Writing Well - FIlm Reviews


Tone, Sincerity and Appropriate Language

Task: Re-write a paragraph of a film review aiming it at different aged audiences. 

In the immaculately designed, emotionally charged bubble filmmaker Wes Anderson builds around the 1965 New England summer, first love blooms. Sam (Jared Gilman) is an orphan at the mercy of foster parents and his Scout troop. Suzy (Kara Hayward) lives in a lighthouse with three younger brothers, two lawyer parents (Bill Murray and Frances McDormand) and an urge to bust free. Sam, she decides, is her man. No one understands their attraction. Hell, they're both 12. He's a string bean in thick glasses, and she's cool enough to wear eyeliner. But Anderson, who wrote the resonant script with Roman Coppola, knows their secret hearts. So when the kids run away to an island they call Moonrise Kingdom, Anderson is right there with them. And thanks to this enchanted ride of a movie, so are we.

Aged between 16 and 20
The talented filmmaker Wes Anderson demonstrates first love blooming in an immaculately designed, emotionally charged backdrop of the 1965 New England summer. The plot is centred around the two main characters Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward) who are both 12 and have “found love in a hopeless place” as Rihanna would state. Suzy lives in a lighthouse with three younger brothers, two lawyer parents (Bill Murray and Frances McDormand). She finds refuge in Sam, who has a Millhouse van Houten appeal to him. Only Anderson knows the real meaning of their love and takes us on a journey as they run away to an island, Moonrise Kingdom.

Over 50 years of age
First love, as seen through the artistry of indie-talented filmmaker Wes Anderson. This is a film which bears no difference to his past works; mannered, exquisitely designed and deadpan throughout – absolutely auteurist. In a captivatingly stunning setting of the 1965 New England summer, two 12-year old children escape together to an island they call Moonrise Kingdom. Sam (Jared Gilman) is an orphan at the mercy of foster parents and his Scout troop. Suzy (Kara Hayward) lives in a lighthouse with three younger brothers, two lawyer parents (Bill Murray and Frances McDormand) and an urge to bust free. Anderson wrote the script with Roman Coppola and takes us through this whirlwind ride of a movie.


Primary School Audience – Aged between 8 and 14
This movie is about a boy named Sam and a girl named Suzy who go on are in love and run away from home to a beautiful island called Moonrise Kingdom. Sam is adopted and is unhappy with his foster parents and Scout troop. Suzy lives in a lighthouse with her mum, dad and three brothers. They are two very different people and people do not understand why they are in love. So they escape.