Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Film language analysis:
The film clip being analysed in this essay is from Sin city, a movie released in the year 2005 produced by Hollywood, distributed in multiplex cinemas and directed by Frank Miller. The film follows a neo-film noir genre with a multi-strand narrative. The clip being analysed is three minutes with many media techniques involving clever cinematography and camerawork, semiotic lighting, interesting sound and editing combined with mise-en-scene.
The clip starts with a man named Dwight McCarthy driving a car with a recently deceased body in the passenger’s seat. The body then awakens speaking to Dwight about his current predicament of running out of petrol. Throughout this clip, Dwight is driving in rainy weather no doubt connoting that he is in a miserable situation and it also reflects the mood of Dwight giving off an effect of dread to the audience while also helping them to identify with this character.
The narrative roles in this clip are quite clear. Dwight is the protagonist while the dead man awakening is the antagonist. What makes their roles clear is the fact that Dwight stays neutral throughout this clip while the dead man feels the need to aggravate him more and more making him the antagonist. There also seems to be the Todorov theory applied to this clip. In the beginning for a short moment there is equilibrium, and then the antagonist comes to life creating disequilibrium by distracting the protagonist and thereafter when Dwight pulls over, there is equilibrium again.
Throughout this whole clip, a constant colouring theme of black and white is displayed with bits of other colours e.g. red, green, blue are also displayed. These colours are shown when the dead body awakens and starts to speak to the protagonist which connotes that Dwight is rushing through a range of emotions which are represented by the colours e.g. red for anger.
Throughout this clip, there is low-key lighting surrounding the characters in the scene with top lighting used to highlight the characters’ facial features to signify both of the characters’ importance in this scene. The dead body’s blood is highlighted white to boldly stand out in the scene and help the audience identify where the antagonist has been injured so they could also see the abnormal activity of a fatally wounded man speaking.
The sound in this clip are both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds. The clip starts off with diegetic sound of rain hitting the car with the engine humming but as soon as the antagonist awakes, parallel non-diegetic sound seeps into the scene. The non-diegetic sound is both eerie and ominous as it, again, reflects the protagonist’s feelings and it also discomforts the audience but unsettling them. Two minutes into the clip, the protagonist begins to talk to himself who acts as a narrator and the purpose of this is to push the audience into identifying and almost empathise with this character more.
In this clip, there are varied shots between close-ups and extreme close-ups with no medium or long shots. The close-up and extreme close-up shots combined with continuity editing connote a very stiff and claustrophobic atmosphere that gives the audience a feeling of suspense and horror. This is no doubt a dominant reading on the director’s behalf.
We see the protagonist try to maintain the status quo in this clip as he tries to get a grip of his own sanity. By seeing him talking to himself in unison with the colouring and diegetic sound, the audience seem to perceive the protagonist in a different manner.
The use of clothing and props is effective in this clip. The clothing worn by both characters are of a black colour connoting a grim situation arising. As mentioned by the antagonist, the cigarette in the hero’s hand connotes that he is much stressed and needs to relax to reclaim his sanity. The pistol part left in the antagonist’s forehead is an obvious connotation that helps the audience realise that the antagonist is really dead even though he is speaking
Throughout the duration of this clip, the audience can’t help but feel alienated. The reason for this would be that when the protagonist and antagonist converse, it feels as though the audience is taking part of some type of voyeurism because it’s as though the conversation between both characters seems private. This was intentional on the director’s part because the more distant the audience is, the more suspense is built.
In conclusion, this three minute clip of Sin city seems to hold many media techniques that have to be deeply analysed to see. Many connotations and representations are contained within this clip and once analysed properly, have deep and often hidden meanings that can have a big impact on the audience’s perceptions of characters. With many media techniques combined e.g. sound, colour, camerawork etc. a powerful scene can be created that could set an example as to what the audience can expect from the rest of the movie.
By,
Jason Bhatti
Monday, 7 December 2009
Film Still analysis:
A still image from The Usual Suspects. The shot used here is a medium shot designed to give the audience a view of all the characters. There is obvious use of of high-key lighting because we see shadows in the background. From the use of high-key lighting, we see all the characters clearly. Their clothing gives the audience an idea of what type of characters they are.A still image from the Godfather. This is a close-up shot immediatly drawing the the audiences attention to one of the main protagonists. Also in this still image there is low-key lighting to no doubt give the audience an omnious feeling of fear. Also, since this protagonist has great power and respect, the lighting and camera shot reflect this.
A still image from Kill Bill. This is a medium shot and it does serve it purpose. By doing this kind of shot we see everyone involved in this shot giving the audience the effect of excitement. This shot also has high key lighting and the women in this image stands out from the rest becuase of her clothing, no doubt a dominant reading.
A still image is from Sin City. This is a medium-longshot showing a person sitting on a chair while there is someone in the back-ground. This shot has low-key lighting with only the Cross on the Bible and the person's glasses highlighted with high-key lighting along with the spotlight and snow.
Friday, 4 December 2009
A Touch of Evil
The scene begins with low-key lighting and then we see a point of view shot with a person placing a time bomb under a car. The camera then begins to pan out as a couple get in a car and then drive off.From here on, the scene seems to switch from low key lighting to high-key lighting. The camera continues to pan out as we see another couple walking as the original couple are driving along-side them. This continues for a while as the camera switches from long shots to close-up shots when the characters begin to speak. Contropuntal sound along with diegetic sound is used for this scene. Throughout this whole scene there are no cuts for quite some time. The car explosion at the end is used to unsettle the audience as the bomb itself is used as a slight enigma code becuase the audience doesn't know when it is going to explode.
Newspaper anaysis:
This the front page for The Daily Star. There is a web address under Masthead so that if readers want to find out more about the day's stories or the newspaper itself they can. Under the Masthead there is also the dateline. The pug on this front page is the 20p sign. This is placed to attract attention and right under it is the slogan. The slogan says, " 10p cheaper than the sun...10 times more fun". This slogan is no doubt used to create more sales. The kicker on the page is the " Di dumps X factor Eoghan" story and this story jumps out from the rest. The Headline reads, " They've taken all our jobs" and under it is the Strapline whch says, " 1.3 migrants took evey Brit vacancy since 2001". On top of the Strapline is the Standfirst (opening paragraph) which is part of the Leader (first article) with the Byline apart of it. The caption is under the women posing to again attract the reader's attention (hopefully men only).Friday, 20 November 2009
Research the development of sound technology on Hollywood in the 1920:
A sound film is a film with synchronised sound to go with it. The first public exibition of a sound film took place in paris in the 1900. The first commercial screening of movies with fully synchronised sound took place in New York in April 1923. After this, films with synchronised dialogue were known as talking pictures or "talkies". One of the first "talkie" films was The Jazz Singer in 1927.
