Avatar Analysis

The stars:
- Sam Worthington
- Zoe Saldana
- Stephen Lang
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Joel David Moore
- Giovanni Ribisi
- Sigourney Weaver

The director: James Cameron

The producers:
- James Cameron
- Jon Landau

Genre:
- Fantasy
- Science-fiction

Distributed by: 20th Century Fox

Production budget: $237million (re-release $9million)

Gross revenue: $2,778,527,559

Running time: 162 minutes

Marketing:
- Promotions
- Books
- Video games
- Action figures
- Postage stamps

Kickass Analysis

Mark Miller produced Kickass after producing "Wanted" but decided to take a more "hands on" approach this time as he was simply asked questions and answered them about how he wanted "wanted" to be made. He chose the cast, the script was then drafted, he also chose the costumes as well as the sets and where the film took place, for how long and how many hours a day. It took 14 weeks, doing 14 hour days to film.

Kick Ass is a superhero/action-comedy film based on the comics of Marvel Comic's chief writer Mark Millar.

The film had a few problems in the production of making the film. They found the script was a particular problem. Millar, used to autonomy, was shocked at the accommodations he had to make. He also faced with the problem of not being able to afford even a 'C grade' Marvel character. The film took the unusual step of writing the comic book at the same time the film was produced. They said this didn’t help when it came to financing the film.

They also had problems with controversy surrounding the film. One of the main problems in the film was swearing. Even after having the distributors’ (Sony) ask to attempt to "tone down" the language. they ignored them and carried on regardless. Another problem with the film was the difference of opinions on the ending of the movie, in the comic the "hero" never got the girl and was out rightly rejected, whereas the film has the happy ending of them getting it together.

In January 2010, an uncensored preview clip of the film was attacked by family advocacy groups for its display of violence and use of the line "Okay you cunts, let's see what you can do now," delivered by Chloë Moretz, who was only 11 at the time of filming. Australian Family Association spokesman John Morrissey claimed that "the language was offensive and the values were inappropriate – without the saving grace of the bloodless victory of traditional superheroes".

Several critics like Roger Ebert and the Daily Mail's Christopher Tookey accused the film of glorifying violence, particularly violence by young children, while Tookey also claimed Hit Girl was "made to look as seductive as possible".

The film received an R rating from the MPAA for strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use. It received a 15 rating from the BBFC. This would have affected the performance by receiving a lower audience as it is not suitable for any children under the age of 15. However, this didn’t affect its performance in France as it received a PG rating in France, in which Director Matthew Vaughn was surprised as he felt the 15 certificate was about right.

How they saved money

The technology used

The film received an R rating from the MPAA for strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use. It received a 15 rating from the BBFC. This would have affected the performance by receiving a lower audience as it is not suitable for any children under the age of 15. However, this didn’t affect its performance in France as it received a PG rating, in which Director Matthew Vaughn was surprised as he felt the 15 certificate was about right.

Promotion

The film's soundtrack album was released in the United Kingdom on 29 March 2010, and in the United States on 30 March 2010. The title song is by pop singer-songwriter Mika, co-written by Jodi Marr and produced by RedOne.

1.    “Stand up” – The prodigy

2.    “Kick Ass (Radio Edit)” – Mika vs. RedOne

3.    “Can’t Go Back” – Primal Scream

4.    “There’s a Pot a Brewin” – The Little Ones

5.    “Omen” – The Prodigy

6.    “Make Me Wanna Die” – The Pretty Reckless

7.    “Banana Splits (Kick-Ass Film Version)” – The Dickies

8.    “Starry Eyed” – Ellie Goulding

9.    “This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us” – Sparks

10.  “We’re All In Love” – The New York Dolls

11.  “Bongo Song” – Zongamin

12.  “Per Qualche Dollaro in Piu (For a Few Dollars More)” – Ennion Morricone

13.  “Bad Reputation” – The Hit Girls

14.  “An American Trilogy” – Elvis Presley

How is Age represented?

