Monday 29 June 2015

This Girl Is On Fire!

This Girl Is On Fire!
Run Lola Run is a German language film made in 1998. The movie is fascinating and unique with its’ one of a kind storyline. It is divided into 3 running sequences of Lola that it loops and repeats itself with different ending. All 3 runs are well connected with each other thru this fast pace action film. The theme of film is about human against destiny of death. Lola changes the fate of Manni and her by refuse to accept the death.
The film started with Lola answered a phone call from her boyfriend, Manni. He cried in a phone booth. Lola calmed him down and Manni told how he lost all the money in the subway as he encountered with police officer. Manni planned to rob the grocery shop nearby right after 12pm if Lola didn’t came to save him with money. She ran all the way to her father and he threw her out of his office. Manni robbed the grocery shop with Lola. They were surrounded by police officers and one of them shot Lola on her chest. Second run began after flashback of the intimate conversation. She ran to her father and had a fight with him. She took the security guard’s gun to kidnap her father for ransom. Lola managed to stop Manni to rob the bank but he was hit by an ambulance. Third run began also after the flashback. Lola runs to her father but he left the office with a friend. Manni took his money back from the old man. Lola won money in casino to save her boyfriend. In the end, Manni and Lola held hands on the street.
Color is an important feature in the costume and makeup, also in lighting department. Lola’s hair dyed in red and the intimate sex scene in dark red lens and lighting effect are proof of it. Red represents fire, passion and warrior spirit. When Lola is running, her hair is flowing and it standouts in the movie. The red hair set up resembles to the futuristic movie The Fifth Element, Leeloo. Both characters are heroines in the movie with strong woman and fierce characteristics. While the intimate sex scene with Lola and Manni lay on bed together in red lighting enhances the atmosphere of lust and intimacy. The close body contact sends out the message of the bond of love and trust in close camera shot. It justified the reason and feeling of Lola’s willingness to save her boyfriend. The usage of black-and-white in subway scene also highlighted the important of color technique. This method is used to create clear line between past and present as the past represents the subway scene with black-and-white, while the present represents the phone conversation with color screen.





Film editors use a wide range of film editing techniques to create this masterpiece. Cross cutting, a method of combine 2 actions happen in the same time with different location, but scenes join after they are in the same location. Scenes included Lola’s first and second runs to stop Manni’s robbery plan and Lola’s third run to meet with her father. It tells Lola’s desperate feeling as she wonders how her father and Manni is doing while she runs. Scene like this increase the intensity level as it teases the audiences’ mind to engage and predict what the outcome is followed up. It creates shorter duration for narration by combine two scenes for this fast pace movie.  
Fast cutting, technique of compiles several consecutive shots during brief duration. When Lola bumps into minor characters like the old lady with baby, bicycle rider and office lady, scene change to a series of sequential multiple shots of these character’s future. The purpose of it is to tell a story of these minor characters in a short amount of time while the heroin Lola is on the run. Each run of Lola gives different future outcome for these characters as it is a metaphor of Lola’s capability to change the past and future, hence the theme of movie is human against destiny.
Match cut is a cut editing between 2 different objects, space and composition where 2 shots graphically match to form a strong continuity. When Lola runs, scene cut into other characters like car driver, bicycle rider and old lady with baby, then scene change back to Lola continue to run. It forms a link for Lola and her surrounding as her influences toward them give clearer position and timeline. Lola runs thru all difficulty on the streets to save her boyfriend.
Montage, technique of select and pierce together separate sections of film to form a continuous scene. The shots of falling red colored bag with money and falling phone handset overlapped with each other creates a montage for transition from the first run to second run. It indicates time has been reverse and Lola’s determination to save her boyfriend with another attempt.
Jump cut, 2 sequential shots of the same subject is filmed from slightly different camera position. Lola starts run in front profile, then scene changes into side view, another changes with different background while she runs. It creates the realism of action with time pass as her action takes place. It also speeds up the flow of normal action to create scene that suit with this rapid fire action movie.
360 degree camera shot is used in scenes like Lola’s decision of who she ask for help, female house owner talks with a phone and the animation of Lola runs thru spiral staircase. This type of shot creates emotion of uncertain and eager to anticipate as camera moves in circle. The circulate movement creates a form of spiral line to symbolize the tunnel of time travel; a good example would be Lola runs down the spiral staircase.
For sound effect, Run Lola Run infuses with techno music to enhance this rapid fire action film. Scene with techno music is generally associated with Lola runs on the street as the music lyrics echo back and said:” I want to go, I want to fight, I want to rush…” It conveys the feeling of Lola when she runs in action. The beats are disco-like to bring more dynamic to her action as well. Also, her 3 screaming scenes are telling a lot of her personality. The first scream happens during conversation with Manni in phone, second scream happens in her father office and third scream happens in a casino. Her scream effect on breaking the glasses is the visualization of her frustration and anger in exaggerate form. It is her shout out to release her stress of running out of time with only 20 minutes to save Manni. This shows how much she cares for her love one as her emotion turns unstable and unstoppable.
The scenic environment in Berlin is breathtaking with beautiful architecture structures and street views. The plot is inception alike with loop of running scenes, but it doesn’t confuse audiences of the storyline. Readers who love Europe’s culture are recommended to watch this award winning action film.




