GLADIATOR

GLADIATOR

Mise-en-scene & Sound

Gladiator is set in a time period of the Romans and the Barbarians. The Films starts of with a haunting non-diegetic sound, full of emotion and sadness. This gives the audience an impression of dark times and sense of what the film is about and what they'll be expecting.

The first visual shot of an (ECU) Extreme close up, of the left hand brushing though the corn fields gently, embracing a full-filling memory of nature, freedom and brightness. The Shot then end which looked like a flash back to the presents of which the main character is standing in a fury overthrow, which of course is representing the commander. After the tracking shot of the main character establishes  power. The lighting and the contrast changed dramatically from light and peaceful to a dark and dull atmosphere.

As the commander is alone their is a medium shot of him acknowledging the bird on the branch, as the bird fly's of his emotions are shown in the audience of a (CU) Close up of him lifting his head, given the audience a sense of what he wants himself, freedom.

As the non-diegetic sounds builds up tension along with the diegetic sounds with the help of an establishing shot shown of the men talking and preparing themselves, making the audience feel mentally and physically involved.

Their is an wide shot that follows which contributes to the film showing the import-ants and a brief number of lives on the line preparing for the war, which also reveals to the audience this film is produced and shown on the Romans perspective.

Near on to the fight one of the Barbarians introduces him self throwing a head of one of the Romans men, on a Romans perspective it gives the audience the impression that there're the enemy.

As commander is encouraging his men 'unleash hell'  this shows great hatred upon the Barbarians, making it clear what his attentions are. He also encourages he's soldiers by quoting 'if you find your self alone, with the sun on your back sweeping though cornfields, do not be alarmed. You are in Elysium' this is a religion they believe in, in another words Heaven. As he trots along in between his men, The soldiers stand up showing respect, power and honour. 

As the Fight begins between the binary oppositions, The non-diegetic sounds get more dramatic and build up tension as the fight starts the diegetic sounds of swords clashing, arrows shooting, men shouting it brings the audience to an understanding of how dramatic this fight will become. The camera pans on the Barbarians focusing on the actions being taken by the binary opposition. Whilst the camera pans it shows a clear picture of the difference's between them such as;

The Romans are well prepared being armed, civilised and have a clear planned attacked. On the other hand the Barbarians were un-prepared, un sophisticated, premature and didn't have a clear plan of attack, which shows weakness.

As the war comes to an end there is an increasingly slow and soft non-diagetic sound with the camera panning along the soldiers, Focusing on the actions of the Romans killing their binary opposites. They use this in a slow motion effect to show the audience the war is at an end and the soldiers are emotionally relieved winning for honour, loyally and hope.


By Deanna Ricketts