Chapter 5 ~ What's my view

Warm as a bear-hug on a cold winter's evening

This wonderful film, using the latest CGI techniques, is based
on a series of children's books by Michael Bond. It tells the
story of a young bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) from Peru who
is forced to leave his native rainforest after a natural disaster in
the form of an earthquake wipes out most of his family. He
comes to London and attempts to find himself a new family. To
begin with, he is overwhelmed by the lights and sounds of the
big city and the streets crowded with people, but he is found
at Paddington station by a kindly family, the Browns, who take
him home. There he initially wreaks havoc, but Paddington,
named after the place where he was found, soon appears to
love all things British, developing a particular fondness for the
rather bitter-tasting jam called marmalade!

So far, so good, but a film needs more than just a loveable

animal and a sweet family. Fortunately, Paddington also gives
us the ideal villain. When Mrs Brown (Sally Hawkins) discovers
Paddington is a rare breed of bear, he attracts the interest of
Millicent the taxidermist, played with perfect, ice-cool
nastiness by Nicole Kidman. Kidman is a revelation in the role
of 'baddie'. If anyone had any lingering doubts about her acting
abilities, this superb performance should answer them once
and for all. As Millicent, she is determined to stuff Paddington
with sawdust (how could she?!) and turn him into her latest
specimen. Will City worker Mr Brown (Hugh Bonneville, familiar
to viewers for his part in Downton Abbey) and the rest of the
family be able to save him? You will have to watch the film to
find out!

The film succeeds in lots of other ways. Most viewers will enjoy
the effortless blending of animation with live action. This is
particularly effective, but it is just one of many treats. For
example, the film's depiction of London is very appealing, with
all the locations you would expect, from the London Eye, to
black taxis and Buckingham Palace. (Surely the London tourist
board was involved?) Some may find this corny. They might
prefer something rather more gritty and realistic, but then
again, this film is probably not aimed at such people. After all, if
you're looking for reality, then you wouldn't choose a film with a
talking bear! Having said that, there is an attempt to show
modern London. Notting Hill (the area of London where much
of the film is set) is a diverse, multicultural place where
Paddington even crosses paths with a Cuban music band!

In conclusion, the acting is excellent and the script is both

funny and moving. It's a film that all the family can enjoy:
whether it is your grandparents who may remember the stories
from their own childhoods; younger children who have never
heard of this strange bear but are curious about finding out
more; teens who are eager for some laughs; or parents who
have only reluctantly gone because their younger ones begged
them, the film won't disappoint. It is about a desire for and the
importance of belonging and that is a message everyone can
recognise. Highly recommended!

● Text Analysis
1. How successful was the review in telling you about the
film, and whether it is worth seeing?

● Reading closely
2. The review follows a clear form and structure, which you
could use in your own writing. Imagine you have been told
to teach a younger student how to write the first part of a
film review. You have made notes to give to them, but
unfortunately, you deleted the most important parts! Can
you copy and complete them?

My advice for what to include for the start of a good film

review
● Make sure you start with the ________ of the film.
● You also need a really well-chosen _______ at the top to
grab the ________ attention.
● After that, add a box with all the __________.
● Include a short summary caption.
● In the first paragraph, it is helpful to mention the
background of the film such as whether it _________.
 ● You also need to tell the reader about _________.

3. Now, check what else you know about the film.

a. In paragraph 2, who are we told is the 'villain' of the film?
Who plays her? What is her plan for Paddington?
b. In paragraph 3, the focus is on the location. Where does
the film take place? What three well-known aspects of the
city are mentioned?
c. Paragraph 4 deals with the film's audience. Which four
groups of people does the reviewer say would be
attracted to the film?

4. Now add to your 'advice notes' from Activity 2, telling a

younger student what they need to include in the remaining
paragraphs.
Start: In paragraph 2, you could include…

5. Reviews consist of two main elements: the factual detail

about what is being reviewed (film, play, music etc.) and the
writer's opinion or viewpoint.
● A fact is something that is true and cannot be disputed
(for example, Cairo is the capital of Egypt: Amir has three
brothers).
● An opinion is one person's view. Others may argue with
the viewpoint (for example. Cairo is the most amazing city
in the world; Amir's oldest brother is very lazy)
In reviews these are often linked together.
This wonderful film, using the latest CGI techniques, is based
on a series of children's books
Other films-goers may not agree! This is an opinion.
This is probably true - you can check by watching
This is a fact - the books exist!

