What is a Movie?

The word movie (also known as film) means a feature motion picture that tells a story. Most movies are designed to make people laugh (comedies), cry (dramas or tragedies) or feel afraid (horror). Some are also meant to inspire (sports movies) or teach viewers something new.

A movie review is an opinion piece about a particular film. A good movie review explains why the film is worth watching and what makes it special. It also describes the characters, setting and plot. A movie review should be balanced and fair. A negative movie review may include criticism of the director, actors or cinematography.

Some films are so popular that they earn millions of dollars in ticket and DVD sales. These are called blockbusters. Other movies are less well known and make very little money. These are sometimes called art or independent movies. These movies usually tell creative or unusual stories, and sometimes have sad endings.

Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 adaptation of Mario Puzo’s gangster classic is the benchmark by which all other mob movies are judged. Its depictions of itchy trigger fingers and sun-kissed staredowns have become iconic, elevated by Ennio Morricone’s unmistakable score.