Similar to how when completing the first part of the ancillary task (the film poster), I had to explore the codes and conventions that were present (example = the main image being on a central position) within a poster to create my own successfully, I have also had to do the same for the second part of the ancillary task (the film review for a magazine). Therefore I have needed to carry out some research and investigation into the current magazines to understand how there film sections or the whole magazine was composed together and what features were unique to that particular review in keeping with the style of the magazine. In order to carry this out I brought three main magazines, 'Closer' which is a gossip magazine and only demonstrates a small column of a film review which therefore acting as my contrasting magazine and two film magazine 'Total Film' and 'Empire Magazine'. 
This analysing of the variety of reviews will give me a foundation understanding for the key and necessary elements of a magazine review, from the number of columns, to size of fonts, to the image used. Although I have analysed Closer, my primary research is into the two film magazines and below my analyse I have created a summary of some of the key conventions to the layout of a effective film review.
Images : Within my analyses of all three different magazine I have noticed that for all reviews there is an image from the film that accompanies the text. This is a key visual element as it engages the audience. The image itself is taken from the film and reflects the films genre and cinematic style. The image is placed to the top half of review and if the first place that attracts the audiences eye, therefore revealing to the audience the type of film and even if the film itself has revived a bad review the image to engage the audience to read the particular review. The image is proportional to the amount of text, within total film for a single page spread the image takes up about half the page and is the alone image of the page, however for a feature film review there is also additional images such as a main star. The image is important as not only does it add colour to the page but also enables free and available space of the page to be filled.
Title : The title is positioned below the main image and is usually the largest font on the page if the review is the main element. This instantly means that the films name is encoded in the audience mind even without reading the review. By being the largest font on the page it makes it the most significant verbal piece of text and is the next element that after the image the audience looks at. The style of fonts and sizes is all rational to the house style of the page (example = total film magazine uses three primary fonts throughout the entire magazine which are Jack, Alvar and Farnham).
Text Body : This takes up the largest amount of relatives space on the page, however is usually in the smallest font. Within all professional reviews that I have analysed the text body has been designed and laid out within columns, this makes it easier for the audience to read but also ensures that all available space is used effectively. The style of the text matches that of the house style of the page.
Rating : On every review I analysed there was a rating star system that indicated how good or bad the film was, this system used stars and was rated between 1 to 5. Depending on the magazine this was either positioned at the beginning of the review below the main title and next to the release date or at the end of the review after the text body.
Other Background Information : On all of the review they had to some extent some background information about the film, this was in the same style as the text body. This background information includes the directors name, release date, the cast, age certification ect. The position of this background information depended upon the magazine for example 'Total Film' positioned it at the end of the review whereas 'Empire' positioned it at the beginning of the review.
Authors Name : The authors name is positioned at the bottom of the page, at the end of the last sentence within the text body. Although the same style of font, the authors name is highlighted in bold that made it different from the main content.
Verdict : On every review I analysed there was a verdict or conclusion that summarised what had been commented on within the text body. This in turn gave the audience an overview and final summery of the film to take away from the article. In all the reviews this was position at the end after the text body.
I feel that I have now gained a much better understanding of the needed and necessary elements that are usually used within a traditional review, by investigating into the current code and conventions of a film review.I now have to contemplate whether I am going to base my review on 'total film' or 'empire'. I feel that I shall probably base my layout on 'total film' as this feels a more formal style or layout yet still has a less formal approach to the actual text.
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