their critical skills and provide an in-depth evaluation of the film. The review should examine various elements of the film such as the script, direction, cinematography, acting, and special effects. You could also make a comparison to similar films in the same genre. The analysis should be written in an objective style with the opinion only showing through the language used.

In the conclusion, the reviewer should give their personal opinion of the film, summarising their thoughts on its strengths and weaknesses. They should also consider the target audience and whether they believe the film will appeal to them. Finally, the reviewer should provide a clear recommendation. The conclusion should be concise, leaving the reader with a clear understanding of the reviewer’s overall opinion of the film.

Using adjectives in reviews

Reviews are a great way to show off your language with impressive adjectives. If you read a film review in a newspaper or magazine, you’ll notice that the reviewer rarely, if ever, gives an explicit direct opinion. However, their opinion of the film is always crystal clear. This is through the use of adjectives.

Many adjectives have a clear connotation. They are either perceived as positive or negative. Compare these two examples. Which one is a positive description and which is negative?

• It’s a first-rate experience with an imaginative plot and a star-studded cast.
• The second-rate writing combined with weak performances is typical of this director’s work.

When using adjectives in a film review, it is important to choose words that accurately convey the reviewer’s opinion. Adjectives with strong connotations, either positive or negative, can be very effective in expressing the reviewer’s thoughts about the film. However, it is also important to use a variety of adjectives to avoid repetition and keep the review interesting. The use of adjectives can also help to paint a picture of the film, allowing the reader to get a sense of its atmosphere and tone.

The materials

Many exams, such as the Cambridge First (FCE) and Advanced (CAE) exams, as well as Trinity ISE exams, require students to write a film review as part of their writing task. These materials will provide students with a solid understanding of the structure of a film review and help them to develop their writing skills. This will give them the confidence they need to write a review that meets the requirements of the exam and impresses the examiner.

The materials will help you learn how to write an introduction, summary, analysis, and conclusion of a film review. You will also see a range of useful adjectives that you can use to express your opinions in their reviews. Finally, you will get an opportunity to practise writing film reviews, which will help you to develop your skills. Then you can check your answers with the samples provided in the answer key. Whether you’re preparing for an exam or just looking to improve your writing skills, these materials will provide you with everything you need to write a great film review.

1 thought on “How to write a film review”

Interesting and useful material to be used in class. thanks!

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Look at the film review and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

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Film Or Book Review

Table of Contents

Introduction.

A film or book review is a critical analysis that evaluates and articulates the strengths, weaknesses, and overall merit of a film or book, providing insights to help readers make informed decisions about watching or reading. In this article, we will show you the exact steps to ace your first film or book review.

Let’s start by understanding what a film or book review is!

What is a Film or Book Review?

A Film or Book Review is a comprehensive evaluation and analysis of a film or book that goes beyond a mere summary. It involves critically assessing various aspects of the work, including its strengths, weaknesses, themes, characters, plot, cinematography (in the case of a film), writing style (in the case of a book), and overall impact.

The purpose of a review is to provide readers or viewers with insights that help them form an informed opinion about the work and decide whether it’s worth their time and attention.

Movie Review

In a movie review, the critic typically examines elements such as the screenplay, direction, performances, cinematography, editing, sound design, and overall execution of the film. The reviewer may also consider the film’s genre, thematic elements, and how it compares to similar works within its category.

Personal reactions and subjective impressions often play a role, but a well-rounded review should balance personal opinion with an objective evaluation of the film’s artistic and technical merits.

Book Review

Similarly, a book review involves an in-depth analysis of the written work. Critics assess the author’s writing style, character development, plot structure, pacing, and thematic elements.

They may also consider the book’s contribution to its genre, cultural significance, and how it engages with relevant social or historical contexts.

Additionally, a good book review should highlight what sets the work apart and whether it successfully achieves its intended goals.

Structure of a Movie or Book Review

To write a comprehensive and engaging film or book review, follow a structured approach encompassing several key steps.

• Introduction: Begin with a captivating introduction, introducing the title and creator of the work while providing a brief contextual overview.
• Brief Summary: Summarize the plot succinctly, emphasizing key elements to give readers a sense of the storyline without revealing major spoilers.
• Critical Analysis: In the evaluation phase, dissect critical elements based on the medium—scrutinize screenplay, direction, performances, etc., in film reviews, and writing style, character development, etc., in book reviews.
• Personal Reactions: Express personal reactions and highlight noteworthy moments before providing a balanced critical analysis, supporting opinions with specific examples.
• Overall Commentary : Offer a general commentary, state your recommendation, and conclude with a concise summary.
• Conclusion: Sum up your review with a concise conclusion. Also, reiterate key points and leave the reader with a clear understanding of your overall assessment.

(Optionally, if you are a blog post you may want to include a numerical rating for a visual summary and encourage reader engagement through a call to action, fostering discussions or feedback.)

Steps to Write Your Movie or Book Review

Mastering your first review involves grasping the foundations of book and movie critiques. Follow the steps of preparation, outlining, drafting, revising, and meticulous editing to elevate your review to a comprehensive and insightful evaluation.

Here are the steps you need to follow to write a book or film review:

1. Preparation

• Do Some Reading: Before you start writing, you may read an example of this genre of writing. This will help you have an idea of the distinctive features of this genre. For example, you may want to read this movie review: “ The Green Mile “. Alternatively, you may want to read this review of “ The Brothers Karamazov ” by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
• Note-taking: Once familiarized with review samples, select the movie or book you plan to review and carefully document essential plot events, character developments, and any noteworthy themes or impressions that resonate with you.

