Other expressions

I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the human mind.

One particular strength/ weakness of the film is
The design/production is second to none (the best).
The characterization is not its best feature.
I would strongly advise you (not) to go out and buy/see it.
Do not be put off (to make sb lose interest in or enthusiasm for sth. Sp. Desanimar)by the title/critics/cover.
It will have you roaring with laughter (laugh very loudly).
I would definitely give it a miss (decide not to do sth.) It is hands down (easily and without any doubt) the best movie this year.

Action-packed: full of exciting events and activity: e.g. an action-packed weekend.

Atmospheric: creating an exciting or emotional mood: e.g. atmospheric music
Compelling: that makes you pay attention to it because it is so interesting and exciting: e.g. Her latest book makes compelling reading. A compelling film. She
gives a compelling/memorable performance as a village doctor.
Convincing: The acting is very convincing
Enthusiastic and vivid descriptions of the scenery
It's an excellent read. It is both entertaining and educational.
Exhilarating: /zlret/ very exciting and enjoyable. Sp. Emocionante: e.g. My first parachute jump was an exhilarating experience.
Provides a fascinating/valuable/revealing insight into: e.g. the novel provides a fascinating insight (understanding,vision) into the customs in Mexico.
Gripping: exciting or interesting in a way that keeps your attention. Sp. Emocionante, fascinante, absorbente.

mesmerizing: /mezmraz/ having such a strong effect on you that you cannot give your attention to anything else. E.g. Her performance was mesmerizing.

Impressive: making you feel admiration, because they are very large, good, skilful, etc. Sp. Impresionante, imponente, excelente:an impressive performance. One
of the most impressive novels of recent years She was very impressive in the interview.
Moving: causing you to have deep feelings of sadness or sympathy. Sp. Conmovedor: e.g. a deeply moving experience.
Outstanding: extremely good; excellent. E.g. Outstanding performance.
Powerful: effective. E.g. Powerful acting
Stunning: impressive: gave a stunning performance.
mesmerizing: /mezmraz/ having such a strong effect on you that you cannot give your attention to anything else. E.g. Her performance was mesmerizing.
Credible
Entertaining
Fast-moving
Innovative
Memorable

Unputdownable: (of a book) so exciting or interesting that you cannot stop reading it.
capture someone's imagination (or attention): fascinate someone.E.g. the project has captured the imagination of the local public. Not wonder the film has
captured the imagination of audiences all over the world. Negative adjectives
Clichd:/klied/ used so often that it no longer has much meaning and is not interesting: e.g. a clichd view of upper-class life.
Excruciating:/kskruiet/ extremely painful or bad.E.g. There are two versions of this excruciating film. Excruciatingly (adv): e.g. excruciatingly boring.
Implausible: Not seeming reasonable or probable; failing to convince; not believable. Sp. Inverosmil. E.g. A rather implausible story.
Overhyped: promoted or publicized to excess exaggerating its good qualities, in order to get a lot of public attention for it: Promoters grossly overhyped the movie.
Sentimental: producing emotions such as pity, romantic love or sadness, which may be too strong or not appropriate; feeling these emotions too much. Sp.
Sensiblero: a slushy, sentimental love story
Slushy: stories, films / movies or feelings that are considered to be silly and without value because they are too emotional and romantic. Corny. Sp. Sensiblero:
e.g. slushy romantic fiction.
drippy: boring, stupid and weak or sentimental. E.g. her drippy boyfriend. A drippy love song.

Tedious: lasting or taking too long and not interesting. Boring. E.g. A very long and tedious film.
Unconvincing: not seeming true or real; not making you believe that sth is true: e.g.
I find the characters in the book very unconvincing.
I found the plot rather predictable/disappointing.

Expressions to compare and contrast

Bear a close/a striking/a strong/a slight/little/no resemblance to: e.g. Her latest novel, a tale of unrequited love, bears little resemblance to her earlier, more
philosophical work.
There is little to choose between (hardly any difference between) the two CDs in terms of quality of production.
The plot of the novel develops along very different lines from that of the film.
There are several obvious/striking similarities between the two films.
There is a world of difference between the two records, despite their shared flamenco influences.
What sets the film apart from others of the same genre is its ability to make us laugh.
A considerable/huge/marked/slight difference
A close/remarkable/striking/ similarity
Be dissimilar from/to: E.g. Dissimilar from other New York films.
Be very much alike
Be unlike another film
Differ from
One thing compares (un)favourably/ well/badly with another
Develop in a different way from
Have a great deal/little/nothing in common with
Resemble each other