AWR3MI
Film Studies

King Kong (1976)

King Kongis a 1976 Americanmonsteraction filmproduced byDino De Laurentiisand directed byJohn Guillermin. It is aremakeof the 1933 classicfilm of the same name, about a giantapethat is captured and imported to New York City for exhibition. Featuring special effects byCarlo Rambaldi, it starsJeff Bridges,Charles Grodin, andJessica Langein her first film role.

As with 'Jaws,' there were malfunctions with the respective mechanical 'animal,' in this case a 40 foot tall gorilla robot, necessitating makeup artist Rick Baker to don several self-made costumes in order to 'ape' the film's monster. The giant 'machine' is seen briefly in the Shea Stadium sequence when Kong escapes from his cage, and leaves much to be desired in the special effects department.

Todorov’s 5 stage Theory of Equilibrium Applied to Film Studies

The theory is simply this:

·  The fictional environment begins with a state of equilibrium (everything is as it should be in a state of equal balance between powers of any kind, where equality of importance or effect exists among the various parts of any complex unity).

·  It then suffers some disruption (disequilibrium).

·  New equilibrium is produced at the end of the narrative.


There are five stages the narrative can progress through:

1.  A state of equilibrium (All is as it should be.)

2.  A disruption of that order by an event.

3.  A recognition that the disorder has occurred.

4.  An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption.

5.  A return or restoration of a NEW equilibrium

Action Genre
Conventions of Action/adventure

·  Spectacular physical action

·  Narrative involves fights chases, explosions

·  Narrative tends to be fairly simplistic and centred around a hero

·  State of the art special effects

·  Far away exotic/ fantastical settings

·  Fights and explosions

·  Hunters/ explorers lead expedition to find something important/ avenge someone

·  Comedic elements/ some tongue-in-cheek dialogue

·  Physical skills of stars- athletic feats and stunts; exaggerated emphasis on physical movement

·  Visual excess and “spectacle”; aims to impress audiences with incredible technical feats

·  Creatures/ monsters

·  Ethnic biases; marginalization, “otherness”, demonization

·  Can be set in past/ present or future

·  Action adventure films have their roots in nineteenth century melodrama.

·  Sobchack (1988) concludes that all genre films are, “based on the structure of […] medieval literature: a protagonist either has to develop great and special skills and overcome insurmountable obstacles or a situation, to be successful or achieve some desired goal.

Questions:

1.  As you watch King Kong (1976), trace Todorov’s theory through 5 key events that drive the plot:

2.  Pick one key scene from the movie (introduction of Kong or Kong’s destruction) and complete a shot analysis

Shot Analysis Format

1. Whose point of view is being shown?

2. From what distance does the camera show things?

3. How long is the shot held for?

4. What kind of focus is being used? Is everything in focus? Or is the fore ground, middle ground or back ground in focus? Also, is focus soft (romantic) or hard (realistic)?

5. What is the angle of the shot? (eye- level, high- angle, low- angle) what are the effects?

6. What do you notice about the tracking of the camera? (e.g. on tracks, moored on a crane, hand- held)

7. Lighting? (normal practice is to light areas thoroughly to produce a “natural effect”, alternatively limited lighting can be used- light and shade.

8. Framing? (what limitations does the frame of a shot impose? How is the image within a frame composed?)

9. How is sound used to create mood and atmosphere or even convey meaning?