In what two ways are the
narrative (characters and events) typical of the AA genre?
Firstly
the events fit the typical AA genre because there is speed and motion. There is
a pod race, and the vehicles are moving very fast throughout the race track, as
well as a final high speed chase at the end creating speed. The track is a
spectacular setting – magnificent and huge chasms. The pods do tight turns when
going round corners and at one point even turns dramatically through 90 degrees
to fit through a gap in the rock, showing motion and lots of extreme movements
and manoeuvres throughout the race. The pods are open top, which creates speed
again, and so does the fact that the canyon walls seem to be going past very
fast and close by, involving you in the action and creating a lot of speed. The
fights between the pods also creates motion, speed and suspense, because they
are moving so fast while battling and you can see parts falling off the pods,
so the suspense comes from not knowing which pod will break first. When
Skywalker’s engine fails this again creates suspense and speed because you
don’t know if he will fall or his pod will break, and he has to free fall at
one point, illustrating speed again. The rocky, unpredictable terrain shows
speed and motion also because the pods have to keep swerving to go through
crevices and over rocks. The danger, speed, motion and suspense created by what
happens in the race make it typical of the AA genre.
Skywalker
is a heroic protagonist because he is represented as fighting ‘evil’, or the
other opponents in the race. He is also shown as courageous because he is very
young but competing against much older, more experienced racers. The pods seem
very complicated to operate, with many controls, especially for a child, but
Skywalker is not perturbed by this, doing whatever he can to win and working
out how to manipulate the controls. This shows a high level of skill, as a
stereotypical hero would have. He is a typical hero because he is very
determined as he doesn’t give up when faced with a challenge like his pod
engine failing. Skywalker is brave because he is represented as someone who
doesn’t give up when he encounters a problem and will do whatever it takes to
win the race. This is particularly impressive given his young age and
inexperience. As well as this, he ends up winning the race, triumphing over
‘evil’ as is typical of the AA genre.
2
example of camera work
One example of camera work is the point of view shots
you get from Skywalker’s pod, enabling you to be involved in the action. You
see what he is seeing – the rocks closely surrounding him on all sides, and the
twisting and turning of the track. The camera work is handheld so you feel the
sense of panic and disorientation. You can experience what Skywalker is
feeling, being in an out of control machine, seeing all the complicated controls
and having no idea what to do. This type of shot makes you feel more empathy
with Skywalker, but it also immerses you in the typical feeling of action and
adventure films – the high speed chases, the jeopardy and suspense of whether
he will crash, and the terrifying swooping motion of the pods as they speed
around the track.
Another example is the high angle (birds-eye-view) shot
of the pods moving round the track very fast. This illustrates how fast the
pods are moving and means you can see the rocky, high chasms that the racers
have to overcome and steer through. You see the twisting, dangerous track in
more detail, and seeing the spectacular setting adds to the feeling of a
typical action and adventure film. You can also see how the pods chase each
other, when they are closing in and starting to catch each other up, which
creates tension as you don’t know who will overtake who. This shot allows you
to get an overview of the race while still adding to the suspense of seeing
what is happening.
Mise-en-scene
Mise-en-scene is used to create many effects in this
extract so I will focus on two particular ones. Firstly, the setting: the arid
desert landscape with the huge rocky chasms that make up the race track. This
creates a sense of peril and jeopardy – the race track looks authentic and
creates to a sense of real danger in the race. The narrow crevices the pods
have to go through and the height of the chasms adds to the feeling of danger
and suspense – if the pods crash the results could be deadly. This suspense is
typical of an AA film.
The strange, alien-like creatures create the effect of
being in another world. There are creatures, for example the commentators, with
two heads. The aliens look strange, often ugly and very unusual, even being
different shapes and colours to humans (e.g. yellow or purple or green). For
example, Anakin’s opponent in the race, who has a strange, evil, lizard like
face with big, goggle-y eyes and robotic arms. He looks scary and evil, which
contrasts with Anakin, who looks innocent and young. They are so unlike any
creature we recognise that they immediately take us to another world, another
place. They also look quite realistic, which makes it seem more
authentic/believable. The creatures can also create the effect of good vs. evil
because often the uglier, scarier looking creatures are the stereotypical
‘baddies’ (such as the one Skywalker raced against) and the less scary,
friendly looking ones are the ‘goodies’. Therefore, the creatures can be used
to create the effect of being in another world and to create the effect of
typically AA ‘good vs. evil’.
How
does the extract use sound to create effects?
The sound of the Pods at the start of the race is used
to create effects because it makes the race sound fast-paced and exciting. They
make a screeching, whining sound as they zoom along, very loudly, with
noticeable difference in pitch as they come close by (there is an increase in
volume) and then away again (when there is a decrease in volume). The effect of
this increase and decrease in volume makes the scene realistic and involves the
viewer in the action, making them feel as if they are there and enhancing the
intensity. The engines make the kind of noises that Formula 1 race cars make,
for example, and naturally people associate this with something moving quickly so
you can tell the Pods are moving at a very fast pace. The sound of the engines
is also juxtaposed with the sounds of brakes screeching, the effect of which
again increases intensity and makes the scene more authentic.
The sound of the crowd cheering creates the effect of
increasing the volume and the intensity. It also involves the audience in the
race because the cheers of the crowds makes the viewer side with Anakin.
*increase in volume
*the effect of this is to enhance intensity
*alternated with
*…the effect of this
*juxtaposition
Narrative prep: Grade A
ReplyDeleteVery sound on speed and motion. When you draw attention to the course, you refer to its features such as the way that the narrow chasms force the podracers to turn through 90 degrees to fit through, which increases the sensation of speed and danger, and makes the viewer feel sick and disoriented. You can use words such as thrills, intensity, motion sickness, skimming above the ground,electrifying, blindingly fast, sounds of acceleration.
2. Good on character: you note that Anakin is also resourceful under pressure when he copes with malfunctions. You might add that the crowd cheers him on and celebrates his win, which positions him as the hero.
Mise-en-scene prep: grade A
ReplyDeleteThe key to the environment in my view is its hostility and its alien quality. It is very much a third world planet. You find more to say about its inhabitants than about the place itself with its vast expanses, arid colours and intense, hot light. Your comments on the aliens are thoughtful and observant.