film reviews listening b2

• B2 listening

Film reviews

Listen to the film reviews to practise and improve your listening skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation

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Obviously, this is the sequel to Fun in the City , which is a film I didn't like so it's fair to say my expectations were low. So, you could say I wasn't disappointed, as it met my expectations. It was awful! It was so awful, I'd rather not spend any more time on it by talking about it. But, that wouldn't be a film review and I think I owe you all a review to save you wasting your money going to see it.

So, it starts off with this big wedding scene. And, I won't go into why, but the whole scene is just there so they can make this one joke. It's not even a funny joke ... it's just, ah, it's just terrible. It's got nothing to do with the rest of the film. Anyway, it starts there. Then, instead of the characters and the plot staying in New York where the original film was set, one of them wins a ticket to India and decides to take all her friends. It's what directors do when they've run out of ideas … let's take our characters on tour!

Anyway, they gossip, cry and shop, and they repeat this until the end. No real people would ever act like this. I didn't have any sympathy for their problems or even care what happened to them. Don't go and see it, you'll only encourage them to make another sequel. The world doesn't need three of these films. Please save your money and go and see the other big film this week:  Twilight Mirror .

So, if you're a fan of the book it's based on, you're probably as excited as I was about this. For everyone else, this is a film fans have been waiting ten years to see. I have to confess, I was a bit nervous. I'd seen the posters and they didn't look right. I didn't love them at all. And I wasn't sure about the actors they cast either. So I went in not sure what to expect. But … I loved it.

One thing I really liked about it was the pace. They went backwards and forwards between the real world and the computer world and it worked really well. The special effects brought the computer world to life and I totally believed in it. But, more than that, I felt emotionally connected to the story and the characters. The whole film worked on so many levels. It reminded me of going to the cinema as a child – how much fun that was. I can't recommend it enough.

What was the last film you watched? What did you think of it?

Language level

The last weekend I watched Poor Things with my cousins. And it´s a very weird movie but very funny, I just recommend it to a person who is very open minded due to the plot and the topics that are mentioned in the movie. I like it because is something different and challenging.

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The last film saw was Cindy la Regia, I think this film is not very funny and it also talks about the stereotypes that countries have

the last movie that i watched i think was cars, what do i think of that movie, that is awesome i mean is the best film animated in the last years, is my childhood that movie, what i really enjoy is the scenography of the movie and the music that it has, that is a good combo for the movie.

The movie that I watched was about a king called John snow and he had an army and they were in danger from an army called the deads and both sides had dragons and they fought until a queen came and saved the human army from the dead king and the movie ends there

the last movie i have watch was called The Spencer its about a guy called spencer who works in boston police department. he got a problem with his chief officer, he accuse that his chief was linked a case that he worked on and as he claim the chief has covered the case and showing no effort on it. then spencer goes to the crime scene where the woman got killed and finds a cctv near by, then he took the video tape. after he give a visit to his chief's house and he tried to talk with him then he aware a crumbs of a glass on the floor then he saw chief's wive with bloody face and the guy spencer got angry, then he pulled the cheif and throws to the ground and punches till his face was covered with blood, then the court verdict him with five years of prison.

The last filme I've watched was ''Perdida''. It is based on a novel brazilian book and you can watch this at cinema. I felt excited to see it because the story is a mix of contemporary and historic romance. I dont know if there is an english version of this book, but if there is, I really recommend the reading.

The first film being second in the story got me really confused. Is it because it was part 2 of some movie?

Spiderman across the Spiderverse, which I just watched yesterday, It was amazing, as it is supposed to be. It's an animation film about Miles, the one who gets bit by a radiation spider. It was totally worth all my money to go see it. The animation, soundtrack, plot, characters, and spectacular landscape on screen make it no wonder why people loved it.

The last film which I watched was called "Ilovaysk 2014. Battalion "Donbas"". This film is about events, which took place in the East of Ukraine in 2014. The main character "Bishut" and his comrade were catched in encirclement, and they need to go out from it. But, they are wanted by russian forces, so it's not easy to get back to their fatherland. The plot and pace were really amazing, so I advise everyone, who like action films, watch this. Of course, if you understand ukrainian and russian languages, you can watch it without any problems, but with subtitlies this film doesn't lose interest.

Now I'm watching Beef series and I reaches third episode. It's so interesting and worth it. I really enjoy it. This is the first time for me watching Asian series but I think it's recommended.

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FCE Listening Practice Tests

30 Cambridge English: First (FCE B2) Listening Practice Tests with answer keys and tapescripts. Complete a test and get a score (out of 190) and your FCE Listening grade. Practice online, print it or save in PDF. These listening tests are perfect for self-preparation!

If you want to take tests home for offline use (save them in PDF or print them) have a look at this list of print-friendly FCE Listening tests .

