Film reviews - presentation (1)

1. Film reviews A writing lesson for A2 learners about film reviews.

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1

2.

1. Lead-in
What films have you seen that are…?
5 stars (excellent!)
3 stars (okay…but…)
1 star (you don’t recommend this!)
Why?
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3.

2. Language in film reviews
Film review: The Theory of Everything, 2014 ★★★★.
Find synonyms in
the text for these
phrases in bold.
a. The actor
Simon McBurney
is Frank Hawking,
the dad in the film.
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The Theory of Everything is about the scientist Stephen Hawking. The film is
a drama, and is based on a book, ‘Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen’
by his wife, Jane Wilde Hawking. The film is set in England and the story
takes place in the early 1960s. It’s a biography, it tells the story of
Hawking’s relationship with Jane, the diagnosis of his motor neuron disease
and his success as a physicist.
I love the acting in this film. Eddie Redmayne stars as the main character
Hawking and Felicity Jones plays the role of Jane. My favourite character is
Stephen Hawking because he is very clever and brave. The best scene is
when he speaks to the crowd about his life.
I think this is an ideal film for people who like true stories. It is quite long
and a bit sad at times but the story is very interesting and there is a lot of
action and drama. I give The Theory of Everything four stars, go and watch it
soon!
★★★★★Fantastic!
★★★★Really good!
★★★ OK
★★ Bad
★ Terrible!

4.

2. Language in film reviews
Film review: The Theory of Everything, 2014 ★★★★.
Find synonyms in
the text for these
phrases in bold.
b. Eddie
Redmayne also
plays the main
role in the series
‘The day of the
jackal’.
www.teachingenglish.org.uk
The Theory of Everything is about the scientist Stephen Hawking. The film is
a drama, and is based on a book, ‘Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen’
by his wife, Jane Wilde Hawking. The film is set in England and the story
takes place in the early 1960s. It’s a biography, it tells the story of
Hawking’s relationship with Jane, the diagnosis of his motor neuron disease
and his success as a physicist.
I love the acting in this film. Eddie Redmayne stars as the main character
Hawking and Felicity Jones plays the role of Jane. My favourite character is
Stephen Hawking because he is very clever and brave. The best scene is
when he speaks to the crowd about his life.
I think this is an ideal film for people who like true stories. It is quite long
and a bit sad at times but the story is very interesting and there is a lot of
action and drama. I give The Theory of Everything four stars, go and watch it
soon!
★★★★★Fantastic!
★★★★Really good!
★★★ OK
★★ Bad
★ Terrible!

5.

2. Language in film reviews
Film review: The Theory of Everything, 2014 ★★★★.
Find synonyms in
the text for these
phrases in bold.
c. I’d recommend
this film for
anyone who likes
police thrillers.
www.teachingenglish.org.uk
The Theory of Everything is about the scientist Stephen Hawking. The film is
a drama, and is based on a book, ‘Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen’
by his wife, Jane Wilde Hawking. The film is set in England and the story
takes place in the early 1960s. It’s a biography, it tells the story of
Hawking’s relationship with Jane, the diagnosis of his motor neuron disease
and his success as a physicist.
I love the acting in this film. Eddie Redmayne stars as the main character
Hawking and Felicity Jones plays the role of Jane. My favourite character is
Stephen Hawking because he is very clever and brave. The best scene is
when he speaks to the crowd about his life.
I think this is an ideal film for people who like true stories. It is quite long
and a bit sad at times but the story is very interesting and there is a lot of
action and drama. I give The Theory of Everything four stars, go and watch it
soon!
★★★★★Fantastic!
★★★★Really good!
★★★ OK
★★ Bad
★ Terrible!

6.

2. Language in film reviews
Film review: The Theory of Everything, 2014 ★★★★.
Find synonyms in
the text for these
phrases in bold.
d. It’s about the
life of a spy.
The Theory of Everything is about the scientist Stephen Hawking. The film is
a drama, and is based on a book, ‘Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen’
by his wife, Jane Wilde Hawking. The film is set in England and the story
takes place in the early 1960s. It’s a biography, it tells the story of
Hawking’s relationship with Jane, the diagnosis of his motor neuron disease
and his success as a physicist.
I love the acting in this film. Eddie Redmayne stars as the main character
Hawking and Felicity Jones plays the role of Jane. My favourite character is
Stephen Hawking because he is very clever and brave. The best scene is
when he speaks to the crowd about his life.
I think this is an ideal film for people who like true stories. It is quite long
and a bit sad at times but the story is very interesting and there is a lot of
action and drama. I give The Theory of Everything four stars, go and watch it
soon!
www.teachingenglish.org.uk
★★★★★Fantastic!
★★★★Really good!
★★★ OK
★★ Bad
★ Terrible!