2. Planning

Facilitate your review planning by completing the following diagram with pertinent information about the book or movie you plan to evaluate.

Once completed, create an outline for your review. Here is a sample structure for reference:

1. Introduction:

• Start with a catchy or informative introduction that includes the title of the film or book and its author or director.
• Provide a brief overview or context for the work.

2. Brief Summary:

• In a few sentences, summarize the plot of the film or book without giving away major spoilers.
• Highlight key elements to give the reader a sense of the storyline.

3. Evaluation of Elements:

• Discuss aspects such as screenplay, direction, performances, cinematography, editing, sound design, and overall execution.
• Address the film’s genre, thematic elements, and how it compares to similar works.
• Analyze the writing style, character development, plot structure, pacing, and thematic elements.
• Consider the book’s contribution to its genre, cultural significance, and engagement with social or historical contexts.

4. Personal Reactions:

• Express your personal reactions and feelings towards the film or book.
• Note any standout moments or elements that particularly resonated with you.

5. Critical Analysis:

• Provide a balanced analysis of both strengths and weaknesses.
• Support your opinions with specific examples from the film or book.
• Address how well the author or director achieves their goals.

6. Overall Commentary:

• Offer a general commentary on the film or book.
• State whether you recommend it to others and why.

7. Conclusion:

• Sum up your review with a concise conclusion.
• Reiterate key points and leave the reader with a clear understanding of your overall assessment.

3. Writing your First Draft

Introduction:

• When writing your first draft, begin with a comprehensive introduction that includes the title and author of the book or, if it’s a film, mention the director or actors involved. This sets the stage for a well-informed review.
• Moving on to the body of your draft, succinctly summarize the plot in a few sentences, providing enough detail to offer context without revealing major spoilers.
• Proceed to mention the setting, mentioning the place and time in which the plot unfolds.
• Share insights about the main characters, offering a glimpse into their roles and significance within the narrative.
• Additionally, provide commentary on the overall content, delving into themes, messages, or unique aspects that stood out to you.

Conclusion:

• Transitioning to the conclusion, offer a thoughtful commentary on the book or film. Clearly communicate whether you liked or disliked it, and articulate the reasons behind your sentiment.
• Analyze the author’s style or the film’s direction, addressing elements like its level of interest or potential boredom.
• Finally, express whether you would recommend the book or film to others, wrapping up your comprehensive review draft.

Here are some prompts to help write your first draft:

• Give the title and author of the book. If you’re reviewing a film mention the director or actors.
• 1. Summarize the plot in a few sentences.
• 2. Mention the setting: the place and time of the plot.
• 3. Say something about the main characters.
• 4. Say something about the content.
• 1. Comment on the book or film.
• 2. Let others know whether or not you liked the book/film.
• 3. Why do you like it? Why don’t you like it?
• 4. Is the author’s style good or bad, is the book/film interesting or boring, etc?
• 5. Do you want to recommend the book/film?

4. Revising and Editing

After writing the first draft of the review, it is high time for revising and editing it.

• Revising: In the revising phase, evaluate the overall structure and coherence of your work. This involves assessing the logical flow of ideas, ensuring a cohesive structure, and confirming that the central message is effectively conveyed. You may make significant changes to improve the overall flow and strengthen the core theme or argument, ensuring alignment with the intended purpose and audience.
• Editing: Following revision, the editing phase focuses on refining the finer details. It entails a meticulous review of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure. The goal is to enhance clarity and correctness, addressing issues such as awkward phrasing, redundancy, and proper language conventions. Editing transforms the draft into a polished and professional piece, ready for presentation.

Useful Expressions for Movie or Book Reviews

Title, author / director, actors.

• The film is directed by…
• The film is produced by…
• It is starred by…
• The book is written by …
• The action takes place in … (setting)
• The action of the film is set in…
• The story takes place in…

Characters and Plot

• The main characters are…
• The story is about…
• The novel tells the story of…
• In the course of the novel, the action develops dramatically.
• The novel/film begins with…
• The novel has an unexpected ending.
• The end of… is…
• I am impressed by
• The book is terribly/beautifully written
• The film is terrible/exciting.
• What surprised me is…
• What I liked is…
• What I didn’t like is…
• I liked/didn’t like the film/novel because…

In conclusion, a film or book review serves as a discerning analysis, exploring the strengths, weaknesses, and overall worth of the work. It serves as a guiding beacon for readers, aiding them in making informed choices about investing their time in watching or reading.

The key to mastering your inaugural review lies in understanding the structure of book and movie reviews. By diligently following the steps encompassing preparation, outlining, drafting, revising, and meticulous editing, you can elevate your review to a comprehensive and insightful evaluation.

This approach ensures that your critique not only captures the essence of the work but also provides valuable perspectives that resonate with your audience, fostering a deeper appreciation for the art of storytelling.

Related Pages:

• Articles about writing
• Figures of speech

Movie Review Writing - Presentation and Activities for Writing a Film Review

What educators are saying

Description.

