Sunday 31 August 2008
Values and ideologies
Values and ideologies play a major part in movies and james bond films are no different with there always being a hidden message in the movie. In this movie the messages are mostly based upon two things they being gender , race and wealth.
Gender because of the bong girl being and looking very masculine, as the first time we see her she is wearing black which is seen to be a masculine colour which is a colour which hides the characteristics and personalities.
Race is another major issue because in the movie the makers show that every race can have wealth and be wealthy and that is no better shown then at the beginning with the african actor being rich and having his onw army.
Wealth however is most likely the main one as i have already talked about wealth with the other two however it is more the setting and the mise en scene that makes wealth the most interesting one. The settings are in monaco and montenegro which traditionally are wealthy places, the mise en scene is significant as expensive care and agdgets are used that not everyone would own.
Another thing that is significant is the use of guns, which are phallic symbols and they are interesting because of the fact that both men and women in the film use them. There are numerous scenes in the movie where james bond uses his gun but there is one particular scene that engages alot of interest and that is the scene where bond hands the gun to the bondgirl in the lift showing a shift of power with the woman being in control in a bond movie, which can only be compared with The world is not enough where the villian who is a woman ties up bond and threatens to kill him showing control.
Gender because of the bong girl being and looking very masculine, as the first time we see her she is wearing black which is seen to be a masculine colour which is a colour which hides the characteristics and personalities.
Race is another major issue because in the movie the makers show that every race can have wealth and be wealthy and that is no better shown then at the beginning with the african actor being rich and having his onw army.
Wealth however is most likely the main one as i have already talked about wealth with the other two however it is more the setting and the mise en scene that makes wealth the most interesting one. The settings are in monaco and montenegro which traditionally are wealthy places, the mise en scene is significant as expensive care and agdgets are used that not everyone would own.
Another thing that is significant is the use of guns, which are phallic symbols and they are interesting because of the fact that both men and women in the film use them. There are numerous scenes in the movie where james bond uses his gun but there is one particular scene that engages alot of interest and that is the scene where bond hands the gun to the bondgirl in the lift showing a shift of power with the woman being in control in a bond movie, which can only be compared with The world is not enough where the villian who is a woman ties up bond and threatens to kill him showing control.
Saturday 30 August 2008
Genre
The genre of Casino Royale is a hybrid genre containing spy and action, which could be regaurded as a hybrid genre with the mixture of the spy genre and the thriller genre. Right from the start of James Bond, the genre has been a spy thriller with the use of the gadgets and other spy equipment, whereas the action side comes into play with the scenes of gun violence and usual violence.
The movie contains stars specifically the main actor Daniel Craig who has made other movies that have not been specifically related to the spy- action genre. Certain movies which he has starred in have been movies such as Tomb Raider, which was specifically aimed at the action segment of genres, however the other movies which he has done have been more classical movies which are mostly to do with war and they are aimed at the elderly section of the audience.
The main generic conventions of the text would be conventions that are appropriate to the genre of the text such as the gadgets and the vehicles, however in this movie there has been a cut down in the use of gadgets, which could be seen as un-characteristic. In the previous Bond movies there have uses of gadgets such as ejecter seats in the cars or the watch that bond would use would traditionally contain lasers and grapples and things of that nature. You could interpret the lack of gadgets as being okay as this is a remake of the very first bond movie, maybe a remake of a movie where gadgets were not in technology because of the time of the movie.
The characters in Casino Royale are generically determined thorugh their behaviour on screen and their behaviour on screen is what gives them their characteristics in the movie. For example, James bond's generic characteristics are defined by his high tech technology and weapons which assigns him to the spy genre, whereas the villians in the bond movies are all about trying to capture bond and kill him, which assigns them to the action genre out of the two.