a. In paragraph 2, there is a lot of information about the

character called Millicent. Can you identify any adjectives
or nouns that suggest the opinion of the writer in these
examples? Check the meaning of any unfamiliar words or
phrases first.

i. Paddington also gives us the ideal

ii. Millicent the taxidermist, played with perfect, ice-cool
nastiness by Nicole Kidman
iii. Kidman is a revelation in the role of baddie
iv. this superb performance

b. What does the writer think of Kidman's performance

based on these statements?
Poor, Average, or Excellent

c. Paragraph 3 contains some other adjectives that

represent not only the writer's views, but also what others
may think, Identify the adjectives in this paragraph that
mean:
i. stale or predictable
ii. attractive
iii. successful
iv. easy and smooth.

● Thinking about the text

6. Think carefully and then answer these questions.

a. Why is Millicent's plan for Paddington particularly
unpleasant?
b. Why might some people find the way London is shown
unrealistic?
c. Which of the following would be the most and least
accurate statements about the film based on what the
reviewer says?
i Parents will be worried their children will be frightened.
ii It has a wide appeal to many audiences
ii It is only really suitable for children
iv Londoners are the main audience for the film

● React to the text

7. Work in pairs Discuss these questions

a. The reviewer praises Nicole Kidman as the villain. What
villains have you enjoyed watching or reading about? What
made them so interesting or enjoyable?
b. Do you enjoy Bims that use a lot of CGI? What do you
like/dislike about CGI?
c. In what ways do you think the review is effective? Does it:
● provide key information about the tem?
● give a clear idea of what the reviewer likes or dislikes
about the film?
● say whether the film is suitable for you or others of your
age?
 Answer Key
1. Review
The review was successful in providing information about the
film's plot, characters, setting, and overall tone. It effectively
conveyed the reviewer's positive opinion of the film,
highlighting the strengths such as the acting, script, and its
wide appeal to different audiences. However, whether the film
is worth seeing or not is a subjective matter, and the review
provides a positive recommendation, but individual
preferences may vary.

2. My advice for what to include for the start of a good film

review:
Make sure you start with the title of the film.
You also need a really well-chosen headline at the top to grab
the reader's attention.
After that, add a box with all the essential details.
Include a short summary caption.
In the first paragraph, it is helpful to mention the background
of the film, such as whether it's based on a book.
You also need to tell the reader about the film's plot.

3. a. In paragraph 2, the villain of the film is Millicent, played by

Nicole Kidman. Her plan is to stuff Paddington with sawdust
and turn him into a taxidermy specimen.
b. In paragraph 3, the film takes place in London, and the
well-known aspects of the city mentioned are the London Eye,
black taxis, and Buckingham Palace.

c. Paragraph 4 deals with the film's audience. The four groups

of people the reviewer mentions are grandparents, younger
children, teens, and parents.

4. In the remaining paragraphs, you should include:

- Your opinions on the film, such as the acting, script, and
overall experience.
- Any notable details about the film's production, like the use
of CGI or filming locations.
- Your recommendation or whether you think it's suitable for
certain audiences.

5. a. In paragraph 2, the adjectives and nouns that suggest

the writer's opinion are:
i. "ideal"
ii. "ice-cool nastiness"
iii. "revelation"
iv. "superb performance"

b. The writer thinks Kidman's performance is excellent based

on these statements.
c. In paragraph 3, the adjectives that represent both the
writer's views and what others may think are:

i. "corny" (stale or predictable)

ii. "appealing" (attractive)
iii. "very appealing" (successful)
iv. "effortless" (easy and smooth).

6. a. Millicent's plan for Paddington is unpleasant because she

wants to harm a lovable and innocent bear by turning him into
a taxidermy specimen.

b. Some people might find the way London is shown unrealistic

because it portrays a very idealized and picturesque version of
the city, which may not reflect the gritty or diverse aspects of
real London.

c. The most accurate statement about the film based on what

the reviewer says is: "It has a wide appeal to many audiences."
The least accurate statement is: "It is only really suitable for
children."

7. In pairs, discussing the questions:

a. Villains like the Joker from Batman or Loki from Marvel are
often enjoyable because they are complex characters with
interesting motives and personalities.
b. CGI can enhance a film's visual effects, but it depends on
how well it's used. Some people enjoy CGI when it enhances
the storytelling, while others may dislike it if it feels overused or
unrealistic.

c. The review is effective because it provides key information

about the film, gives a clear idea of what the reviewer likes
about it, and suggests it's suitable for various age groups.