300 Opening Evaluation

The opening to 300 is typical of many period drama representations. Throughout the first 2 minutes that i watched there was a continuous narative that helped set the time period and the storyline to enable the audience to gain full understanding of the situation and the backround of the story being told. There is also an underlying soundtrack being played during the narative which helps set the mood and the purpose of the film. I found it quite dark and almost religeous which is what is being attempted during the extract. It also helps to put emphasis on some of the narative particulary during the more descriptive periods and offers a sound bridge between shots. The narative itself is meant to be non diagetic and is for the audiences ears only. The use of a narative makes the audience feel as if they have exclusivity to the entire story and can often predict some future events in the storyline simply through the narrative.

The camera work that is used in this particular film is very intresting. There is no obvious use of an establishing shot but the opening shot is of a pile of skulls that is explainrd through the narative. There is a very wide range of shots used and there tends to be alot of shortertakes and continuous editing used to keep the film flowing and add to the mood set by the narrative and the soundtrack. A typical example of how the film varies its use of the camera is during a combat scene where the first shot is held for ten seconds before it is cut and from then on shots are held for a maximum of three seconds. This could have been done to establish what was happening before offering a more detailed view into the action.

Editing plays a huge role in the quality of this film. Not only the fantastic us of CGI but the use of lighting, shot transition and slow motion effects. All these elements give the audience the best insight possible and make the film look like a proffesional mastery. Slow motion shots during combat scenes offer the most detailed view of the action and the camera doesn't shy away from these elements in the slightest. The focus of these scenes is often on the blood itself not always the action going which adds to the graphic effect the fim offers.

Overerall, a very watchable film with great use of modern techniques and use of a great storyline.

Alex Cox