The movie contains stars specifically the main actor Daniel Craig who has made other movies that have not been specifically related to the spy- action genre. Certain movies which he has starred in have been movies such as Tomb Raider, which was specifically aimed at the action segment of genres, however the other movies which he has done have been more classical movies which are mostly to do with war and they are aimed at the elderly section of the audience.
The main generic conventions of the text would be conventions that are appropriate to the genre of the text such as the gadgets and the vehicles, however in this movie there has been a cut down in the use of gadgets, which could be seen as un-characteristic. In the previous Bond movies there have uses of gadgets such as ejecter seats in the cars or the watch that bond would use would traditionally contain lasers and grapples and things of that nature. You could interpret the lack of gadgets as being okay as this is a remake of the very first bond movie, maybe a remake of a movie where gadgets were not in technology because of the time of the movie.
The characters in Casino Royale are generically determined thorugh their behaviour on screen and their behaviour on screen is what gives them their characteristics in the movie. For example, James bond's generic characteristics are defined by his high tech technology and weapons which assigns him to the spy genre, whereas the villians in the bond movies are all about trying to capture bond and kill him, which assigns them to the action genre out of the two.
Going into a James bond movie the audience will automatically be thinking of spy- action movie and will thik of weapons, violence and gadgets and the movies rather portray that with the conventions of the genre. For example in Casino Royale James bong has a gun conpartment in his car along with a first aid kit of sorts which he uses in the scene when he takes a break from the poker game. There is another sgement of genre that the real followers of the bond series will be expecting and that is comedy. Traditionally, bond is supposed to clever and funny which adds to the entertainment of the film and that is included in the film where he is getting whipped and starts laughing saying "i have an itch do you mind". Comedy will always be apart of james bond and that is carried on in this film.
Wednesday 27 August 2008
Narrative
The whole concept of the movie is to show the first episode of Bond in a more modern way because Casino Royale is a remake of the original movie, which was the first in the bond series. The narrative is a linear narrative as it moves on and keeps moving on foward without any flashbacks which keeps the story and the text more organised and less confusing for the audience.
The audience is very much nowhere in relation to the narrative, unless the audience members are rich and have alot of material things to show for, there can not be a personal relationship or personal identity to the film as it is set in the Monaco and Montenegro area. The audience can however relate to the text if they aspire to be like someone in the text.
The heroes and the villians are not that hard to create as James Bond will always be the hero along with the 'Bondgirl' and the villian is always looked up by MI6 as being the main target, so in that aspect the hero is not created but the villian is in a way created by MI6. The hero being James Bond will have the most important narrative function as he is the narrative as he is envolved with everything that happens in the movie.
The main ideologies of the narrative are good will always overcome evil as shown by the narrative, which shows exactly that with at the end of everything James Bond overcomes everthing to be perfectly fine. Even though in most of scenes there is no divide between the wealthy and the middle class people the settings in the whole movie are aimed to show the wealthy nature of the movie with the big houses, casino's and the fast cars.
The audience is very much nowhere in relation to the narrative, unless the audience members are rich and have alot of material things to show for, there can not be a personal relationship or personal identity to the film as it is set in the Monaco and Montenegro area. The audience can however relate to the text if they aspire to be like someone in the text.
The heroes and the villians are not that hard to create as James Bond will always be the hero along with the 'Bondgirl' and the villian is always looked up by MI6 as being the main target, so in that aspect the hero is not created but the villian is in a way created by MI6. The hero being James Bond will have the most important narrative function as he is the narrative as he is envolved with everything that happens in the movie.
The main ideologies of the narrative are good will always overcome evil as shown by the narrative, which shows exactly that with at the end of everything James Bond overcomes everthing to be perfectly fine. Even though in most of scenes there is no divide between the wealthy and the middle class people the settings in the whole movie are aimed to show the wealthy nature of the movie with the big houses, casino's and the fast cars.
Media languages and forms
In Casino Royale there are great levels of meaning as there are mysteries to be revealed in the movie, however they are not all obvious for example 'Mathius' appears to be working with James Bond as a friend however it is later revealed that he is actual friends with the enemy.
