OUT OF THIS WORLD FILM REVIEWS

HELLO GET SETTERS!

Welcome to the Get Set Blog, and this, our very first post! Our aim is to help you improve your writing in English. We'll be taking a look at different writing styles that might appear in the Cambridge English exams (or any other official English exams for that matter), and we'll give you an example of how we would answer the question!

Today, we'll be looking at REVIEWS! Writing a review is a topic which frequently comes up in the Cambridge English First Certificate Exam. We could be asked to write reviews about all manner of subjects such as restaurants, books, series and films. Today we are going to look at a question on writing film reviews!

Here's a sample question.

Your teacher has asked you to write a review of your favourite film. In your review you should describe the basic plot, discuss the performance of the main actors, and say who you would recommend the film to.

Let's make a plan.

Like anything in life, preparation is the key to success. Don't just pick up your pen and start writing! Before you begin you really should ask yourself these questions:

First of all - what's your favourite film - or at least what's a film that you know really well which you enjoyed watching! You need to know the film perfectly to be able to write an effective review!

Secondly, what are you going to write in each paragraph? I'm talking about content, grammar and vocabulary!

Thirdly - Think of a cool title! Idioms are great to use in Review titles

I have many films which I absolutely love and could watch over and over again, but the film which stands out for me is INTERSTELLAR. I reckon I've seen it about 15 times (which is pretty impressive considering the running time is 3 hours!)

If you'd like to check my plan for writing the review question please click here!

Time for Answers:

Here's our answer. Normally in the B2 exam you are expected to write up to 190 words but we decided to give ourselves a little more freedom here (just a heads up to watch your word limit in the exam!)

Never growing old of Interstellar

Have you heard of the director Christopher Nolan? He’s a visionary film director who’s responsible for many visually stunning films. My personal favourite has to be Interstellar.

Set in a dystopian future where humanity is struggling to survive due to blight, (that’s bad news for plants apparently) which is affecting crops around the globe, we follow the Cooper family’s widowed father, Joseph (McConaughey), who is a former NASA astronaut, and his two children. In fact, in this strange future almost everyone is a farmer, but weird events send Joseph searching for answers, where he discovers a still-operational NASA hidden out in the countryside.

McCanaughey’s performance is captivating, a far-cry from his previous roles, and we finally get to see his natural acting talents on display. I found his portrayal of Joseph a great deal more believable than his other roles. Similarly, as his daughter, Jessica Chastain gives a powerful performance, and you can always rely on Michael Caine’s well-known voice to bring out the best in any character!

The plot is extremely-complicated. Astronauts travel out to a wormhole in search of habitable planets to save humanity, with the proximity of a black hole affecting the ageing process for Joseph Cooper and the other astronauts, with some devastating-problems arising. Whilst Scientists will undoubtedly find some plot holes, Interstellar is one of those movies that you want to watch over and over again. A gripping Nolan masterpiece. Despite the film tackling various perplexing themes, you are able to get a grasp of what is going on.

In conclusion, If you enjoy Sci-fi films, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by McConaughey’s depiction of Cooper. A must for all Nolan fans, and no spoilers I promise, but the ending is something that will never get long in the tooth; Just like the lead character! I’d recommend the film to anyone! What are you waiting for?

There you have it! You can check out the meaning of any tricky vocabulary in this link to our flashcards!

Do you need us to write something or correct something for you? Let us know at liam@getset.es for a free quote!