Review Final Design

This was the original design for my film review. There were still some problems with the layout of the review and also with the language used. These points have been highlighted and will be altered for the final design.

Review Ideas

My Magazine Film Review

For my Film review I intend to include many of the aspects featured within all of the reviews I have analysed. It will primarily be based on the second review which I analysed, “Black Swan”, however it contain aspects, such as interviews, from my first analysed review “Pirates of the Caribbean”.

 The length of the film review will be a double page spread. It will contain images taken from the film and also an interview with the director. It will include a brief description of the film and information about the film. This includes the length of the film, certificate, director, and actors’ names. It will also reference the fact that it is the Director’s first film. It will also consist of a feature about the symbolism and music used within the film. Finally, the review will finish with the writer’s accolades of the film.

In summary, my film will include;

·        Plot summary

·        Film information

o       Film length

o       Actor’s names

o       Director

·        Interview with director

·        Mention the symbolism included within the film

·        Overview of the film.

·        Writers accolades

·        Star rating

·        An appealing concluding statement. 

This is the design idea which I have constructed; 

Review Layout Design 1 

It contains all of the features which I have identified within film reviews.

Differences to Internet Reviews

I then decided to look at the differences from reviews from magazines to the ones which are published on their websites.

The magazine review which I extracted from review websites include; 

• Somewhere -Empire magazine website 
• True Grit- Entertainment weekly website
• Scretariat- Film Four website

Somewhere:

 

True Grit:

 

Secretarait:

 The only main difference in the actual blurb is the structure of the text. Unlike magazine reviews it is not written in columns, this is the only main real difference. Alothough like other web 2.0 sites, it allows interaction with the public and enables them to leave their comments on the film or review in hand.
However, on the internet reviews there is much more advertisement for other links on the site, or of product placement/advertisement. Such examples include; on the 'True Grit' review, the advert for Bold fabric washing liquid.

On the website for Empire magazine (Somewhere review)  there is a key to the breakdown of star ratings, stating to what each of them stand for. Underneath that it also gives a list of recent films which have been rated by that magazine.

However, they do allow more information on the film to be present, with the trailer for the video available to be viewed, and other still images taken from the film.

Overall, there is primarily the same amount of information present on the actual film, but on the internet version of the reviews their is more content on advertisement to other links and aspects of products on the websites.

When making my own short film review, I could take these findings into consideration, especially if I decide to create a review for a website in addition to one for a review magazine.

Reviews Analysis - The Ward

Reviews Analysis - Black Swan

Reviews Analysis - Pirates of the Caribbean

Reviews Analysis

I will investigate three examples of different types of film reviews and see whether they contain the features of film reviews. I will comment and annotate the conventions of film reviews present within these examples.

The film posters I will look at will all be from the specialist movie magazine “Empire”. They will each vary in purpose, point in production of the film, word count and page spread.

The film reviews which I will look at will be;

·     Pirates of the Caribbean: Fountain of Youth

·     Black Swan

·     The Ward

Reason for Reviews

The Reasons for Reviews

Film reviews are a written form of advertisement for films. Film reviews are normally located within specialised magazines which are primarily about movies in general, such as “Empire” and “Total Film”. However, general magazines have also started to include reviews of current films within the cinema, including “Closer”.  The specialist movie magazines have now progressed onto having these reviews and articles present on their websites.

There are many different types and styles of film reviews which are present within the specialist film magazines. But, on the whole, film reviews all contain the same content.

These include;

·        Name of Director

·        Name of Actors

·        Date of film release

·        Film length

·        Still images from the film

·        Age Certificate

·        Brief overview and description of plot

·        Reviewer’s accolades and opinions

·        Interview with actors/director

·        Star Rating

These are all important features which need to be included within the film review. By including these features will help optimise the promotion for the film. However, this is only true if the author gives the film a positive review, as some reviews can be negative and slate the film instead.

The name of the director, actors, date of release, plot overview and certificate, are all included to inform the audience on the film. On the other hand, the still images, interviews with actors and director, reviewer’s opinion and star rating, are the actual aspects which create the review of the film.  Interestingly, these are also the aspects which entice the audience to read the review.

It is the combination of both of these elements which create the best type of film review.