Cómo escribir una crítica de cine en inglés (B1): based on, set in, directed by y una recomendación justa

Una buena crítica de cine en inglés da los datos de producción, valora la trama y un elemento técnico con pruebas, admite un defecto justo y dice a qué público le conviene la película. Los datos usan expresiones fijas, varias de ellas en pasiva: “It is based on…”, “It is set in…”, “It was filmed in…”, “It is directed by…”. Esta guía es de nivel B1 (intermedio) y está pensada para adultos cuyas opiniones sobre cine se quedan en “It was really good.”

¿Para quién es este artículo?

Adultos de nivel intermedio que ven películas y series en inglés pero solo saben decir “great” o “boring” sobre ellas.
Personas que escriben una crítica o una recomendación para un curso, un cineclub o un blog y necesitan una estructura además de una opinión.
Quienes recomiendan cosas en el trabajo o a sus amigos y quieren sonar justos, con una reserva sincera en lugar de solo elogios.
Demasiado pronto: si todavía te cuesta dar una razón con because, empieza en A2 con una invitación breve a un evento musical.
Demasiado fácil: si ya apoyas cada valoración con una escena o un detalle técnico, pasa a B2 y propón una norma sobre la música en el trabajo que cambie según la tarea.

Abrir las páginas de muestra

Tarjetas de vocabulario

It is based on…

Use this to identify source material or real events adapted by the film.

The documentary is based on interviews with retired railway workers.

It is set in…

This identifies the story's place and time.

The drama is set in Glasgow during a winter strike.

It was shot / filmed…

This identifies the real production location.

Although the story is set in Glasgow, it was filmed in Hull.

It is directed by… · It stars…

Use passive directed by for the director and active stars for leading actors.

It is directed by Amara Chen and stars Luis Ortega as a mechanic.

plays the part of…

Use this to name an actor's role.

Nadia Bell plays the part of an engineer protecting the archive.

It is dubbed into…

Name the target language after into; contrast this with subtitles displayed on screen.

It is dubbed into Spanish and has French subtitles.

Conversación

maya Tell me about a really good film you've seen recently.

owen I saw a low-budget drama called North Platform. It made me feel hopeful without becoming sentimental.

maya What is it based on, and where is it set?

owen It's based on several oral histories, and it's set in a railway town in 1984.

maya Who stars in it, and who is it directed by?

owen It stars Rina Das as a young signal operator and is directed by Joel Mercer.

maya What makes it worth seeing?

owen The plot develops patiently, the final decision feels earned, and the soundtrack uses actual workshop sounds as rhythm.

maya Would you rather see it at home or in a cinema?

owen In a cinema. The wide shots need a large screen, and the quiet soundtrack deserves good speakers.

maya Is there anything you would change?

owen One scene is too long, but I would still recommend it, especially with subtitles because some of the interviews are difficult to hear.

Estructura de la frase

What must the review include?

Identify the film and premise; say what it is based on, where it is set, who directed it, and who stars in it; evaluate the plot and at least one technical element; include one limitation; recommend it to a specific audience.

A useful review combines factual description with supported evaluation.

although
especially effective
nevertheless
best seen

Más práctica

How a recommendation works

Recommendation: The Last Repair

The Last Repair is a thoughtful drama about a family-owned radio shop that is threatened by redevelopment. It is based on an unpublished memoir and is set in Manchester in the late 1990s, although most of it was shot in present-day Sheffield. The film is directed by Celia Grant and stars Arun Malik as Dev, a technician who avoids conflict until his apprentice discovers that the shop contains recordings of local historical importance.

The plot develops through small decisions rather than dramatic twists. This makes the final public meeting surprisingly tense because every earlier choice has a consequence. The soundtrack is especially effective: clicks, static, and fragments of old broadcasts are turned into music without making the dialogue difficult to hear. The supporting cast is convincing, and even the background customers feel like real people rather than decorative extras.

The middle section could have been shortened, and one disagreement is resolved too easily. Nevertheless, I would recommend the film to viewers who enjoy character-driven stories and local history. It is best seen on a large screen with its excellent subtitles, which identify sounds as well as speech.

Passive meaning and core tenses

present simple: am/is/are + participle

Use the present simple passive for routines, facts, and general processes.

Every interview is checked by a second editor.

present continuous: am/is/are being + participle

Use this form for a passive action in progress now or around now.

The subtitles are being corrected before the doors open.

past simple: was/were + participle

Use this form for a completed past passive event.

The final scene was filmed after the workshop closed.

past continuous: was/were being + participle

Use this form for a passive action that was in progress at a past time.

The sound was being tested when the projector restarted.

active or passive

Choose passive when the receiver or process is more important than the agent.

The damaged file was replaced; who replaced it is not important here.

by + agent

Add by plus the agent when the performer is relevant, surprising, or unknown to the listener.

The replacement soundtrack was mixed by Owen.

Write and defend your recommendation

What must the review include?

A useful review combines factual description with supported evaluation.

although
especially effective
nevertheless
best seen

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Datos de producción: based on, set in, filmed in, directed by

Apréndelas como bloques y separa dónde ocurre la historia de dónde estuvieron las cámaras. Ojo con las preposiciones: en español se dice “basada en”, pero en inglés es based on, nunca based in.

