Action and Adventure- Research and clips
We studied action and adventure films in depth:
Characters
We analysed a scene from Oblivion, in order to see a clear example of a hero and the characteristics of a hero.
What makes the character played by Tom Cruise a typical hero?
Tom Cruise wears a silver suit and carries weapons with him. This creates a typical image of a superhero. His special weaponary and machinery and other
elements as such, classified him as a hero. As a hero, he is constantly curious and is on a quest to discover things that make him a hero. Tom Cruise's character is a brave and courageous character who moves with a purpose. Also, at times he enters situations not knowing that danger is just around the corner due to the dangerous presence of antagonists.
What role did the sidekick, love interest and minions/baddies play in oblivion?
He has sidekicks and love interests that help him to escape a life-threatening situation. An example of his sidekick is the drome that rescued him from the conflict between the protagonist and antagonist. His love interest helped him and made sure that he was in a good and safe condition.
- Action and adventure is a wide genre but has one hero
- Consists of protagonist/antagonists
- Love in interest
- Journey or a quest
- Exotic, dangerous, exciting settings
Characters
We analysed a scene from Oblivion, in order to see a clear example of a hero and the characteristics of a hero.
What makes the character played by Tom Cruise a typical hero?
Tom Cruise wears a silver suit and carries weapons with him. This creates a typical image of a superhero. His special weaponary and machinery and other
elements as such, classified him as a hero. As a hero, he is constantly curious and is on a quest to discover things that make him a hero. Tom Cruise's character is a brave and courageous character who moves with a purpose. Also, at times he enters situations not knowing that danger is just around the corner due to the dangerous presence of antagonists.
What role did the sidekick, love interest and minions/baddies play in oblivion?
He has sidekicks and love interests that help him to escape a life-threatening situation. An example of his sidekick is the drome that rescued him from the conflict between the protagonist and antagonist. His love interest helped him and made sure that he was in a good and safe condition.
Lord of the Rings
Events
What character and event conditions are found in this LOTR clip?
The film contains a noble character(s) who were caught in a dangerous situation. The sidekicks are less intelligent than Frodo, who is aware and warns his sidekicks when danger is near. In other words, the sidekicks are dependent on Frodo. This can be identified by the demands Frodo gives them, "Get off the road! Quick!".
Although, and certain times some individuals from his sidekicks give useful inputs which help and develop Frodo's thoughts, showing that the sidekicks have a good amount of knowledge too.
The scene mostly consisted of the sidekicks and the hero running away to prevent getting captured by the villain (dark riders). Tension is created when they are all in hiding as there is a chance of them getting caught.
The camera angles used display that the villain is overpowering, when the dark rider is made look more dominant by low camera shot angle. The use of props such as the significant ring shows that there is a prize for the villain and give a purpose for the conflict.
Explain two ways in which the characters and/or events inn the extract fit the action adventure genre (10)
In this clip Frodo (the hero) and the sidekicks are attempting to escape from being taken captive by the villain. This fits in with the action adventure genre, as the goodies are consistently caught in a trapped places. Being caught creates a climax, making the movie more intense and enhances how dramatic it is. Often there are certain obstacles that have to be overcome by the hero and with the help of his sidekicks.
Also, there is a objective to fight and for the hero to be chased by the villain. The gold rings significance is represented a close up of the ring, giving the the ring a special value. The hero guards the ring and tries everything in his power in order to get away from the dark riders.
Mission Impossible
Mise-en-scene
How does the clip create effects to fit the action and adventure genre?
There are various uses of mine-en-scene in this clip. The setting is exciting as they have unprecedented access, the chance of getting caught makes it more of a risk. The main character is wearing casual clothes, t-shirt and leggings making a connection with his job which is to sneak into this place and secretively gain access to data, while the minion is clothed formally for work. The use of props such as the rope that is controlling the hero and his movements, adds tension to the scene because the hero not getting exposed is dependent on the rope. His performance is the performance of a typical hero, balletic in the air.
There's a slight dilemma when he nearly falls to the ground but manages to escape the situation with the use of his body strength, preventing him from getting in contact with the security system.
Mise-en-scene
How does the clip create effects to fit the action and adventure genre?
There are various uses of mine-en-scene in this clip. The setting is exciting as they have unprecedented access, the chance of getting caught makes it more of a risk. The main character is wearing casual clothes, t-shirt and leggings making a connection with his job which is to sneak into this place and secretively gain access to data, while the minion is clothed formally for work. The use of props such as the rope that is controlling the hero and his movements, adds tension to the scene because the hero not getting exposed is dependent on the rope. His performance is the performance of a typical hero, balletic in the air.
There's a slight dilemma when he nearly falls to the ground but manages to escape the situation with the use of his body strength, preventing him from getting in contact with the security system.
I, Robot- factory scene
Cinematography
Describe the cinematography and explain how the effects fit the action and adventure genre.
