Taking Notes for a Movie Review: The Grizzlies

Watching a movie as a reviewer is different than watching it for just entertainment.  Because you are writing a formal movie review, you will need to take notes, both during the movie and perhaps more importantly after watching the movie.  Remember, you cannot look at professional reviews of The Grizzlies since this will lead to plagerism, even if unintentional.  So your memory and your notes are all you will have to write your review.

When watching the movie, you should take notes about plot (e.g., key events/scenes, pacing, logic, surprises, climatic moment), characters (e.g., growth or static, depth, relatable, conflicts, dialogue)/actors (e.g., how they play a character, emotion, physical appearance), themes (meanings or messages), cinematography (e.g., camera angles or shots: close-up, wide, medium, fade out, pan, point of view), and sound (e.g., emotions, tone, atmosphere).  If you use a notebook or notebook paper, use separate sheets of paper for each of these features.  You might note key quotations (from dialogue).

How long should your notes be?  Certainly more than one page--this is not enough.  Your notes should be numerous pages.  Remember, you are using these notes to write your review.  Before you watch the movie, you can set up your notes and include the director's and characters'/actors' names.  (Use the IMDb site link on the Course Notes page.)

Take notes when watching the movie, but be careful not to miss the movie.  Note time markers on the video so that you can easily return to key scenes if you need to.  After the movie is over, go over your notes carefully and add details along with your thoughts and ideas.  Do this while the movie is fresh in your mind.  If you need to, you can rewatch key scenes and double check dialogue.

Remember, you should not look at any reviews about The Grizzlies.  This will lead to plagiarism, even unintentionally, and color your view of the movie.  It is ok, however, to look at reviews of other movies to see how movie reviews are written.