Movie Review Writing - Presentation and Activities for Writing a Film Review: This movie review writing lesson is a comprehensive resource that covers all aspects of teaching students how to write a compelling movie review. With detailed presentation to guide the lesson and a variety of informational handouts and graphic organizers, students will have everything they need to successfully analyze and critique any film. The resource systematically breaks down the film review writing process, providing clear instructions and examples to ensure students understand each step.

Included in This Movie Review Writing Resource:

➡️ Movie Review Writing Presentation: Engage students with a comprehensive 16-slide PowerPoint presentation designed to enhance their understanding of crafting movie reviews. This resource covers essential aspects such as...

• Audience and purpose
• What to include
• Writing a movie review introduction
• Examining characters
• Evaluating film techniques
• Exploring the theme of the film
• Making a movie review recommendation
• Movie review example
• Film review commonly used terms

➡️ Movie Review Writing Pre-Writing Organizers: Facilitate students' pre-writing process with a two-slide graphic organizer tailored specifically for movie review writing. This organizer features targeted prompts to guide students through brainstorming and organizing their thoughts before proceeding to their final draft.

➡️ Movie Review Vocabulary: Provide students with a valuable handout comprising a curated list of commonly used vocabulary in movie reviews. This resource equips students with the necessary language tools to articulate their critiques effectively and eloquently.

➡️ Movie Review Good Copy Pages: Enhance student presentations and showcase their writing skills with visually appealing good copy pages. These eye-catching pages are designed to elevate student work, offering an attractive display format for their finalized movie reviews.

Skills Addressed in This Movie Review Writing Resource:

This film review writing resource allows students to use a variety of ELA and writing skills and standards. Below you will find a list of some of the skills this resource addresses:

• Summarizing and paraphrasing
• Analyzing characterization
• Evaluating (film techniques, rating the film)
• Interpreting theme
• Supporting claims with evidence
• Revising, editing, and rewriting
• Using precise and domain-specific vocabulary

What Teachers Are Saying About This Movie Review Writing Resource:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I chose to use this in my creative writing class. I needed something with structure that was comprehensive, which this was. Great resource ! Very thorough .

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My middle school students loved this activity . It had clear examples , and the organizers were easy to use .

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My MS film class used these for writing movie reviews. Their English teacher was surprised I was able to get more than two paragraphs out of some of them. Well thought out step-by-step process .

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Writing a Movie: Summarizing and Rereading a Film Script

• Resources & Preparation
• Instructional Plan
• Related Resources

Students are transformed into script writers in this lesson that develops skills in viewing, descriptive writing, and fluency. In this multisession lesson, students view a short film segment that has lots of action and little dialogue. While this lesson uses E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial , the first 10 minutes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade or The Lion King will work nicely with this lesson. As students view the scene in increments, they describe the action of the film as the teacher records the sentences students dictate. After students have watched the scene in its entirety, they listen to a reading of their descriptions and work to improve descriptions and revise any inaccuracies. Students are then assigned parts of the script and perform a dramatic reading of the script as the movie plays in the background. Fluency is key in this lesson because students must match the timing of their reading with the images on the screen.

From Theory to Practice

Writing a Movie provides an opportunity for students to write a description of a film scene and then reread the description to prepare for a schoolwide performance. Students receive feedback on their reading from teachers, classmates, and members of the school community. The rereading takes place in an age-appropriate, purposeful manner and contributes to reading fluency.

Common Core Standards

This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.

State Standards

This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.

NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts

• 4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
• 5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
• 6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.

Materials and Technology

• Computers with Internet access
• Smartboard or chart paper and markers
• VHS or DVD of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial directed by Steven Spielberg (Universal Studios, 1982)
• Word processing program

Rubric for Writing a Movie

Preparation

Student objectives.

Students will

• Write a description of a film segment
• Read a film description fluently
• Work in a cooperative learning situation

Invite your students to perform their oral reading for other classes in the school. Play the film segment on a large screen as students give a dramatic reading of their script. The opening eight-minute segment of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial includes background music that adds to the suspenseful feeling of the film. Let the original audio portion of the film play in the background as students read the parts they have written. The powerful music, exciting visual images, and expressive oral reading by your students will captivate the audience and may motivate other classes to replicate the project.

• This lesson encourages students to view a film and write a descriptive summary. To extend the creative writing opportunity, invite students to visit the Universal Studios website for E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial , select a picture from the site, and write a description of it.
• Have students access the Universal Studios website for E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial to find facts about the making of the film. Students can gather facts from this website and write questions to quiz their classmates.
• The Lion King . Allers, R. & Minkoff, R. (Directors). (1994). The lion king [Motion picture]. United States: Disney Studios.
• The Wizard of Oz. Fleming, V. (Director). (1939). The wizard of Oz [Motion picture]. United States: Warner Studios.
• Annie. Houston, J. (Director). (1982). Annie [Motion picture]. United States: Columbia Tri-Star.
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Spielberg, S. (Director). (1989). Indiana Jones and the last crusade [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Studio.

Student Assessment / Reflections

Student self-assessment. Writing a Movie provides an opportunity for students to work in a cooperative learning situation. Distribute the Rubric for Writing a Movie . Ask each student to reflect upon his or her participation in the activity and use the rubric to rate his or her performance. After completing the rubric, students should discuss their self-assessment with members of their group. Teacher assessment. Assess the effectiveness of the lesson by asking the following questions:

• Did each student contribute at least one sentence to the film script?
• Was each student able to read his or her portion of the script fluently?
• Did students work cooperatively in their small groups to prepare for the performance?
• Were students able to use the Rubric for Writing a Movie to accurately evaluate their performance?
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Students compare the film versions of The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's novels. Students then imagine how a scene in a current novel that they are reading would be filmed.

