(Module 2) Film Evaluation Guideline – Due Jan. 26 – 11:59 PM

After you view your selected film (and film of your choosing) for review  address the following sections, and load your reflections onto one of the following:

• Option 1: Letterboxd.com – Create a profile and review your film in proper/formal written format). You will be graded on grammar and spelling as well as content (500 words would be fine).
• Option 2: Create a personal film blog (WordPress) and provide your review there with at least three supporting photos. It should be provided in proper/formal written format. You will be graded on grammar and spelling as well as content (500 words would be fine).
• Option 3: Create a Podcast Channel (soundcloud.com) and provide a three-six minute review of your selected film.
• Option 4: Create a YouTube Channel (YouTube.com) and provide a three-six minute review of your selected film. If you go this route you should add titles, and images or video of the film for support.

This is due (Jan. 26, 11:59 PM). 

Consider the following when reviewing your film

Part I – Reflections and Interpretations:

1. Describe the story – summary (synopsis). Don’t tell everything. Offer the highlights and overview only. Brevity is key here; capture the synopsis of the film, not each scene. Try to keep this to a paragraph. That may be tougher than you think. Refer to the article on “writing a more concise film summary” for guidance.
2. You may want to mention the inciting incident somewhere in your summary; remember that this launches the story.
3. What was the story question?
4. What approach does the author take –what genre (Comedy, Drama, Action, Family, Animation, Adventure, etc.) – or is it a combination of several? Explain why you feel this way?
5. Does the story seek to entertain or is there a deeper meaning (or both)? If there is a deeper meaning, what is the life lesson or  message? Did the story feel complete?

Part II – Author’s intent and focus. Which one of the following was the most important aspect for you? Why? (Sometimes there may be more than one). 

1. Focus on Plot – the Story.
2. Focus on Emotional effect or mood (does the story seek mainly to convey or elicit emotions – sadness, joy, anger).
3. Focus on Character.
4. Focus on style or Texture – (unique style in writing or conveying mood, overly figurative language, is it written to convey language of a certain time or place, strong symbolism, etc.).
5. Focus on ideas – (the story tries to convey a moral or social statement or message. Human nature, coming of age stories, human relationships, politics). These stories are meant to leave a lasting impression.

   

   Kevin Costner holding Gaby Hoffmann in a scene from the film ‘Field Of Dreams’, 1989. (Photo by Universal/Getty Images)

 

Part III – Explore the most important Character Conflicts – examine why they are important *defend these

(All stories have a character conflict – it is this conflict that should drive the story)

1. Character  vs. Character
2. Character vs. Nature (do characters faces storms, earthquakes, tornados, natural disasters, etc?).
3. Character vs. self (internal battles & struggles with one’s feelings, desires, physical or mental limitations, etc).
4. Character vs. Society (battles with culture, education, politics).
5. Character vs. The Unknown or Supernatural (any unknown future, enemy, situation, feelings, etc.).
6. Character vs. God/Religion (battles and struggles with one’s understanding and/or relationship to religion, God and/or figures representing religion).
7. Character vs. Machine (or technology) – (when humankind battles the power of technology and that results in machine taking on or taking over for humanity).

Part IV – Personal Response and Recommendations (combines reflections and interpretations with ‘how the movie made you feel’)

1. What are the weakest and strongest points to the story?
2. Does the story succeed or fail? Why do you think so? (Did it make you laugh? Did it make you cry? Did it scare you?)
3. What are your overall personal reactions to the story (if you haven’t already answered this above)?
4. Who is this story’s appropriate audience (families, children, adults, men, women, college educated, foreign culture, etc.)?
5. If you gave it a report card grade –what would that grade be? Make sure the grade matches your evaluation.

Part V – The talent

1. Make sure you mention any of the important talents for this film (director, writers, actors, composers, etc.)

1.19.21

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