Thursday 18 September 2014
Analysis of 'Divergent'
***Divergent train scene***(0:00-1:02)
When the scene opens, the mise-en-scene and the use of diegetic sound helps the viewer understand the setting. There are people standing in what looks like to be carriages and you can hear a train running on tracks and so people establish that the characters are on a train. At this point, the viewers don’t know where the train is going but this all changes when the camera focuses its mid-shot on the lady telling them to ‘get ready’. The camera is hand held and unsteady so it gives you the point of view of someone on the carriage, immersing the viewer into the film.
There is a cut to a mid-shot of two girls and still, the camera is moving slightly, giving the viewers the feeling they are on the train.
There is another cut to a mid-shot, tracking forwards to an over the shoulder shot which then pans from left to right, tilts down, pans from right to left and then tilts up again. The importance of this sequence of events is to again establish the setting. As the camera pans and tilts, the viewers see a high angle shot of what is below the people on the train. It exaggerates the drop below them and foreshadows what may happen next.
Once the camera stops tilting back up, it remains an over the shoulder shot for a few seconds before in the background of the shot, you see a figure jumping out of the train and onto the building next to them. This was foreshadowed earlier when the female character told them to get ready and when you saw the drop.
The camera cuts to a long shot of people jumping out of the train, panning slightly to follow the action of one man landing on the building. The importance of this shot is to show the distance they are jumping of the decent below them and fill the audience with tension about what might happen about the main characters. Whilst the men jump, non-diegetic sound begins playing to increase the amount of tension further.
On the next cut, we are taken back to the main girl. We can assume she is the main character as the lighting is subtlety lighter on her than the girl to the left of her and the two males behind her. The camera pans from right to left slightly to bring the other girl into the shot and it continues to pan until we get an over the shoulder shot. This brings into view the people jumping off the train once again.
Next, we are shown two males conversing. The character on the right is surrounded by shadows whilst the character on the left is surrounded by light. This conveys the feeling that the character on the right might be at conflict with himself. He doesn’t want to jump, but he also doesn’t want to face the consequences of not jumping.
Another long shot is then added of more people jumping off the train. The camera follows one man in particular, tilting down to show his hard impact with the gravel below him. This shot was added to show the danger the characters are putting themselves through to fit in with the group. The next part also shows the extreme danger as the camera pans from left to right and tilts down slightly, focusing on a man who in the next shot, is hanging off the side of the building. The low angle reminds the viewer’s how daunting the drop is and that one small move could mean life or death for the characters. This is again building tension and suspense, leading them to question if the main girl will make the jump.
The next cut shows more people jumping off the train yet this time, the mid-shot is at a slightly low angle tilting up the tiniest bit. This gives the viewers the impression the people jumping are strong and brave as they are portrayed as being dominant people. You get to watch their landing on the building as the camera tracks forward alongside the train and pans from left to right.
The viewers also witness the male who was previously conflicted jump as well as another male as the camera sits stationary inside the carriage. It may have shown the other man jump as he may later become an important character.
As the girls are about to jump, the camera cuts to a low-angle, showing how brave they are being as they overcome their fear of jumping. Before jumping though, the camera cuts to a crane shot, tracking from the right to the left. This shows the setting once more, reminding the viewer of the great jump they are about to do and that one wrong move could end it all. Once they had counted down from three, the girls begin to run off the train and the camera which is now inside the carriage pans from left to right, following them out of the train. A bird’s eye angle is then used, looking down on the girls as they take the leap. The leap is also in slow motion and all of these features together, along with their diegetic scream shows how terrifying it is to be in their position, jumping over a vast drop.
Before landing, the camera quickly cuts to a low angle of the girls as they make it over the drop. It again reminds the viewers of the distance they have to jump and it also make the characters look strong and powerful.
How the horror genera effects the audience
The main
purpose of horror films is to frighten and terrify the audiences; this can be
through the use of the soundtrack playing along with the film or the violent
scenes on the screen. A number of films like to twist with people’s minds
whilst other films repulse the viewers.