7.

2. Language in film reviews
Film review: The Theory of Everything, 2014 ★★★★.
Find synonyms in
the text for these
phrases in bold.
e. Many films are
adapted from
books.
The Theory of Everything is about the scientist Stephen Hawking. The film is
a drama, and is based on a book, ‘Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen’
by his wife, Jane Wilde Hawking. The film is set in England and the story
takes place in the early 1960s. It’s a biography, it tells the story of
Hawking’s relationship with Jane, the diagnosis of his motor neuron disease
and his success as a physicist.
I love the acting in this film. Eddie Redmayne stars as the main character
Hawking and Felicity Jones plays the role of Jane. My favourite character is
Stephen Hawking because he is very clever and brave. The best scene is
when he speaks to the crowd about his life.
I think this is an ideal film for people who like true stories. It is quite long
and a bit sad at times but the story is very interesting and there is a lot of
action and drama. I give The Theory of Everything four stars, go and watch it
soon!
www.teachingenglish.org.uk
★★★★★Fantastic!
★★★★Really good!
★★★ OK
★★ Bad
★ Terrible!

8.

2. Language in film reviews
Film review: The Theory of Everything, 2014 ★★★★.
Find synonyms in
the text for these
phrases in bold.
f. The story
happens in Egypt.
The Theory of Everything is about the scientist Stephen Hawking. The film is
a drama, and is based on a book, ‘Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen’
by his wife, Jane Wilde Hawking. The film is set in England and the story
takes place in the early 1960s. It’s a biography, it tells the story of
Hawking’s relationship with Jane, the diagnosis of his motor neuron disease
and his success as a physicist.
I love the acting in this film. Eddie Redmayne stars as the main character
Hawking and Felicity Jones plays the role of Jane. My favourite character is
Stephen Hawking because he is very clever and brave. The best scene is
when he speaks to the crowd about his life.
I think this is an ideal film for people who like true stories. It is quite long
and a bit sad at times but the story is very interesting and there is a lot of
action and drama. I give The Theory of Everything four stars, go and watch it
soon!
www.teachingenglish.org.uk
★★★★★Fantastic!
★★★★Really good!
★★★ OK
★★ Bad
★ Terrible!

9.

2. Language in film reviews
Film review: The Theory of Everything, 2014 ★★★★.
Find synonyms in
the text for these
phrases in bold.
g. I really enjoyed
the performances
in the last scene.
The Theory of Everything is about the scientist Stephen Hawking. The film is
a drama, and is based on a book, ‘Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen’
by his wife, Jane Wilde Hawking. The film is set in England and the story
takes place in the early 1960s. It’s a biography, it tells the story of
Hawking’s relationship with Jane, the diagnosis of his motor neuron disease
and his success as a physicist.
I love the acting in this film. Eddie Redmayne stars as the main character
Hawking and Felicity Jones plays the role of Jane. My favourite character is
Stephen Hawking because he is very clever and brave. The best scene is
when he speaks to the crowd about his life.
I think this is an ideal film for people who like true stories. It is quite long
and a bit sad at times but the story is very interesting and there is a lot of
action and drama. I give The Theory of Everything four stars, go and watch it
soon!
www.teachingenglish.org.uk
★★★★★Fantastic!
★★★★Really good!
★★★ OK
★★ Bad
★ Terrible!

10.

2. Language in film reviews
Film review: The Theory of Everything, 2014 ★★★★.
Find synonyms in
the text for these
phrases in bold.
h. I loved the part
when the couple
meet
The Theory of Everything is about the scientist Stephen Hawking. The film is
a drama, and is based on a book, ‘Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen’
by his wife, Jane Wilde Hawking. The film is set in England and the story
takes place in the early 1960s. It’s a biography, it tells the story of
Hawking’s relationship with Jane, the diagnosis of his motor neuron disease
and his success as a physicist.
I love the acting in this film. Eddie Redmayne stars as the main character
Hawking and Felicity Jones plays the role of Jane. My favourite character is
Stephen Hawking because he is very clever and brave. The best scene is
when he speaks to the crowd about his life.
I think this is an ideal film for people who like true stories. It is quite long
and a bit sad at times but the story is very interesting and there is a lot of
action and drama. I give The Theory of Everything four stars, go and watch it
soon!
www.teachingenglish.org.uk
★★★★★Fantastic!
★★★★Really good!
★★★ OK
★★ Bad
★ Terrible!