Based on: el libro, los hechos o las entrevistas en los que se basa la película. “The documentary is based on interviews with retired railway workers.”
Set in: el lugar y la época de la historia. “The drama is set in Glasgow during a winter strike.”
Filmed in o shot in: el lugar real del rodaje. Para el rodaje de una película, di filmed o shot, no recorded. “Although the story is set in Glasgow, it was filmed in Hull.”
Directed by y stars: “It is directed by Amara Chen and stars Luis Ortega as a mechanic.”
Dubbed into: con voces nuevas en otro idioma, es decir, doblada; los subtítulos son subtitles. “It is dubbed into Spanish and has French subtitles.”

Por qué tantas de estas expresiones van en pasiva

En una crítica, la película sigue siendo el sujeto, así que muchos datos van en pasiva: be más el participio, y be marca el tiempo. Añade by solo cuando el nombre sea útil.

Presente, para datos que siguen siendo ciertos: “It is based on an unpublished memoir and is set in Manchester in the late 1990s.”
Pasado, para lo que ocurrió durante el rodaje: “Most of it was shot in present-day Sheffield.”
Sin by cuando no se sabe quién lo hizo o no importa: “The final scene was filmed after the workshop closed.”

Valorar con pruebas: ¿por qué?, ¿para quién?, ¿comparado con qué?

Amazing, nice o boring no le dan al lector nada útil. Apoya cada valoración en algo que él también pueda notar, como una escena, la banda sonora o el trabajo de cámara, y ponla a prueba con tres preguntas:

¿Por qué? “The music is nice.” pasa a ser “The soundtrack is especially effective: clicks, static and old broadcasts are turned into music.”
¿Comparado con qué? “The story is good.” pasa a ser “The plot develops through small decisions rather than dramatic twists.”
¿Para quién? “Everyone will love it.” pasa a ser “It is best for viewers who enjoy slow, character-driven dramas.”

Un defecto justo y una recomendación clara

Un defecto sincero hace que tus elogios sean más creíbles. Dilo, mantén tu valoración general con but… still o nevertheless y después di quién debería ver la película. Escucha a un espectador recomendar un drama de bajo presupuesto.

Maya What makes it worth seeing?

Owen The plot develops patiently, the final decision feels earned, and the soundtrack uses actual workshop sounds as rhythm.

Maya Is there anything you would change?

Owen One scene is too long, but I would still recommend it, especially with subtitles because some of the interviews are difficult to hear.

Planifica una crítica de 140–180 palabras

Escribe cinco partes breves, lee el texto en voz alta y defiende una valoración con una escena.

Presentación: título, género y premisa. “The Last Repair is a thoughtful drama about a family-owned radio shop that is threatened by redevelopment.”
Datos: based on, set in, directed by, stars.
Valoración: la trama y un elemento técnico, con razones.
Un defecto justo.
Recomendación: quién debería verla y cómo.

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Errores frecuentes

Revisa tu borrador:

“Based in a true story.” La preposición es on: “based on a true story”.
“It is protagonized by Luis Ortega.” Es un calco de “protagonizada por”; di “It stars Luis Ortega.”
“The film is based in Glasgow.” Based in indica dónde tiene su sede una empresa; para la historia, usa set in: “The film is set in Glasgow.”
“The film directed by Amara Chen.” Como oración completa necesita is: “The film is directed by Amara Chen.”
Un resumen sin opinión o elogios sin ningún defecto.

Para debatir: ¿qué hace que una película valga la pena?

Responde cada pregunta en voz alta durante dos minutos, con una razón y un ejemplo real.

“Do you prefer foreign films dubbed or with subtitles? Why?”
“Which films really need a cinema screen?”
“Should a review mention a weakness in a film the writer loved?”

Práctica diaria de 10 minutos

Elige una película que hayas visto hace poco y di cada paso en voz alta.

2 minutos: escucha la conversación y repite las respuestas.
3 minutos: cinco datos con based on, set in, filmed in, directed by y stars.
3 minutos: dos valoraciones, cada una mejorada con ¿por qué?, ¿para quién? o ¿comparado con qué?
2 minutos: un defecto y una recomendación con nevertheless.

Siguiente paso

El mismo orden, primero los datos y después las valoraciones, sirve para otros textos de nivel B1, como una recomendación equilibrada sobre las notificaciones del móvil o una propuesta inmobiliaria. En B2, propón una norma sobre la música en el trabajo que cambie según la tarea.

Preguntas frecuentes

¿Qué debe incluir una crítica de cine?

Los datos de producción, una valoración de la trama y de un elemento técnico con razones, un defecto justo y una recomendación para un público concreto.

¿Qué diferencia hay entre “set in” y “filmed in”?

Set in indica dónde y cuándo ocurre la historia; filmed in, dónde estuvieron realmente las cámaras: “Although the story is set in Glasgow, it was filmed in Hull.”

¿Cómo menciono un defecto en una crítica positiva?

Nombra un solo defecto y vuelve a tu valoración general: “The middle section could have been shortened.” “Nevertheless, I would recommend it to viewers who enjoy character-driven stories.”