A thing most films have in common is the use of dim-lighting instead of fully lit settings. The lack of lighting plays on the fact that a fear of the dark and what may hide in it is common amongst the population. People may be weary of the dark from a young age as children associate the dark with monsters and ghouls and the use of the dark in horror films causes people to relive the frightened feelings they link to the darkness.
Many films use gore to make the audiences squirm, for example, the ‘saw’ films show numerous devices and horror contraptions brutally murdering the innocent. Another example is the ‘wrong turn’ films as the blood and mutilated body parts cause the audiences to cringe and look away in disgust. The scenes that are shown in both of these films repulse the audience but the methods used to kill the characters and the sick/weird nature of it all is intriguing and sometimes entertaining as the audiences may realise how unrealistic it all is.
The ‘paranormal activity’ series likes to make the audiences feel uneasy in surroundings where they should feel comfortable. The fact the films are set in places like family homes causes the audiences to think irrationally. People become paranoid when their houses (places where they should be familiar with and feel safe) make creaking noises or when they are home alone. Their minds always flick back to the time they watched the film and link the situation they are in, whether it’s a creaky floor board or a door opening on its own, to the film and play through possible horrifying scenes in their head which they believe might come true.
Common fears are also used throughout films to cause more horror and panic within the audience. The main characters have to battle against the evil axe murderers or the sick and twisted doll like in ‘Chucky’. To scare people, films often use people’s fears and phobias to their advantage. Clowns are a popular fear to many people and when shown in films like ‘it’ where the clown murders people, those with the phobia become more nervous and unsettled.
Finally, the soundtrack to a film can play an important part when it comes to scaring the audience. The soundtrack to ‘jaws’ is extremely popular due to the suspense it creates as the shark is just about to attack. The build-up leads the audience wondering when the shark is about to attack and when the time finally comes, the soundtrack accompanying the scene plays dramatically with an increased tempo and dynamics.
Personally, there are many key things in horror films which scare and frighten me, most of them listed above, yet, something I didn't mention before was jump scares within films. There is nothing more unsettling and nerve-wracking than watching a horror film where all seems perfectly fine one second and then the next second, the killer or other evil being is popping out into the shot wielding an offensive weapon. The jump scares can be so sudden and unpredictable that you are left with sweaty palms and a fast beating heart and so to compensate, you have to repeat to yourself how the films are all make believe and is the product of someone else’s imagination.
A thing most films have in common is the use of dim-lighting instead of fully lit settings. The lack of lighting plays on the fact that a fear of the dark and what may hide in it is common amongst the population. People may be weary of the dark from a young age as children associate the dark with monsters and ghouls and the use of the dark in horror films causes people to relive the frightened feelings they link to the darkness.
Many films use gore to make the audiences squirm, for example, the ‘saw’ films show numerous devices and horror contraptions brutally murdering the innocent. Another example is the ‘wrong turn’ films as the blood and mutilated body parts cause the audiences to cringe and look away in disgust. The scenes that are shown in both of these films repulse the audience but the methods used to kill the characters and the sick/weird nature of it all is intriguing and sometimes entertaining as the audiences may realise how unrealistic it all is.
The ‘paranormal activity’ series likes to make the audiences feel uneasy in surroundings where they should feel comfortable. The fact the films are set in places like family homes causes the audiences to think irrationally. People become paranoid when their houses (places where they should be familiar with and feel safe) make creaking noises or when they are home alone. Their minds always flick back to the time they watched the film and link the situation they are in, whether it’s a creaky floor board or a door opening on its own, to the film and play through possible horrifying scenes in their head which they believe might come true.
Common fears are also used throughout films to cause more horror and panic within the audience. The main characters have to battle against the evil axe murderers or the sick and twisted doll like in ‘Chucky’. To scare people, films often use people’s fears and phobias to their advantage. Clowns are a popular fear to many people and when shown in films like ‘it’ where the clown murders people, those with the phobia become more nervous and unsettled.
