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There are different forms of film criticism. The most common form is the review, which acts as a recommendation or warning for people who haven't yet seen the film. These are a few hundred words and focus on evaluating the film--saying whether it is excellent, good, mediocre, or poor. An academic article is more formal than a review, and much longer. It is less focused on opinion, and assumes the reader has seen the film. A critical essay is less formal and more opinionated than an academic article, but more formal than a review. Don't feel pressured to choose a particular form of criticism and stick to it. Many film critics write in all three forms, or blend different forms! A film critic should not merely describe the plot, scenes, music, and style of the film they are studying, but also be able to analyze these elements. To analyze a film, think about how different elements work together and the effect they produce. For example, you might observe that a director uses a lot of dark colors in his film. Through analysis, you might conclude that this use of color mirrors the dark emotions of the main character. Critical essays and academic articles focus on description and analysis, while reviews usually do not. A critic should be able to interpret a film, or determine its meaning. Think about the claims a film is making. What message is the director trying to convey? Different critics may have different interpretations of the same film. A film critic might interpret the film Snow White as a commentary on the pitfalls of vanity. Critical essays and academic articles offer interpretations, whereas reviews sometimes do, but often don't. Evaluation is the most important aspect of a movie review. When you evaluate a film, you make a judgment about its quality. Is it an excellent film, a mediocre film, or a bad film? Base your evaluation on your understanding of film as an art form. A critic might offer the evaluation that Snow White is one of the best animated films of its time. Reviews focus heavily on evaluation, while critical essays and academic articles place less emphasis on evaluation. You may like a film, but as a critic, recognize that it is not a high quality film. In the same way, you may not enjoy a film, but acknowledge it is well made. When writing as a critic, it's important to make judgments about film quality rather than relying on your own tastes. You should base your judgments on general criteria for excellence. These include originality, good acting, technical skill, an engaging plot, and emotional intensity. Reading the work of other critics and watching high quality films will give you a better idea of what makes an excellent film. It's fine to let your tastes show through in movie reviews--many critics do. Celebrity critics are often famous for displaying their preferences. Just make sure you are looking at the film with a critical eye, too.
Learn about the different forms of criticism. Analyze the film. Interpret the film. Evaluate the film. Distinguish between preferences and critical judgement.