FAO CGAA Year 1: Unit 1 Anatomy - Your 'Shapeshifters' Film Reviews

Some early advice regarding your film reviews for CGAA Unit 1 Anatomy 2011

"Film reviews for the ‘Shapeshifters’ film programme. Please note – in addition to and support of your own critique, your reviews must include a minimum of 3 quotations from 3 different published reviews1 + poster art + supporting stills.  Please note - Harvard Method2 must be used for all quotations and all illustrations to be referenced correctly. Reviews are to include bibliography and illustration list."

1: Some good online sources for film criticism and reviews include:

• http://www.guardian.co.uk/film
• http://www.bfi.org.uk
• http://www.metacritic.com
• http://www.rottentomatoes.com
• http://www.empireonline.com
• http://www.filmreference.com
• http://www.kamera.co.uk
• http://twitchfilm.net

2: Follow this link for 'how to reference' conventions for all kinds of sources using the Harvard Method.

Okay - what a film review isn't is a blow-by-blow account of what happened in the movie.  You may need to recap a key plot point, scene or storyline in order to make your point clearly, but don't fall into the trap of boring your reader with endless description.

A review is your critical perspective on a film (or book, or play, or whatever) - but do not confuse this with using your review to say how much you 'hated' or 'enjoyed' the film.  This is of no interest to me or your readers.  Your job as critic is not to complain, disparage or mock or hate.  Nor is it to "whoop-whoop" or sing praises or gush adoringly about favourite directors.  No, your job is to consider the films thematically; to tease out their meanings and issues, and pick apart their construction.  What is the relationship between the film's narrative and themes and the way the scenes/shots/sets/costumes etc. are presented to the audience? How does the film communicate it's meaning to its audience? What effect does the film have and how does the filmmaker accomplish that effect?

The brief asks to use the ideas, findings and views of other critics/thinkers to support/challenge your own.  You may have hated a particular movie (it's not your thing, you don't like the lead actor, it's in black and white, it's 'dated' etc.), but someone else may well disagree and will have something insightful and enlightening to say about it.  Indeed, in order to write interesting and balanced reviews, you'll need to read interesting reviews, articles and essays.  You should be reading about and around the film before attempting to review it.  See what's out there and take a bit of time to formulate a view, argument or angle.

As your watching, then reviewing the films in the Shapeshifter series, keep the context of the brief in mind. Ask yourself this question throughout - and keep asking it: what can the theme of metamorphosis tell us about the hopes and fears of the human experience?   I genuinely look forward to reading your responses over the next five weeks.

For a great example of what I'm looking for from a good film review, go here - this review by CGAA Yr 2 student, Molly Bolder (of a film she was shown later in the year), should give you a clear indication of how you might consider structuring a review.  Please note the use of quotes,  proper use of Harvard Method and inclusion of complete bibliography and illustration list.

Remember for more advice re, academic writing, use of quotes, referencing and style, check out the 'Rough Guide' now available on myUCA @ Anatomy/Unit Materials.

And finally - basic time management: DO NOT put off writing your reviews until the final week.  Write and publish them in the same week you watched the respective films.  

Good luck - and enjoy the opportunity to experience cinema as never before.