Finally, the soundtrack to a film can play an important part when it comes to scaring the audience. The soundtrack to ‘jaws’ is extremely popular due to the suspense it creates as the shark is just about to attack. The build-up leads the audience wondering when the shark is about to attack and when the time finally comes, the soundtrack accompanying the scene plays dramatically with an increased tempo and dynamics.
Personally, there are many key things in horror films which scare and frighten me, most of them listed above, yet, something I didn't mention before was jump scares within films. There is nothing more unsettling and nerve-wracking than watching a horror film where all seems perfectly fine one second and then the next second, the killer or other evil being is popping out into the shot wielding an offensive weapon. The jump scares can be so sudden and unpredictable that you are left with sweaty palms and a fast beating heart and so to compensate, you have to repeat to yourself how the films are all make believe and is the product of someone else’s imagination.
My favourite film from summer 2014
As
mentioned previously, The Fault in Our Stars was a highly popular film from
2014 and it just so happens to be my favourite film from this summer. The way
the film depicts how cancer can affect the lives of people my age really hits
home and makes the illness seem more real.
The contrast between the joyous moments and the depressing scenes make this film a must watch as it not only makes you beam with happiness but it also reduces you to tears. The way both characters make light of the situation they’re in makes the film more uplifting. For example, when Hazel is riding with Augustus in his car are he can’t drive brilliantly due to his prosthetic leg, they joke about the fact he only passed his driving test due to the fact it was a ‘cancer perk’, where the individual felt sorry for Gus’ and the fact he was dying. One of the saddest scenes in the film is a complete contrast to the driving scene. Before, Hazel and Augustus were unaware Augustus’ cancer had relapsed yet in the scene where it is Gus’ pre-funeral, both teens know he doesn’t have much time left. This is shortly followed by a speech from Hazel, stating how she wouldn’t change the time they both spent together for the world within her eulogy to Gus. The speech is extremely saddening and the scene ends with Hazel saying Gus died eight days later.
Both of the Actors who played Hazel and Augustus are extremely talented and brought the character to life through the actions they carried out and through the way the spoke. One major example of this is how Ansel Elgort walked differently, keeping one leg straight, trying to imitate how a person would walk if they had a prosthetic leg like Augustus. This attention to minor detail made the film seem more true to the book which I loved prior to seeing the film.
Finally, I love how true to the book the film remains. Obviously, you can’t transform every chapter of a novel into a scene of the film, but The Fault in Our Stars includes almost all of my favourite scenes. One of the best things about this is that some of my most loved quotes from the novel were acted out on the big screen. This includes the quote, “It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.” Which Augustus says to Hazel when she tries to explain how she doesn’t want to end up hurting him if she was to die.
The contrast between the joyous moments and the depressing scenes make this film a must watch as it not only makes you beam with happiness but it also reduces you to tears. The way both characters make light of the situation they’re in makes the film more uplifting. For example, when Hazel is riding with Augustus in his car are he can’t drive brilliantly due to his prosthetic leg, they joke about the fact he only passed his driving test due to the fact it was a ‘cancer perk’, where the individual felt sorry for Gus’ and the fact he was dying. One of the saddest scenes in the film is a complete contrast to the driving scene. Before, Hazel and Augustus were unaware Augustus’ cancer had relapsed yet in the scene where it is Gus’ pre-funeral, both teens know he doesn’t have much time left. This is shortly followed by a speech from Hazel, stating how she wouldn’t change the time they both spent together for the world within her eulogy to Gus. The speech is extremely saddening and the scene ends with Hazel saying Gus died eight days later.
Both of the Actors who played Hazel and Augustus are extremely talented and brought the character to life through the actions they carried out and through the way the spoke. One major example of this is how Ansel Elgort walked differently, keeping one leg straight, trying to imitate how a person would walk if they had a prosthetic leg like Augustus. This attention to minor detail made the film seem more true to the book which I loved prior to seeing the film.
Finally, I love how true to the book the film remains. Obviously, you can’t transform every chapter of a novel into a scene of the film, but The Fault in Our Stars includes almost all of my favourite scenes. One of the best things about this is that some of my most loved quotes from the novel were acted out on the big screen. This includes the quote, “It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.” Which Augustus says to Hazel when she tries to explain how she doesn’t want to end up hurting him if she was to die.