FCE Listening Practice Test 1

FCE Listening Practice Test 2

FCE Listening Practice Test 3

FCE Listening Practice Test 4

FCE Listening Practice Test 5

FCE Listening Practice Test 6

FCE Listening Practice Test 7

FCE Listening Practice Test 8

FCE Listening Practice Test 9

FCE Listening Practice Test 10

FCE Listening Practice Test 11

FCE Listening Practice Test 12

FCE Listening Practice Test 13

FCE Listening Practice Test 14

FCE Listening Practice Test 15

FCE Listening Practice Test 16

FCE Listening Practice Test 17

FCE Listening Practice Test 18

FCE Listening Practice Test 19

FCE Listening Practice Test 20

FCE Listening Practice Test 21

FCE Listening Practice Test 22

FCE Listening Practice Test 23

FCE Listening Practice Test 24

FCE Listening Practice Test 25

FCE Listening Practice Test 26

FCE Listening Practice Test 27

FCE Listening Practice Test 28

FCE Listening Practice Test 29

FCE Listening Practice Test 30

Movie Reviews ESL Lesson

In this intermediate-level ESL lesson, you will learn grammar, vocabulary, and phrases to talk about everyday English topics: an English conversation lesson to give your opinion, agree and disagree with others about movies.

This ESL lesson also comes with a downloadable PDF you can access when you are a member of Pocket Passport. Sign up below as a student or teacher.

This ESL video lesson for daily English will help ESL students learn vocabulary, grammar, improve listening and be confident English speakers.

Practical English for everyday situations.

ESL Questions on Movies

What makes a movie “great” in your opinion?

Do you like to watch old movies? Black and white movies?

Do you watch your favorite movies more than once? How often?

Do you think a movie has to be believable to be good?

Do you pay attention to what movie critics think about movies?

How have movies changed over the years?

ESL Video on Movie Reviews

Watch the following ESL YouTube video lesson about movies.

Listening Practice Movie Reviews

Watch the YouTube video and answer the following questions about Movie Reviews.

How do reviewers like the movie by Claude De Roserio?

When did Yana see the movie?

What was Yana’s favorite part of the movie?

Does Michiko live near the theater?

What didn’t Michiko like about the movie?

Did the reporter like the movie?

Who does the reporter agree with?

Where did they ask people’s opinions?

Speaking Activity

Use the ESL illustrations to talk about the passage and movies and movie reviews.

ESL vocabulary to talk about movies

Believable | complaint | criticism | exactly opposite extremely | local(s) | opinion | opposite | point out reflect | specific | in terms of | i couldn’t agree more personally speaking | i have to side with.

Match the words on the left with the meanings on the right .

Discuss the following quotes about opinions, agreeing and disagreeing .

“Never judge someone by the opinion of others.” Unknown

“Try being informed instead of just opinionated.” Unknown

“Your opinion is not my reality.” Steve Maraboli

“There are as many opinions as there are people.” Terence

“Just because they disagree, doesn’t mean you ain’t right.” Toba Beta

“There are as many opinions as there are experts.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

“A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion.” Unknown

Discuss the following questions about opinions, agreeing and disagreeing .

• Do you always check the comments and ratings before deciding on a movie?
• Do you always check the comments and ratings when buying something online?
• What are examples of things that it’s better to make your opinion over taking the word of others?
• Do you have the same or completely different taste for things than your friends?
• Do you leave ratings and comments for products and services?

In Your Own Words

Explain what the word or phrase in bold means and give an example. Example: She was exhausted because she worked until midnight. Meaning: very tired - I’m exhausted because I stayed up and studied all night.

I couldn’t agree with the reviews more !

Michiko’s complaint was that the characters were not believable.

The positive reviews reflect exactly how I feel.

Her opinion was the exact opposite .

I’m afraid I disagree with her opinion.

Missing Words

Watch the video again and complete the sentences.

The new movie by Claude De Roserio has received some ____________________ 1            positive reviews. We went down to the local cinema to speak to some locals to get                  their _________________ 2 on the movie. Do they agree with the recent reviews?

The first person we spoke to was Yana, who had just seen the movie. “______________________ 3 with the reviews more! It was fantastic!”. Yana went on to say that her favorite part was the ending. She said, “it was _________________ 4 but also very satisfying. The positive reviews _______________ 5 exactly how I feel.”

The next person we spoke to was less positive. Michiko had traveled a long way to watch the movie in this __________________ 6 cinema. “I’m afraid I disagree with the reviews”, she said. “In fact, I’d say the ____________________ 7 !”. Michiko’s __________________ 8 was that the characters were not believable and when our reporter pointed out the fact that other people had liked the characters, Michiko said that she disagreed.

Personally speaking, I have __________________ 9 Yana on this one. While I can understand Michiko’s criticism of the characters, I’m afraid I disagree with her opinion that they were not believable. ____________________ 10 the ending, I agree with Yana 100% – it was an incredible way to close the show!

The new movie by Claude De Roserio is out now. Let us know what you think!

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General Listening Quiz

“movie reviews”, pre-listening exercise.

What movie rating systems or guidelines are used in different countries to determine the appropriateness for different audiences? In the United States, the classifications of “G,” “PG,” “PG-13,” “R,” and “NR-17” (See  Motion Picture Association of America  for more details). What rating systems are used to rank the quality of movies?

“ a flop ” = a bad movie “ Don’t see that movie. It was a real flop. The acting and the special effects were terrible .”

“ catch a movie ” = watch a movie “ I plan on catching a movie if I get bored over the weekend .”

Listening Exercise

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

Movie Reviews

How does the father describe the movie, whose performance do father and daughter agree upon in the movie, the father disagrees with his daughter about the movie’s ____., this movie is a ______., this conversation takes place at _____., post-listening exercise.

