What makes a good film? 

There are many elements that make a film great; however, everyone will have their own different opinions on what the most important factors are due to the large variety of film genres and peoples movie preferences. This simple question is personalized to everyone, but sometimes no matter the genre there are a few vital parts needed in order to make a good film. For example, sound and music play a huge role in any movie as it is a great way to build tension like the infamous Jaws song (Steven Spielberg, 1975) as it keeps the viewers on edge. Also the sound is what makes the movie feel more authentic and transports the viewer into the film. For instance people talking in a restaurant or the sound of waves on a beach. If there was no sound or music it would take away the excitement and realness of the movie.  

Furthermore; the plot has to be good and not too complicated so the viewer can follow along and be entertained. If a film has an excellent yet simple storyline it allows the filmmakers to work around and build on other aspects of the movie. Otherwise it can get too confusing and quite messy which can make the experience for the viewers not as enjoyable.  

Another factor which is arguably the most important is the characters and script. Firstly a decent script with good dialogue is what brings the characters to life. A script can create a previous world for the characters without having to show it in the film which is important as it can form a level of understanding or even a bond with the viewer. Next, having a cast of good actors is what will give a movie its sense of realism. Not only do the actors need to be believable, but also the character dynamics need to be believable because again, this is what will bring a movie to life.  

In addition, a good movie will be visually pleasing, this can be done by using specific colours or shades, it is a good way to set the tone and even show the change in emotion. Colour pallets are also a great way to show the different personalities of each character. For example in Little Women (Greta Gerwig, 2019) each sister has their own dress code and colours specific to them. Also, visuals can create an almost out of this world experience as shots can be manipulated and changed to something impossible for the human eye.  

Overall, there are a lot of different factors that go into making a great film, not just one. Everything I have mentioned are the most important elements for me when I watch a movie.