pan

  1) verb meaning 'to express a totally negative opinion of' a film, normally in a critical film review; also known as 'trashing' a film

  2) (or panning shot, or panoramic shot)

  abbreviation for panorama shot; refers to the horizontal scan, movement, rotation or turning of the camera in one direction (to the right or left) around a fixed axis while filming; a variation is the swish pan (also known as flash pan, flick pan, zip pan, blur pan, or whip pan), in which the camera is purposely panned in either direction at a very fast pace, creating the impression of a fast-moving horizontal blurring of images across the screen; often confused with a dolly or tracking shot.

  Examples: the call to roundup as the camera moves around and captures the faces of the cowpokes in Red River (1948); in John Ford's Stagecoach (1939) a panning shot reveals the presence of Indians just as the stagecoach seems to be heading to safety; and many films utilizing the swish pan -- a fast blurring panning action that blends two scenes together (signifying rapid movement from one place to the next).