What do you consider are the most important elements of a movie: the plot, special effects, the leading actors, the moral message, the genre? Share your thoughts with a partner.

Online Investigation

Read a review of a popular movie at an online review site. Do you agree with the reviews for those movies you have seen? What makes a good movie? Consider the acting, special effects, plot, supporting cast, and music score. Discuss your opinions on the topic.

• Easy Listening
• Intermediate Listening
• Difficult Listening
• Academic English Listening

• How To Write A Review: Cambridge B2 First

• Posted on 24/07/2019
• Categories: Blog
• Tags: B2 First , Cambridge Exams , FCE , First Certificate , Resources to learn English , Writing

Students who are taking their B2 First Certificate exam (FCE) will be asked to do two pieces of writing within an 80 minute time limit. Part 1 is always an essay . Part 2 is where you can get a bit more creative. You might, for example, be asked to write a letter, a report or a review, all of which have their own style and set guidelines.

When writing a review it can be difficult to know where to start. But don’t be afraid! We are here to help you every step of the way.

Remember a review could be for a book, a film, a magazine, a restaurant or even a product .

Three steps to writing a great review

Let’s start with something simple. Imagine. You turn over the page to your writing part 2 and you see this question:

Question taken from Cambridge Assessment English website . (Feb 2018)

Step One: Make a plan

The first thing to do is to make a plan, just like we did in our B2 First essay guidelines .

Think of a book you read in which the main character behaved in a surprising way. This could be surprising in a good way, where the character does something amazing and helps somebody. Or maybe there’s a twist at the end and the character does something really shocking. Either way take some time to really think about your choice.

E.g. I’m going to choose The Great Gatsby, because I had to read the book 3 times when I was at school and I’ve seen the film so I feel like I know it really well .

The structure

Next, think of the structure. Consider all the parts of the question and use that to help organise your review. Make notes about the following:

• An interesting title
• A catchy introduction
• A summary of the plot
• A surprising moment
• Your recommendation

Remember you’re going to want to separate these with clear paragraphs that are going to help the examiner read to the end without getting a headache.

You also need to consider the tone and how the review should sound to the reader. Remember this is for a magazine. Think about all the magazines you like to read. You want to sound chatty and grab the reader’s attention, but not bore them to sleep. Think semi-formal but friendly!

Useful Vocabulary

Now brainstorm some useful vocabulary for your chosen book, including lots of adjectives. Avoid using boring adjectives like good or bad . It’s much more exciting to say ‘amazing’ and ‘disappointing’ or ‘ terrific ’ and ‘terrible’ .

Here’s some more useful vocabulary to get you started:

superficial / deceptive / fascinating / unbelievable / rich / lonely / kind / reserved/ to be set in / to be written by / prosperity / characters / jazz age / protagonist / atmosphere / author / chapter / ending / fictional towns / prohibition / novel / on the outskirts / sad story.

Your next step is to think of some linking phrases. These are going to help tie together your thoughts and bring your review to life!

• Overall if you like…
• I was pleasantly surprised by…
• In fact…
• What I disliked the most was…
• The book contains…
• As well as…
• This well-written book…
• Unbelievably…

Step Two: Write it

Once you have a solid plan, writing your review should be easy!

First start with an interesting title. E.g. The Unexpected Anti-Hero. It relates to both the book that’s being reviewed and the question. It’s also short and snappy .

Next write an engaging introduction. Maybe start with a rhetorical question, for example:

Are you a fan of the Jazz Age? Then this is the book for you!

Or a general statement about the book that will hook the reader:

The Great Gatsby is a classic, with many twists and turns.

You could also give some background information. Here we use the past simple:

The Great Gatsby was written by F.S.Fitzgerald and is set in prosperous Long Island in 1922.

The second paragraph should summarise the plot (note – we usually describe a story in present tense ):

Gatsby is a mysterious character, he has big extravagant parties, and we never know if we can trust him.

The third paragraph is where we introduce the surprising moment and reveal what the main character did and why it was surprising:

• The most shocking part is when…
• I couldn’t believe it when…
• It was so surprising when…

In the fourth paragraph, give a recommendation! Here the examiner wants to hear your overall opinion. It can be something simple:

• I strongly recommend..

Or something more inventive:

• I wouldn’t read the novel again because…
• Everyone should read this immediately!

But don’t forget to say why!

Step Three: Check it

Now you have your winning book review it’s time to check for all those little (and big) mistakes.

Make sure you check:

• You’ve answered all parts of the question.
• It is easy to read.
• Your spelling is correct.
• You’ve used the 3rd person(s).
• You have used punctuation.
• There’s a variety of nouns and adjectives.
• Pick a book you know quite well! Whether it’s Harry Potter or The Hunger Games , make sure you have lots to say about it!
• Don’t be afraid to give both negative and positive opinions!
• Experiment with using first person and try addressing the reader with ‘you’.
• Read lots of real authentic reviews online, anything from holidays to music concerts, exhibitions to video games!
• Remember to put some of your own personality into your review. Have some fun with it and good luck!

Follow the links for some excellent phrases and vocabulary for other types of reviews.

Restaurant Reviews

Film Reviews

TV / Theatre Reviews

Exhibition & Concert Reviews

Here are some more sample questions for you to practice on your own:

Choose one and post your reviews in the comments section.

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Twist (n): : a sudden change in a story that you do not expect..