With talking films growing more popular, the demise of live cinema musicians and orchestras was drawing nearer. This period also saw the development of the first practical magnetic sound recording system, the magnetic wire recorder. They were effective but the sound quality was poor so they were mainly used for voice recording.
With talking films growing more popular, the demise of live cinema musicians and orchestras was drawing nearer. This period also saw the development of the first practical magnetic sound recording system, the magnetic wire recorder. They were effective but the sound quality was poor so they were mainly used for voice recording.
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Analysis of still image: Lighting:
In this still image, we see a number of lighting techniques. One of these include extreme low-key lighting. By using low-key lighting, there is a very strong contrast between light and darkness which creates an effect of chiaroscuro.Another interpretation of using low-key lighting is that it connotes that this character has a deep and dark personality. Top lighting has also been used in this still image to show the actors facial features and seeing as the setting is in a bathroom, the lighting is expected to come down from the top. Since this film is shot in neo film-noir style, everything is black and white and the plasters are highlighted so audiences can identify this genre. Another interpretation would be that the top lighting is making the plasters light so that emphisis that the character hurt is more obvious.
Saturday, 14 November 2009
Analysis of still image: Mise-en-scene:
Mise-en-scene:Costume:
In this still image is one the main protagonists, Vincent Vega (John Travolta) as he opens a briefcase wearing the attire of an everday business man. In this film he works as a hitman so it is appropriate for him to be wearing a suit. By seeing this, we associate him to being in a respectable profession which is most likely a dominant reading in this case.
Props:
The props in this still image are quite interesting. We see a cigarette in his mouth with suggests that hes suppose to be the cool and collected character. The cigarette could also suggest that he may be an antagonist.
Actors:
The only actor in this image is John Travolter.
Setting:
The setting seems to be in a room. This is connoted by the wall in the background with the fridge there aswell. The fact that this still is set in a room further connotes that the room that he is in is his or another perons.
Make-up:
The make-up Travolta is wearing seems to be very little. It seems that hes got a little on to make him look slick, a stereotype of almost every hitman in a movie.
Friday, 6 November 2009
Cover work: Poster analysis:Mainstream:
Terminator 2: Judgement Day:
(1)What do you think the film is about and what the storyline might be?
The picture on the poster connotes that this movie is not to be taken lightly and will involve a lot of action. The picture also connotes that this man on the front is on a mission and must complete it. The storyline will revolve around this man on the front, most probably the protagonist. He may be on a mission that would include a path of violence and/or revenge. The man holding the gun also suggests that may also be the antagonist aswell.
(2)Genre?
Reffering to the points made above, this movie will have the genre of action. The character in the poster mainly suggests this seeing as he is holding a shotgun.
(3)Target Audience?
The target audience for this movie is most likely 18-30 years old. I think this will be the target audience becuase this movie may only be suitable for these ages and heavy action is bound to attract a more male oriented audience than female.
Cover work: Poster analysis:Art House
Raging Bull:
(1)What do you think the film is about and what the storyline might be?
The picture on the poster connotes that the film is going to be about boxing seeing as we see what seem to be the protagonist's buised face and ropes thats appear to belong to a boxing ring. There can be many storylines related to boxing, mainly a story about a young athlete trying to rise in the ranks of boxing.
(2)Genre?
If this movie were to be about boxing, the obvious genre would be action/drama.
(3)Target audience?
I think the target audience for this movie would be 15-35 years old with the audience being predominatly male. Why it would be mostly men is becuase the art of boxing and fighting would appeal to men more than women.
(1)What do you think the film is about and what the storyline might be?
The picture on the poster connotes that the film is going to be about boxing seeing as we see what seem to be the protagonist's buised face and ropes thats appear to belong to a boxing ring. There can be many storylines related to boxing, mainly a story about a young athlete trying to rise in the ranks of boxing.
(2)Genre?
If this movie were to be about boxing, the obvious genre would be action/drama.
(3)Target audience?
I think the target audience for this movie would be 15-35 years old with the audience being predominatly male. Why it would be mostly men is becuase the art of boxing and fighting would appeal to men more than women.
Thursday, 5 November 2009
Film Language: Film poster analysis
Bride and Prejudice:
(1)What do you think the film is about and what might the storyline might be?
The picture on the poster connotes his film is going to be about an indian marriage to a white man. Seeing how this is not often seen, this film will tend to be "unique" compared to original romantic comedies. The title of this film relates to the famous novel Pride and Prejudice, where a traditional English marriage takes place.
(2)Genre?
The title and picture obviously connotes that the genre of this movie will be a romantic comedy. On the poster there is a quote from a reviewer saying this movie is, "spectacular,romantic,funny and so sexy.." This is also a give-away that this movie will be a romantic one.
(3)Target audience?
The target audience for this film would be 12-30 years of age with the audience being predominantly female. The reason why the target audience would start so young would be becuase RomComs usually appeal to girls young and old and these films glorify love and romance. In media, these feelings usually relate to females.
Million Dollar Baby:
(1) This film poster connotes that this film is about fighting and action seeing as the women on the front is wearing a vest which suggests that she is ready for action and also she looks quite muscley which reinforces fighting theme. The storyline might be about a women who has lost something so she has to get it back by fighting. The two men might be protagonists.
(2) The genre for this movie will obviously be action/drama. The themes of this movie will be violence and maybe revenge which are both connoted by the title. The title has a large sum of money in it, and in movies large sum of movies usually lead to dangerous situations.
(3) The target audience would be from 18-30 year olds with mixed gender audiences. The reason why the audience would be mixed gender is because men are usually attracted to violence and action while a female protagonist may attract female audiences.
Sin City:
(1) This poster is obviously associated with violence seeing as almost all characters are holding guns. This film would be about old fashioned cops and robbers or maybe about gangs. The storyline may be about vigilantes or maybe criminals on the run. The title connotes a very adult theme for this movie becayse the word "sin" can be associated with all sorts of immoral things.
(2) The genre of this movie will again be action. The theme of guns on this poster proves this and the characters even look quite serious as if they have a set goal in mind.
(3) The target audience for this movie would be 18-25 year olds and the gender audience would most likely be men. The reason for this is becauase violence usually draws in a male crowd and Jessica Alba in a suductive pose also suggests that there will be sexual themes in here to attract men more. Also 18-25 year olds might be fans of Frank Miller's graphic npvels.
Pirates Of The Caribbean:
(1) The title and picture of this poster already suggests that this films will be about pirates and their adventure through the Caribbean. The storyline may be about pirates on the run and run into many inconvieniences on the way. This storyline will also include some fantasy elements becuase the poster shows what appears to be a giant sea monster.
(2) The genre of this movie would be action/adventure/fantasty.
(3) The target audience would be from children to adults of all ages. The reason for this is becuase this movie contains comedic scenes, action, romance and fantasy. This movie also has famous actors including Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp.
