This document contains summaries of trailers and posters for films in different genres including action, science fiction, comedy, fantasy, and superhero.
The After Earth trailer summary describes the storyline of a father and son crash landing on a dangerous planet, with the son needing to find a missing piece of the ship. The I Robot trailer summary outlines a plot where advanced robots become too human-like and one may be dangerous. The Cheaper by the Dozen 2 trailer summary explains a family vacation rivalry between two large families. Poster analyses provide additional insights for After Earth, I Robot, and Cheaper by the Dozen 2. Magazine cover analyses comment on the visuals and text used to represent Harry Potter, James Bond,
2. Action
After Earth Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CZIt20emgLY
The story line basically exists of father and son both on a plane to go our fighting in which
the plane crashes and father ends up severely hurt. It is then the sons job to go out and
find the missing piece of the ship all on his own in the now ‘dangerous’ world that exists
after earth and bring it back to his father so they can call for help. In the end son finds the
missing piece, brings it back and the father calls for help. Not long after they are returned
to safety. The voice over in the beginning of the trailer adds more mystery because we
wonder what he means by his negative words ’unpredictable’. This shows the watcher
that something tragic may be about to happen but we dont know what. Also the close up
of the star male running across the beach could be foreshadowing the future. It could be
telling the audience that the male has to run for his life throughout his journey in finding
the missing part of the broken ship. The use of the young male being the main character is
unusual to the genre because we would expect someone of an older and more powerful
age to be the main character. The tragic non-diegetic music as the trailer progresses is
powerful because it’s big loud noises almost telling the viewer that something tragic could
happen in the full film. The two shot of father and son on the plane about to go out and
fight is effective because it not only lets the reader know that they are both alike and love
to fight for their country but that they are both key characters in the film.
3. After Earth Poster
The two shot close up image of father and son is a very
powerful picture because it shows the viewer that maybe
father and son will be fighting within the film together. Or it
could be portraying that the son wants to be like his father
and show him that he is worthy of fighting out in battle. The
use of the statement ‘danger is real, fear is a choice’ is also
powerful because it makes us wonder what is going to
happen in the film and the words ‘danger’ and ‘fear’ reveals
that the males are going to be put in danger within the film
and fear for the worst. Also because the text is situated in
the middle of the page is makes us think that the editor
wanted to stress the importance of the danger and fear that
may be about to happen. The use of the background image
is effective because it matches the action genre because it is
busy and lots of things seems to be happening in it. The
facial expression on both males faces shows fear and worry
and this could be fortelling us that something bad is going to
happen and its going to be their job to fix it.
4. Science Fiction
I Robot Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL6RRIOZyCM&feature=player_embedded
The storyline basically consists of advances in technology becoming so advanced that robots
now become basically like ‘humans’ and are trained to do human things. They are put out
into society, hundreds of them. It becomes apparent to one male that the robots are
dangerous and not fit to be used in society amongst innocent people. When he voices his
opinions to the maker, he is told that he is wrong and the robots are physically incapable of
harming anybody. Yet to be mistaken, Will notices that 1 robot out of the 1000′s made is a
bad robot and is out to kill humans. In the opening of the trailer there is non diegetic
sound, the sound of a ticking clock is used which could be portraying that time is running
out and something needs to be done about the bad robot. The use of the pan allowing us to
see the robots walking in and amongst the humans reveals to the audience that they now
see robots walking around, walking dogs as normal behaviour. The use of the words ‘but did
we design them’ reveals automatically that something is right about the robots and infact
they are not as innocent as made out in the beginning of the film. The two shot between
Will Smith and one of the ‘bad’ robots allows us to compare both and see that the robots
are just like us human beings, the only thing being recognisable about them is their
appearance. The use of non diegetic sound towards the end of the trailer gradually builds
up and builds up a vast amount of tension. This linking in with the busy actin genre.