11.

2 What’s in a film review?
Read the film review again.
Does the writer answer all these questions? Check and tick (✓).
1. What is the title of the film?
6. What is it about?
2. What genre is it?
7. Who stars in it?
3. Is it based on a book?
8. Who plays the other main role(s)?
4. Where is the film set?
9. Who is your favourite character? (Why?)
5. When does the story take place?
10. What kind of person would like this film?
www.teachingenglish.org.uk

12.

3. What’s in a film review?
Film review: The Theory of Everything, 2014 ★★★★.
The Theory of Everything is about the scientist Stephen Hawking. The film is a drama, and is
based on a book, ‘Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen’ by his wife, Jane Wilde Hawking.
The film is set in England and the story takes place in the early 1960s. It’s a biography, it tells
the story of Hawking’s relationship with Jane, the diagnosis of his motor neuron disease and
his success as a physicist.
I love the acting in this film. Eddie Redmayne stars 1.
as What
the main
character
Hawking
is the
title of the
film? and
Felicity Jones plays the role of Jane. My favourite character is Stephen Hawking because he is
2. What
genre
is it?
very clever and brave. The best scene is when he speaks
to the
crowd
about his life.
3. Is itItbased
onlong
a book?
I think this is an ideal film for people who like true stories.
is quite
and a bit sad at times
but the story is very interesting and there is a lot of action
and drama.
I give
The Theory of
4. Where
is the film
set?
Everything four stars, go and watch it soon!
5. When does the story take place?
★★★★★Fantastic!
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★★★★Really good!
★★★ OK
★★ Bad
★ Terrible!

13.

3. What’s in a film review?
6. What is it about?
Film review: The Theory of Everything, 2014 ★★★★. 7. Who stars in it?
The Theory of Everything is about the scientist Stephen
The
is amain
drama,
and is
8.Hawking.
Who plays
thefilm
other
role(s)?
based on a book, ‘Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen’ by his wife, Jane Wilde Hawking.
is 1960s.
your favourite
character?
(Why?)
The film is set in England and the story takes place in 9.
theWho
early
It’s a biography,
it tells
the story of Hawking’s relationship with Jane, the diagnosis
of his
motor
neuron
disease
and
10. What
kind
of person
would
like this
his success as a physicist.
film?
I love the acting in this film. Eddie Redmayne stars as the main character Hawking and
Felicity Jones plays the role of Jane. My favourite character is Stephen Hawking because he is
very clever and brave. The best scene is when he speaks to the crowd about his life.
I think this is an ideal film for people who like true stories. It is quite long and a bit sad at times
but the story is very interesting and there is a lot of action and drama. I give The Theory of
Everything four stars, go and watch it soon!
★★★★★Fantastic!
www.teachingenglish.org.uk
★★★★Really good!
★★★ OK
★★ Bad
★ Terrible!

14.

3. Write
Follow the steps to write your own film review.
1. Think of a film you have watched.
2. Make notes for each of the questions in activity 1.
1. What is the title of the film?
6. What is it about?
2. What genre is it?
7. Who stars in it?
3. Is it based on a book?
8. Who plays the other main role(s)?
4. Where is the film set?
9. Who is your favourite character? (Why?)
5. When does the story take place?
10. What kind of person would like this film?
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15.

3. Write
3. Write your review using your notes and
the model text.
The Theory of Everything is about the scientist
Stephen Hawking. The film is a drama, and is based…
Paragraph 1. General information
Paragraph 2. What you liked
I love the acting in this film. Eddie Redmayne stars as
the main character…... My favourite character is..
Paragraph 3. Recommendation
Note: Use some of the words and phrases from
the model review.
Write between 100 and 150 words.
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I think this is an ideal film for people who like true
stories. It is quite long and a bit sad at times but…

16.

3. Writing
When you finish your writing,
give it to a partner to check.
Make any edits/changes.
Share your writing with the
class.
Read at least four other
reviews.
Talk in groups: Which of these films
do you want to see? Do you agree
with the reviews?
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17.

6. Reflect
What did I do well today?
What could I improve? How could I improve this?
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