Chatty (adj): having a friendly style.

Avoid doing something (v): to intentionally not do something.

Terrific (adj): excellent.

Snappy (adj): concise.

Hook (v): to catch.

adj = adjective

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• B2 Ted Film Review

The main purpose is to describe and express a personal opinion about a film which the writer has experienced and to give the reader a clear impression of what the film discussed is like. A film review is usually written for an English-language magazine, newspaper or website.

More exercises available:

You are required to produce two pieces of writing. The first piece is compulsory and will be an essay of 140-190 words. For the second, you can choose from an article, email/letter, essay, review or report (B2 First for schools the report is replaced with a short story) of 140-190 words.

• B2 Article Video
• B2 Book Review Video
• B2 Descriptive Email Video
• B2 Place Review Video
• B2 Short Story Video
• B2 Cities of the Future
• B2 Fast Food
• B2 Following Fashion
• B2 Live Concert
• B2 Pollution Problems
• B2 Taking a Gap Year
• B2 A Work of Art
• B2 Being a Celebrity
• B2 Life Away
• B2 Preventing Crime
• B2 School Improvement
• B2 Shopping Online
• B2 Tablet or Laptop
• B2 The Countryside
• School Canteen
• B2 A School Trip to Italy
• B2 An Important Day
• B2 Forgetful Girl
• The Hidden Beach
• The Lost Photo
• B2 IMDb Website Review
• B2 Jurassic Park Book Review
• B2 Mountain Bike Park
• B2 Romeo and Juliet Play Review
• Scarlett Animation Review
• B2 Berlin Travel Report
• B2 Shops Report
• B2 Visiting Places Report
• B2 Birthday Party Letter
• B2 Computer Games Email
• B2 Favourite Film Email
• B2 Holiday in Thailand Email
• B2 New Attraction Letter
• B2 Place to Visit Email
• B2 Spending Money Email
• B2 Visiting Relative Email

You need to be able to understand a range of texts, including how they are organised and the opinions and attitudes expressed in them. The texts will be from sources familiar to you such as magazines, articles, fiction and advertisements, but targeted at the interests of students.

Students’ use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well they can control their grammar and vocabulary.

• Use of English Part 1
• Use of English Part 2
• Use of English Part 3
• Use of English Part 4
• Reading Part 5
• Reading Part 6
• Reading Part 7

For this part, you practice vocabulary by using words with similar meanings, collocations, linking phrases, phrasal verbs, etc.

• B2 First Use of English Video
• Becoming Famous
• Cycling Scheme
• Film Stars and Music Celebrities
• Going on a diet
• Single or Mixed Sex Schools
• The History of Football
• The Poor and Less Fortunate
• The Special Bus
• Why do we need to play?

For this part, you practice grammar and vocabulary.

• Better swimming
• Cardboard Bike
• Dealing with waste plastic
• Drinking Water
• Fit for Sports
• Following Your Nose
• Growing Bananas
• Holiday with a Friend
• Making Perfume
• The Farm Trip
• The Jobs Market
• Tree Climbing
• Weather Forecasting
• Young Enterprise

For this part, you practice vocabulary word-building by changing different words using a base word.

• Angel of Mercy
• Fast Food Industry
• Life on Other Planets
• Music in Schools
• Mystery Weekend Break
• Pollution Problems
• Understanding Time
• Workforce on the Move

For this part,  you have to express a message in different ways showing flexibility and resource in the use of language.

• B2 First Use of English Part 4
• B2 Key Word Transformation 1
• B2 Key Word Transformation 10
• B2 Key Word Transformation 2
• B2 Key Word Transformation 3
• B2 Key Word Transformation 4
• B2 Key Word Transformation 5
• B2 Key Word Transformation 6
• B2 Key Word Transformation 7
• B2 Key Word Transformation 8
• B2 Key Word Transformation 9

For this part, you practice how to understand the details of a text, including opinions and attitudes.

• Cycling to India
• Hottest Place on Earth
• Living and Working in Another Country
• The Picture of Dorian Gray
• The Wrestler who Wrote a Book

For this part, you practice how to understand the structure and follow the development of a text.

• Benefits of Getting Fit
• Our Polluted World

For this part, you practice how to find specific information in a text or texts.

• Collecting Things
• English Seaside Resorts
• Teenage Summer Camps

Requires being able to follow and understand a range of familiar spoken materials, such as news programmes, public announcements and other sources, but targeted at the interests of the learners.

• Speaking Part 1
• Speaking Part 2
• Speaking Part 3
• Speaking Part 4
• Listening Part 1
• Listening Part 2
• Listening Part 3
• Listening Part 4

In this part you talk to the examiner about yourself and your life, e.g. your name, school, interests and future plans.

B2 Speaking Part 1 Exercise 1 B2 Speaking Part 1 Exercise 2 B2 Speaking Part 1 Exercise 3

In this part, you talk about two photos on your own which you have to compare for about 1 minute . After you have finished, your partner will be asked a short question about your photo. When your partner has spoken about their photos for about 1 minute , you will be asked a question about their photos.

B2 Speaking Part 2 Exercise 1

In this part you express ideas with your partner by looking at a discussion point that the examiner gives you.

This will be available soon.

In this part, you focus on general aspects of a topic with the examiner or you may involve your partner.

In this part, you will hear people talking in eight different situations.

