1. The film Paddington is an adaptation of the 1958 children's book A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond. It tells the story of a bear from Peru who travels to London to find a new home. 2. Like the book, Paddington meets the Brown family at a train station and they take him in. 3. The animation of Paddington was very realistic, making the audience forget he was a cartoon character.

1. PHOTOCOPIABLE © Cambridge University Press 2015
Writing practice Unit 6
A critical review
1 Complete the review with the words or phrases from the box.
As in For me in the same way Like I would recommend Similarly
The film Paddington was released in November 2014 and is an adaptation of Michael Bond’s book A Bear called Paddington, which was
first published in 1958. It tells the story of a bear who leaves his home in Peru to find a new life in London.
1 the book, the bear is the main character. The bear is the only character in the film that is
animated. All the other characters are played by real actors. The story begins in Peru where Paddington lives with his aunt and
uncle. Then, after an earthquake, Paddington moves to London to look for an explorer who befriended his family years before.
2 to the book, he meets the Brown family at a train station and they take him in.
3 the highlight of the production was the excellent animation. The bear was so realistic I forgot he was
a cartoon character. 4 the book, there were numerous funny escapades because Paddington is a very
clumsy bear and it was hilarious.
5 this film whole-heartedly. It’s a great production to see with the whole family as a piece of light
entertainment. You leave with a smile on your face and a skip in your step 6 as Paddington!
2 Read the sentences. Write the word from the box that describes them.
opinion origin performance plot recommendation
1 This film was excellent. I would recommend it to everyone.
2 The story is about a young boy who realises he is able to do magic, and his journey into a world of wizards.
3 This film is an adaption of the book The Hunger Games, which was written by Suzanne Collins.
4 For me, this play was a complete waste of time. I found it boring and uninspiring.
5 The musical was OK. However, the main actress was superb. She has a wonderful voice and she captivated the audience
throughout.
Write!Write!
Step 1
Here are three exam questions. Choose one to write. Before you start writing, look at Steps 2–4.
• Write a review of a film that you have seen but didn’t enjoy.
• Write a book review for a school magazine.
• Write a critical review of a play you have watched recently.
Step 2
Brainstorm your ideas. Write out a plan that orders your ideas coherently.
Step 3
Make sure you include sentences about: the origin, the plot, details about the performance / actors / characters, your opinion,
a recommendation.
Step 4
Write your review. Don’t forget to check your work for grammar and spelling mistakes.