(1)What do you think the film is about and what might the storyline might be?
The picture on the poster connotes his film is going to be about an indian marriage to a white man. Seeing how this is not often seen, this film will tend to be "unique" compared to original romantic comedies. The title of this film relates to the famous novel Pride and Prejudice, where a traditional English marriage takes place.
(2)Genre?
The title and picture obviously connotes that the genre of this movie will be a romantic comedy. On the poster there is a quote from a reviewer saying this movie is, "spectacular,romantic,funny and so sexy.." This is also a give-away that this movie will be a romantic one.
(3)Target audience?
The target audience for this film would be 12-30 years of age with the audience being predominantly female. The reason why the target audience would start so young would be becuase RomComs usually appeal to girls young and old and these films glorify love and romance. In media, these feelings usually relate to females.
Million Dollar Baby:
(1) This film poster connotes that this film is about fighting and action seeing as the women on the front is wearing a vest which suggests that she is ready for action and also she looks quite muscley which reinforces fighting theme. The storyline might be about a women who has lost something so she has to get it back by fighting. The two men might be protagonists.
(2) The genre for this movie will obviously be action/drama. The themes of this movie will be violence and maybe revenge which are both connoted by the title. The title has a large sum of money in it, and in movies large sum of movies usually lead to dangerous situations.
(3) The target audience would be from 18-30 year olds with mixed gender audiences. The reason why the audience would be mixed gender is because men are usually attracted to violence and action while a female protagonist may attract female audiences.
Sin City:
(1) This poster is obviously associated with violence seeing as almost all characters are holding guns. This film would be about old fashioned cops and robbers or maybe about gangs. The storyline may be about vigilantes or maybe criminals on the run. The title connotes a very adult theme for this movie becayse the word "sin" can be associated with all sorts of immoral things.
(2) The genre of this movie will again be action. The theme of guns on this poster proves this and the characters even look quite serious as if they have a set goal in mind.
(3) The target audience for this movie would be 18-25 year olds and the gender audience would most likely be men. The reason for this is becauase violence usually draws in a male crowd and Jessica Alba in a suductive pose also suggests that there will be sexual themes in here to attract men more. Also 18-25 year olds might be fans of Frank Miller's graphic npvels.
Pirates Of The Caribbean:
(1) The title and picture of this poster already suggests that this films will be about pirates and their adventure through the Caribbean. The storyline may be about pirates on the run and run into many inconvieniences on the way. This storyline will also include some fantasy elements becuase the poster shows what appears to be a giant sea monster.
(2) The genre of this movie would be action/adventure/fantasty.
(3) The target audience would be from children to adults of all ages. The reason for this is becuase this movie contains comedic scenes, action, romance and fantasy. This movie also has famous actors including Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp.
Monday, 2 November 2009
Course Evaluation
(1)How well is the course organised?
I would grade the organisation of the course a 2. The reason why I would give it a 2 is becuase I think this course will offer me a lot in terms of preparing me for the exams and seeing as it already has then I hope the rest of the course will carry on like it currently is.
(2)How interesting is the content that is covered?
The content that is being covered is very interesting. I find it interesting becuase it's given me a lot of insight into the workings of modern day media. The most interesting content I think we've covered is demographics becuase when using demographics you can see which media applies to which group. I would rate the content a 1.
(3)How useful are the handouts?
I find the handouts somewhat useful. I don't use them much seeing as I rely more on my notes but when I do take a glimpse at the handouts, I find that they are full of useful information that always get straight to the point. I would rate the handouts a 3.
(4)Have the lessons been well-paced?
I would rate this area a 2. This is a rating of 2 becuase I feel that the lessons are going at the right speed so that I learn everything that the lesson has to offer. I feel that there is no rush therefore I feel that there is no need to rush my work and I have enough time to think my classwork through.
(5)What is the standard of the teacher's presentation/subejct knowledge?
I would say that the standard is a 1. I feel that the teacher definatly knows what there is to know about media and knows what the student needs in order to pass exams. The presentation is also very good becuase everything is well presented and looks very professional and also look efficient in teaching.
(6)How well has the course met your expectations?
I would rate this particular area a 2. Seeing as I have never taken media before, I didn't know what to expect but the course seem efficient in teaching so far and I have learnt a lot. I am also sure that the course teacher will provide us with the right equipment when it comes to the practical work.
(7)Have the extra-curricular events been useful?
I feel that the extra-curricular events have been very useful in particular the media awards. By going to the media awards I have seen the expectations and I will try to deliver them. By going to the awards, I have also seen many techniques that can be used when it comes to practical work. I would rate this a 2.
(8)Has the macguffin blog been useful?
I would rate this last area a 1. I'm rating this a 1 because using this blog is a new experience all together and using it is also fun. Posting work up on the blog also gives a sense of new independance.
WWW:
-Powerpoint presentations
-Sample videos and trailers
-Group work
EBI:
-More practical lessons
-More class debates
-Less handouts
I would grade the organisation of the course a 2. The reason why I would give it a 2 is becuase I think this course will offer me a lot in terms of preparing me for the exams and seeing as it already has then I hope the rest of the course will carry on like it currently is.
(2)How interesting is the content that is covered?
The content that is being covered is very interesting. I find it interesting becuase it's given me a lot of insight into the workings of modern day media. The most interesting content I think we've covered is demographics becuase when using demographics you can see which media applies to which group. I would rate the content a 1.
(3)How useful are the handouts?
I find the handouts somewhat useful. I don't use them much seeing as I rely more on my notes but when I do take a glimpse at the handouts, I find that they are full of useful information that always get straight to the point. I would rate the handouts a 3.
(4)Have the lessons been well-paced?
I would rate this area a 2. This is a rating of 2 becuase I feel that the lessons are going at the right speed so that I learn everything that the lesson has to offer. I feel that there is no rush therefore I feel that there is no need to rush my work and I have enough time to think my classwork through.
(5)What is the standard of the teacher's presentation/subejct knowledge?
I would say that the standard is a 1. I feel that the teacher definatly knows what there is to know about media and knows what the student needs in order to pass exams. The presentation is also very good becuase everything is well presented and looks very professional and also look efficient in teaching.
(6)How well has the course met your expectations?
I would rate this particular area a 2. Seeing as I have never taken media before, I didn't know what to expect but the course seem efficient in teaching so far and I have learnt a lot. I am also sure that the course teacher will provide us with the right equipment when it comes to the practical work.
(7)Have the extra-curricular events been useful?
I feel that the extra-curricular events have been very useful in particular the media awards. By going to the media awards I have seen the expectations and I will try to deliver them. By going to the awards, I have also seen many techniques that can be used when it comes to practical work. I would rate this a 2.
(8)Has the macguffin blog been useful?
