The Avengers Assemble is an action film directed by Joss Wheldon in 2012. It was produced by Marvel and had a budget of around $220,000,000. But what made this film successful? How did Wheldon use sound, lighting and editing to cause effect in this clip, and what impact does this have on the audience?
This screenshot provides a great example of a technique that is used excessively in The Avengers. The rule of thirds is used by Seumas McGarvey (Cinematographer of the Avengers) to comply with the theory of thirds. This is used to place the subject of the scene, Natasha Romanoff, slightly to left of shot, which not only is pleasing to the human eye but also creates several connotations. The first of which is this is an exchange between Natasha Romanoff and Bruce Banner, the shot reverse shot method is used to display both sides of the dialogue being presented to the audience, but there are also other characters present when this exchange occurs, so why is the focus on these two characters? The close ups used during the shot reverse shot connotates the idea of sexual tension between the two characters, the pace of the edit quickens and the shot reverse shot dynamics creates the idea to the audience that the only person the characters see is each other. Silence is used to perfection here by Wheldon as he symbolically highlights the feelings of lust and desire the two characters share in this moment. Depth of field is also used in the composition of this shot as it brings focus onto the relevance of the subject being magnified by the depth of field effect. This creates a mystery and the use of blur suggests to the audience that Romanoff has a secret or mysterious past, to compare this to the reverse shot of Banner; there is no depth of action being used to show his character, unlike with Romanoff. The effect this has on the audience is a sense of deviousness and the idea Romanoff is a character that cannot be trusted. McGarvey has used contrast very nicely in this medium close up by using depth of field because despite Romanoff's perceived heroism when she helps conquer evil and save Earth. The use of depth of field is clever by McGarvey as Romanoff is a character of Russian heritage, and as the Avengers is a predominately American film, it creates a deceitful and secretness of the Russian character.
Also used is desaturation, which is a technique, used after production to absorb the colour out of the scene and bring the black and greys out in the shot. This is used to connotates the idea of bleakness and foreshadows events to come. Also, the symbolism of the greys in the dialogue adds to the idea of poisoned love that can never be fulfilled by Banner and Romanoff due to the issues of Banner's anger and the difference in character. This adds to the idea of the character Romanoff is portrayed as by Joss Wheldon. The lack of colour also foreshadows the battle as the darkness is symbolic of the events about to unfold as war is a grey and also mechanic event as the fighters have to forget about the death and fight for what they believe in.
In this shot, the intention of the cinematographer, is to show the power Banner possesses by using an over the shoulder shot, this shows us as an audience that despite Banner turning into the Hulk when he becomes angry is sometimes a decision that he can control. This creates respect due to the fear it causes amongst the other characters, so the use of the over the shoulder shot here is crucial in showing the switch of power from one character to another.
This shot helps to establish the position of each person, and get the feel of looking at one person from the other's point of view. The use of diegetic lighting from the sky is used to provide a contrast from what's occurring in the scene. For example, despite the fact a fight scene is about to begin, the sky is blue and pleasant. This could be to connotates that despite a big alien approaching the heroes; it is going to be okay. If pathetic fallacy was used here and it was raining, the impact this shot would have on the audience would be extremely different as it would create a more doomed and bleak outlook of the battle from the audiences perspective. In terms of camera movement, tracking is used within this snippet of the scene, as this follows a character and immerses the audience to make them feel like, as the audience, you are submerged into the scene, this creates tension and excitement for the audience, as they get a face on exchange which the character, it makes viewing more personal to each individual and provides a unique perspective in which they can draw conclusions regarding events that are unfolding in the scene. To match the contrast being created by the diegetic lighting of the scene, Wheldon also makes the directorial decision of using Contrapuntal Sound of triumphant music being played one the Hulk brings down an alien spaceship which is unusual to the beginning of a battle, this could be Wheldon presenting the unity of the team, and how team spirit with defeat evil, and the contrapuntal sound is used to highlight the good betters evil philosophy. It could also be used to foreshadow the conclusion of the fight; does this show that triumph of the heroes? Maybe, but also it creates an illusion for the audience to make them believe that a typical ending takes place.
This is a birds eye shot, this establishes the landscape and provides an overhead view of the destruction that is being created by the invaders on the ground of Manhattan where the film is mainly set. The diegetic lighting being used conveys a sense of realism, the scene below is naturally created by sunlight and this gives an authentic and real feel to the film. This is important to the audience as they relate to the film as its in a setting they can familiarise with, it also make the audience sway towards the characters who are saving the numerous people who live on this planet, that's personal to the audience as they are included in that bracket in this virtual reality. Computer Generated Images are used to create an illusion that the streets below on this establishing birds eye shot are real. In terms of Wheldon's perspective, CGI is a cost cutting and safety measure taken to protect the actors. In terms of genre, the conventions of an action thriller are the high budget explosions and weaponry, it matches the key conventions of this genre and that has been matched with the use of CGI. This helps portray a sense of realism within the scene and adds makes this easily distinguishes the idea of a thriller. The impact of CGI to the audience is that it enhances the overall experience of the viewer, as it creates a virtual reality which is addictive to the consumer.
This shot is a particularly interesting and relevant one as it invites the viewer to see the invaders for the first time following Hulk's destruction of their spaceship; this is met with groans of battle from the monsters looking to claim Earth as their own. In terms of camerawork, a canted angle is used when the invaders are on the side of a building, and to avoid the disorientation of the audience. A canted angle also makes the background morebalanced; Wheldon has used a canted angle to good effect as it surveys more the scene. Before this shot of the specific invader there is a pan of the invaders reacting to the spaceship being destroyed by Hulk, this is an interesting perspective to take, as most villainous characters are portrayed as cold and heartless, they are relentless killing machines but in this action thriller, the invaders are portrayed with emotion and this, for a slight second, makes the audience think about sympathising for the monsters, but they are quickly changed back to the action with a quick paced edit of Hulk smashing invaders, the quick pace of the edit is held after the outcry of emotion from invaders and the battle is halted, the fact this edit has been held is symbolic to the switch from invaders with emotion to the conventional killing machines and the audiences perspective is immediately changed.
In conclusion, the sequence engages the audience in many ways, the mise en scene are always high budget in terms of lighting, sound and edit. The narrative has to be engaging and the edit must be dynamic and versatile to match the action, and in this film, all of those are present, which makes the audience leaving feeling fulfilled and having witnessed the Avengers, they are left with plenty of food for thought.
Film Analysis by connor southwell on Scribd
