Quite simply the best comeback in cinematic history. Also, how good is the mise-en-scène here? This one image tells you almost everything you need to know about these characters. Image: Universal Pictures
At some point during my efforts to discuss various films (specifically, but this might also apply to other subject matter), I realised that the material fell into a couple of distinct categories. In light of the many noble attempts to protect against this moment of time’s big potential spoiler—the final episode of the Star Wars saga—it felt appropriate to delineate these categories a little more clearly.
Analysis
An investigation of the subject’s qualities, its themes and any other miscellany that happens to work its way into the examination. Expect spoilers, because this methodology will absolutely assume familiarity with the material.
That is not to say that analytical articles can’t also serve as decent reviews, but don’t expect to come out of it with the film’s mysteries in tact. That is precisely the point, to deconstruct it in order to penetrate the surface layers and discern a greater understanding. It’s unlikely any significant narrative surprises will survive that process.
Review
An opinion, basically, of the subject. In most cases, reviews will avoid spoilers precisely because they are more of a reflection on the entertainment value than an examination of its content more broadly. That being said, one’s definition of “entertainment” may naturally vary, which to my palette includes thematic integrity, inter- and intra-textuality and the strengths of motifs, among the more usual foci such as narrative, characterisation, cinematography and/or mise-en-scéne, etcetera.
In most cases, great pains are taken not to recommend anything, because each person might have her own particular views on what is valuable; it should usually be fairly apparent where my particular opinion lies on the subject, however. Take what you need.