Entertainment Short Conversations Talking about Sports

In this part, you will hear someone being interviewed.

Extreme Snowboarding Future Options Newly Published Book Sailing around the World The Talent Show

In this part, you will hear five people talking about different things.

A Good Teacher Demonstration

In this part, you will hear an interview.

Mountain Climbing Weekend

• Customs and Traditions
• Entertainment and Leisure
• Environmental and Nature
• Future Jobs and Education
• Identity and Well-being
• Travel and Adventure

Customs and Traditions explores how we celebrate our cultural identity across the globe.

• Christmas Hard Exercises
• Story of Halloween
• Valentine Message

Entertainment and Leisure explores how we spent our free time.

• Going Shopping

Environment and Nature explores the way humans and animals live, adapt and change on our planet.

• Global Changes

Exploring how different societies create roles for people to develop their skills and knowledge.

• Future Schools
• Sport at School
• School Rules
• Fashion Design

Exploring how we learn and adjust to the world around us. .

• Taking Risks
• Natural Disasters

Exploring how we experience the world through our life journeys

• Travelling around the World

Cambridge English exams are designed for learners at all levels from the pre-intermediate level Cambridge English: Key (KET) to the very advanced level Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE). These exams give candidates proof of their ability to use English in a wide variety of contexts, relevant to work, study and leisure activities.

A2 Key | B1 Preliminary | B2 First

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Free English Lessons

Talking about films – listening lesson (b1).

Do you like watching films and going to the cinema? Listen to two people discussing a film that they saw in this free English listening lesson from Oxford Online English. You can learn and practise useful English vocabulary to describe a film . This is an intermediate lesson.

Listen to the dialogue at normal speed here:

or listen to a slower version here:

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Films-25pc-slower.mp3

Man : So you went to see it? What did you make of it 1 ? Woman : I wasn’t sure at first, but in the end I really liked it. Man : I’ve been thinking about going to see it, but some people say it’s overhyped 2 . Woman : No, it’s worth seeing. I just think a lot of people find the story a bit too convoluted 3 . Man : So what, is it hard to follow? Woman : No, not really, there are just a lot of twists and turns 4 . I thought it was really interesting, and really well-acted as well. Man : Who’s in it? Woman : Jim Rodgers, Katherine Lamb, and a few other people. Man : I don’t like Jim Rodgers. He always plays the same character, and he’s so wooden 5 . Woman : I quite like him… Man : Yeah, I wonder why. Must be his acting ability! Woman : Oh, shut up! Anyway, definitely go see it. Man : Is it still on 6 ? Woman : Oh, I don’t know, have a look online.

The vocabulary in these notes will give you many of the answers for exercises 1 and 2. You may prefer to try those exercises first, then come back to this section if you need to.

1. What did you make of it? = What did you think of it? 2. Overhyped = people have said a lot of good things about something, but it isn’t as good as everyone says. 3. Convoluted = Too complicated and confusing 4. Twists and turns = when something unexpected happens in a story, or a story changes direction suddenly. 5. Wooden = emotionless 6. Is it still on? = Are they still showing it?

Talking about Films – exercise 1 Listening skill: identifying the words you hear

This dialogue contains a lot of common words which many learners find confusing because they mean different things in different contexts – or the meaning changes when they’re used in certain combinations.

For each question, choose the sentence that you hear in the recording. Read the note about the meaning before you make your decision!

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1 . Question

1. Which expression, meaning “what’s your opinion?”, is used in the recording?

• What did you make of it?
• What did you think of it?
• What did you decide of it?

One option is incorrect because the verb and the preposition ‘of’ do not go together; another option is correct English but not used in the recording.

2 . Question

2. Which option, used in the dialogue, refers to the start and end of a process, particularly when someone’s opinion changes in the middle?

• I wasn’t sure at first, but in the end I really liked it.
• I wasn’t sure at start, but at the end I really liked it.
• I wasn’t sure at beginning, but finally I really liked it.

Only the correct answer is grammatically correct this time.

3 . Question

3. Which option does the woman say in the recording, meaning “it’s a good idea to see it”?

• It’s worth seeing.
• It’s worth see.
• It’s worth seen.

This is a question of grammar – only the verb form used by the woman is correct.

4 . Question

4. Which option, referring to understanding the story of a film, is used in the dialogue?

• Is it hard to follow?
• Is it difficult to follow?
• Is it easy to follow?

All three questions are grammatically correct, so which one do you hear?

5 . Question

5. To ask which actors star in a film, which question is correct – and used in the recording?

• Who’s in it?
• Who’s on it?
• Who’s at it?

Only the version used in the dialogue is grammatically correct.

Talking about Films – exercise 2 Vocabulary: describing films

The dialogue contains adjectives that you can use to describe a film in general, the plot (= the storyline), the actors, and what other people think.

Read a review of the film, which the woman wrote after speaking to her friend in this dialogue. Write one word from the box in each gap.

0 of 1 Questions completed

0 of 1 Questions answered correctly

Some of the words in the box do not appear in the recording, but mean similar things. You should use the same adjectives that the woman says.

Many people feel this film is , but I definitely recommend that you see it. Although the plot’s quite at times, the twists and turns add to the excitement. It’s a story – the stars really bring it to life – and I disagree with anyone who says that the lead, Jim Rodgers, is ! I think he puts a lot of emotion into it. Go and see it while you can – I think it’s until the end of the month.

