Talking about your favourite movie is something that everyone enjoys. Whether they loved the movie or hated it, it is natural that people go on talking about it to their family, friends.
In fact, talking about movies is so common that even at Language proficiency tests like IELTS, you are often asked to talk about movies. Talking about a movie is all about describing it and articulating your feelings about it. To do it in the right way, you must know some techniques. Here they are:
Choosing the Right Word While Describing a Movie:
A good description must have the right words. By ‘right words’, we mean relevant vocabulary. Here is how you can begin:
1) “The movie captured my attention from the beginning”
The word “capture” means to catch or to seize. If you use this phrase, you are saying that you found the movie intriguing and interesting from the start.
2) “The cinematography was amazing.”
When you make a comment about the “cinematography,” you are commenting on the motion-picture photography and the general art behind the film.
3) “The scene that stands out in my mind is the part where the main characters fall in love.”
A “scene” is a specific section of a movie where the time and location are fixed. When you say that one part of a movie “stands out” in your mind, you are saying that you remember it more than other parts.
4) “When the movie first came out, the critics weren’t crazy about it.”
The term “come out” means to be released into the theatres for the public to watch. “Critics” are professionals who watch movies and write a review about the quality of the movie, according to their own opinions.
Important vocabulary related to movies:
Here’s little more insight to movie-related vocabulary:
- The following sentences may be used when giving an overview of the movie
Examples:
What a fantastic movie it was!
The special 3D effects used in the movie were eye-catching.
The story of the movie is awesome.
The movie was total laugh riot.
- While describing different types of movie
1. Action
2. Romance
3. Thriller
4. Horror
5. Animated
6.Documentary (which delivers extra information and knowledge regarding a certain thing)
7. Scientific fictional (E.g. Avatar, Mad Max, Jurassic World, etc.)
Examples:
The upcoming movie of Robert Downey Jr. is again an action movie.
The animated movie, Little Krishna, is very famous and favorite among children.
Thriller movie has an interesting and an exciting story as compared to other movies.
- Vocabulary to be used while describing story of a movie:
Charming, handsome, beautiful: While describing the various characters.
Actor, actresses, side role and villains: These words are used to indicate the kind of role and act played by different characters.
- Additional vocabulary related to films:
1. Trailer: It is a short segment of movie published on a television as a kind of advertisement.
2. Teaser: It is a short segment of an actual trailer of a movie.
3. Sequel: A sequel is a film that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work.
4. Casting: The selection of actors or performers for the film.
5. Dubbed: It is nothing but a remake of a movie in another language other than its original language.
6. Cinematography: The art of camerawork and photography in a film.
7. Veteran: This is a person in the team who has had a long service experience in film making.
8. Cameo: A cameo is the brief appearance or voice of a person in the work of performing arts, typically unnamed or appearing as themselves.
9. Blockbuster movie: When a particular release gets a great commercial success, it is termed as a ‘Blockbuster Movie’.
Types of questions that you get asked about movies:
As we have mentioned earlier, movie related questions are very common in language proficiency tests like IELTS. Here are some sample questions that you are likely to be asked:
- What is your favourite movie?
- Are there any kinds of movies you dislike?
- If so, what kinds?
- Why do you dislike them?
- Do you like to watch horror movies?
- Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction books? How about movies?
- Do you usually watch movies at home or at a movie theatre?
- Have you ever seen the same movie more than once?
- If yes, name it (or them).
- Have you ever seen ___? (Insert the name of a movie.)
- How often do you go to watch movies?
- How often do you rent videos?
- If a book has been made into a movie, which do you prefer to do first, see the movie or read the book? Why?
- What do you think of people who talk during movies at a movie theatre?
- What is the best movie you have ever seen?
- Who was in it?
- Why did you like it?
- Who was the director?
- What is the scariest movie you have ever seen?
- What’s the funniest?
- What’s the most romantic?
- What is the worst movie you’ve ever seen?
In A Nutshell:
Talking about movies can be greatly entertaining and it always initiates an animated conversation. However, talking about movies can become a lot more meaningful and substantial, when your vocabulary consists of right, relevant words.
