Movie reviews

Today I would like to share an AI-powered lesson aimed at engaging students with a series of tasks focusing on useful vocabulary and expressions for talking about movies. The lesson includes a reading component, analyzing lexis with a critical mind and getting students to write their own movie reviews.

First of all, we are going to ask ChatGPT to write movie reviews for us. Given the nature of the subject matter, this lesson works better for Intermediate levels and above, though it can be adapted for lower levels. Here’s a possible prompt: Write one positive, one neutral and one negative review of about 80 words each for each of the following movies: Jaws, Forrest Gump and The Wild Robot. The reviews should address aspects such as the plot, themes, acting and characters, cinematography, or special effects. The target reader is an upper-intermediate student of English. Include vocabulary, collocations and language chunks to talk about movies that are useful for language learners at this level.

Jaws

Positive Review:
Jaws is a classic thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The suspense builds as the terrifying shark lurks just beneath the surface, making every scene intense. The soundtrack is unforgettable, and the cast delivers strong performances, especially in the face of the unknown danger. Spielberg’s direction and the practical effects make this 1975 film feel timeless, reminding audiences why it set the standard for summer blockbusters.

Neutral Review:
While Jaws is often praised as a masterpiece, some viewers may find its pacing slower than modern thrillers. The story of a small-town sheriff facing a deadly shark is well-told, and the underwater shots are impressive. Although the shark itself doesn’t always look realistic, the tense atmosphere holds up. Overall, Jaws remains an influential film that’s worth watching, even if certain parts might seem dated.

Negative Review:
Despite being called a “classic,” Jaws might not live up to the hype for today’s audiences. The special effects are limited, and the mechanical shark doesn’t look believable, which can pull you out of the story. The pacing is slow, and some may find it hard to connect with the characters. While it’s historically significant, Jaws may feel underwhelming for those expecting a fast-paced thriller.

Forrest Gump

Positive Review:
Forrest Gump is a heartwarming film that takes viewers on an unforgettable journey through American history. Tom Hanks delivers an exceptional performance, bringing charm and sincerity to Forrest’s character. The movie blends humor, emotion, and life lessons, making it deeply moving and memorable. The storyline’s balance between comedy and drama, along with iconic quotes, gives it a lasting impact that resonates with viewers long after the credits roll.

Neutral Review:
While Forrest Gump is well-acted and visually appealing, some might feel the story is overly sentimental. Tom Hanks does a great job, and the film’s use of historical events is interesting, but it sometimes feels like it relies too much on nostalgia. The pacing is steady, making it easy to follow, but it may not appeal to everyone. Despite mixed reactions, Forrest Gump is still worth watching for its unique perspective on life’s ups and downs.

Negative Review:
Forrest Gump can feel overly sentimental and at times manipulative, as it tries too hard to tug at the heartstrings. The character of Forrest feels unrealistic, and his success seems too convenient to be believable. Although Tom Hanks is convincing in his role, the story lacks depth and feels repetitive. The film’s constant reliance on famous historical moments might seem forced, leaving some viewers unimpressed by the heavy-handed storytelling.

The Wild Robot

Positive Review:
The Wild Robot is a charming animated film that tells the story of a robot learning to survive in the wild and find friendship with animals. The stunning animation brings the forest setting to life, and Roz, the robot, is a lovable character who evolves throughout the story. With themes of resilience, friendship, and nature, the movie is both engaging and heartwarming, making it enjoyable for audiences of all ages.

Neutral Review:
The Wild Robot offers a simple story of survival and friendship in a natural setting. Roz, the robot protagonist, is an interesting character, though some might find her emotional journey predictable. The animation is appealing, and the nature scenes are well-done, though the plot can be slow-paced. Overall, it’s a decent family film with a gentle message, though it may not leave a lasting impression on all viewers.

Negative Review:
The Wild Robot lacks depth and feels too simplistic for older audiences. The story of Roz adapting to life in the forest doesn’t bring much suspense, and the predictable plot fails to hold attention. The character development is limited, and the film’s message about nature and friendship, though positive, comes off as overly basic. While the animation is pleasant, the movie may feel dull and forgettable for viewers seeking a richer storyline.

Two aspects worth noting here. First, ChatGPT excels at providing reviews of recent releases (The Wild Robot is currently showing in theatres at the time of writing). Second, the variety and relevance of the target vocabulary are incredible (e.g., keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, worth watching, might not live up to the hype, the predictable plot fails to get attention). These are just a few examples of the excellent language provided. I am truly pleased with this content material.

The next stage is to copy and paste these texts, increase the text size to make the reviews legible from a meter away, and print copies. Cut out nine strips of paper containing the reviews but omit the titles and headings (positive, neutral or negative review). Then, number each review randomly using a pen or a marker.

In class, we may want to do some lead-in activities, such as having conversations about movies, brainstorming expressions to talk about movies, or showing some movie posters. We could then ask students if they have seen those movies, whether they are worth watching, what genre they belong to, and so on.

Next, we will display the movie reviews on the classroom walls and tell students to take an A4-sized piece of paper. In landscape orientation, they will create a table with nine rows numbered 1 to 9 and label two columns: ‘Positive/Neutral/Negative’ and ‘Interesting Vocabulary’, as shown in the photo below. I have already filled out information for the first cells, but these would be blank at this stage.

Now students will walk around the classroom, read each numbered review in any order, and decide whether it’s positive, neutral or negative. They will also write down one or two interesting words of expressions related to talking about movies. If they have trouble understanding some of the vocabulary, they are welcome to ask you or their classmates. I have already completed the task for the positive and neutral reviews on Jaws in the same order shown before, but in our case, the reviews will be numbered randomly. This activity will probably take about 10 minutes.

Afterward, in plenary mode, we would elicit answers from the students and focus our attention on the key expressions. Plenty of opportunities here for exposure to the language and repetition. This is also an excellent opportunity to teach new vocabulary and expressions.

Now it’s time for students to write their own movie reviews of about 80 words. This can be assigned as homework or, preferably, as a class activity. We should obviously encourage our students to use the expressions they have just explored. While they are on task, we can walk around to provide assistance. Once completed, they can display their reviews on the walls for everyone to read.

This lesson works equally well with other forms of culture and entertainment, such as plays, musicals, books or video game reviews. It can also be adapted and extended to include reviews of theme parks, hotels or restaurants.