Talking about Films – exercise 3 Grammar: ellipsis (words that are missed out)

In informal contexts, such as this conversation between two friends, it is possible to leave out words that would be necessary or expected if you wrote or said the same thing in a formal situation. The concept of missing out words from the grammar is called ellipsis.

Look at the full-form equivalents of sentences that are used in the dialogue, and tick all the words that are missed out by the speakers.

0 of 4 Questions completed

0 of 4 Questions answered correctly

1. “So you went to see it, did you?”

In the dialogue, the man says an affirmative statement, but makes it a question with rising intonation. In more formal contexts, this would be possible with a question tag, as shown.

Which words does the man not say?

2. “So what do you mean – is it hard to follow?”

Which words does the man leave out?

3. “It must be his acting ability!”

Which word does the man leave out?

4. “Anyway, you should definitely go and see it.”

This question is worth two points, because there are two places where ellipsis occurs. Which words does the woman leave out?

Talking about Films – exercise 4 Pronunciation: elision in the word ‘it’

How do you say the word ‘it’? Do you always pronounce it the same way? The speakers in this dialogue don’t! Like any word ending with the sound /t/, if the next word starts with a consonant, most speakers won’t pronounce the /t/. Dropping sounds is called elision, and it can even happen when a vowel is after the /t/, or when /t/ comes before a pause.

However, it’s not a rule that you have to drop /t/ in any situation – some speakers don’t if they are making an effort to speak clearly. Listen to five examples of the word ‘it’ from the dialogue and decide if the speaker pronounces /t/ or not.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Films-elision-1-I-really-liked-it.mp3 1. The woman says ‘it’ in this sentence. Is the /t/ pronounced?

Compare the words ‘wasn’t’, ‘at’ and ‘first’; the woman pronounces /t/ in ‘at’ and ‘first’ but not in ‘wasn’t’ – so, can you hear the /t/ in ‘it’?

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Films-elision-2-is-it-hard-to-follow.mp3 2. Does the man pronounce the /t/ in the word ‘it’?

To make a /t/ sound, the tongue touches the ridge just behind your top teeth, then moves away with a sudden explosion of air. Sometimes you might think you hear ‘something’, but it is likely to be a glottal stop – where the air is blocked at the back of the throat, briefly. If you cannot hear the mini-explosion of air, there is no /t/ sound.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Films-elision-3-I-thought-it-was.mp3 3. The woman says ‘it’ in this sentence. Is the /t/ pronounced?

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Films-elision-4-is-it-still-on.mp3 4. Does the man pronounce /t/ in ‘it’?

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Films-elision-5-x2.mp3 5. The man says the word ‘it’ twice. When is /t/ pronounced?

• The /t/ is pronounced very softly the first time; it is not pronounced the second time.
• He pronounces the /t/ both times.
• He does not pronounce the /t/ either time.

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Breakout English

How to write a film review

Writing a review is an option in many different English language exams, and films are such an obvious choice for reviews, so knowing how to write a film review is pretty important. It’s a great topic for the classroom too. Everyone watches films and there is a lot of opportunity to teach vocabulary, either film-related vocabulary or film review adjectives. I like to start off a class about films with some chat, or my personal favourite, the Movie Music Quiz , which also now has an excellent Movie Picture Quiz version too.

The structure of a film review

Like any writing task, it’s essential to know the structure of a film review before you start writing. A basic film review template shows you how to write a film review using a simple structure. Film reviews for First (FCE) and Advanced (CAE) Cambridge exams, as well as Trinity ISE exams, should all use a 4 paragraph structure. Another thing to remember is that your review should always have a title, and that title should include the name of the film.

• Introduction – Essential details and mini-summary
• Summary – A description of the film and some important details
• Analysis – An evaluation of different elements
• Conclusion – Your opinion and a recommendation

Introduction

In the introduction of a film review, it is crucial to mention the film title and the names of the director and the main actors. A brief summary of the film’s plot and background information can also be included, but it should not give away too much detail. The introduction should engage the reader and entice them to continue reading the review. Additionally, it is important to mention the genre and target audience of the film, which will give the reader an idea of what to expect.

In the summary section, the film review should give a comprehensive but concise description of the film, focusing on the plot, characters, and any significant events. The summary should be written in a way that does not give away the ending or spoil the film for the reader. It is important to maintain objectivity and not include personal opinions in this section. This section should provide enough detail for the reader to have a clear understanding of the film without giving too much away.

The analysis section is where the reviewer can showcase their critical skills and provide an in-depth evaluation of the film. The review should examine various elements of the film such as the script, direction, cinematography, acting, and special effects. You could also make a comparison to similar films in the same genre. The analysis should be written in an objective style with the opinion only showing through the language used.

In the conclusion, the reviewer should give their personal opinion of the film, summarising their thoughts on its strengths and weaknesses. They should also consider the target audience and whether they believe the film will appeal to them. Finally, the reviewer should provide a clear recommendation. The conclusion should be concise, leaving the reader with a clear understanding of the reviewer’s overall opinion of the film.

Using adjectives in reviews

Reviews are a great way to show off your language with impressive adjectives. If you read a film review in a newspaper or magazine, you’ll notice that the reviewer rarely, if ever, gives an explicit direct opinion. However, their opinion of the film is always crystal clear. This is through the use of adjectives.