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Film Review Writing

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Level:  This is most suited to B2 / C1  level students but can be used with extra support at B1 level.

Time:  1 hour 20 minutes + ( depending on writing task).

This lesson prepares students for writing a film review. It includes conversation questions, focus on language for describing films, example reviews, focus on structuring a review, a categorising exercise for vocabulary and phrases for describing films, focus on language for giving opinions and making recommendations and a ‘write a film review’ task.

We have a teacher’s copy (including teacher’s notes, an answer key and a pronunciation guide) and a student version which you can email to your class for online lessons.

For best results when printing our PDFs, open and print them through Adobe Acrobat. https://get.adobe.com/reader /

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Fall Guy’ on Digital, a Spirited and Funny Ryan Gosling/Emily Blunt Actionstravaganza

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‘The Fall Guy’ Comes To Digital, But When Will ‘The Fall Guy’ Be Streaming on Peacock?

Emily blunt claims some on-screen kisses have made her want to throw up: “i’ve definitely not enjoyed some of it”, in ‘the fall guy,’ ryan gosling and emily blunt give a perfect chemistry lesson.

The Fall Guy ( now streaming on VOD services like Amazon Prime Video ) exists for two reasons: One, as stuntman-turned-director David Leitch’s affectionate tribute to his former profession. And two, to grant us, the undeserving masses, a romance between characters played by the two most attractive and charming actors in Hollywood, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt (it’s true and objectively indisputable; don’t fight me on this one). The film is loosely based on the TV series of the same name that aired 40 years ago, and allows Leitch to mine the things he’s familiar with, namely, self-referential humor (he directed Deadpool 2 , remember) and highly kinetic action sequences ( Atomic Blonde , and he was the uncredited co-director of John Wick ). Weirdly, despite all the star power and the promise of a good-time extravaganza perfect for the big screen, the film underperformed at the box office – it was supposed to kick off the summer 2024 movie season with a bang, not a fizzle. Frankly, I don’t know why you ridiculous people didn’t go see this movie. It’s fun!

THE FALL GUY : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: We open with a scene that isn’t supposed to be meta-, but unfortunately ended up being meta-: Stuntman Colt Seavers (Gosling) takes a brutal fall on a movie set and ends up retreating and licking his wounds, which is a metaphor for the box office performance of The Fall Guy . IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS WAY. I mean, The Fall Guy is a pretty damn good movie and Colt Seavers is a pretty damn good stuntman, and they deserve better! Colt was doing pretty great before that, doing what stuntmen do – sacrificing his body to nail all the most difficult shots in a movie while the above-the-title star, in this case Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), takes all the glory and boasts about how he does his own stunts. Colt’s not butthurt about it, though. This is the business, and he knows it. It surely helps that he gets the girl at the end of the day, Jody Moreno (Blunt), the camera operator who wants to go sit on a beach with him and smoosh face after this silly film shoot is over. Too bad it ended early for Colt, who broke his back and sank into such an abyssic depression that he let a radiant human being played by Emily Blunt slip away. What a fool he is.

Eighteen months later, Colt’s parking cars and deep into schmuckdom when movie producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) stops sipping on Diet Coke long enough to call him. She’s in Australia, where Tom Ryder is starring in a giganto-budget sci-fi/action/romance mess titled Metal Storm . Ryder’s stunt double is kaputskies and they need Colt to come in and barrel-roll some cars and be set on fire and all that. No thanks is his reply, until Gail sets the hook: This stupidass movie is Jody’s directorial debut. The production is in trouble. If Colt comes in and nails the big action shots, he’ll save the movie. Will he win back the girl, too? He hopes so. He hops on a plane and shows up on set for this extravaganza-to-be that resembles an ungodly melange of Fury Road , Starship Troopers and Dune and boasts a logo that looks like a Metallica copyright lawsuit waiting to happen. Actually, the film REALLY brings to mind Cowboys and Aliens . Remember Cowboys and Aliens ? It was a movie I regretted paying to see. What a ducking fud that was.

Anyway. Colt shows up on set, flips a don’t-call-it-a- Fury Road -car like eight times, crawls out of the wreckage and watches Jody’s jaw hit the ground. She didn’t know he was coming, and now she’s all mixed-emotions about this. Dude ghosted her hard . You can still see the glue seams in her heart. There’s a funny bit where they discuss the “romance plot” in “the script” through bullhorns so everybody on set can hear them failing mightily to pretend they’re not actually talking about their relationship problems, and then she makes him get set on fire and thrown against some rocks over and over and over again because sometimes you just need to do a few extra takes, you know? Purely the creative decision of a director, of course. Gotta get the coverage!

Afterward, Gail, who I should note is a complete maniac, pulls Colt aside. The real reason she called him here? Ryder is AWOL, and that’s precisely why Metal Storm is shit-creeking it right into the tank. She needs Colt to find Ryder, which subsequently finds our man wild-goose-chasing all over Melbourne, which is when we realize this movie, The Fall Guy , is spoofing action movies in which everyday people can suddenly turn into expert pugilists who’ve also mastered parkour, gunplay and whatever skill it is that dictates that one survive insanely convoluted car chases, foot chases, boat chases and, of course, explosions. Is it just me, or is this all stuff specific to stuntmen? Could very well be!

