A movie is a form of visual art that tells a story and can evoke feelings in the audience. Movies can be made in many genres, such as drama, horror, or comedy, and some feature both genres in the same film. The plot of a movie typically centers on characters and their relationships, while some films also have themes that are more abstract or philosophical. Some movies focus on a particular time period, location, or event and attempt to present a realistic or fictionalized version of it. Movies can be categorized by their use of various elements, such as music, special effects, lighting, and costume design.
A film is the term that most Americans use to describe a motion picture, but anyone who works in the filmmaking industry is likely to call it a movie rather than a film. Both terms describe the same thing, but there are differences in how they are used and it is important to understand these distinctions.
Films and movies are typically created through a three-year process called the production cycle. The first year is devoted to development and preproduction. The second year is for production, and the third is for post-production and distribution. The production of a movie is a complex and expensive undertaking that requires the use of multiple crew members, such as directors, cinematographers, and screenwriters. Movies that are based on novels or other written sources may require the additional work of adapters to create an original script.
Some movies are made by large movie studios and are commercially successful, while others are independent or low-budget films that have a cult following. Some movies are both commercially successful and artistically successful, like Steven Spielberg’s Jaws or Schindler’s List. Movies can be categorized by their emotional tone, such as those that make people laugh (comedies), cry (dramas), or feel scared (horror).
In addition to the plot and character interactions, it is important to evaluate a movie on its use of creative elements. Costumes, sets, and colors can all enhance or detract from the overall feel of a movie. Sound effects can be immersive or irritating, and the use of lighting can envelop viewers in a scene or jolt them out of it. Movies can also use the concept of time to great effect: they can show a compressed or expanded view of events, or they can play with the viewer’s perception of space and time by blurring or dissolving scenes together or throwing them out of sequence.
Movies can be evaluated on a number of criteria, such as acting, writing, and directing. They can be rated using stars or a thumbs-up or thumbs-down symbol to indicate whether they are worth seeing. Film critics often offer a more detailed and lengthy evaluation of the movie, including discussion of its themes and plot, acting, pacing, lighting, cinematography, and special effects. Some movie reviews also discuss how a movie engages with real-world issues or events and how it influences the audience’s perception of its subject matter.