Group Presentation – Movie Review

You will be a part of a 4-6-member group, tasked with presenting a critical evaluation of a movie to the
class. To prepare for this assignment:

1. Meet together as a group to decide which movie you want to critique. Decide upon which Servant
Speaker (Schultze) communication concepts (5-10 concepts) you want to highlight in your
presentation. Choose a movie that is morally uplifting and deals with human communication. Delve
into the intellectual depth the movie offers. This is the most important material to be included in
your presentation.

2. View the movie together either on or off campus. To use a study or classroom, reserve on the
ROCK or with event services. Make sure you share the popcorn, and candy (if current health
considerations allow). Once the movie is over, discuss your impressions of the movie (including
which of the Servant Speaker concepts you saw in the movie) over a cup of coffee with the group.
(Enjoy the process.)

3. Throughout the group project, keep track of each member’s attendance, participation, and
preparedness for the meeting on the Group Attendance Form. (on Moodle) This sheet will be turned
in as a part of the presentation packet. Each group member’s attendance, participation, and
preparedness for group meetings will make up a substantial portion of the individual grade.

4. Before the next meeting, each group member will find at least one printed review of the movie you
watched. Vary the types of sources. Check the following web sites for a Christian perspective on
specific movies.
www.hollywoodjesus.com (highly recommended)
www.Christiananswers.net/spotlight/home.html
This is your only research; cite it and highlight your citations on your printout. All group
member’s reviews will be turned in as a part of the group presentation packet.

5. Share the important points covered in the review you’ve found with your group. Compare the
different viewpoints presented by the various movie critics/reviewers.

6. Discuss and determine how well the selected Servant Speaker communication concepts were or
were not portrayed in the movie. Spend most of your analysis time developing this section. During
the presentation, cite chapter, page and be sure to name/define the concept.

7. Discern which of the ultimate questions (listed below) the movie addressed and assess how
successful the movie was in answering these questions. Include this analysis in your presentation.
 Who am I? (identity)
 Why am I here? (purpose)
 Where did I come from? (creation)
 Where am I going? (eternity)

8. Discuss the media literacy questions pertinent to your film and present interesting insights in your
presentation:
a. What is the significance of the movie title?
b. Who directed, produced, and wrote this movie? What is his/her worldview?
c. Synopsis of the movie.
d. What messages—overt and covert—does this movie promote?
 e. What value for people do these messages contain?
f. Is God’s natural world depicted in its glory or is it ignored and marginalized?
g. Is the movie artistically well done or is it imitative and plastic?
h. What is predictable? What is unique and refreshing?
i. Does this story mirror real world history or is it history-less?
j. Is the church present? Affirmed? Attacked?
k. Are dramatic characters believable or are they simplistic and static?
l. Are people depicted as accountable, moral agents or do they “get away with murder”?
m. How does this movie support or distort the Christian story?
n. What other questions does this movie raise?

9. Present your findings and viewpoints in a final class presentation, utilizing PowerPoint creatively
and including either a movie clip or trailer. Each group member will speak for 5 minutes;
additionally, each group will have additional 5 minutes for the group to flex, as needed, for
transitions, movie clip, etc. Watch your time limit! You will be docked if over or under time.
(For a 6-member group 33:30-36:30 is considered acceptable.)
Each student may take one side of one sheet of paper into the presentation, either a 25-word
outline or PowerPoint slide outline. The delivery should be extemporaneous and adhere to
public speaking expectations. Engage the audience and show enthusiasm and respect for
group members. Cite reviews. Provide intellectual depth and enthusiasm. Have the front of
the room set up and PowerPoint ready to go before class begins.

10. Include the following information in your presentation:

(Be engaged with the other presenters. Don’t look bored.)
 Title of movie
 Director, Producer, Writer (brief)
 Brief Plot Overview
 Identify Servant Speaker communication concepts (spend most of your time on this section).
Reference the Schultze text – chapter, page, terms, etc.
 Discuss how the identified “ultimate questions” were answered (i.e.: How does our experience
of God or the way we talk about God answer that question? How does our faith tradition
answer that question?)
 Discuss desired media literacy questions.
 How does this movie support or distort the Christian story?
 What other questions does the movie raise?
 Does each group member recommend the film?
 Did the movie reviewers agree with your group in their recommendations?
 Question/Answer time. Does the audience have comments?
 Conclusion (Have a closing statement for the presentation after the Q&A.)

11. Have fun with your group!  Yet, be tough on group members: you share their grade.

PREPARE A STAPLED PACKET to hand in before you begin speaking that contains:
1. Agenda of presentation – (1-page outline with names, speaking times, topics, etc.)
2. Signed attendance chart.
3. PowerPoint slides in handout format—6 or 9 slides per page. (no formal outline necessary)
4. A copy of each group member’s movie review, one per student, with quoted text highlighted.
(Please write your name on the top right corner of the front page of your review.)