Media studies Summer Assignment

Napoleon Dynamite Opening Credits Remake:

This mine and my groups remake, we have portrayed the character Napoleon as if he is a teenage girl living in England.

I have learnt how planning makes final pieces easier. Also I have learnt how long it actually takes to shoot a opening sequence.

Time line for remake:

Analysis of Napoleon dynamite Opening Credits:

Napoleon dynamite opening credits sequence, sets up the genre, story and meaning for the audience. The sequence sets up the genre, comedy.  The sequence is light hearted and fun, therefore not serious as documentaries are. The frames in this sequence have all been cleverly put together to create an interesting and intriguing opening, to grab the audience's attention so that you want to see the film.

The sequence also sets up the story, it allows the audience to familiarise themselves with Napoleon.  The audience can see that the main character may be a teenage boy, because of the fast food and toy cars.  Napoleons childlike characteristics are scattered throughout the opening credits, so this may be showing us that Napoleon is childlike. The audience can also learn that the main character might be American because of the common American meals. The soundtrack music playing throughout the sequence, also contributes to the theory that Napoleon is at school, because the song is about high school. 

The sequence sets up meaning for the audience, because they get to know the main character, therefore the audience feel they know the character more than they do with other characters.  The sequence sets up an emotional attachment for the audience, about the main character, before the film even starts.  The audience will then be on Napoleons side if a conflicts occurs. 

The opening credits sets up a little bit of Napoleons background, so they are not suddenly frown loads of information at once.  The way Napoleons background was presented, allowed the audience to slowly and interestingly take the information in.  The different objects and meals with the range of colours and sizes, make the opening credits more interesting than just a scrolling opening credits.  So you will actually read the names, rather than fast forwarding.

9 key frames chosen, to portray genre, story and meaning to the audience:

00:06

This frame shows that Napoleon may be American because these chicken bites are a commonly eaten American food.  It also implies that Napoleon could be a teenager, fast food is eaten by teenagers often, and some(stereotypical) teenagers don't know how to cook.

00:30

This frame also implies that Napoleon is a teenager, because it states 'Preston high' his high school that he attends.

00:51

This frame could either be showing canteen food at school, or a microwave meal, however both theory's would imply Napoleon is a teenager.

01:03

This frame is showing one of Napoleons childlike quality's  this is something you would make as a child. But his child like quality's could also imply he has shy and nervous characteristics.

01:25

This frame implies Napoleon is a teenager, because teenagers often eat sweets.

01:46

This frame again shows some of Napoleons childlike characteristics, the drawing looks like a child has drawn it.

01:52

Teenagers don't normally have toy cars, but children do, so this is another childlike quality.

02:04

This frame implies Napoleon is at school.

02:12

This frame is showing some comedy, because the aggression of the hit is unexpected.  This often makes you jump, which makes you laugh.

Spoiler reviews:

Inception:

After watching the thriller film Inception, I would would say it was just classed a thriller.  The film had elements of a thriller, but more elements of an action film.  The film had a lot of action and anticipation, but did not have a high level of surprise or anxiety.  The film built up a connection between the audience and the main character Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), through his past.  But that was the only character the audience really got to connect too.  So some anxiety occurred when Cobb was in trouble.

Their was not a great amount of terror which most thriller's include, but it did not have much surprise involved.  The film did not have much surprise because a lot of the tension was predictable.  The film was very fast paced, which distracted you from what some of the characters were doing, so you can get easily confused. 

Inception was really exciting, which fits into the genre thriller but also action.  This film was not an easy watch, you have to concentrate a lot, or you would be lost.  In order to have the suspense you have to feel a emotional connection with the characters, so you have to really concentrate when watching. 

The concept of them going into other people dreams, was exciting.  Towards the end of the film it got fast paced.  Their was a lot of adrenaline, which made you want to keep watching to see what happened. This is were the anticipation occurred.

I would give this film a thriller rating of three out of five, because I felt that it didn't include as much surprise as I would expect a thriller to have.  But I thought it included plenty of action.

9 key frames that shows mystery, suspense, plot twists, spoilers and elements that are psychological, crime and political:

01:08

This frame shows a man (Cobb) who has been washed ashore.  At this early stage if the film, the audience are wondering who is he?, why is he their and what has happened to him?  This creates mystery for the audience.

28:03

This frame shows an unexpected moment, the audience think the two characters are talking in the real world.  When in fact they are in a dream and only the main character knew that.

39:04

This frame is showing the suspense, will he get through to the gap to other side on time?, will he get shot?  This also shows mystery.

55:58

This frame shows Cobb showing his memories in his dream to Ariadne. This is showing the psychological effects, of going into dreams can cause, Cobb is psychologically scarred from it.

01:20:02

This frame shows how Cobb's wife died, the dramatic moment creates suspense for the audience.  Because the audience see Cobb's past it makes the audience suddenly feel a bigger connection with Cobb.

01:37:43

This frame shows Cobb shooting, this displays the crime in this film. 

01:41:47

This frame shows a car chase, this car has had its wheels ripped.  This is showing suspense and mystery.

