I think the genre of the descent is a horror/ thriller film. I think this because there are a lot of moments that make you jump throughout the film. I also think it is a horror film, as they are caving in an isolated area and are not out in the open in sight of help. The film also includes a lot of blood and death which is always a main aspect you think of in horror films.
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Applying Vladimir Propp's Character Actions To The Descent.
The Hero - Sarah - She tries to protect her friends from the crawlers, and get them out safely. She defends her friends from the other girl's actions.
The False Hero/ dispatcher - Juno - She tries to lead the group's expedition, but ends up leading them to the wrong cave, and tries to shift the blame.
The Princess and her father - Sarah's daughter and husband who died in car accident earlier in the film.
The Villain - Crawlers - They fight against the group of girls and especially Sarah (The Hero).
It was quite hard to apply this structure to The Descent, as this film doesn’t follow the traditional equilibrium. I found this also quite difficult as the majority of the group of girls play the same type of role and don’t really stand out to fit a certain role.
Vladimir Propp's 7 Character Actions.
Vladimir Propp's 7 Character Actions Were:
1) The Villain - Struggles against the hero.
2) The donor - Prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.
3) The (magical) helper - Helps the hero in the quest.
4) The princess and her father - Gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father can not be clearly distinguished.
5) The dispatcher - Character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.
6)The hero or victim/seeker hero - reacts to the donor, weds the princess.
7)[False hero] - Takes credit for the hero's actions or tries to marry the princess.
Difference Between Narrative And Story.
The story is the beginning, middle and end, and is split into these three sections to show us the story.
The narrative is the telling of the story and telling us what is happening within the story, describing it for the audience.
Horror Conventions.
There are many elements which make up the production of a horror film.
Setting: The area for a horror film would usually be a typically isolated house, with no-one to help nearby, or any help available. This is used as there would be no second choice for the characters and their fate is concealed in this one isolated area.
Characters: In all horror films there is always a villan in some shape or form. This could be from a knife-weilding maniac or in the form of something that is not human. the killer also has certain weapon used throughout the film.
A blonde female character is always killed near the beginning and is seen to be dirty and to have slept with multiple partners. There is also a young brunette woman who usually plays a part and lives to the end, she is seen as quite clean and a virgin and the innocent one, and most probably the sole survivor.
Themes: There is also usually a theme of death and murder or someone seeking revenge on their victims.
Iconography: Sometimes there is a symbol such as a phone or weapon which is significant throughout the film.
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Children Of Men Analysis Extract Analysis.
When the sequence first opens, we are met with a sound bridge. We hear the sound of news reporters, a man and a woman. We recognise this as an English film from the British accents and the similarity to BBC news. And by the presenters saying 'Good Morning' we know this is the news the public is waking up to.
As we hear the boy's name who has been killed, it sounds as if its a south American/spanish name, showing us its a worldwide news report. When we first hear that the 'youngest boy in the world' has been killed, this is an enigma code, because we think its impossible for there to be a youngest boy in the world who is 18 years old. Making this a question we want answered.
As the shot cuts to the people looking at the TV, we see adults with sad and shocked expressions staring at the screen, showing that the story is appealing to them, making us feel as if we need to watch this. We see the working class with a cup of tea/coffee, looking as if they are on their way to work, showing the story was so important on the TV that they needed to stop to hear the ins and outs of what is happening. There is also a TV shown in the background of the shop, even though it is not clear to us, we can still see it, making us feel that we also have the same insight to the story on the TV screen as the characters. The audience are given another hint that the story is important as we see the policeman in the background, he has come off the street and his patrol to see the story on the news, showing that even if the incident is across the world, people still need to see the report.
The colours in the shop, are dull, dark, cold, miserable and drab, this reflects the story on the news and shows us its a sad and depressing news report.
The man who then pushes through the crowds and takes his order, is breaking the silence. This shows he is the main character and key person in the film. As he leaves the shop, the camera then follows him out, this makes us as the audience feel part of the action, and as if we are walking beside him. We also feel part of the action as we feel up close and personal to the other customers in the shop, as we follow the main character out. We also get a glimpse of the screen on the way out, giving us a reminding image of the boy as we leave the shop.
As the violins begins to play, it is sad, funeral music, reflecting the news report and the death of the boy.
When we first exit onto the street, we see big screens and and the roads filled with pollution. As the date flashes up 2027, we recognise its the future, this is establishing the future which is recognisible to us. The pollution and extrvagant screens, are something we can relate to, and is a future which isn't that far away.
The use of handheld camera, feels as if we are again following him and still playing a part in the action.
As only one explosion takes place, and not several, it is very realistic. It is played from one angle and still from the handheld camera, as if we are there. The one explosion is a tell tale sign it is a British film, as a Hollywood Blockbuster would use several to create a stronger impact, but this is more realistic. Finally as the woman walks out of the explosion, she is walking like a zombie and connotes a horror film, which then leads onto the connotation of death.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)