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: You can’t watch Ryan Gosling play a stunt driver without thinking about the greatest film of the 21st century so far, Blue Valentine . Er, I mean, Drive . Other odes to stuntpeople: Tarantino’s Death Proof , Burt Reynolds vehicle Hooper , Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood . And tonally, The Fall Guy is in line with the recent Jake Gyllenhaal Road House remake, which was similar in its winking noddery to 1980s action glories.

Performance Worth Watching: I feel like Gosling has been at the top of his game since Half Nelson – and that debuted 18 years ago. (I even liked First Man . You should try liking First Man too!) That he’s capable of balancing the sad sack/badass role in this highly comic comedy should surprise absolutely no one. That said, he’s too obvious a choice for this particular recognition, so let’s give the PWW to Ted Lasso ’s Waddingham, who gleefully steals a handful of scenes as the sociopathic movie producer.

Memorable Dialogue: While tracking down Ryder, Colt converses with a scummy drug dealer about his stuntman job:

Scummy drug dealer: They give Oscars for that? Colt: No. (Big long pregnant pause so everyone in the Academy can feel stupid about this)

Sex and Skin: Anyone else think it’s criminal to cast Gosling and Blunt as romantic leads and not even give us a PG-13 sex scene? Officer, arrest these people!

Our Take: I would love to see all of Tom Ryder’s movies, represented on posters in his trailer: You’ve got Annihilation of Valor , Action Pact and Bad Cop Good Dog , although I think those are just slightly tweaked versions of real-life Chuck Norris movies, which are all gems, I tell you, GEMS. Where was I? Right – what kind of pissant wouldn’t enjoy The Fall Guy ? Sure, it’s got its nose up its own ass, spoofing the making of movies, especially ludicrous overpriced high-concept tentpole blockbusters, but at least it references The Fast and the Furious and The Last of the Mohicans instead of, I dunno, Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles or something. 

There have been many Movies About Movies And How Great They Are, some of which we’d like to pitch into the sea – The Artist and Mank come to mind; they’ve aged like milk in a sauna – but few have set themselves up to be their own punchlines like Leitch’s unapologetically flippant Fall Guy (if stuntpeople can be psychoanalyzed as masochists, why shouldn’t they also make themselves the butts of their own jokes?). Meta-comedy walks a fine line; it can be either sandpaper-underpants grating or flat as pancake under a comatose hippo, but this movie hits a large majority of its comedic marks, beginning with a joke where Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s character says it’s too easy to see Ryan Gosling’s character’s face in a shot, so they need to re-shoot it. Now, the question of whether we’d rather see Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s face or Ryan Gosling’s face isn’t worth asking. Painfully self-evident, isn’t it? It seems as if Taylor-Johnson is good-humored about this, or at least assuaged by the opportunity to play a drawling McConaughey-type space cowboy in the movie-within-the-movie. Seems like a fair trade.

The crackling comedy extends to the romantic chemistry between Blunt and Gosling, who maintain a spirited, uptempo pace that keeps us on our toes and trying to keep up with an array of rapid-fire, multi-layered jokes (which Leitch shrewdly enhances with visual and physical gags). Without that core relationship, loosey-goosey as it can be – hey, Colt and Jody’s careers and happiness hang in the balance, so don’t say the stakes are low – the film might crumble under the weight of its postmodern indulgences, which range from jokes about CGI and deepfake technology in action movies (dare you to spot that stuff here!) to needle-drops that feel like product placement because the big ones are by Taylor Swift (this one’s admittedly a great gag) and Kiss (a reworked cover of “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” crops up routinely like a cockroach). 

I greatly appreciated a terrific sequence cross-cutting between a completely OTT car chase and Blunt singing “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” at a karaoke bar, and the coy gender reversal of the artist-muse dynamic as Judy realizes Colt offers the inspiration she needs to get Metal Storm off the schneid and ripe for hyping at Comic-Con. The film absolutely who-careses its way through the third act, which is calculated to pay mighty tribute to stuntfolk, and therefore emphasizes the action to the point where the plot all but disintegrates. Point taken: the people who risk life and limb deserve greater recognition, no doubt. But at least they have a sense of humor about it.

Our Call: The Fall Guy is a riot. You should’ve seen it in the theater, where it’s more bigger and better and more fun, but if you STREAM IT, that’s better than nothing.

John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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'The Fall Guy' Review: Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt Lead a Moviemaking Lover’s Dream

Get ready as this action ride is here to kick off the summer blockbuster season early.

The Big Picture

• The Fall Guy is a loving celebration of cinema, blending action and comedy with a focus on filmmaking and stuntwork.
• The movie stays rooted in set life while delivering delightful action sequences.
• The talented cast, impeccable pacing, and dynamic action set pieces make The Fall Guy a big screen delight.

This review was originally part of our coverage for the 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival.

I love movies, and I love moviemaking just as much. As someone who spends nearly every waking hour marveling at and celebrating the craftsmanship required to make a film, David Leitch ’s The Fall Guy is a dream come true . Yes, it’s a crowd-pleasing romantic comedy thriller, but first and foremost, it’s one big-hearted ode to the artists responsible for movie magic.