I would rate this last area a 1. I'm rating this a 1 because using this blog is a new experience all together and using it is also fun. Posting work up on the blog also gives a sense of new independance.
WWW:
-Powerpoint presentations
-Sample videos and trailers
-Group work
EBI:
-More practical lessons
-More class debates
-Less handouts
Friday, 30 October 2009
My Self Evaluation
During year 12, one of the subjects I have chosen is media. As a media student, I've been asked to self evaluate myself and as a starting point, I thought this short introduction would be nice. I will comment on many things starting with:
1) Attainment: My attainment so far during this course would be a 2 (very good). I have learnt many things that I did not know from the beginning of the year. Media terms, portrayal of media standpoints, certain elements that go into director's thoughts etc. these things and more is what I have learnt. With this understanding, I've learned to think much deeper into media as a whole.
2)Effort: In terms of effort, I would again rate myself a 2. The reason why I think I should get this rating is becuase during class I am determained to get all the key facts and terminolgy written into notes. Using these notes, I could remember this information for future reference. Also, my passion for media is remarkable therefore putting the utmost effort into this subject would be the most logical thing to do.
3)Punctuality: For punctuality, I would rate myself a 1 (excellent). My timings for lessons have been great although there was one occassion when I was late for the lesson by 5 minutes although it wasnt really my fault...(cough). I hope to stay punctual for future lessons.
4)Submission and quality of homework: For this particular area, I would rate myself a 3(good/avarage). Why this area is such a mediocre rating is becuase my homework has been submitted late 2 or 3 times. I hope not to submit it late again and also the quality of the homework has not been outstanding either. Next term I shall put a lot more effort into my homework.
5)Ability to work independently: My ability to work independently is quite good, I would rate it a 2. Why I gave it this rating is becuase I believe that if I put my mind to any task, I can complete it, alone or with a group. While I'd prefer to work in a group for various reasons, working alone can also be a strongpoint of mine becuase it means I have my own original ideas and it would show how well i understand the subject at hand.
6)Quality of writing: My quality of writing would have to be a 2. When writing my work, I make sure I understand what it is that I'm writing, what audience I am writing for and if my style of writing and correct. Many more thought processes go into my work and I therefore make sure that my quality of writing is at its best.
7)Organisation of blog: The organisation of my blog would again have to be a 2. My blog isn't perfect but all the work that has been set in the past is there. I make sure that all work is posted on the blog and not in my book. All my work on the blog is in chronological order and is therefore easy to read to read and also easy to track down any past work.
8)Oral contribution in class: In this last area of self evaluation, I would rate myself a 3. While I do understand what is being taught, I do tend to not give an answer when the class is propmted a question. This may be due to the fact that I would want other people's opinions on a certain topic.
WWW:
- I understand key media terminlogy
- I understand certain thought processes that go into media techniques
- I nuderstand how to analyse a poster or video properly
EBI:
- I contributed more in class
- I put more effort into homework
- I do more revision at home
1) Attainment: My attainment so far during this course would be a 2 (very good). I have learnt many things that I did not know from the beginning of the year. Media terms, portrayal of media standpoints, certain elements that go into director's thoughts etc. these things and more is what I have learnt. With this understanding, I've learned to think much deeper into media as a whole.
2)Effort: In terms of effort, I would again rate myself a 2. The reason why I think I should get this rating is becuase during class I am determained to get all the key facts and terminolgy written into notes. Using these notes, I could remember this information for future reference. Also, my passion for media is remarkable therefore putting the utmost effort into this subject would be the most logical thing to do.
3)Punctuality: For punctuality, I would rate myself a 1 (excellent). My timings for lessons have been great although there was one occassion when I was late for the lesson by 5 minutes although it wasnt really my fault...(cough). I hope to stay punctual for future lessons.
4)Submission and quality of homework: For this particular area, I would rate myself a 3(good/avarage). Why this area is such a mediocre rating is becuase my homework has been submitted late 2 or 3 times. I hope not to submit it late again and also the quality of the homework has not been outstanding either. Next term I shall put a lot more effort into my homework.
5)Ability to work independently: My ability to work independently is quite good, I would rate it a 2. Why I gave it this rating is becuase I believe that if I put my mind to any task, I can complete it, alone or with a group. While I'd prefer to work in a group for various reasons, working alone can also be a strongpoint of mine becuase it means I have my own original ideas and it would show how well i understand the subject at hand.
6)Quality of writing: My quality of writing would have to be a 2. When writing my work, I make sure I understand what it is that I'm writing, what audience I am writing for and if my style of writing and correct. Many more thought processes go into my work and I therefore make sure that my quality of writing is at its best.
7)Organisation of blog: The organisation of my blog would again have to be a 2. My blog isn't perfect but all the work that has been set in the past is there. I make sure that all work is posted on the blog and not in my book. All my work on the blog is in chronological order and is therefore easy to read to read and also easy to track down any past work.
8)Oral contribution in class: In this last area of self evaluation, I would rate myself a 3. While I do understand what is being taught, I do tend to not give an answer when the class is propmted a question. This may be due to the fact that I would want other people's opinions on a certain topic.
WWW:
- I understand key media terminlogy
- I understand certain thought processes that go into media techniques
- I nuderstand how to analyse a poster or video properly
EBI:
- I contributed more in class
- I put more effort into homework
- I do more revision at home
Friday, 23 October 2009
Review on Two Films Displayed At The Media Awards
At the media awards, many trailer flims were up for many nominations for different awards including best comedy, best drama, best music etc. I have picked two flims that i thought stood out from the rest. There are many reasons as to why i have picked these two flims over the others which wil be explained now:
Who's Bad:
Personaly, I felt that this trailer was the best one. There were many things that made this trailer really good. The camera shots were effective, the acting of stereotypes were superb and the trailer itself was a dominant reading. Who's Bad is basicaly a movie about a modern school-geek trying to fit in with a popular crowd and eventualy get "laid". This movie may be the average collage-party movie but the characters and jokes are so charming you tend forget. The stereotypes of each chracter are as followed: The geek, the bully, the friend helping the geek get laid and the girl herself. From this perspective it seems that this may just be an average movie but the stereotypes are what actualy make the flim seem so interesting. Many flims nowdays want to break away from the usual stereotypes but having them back in a flim is sort of like a refresher. Its understandable why this won best comedy award. I rate this movie 5/5
Zero:
In my opinion, this was the second best trailer. This had won the best original story award and this very understandable becuase this story was very riviting. There are a group of friends who are all extraordinary in a sense that there are no stereotypical characters except for one, the protagonist. The story is about the protagonist doing anything she can to make it into the modeling world. The antagonist in this movie seems to be anorexia itself. Irate this vie 5/5.