References

[Greg Green]. (1 June 2015). Run Lola Run (German/English Subs) full movie 1998. [Video File].

            Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMOD2OuoJLU

 

Vildan, O. (2011, January 3). Analysis of Run Lola Run.

            Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/1819589/Analysis_of_Run_Lola_Run

Sunday 21 June 2015

The Glorious Gladiator

Gladiator is a historical epic movie of Roman Empire. Maximus Decimus Meridius, the protagonist is a general of roman army. The Emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius is in favor of him to inherit his throne, rather than his own son, Commodus. This decision angers Commodus and eventually he killed his father. Also, he demands Maximus to be executed. Maximus escapes the death but his wife and son killed by roman soldiers. Later, he captured by a slave master where he needs to kill the other warriors to survive in the fighting pit. Maximus determines to seek revenge for his family. He enters the Colloseum as a gladiator to murder Commodus. Later, he reveals his identity to Commodus after winning a tough match and survives with the support from the crowd. However, Maximus is captured after fail attempt to overthrow Commodus. In the final battle, Commodus stabs Maximus on the side to gain upperhand on the battle. Still, Maximus triumphs to victory as he kills Commodus with a dagger. In the end, Maximus is dead in the Colloseum and people honored him as a soldier of Rome.
There are many memorable scenes in the movie Gladiator. The first scene is the disturbing scene of Commodus murders his father. Camera shots are done either close up or extreme close up. These shot arrangements allow audiences to anticipate more with the characters interaction thru the changing emotion on their face. The stiffness of body language emphasis the conflict emotion and bring more focus to the actors’ facial expression. Emperor’s costume in simple white robe to suggest his innocent will for atonement and guilt to his son for not inherits the throne to Commodus. On Commodus’s side, his bluish black costume suggests he has bad intention and his has rather shady characteristic. The lighting in the set is mostly dark to create crime scene atmosphere to indicate something bad is going to happen.
Second scene is the death of Maximus’s wife and son. It started with wide shot of the wheat field to show the location change. Long shot is used when Maximus’s son walks toward roma army and killed by the horses. The usage of slow motion and cut scene with Maximus’s wife creates attention and emphasis to itself. Long shot is used for Maximus rushes to his home only to see his beloved wife and son killed and hanged to indicate speed from one location to the destination. He knees infront of them as a way to beg for forgiveness. The close up shot of him holds the corpse’s leg and faints while crying express his heartbreak and remorse.
Third scene is Maximus’s first battle in Colloseum. Fast pace editing creates action stimulates real time fighting sequences. Long shot and medium shot used to film the fight between horse carriage’s army and Maximus’s clan because horse carriage is a larger object compared to human. Close up shot used when a person killed by spear or arrow. Maximus’s helmet is an important prop in this scene as it conceals his identity thru the victory. Another significant prop is the weapon equipped on horse carriage wheels, the spinning spear. It keeps the audiences gasp for excitement as it almost killed Maximus for saving his allies. The archers with golden armor ride the horse carriages are a symbolic image based on Greek god Apollo, who has major influence in ancient Rome.
The forth scene is the final showdown between Commodus and Maximus. Close up shot of both actors having face to face conversation is staging the anticipation of final battle. On battle arena, rose petals falling to honor the glorious warriors who spill their blood in the battle. Another close up shot is used after Commodus takes out a dagger from his gauntlet, but to be killed with it by Maximus. It helps to bring focus on the tension of the battle, especially the death scene of Commodus where he struggles to fight back and died in agony. Both of them wear battle armors as Maximus wears the gladiator black armor, similar to the previous battle while Commodus wears white lethal armor for royal identity. The distinguish difference of color clearly separate both of them to avoid confusion on close combat.
The movie itself is a must-watch for fans that mesmerized the glorious Rome Civilization. This movie Gladiator is supported by a team of professional actors, script writers and director Ridley Scott. Finally, audiences are advised to bring tissue papers to watch this movie as the ending scene will be tear-jerking moment with a string of emotional scenes.



References:

[annadi]. (26 May 2015). Gladiator Full Movie in English Maximus – Movies 2015 full Movies Hollywood new HD.


Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td08jSxUdXU