Monday 19 September 2016

Opening Analysis: ‘Dawn of the planet of the apes’

‘Dawn of the planet of the apes’ opening analysis:


The film opens with a close up of who we suspect to be the main character. This allows the audience to immediately understand some background context of the film. Some viewers may also take this shot as demonstrating the character in a superior light, due to it being the first thing seen by the audience. During this time, non-diegetic music is playing in the background, which appears to build suspense for the audience as its volume increases with the tempo.

A low camera angle then pans across below the forest setting so that the audience can understand the location. Within the shot, many other members of the ape tribe are captured. This allows them all to be portrayed as on the same level of hierarchy, even though they all appear powerful as the camera angle leaves us looking up at them, as if they’re superior. However, the fact they are all introduced together shows them having a lack of importance.

There is then a sudden burst of diegetic sound of an ape calling which shocks the audience and lets them know the genre of action/adventure due to the fight scene/hunting scene which is about to begin. The sound echoes, which connotes power. An enigma code is also added as the audience is left asking why some apes are riding horseback and where they are going.


The mise en scene is demonstrated through apes holding spears and riding horseback which both connote power and status, two aspects that feature greatly in action/adventure films. Spears also connote death, which is a common feature of action films. Furthermore, the houses and infrastructure that has been built by the apes shows their intelligence.

No comments:

Post a Comment