Many adjectives have a clear connotation. They are either perceived as positive or negative. Compare these two examples. Which one is a positive description and which is negative?

• It’s a first-rate experience with an imaginative plot and a star-studded cast.
• The second-rate writing combined with weak performances is typical of this director’s work.

When using adjectives in a film review, it is important to choose words that accurately convey the reviewer’s opinion. Adjectives with strong connotations, either positive or negative, can be very effective in expressing the reviewer’s thoughts about the film. However, it is also important to use a variety of adjectives to avoid repetition and keep the review interesting. The use of adjectives can also help to paint a picture of the film, allowing the reader to get a sense of its atmosphere and tone.

The materials

Many exams, such as the Cambridge First (FCE) and Advanced (CAE) exams, as well as Trinity ISE exams, require students to write a film review as part of their writing task. These materials will provide students with a solid understanding of the structure of a film review and help them to develop their writing skills. This will give them the confidence they need to write a review that meets the requirements of the exam and impresses the examiner.

The materials will help you learn how to write an introduction, summary, analysis, and conclusion of a film review. You will also see a range of useful adjectives that you can use to express your opinions in their reviews. Finally, you will get an opportunity to practise writing film reviews, which will help you to develop your skills. Then you can check your answers with the samples provided in the answer key. Whether you’re preparing for an exam or just looking to improve your writing skills, these materials will provide you with everything you need to write a great film review.

1 thought on “How to write a film review”

Interesting and useful material to be used in class. thanks!

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Film Reviews – B1 English Reading Test

• Reading Tests for B1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to choose a film to watch at the cinema. There are some film reviews. Decide which film would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Joe is mostly interested in films about true, historic events. His favourites are about well-known people, especially those whose lives were changed by their experiences.

2   Sandra’s favourite films are usually love stories, but she doesn’t mind if they have unhappy endings. The performances of the actors must be really good though!

3   Dimitri doesn’t like films that are complicated and particularly enjoys watching films about life in the countryside. He’s also interested in films that show the joys and difficulties of family life.

4   Danielle watches a lot of films but is especially keen on films set in the last century. She usually chooses to watch action films and really enjoys a surprise ending.

5   Maria likes films that make her think. In her opinion, the best ones are those which are filmed in a beautiful location. It’s also important that the film has an exciting story.

FILM REVIEWS

A   The Long Journey

This is the story of two young people who set off on a road trip. Filmed entirely in New Zealand, you’ll see a lot of the wild countryside. Plenty of drama of enjoy plus there’s a real message to this film.

B   Stealing By Numbers

This is a classic adventure story from the past. Sir Harry Rifken is a world-famous diamond thief in the 1930s who escapes from prison and, after a series of dramatic adventures, begins a new life in America. Director Sally Hartman has created a film that will keep you guessing until the final scene.

C   Joss To The Rescue

Everyone loves Joss, the Saint Bernard dog who rescues people lost in the mountains of Switzerland. It’s loosely based on a true story. The scene at the end where two young people are rescued is sure to make you cry.

D   Aim For The Stars

This story is about the very first people to fly to the moon. It looks into the lives of some of the people involved in this important event, particularly Buzz Aldrin, the second man to step onto the moon’s surface. This may be a true story, but there’s enough drama in it to keep most people interested. The last part of the film is quite unexpected.

E   Tree Of Life

A beautiful documentary about the difficulties of life for the inhabitants of the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. It’s a surprising film, made almost entirely of interviews with local people, recorded as they toured North America to tell people about the damage being done to their environment.

F   Down On The Farm

There are some exciting scenes where Winona Judd learns to race horses on her parents’ farm, but the relationship between Winona and her strict father is the central topic of this unusual film. Although a lot of things happen in this film, it’s so well written that the story is always easy to understand.

G   The Island

This is a romantic film partly filmed on a beautiful Pacific island. What’s special about this film is the quality of the acting. The audience really sees the couple’s happiness when they are together and feels the sadness of the conclusion.

H   Maximum Force

Ronnie Deane is the star of this film, so you know what to expect – a lot of car chases, fighting and jumping out of planes. This one’s about a criminal who decides to become the best private detective of the 21st century. Fans will love it!

1 D   2 G   3 F   4 B   5 A

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• A2 listening

Going to the cinema

Listen to Mario and Tamara talking about what film they want to see and do the exercises to practise and improve your listening skills.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise before you listen. Then do the other exercises to check your understanding.

Preparation

Do this exercise before you listen.

Tamara:  Hi, Mario. Do you want to go and watch a film?

Mario: Hi, Tamara. Sure, what’s on?

Tamara:  Well, there are two action films,  Mr and Mrs Jones and War Games , and they’re both in 3D.

Mario:  I’ve already seen Mr and Mrs Jones . I haven’t seen War Games , but I don’t really want to see an action film. What else is on?

Tamara:  There’s that science fiction film, Robot 2075 , but I’ve already seen it.

Mario:  Is it good?

Tamara: Yes, it is, but I don’t want to see it again. There’s a romantic comedy called  Forever .

Mario:  Mmm, I’m not sure. Are there any horror films on?

Tamara:  Yes, there’s Midnight Moon . It’s got vampires in it. 

Mario: OK, sounds good. Let’s go and watch Midnight Moon . What time is it on?

