Reviews

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Writing Part 2: Reviews

Purpose of a review
The purpose of any review is to talk about a topic in detail, assessing its pros and cons,
and making some recommendations. Also, reviews are expected to engage the reader
while being informative.

Register
Reviews tend to be addressed to the general public (e.g.: website readers, magazine
subscribers, etc.) so the language can be standard or even slightly informal. You should
address the reader directly, in the second person, and you can use humour if you think
it’s appropriate.

Structure
Every review needs a title. This should be as catchy as possible, to grab the reader’s
attention from the beginning. In the introduction, you should introduce what you are
talking about in a leisurely way, trying to entertain and engage the reader. Each
paragraph between the introduction and the conclusion should deal with a different
aspect. And you should wait until the conclusion to make a recommendation.

Giving your opinion

In a review, you are expected to give your opinion throughout the whole writing,
although the recommendation is expected to happen at the end. A review is very
personal, so you can use first-person sentences freely.

Common topics
Review tasks usually ask you to write about restaurants, books, films, series, musical
events, plays, performances, etc.

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REVIEWS

Sample Book Review

Instructions

You see the following announcement on a literary website:

“Book reviews wanted! Send us a review of the latest book you’ve read and
enjoyed and tell us why everyone should read it! No spoilers though,
please! If we like your review, we will post it on our website so everyone
will be able to read it and learn about the book. What are you waiting for,
bookworm?”

Write your book review. Write your answer in 220 – 260 words in an
appropriate style.

Do you need someone to mark your review?

Check out KSE Academy’s writing assessment service. Scan the QR code on the left with your
phone or visit https://kdp.kseacademy.com/writing-c1-book for more information. Use the
coupon AMZWC1 for a great discount as a thank you for purchasing this book.

Cambridge C1 Advanced and CAE are brands belonging to The University of Cambridge and are not associated with KSE Academy.

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 REVIEWS

Sample Book Review

Answer

Into the Water

Suspense fans, rejoice! Paula Hawkins' latest book is out and it will not
disappoint you! If you couldn't put down "The Girl on the Train" and thought
"A Slow Burning Fire" was out of this world, you cannot miss "Into the
Water".
The intricate plot of "Into the Water" revolves around a series of mysterious
deaths in a small English town and how a group of characters come to
discover not only how, but also why these people perished in such suspicious
circumstances. To make matters even more intriguing, it's the different main
characters who narrate the story in the first person and from their own
perspective, maintaining the tension and suspense right until the very
cliffhanger ending.
Considering the surprisingly large number of characters in this story, Hawkins
has done an exceptional job of making them feel real and three-dimensional.
You can truly sense how they evolve throughout the plot, and you will come
to love and hate some of them, sometimes even at the same time!
The tension-packed storyline and frequent unexpected twists make "Into the
Water" an addictive read and not easily forgotten. While I won't go as far as
to say that it's Hawkins' magnum opus, I do recommend it to every bookworm
who, like me, delights in spending a few exciting days engrossed in a gripping
suspense page-turner.

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REVIEWS

Sample Film Review

Instructions

You see the following announcement on a movie blog:

“Have you watched any awesome films recently? Your favourite movie blog
is asking its readers to write a film review to post online for other movie
lovers. Write a review of a film you have watched recently in which you say
whether you liked it or not and if you would recommend it to other
members of the club.”

Write your film review. Write your answer in 220 – 260 words in an
appropriate style.

Do you need someone to mark your review?

Check out KSE Academy’s writing assessment service. Scan the QR code on the left with your
phone or visit https://kdp.kseacademy.com/writing-c1-book for more information. Use the
coupon AMZWC1 for a great discount as a thank you for purchasing this book.

Cambridge C1 Advanced and CAE are brands belonging to The University of Cambridge and are not associated with KSE Academy.

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 REVIEWS

Sample Film Review

Answer

Room
There are films which represent a turning point in the life of every film buff,
whether it be for the plot, the actors or the themes. In my case, this came
about when I watched Room, a heartbreaking yet inspiring production
directed by Lenny Abrahamson.
Set in present-day Canada, the plot of this human drama revolves around the
story of a young woman, Ma, who was kidnapped seven years ago and has
been locked up ever since in a minute back-garden shed – referred to as
“room” throughout the whole film. After regular forced, sexual encounters
with her kidnapper, Ma has given birth to Jack, who is now 6 years old. During
this time, this room is the only world he knows, thus being completely
unaware of what lies beyond those four walls. However, Ma will do
everything in her power to break free and put an end to their ordeal.
The characters are wonderfully played by all the actors, who put in an
exceptional performance, especially the young, child actor who plays Jack. He
really provides the part with a lot of personality and wins the viewers’
sympathy from the outset.
What made me fall in love with this film was that it deals in an extremely
realistic way with major themes like violence, motherly love and depression.
However, the icing on the cake is how this picture gives us hope to overcome
severe difficulties.
If you are a keen movie lover and enjoy thought-provoking stories, I would not
hesitate to log on to Netflix and watch it straightaway. You will always
remember it as one of the best films you ever saw.

