The Tuxedo (2002)

One part of this movie that really stood out was the symbolism in this scene. It gives a feel for what the main character, Jimmy, is going through. Before the job as chauffeur to a government agent, he was leading a dull, miserable little life as a cab driver. The suit shows promise of a better life, though he does not know it yet. He is still in the dark, and the light of understanding has just barely shone on him. The suit does indeed end up improving his life, as we see later in the movie.



Another thing I found interesting about this movie was the action scenes. Those familiar with Jackie Chan's work will know that he does most, if not all, of his own stunts. Coupled with the interesting use of environmental factors, his style of martial arts never fails to entertain. There are no flashy special effects because they are not necessary.

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

The scene in the helicopter with the eccentric gunner helps solidify the nature of our occupation of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. People that lived through such conditions were either crazy or lucky. In the case of the gunner, it was crazy. Here is an excerpt of the conversation between the gunner and the reporter.
Gunner: "Anyone who runs is a VC. Anyone who stands still is a well-disciplined VC."
Reporter: "How can you shoot women and children?"
Gunner: "Easy, you just don't lead them so much."



I found this next scene to be humorous in a macabre sort of way. Here we have a trench of Vietnamese bodies covered in lime with a crowd of U.S. personnel surrounding it. The man in the center is interviewing the man on the right while the man on the left takes pictures. What was funny was that the man on the right always faced the camera when the cameraman was about to take a picture. This shows that, even in grim situations, some people will always concern themselves with appearances.



This last scene symbolizes the divide between American forces and natives of Vietnam. Though our mission there was to stem the flow of communism, the people there saw us as invaders and worthy of utmost contempt. If the helicopter gunner was too blatant a clue, this scene might appeal to those inclined toward subtleties. In any case, the message is clear.

Alien vs Predator (2004)

This movie contains lots of blue, since it takes place mostly in the arctic. It is usually accompanied by darkness, which is abundant throughout the film. Darkness conveys a sense of nighttime, a time our ancient ancestors saw as dangerous due to prowling predatory animals. I believe the aim of having the majority of the movie take place at nighttime is to play on this primal fear of the dark.



The use of small passageways by various characters heightens the tension and suspense because of their claustrophobic nature. Nobody today would design such small passageways for regular use, so we are accustomed to having a certain measure of space. Having the characters try to survive in such abnormal conditions gives a feeling of impending doom. A space which limits mobility to such a degree is as good as any trap, in some cases. And nothing says "dead meat" quite like a trap.



The inclusion of unidentifiable runes or hieroglyphs allows for a timed release of information regarding the plot. We must rely on the characters fluent in whatever language to decipher them for us. Often times this is done in a way that foreshadows events to come, or confirm suspicions.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

The movie starts with a blank screen and orchestral music. This is done presumably to set the mood. I believe this to be a critical part of the film since it helps prepare the viewer for the sort of things they'll be watching.



The first chapter, "The Dawn of Man", starts with the scene of an actual dawn. There are plenty of silent moments when the viewer can simply admire the view. Like the orchestral introduction, it helps the viewer accustom themselves to the setting. Knowing the environment in which the story takes place can be as important as the message of the story itself. I believe the desert setting was chosen because its starkness forces the viewer to see what is happening with the apes rather than focus on the environment excessively. It also helps amplify the stark conditions in which the apes lived.



Slow motion has been long used to bring attention to the significance of a particular scene. This movie is no stranger to that concept. The scene where the ape learns to wield a tool is a good example of this.



The space shuttle scene, though apparently not in slow motion, still gives a feeling of sluggishness. It would seem to be a combination of slow motion (due to the pace) and display of the environment. Space activity is naturally slow for the sake of caution. This scene incorporates this slowness and uses it to do what happened earlier in the "Dawn of Man" chapter: let us absorb the details of the environment. Another notable thing about the shuttle scene is that since there is no atmosphere to carry sound in space, we are given classical music to listen to. This music helps fill in an otherwise alienating silence and supports the intended feeling regarding this scene.