Who's Bad:
Personaly, I felt that this trailer was the best one. There were many things that made this trailer really good. The camera shots were effective, the acting of stereotypes were superb and the trailer itself was a dominant reading. Who's Bad is basicaly a movie about a modern school-geek trying to fit in with a popular crowd and eventualy get "laid". This movie may be the average collage-party movie but the characters and jokes are so charming you tend forget. The stereotypes of each chracter are as followed: The geek, the bully, the friend helping the geek get laid and the girl herself. From this perspective it seems that this may just be an average movie but the stereotypes are what actualy make the flim seem so interesting. Many flims nowdays want to break away from the usual stereotypes but having them back in a flim is sort of like a refresher. Its understandable why this won best comedy award. I rate this movie 5/5
Zero:
In my opinion, this was the second best trailer. This had won the best original story award and this very understandable becuase this story was very riviting. There are a group of friends who are all extraordinary in a sense that there are no stereotypical characters except for one, the protagonist. The story is about the protagonist doing anything she can to make it into the modeling world. The antagonist in this movie seems to be anorexia itself. Irate this vie 5/5.
Monday, 19 October 2009
The Effect Media Has On Society Today
In todays society we have to ask ourselves an important question. Just how much influence does the media have on todays society? If we delve deeper into this topic there are a range of other questions that need answering. In this essay I'll answer two two main questions: Does violence in the media create more violence and do skinny models effect society. There are three textual examples on both questions.
Starting on the question does violence in the media create more violence, I have a prime example. The computer game Grand Theft Auto. This game had created mass moral panic and a huge effect on consumers. Why this game is such a controversial subject is because many young people were playing this game and were being heavily influenced by it. Grand Theft Auto is a "free-roam" game where the player is free to commit various crimes and get away scott-free without any penalties (sometimes). If a child or young adult were to get hold of this game there would be cause for concern becuase there have already been reports of people influenced to do crimes becuase of this game.
Another example I have is another computer game. This game is called Manhunt. Already by the title, people can see that this is going to be a violent game. There have also been reportings of crimes and even murders becuase of this game. Manhunt seems to glorify violence along with Grand Theft Auto. It is also obvious that both have dominant readings becuase both games seem to be well made with a good design.
The last example of violence in the media creating more violence is the 1980's cult film The Warriors. When this film came out at the time, it stirred a lot of controversy among the media world. There were reportings that gangs were seeing this movie and killing other gang members along the way. This movie had so much media effect that it had to be cancelled in most cinemas to stop violence in the street. Though this was a long time ago, newspapers still comment on this movie today for contributing to youth violence. Looking at these three examples, it seems that the theory of desensitization has two sides to it. It also seems these examples can be looked at in a catharsis point of view.
Do skinny models have an effect on society? The short answer would be yes. Evidence of this answer would be contemporary celebrities. Modern day celebrities all aim to be as thin as possible. Since almost all celebs are looked up to, society will do as much as it can to keep up with the new trends. Teenagers (mainly girls) would want to be as skinny as possible to look like their idols.
Skinny models and modelling itself has become so popular that even shows are made about it. For example, America's Next Top Model seems to be a favourite among teenagers and adults alike. While there is no protagonist in the show, all the participants are skinny and attractive. This show just seems to promote thiness to the extreme. Having a show like this is like an advertiser for beauty products and can also be seen as a motivator to be thin and look like these models.
The final example is about teenagers themselves. Among teenage girls, there seems to be more and more reportings of anorexia. This is partially due to the fact that these girls think that they cant keep up with "skinny model's" standards. Teenage girls want to look like these attractive models so they will do anything, espcially boycott eating, to look like them.
In conclusion the answer for both questions is yes. This is becuase looking at these examples, we can see that both violence and skinny models have major influence towards all kinds of people.
Starting on the question does violence in the media create more violence, I have a prime example. The computer game Grand Theft Auto. This game had created mass moral panic and a huge effect on consumers. Why this game is such a controversial subject is because many young people were playing this game and were being heavily influenced by it. Grand Theft Auto is a "free-roam" game where the player is free to commit various crimes and get away scott-free without any penalties (sometimes). If a child or young adult were to get hold of this game there would be cause for concern becuase there have already been reports of people influenced to do crimes becuase of this game.
Another example I have is another computer game. This game is called Manhunt. Already by the title, people can see that this is going to be a violent game. There have also been reportings of crimes and even murders becuase of this game. Manhunt seems to glorify violence along with Grand Theft Auto. It is also obvious that both have dominant readings becuase both games seem to be well made with a good design.
The last example of violence in the media creating more violence is the 1980's cult film The Warriors. When this film came out at the time, it stirred a lot of controversy among the media world. There were reportings that gangs were seeing this movie and killing other gang members along the way. This movie had so much media effect that it had to be cancelled in most cinemas to stop violence in the street. Though this was a long time ago, newspapers still comment on this movie today for contributing to youth violence. Looking at these three examples, it seems that the theory of desensitization has two sides to it. It also seems these examples can be looked at in a catharsis point of view.
Do skinny models have an effect on society? The short answer would be yes. Evidence of this answer would be contemporary celebrities. Modern day celebrities all aim to be as thin as possible. Since almost all celebs are looked up to, society will do as much as it can to keep up with the new trends. Teenagers (mainly girls) would want to be as skinny as possible to look like their idols.
Skinny models and modelling itself has become so popular that even shows are made about it. For example, America's Next Top Model seems to be a favourite among teenagers and adults alike. While there is no protagonist in the show, all the participants are skinny and attractive. This show just seems to promote thiness to the extreme. Having a show like this is like an advertiser for beauty products and can also be seen as a motivator to be thin and look like these models.
The final example is about teenagers themselves. Among teenage girls, there seems to be more and more reportings of anorexia. This is partially due to the fact that these girls think that they cant keep up with "skinny model's" standards. Teenage girls want to look like these attractive models so they will do anything, espcially boycott eating, to look like them.
In conclusion the answer for both questions is yes. This is becuase looking at these examples, we can see that both violence and skinny models have major influence towards all kinds of people.
Friday, 9 October 2009
Spheres of action in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter is the extremly successful book written by J.K.Rowling. It is popular among children and adults. Within this book are Vladimir Propp's theory of roles of individual characters (spheres of action).
The Villian: The obvious villain in this book is Lord Voldemort. He is the one that creates complications in the narrative making it hard for the hero to pursue his quest. Also, the actions Voldemort takes in the book are an obvious example of an antagonist.
The hero: The hero in this book is Harry Potter. We can see that he is the protagonist becuase he is the one that saves the day restores equilibrium. He also defeats the antagonist therefore creating a new equilibrium.
The dispatcher: Albus Dumbledore. While he may not be in the book, from the previous book, he send Harry on mission to find Horcruxes and defeat Voldemort. Also, his presence is always hinted and Dumbledore had even left Harry clues to help him on his mission so he can also be seen as a helper.