The clip starts with long establishing shots of the factory. This long shot of the factory shows us the amount of robots there are and highlights the fact that Will Smith and the sidekick are outnumbered and that the ratio of the robots to the humans is much greater.
When Will Smith is after the robot, a high angle shot of him chasing the robot is shown, as if he is lost in a maze. Being trapped his also shown through camera panning. Another camera movement is shots from the POV of Will Smith looking for the robot.
We are shown a low angle shot of the robot to indicated his power and a high angle shot of Will Smith, making him inferior.
When the robot is exposed to the cops and is caught climbing the building in order to escape. In this scene a low angle shot is used but does not make the robot look superior, instead it makes the helicopter look like it is overpowering the robot.
Cinematography
Describe the cinematography and explain how the effects fit the action and adventure genre.
The clip starts with long establishing shots of the factory. This long shot of the factory shows us the amount of robots there are and highlights the fact that Will Smith and the sidekick are outnumbered and that the ratio of the robots to the humans is much greater.
When Will Smith is after the robot, a high angle shot of him chasing the robot is shown, as if he is lost in a maze. Being trapped his also shown through camera panning. Another camera movement is shots from the POV of Will Smith looking for the robot.
We are shown a low angle shot of the robot to indicated his power and a high angle shot of Will Smith, making him inferior.
When the robot is exposed to the cops and is caught climbing the building in order to escape. In this scene a low angle shot is used but does not make the robot look superior, instead it makes the helicopter look like it is overpowering the robot.
Soundtrack
How does the soundtrack in this clip create effects to fit in with the action and adventure genre?
At the start of the clip when Jason and Marie enter the flat and the only sound is the echo of the door being opened and their footsteps. There are only diagetic sounds, church bells, footsteps, lock being opened etc.
Entering such a quiet place is a typical convention with the action and adventure genre, as the character and his love interest/sidekick are entering the danger.
Jason Bourne is looking around, searching through books and is asked, "Any clues?" suggesting that he is after information.
After making a phonetical, non-diagetic sounds (drums, heart beat) in the background help to enhance the tension. There are a mixture of sounds, taps being left on, drums, heart beat, sound of knife being pulled out of the knife wrack which shows that there is rising action. As Jason drops the knife all the non-diagetic sounds stop. This is followed by a awkward conversation which arises a question as a viewer, when will the conflict commence?
The villain enters with smashing the the glass, which is a clear indicator of destruction. When the glass is broken, there is a fine balance between diagetic and non-diagetic sounds, allowing us to hear sounds in relation to the fight (flinching, growling, punching etc) and the non-diagetic sounds to enhance tension. The fighting mixed with the soundtrack makes the audience jump(visceral).
The villains growling can be heard but the hero's silence represent the power he has and that he cannot be defeated.
Thought the dialogue, stereotypes of the man being quite demanding towards the women, and the stereotype of girls panicking and distraught is shown.
How does the soundtrack in this clip create effects to fit in with the action and adventure genre?
At the start of the clip when Jason and Marie enter the flat and the only sound is the echo of the door being opened and their footsteps. There are only diagetic sounds, church bells, footsteps, lock being opened etc.
Entering such a quiet place is a typical convention with the action and adventure genre, as the character and his love interest/sidekick are entering the danger.
Jason Bourne is looking around, searching through books and is asked, "Any clues?" suggesting that he is after information.
After making a phonetical, non-diagetic sounds (drums, heart beat) in the background help to enhance the tension. There are a mixture of sounds, taps being left on, drums, heart beat, sound of knife being pulled out of the knife wrack which shows that there is rising action. As Jason drops the knife all the non-diagetic sounds stop. This is followed by a awkward conversation which arises a question as a viewer, when will the conflict commence?
The villain enters with smashing the the glass, which is a clear indicator of destruction. When the glass is broken, there is a fine balance between diagetic and non-diagetic sounds, allowing us to hear sounds in relation to the fight (flinching, growling, punching etc) and the non-diagetic sounds to enhance tension. The fighting mixed with the soundtrack makes the audience jump(visceral).
The villains growling can be heard but the hero's silence represent the power he has and that he cannot be defeated.
Thought the dialogue, stereotypes of the man being quite demanding towards the women, and the stereotype of girls panicking and distraught is shown.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of life
Discuss the ways in which people are represented in the extract. Make reference to stereotypes (20)
The leading lady is a hero which subverts the stereotypes of hero's always being males.
The sidekicks are easily impressed, as shown when they discover gold in a deserted historical setting. They are clearly less intelligent than Lara. It is unusual that they are greek sidekicks, usually sidekicks are also white just like the main character. Even though the hero is is a woman, she is white and western, attractive and athletic which is a stereotype for a hero in an action and adventure film.
The baddies are stereotyped by wearing black and are from a oriental background and not western, a binary opposition to Lara. Lara the main character however, is wearing a silver jumpsuit, the coloured clothing shines a good light on her and the black clothing of the villains represents darkness.