How to Watch Movies: A Guide to Appreciating Films and Series

By Ehsan Shenasa

Introduction

This article offers a comprehensive guide to enjoying movies and TV series on a deeper level—without revealing any spoilers. You might think watching a film is simple: you turn on the TV, sit on the couch, and enjoy the story. If you're a casual viewer, that's perfectly fine. But if you want to gain a richer understanding of the world of cinema and animation, this article invites you on a different journey.

Step One: Understanding the Foundational Structures of Film (the so-called "Hollywood rules")

To begin, you don’t need to memorize the names of great directors or the IMDb Top 250 list. The first step is to understand the structure and skeleton of a story. By learning the concept of plot and practicing with films you’ve already seen and loved, you can discover the deeper layers of a story.

The Classic Plot: Five-Act Structure

Many Hollywood films follow a five-act structure, which includes the following parts:

• Exposition: The story begins by introducing the hero’s ordinary world, characters, relationships, and environment. This section sets the stage for later events.
  
  

• Inciting Incident: An unexpected event disrupts the hero’s life, pushing the story forward.
  
  

• Rising Action: This is the longest part of the story, where the hero faces obstacles, setbacks, and antagonists. Tension gradually builds in this section.
  
  

• Climax: The peak of the story, where the hero confronts their greatest challenge. This moment is full of action and difficult decisions.
  
  

• Falling Action and Resolution: The story moves toward its conclusion. The final battle occurs, the hero’s fate is determined, and loose ends are tied up as the story reaches a new stability.
  
  

Syd Field’s Three-Act Structure

Syd Field, a prominent screenwriting theorist, introduced the three-act structure in his book Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting. This is a condensed version of the classic plot:

• Act I (Setup): The first quarter of the film introduces the story world, the main character, and their goal. At the end of this act, Plot Point 1 propels the hero into the main adventure.
  
  

• Act II (Confrontation): The longest part of the film, where the hero faces challenges and antagonists. At the end of this act, Plot Point 2 places the hero in their worst possible situation.
  
  

• Act III (Resolution): The final quarter of the film, which includes the climax (final battle) and the conclusion. Storylines are resolved, and the final message is delivered.
  
  

Step Two: Understanding Key Story Elements

• The Guide: In many stories, a character exists to guide the hero in their decisions. This character can be ordinary or unusual—for example, Donkey in the animated film Shrek serves as the hero’s guide.
  
  

• Character Transformation: All characters, especially the hero, must undergo a transformation throughout the story. This change results from their challenges and conveys the story’s main message.
  
  

• Miniplot: This type of plot is common in independent films and features open endings, internal conflicts, passive characters, and multiple subplots. The works of Asghar Farhadi are examples, emphasizing psychological complexity and ambiguity.
  
  

• Antiplot: This radical approach subverts traditional storytelling rules. Its features include a lack of cause and effect, contradictory realities, and the absence of a clear hero. Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan is a prominent example. However, such films are not recommended for beginners.
  
  

Robert McKee’s View on the Antiplot

Robert McKee, author of the renowned book Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting, argues that deconstruction must be purposeful. A filmmaker should first fully understand the rules of storytelling and then break them deliberately to achieve a deeper goal. McKee considers antiplot films valuable if they feature deep characterization, meaningful conflicts, and a powerful message.

Step Three: The Magic of Cinema Beyond the Story

Cinema is not limited to the screenplay; sound, visuals, and subtle details complete its magic. Nothing in a good film is accidental. For example:

• Color: In Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo, the twilight sky in the opening scene and the pale blue color are deliberate choices.
  
  

• Music: Music enhances the emotions of a scene and is never chosen without reason.
  
  

• Movements and Details: Always ask yourself why certain details appear. Why does a butterfly fly in the first scene of the animated film Corpse Bride? Or in Se7en, why is the new detective’s house next to a train track? Such questions lead you to uncover the film’s hidden layers.
  
  

Explaining the “why” behind color and sound on paper can feel redundant—this is a field best understood by watching, not just reading. If an element in a film is chosen without purpose, it’s considered a weakness.

Practical Exercise: Animations to Understand Plot

To practice identifying story structures, watch these animated films and take notes on the plot sections, the story guide, and character transformations:

• Cars
  
  

• How to Train Your Dragon
  
  

• Hercules
  
  

• Ratatouille
  
  

• The Lion King
  
  

Final Note: Discovering the Film’s Message

Prominent filmmakers often summarize the film’s central message in a single key sequence. Finding this sequence helps you better grasp the depth of the work. By watching films with curiosity and critical thinking, you can unlock the true magic of cinema