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REVIEWS

Sample Live Performance Review

Instructions

You see the following announcement on an entertainment website:

“Live performance reviews wanted! Have you seen someone live who
you'd only seen on screen or heard on recordings? Please send us reviews
of new bands, actors or performers you'd never seen live before. Describe
their live performance and what you and the audience thought of it. Were
they better live, or did you prefer them on screen/record? How has your
opinion of them changed?”

Write your review. Write your answer in 220 – 260 words in an appropriate
style.

Do you need someone to mark your review?

Check out KSE Academy’s writing assessment service. Scan the QR code on the left with your
phone or visit https://kdp.kseacademy.com/writing-c1-book for more information. Use the
coupon AMZWC1 for a great discount as a thank you for purchasing this book.

Cambridge C1 Advanced and CAE are brands belonging to The University of Cambridge and are not associated with KSE Academy.

62
 REVIEWS

Sample Live Performance Review

Answer

The Newbies are back in town!

If you're a music buff and a live gig enthusiast, there's a new band in town
that you simply cannot miss. They're called "The Newbies" and I was so
blown away by their live performance last weekend that I feel compelled to
let everyone know how awesome they are.
First things first. You might have already heard about "The Newbies", as
they're fairly popular locally, and you or your friends might even own one of
their early albums. But I'll let you in on a little secret: their live act blows their
recorded music out of the water. Seriously! Had I not seen them live, they
would've probably never made it into my top 10 national bands list, ever. But
experiencing their music live changed that overnight, just like that.
When the five-piece band set foot on stage and struck the first few chords,
the audience just went bonkers. You could really feel the energy building up
with every chorus and the way the musicians interacted with the audience
made it a truly unique experience. In addition, the atmosphere they managed
to create was intimate, as the venue was rather small, yet explosive, which is
what makes their live gigs so memorable.
I would've never guessed that watching them live would change my mind so
much about their music. But they truly shine so much more when playing live!
So if you're free next weekend and would like to attend one of the best live
concerts ever, make sure to get your ticket now before they sell out!

Cambridge C1 Advanced and CAE are brands belonging to The University of Cambridge and are not associated with KSE Academy.

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Useful Expressions for Reviews

Sample 1 • major themes like violence, motherly love and
• Suspense fans, rejoice! depression
• If you couldn't put down • the icing on the cake
• was out of this world • overcome severe difficulties
• you cannot miss • a keen movie lover
• intricate plot of [...] revolves around • enjoy thought-provoking stories
• a group of characters who come to discover
• not only how, but also why Sample 3
• these people perished • a music buff and a live gig enthusiast
• To make matters even more intriguing • you simply cannot miss
• maintaining the tension and suspense right • I was so blown away by
until the very cliffhanger ending • I feel compelled to
• Hawkins has done an exceptional job of • First things first
• real and three-dimensional • fairly popular locally
• truly sense how they evolve • I'll let you in on a little secret
• you will come to love and hate • their live act blows their recorded music out of
• tension-packed storyline the water
• frequent unexpected twists • Had I not seen them live,
• I won't go as far as to say • never made it into my top 10 […] list
• Hawkins' magnum opus • changed that overnight
• I do recommend it to every bookworm • the five-piece band set foot on stage
• delights in spending • struck the first few chords
• engrossed in a gripping suspense page-turner • the audience just went bonkers
• feel the energy building up
Sample 2 • made it a truly unique experience
• a turning point in the life of every film buff • the atmosphere [...] was intimate [...] yet
• whether it be for explosive
• this came about when • what makes their live gigs so memorable
• a heartbreaking yet inspiring production • they truly shine so much more
• Set in present-day Canada • get your ticket now before they sell out
• the plot of this human drama revolves around
• The characters are wonderfully played
• put in an exceptional performance
• provides the part with a lot of personality
• wins the viewers' sympathy from the outset
• What made me fall in love wit
Cambridge C1 Advanced and CAE are brands belonging to The University of Cambridge and are not associated with KSE Academy.

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 REVIEWS

Useful Expressions for Reviews

Book and film review vocabulary
Given the similarity between book and film Characters
reviews, the following list contains sample
expressions that can be used in both cases, if not • the protagonist
specified otherwise. • the main character
• the central character
Genre • the main role
• a musical → film review only • the secondary role
• a love story • the hero
• a historical drama • the antihero
• a romcom • the sidekick
• a comedy
• a fantasy
Plot
• a biopic
• predictable
• a horror film/novel
• intricate
• a thriller
• intense
• an action film/novel/story
• gripping
• a war drama
• action-packed
• a western
• addictive
• a drama
• dreary
• a sci-fi movie/novel
• entertaining
• a classic movie/novel
• futuristic
• an animation film → film review only
• heartbreaking
• a cartoon film → film review only
• inspirational
• a police movie/novel
• tear-jerking
• a crime film/novel
• amusing
• boring
Workers (film reviews only) • breathtaking
• the actor / actress • disappointing
• the director • funny
• the moviemaker • full of tension
• the producer • unexpected twist
• the scriptwriter • cliffhanger ending
• the screenwriter • slow/fast-paced
• the photography director
• the camera operator
• the soundtrack composer
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REVIEWS

