300
TRANSCRIPT
300 film opening analysis
The sequence opens with the opening title of the film ‘300’. The deep black background and blood red text in the style of splattered blood connotes that the film is based upon darkness, gore and illustrates that the director wants the viewer to feel unease as the rumbling tones of diegetic thunder creates the atmosphere of danger and uncertainty. The low key lighting is a warm orange filter tone which is a juxtaposition of the blue tones in other duskier scenes. The off white dull sky already suggests the film has a magical element as skies are associated to being blue. Also the colour of the sky is a similar tone to the close up shot of the skulls we see as the sequence unwraps suggesting that death is a major element of the movie. The shot moves to a close up of a baby in which with non-diegetic voiceover explains the fate of the baby’s life. The extreme close up of the old man’s eyes highlights the concentration of the eyes to suggest its importance. The representation of the old man is that he is wise which links into stereotypes and he is also portrayed in a god like figure with his white long hair and rough sack clothing because he is choosing whether the baby lives or dies.
The scene merges with the low angle shot of the man still inspecting the baby while the non-dietetic voice over plays on. This low angle establishes the authority of the old man displaying his commandment. The man then lifts the baby up from over the Clift which overlaps with the iconic scene of Lion king when the cub is elevated showing that its status is important. The deep focus from the baby to the skulls establishes the importance of life and death in the Greek culture, linking back to the theme of death.
Opening shot
The next scene then dissolves into a panning shot as the boy rising to a point of view mid angle shot, as the sound bridge connotes the next stage of the boy’s life. The setting for the scene is a stereotypical small Greek architecture arena. The tall columns and rounded structure are conventions of such an establishment. The stereotypical setting would relate to a primary audience like Gladiator fans as it is a representation in the history of Greece, also because it is stereotypical the secondary audience British… would deem that, that was how ancient Greece appeared therefore setting the scene.
The scene begins with the main character Leonidas practising combating with his father. You can tell from the garments and camera angle who has the perceived dominance in the scene. Leonidas father is a tall and muscular man. His build is idolized as the ‘perfect Greek body’ and implies he is powerful. In contrast young Leonidas is slender built and his hair is shaved short; preserving the nature of training. Leonidas is wearing little clothing suggesting he is vulnerable to his father. Furthermore when the father is fighting with the child the camera is on a slight low angle towards for father again- highlighting his power. The main prop being the sword is the key focus of the scene as the non-verbal communication between the father and son highlights the intense pleonastic sounds of the swords suggesting it has importance to a Greek warrior which you later find out in the film.
The master shot between the father and son is a key moment displaying a relationship between them both as the high key lighting conveys a cherished atmosphere divergent to the other scene prior. The shot reverse shot of young Leonidas and his father as the pleonastic sound of the father tapping onto the shield is his way of saying good bye to Leonidas childhood, as he is ready to be taken away for further training. In this scene the father is wearing a Spartan cape and gladiator shoes which is linked to other successful war film such as the Gladiator in which both the characters refine in the same sense of style.
The mid angle shot of the mother being held back while she watches helplessly at her son being taken away. The mother is an attractive brunette woman. In media the portrayal of brunette women is that they our stronger and more intelligent. Her hair style of braids is a traditional hairstyle of Greek women and her attractiveness links with this idea that she is a Greek goddess. Her clothing is a long dress all white, signifying purity and clarity. The soundtrack of this scene is almost similar to a mothers cry highlighting her pain knowing her child might not come back. The long shot of the boy being taken off into the distance then jump cuts into a close up of the mother’s face showing she is hopeless watching her son in the distance as he is left to fend for himself in the wild.
The low to high angle of Leonidas violently punching another boy shows that Leonidas is growing stronger and into the over the shoulder shot in which the slow motion of blood presents the powerfulness of Leonidas. Both the young boys in this scene are unclean and grabby looking indicating the brutality of the training. The low angle shot of Leonidas again rising into the shot as the background lighting is half-darkness and other light suggests at this moment he has finally grow up and presenting this idea of good and bad of becoming a Spartan warrior.
The scene moves into a panning shot of the boy (whom is older now) publicly being whipped in the streets and being taught to show no pain or mercy. In the background of the scene again we see young boys who all have shaved heads showing that they are yet not a man, and little clothing compared to the adults who are more fully clothed suggesting that the adults have more authority. The clothing colours are dull and beige as bright colours were meant for royalty or the rich showing that they have little money.
The scene then jump cuts to a long shot of Leonidas carrying a large spear hunting at night in the snowy mountains as the tracking shot follows his movement. The atmosphere in this scene begins as the low key lighting and the lighting on Leonidas is shadowy as of being thrown into the wilderness alone suggesting danger as well as the snow making it more dramatic. The wide angle shot of him camouflaging into the darkness indicates he is hiding from something, as the diegetic sounds of a wolf growling merges. A close up of Leonidas face shows his reaction of fearlessness to it making the scene become more intense. The shot then changes to a long shot of the beast appearing from the darkness and turning its attention to Leonidas the soundtrack becomes more sinister. The mythical beast has dark thick hair and is a large build. The extreme close up onto the beast face reveals sharp long teeth and gleaming amber eyes. The colour amber is used to get attention in which the beast wants.
The long shot of Leonidas luring the wolf into a narrow fissure in a cliff as the tracking shot of Leonidas and the beast moving deeper until the beast movement is severely restricted and the consistent shot reverse shot, close up on both the characters face adds a dynamic suspense. With the deep drumming beat comes the dramatic end as the over the shoulder shot shows Leonidas -killing the beast with the pleonastic sound of the spear cutting the beast, as the extreme close up shot of the clouds moving away from the moon signifies his greatness and accomplishment.
In summary mise-en-scene and cinematography are used effectively to clearly establish the authority and power between the characters and to show the relationship and expression during Leonidas upbringing. Cinematography is used successfully by the director through his ranges of shots such as shot reverse shots and master shots building up the tension and the dramatic parts of the fight scenes. Mise-en-scene is also used effectively to set the location of the scene and the lighting of low key and high key creating the atmosphere of the scene. The final scene shows the victory of Leonidas as he becomes the King of Spartan.
Final shot