Guest Post by Rudo.
Since we were discussing reviews this past week I decided to post a review from one of my favourite movies this year,”Hidden Figures.” I really encourage you all to watch it is AMAZING. Anyway, when you’re done reading the review, you can possibly try and find the tone and type of language used, and whether or not this review was a favourable one.
“Hidden Figures” takes us back to 1961, when racial segregation and workplace sexism were widely accepted facts of life and the word “computer” referred to a person, not a machine. Though a gigantic IBM mainframe does appear in the movie — big enough to fill a room and probably less powerful than the phone in your pocket — the most important computers are the three African-American women who work at NASA headquarters in Hampton, Va. Assigned to data entry jobs and denied recognition or promotion, they would go on to play crucial roles in the American space program.
Based on Margot Lee Shetterly’s nonfiction book of the same title, the film, directed by Theodore Melfi (who wrote the script with Allison Schroeder), turns the entwined careers of Katherine Goble (later Johnson), Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan into a rousing celebration of merit rewarded and perseverance repaid. Like many movies about the overcoming of racism, it offers belated acknowledgment of bravery and talent and an overdue reckoning with the sins of the past. And like most movies about real-world breakthroughs, “Hidden Figures” is content to stay within established conventions.This is not necessarily a bad thing. There is something to be said for a well-told tale with a clear moral and a satisfying emotional payoff. The story may be new to most viewers, but the manner in which it’s told will be familiar to all but the youngest.
Mexican Silver 
I do believe that this review is writen in a positive tone. When the writer says, “Hidden Figures is content to stay within established conventions.This is not necessarily a bad thing.” this shows me that the writer is trying to out weigh the negatives with the poitives, in a very authentic way. The language used in this review was very good, in the sense that a lot of facts about the movie and about the time (1961) and how things where delt with back then, which paints an image in your mind, and makes you imagine that you are in this era. But, however, I think that this review gives away too much on the story itself. Which makes me know everything that is going to happen in the movie. But, overall, it was a lovely review to read!
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Good Jess! A nice engagement with both the technical aspects and the content. Take care with saying the language is “good”. It always begs the question: GOOD FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
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I think this review is a favourable one, because the tone seems positive. The language is accessible, although there are more complex words like “reckoning”. There are a number of facts which is good and makes the review seem “backed up”, however, I feel that the review gives away too much detail about the movie and would spoil it for someone who has never watched it before.
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Very good, Dani! This is a great assessment. Almost a review of a review!
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This review is quite reasonable because it talks about racial segregation and work sexism. It also promotes women exmpowerment. There are complex sentences like perserverance. Overall it was a good review!
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Nice, Charmaine! But remember, if you say something is “good”, it begs the question: “GOOD FOR WHAT PURPOSE?”
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This review is quite good because I like how it explains what the movie is about before jumping into an opinion. This also takes us back to the 90s like it is some sort of history we are being told about for example racial segregation . The tone used here is quite positive and negative at the same time because not only is the writer one sided but they are being both sided.
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Good, Tsepile. I particularly like your opening line! POI, however, the movie is a little further back than the 90s 😉
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The review is quite persuasive however unbiased it is. The writer also provides information about the movie and the book,a good thing to do for those not so excited about the movie or those wishing to do both reading and watching. The review is very analytical of the audience and the people it will influence.
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Very well expressed, Nobandile!
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The tone is rather positive and negative at the same time. i feel for a review it gives out a little bit too much information for a review. Despite this the review uses quite accessible English and really brings out fantastic imagery of the 90’s
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Good, Tadiwa! I think that this is a very good assessment of the post. As I told Tsepile: POI: It’s a little further back in time than the 90s.
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Firstly, we discussed in class that a good review has to provide sensible details like the one above. However,I would like to agree with what Dani said that the review has given away too much information. I also think that the writer of the review didn’t compare the good and the bad, we were only told the good. I will give my own example “The portion of chips was rather too small but the chips were delicious.”
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EXCELLENT, Tanatswa! A clear and well-expressed observation! Keep it up!
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