The donor: Along with being the dispatcher and helper, Dumbledore's role could stretch as far as being a donor. He can be presented in this way becuase throughout the book, he leaves Harry items and had even given him items in previous books that help him in this one.
The Villian: The obvious villain in this book is Lord Voldemort. He is the one that creates complications in the narrative making it hard for the hero to pursue his quest. Also, the actions Voldemort takes in the book are an obvious example of an antagonist.
The hero: The hero in this book is Harry Potter. We can see that he is the protagonist becuase he is the one that saves the day restores equilibrium. He also defeats the antagonist therefore creating a new equilibrium.
The dispatcher: Albus Dumbledore. While he may not be in the book, from the previous book, he send Harry on mission to find Horcruxes and defeat Voldemort. Also, his presence is always hinted and Dumbledore had even left Harry clues to help him on his mission so he can also be seen as a helper.
The donor: Along with being the dispatcher and helper, Dumbledore's role could stretch as far as being a donor. He can be presented in this way becuase throughout the book, he leaves Harry items and had even given him items in previous books that help him in this one.
Popular 30's and 40's genres
The 1930's and 1940's were described as "The Golden Age of Motion Pictures". Back in the 30's and 40's, the cinema industry was still growing, especially in America. In America was the birth of Hollywood. Soon Hollywood became the world capital of motion pictures. Many European film makers went to Holloywood and some say this was what made Holloywood what it is.
Films like The Wizard of Oz and Gone With The Wind are considered classics in the 30's and 40's. A number of horror movies were released in the 30's and 40's including Frankenstien, Dracula, Wolfman etc. It seems that audiences enjoyed the art or horror caught on camera. It entertained them very much.
Films like citizen Kane. Casablanca and Henry V were out at the time and were also very popular. This tells us that audiences at the time were into historical/drama movies.
During the 30's and 40's, British director Alfred Hitchcock was making a diverse genre of movies ranging from romantic comedies to courtroom dramas. A majority of the audience seemed to like Hitchcock's movies including Shadow of a Doubt and Saboteur. Other films of his including Lifeboat was a World War 2 film and Shadow of a Doubt was a thriller.
In conclusion, audiences in the 1930's and 1940's seemed to like a trip to the cinema and it seems that cinema as a whole was an important factor to peoples lives and growth of a still-growing industry. The genres that seemed to be most popular were historical, thriller and horror films.
Films like The Wizard of Oz and Gone With The Wind are considered classics in the 30's and 40's. A number of horror movies were released in the 30's and 40's including Frankenstien, Dracula, Wolfman etc. It seems that audiences enjoyed the art or horror caught on camera. It entertained them very much.
Films like citizen Kane. Casablanca and Henry V were out at the time and were also very popular. This tells us that audiences at the time were into historical/drama movies.
During the 30's and 40's, British director Alfred Hitchcock was making a diverse genre of movies ranging from romantic comedies to courtroom dramas. A majority of the audience seemed to like Hitchcock's movies including Shadow of a Doubt and Saboteur. Other films of his including Lifeboat was a World War 2 film and Shadow of a Doubt was a thriller.
In conclusion, audiences in the 1930's and 1940's seemed to like a trip to the cinema and it seems that cinema as a whole was an important factor to peoples lives and growth of a still-growing industry. The genres that seemed to be most popular were historical, thriller and horror films.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Hollyoaks Review
Hollyoaks is a tv drama series that is contempory and quite popular amongst British viewers.The episode that I had watched had a linear patter with a multi-strand narrative. It seems that throughout the show we see multiple character's lives progressing towards a similar resolution. The genre of this show seems to be made up of multiple themes e.g. drama, suspense. thriller etc. By taking on these genres, the producers are able to come up with many plot lines and fit in character development.
In the episode I viewed, the protagonist seemed to be a man called Jake. The episode opens with him telling his current affairs to a police officer. He talks about his family's state and then it cuts to his family who are grieving over the death of someone who died in an earlier episode. how its communicated that Jake is the protagonist is that he had delivered the first line of the show. Usually, main protagonists are the ones who introduce the show. He is also given the most character depth throughout the episode.
How we are encouraged to identify with this character is that we can almost empathize with him because he seem to have the deepest story out of all the characters in this show. Later on in the show we find out that he is accused of trying to kill someone but all he wants is his family. We can also identify with this character becuase as we see him interact with other characters we see a good side to him opposed to how he is portrayed by the muder story.
The sequence of events seems to be pretty simple. The overall plot of the episode seems to revolve around a murder. Throughout the episode we see all of the characters deal with this in their own way. Individual stories are explored as we see their individual reactions to this murder. There is an event where one of the characters stops a girl from commit suiciding. This seems to be a key moment because as they become friends after this, this friendship will be an ongoing plot line for future episodes.
In terms of mysteries, there really isnt any in this episode. Everything plot line and device are explained in this episode leaving no mystery or suspense for the viewer.
The equilibrium in this episode begins right at the beginnning when all characters are grieving over the death of someone and it seems life is turning back to normal. The disequilibrium begins when we see that one of the characters is accused for murder and is on the run from the police. Later on he mugs an old women for her purse. Later he sees that a girl is about to jump off a building and arrives just in time to save her.This is where the new equilibrium begins.
In the episode I viewed, the protagonist seemed to be a man called Jake. The episode opens with him telling his current affairs to a police officer. He talks about his family's state and then it cuts to his family who are grieving over the death of someone who died in an earlier episode. how its communicated that Jake is the protagonist is that he had delivered the first line of the show. Usually, main protagonists are the ones who introduce the show. He is also given the most character depth throughout the episode.
How we are encouraged to identify with this character is that we can almost empathize with him because he seem to have the deepest story out of all the characters in this show. Later on in the show we find out that he is accused of trying to kill someone but all he wants is his family. We can also identify with this character becuase as we see him interact with other characters we see a good side to him opposed to how he is portrayed by the muder story.
The sequence of events seems to be pretty simple. The overall plot of the episode seems to revolve around a murder. Throughout the episode we see all of the characters deal with this in their own way. Individual stories are explored as we see their individual reactions to this murder. There is an event where one of the characters stops a girl from commit suiciding. This seems to be a key moment because as they become friends after this, this friendship will be an ongoing plot line for future episodes.
In terms of mysteries, there really isnt any in this episode. Everything plot line and device are explained in this episode leaving no mystery or suspense for the viewer.
The equilibrium in this episode begins right at the beginnning when all characters are grieving over the death of someone and it seems life is turning back to normal. The disequilibrium begins when we see that one of the characters is accused for murder and is on the run from the police. Later on he mugs an old women for her purse. Later he sees that a girl is about to jump off a building and arrives just in time to save her.This is where the new equilibrium begins.
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium.
Equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium are the three main driving points of a movie. Within most movies and equilibrium exists (this means there an existing state of harmony at the beginning of the movie. Later on in the movie, there is a disequilibrium which is when the equilibrium is disrupted by an unfortunate event or evil chracter that would then lead to a chain of events involving conflict. At the end of most if movies there is then a new equilibrium, involving the evil forces being defeated, the conflict being resolved and harmony existing once more. Here are a few examples where equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium are present:
(1)Spiderman (film)
Spiderman is a superhero film. The beginning of the movie starts off with Peter Parker living his normal high school life and one day goes on a school trip to a genetics lab. While he is there he gets bitten by a mutant spider making him have super powers.This is where the equilibrium ends and the disequilibrium begins. Harry Osborn (Peter's best friend) is the son of Norman Osborn. Norman is affected by an experiment that turns him insane. He therefore wants to terrorise the city leaving only Spiderman to save it. At the end of the movie there is a new equilibrium becuase Norman is defeated the city is back to normal.
(2)Watchmen (film)
Watchmen is also a superhero film. The film starts off with the eqilibrium of vigilante being banned from the city so society can run normally. This film has a short equilibrium becuase straight after this the disequilibrium begins when an ex vigilante is mudered and another vigilante tries to find out who the killer is. The disequilibrium is the longest becuase all throughout the film we are trying to find out who the killer is. At the end we eventually find out who the killer is an through a series of plot twists we find out that the killer killed the ex vigilante for the greater good. Therefore, anyone who found this out has decided to keep quiet and as a result, society returns back to normal creating a new equilibrium.
(3)Harry Potter (All the books)
Harry Potter is the world-renowned book written by J.K.Rowling that has a definitive equilibrium, diseqilibrium and new eqilibrium. It starts off with Harry as a normal boy living a normal life but then recieves an invitation to go to Hogwarts,a magical wizarding school. At the beginning of each book, the equilibrium is of Harry traveling to Hogwarts for another school year With the exception of the last book, the disequilibrium begins when he enters Hogwarts for another adventure. Through a series of trials, the books end with a new equilibrium becuase the threat of the enemy is gone.
(4)Lord Of The Rings (Film trilogy)
The Lord Of The Rings is a fantasy adventure film. This flim starts with the history of how an ultimate ring was made but then kept in safe hands thousands of years later. One of the protagonists notices this ring then seeks to destory it. At this point the equilibrium is over. The movie then moves over to our other protagonist Frodo, as he must destroy the ring. From this point till the end of the third movie, there is disequilibrium all throughout becuase there is a constant struggle as a number of antogonists try to claim the ring back. At the end of the third film, the new eqilibrium is created as the villians are vanquished.
(5)Home Alone (Film)
Home Alone is a family/advanture film. This film has a basic equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium set out. Our protagonist is called Kevin who's family wants to go on holiday. The next day he awakes to find that his family has gone without him and so he must wait till they get back. The disequilibrium starts when two burglers (our anogonists) start to realise that Kevin is home alone. They then start to put their plan into action and try to get into the house. After a series of traps laid out by Kevin, the burglers are eventually caught and his family make it back home just in time and this is obviously our new equilibrium.
(6)Fight Club (Film)
This film doesnt really fit the standard set up of the equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium theme. This is a action/thriller film. The film starts off with the namless narrator living out his life the way he chooses. He then comes across the man called Tyler Durden and this is when the equilibrium ends and the disequilibrium sort of begins. In a way the middle part of the movie is a disequilibrium becuase chaos is spreading aruond the city but at the same time it isnt because the main character is a part of all this. Later on we find that the narrator's and Tyler Durdun's group want to blow up city banks. At the end of the movie we find out that the narrator and Tyler are the same person and the movie ends with the banks blowing up. This ending isnt really a new equilibrium becuase we dont know weather the narrator will carry on with his chaotic ways.
(1)Spiderman (film)
Spiderman is a superhero film. The beginning of the movie starts off with Peter Parker living his normal high school life and one day goes on a school trip to a genetics lab. While he is there he gets bitten by a mutant spider making him have super powers.This is where the equilibrium ends and the disequilibrium begins. Harry Osborn (Peter's best friend) is the son of Norman Osborn. Norman is affected by an experiment that turns him insane. He therefore wants to terrorise the city leaving only Spiderman to save it. At the end of the movie there is a new equilibrium becuase Norman is defeated the city is back to normal.
(2)Watchmen (film)
Watchmen is also a superhero film. The film starts off with the eqilibrium of vigilante being banned from the city so society can run normally. This film has a short equilibrium becuase straight after this the disequilibrium begins when an ex vigilante is mudered and another vigilante tries to find out who the killer is. The disequilibrium is the longest becuase all throughout the film we are trying to find out who the killer is. At the end we eventually find out who the killer is an through a series of plot twists we find out that the killer killed the ex vigilante for the greater good. Therefore, anyone who found this out has decided to keep quiet and as a result, society returns back to normal creating a new equilibrium.
(3)Harry Potter (All the books)
Harry Potter is the world-renowned book written by J.K.Rowling that has a definitive equilibrium, diseqilibrium and new eqilibrium. It starts off with Harry as a normal boy living a normal life but then recieves an invitation to go to Hogwarts,a magical wizarding school. At the beginning of each book, the equilibrium is of Harry traveling to Hogwarts for another school year With the exception of the last book, the disequilibrium begins when he enters Hogwarts for another adventure. Through a series of trials, the books end with a new equilibrium becuase the threat of the enemy is gone.
(4)Lord Of The Rings (Film trilogy)
The Lord Of The Rings is a fantasy adventure film. This flim starts with the history of how an ultimate ring was made but then kept in safe hands thousands of years later. One of the protagonists notices this ring then seeks to destory it. At this point the equilibrium is over. The movie then moves over to our other protagonist Frodo, as he must destroy the ring. From this point till the end of the third movie, there is disequilibrium all throughout becuase there is a constant struggle as a number of antogonists try to claim the ring back. At the end of the third film, the new eqilibrium is created as the villians are vanquished.
(5)Home Alone (Film)
Home Alone is a family/advanture film. This film has a basic equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium set out. Our protagonist is called Kevin who's family wants to go on holiday. The next day he awakes to find that his family has gone without him and so he must wait till they get back. The disequilibrium starts when two burglers (our anogonists) start to realise that Kevin is home alone. They then start to put their plan into action and try to get into the house. After a series of traps laid out by Kevin, the burglers are eventually caught and his family make it back home just in time and this is obviously our new equilibrium.
(6)Fight Club (Film)
This film doesnt really fit the standard set up of the equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium theme. This is a action/thriller film. The film starts off with the namless narrator living out his life the way he chooses. He then comes across the man called Tyler Durden and this is when the equilibrium ends and the disequilibrium sort of begins. In a way the middle part of the movie is a disequilibrium becuase chaos is spreading aruond the city but at the same time it isnt because the main character is a part of all this. Later on we find that the narrator's and Tyler Durdun's group want to blow up city banks. At the end of the movie we find out that the narrator and Tyler are the same person and the movie ends with the banks blowing up. This ending isnt really a new equilibrium becuase we dont know weather the narrator will carry on with his chaotic ways.