The Fall Guy

Colt Seavers is a stuntman who left the business a year earlier to focus on both his physical and mental health. He's drafted back into service when the star of a mega-budget studio movie, which is being directed by his ex, goes missing.

What Is 'The Fall Guy' About?

Ryan Gosling leads as Colt Seavers, a stuntman whose day-to-day consists of getting shot, blown up, sent spiraling via elaborate car crashes, and then some . All of that nearly ends when Colt is in the middle of a devastating accident. Time passes and Colt doesn’t bounce back. He steers clear of all things Hollywood until receiving an unexpected call. His ex, Jody ( Emily Blunt ), is making her first big-budget studio movie and it’s at risk of getting shut down. Its star, Tom Ryder ( Aaron Taylor-Johnson ), is missing. In an effort to get the film back on track, and hopefully win Jody back in the process, Colt agrees to track Tom down. Little does he know, it’s a mission that will demand he put his stunt person skillset to use — in the real world against real criminals.

The Fall Guy works on every single level . When the trailer first dropped, initially, I was overjoyed by the idea of getting a feature film that focused on filmmaking and stuntwork. However, when the trailer ventured beyond a movie set, I feared that once the main mission got underway, it’d teeter away from filmmaking and too close to a more traditional action movie narrative. I couldn’t have been more wrong about that. The Fall Guy firmly stays rooted in set life and the making of Jody’s movie, but whenever it moves out into the streets of Sydney, every single ounce of action is delightfully tethered to Colt’s on-set behavior. It results in a slew of downright hilarious action beats where what works on set doesn’t prove as effective against real criminals and also packs plenty of truly incredible physical achievements.

The Fall Guy is an often hilarious romp of a movie, but it doesn’t take its acknowledgment of stuntwork lightly, nor the work required of other departments to make a movie. All of the action in The Fall Guy is incredibly well-shot , ensuring it can match, if not surpass, the stunt scenes we’d see in any other Hollywood action film. But, these scenes also have a more tactile quality to them than most films. Many moments reminded me of seeing live stunt shows at theme parks in the best possible way. The physical feat required to pull something off is undeniable because it’s happening right before your eyes. Every ounce of Fall Guy elicits a similar feeling. It’s a highly enjoyable and wild ride, but one that never lets you forget that real human beings (and one very, very good stunt dog) did all of this for you, the audience.

'The Fall Guy' Is a Masterful Action Movie With Great Stunts

The concept remains fresh and fun from start to finish courtesy of its wildly charming leads, impeccable pacing, and uniquely dynamic action set pieces. Minus some noticeable digital backdrops, the stunt choreography, cinematography, and editing choices are all top-tier .

This will come as no surprise given their expertise in this space, but Leitch and cinematographer Jonathan Sela are true masters of capturing action. The imagery is often downright stunning, the viewer’s eye is always exactly where it needs to be , and they also appear to know just how much to capture in camera in a single shot. From there we get Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir ’s edit, which features a highly effective balance of cuts with purpose and lengthier shots that strongly enhance the believability and visceral nature of all the set pieces.

And then there’s Gosling who is utterly pitch-perfect as Colt Seavers . This role was made for him. His charisma is through the roof as he absolutely nails the balance between selling Colt as a highly trained stunt person but also one that, much to the viewer’s amusement, is realizing his on-set tricks don’t have the same effect off-set. He rocks maximum chemistry with everyone in the ensemble.

The Romance and Supporting Cast Are Stellar in 'The Fall Guy'

Admittedly, I can be a tough sell with the romantic component of romantic comedies/romantic thrillers, but the connection between Gosling and Blunt’s characters is undeniable . As always, Winston Duke boasts maximum screen presence playing Dan, a close friend of Colt’s and the stunt coordinator on Jody’s film. One of many of Fall Guy ’s greatest delights is seeing Duke and Gosling team up for a fight. Taylor-Johnson and Hannah Waddingham also soar in their roles. Taylor-Johnson is great as an insufferable movie star with a massive ego and Waddingham steals the show as the producer of Jody’s film who’ll stop at nothing to make things happen.

I truly had a massive grin on my face from start to finish watching The Fall Guy . It’s an extremely well-crafted action movie that’s absolutely buzzing with energy and charm for all 125 minutes of its running time. What makes it an all-timer is how it functions as one big, loving celebration of cinema.

I'm always in awe of the fact that no single person can make a movie. These productions demand hundreds, if not thousands of artists who are deeply passionate masters at their crafts come together in order to bring someone’s vision to theaters and share it with the world. Every contribution is valuable, and every contribution is vital. With an extra special emphasis on the wizards responsible for jaw-dropping stunts, The Fall Guy heavily highlights that in the form of an exceedingly entertaining ride . It's both a big-screen delight and a moviemaking lover’s dream.

The Fall Guy is both an entertaining ride and a celebration of stunt performers everywhere.

• Ryan Gosling is pitch-perfect in the role, capturing the balance between talented stunt performer and unwitting action hero.
• All of the way the action is put together, from the stunts themselves to the cinematography and the editing, is expertly done.
• The chemistry between Gosling and Emily Blunt is undeniable, ensuring the movie doesn't skimp on romance.
• There are some noticeable digital backgrounds.

The Fall Guy is now available to stream on VOD in the U.S.

