Hey everyone, hope your weekend is going a little smoother than mine. I don’t know about you, but classes are keeping me plenty busy! I’m doing this weekend’s blog post on scenes from the movie “Gladiator”. I will be taking different scenes and will analyze them to present to you the different camera angles and the progression of the shots that have been used. There are three different progression shots: long shot, medium shot, and the close up. There are also three different camera angles: eye level shot, low angle shot, and high angle shot. All of these different shots and angles will tell the viewers something important about the characters and surroundings in the shots, and how to feel for them emotionally. This is no doubt an incredible film. I would say I hope you enjoy this blog, but considering that it’s “Gladiator”, I know you will!
The scene that I am going to address is titled “A Soldier’s Death”. In this scene Caesar has elected Maximus (Russell Crowe) to become the new Caesar, and not his own son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Because of Commodus’ jealousy, Maximus is sent to be assassinated on Commodus’ order. He does this before anyone knows of Maximus’ duty to become the next Caesar, therefore Commodus is hailed as the new Caesar. When Maximus now on foot enters the woods detained by Caesar’s guards, director Ridley Scott uses a long shot, or orientation shot, to show the audience the details of where the assassination would be taking place. There was dead grass, broken branches, brush, and even bones lying everywhere. It seemed to be a very sad and dead place, which is symbolic to the assassination that is supposed to take place. Next was a medium shot that gave the needed information on the status of the main character at that time. The medium shot showed that Maximus was tied up and in the guards’ full control. He was subject to the guards’ command, and was helpless. Although these shots appeared to be nothing but bad news for Maximus, Scott also used a low angle shot to show that Maximus, although detained and about to face death, still held power. This was important because it foretold events that may occur in the near future. One of the next shots in the scene presented a close up shot to give important detail on Maximus’ facial expressions, so the audience would be able to see, and even feel what he was feeling at that moment in time. The close up shot was held on his face, which is known as shock progression. At first Maximus’ eyes were watering, appearing to exhibit the feeling of sadness and desperation because he knew his life was soon to be at an end. But then, still using a close up shot, he acquires a new look in his eyes: one that makes him appear to have an idea or a plan to try to save his own life. A low angle shot is also used to show that Maximus is still very powerful in this shot. This shot was used very well, because in this scene Maximus, right before getting ‘a soldier’s death’, rises from his knees to not only fight, but kill all of the guards to escape with his life. Once Maximus escapes and rides off on a horse, at first a long shot and eye level shot are used. These two shots together show Maximus’ surroundings and where he is at, and also how he is very much alone and now neutral in power. The shot soon turns into a long shot with a high angle shot. This presented a very sad, alone, and powerless Maximus riding an extremely far distance through the mountains trying to get to his home and family. Once he reaches home, he finds that his farm, crops, and family have all been burnt and killed. A series of eye level close up shots were used to show the pain and agony that Maximus felt. These eye level close ups show a crying, speechless, heartbroken, beaten down man that felt he had nothing left to live for, and they allowed the viewers to truly feel the pain and suffering that Maximus was going through at that moment in time. This part of the scene was perfectly shot, because it was let known that this was Maximus’ lowest point in the film.
Ridley Scott uses a series of different shots in several scenes that hold an important place in the film “Gladiator”. This film was beautifully made, and some of the shots were the reason that the film turned out as great as it did. Depending on what the director of a film wants the audience to see and feel for different characters, he or she will use the different progression shots and camera angles accordingly. I am convinced that the film industry and movies would not be as popular today if it did not possess a variety of different progression shots and camera angles. Progression shots and camera angles tell the viewers what and how to think about the characters emotions and power, and also their surroundings. I hope you all enjoyed this weekend’s blog post. I sure did, considering that I got to watch different parts of one of my favorite movies! I have given a link to a video clip of the movie trailer to “Gladiator”. If you have never seen it, I HIGHLY suggest that you do. It’s greatness!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvTT29cavKo
No comments:
Post a Comment