Film review: "Angela's Ashes"
1. A film review.
Read the review quickly and put the names in the correct position on the poster.
Review: Angela's Ashes
Based on the prize-winning novel by Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes is a critically-acclaimed film by the director Alan Parker. Set in Ireland in the 1930s and 1940s, the film tells the story of Frank's childhood. The film opens with Frank's family living in Brooklyn. When Frank's baby sister dies, the family decides to give up their difficult life in America and return to Ireland.
Hollywood directors love to adapt successful novels for the screen. After all, many people watch a film because they have read the book and liked it. Having said that, it's difficult to make the film as impressive as the book. People who enjoy Alan Parker's film would probably enjoy the book far more. However, that's not to say that it's a bad film.
Parker's film shows a series of episodes in Frank's life. Although it's a dramatic story, it's told with humour and optimism. Emily Watson plays the role of Frank's mother, and Robert Carlyle plays his father. Carlyle is a good actor, but he is not quite convincing in this role. What's more, there was something missing from the scenes set in Ireland. It didn't quite seem real. But it is still an entertaining and enjoyable film to watch, even if it's not a great film, and the soundtrack by John Williams is wonderful.
3. Complex sentences.
The sentence below is based on the text in the previous exercises.
Set in Ireland, the film tells the story of Frank's childhood.
4. Complex sentences.
We can use complex sentences to combine two sentences about the same subject. For example:
Angela's Ashes is based on the novel by Frank McCourt.
Angela's Ashes is a critically-acclaimed film by director Alan Parker.
These two sentences can be rewritten as one sentence.
Based on the novel by Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes is a critically-acclaimed film by director Alan Parker.
Put the parts of the sentence in the correct order to make a complete sentence.
5. Write.
You are going to write a film review. Choose a film that you have seen recently. Remember to include the information you looked at in exercise 1.
Tip: Try to incorporate the following in your review as well.
Ways of linking information and ideas:
however
but
although
Having said that,
What's more,
After all,
Write between 150 and 200 words. Check spelling, grammar and the organisation of your review.