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Students explore movies. In this literature session, students watch a classic movie and take notes. Students write a review of the movie to include author, setting, characters, summary, and how they felt about the movie and why.

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‘grand tour’ review: miguel gomes’ avant-garde eastern odyssey is not recommended for tourists – cannes film festival, breaking news.

‘The Surfer’ Review: Nicolas Cage Battles Board-Stealing Aussie Beach Bums – Cannes Film Festival

By Stephanie Bunbury

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For some years now, Nicolas Cage has been a genre unto himself: desperate, deranged, deliciously cheesy, with that special mastery of dialogue that moves seamlessly from a panting whisper to a bellow and back again. Put Cage’s name above the title and your film has an immediate brand that not only rides over script glitches but does a full Fast and Furious speed-jump over the top of any yawning gaps in probability.

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The point here is that Nic Cage is a sweating, dirty, increasingly crazed dude having successive breathless pitched battles with local delinquents, a he-man cult based on the beach and the whole spectrum of Australia’s scary fauna, from the kookaburras that laugh at him to the snake that slithers around him when he’s hiding in the bushes at night. Despite his dearth of the kinds of certain skills Liam Neeson might bring to the table, he eventually will triumph against the bullies. And do we believe that? Totally! That’s the Cage brand!

RELATED:  Cannes Film Festival Photos

The young ones here are mean. Their elders – Nic’s own generation, supposedly, though that’s another stretch – are meaner. Spying from the carpark where he ends up making a kind of encampment after his ejection from the beach, he sees his old schoolmate Scott Callinan (Julian McMahon) conducting rituals that seem to define a kind of cult. The men and boys kneel, chant and growl like dogs. Maybe they’re a little excessive, says a local mother who comes to get a coffee from a stand at the beach, but it keeps out the riff raff. Nic can’t get a coffee. He offers his watch as collateral. It’s stolen. So is his surfboard, so is his phone, so are his shoes. He can’t even get water from the toilet block; the sink is guarded by an Australian version of Cerberus, a furiously barking chained monster. And yet, somehow, it never occurs to him to drive away. That’s how exploitation films work. Everyone seems to consent to the horror.s Cage Battle

The fact our hero simply refuses to go anywhere, even to get a bottle of water, while he still can really is several steps over the barrier of believability. Maybe that hurdle could have been cleared with some brisker editing; if the risks were more frequent and the obstacles insuperable, if the whole thing snapped along faster so that there was no time to feel the suspension of disbelief sagging, the sense of peril would steamroller its absurdity into the sand. As it is, The Surfer is an object lesson in how to make a film economically by using a single location, a bunch of surfing extras and some stock footage of lizards. Which is the grindhouse ethic at work, for sure.

Title:  The Surfer Festival:  Cannes (Midnight Screenings) Director:  Lorcan Finnegan Screenwriter: Thomas Martin Cast:  Nicolas Cage, Julian Mcmahon, Nic Cassim, Miranda Tapsell, Alexander Bertrand, Justin Rosniak, Rahel Romahn, Finn Little, Charlotte Maggi Sales agent:  WME Independent (North America), North.Five.Six (International) Running time:  1 hr 39 min

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‘The Kingdom’ Review: The Daughter of a Corsican Big Shot Practices Her Aim in Cannes Standout

Director Julien Colonna uses a doomed father-daughter dynamic to critique the explosive cycle of retribution that erupted on Corsica in the ’90s.

By Peter Debruge

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At first, the violence seems limited to news reports. Every time a gangster is gunned down or a car bomb goes off in the streets of Corsica, the local channel flashes footage of the crime scene. So long as the killings are confined to television, it’s easy for 15-year-old Lesia to pretend they’re neither real nor relevant, that the people involved aren’t members of her father’s inner circle. But as “ The Kingdom ” unfolds, the attacks keep getting closer, slowly infiltrating the film itself, until finally, they’re happening right in front of her face.

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Tough teenage Lesia is enjoying the summer break when her aunt whisks the girl to the middle of nowhere and drops her with her father, Pierre-Paul (Saveriu Santucci). Lesia knows the drill: Pierre-Paul has been a fugitive for as long as she can remember. Phone calls are forbidden, lest rivals or authorities are monitoring the line. If they should discover his location, all of their lives could be in danger.

Things are even more tense than usual this visit, as local news covers an assassination attempt on a politician connected to her father. A few days later, her godfather is gunned down in town. Things are obviously heating up on the island, as one or more of the rival caïds are planning a power grab, and Pierre-Paul readies his men accordingly. Audiences learn their faces from Lesia’s point of view, presented like so many surrogate uncles. Before long, TV reports are running their photos alongside footage of bullet-riddled cars and weeping widows.

Lesia adores her dad, accompanying him on fishing trips and hunting wild boar together, but when it comes time to hook the trout or pull the trigger, she makes a point of sparing the animals. And yet, in the opening scene, we see Lesia’s unflinching ability to field-dress her prey. Obviously, she does possess the capacity to kill. Over the course of “The Kingdom,” she will let go of whatever illusions she had about her father and come to terms with what his work entails.

Early on, she’s ordered to stay home while the men disappear all day. But little by little, Pierre-Paul allows Lesia to listen in on compromising conversations, revealing how they plan to strike before their rivals can get to them. A bit too old to play an innocent teen, Benedetti is nevertheless ideal to embody the alert, inquisitive side of the character. From Lesia’s perspective, Pierre-Paul is an honorable figure. The film is ambiguous enough that he could just as easily be a nationalist militant (a sort of local hero) as an organized criminal (more likely the case).