Young (children)
   - Lots to learn
   - Uncontrollable
   - Lack common sense
   - Cry a lot
   - Want attention
   - Naive/vulnerable
   - Reliable
   - Energetic/hyper
   - Cheeky
   - Gullible - believe anything (e.g. fantasies: 'happy ever after', 'father christmas', 'tooth fairy')
   - Demanding
   - Low attention span (get bored easily)
   - Naughty (brats)
   - Loud
   - Denim dungarees
   - Motif T-shirts (characters)
   - Wear bright colours
   - Influenced easily
   - Stock characters (don't have main characters)

Young (teenagers)
   - Mischief
   - Chav
   - Goth
   - Geeks
   - Criminals
   - Immature
   - Boys very untidy
   - Girls fragile/very girly
   - Manly girls (tomboys)
   - Wasters/druggies
   - Smoking/drinking
   - Mardy (hormonal/emotional)
   - Rebellious
   - Lazy (sleep a lot)
   - Having sex/always thinking about it
   - Relationships
   - Young pregnancy
   - Nerds/geeks studying
   - Unaware/not in control
   - Getting into fights
   - Arguing with parents

Adults (middle-aged)
   - Well off/wealthy
   - Job
   - More disposable income
   - Hobbie
   - Parents
   - Always busy (hectic life schedule)
   - On the phone/sorting out things
   - Travelling

Adults (elderly)
   - Knowledgable/experienced
   - Fragile/weak
   - Vulnerable
   - Victimized in crime
   - Hatred for youth
   - Quiet
   - Mardy/grumpy/short tempered (towards youth)
   - Happy/merry
   - Slow walkers (walking stick)
   - 'Story tellers' (reflect on past)
   - Always cough/ill
   - Bad eye sight (wear glasses)
   - Bad hearing (hearing aid)
   - Bold/no hair
   - Grey/white hair
   - Old-fashioned (wear beige hats/coats, dull colours)
   - Knitting/sewing
   - Tea and biscuits
   - Brandy/sherry/gin
   - Smoke pipes

Termonology

Denotation - what you see
Connotation - what is implied
180 degree rule - action occurs in front of 'line'
Two shot - two people in the shot
Panning - pan across or out shows movement
Over the shoulder shot - conversation
Established shot - 1st shot of film
Tracking/dollying shot - follow actor
Ambient sound - sound which makes the atmosphere
Low angle shot - looking up (implies power)
Eye line match - on same level for continuity
Tilting shot - 'tilt' camera
Steadicam - hand held camera, around the waist (documentaries)
Dissolve - shot fades into another
Canted shot - off centre
Zoom - get closer to the action
Compressed time - not actual time - shortened (editing effects)
Flashback - understanding of past or recent events
Montage - complication/group of images
Jump cut - cutting to a very different shot
Mise-en-scene - everything that's in a shot
POV (Point of view shot) - through the eyes of the character
Low key lighting - creates atmosphere
High key lighting - bright
Back lighting - lights from behind (glow/mystical)
Diegetic sound - part of the action
Non-diegetic sound - background sound (we can hear but characters cant) Asynchronous sound - sound that is added afterwards (dont match with action)
Synchronous sound - sound matches action/at the same time
Sound bridge - sound between two shots/soundtrack player before the end of scene, link of sound across action

Above the Line/Below the Line Advertising

'Above the line' - is a type of advertising through media such as television, cinema, radio, prink, web banners and web search engines to promote brands. This type of communication is conventional in nature and considered impersonal to customers.

'Below the line' - is efficient and cost effective for targeting a limited and specific group.This can take the form of tie in's with other products and companies.

Four Quadrant Picture

-  A four quadrant picture is a marketing term used to describe a film targeted to all audience quadrants
-  PG films and PG13 are ideal
-  No over 18 certificate
-  The four quadrant pictures are:

On the downside, many wonder how much effort is placed on credible, engaging story lines as opposed to marketing opportunities in these behemoth cinematic endeavors.

How is physical disability represented?

Tourettes syndrome is a physical disibility. People that have tourettes have difficulty in controlling their behaviour and tend to say or do whatever is on their mind without thinking beforehand.

The people on this video clip are on a documentary about people who suffer from tourettes. They are represented by being portrayed as overall very happy and joyful characters. This is shown by the fact that they are usually laughing and making jokes. It is also suggested because they are not seen to be upset or ‘down’ because of the disability but seem to be smiling throughout the clip. This therefore shows that the disability doesn’t have much of effect on them as they are not really bothered about it as they seem to be happy. This shows that the disability doesn’t affect their feelings. 

They could also be seen to be represented as quite rude characters because they don’t have any thought or consideration as to what they are saying, or the effect it will have on other people. Therefore, the word choices or language that they use could be found quite insulting to some. Also, the fact that they have the tendency to laugh about their comments after they have said it could also cause it to be represented as insulting because it could suggest that they are doing it purposely. This also represents them as to not really caring, although they can’t help it as it is due to the condition that they suffer from. 

Overall, the clip represents a sign of sympathy towards the characters as they can’t physically do anything about their illness, even though they might not want or need for sympathy because they don’t seem to be too bothered by their condition. The disability could also represent the sufferers to be inconsiderate due to the fact that they say whatever is on their mind without realising, and therefore don’t have any time to think about how it will affect other people’s feelings.

