Magazine review language

Magazine reviews tend to use funny, colloquial language and swearing, to appeal to the reader by using language they would use. As mine is a family film, there would be no swearing, and the funny language might not fit. Magazines also use quotes from the films being reviewed, which I can't do, because my film, with the edited end scene, is silent.

Reviews I have seen also use language similar to that used in the film, for example a review of Sherlock Holmes uses a wider vocabulary, as the characters do in the film. This makes my film review a little easier to write, as there is no speech I don't have to fit to a style of speech.

In my research, I found the following, an article titled 'How to write a short film review'. I won't follow this plan, however it is useful to have a very basic structure to follow, as I found most film reviews are diferent based on the genre of film, style of magazine and who wrote the review (and their preferences).

From: http://www.ehow.com/how_5211353_write-short-film-review.html

Instructions

1. • 1
     Start with a quick summary of the film and your opinion. This should take up the first paragraph and should not be more than three sentences. Identify the name of the film in this paragraph and any important association the audience may have. For example, a woman is far more likely to read a review of the baseball film "Money Ball" if it's introduced as Brad Pitt's new film "Money Ball."
   • 2
     Use the next paragraph to summarize the plot or expand on your opinion. This graph needs to be a few sentences long, but edit out anything inessential. Do not explain more of the plot than is necessary for the reader to understand that review. You do not need to lay out the full details of the plot in a short review.
   • 3
     Use the next paragraph to give credit to something good in an otherwise poor movie, or to say something that a good movie could have done better. This graph is optional, but it does suggest to the reader that the writer approached the film with a critical mindset. The most useless reviews, short or otherwise, are those written by a fan (or anti-fan) who only insults or praises the film and does not explain "why" he felt that way.
   • 4
     Close the review with an anecdote or wrap-up that also summarizes why you either liked or disliked the movie. A closing graph may also point out exceptional performances by the actors, a director, or a cinematographer.

Never give away the ending of a film in any review. Nothing angers film fans (or editors) more.

Scene issues

Because the my older brother, who was going to be the other person in the last scene is ill and has alot of uni work to do, if I can't find an alternative I'll have to change the whole scene, which could take a long time, to create, organise and film.

I might go back to my original 'happy ending' idea, which, rather than symbolising leaving your childhood behind as an adult, would symbolise holding on to your childhood through adulthood. Having this ending would mean that I wouldn't need another actor, only someone to man the cameras, filming could take up to an hour and after this the filming will be finished, and editing and music would be the only things left to do.

I would need to film:

1. Several quick shots putting up posters in different places.
2. Walking past the shop with the doll in the window.
3. The shot of me noticing the doll in the window.
4. Going into the shop.
5. The doll being removed from the window.
6. Walking out of the shop with the doll.

All very quick shots, which will make up the ending of the film.
After editing, I can prepare music. I'll need to take note of times of the film, and what mood these times are, so that music can be played in time with the scenes. If not, I may have to experiment with garage band.