Film Clip Analysis

Film Clip Analysis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v75LGxRcDVc&feature=related

I chose this extract to analyse as it is one of my all-time favourite film scenes! (this link shows just under a minute of it)

Cultural codes and Conventions:
Will:
- Dressed respectably and practically, tamed hair and facial hair; seems more law-abiding
- He is a blacksmith; an honest, hardworking profession. The 'good guy'
- White, well spoken; English, typical servant of the British Empire
- Focused, sharp facial expressions connote his intention to capture or kill Jack


Jack:
- Scruffy, unhygienic, dreadlocks; rebellious, not conforming to societal expectation
- A pirate; dishonest profession, a criminal. The 'bad guy'
- Tanned, British accent; an outcast who spends a lot of time outdoors
- Drunk and swaying, but still acts and looks confident and menacing; he is a vicious, dangerous, but careless person
- He attempts to run. He is not a pacifist but he is cowardly and greatly desires to evade capture; clearly expresses his attitude of freedom



Film-Making ConventionsGenre/Technical:
- Dynamic camera movement intensifies action; sways, tilts, pans, tracking shots, a wide range of camera techniques with a variety of shot distances and framing.
- Periodic costume and setting displays conventions of the adventure counterpart of 'action adventure' genre
- Sounds of swords swinging and clashing signify action and conflict
- Dangerous setting of a blacksmith, we associate with and see fires, furnace, weapons, equipment; an exciting and diverse place to be fighting, anchors the audience
- 'Faceoff' scene, a convention in action films. They match up well testing and intimidating one another, dating back as far as old Western films, but far more intense and gripping because of the intelligent camera use