How is mental disability represented?

Disability is represented by showing the character to be weak and defenceless. This is shown in the shot where the character gets pushed into the lockers by another student. This could suggest that people with Asperger’s syndrome are intimidated and bullied because of their mental disability.

The character is also represented to act quite ‘slow’ as after this shot he attempts to defend himself by fighting back, where he only succeeds in kicking the air. This again suggests that people with the disability are represented to be weak or defenceless. The disability is again represented to show the character as ‘slow’ because of his way of communication and lack of social skills. This is shown by the way that he speaks; he has a deep voice and talks reasonably slowly, as though he has to think about what he is saying. This could suggest that people with the disability suffer from interacting or engaging with other people.

His facial expressions represent that he lacks communication and listening skills because he tends to look down towards the floor. He also tends to usually have a frown upon his face as though he perhaps doesn’t want to be talking or communicating with anyone. This again suggests he might not be very sociable which represents people with the disability to lack social skills. This could also suggest that they also lack common sense. Therefore, it could imply that people with the disability are childish or immature, although they cannot help it.

He is also represented to look like the stereotypical ‘nerd’. This is shown by the way that he dresses and the big round specs that he wears. He also doesn’t look like he does any style etc. to his hair, or make much of an effort with his appearance. This could therefore suggest that is the reason as to why he gets bullied. Therefore, we get the impression that people who suffer from Asperger’s syndrome have a geeky character. However, we know that due to their mental disability that they aren’t represented to be very clever.

What is Disibility?

Disability is a medical condition that restricts capability for someone to perform particular activities. It makes it difficult for people to engage in the normal activities of every-day life.

It is also known as the lack of a given ability in humans that are either physical, cognitive/metal, sensory, emotional or developmental.

Traditionally, in many cultures around the world, people with physical, sensory or mentally impairments were thought of as under the spell of witchcraft, possessed by demons or as penitent sinners that were being punished by God for 'wrong doing' by themselves or their parents.

Types of disabilities:
-    Emotional problems
-    Mental health problems
-    Behavioural problems
-    Learning difficulties e.g. dyslexia
-    Speech and language impairments
-    'Disfigurement'
-    Chronic illness/health issues e.g. HIV

What is Representation?

Representation is about how people, places and events are depicted by the media, whether it be in a newspaper, film, website, magazine ot on the radio.

The concept of representation is concerned with messages and values in the media texts. It involves exploring how the media reflects ir represents attitudes and behaviours and beliefs and how these are linked to the society we live in.

Representation should be seen as the way media represent items to the audience.

The main areas of representation are:
-  Gender
-  Age
-  Ethnicity
-  Sexuality
-  Class and status
-  Physical ability/disability
-  Regional identity

Identify the audience for Moon by using examples from the film

The main audience for the film are sci-fi lovers. I think the film consists of one of the four quadrant pictures. The quadrant picture I think that fits in best with the film is men over the age of 24.

The stereotypical view I get of a sci-fi film would be 'boring' as I assume that I would not find space particularly interesting. Therefore I assumed that I would not have any interest in watching 'Moon' whatsoever. This would also be a similar view as to people that fit in the other 3 quadrants (males under 25, females under 25, females over 25) as they would be put off watching the film because of what is associated with the genre.

Personally, from watching the film I enjoyed watching it. Overall, I found it rather interesting. This was because it is very different and nothing like I usually watch. Therefore, although the main quadrant for the film would consist of men over the age of 25 that like sci-fi, other quadrants could also find a particular interest in the film if they actually watched it. This shows that we have a stereotypical view of sci-fi films being 'boring', which is not necessarily the case.

However, I wouldn’t be that bothered if I were to watch the film again or buy it on DVD for example and therefore although other quadrants like myself might like the film, they may have the same opinion and not want to watch it again. Therefore, this is why the film doesn’t attract any other quadrants because it would cost a lot more extra money to market the film for advertisement to gain these quadrants. This would result in a waste of time and finance as they wouldn’t gain the quadrants if they were only interested in watching the film once.

Moon Analysis

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

In the sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft, and in both wizard and muggle worlds Lord Voldemort and his henchmen are increasingly active. With vacancies to fill at Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore persuades Horace Slughorn, back from retirement to become the potions teacher, while Professor Snape receives long awaited news. Harry Potter, together with Dumbledore, must face treacherous tasks to defeat his evil nemesis.

Transformers II

Sam Witwicky leaves the Autobots behind for a normal life. But when his mind is filled with cryptic symbols, the Decepticons target him and he is dragged back into the Transformers' war.