How The Fault in Our Stars became a box-office success
A films
success can be defined by the amount of business the film receives and the
Fault in Our Stars earned $48 million. At the time of writing this, the total
gross of the film ($124 million) has placed The Fault in Our stars at number 17
on the list of ‘Total Grosses of all
Movies Released in 2014’.
There are many reasons as to why The Fault in Our Stars became such a big hit. Firstly, John Green, author of the novel, is one half of the YouTube Channel ‘vlogbrothers’. With a following of over two million, John had a huge platform to share his novel with before it was turned into a movie. With the help of social media John was able to share his novel with thousands of devoted fans who then went on to recommend the book to their friends and family. The topic and plot of the book drew in readers and the due mass publicity the book received, it was finally turned into a film.
Moreover, the casting of the movie can help create a successful film. The two leads of the movie Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley who play Augustus and Hazel already played roles within the highly popular movie, Divergent. Divergent, like The Fault in Our Stars was a novel before becoming a movie and attracted a similar audience to that of The Fault in Our Stars. Those who saw divergent would see how good they both are at acting and become interested and want to watch The Fault in Our Stars.
Furthermore, Ed Sheeran and Charlie XCX, two artists currently in the charts contributed to the movies soundtrack. The fans of the popular musicians may become interested in the film they are composing music for and may help contribute to the film’s success.
The overall plot of the film is touching and heart-breaking to say the least. The mixture of teenage romance and tragedy draws people in. Throughout the film, the audience becomes attached to the two lovers and when the film reaches the point where Augustus dies, the audience is reduced to tears. This emotional rollercoaster of a film leaves people in a state of shock and disbelief when one of the main character passes away, leading the audience to share the film with others.
Finally, hype of the film for many months prior to the release attracted many new fans. Most people heard nothing but good reviews of the book and so had to check it out themselves. By doing so, people got hooked on the novel and couldn’t wait to see the film once it was released. Not only was the film advertised with posters and TV adverts it was also spread by the word of mouth by many fans of the novel, overall attracting more people to the franchise. People would be excited for the release of the film and watch it when it came out in the cinemas.
There are many reasons as to why The Fault in Our Stars became such a big hit. Firstly, John Green, author of the novel, is one half of the YouTube Channel ‘vlogbrothers’. With a following of over two million, John had a huge platform to share his novel with before it was turned into a movie. With the help of social media John was able to share his novel with thousands of devoted fans who then went on to recommend the book to their friends and family. The topic and plot of the book drew in readers and the due mass publicity the book received, it was finally turned into a film.
Moreover, the casting of the movie can help create a successful film. The two leads of the movie Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley who play Augustus and Hazel already played roles within the highly popular movie, Divergent. Divergent, like The Fault in Our Stars was a novel before becoming a movie and attracted a similar audience to that of The Fault in Our Stars. Those who saw divergent would see how good they both are at acting and become interested and want to watch The Fault in Our Stars.
Furthermore, Ed Sheeran and Charlie XCX, two artists currently in the charts contributed to the movies soundtrack. The fans of the popular musicians may become interested in the film they are composing music for and may help contribute to the film’s success.
The overall plot of the film is touching and heart-breaking to say the least. The mixture of teenage romance and tragedy draws people in. Throughout the film, the audience becomes attached to the two lovers and when the film reaches the point where Augustus dies, the audience is reduced to tears. This emotional rollercoaster of a film leaves people in a state of shock and disbelief when one of the main character passes away, leading the audience to share the film with others.
Finally, hype of the film for many months prior to the release attracted many new fans. Most people heard nothing but good reviews of the book and so had to check it out themselves. By doing so, people got hooked on the novel and couldn’t wait to see the film once it was released. Not only was the film advertised with posters and TV adverts it was also spread by the word of mouth by many fans of the novel, overall attracting more people to the franchise. People would be excited for the release of the film and watch it when it came out in the cinemas.
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