Tamara: It’s on at 12 o’clock or at half past two.

Mario: Is it on this evening?

Tamara:  Yes, at 7:30.

Mario:  Perfect. Let’s go at 7:30.

Tamara:  OK, shall we meet at the cinema at 7:00?

Mario: Great! See you later.

Tamara:  Bye.

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Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, the listener.

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To call "The Listener" minimalist would be an understatement. Shot a year into the pandemic, it played film festivals in 2022 and is only now getting a proper release. Once you watch it, you'll see why it wasn't treated as a potential box office bonanza. It's sensitive, subtle, and restrained, and asks more of the audience than it's typically willing to give. 

Written by Alessandro Camon , author of the screenplays for " The Messenger ," " The Cooler ," and " Thank You for Smoking ," this is a one-woman show, kind of. Tessa Thompson stars as a phone counselor named Beth who takes calls from troubled people over the course of a night. The callers are played by a mix of well-known and should-be-better-known actors, including Alia Shawkat , Rebecca Hall , Margaret Cho , Jamie Hector , and Logan Marshall-Green . You hear their voices but never see their faces, only the reactions of Beth, who mostly listens but sometimes chimes in to offer an empathetic comment or bit of helpful advice, or head off comments that seem intrusive or inappropriate. The voice performances are all excellent, very naturalistic, and Thompson proves she has the stuff to anchor an entire movie by herself, commanding the viewer's full attention even when she's just sitting silently in a chair listening to an unseen person talk.

The result plays like a relaxed, intuitive, mirror-world equivalent of the great and under-seen Oliver Stone movie "Talk Radio," starring Eric Bogosian and based on his play, which was about a bombastic late-night talk show host inciting, insulting, and otherwise battling with callers. What the movies have in common, besides an "all in one night" structure, is a sense that they're examining the United States' body politic at the times in which they were made. The energy here is quieter, more empathetic and intuitive, more "feminine," at least in contrast to the hairy-chested alpha-dog verbal attacks of " Talk Radio ," but it's a shock to realize that a lot of the ills that Stone and Bogosian diagnosed have not gone away, only mutated. It also feels like it could be a companion piece to the Sidney Poitier film " The Slender Thread ," about workers at a suicide hotline who try to prevent a woman from killing herself. 

Beth's callers are lonely and feel abandoned and/or oppressed by society. There's a sardonic veteran of the Iraqi and Afghanistan wars who is traumatized by his experience and tossed aside by his government and whose marriage is in trouble. "Try explaining that to the missus, how much you miss sleeping in a room full of dudes and guns," he says. There's a young woman who is verbally gifted (Beth tells her she sounds like a poet) but who is mentally ill and not taking her meds because her comedian partner dumped her and she lost her health insurance. She's feeling paranoid and beleaguered and is upset by pretty much everything. "I have snakes for bones," she says, and tells Beth that she calls her own brain "Brian...because it's scrambled." There's a young homeless woman who ran away from home and now lives in "a cozy two-person tent." The scariest caller is a young man whose hatred of women is apparent even before he confirms it to Beth and starts trying to breach the parameters she insists upon.

One of the aspects that's most fascinating in retrospect is how little information the movie feels it needs to give the audience in order to create a mood and a story. Although it's based on an original screenplay, it plays like a filmed theater piece, adapting a production of the sort of play that would run in a small venue, and that was chosen in large part because it's not the kind of piece that requires big or complicated sets.

It's judicious with exposition, too. You don't know exactly where Beth lives or whether there are any other living beings in the place with her until the movie decides to tell you. You also don't know exactly what sort of service Beth works for. She tells one caller that not everybody who reaches out to her is suicidal, although they all sound like they're potentially on the edge. (One waves away Beth's concern by stating, "I don't have an urge to kill myself, I'm just looking at it objectively.") Most people just call to talk. Beth doesn't fill out any forms or submit reports on a computer. You don't see her take written notes. There are a couple of cuts to her notebook revealing that she makes drawings while she talks to people. 

Thirty years ago, when Buscemi was starting out as a filmmaker and had not hit the peak of his fame on "The Sopranos" (a series for which he acted as well as directed) a movie like "The Listener" might've had a slow-rollout, city-by-city art-house run before finding a larger audience on home video rather than receiving a perfunctory release in a small number of theaters while also being instantly made available to stream and having to fight to be noticed by the public amid a sea of other options. That's too bad: I bet it plays more powerfully on a big screen than on a laptop or phone because of the way that a theater encourages audiences to concentrate and give themselves over to an experience rather than standing outside of it. This is the kind of film that needs to be listened to, with one's eyes as well as one's ears.

Matt Zoller Seitz

Matt Zoller Seitz is the Editor at Large of RogerEbert.com, TV critic for New York Magazine and Vulture.com, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism.

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Film credits.

The Listener (2024)

Tessa Thompson as Beth

Logan Marshall-Green as Michael

Derek Cecil as Andy

Margaret Cho as Corinne

Blu del Barrio as Jinx

Ricky Velez as Ellis

Alia Shawkat as Sharon

Jamie Hector as Ray

Casey Wilson as Ruby

Bobby Soto as Chris

Rebecca Hall as Laura

Matt Van Orden as Jinx's Boyfriend

• Steve Buscemi
• Alessandro Camon

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