5. I Robot Poster
I particularly like this film poster because of the use of
the white background. I think this enables us to see the
main robot stand out more on the page. It also could be
portraying the innocence that the robots are claimed to
have but haven’t really got. The page consists of only one
image and the tagline leaving a simple theme. The
almost long shot of the robot allows the viewer to see
the intricate design. The tagline ‘what will you do with
yours’ entices the reader because it makes you think
what the world would be like if we actually had robots
physically capable to do normal every day human tasks.
It draws the attention of the viewer because it makes
you think what are they able to do and because of rapid
advances in technology that one day having robots
walking around the earth, would actually be a possibility.
6. Comedy
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGjYYamUn6s&feature=player_embedded
The storyline basically consists of a family who has 12 kids that go away on a mini break to the
lake. They are there with another family who at first dont seem to get along with, especially the
two fathers. From arguments to family feuds, the children become effected and it later becomes
apparent that the fathers disallow the children to mix with the other children and this causes a
problem, leading to family rivalry. It is only when one father suggests a competition between the
two families that the families on finish become friends and the feud becomes resolved. The use
of the close up on the male at the opening of the trailer reveals to the audience the immaturity
of the father, swinging on a rope swing. This allows the audience to see where the children get
their mischevious behaviour from, there so called ‘mature’ father figure. All the kids running
towards the camera allows us to see their still apparent immaturity and their mischeivious ways.
The medium close up of the dad with the awful shirt draws the audience attention because it
allows them to see that the father doesnt give to much care about his appearance and this adds
to the funny nature of the film, linking excellently with the comedy genre. The two shot
between the two opposing fathers allows us to see the competition between the two and how
both are trying to out better the other with their tactics. This adds fun and comedy to the trailer
and makes us want to watch the full film to see the school boy antics of the rivialry between
both fathers. The use of the non deigetic sound matches the genre also.
7. Cheaper by the Dozen 2 Poster
This film poster is intriguing because it has unusually
over a dozen people on the front and this allows more
time for the viewer to look at it because by doing so
they can work out who is involved. The smiles on the
childrens face allows the audience to note that they are
mischeivious children and will be throughout the
film, this meeting the original comedy genre. The
cheeky smiles reveal that their is going to be laughter
throughout the film also. The use of the white
background makes the multi coloured characters stand
out on the page. The tagline ‘this christmas you better
watch out’ makes the viewer wonder what is going to
happen in the film and if having watched the first one
would note that the children are all mischevious and
always up to no good. This then reveals to the audience
by looking at the tagline that they are still up to no
good and bad things but funny things are going to
happen throughout the comedy.
9. Fantasy
Harry Potter
I think that this magazine is effective because of the main
centre image of Harry Potter. I think the use of the makeup
on his face is good because of the close up it allows us to
see that his been fighting. The expression on his face looks
almost as if he is worried but standing up for himself. The
use of the blue background behind him is almost wizardry
because it might be portraying harry potter as a wizard
film full of mystery and gloom. The use of the Empire
name being in red could be portraying blood, death and
misery all conotations of the genre. The tag line ‘Bloody
Hell’ is a good use of words because it is a general saying
but can be used this way because of the blood and hell
that is seen in the movie.
10. Action
James Bond
This magazine cover is effective because of the use of
the centre image. This is almost a long shot image of
James Bond. The image allows us to see the prop of the
gun he is holding and allows the audience to recognise
that he may have used the gun or is going to use it and
makes the reader maybe want to watch the film to see
why he has a gun and if he is going to use it or not. His
costume is muddy and dirty and could be showing that
he has been rolling around whilst in a fight and this has
got his costume dirty and this could be showing his
‘thuggish’ nature. The look on his face shows a very
determined expression and that he is out to kill or hurt
somebody.
11. Superhero
Hell Boy 2
I think that this magazine cover is very effective due to
the use of effects that has been placed on the page. I
think that the way fire has been put around the
magazine name is great because it shows connotations
of hell and death and sin. Also the use of all the red on
the page is effective too because it could be portraying
death and horror and blood. These are all connotations
linked in with the genre. I like the facial expression on
the models face because it looks like he has a very
serious or stern look and is up to mischief perhaps.