Useful Expressions for Reviews

Talking about the work Background
• a blockbuster → film review only • The story is set …
• a box office hit → film review only • The story takes place …
• a low-budget production → film review only • This work is based on…
• an expensive production → film review only • The story begins …
• produced by … → film review only • The plot focuses on …
• directed by … → film review only • The book relates how …
• starring … → film review only • This well-written/fascinating book/film…
• a smashing hit/success → book review too • This original first novel … → book review only
• The book/novel/film/story was written by …
Film elements • The story begins/concerns/is about …
• the plot • It is beautifully/poorly/badly written
• the story • based on a true story
• the storyline • inspired by true events

• the theme
• the characters Talking about the plot
• the ending • The story is gripping
• the beginning • It is an inspiring story
• the setting • It’s a fast-paced story
• the special effects → film review only • This book/story is brilliantly plotted
• the CGI → film review only • The plot is (absolutely) thrilling/clever/exciting
• the screenplay → film review only • The plot is (rather) boring/ dull/uninteresting
• the script → film review only • It is rather confusing/long/slow/boring
• the main role → film review only • a slow start
• the secondary role → film review only • The plot has an unexpected twist …
• the soundtrack → film review only • It has a tragic/surprising/dramatic end
• OST (original soundtrack) → film review only • a nail-biting conclusion
• a cliff-hanger ending

Acting (film reviews) • a gripping climax

• badly acted
• lousy performance
• great performance
• well acted
• wonderfully played

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Useful Expressions for Reviews

Talking about the characters Adjectives to describe the author
• the characters are believable Cultured, intellectual, well-read, erudite, sage,
• the main characters are well-crafted sensible, rational, philosophic, analytical,
• some characters are slightly two- dimensional imaginative, perspective, visionary, prophetic,
optimistic, broad-minded, idealistic, religious,
Recommendation and opinion orthodox, sympathetic, sophisticated,
• Don’t miss it unsophisticated, original, clever, witty, humorous,
whimsical, conservative, progressive, radical,
• It is well worth reading
reactionary, unprejudiced, realistic, romantic,
• It will change the way you see …
• I wouldn’t recommend it because … uncultured, unintellectual, shallow, superficial,
• I highly/thoroughly recommend it … bigoted, opinionated, intolerant, critical, fanatical,
• It is a highly entertaining read. provincial, narrow-minded, pessimistic, cynical,
• It is a bore to read. egotistical, sentimental, etc.
• It is certainly at the top of my list.
• It’s a must
• Don’t bother with this one
• I would rate this book …
• I would recommend this book to …
• It will help you understand …
• I wouldn’t recommend it because …
• I think that the author really …

Adjectives to describe the characters

ambitious, arrogant, assertive, bad-tempered,
calm, cheerful, conscientious, easy-going,
eccentric, funny, immature, impulsive, insecure,
insincere, loyal, open-minded, optimistic,
possessive, reserved, self-confident, stubborn, vain,
well-balanced, wise, aggressive, anxious,
concerned, critical, enthusiastic, hard-working,
impatient, impolite, mature, organised,
disorganised, reasonable, responsible, self-
confident, sensitive, strict, understanding,
unreliable, shallow, sensible, shy, indecisive,
jealous, moody, lazy, pessimistic, bossy, childish,
etc.
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REVIEWS

Useful Expressions for Reviews

Restaurant review vocabulary
Atmosphere and décor The pricing
• unbeatable location • reasonably priced
• unforgettable setting • cheap/inexpensive
• attractive setting • well worth the money
• wonderful/magnificent/luxurious decor • good value for money
• modern/antique/minimalist decoration • expensive/overpriced/pricy
• cosy • not worth the money
• attractive • poor value for money
• spacious • book in advance
• spotless • always fully booked
• dull/ dusty/ filthy
• indoor/outdoor Recommendation
• dimly lit • This restaurant would be absolutely perfect for
• bright / brightly lit • I would have no hesitation in recommending
• grand dining room this restaurant to
• gorgeous furniture • In conclusion, I recommend this restaurant to
anyone who
The food • I would highly/strongly recommend (that) /
• a wide variety of mouth-watering starters/ strongly advise you to …
main courses/ deserts • Everyone should try it / give it a try
• I ordered ... accompanied by a side dish of ... • … is not to be missed!
• the main course consisted of • I certainly wouldn’t recommend …
• home-made / take-away / ready meal • I strongly advise you against / not to …
• large selection of ... • You should probably give … a miss.
• to be starving hungry / to be dying of hunger
• poor quality / stodgy / bland
• tasty / delicious / exquisite
• processed food
• traditional
• unusual
• authentic
• spicy
• vegetarian
• overcooked/undercooked

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Cambridge C1 Advanced and CAE are brands belonging to The University of Cambridge and are not associated with KSE Academy.

69