The Reviews Tip Thread.

[J Harker]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Use the back of the dvd case for that. Once you take out things like From the associate producers of.... and Starring Roger Moore (The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, Boat Trip) it should be easy enough to get a couple of sentences of story line. You don't have to say everything that happens in a film.

No precisely, i don't want to give the whole synopsis but always feel like i need a bit more. Also want to do it in my own words. Does anyone else find at the end of a film they don't necessarily know all the characters names even though following the film was in no way a problem.

[Make Them Die Slowly]

Originally Posted by J Harker

I think the biggest problem is trying to explain the story in a few lines. I struggle to condense it down and worry it won't make sense.

You need a few well chosen phrases that condense but are understood by all and can be applied across genres. An example being "Shit blows up", can be applied to any number of action films and The Enema Bandit!

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by J Harker

No precisely, i don't want to give the whole synopsis but always feel like i need a bit more. Also want to do it in my own words. Does anyone else find at the end of a film they don't necessarily know all the characters names even though following the film was in no way a problem.

That's the thing. Unless you are doing an in depth review character names aren't necessary.

Use sentences like - A young couple, a drifter, a squad of soldiers - you don't have to use their character names.

Or - An old man (Michael Caine) finds his ....

[Michael Brooke]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

I think really it's just practice.

This bit is certainly true, but what's equally important is regular injections of brutally honest self-criticism. And it's easy to spot people who leave out that stage, because their writing doesn't get any better.

[Susan Foreman]

Originally Posted by J Harker

Does anyone else find at the end of a film they don't necessarily know all the characters names even though following the film was in no way a problem.

"Names is for tombstones, baby!"