Saturday, 13 October 2012

Four film poster analysis



The parent trap is about identical twins who are separated at birth and each of them are raised by one of their parents, they both go to camp and discover that they are sisters. The story thus continues on their journey to re-unite their parents, facing difficulties. The film was released in the year 1998 and is an adventure, comedy drama targeted at families and young people.

The poster suggests that this family are the main characters, which  means that they are the protagonists. Their are two close-up shots on the film poster, this is very effective as the close-up exaggerates the facial expressions which convey emotion. The emotions the audience see is of the identical twins who are smirking  this connotes cheekiness, it is polysemic as it could have multiple meanings. Because the audience is not aware of what they are going to do in the film, so it gets them thinking about the different things the twins could do. And the outcome may not be as good as they are showing cheekiness, and perhaps may be the type to make mistakes and mess things around. The picture underneath is very significant as it is probably their parents, because they are taking up the whole framing of the poster. The image of the two characters foreshadows the audience, as it is introducing something which is going to be significant later on. Because the audience know the parents are separated and by the two about to kiss, it connotes a positive outcome and gives away the ending to the audience. 

Having two close-up shots get's the audience sutured as the audience is being stitched into the narrative with the characters. And they are both showing different facial expressions, which draws the audience closer. Moreover, what draws the audience attention is the typography as it is big and bold with colour which connotes comedy as well as the poster having a key light. Being like this is effective, as it would draw the audience nearer and get them interested, and links closely with the genre so it would attract a lot of families. In line with this, the tagline is 'twice the fun, double the trouble' this being their is effective as it shows that its an enjoyable and fun film which the audience would most likely enjoy.


The lion king is an american musical adventure animated film, which was released in the year 1994. It is about a lion cub who is tricked into thinking he killed his father, he abandons his identity as the future King. The film is targeted at young children and families. 

The first thing which would typically grab the audience's attention is the landscape  it's an establishing shot which is very effective as it reinforces the image. And the tag line connotes effectively with the shot, as 'the king has returned' this is showing that something big is coming back and it's very significant. So by showing the sun setting and the lion being right in the middle is very powerful and emphasises the tagline. The lion is the protagonist as he is the only one in the frame, which connotes he is the main character. 

The use of establishing shot is very effective as it indicates the location to the audience, and it's using a famous landmark which the audience would see throughout the film. This is again foreshadowing as it introduces something that's going to be significant later on. Moreover it's establishing with the concept, as we know how powerful king's are and by using the sun which is powerful too shows the similarities of them both being powerful and informs the audience how significant his role is.

The image is a low-key lighting which is created by using only the key and back lights. This effect produces strong contrasts of the light and dark and creates dramatic shadows. (Chiaroscuro) This is effective because it shows that this film is going to be intense as well as adventurous and connotes that there may be some sad scenes too. Moreover, by having this effective shot and light together connotes that it's not a typical animated film but is more meaningful and intense.  


Final Destination 5 is an american supernatural horror film about a group of people trying to run away from death to save themselves. It was released in the year 2011.

The image is a close-up shot and is very effective as we can see clearly what kind of images are put together for us, and can identify the facial expressions. It's very different as it's not a typical close-up shot, it is polysemic as it connotes various of meanings. What we as an audience see are contrast of two things together, humans eyes which looks terrified and frightened and then a skulls mouth, teeth that are rotten and of a typical's skulls mouth. The two contrasts are very powerful as it connotes that the person is in danger, and by having the skull at the bottom could perhaps connote death is chasing her and there is nothing she can do about it. What else draws the audience attention is the fact that their is cracked glasses this again is effective, as it connotes mystery and foreshadows that something like this may take place and could cause someone's life.

The lighting is low-key lighting and is created by using only the key and back lights. This effect produces strong contrasts of chiaro and oscuro this is chiaroscuro. And is indeed very effective as there is extreme shadows in the background, allowing the audience to gaze at the contrast of the character. It makes it a mystery which would make the audience watch it, because they'd want to know if the person or people survived death or not. Moreover, the image is monochrome which connotes danger and mystery. Because we as the audience are not given much to focus on, just some of the props, and the small shattered glass pieces is effective as it could connote the tearing away of the human beings.

The film is targeted at young adults as it's a thriller film, and contains mystery. Moreover, it would attract them more as the image has multiplex meanings, and is not straightforward but is dialysis and keeps the audience left hanged as they'd want to know what sort of location, setting the film is taken place in. So by having this type of shot and a mysterious image inclines the audience and draws them further into finding out what the outcome is going to be and if death is going to outshine them. 



The Last song is a drama romance film which was released in the year 2010, it's about a rebellious young girl who is sent to the beach to stay with her dad for the summer. Through the love of their music her dad and her reconnect and the story thus develops from their and she finds her lover too.

This is an establishing shot, on a beach this connotes the location which she is staying in so it foreshadows the film for us as we will be seeing the location again. The couple being their shows they are the main characters, as they are in the whole frame and it connotes that they are the protagonists. As the sun is setting, it connotes love, peace and calmness. It therefore, suggests to the audience that this film is a love story and is a soul full film. Having the wide-shot is powerful, as it already sets the scene for the audience and we have an idea of the location. And this is what the audience is being encouraged to look at (gaze at) because it could connote a significant definition. This could in fact be equilibrium and be the opening and ending of the film, so it could be polysemic. Moreover, having a full wide-shot is beneficial as we can see the couples body language, and by the way they are it connotes how much they love each other and they have a big impact on each others lives. 

It is a high-key lighting which means that more filter lights are used. And the effect in this image appears more realistic and might depict either a sunny day or a more dimly lit scene. The major difference is that, although shadows are still created, the contrast between light and dark is much less pronounced. Having this sort of lighting makes the characters and the background look more realistic and keeps everything stabled. The typography is in bold and white so it stands out and is in italics, which connotes peace, calm and love. Moreover, the typography connotes a subtext, and it could be the last song which the she may sing or could be death of someone so this keeps the audience thinking what the definition is. And lets them be inclined towards the definition and would draw them into watching the film as they would want to know if its a literal meaning or just dramatic irony. The audience which it may be targeted to is young teenagers, females or young adults. As it's a love story and the fact that it stars Miley Cyrus would probably make them watch it too, causing it to be celebrity endorsement.

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