01:46:06

This frame is showing an avalanche in the third layer of the dream. This shows suspense and provides the audience with anxiety, because two characters could pertinently be caught up in this.

02:20:39

This frame is at the end, it shows Cobb's spinning object which tells him if he's in a dream or not. And he has finally been reunited with his children. This makes the audience feel content with the outcome.

Shutter Island:

This film Shutter Island was really exciting and interesting thriller.  It had a lot of suspense, surprise, action, anxiety and anticipation. It was more of a thriller than Inception is.  This film was really great at creating suspense  the music used really added to the suspense as well, every time the main character Teddy (Leonardo DiCaprio) would go into a dark space etc the music would become more tense and slow.  This created anxiety among the audience, and suspense to whether a patient of the asylum would jump out of nowhere. 

The film was on the urge of being a horror, but because the film did not create enough fear it remains a thriller.  Their was a lot of anticipation in this film, not only was it created by the sounds, but it was also created with the characters. Other characters were all noticeably lying, which made the audience side with Teddy.

This film was really clever, a really interesting and unbelievable plot twist occurs towards the end of the film.  Which makes you believe a false story all the way through, until the end.  It got to the point were the audience doubt them selves, which creates anticipation and anxiety.

Not for a second do you think it's all made up, and the Doctors and Patients are going along with story, to help Teddy (who is later discovered to be Andrew Laeddis).  The film is unique therefore the audience do not predict that the whole story (Teddy is trying to reveal that Shutter Island is testing on patients and solving a missing patient case), is untrue.

I would give this a five out of five in rating for being a thriller, it included all of the key emotions a thriller contains.  The way the film had such a huge affect on you, because of the plot twist, gave the audience anxiety and anticipation.

9 key frames that shows mystery, suspense, plot twists, spoilers and elements that are psychological, crime and political:

08:35

This frame shows one of the patients at the asylum, this creates some fear for the audience.  But also mystery and anticipation.  The audience wonder who she is? why is she their? because she looks unusual and slightly scary. 

13:34

This frame displays a note 'the law of 4 who is 67', this creates mystery for Teddy and for the audience.  This makes the whole story seem real.

42:19

This Frame is showing one of Teddy's memories, which could have been real.  It is showing the Americans, including himself, killing the soldiers who run a death camp.  This shows crime, which may have not been crime to them though. 

01:10:41

This frame is showing teddy talking to someone he knows (George).  This also backs up the whole story, that they are after Teddy.

01:21:50

This frame is showing Teddy talking to the 'real' Rachel who was thought to be missing.  In fact we find out that this didn't actually happen, it was in his head.  This also shows a psychological effect of his withdrawal of his medicated drugs.  The fire could symbolise his insanity, the fire sets a mood which is called pyrotechnics, the mood created is suspense.  Because Rachel is not real but made up in his head by himself.

01:38:56

This frame is showing the symbolism for his insanity again, and his hallucination, the woman is his (Teddy's) wife but also his actual self (Andrews) wife.  The little girl is yet unknown to the audience, this is were the plot twists starts to occur.

01:40:17

This shows crime, Teddy is attacking a member of staff, so he can get into the light house.

01:59:29

This frame shows the psychological effect, of Andrews (Teddy's) killing of his wife and murder of his children's death has on him.  He/the audience suddenly come to realisation of who he actually is.  This is the plot twist, when the audience realises that the whole film was not true.

02:04:37

This frame shows Andrew still not accepting what he did, and what happened so he becomes Teddy again.  So they leave the audience on a cliff hanger, as he followed by staff.  The Doctor said they would have to kill him, if them going along with Andrew did not work.  So do they kill him?

The Dark Night:

The dark knight is very good at being a thriller, it has all of the key aspects to being a thriller.  The sound tracks are all dramatic so build up suspense and mystery.  The lighting is very dark and gloomy which builds anxiety.

The main character Batman (Christian Bale), has a very deep and husky voice, which creates suspense and some anxiety.  His voice makes the audience feel that he is the authority figure in the film.  This film brings a fictional character, to reality, by using this dark light and bad weather (rain, clouds).  Which also creates suspense.

The character the Joker, adds an amusing note to the film.  The unusual makeup the joker wears, creates mystery with the audience.  Why does he look like that? Who is he?  The character has a very dark humour, and this makes the audience feel anxious.  When the joker enters a scene the audience expect a conflict.  But the audience do not expect him to appear when he does.  This creates excitement and also anticipation.  It is what he does next that the audience are waiting for.

The film is fast paced, which creates excitement and suspense.  Their is plenty of action, mixed with suspense.  Which makes it a thriller.  This film was from the director of inception, but this film has more suspense and is not as predictable.  The action in both Inception and The dark Night are very similar, the way those scenes have been shot are similar. 

At the end of the film the audience are left feeling proud of Batman, but also left with mystery.  Gordon say's "He's a silent Guardian. A watchful Protector. and a Dark Knight", this leaves the audience with suspense.

I would give this film a five out of five on it being a thriller, this is because I think it had all of the aspects of being a thriller.  I personally think it would be better if their was a plot twist, however it could make it complicated like Inception is. it included a good amount  of action, suspense, anticipation and mystery.