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
The Sun Poster Review
This picture is from the front page of The Sun magazine. This front page shows and tells its audience many things when carefully analysed. The group who had designed this page clearly knew what images and words need to be on here in order to attract a variety of people (mainly men) to make them buy this newspaper.The colour of this page seems to be made up of basic colours (red, white and black). While this may seem to be standard colours, they speak very loudly. Against the black background, stands a women with white panties and a white banner covering her chest which clearly states some form sexual connotations.
The pose of this women is made to be seductive to attract male audiences and get them to buy the newspaper. The pose also wants thjem to read on more aswell.
The framing and composition of this front page doesnt seem to too complex. Against a black background, there's white writing placed around the women so audiences will get attracted to the news aswell. The banner marked "goal" seems conviniently placed right where the women's chest obvious connotating something sexual. The women is placed in the centre of the page and putting her in this position will obviously attract attention.
The size of the words "Here We Goal" are larger than most of the text on the page making it clear that these words have relation to the main story. The size of the women seems to be large enough so that the audience can have many polysemic views on it.
On this page, there seems to be a close-up shot and there has to be becuase the camera shot mainly focuses on the women. The subject at hand on this page seems to be about England being qualified into the finals of the world cup.
Clearly, a lot of thought and effort has gone into making this page what it truly is...a story of England being entered into the world cup finals with a stimulating picture to attract male audiences.
This page gets a rating of....4 starts out of 5.
Monday, 28 September 2009
Inglourious basterds is the new Quentin Tarantino movie from which he considers it his "masterpiece". He also claims that this movie has "some of the best writing he's ever done".
Aside from the monumental success of the movie, the poster of this movie seems to be a piece of art within itself. The amount of time and effort that has gone into this poster seems to show quite a alot and its quite apparant of how many ideas went into this poster.
The colour on this poster seems to say a lot to the viewer. The primary colours in this poster seem to be red and white. The title is coloured in white against a red background which clearly makes it stand out. In a way, the red and white colours contrast to make even the characters stand out more. Another thought would be that the red colour connotes violence and anger seeing as many people associate red with anger and frustration.
The pose of all the characters on the poster seems to connote that they're all getting ready for action. These poses also seem to hold viewer interest and show them which actors are in it and (in more depth) show character roles.
The framing and composition on this poster is interesting. The title is superimposed right in the center to show us what the movies called. On the top-right side of the poster, we see a list of the actor's names. With the list of names placed here, we can clearly see that the artists intention was to attract our attention to thise list so we can see what actors are in this film. Where the characters are placed also seems intriguing. Brad Pitt (being the main star) is placed at the front while there are two other men on both sides of him. They seem superimposed in front of a thick red line (most probably representing blood) and within this line are two women and what seems to be a general of some sort. The composition of these characters seems to give us an idea of what the movie is going to be about.
The sizes of the characters are from a medium range so that we can see the actor's full bodies. As for the three characters in the red line at the bak, we can only see them from the shoulder up. Seeing these characters from the shoulder up connotes a little mystery. The size of the title is an average size and is not too big and not too small that it cant be seen.
The type of shot in this poster seems to be a close-up. We can see all the characters clearly and because of this shot, the poster seems to really give out a Holloywood vibe.
This poster seems to say a lot to the viewer about the subject at hand. The character poses combined with the colour seem to speak for itself. From seeing this it immediately connotes that this film is going to be quite violent and there’s going to be a lot of action. We also see the nazi sign on the title which obviously connotes that this is going to be about Nazis.
The ambiguity of the setting in this poster is nil. Right when we see the title, there is a Nazi sign on it which immediately connotes that this movie is going to be set in World War 2.
The lighting on this poster seems very light and at the same time very dark and murky. With the white colour, this colour connotes hope while with the red colour, this connotes death. With these effects, the lighting seems to have a powerful influence on the viewer and may even subconsciously effect the viewer.
In conclusion, the Inglourious basterds poster seems to complete its objective of hooking its viewer while displaying a lot of information about the movie at the same time.
This poster gets .........5 Stars out of 5
Thursday, 24 September 2009
A Review Of Saving Faith.
The plot of Saving Faith is about a young man (age 17-18) losing his one and only love due to an unfortunate accident. Realising this death wasnt just an accident but a murder, he goes on a rampage to exact his revenge.
The beginning of the movie seems to deliver us some interesting insight into the chararcters personal lives so we get a chance to connect with them on a personal level and a heart-wrenching storyline to follow up are all the ingrediants to a good movie right?Well...not entirely.
While the beginning of the movie seems riveting, the middle and climax seems to be blown out of proportion. Viewers who were expecting this to be a film of exacting one's revenge while avioding a bloodboth will be in for a surprise. Action fanatics with find this movie superb while viewers who want a deep, moving storyline will be disappointed.
The movie has some tear-jerking moments but other scenes seem to be surprisingly bleak, showing vicious acts being committed 80% of the time. While some of these scenes have breath-taking action, Saving Faith is not so much an emotional rollercoaster but a flim for the regular adrenaline-junkie.
The camera-works seems a bit shaky and sometimes seems to far out of view to even know whats going on but seems to uphold more than enough stability. The soundtrack is outstanding becuase it fits so well with scene that you do get caught up in the moment even if for a while.
In short, this movie is strictly for for action lovers meanwhile the romance fans are going to need some faith to put up with this.
3 Out Of 5 Stars.
The beginning of the movie seems to deliver us some interesting insight into the chararcters personal lives so we get a chance to connect with them on a personal level and a heart-wrenching storyline to follow up are all the ingrediants to a good movie right?Well...not entirely.
While the beginning of the movie seems riveting, the middle and climax seems to be blown out of proportion. Viewers who were expecting this to be a film of exacting one's revenge while avioding a bloodboth will be in for a surprise. Action fanatics with find this movie superb while viewers who want a deep, moving storyline will be disappointed.
The movie has some tear-jerking moments but other scenes seem to be surprisingly bleak, showing vicious acts being committed 80% of the time. While some of these scenes have breath-taking action, Saving Faith is not so much an emotional rollercoaster but a flim for the regular adrenaline-junkie.
The camera-works seems a bit shaky and sometimes seems to far out of view to even know whats going on but seems to uphold more than enough stability. The soundtrack is outstanding becuase it fits so well with scene that you do get caught up in the moment even if for a while.
In short, this movie is strictly for for action lovers meanwhile the romance fans are going to need some faith to put up with this.
3 Out Of 5 Stars.
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
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