And yet, as the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that this man who has been so benevolent to Lesia is capable of truly cold-blooded acts. Santucci masterfully balances these conflicting sides of Pierre-Paul’s personality in two key scenes: First, there’s the long conversation with Lesia at a campsite, in which he lays out everything that his lifestyle has cost him. And then there’s the twist, when we learn the real reason he chose this location.

Compared with the “Godfather” films (this decidedly anti-glamorous portrait is practically the antithesis of Coppola’s approach), “The Kingdom” reframes things from the vantage of the Sofia Coppola character. It’s like “The Sopranos,” as seen through Meadow’s eyes. And though we’re all familiar with the lesson that the cost of vengeance is a never-ending circle of violence, Colonna’s retelling lands like a bullet in the head.

Reviewed at Cinema Pantheon, Paris, May 9, 2024. In Cannes Film Festival (Un Certain Regard). Running time: 110 MIN. (Original title: “Le Royaume”)

• Production: A Chi-Fou-Mi Prods. production, with the participation of Canal+, Netflix, with the support of Centre National Du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée, de la Collectivité de Corse in partnership with the CNC, in association with Entourage Sofica. Producers: Hugo Selignac, Antoine Lafon.
• Crew: Director: Julien Colonna. Screenplay: Julien Colonna, Jeanne Herry. Camera: Antoine Cormier. Editors: Albertine Lastera, Yann Malcor. Music: Audrey Ismael.
• With: Ghjuvanna Benedetti, Saveriu Santucci, Anthony Morganti, Andrea Cossu, Frédéric Poggi, Régis Gomez, Eric Ettori, Thomas Bronzini, Pascale Mariani, Attilius Ceccaldi, Ghjuvanni Biancucci, Joseph Pietri, Marie Murcia, Alexandre Joannides, Toussaint Martinetti.

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‘Seinfeld’ star Michael Richards: I yelled racist remarks because heckler said I wasn’t funny

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“Seinfeld” star Michael Richards obliquely opens up about his notorious racist tirade in his upcoming memoir, “ Entrances and Exits .”

The 74-year-old, who played Kramer, lashed out —  unleashing a stream of racial slurs — at a comedy club audience that heckled him in 2006.

Richards writes that he was still smarting from the failure of his post-“Seinfeld” sitcom “The Michael Richards Show,” which lasted only eight episodes in 2000 — despite there being six years between the series’ cancellation and the incident at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles.

The comedian writes that, during his set, he heard talking coming from the balcony and yelled “Shut the f–k up!” to the delight of the audience.

He then heard someone from the balcony call out: “‘You’re not funny. We don’t think you’re very funny!'”

Richards writes that he took the remark “pretty hard. A solid punch below the belt.”

Although he does not detail what he said in the book, video from the night shows him saying, “Fifty years ago we’d have you upside down with a f–king fork up your ass” and calling one of the hecklers the n-word.

“Of course, looking back at all, I wish I had just agreed with him,” Richards writes of the audience member.

“He went low and I went even lower,” he writes. “We both ended up at the bottom of the barrel.”

The Emmy winner shares that, after the shocking incident the words “You’re not funny” kept running through his mind.

“He laid it out so clearly, so simply, my biggest fear — not being funny,” he writes. “Later, I’ll come to realize that all of this, everything he said, is me. His voice is my voice. This is all ME going on. My inferiority sets in. My anger erupts.”

After footage of the incident began to circulate three days later, the comedian appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman” to apologize.

Richards writes that his “Seinfeld” cast mates Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus all reach out but he was “embarrassed” and “concerned about the mess spilling onto them.”

He declined any interviews at the time and, on the advice of actress Frances Fisher, retreated to Mexico for several weeks of soul-searching. Richards and his girlfriend also visited Cambodia, India and Thailand, seemingly on a spiritual quest.

The actor confesses that he has “some regrets” but believes in the “continuity of the Soul, writing that “screwups in life are necessary …

Richards made a rare red-carpet appearance with his old cast mate Jerry Seinfeld at the premiere of the latter’s movie “Unfrosted.”

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Hernan Cortes Biography Writing Unit | Year 3 or Year 4

Subject: History

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Unit of work

Last updated

21 May 2024

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A biography writing unit about the life of the famous Spanish conquistador and explorer, Hernán Cortés. The NO PREP unit has been split into four separate lessons and is perfect for students in Year 3 or Year 4.

Included in this PDF printable resource:

• Three fact sheets which students need to cut out and sort into paragraphs
• Writing templates for four draft paragraphs
• Two prompt sheets for students to write their introduction and conclusion
• A template for students to write up their neat biography text
• A crossword puzzle & wordsearch activity to consolidate learning

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This resource is great for:

• In class learning
• Independent work
• Creative writing sessions
• Assessment practice
• Emergency sub plans

The first lesson is interactive and involves students cutting out facts, and then sorting these facts into paragraphs. In the second lesson the students need to use these facts to write four paragraphs. Then, in the third lesson children need to choose the most important facts and include these in an introduction; after this they need to answer several questions on a prompt sheet before writing up their conclusion. In the final lesson students need to check their draft paragraphs for mistakes before writing up their work on to a neat copy on the template provided.

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