Film Review
(Response genre)
A book review gives information about a film and offers critical appraisal

Structure
• Lead-in sentence to state the topic and capture interest
• Introduction identifies the title, type of film and maybe the actors
• Introduction should include signposts the rest of the review
• Brief plot summary: only main events and a few details for interest
• May include a summary of theme
• May include a discussion of the actors
• Do not divulge the ending
• Includes a recommendation


Language features
• Includes opinion and subjective language (exhilarated, disappointed)
• Technical film terms (close-up; unfolds; angle; landscape)
• Present or past tense to retell the story (used consistently)
• Chronological linking words for retelling events (later, then…)
• Thinking, feeling, observing verbs (anticipated; shuddered; thrilled)


More information
More ideas and examples of book reviews can be found in
•Targeting text (series), Blake Education, Glebe N.S.W.
• Anderson, M 1997, Text types in English, Macmillan, 1998.
• English Elements (series), Jacaranda Wiley, Milton, Qld.
• Whitfield, M 2001, Targeting writing across the curriculum, Blake Education, Glebe, N.S.W.
• Schill, J 1998, On track: working with texts, Heinemann, Port Melbourne.
• Excel essential skills (series), Pascal, Glebe, N.S.W.

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