Film review magazines commonly follow certain conventions in their layout and design. They typically feature a large photo related to the film near the top that takes up a third to half the page to grab attention. The film title is often included within the photo as well. Reviews also commonly include quotes or lines from the film in a larger, colored font to draw the eye. Star ratings and the magazine's branding or logo are usually included as well for quick information. These visual elements and consistent styles help attract readers and identify the magazine.

1. Codes and conventions
Review magazines

2. PHOTO
A COMMON CONVENTION OF FILM REVIEW MAGAZINES IS
TO HAVE A SNAPSHOT OF THE FILM INVOLVING ONE OF
MORE CHARACTERS (THAT DOESN’T GIVE AWAY THE PLOT)
WHICH TAKES UP A THIRD TO A HALF OF THE TOTAL REVIEW
SPACE. THIS IS DONE PRIMARILY TO GRAB THE VIEWERS
ATTENTION AND DRAW THEM IN WHEN LOOKING THROUGH
THE MAGAZINE. THE PICTURE IS ALWAYS SITUATED AT THE TOP
OF THE PAGE.

3. EXAMPLES

4. TITLE
ANOTHER CONVENTION IS TO HAVE THE FILM TITLE ON THE
PICTURE ITSELF, USUALLY IN WHITE TEXT. WE SAW BEFORE
WHITE TEXT WAS USED IN THE POSTERS AS IT STANDS OUT. THE
TITLE MAY ALSO HELP TO AID DRAWING THE VIEWER IN AS THE
TITLE IS NORMALLY INTRIGUING.

5. EXAMPLES

6. QUOTES AND LINES
ANOTHER CONVENTION IS THAT WITHIN THE BLOCK OF TEXT THERE
IS A QUOTE. IT IS USUALLY LARGER THAN THE REST OF THE TEXT IN A
DIFFERENT COLOUR AND IS INTERESTING. THEREFORE THIS SUDDEN
DOSE OF LARGE COLOUR DRAWS THE VIEWERS EYE STRAIGHT TO IT
WHEN TURNING TO THE PAGE, SO THIS PIECE OF TEXT IS CRUCIAL
TO ENTICING THE AUDIENCE AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO READ
THE WHOLE ARTICLE. (RED)
AS WELL AS QUOTES TO BREAK UP THE MAIN BODY OF TEXT, THE
MAGAZINES ALSO USE COLOURED LINES TO MAKE THE OVERALL
AESTHETIC OF THE PAGE MORE APPEALING INSTEAD OF JUST
HAVING A MONOCHROMATIC PRESENTATION. (BLUE)

7. EXAMPLES

8. STAR RATING AND BRANDING
TWO THINGS WE HAVE FOUND ALMOST MANDATORY WITHIN THE
FILM REVIEW PAGES OF A MAGAZINE IS; THE STAR RATING, OUT OF
FIVE, AS WELL AS THE MAGAZINE BRANDING.
THE STAR RATING CAN BE USED FOR A QUICK CHECK TO SEE IF THE
FILM IS WORTH WATCHING WITHOUT NEEDING TO READ THE WHOLE
REVIEW AND TO SEE THE CRITICS FINAL OPINION. THIS MAKES THE
PAGE WORTH LOOKING AT TO ANYONE POSSIBLY INTERESTED WITH
THE FILM. (RED)
THE MAGAZINE BRANDING IS, PRACTICALLY ALWAYS, FOUND IN
THE TOP LEFT OR RIGHT OF THE PAGE IN A SMALL BLOCK OF
COLOUR. A PIECE OF THE MAGAZINE STYLE ON EVERY PAGE, A
CONSISTENT MARKING TO KEEP THE MAGAZINE TOGETHER. (BLUE)

9. EXAMPLES