There can be different denotations and connotations drawn out from the movie like he could be friends with both or he was secretly paid by the enemy to give them information that they needed, both of these suggestions can be true and that's because the truth isn't revealed in the text it is simply left a mystery. The mysteries of the text are left to an open interpretation by the audience which engages the audience in the movie.
There is a great significance of the texts connotations as that's where the mysteries and the answers to the questions lie. There are, as said before, many things left to own interpretation, however there are some examples in the movie of the questions being answered in the text, which disengages the audience's thought's. One example of this is the mystery that is left to the very end of the text, that being the behaviour of Vesper Lynd (bondgirl). It's later revealed that she traded some money with the enemy to save James Bond's life. This is a perfect example of leaving the audience passive.
The non verbal structures of meaning like the facial expressions and the gestures are not that self explanitory. Obviously the facial expressions like the angry looks and the smiles are easy to interpret, there is one facial expression however that explains alot and gives away a characteristic of the villian and that is in the middle of the poker game where the villian flicks his eye to reveal a plan of the game.
The settings used in the text are interesting because it is all in public places apart from the shots with the hotel rooms. Examples of public places are the man being chased by Bond over and thorugh the work site, a crash in the middle of the road, the fight and bomb scene at the airport and the end scene with Bond trying to get his money back in the middle of a town which shows there is no stereotyping of any people.
The sound track plays quiet a big rol ein the text because it lets the audience know when the really intense and violent scene arrive because the pace of the soundtrack would normally change to a fast paced track or slow to show intensity. In the poker game however they have chosen not to use a soundtrack but only the noises of the people in the room at the time to make it more authentic. The soundtrack thorughout the whole movie is quite fast paced as there is only fast paced action in te movie apart from the tragic scenes where the soundtrack is alot more slower.
There is an interesting mix of the soundtrack and the movement of the camera, being when there high paced action the camera moves the pace a the soundtrack making the sudden movement to blend in with the track. There is one scene however when the movement of the camera is limited and that is at the start with the jumping in the scene, because the camera very much stays still to give the audience an observent angle to the action.
There can be different denotations and connotations drawn out from the movie like he could be friends with both or he was secretly paid by the enemy to give them information that they needed, both of these suggestions can be true and that's because the truth isn't revealed in the text it is simply left a mystery. The mysteries of the text are left to an open interpretation by the audience which engages the audience in the movie.
There is a great significance of the texts connotations as that's where the mysteries and the answers to the questions lie. There are, as said before, many things left to own interpretation, however there are some examples in the movie of the questions being answered in the text, which disengages the audience's thought's. One example of this is the mystery that is left to the very end of the text, that being the behaviour of Vesper Lynd (bondgirl). It's later revealed that she traded some money with the enemy to save James Bond's life. This is a perfect example of leaving the audience passive.
The non verbal structures of meaning like the facial expressions and the gestures are not that self explanitory. Obviously the facial expressions like the angry looks and the smiles are easy to interpret, there is one facial expression however that explains alot and gives away a characteristic of the villian and that is in the middle of the poker game where the villian flicks his eye to reveal a plan of the game.
The settings used in the text are interesting because it is all in public places apart from the shots with the hotel rooms. Examples of public places are the man being chased by Bond over and thorugh the work site, a crash in the middle of the road, the fight and bomb scene at the airport and the end scene with Bond trying to get his money back in the middle of a town which shows there is no stereotyping of any people.
The sound track plays quiet a big rol ein the text because it lets the audience know when the really intense and violent scene arrive because the pace of the soundtrack would normally change to a fast paced track or slow to show intensity. In the poker game however they have chosen not to use a soundtrack but only the noises of the people in the room at the time to make it more authentic. The soundtrack thorughout the whole movie is quite fast paced as there is only fast paced action in te movie apart from the tragic scenes where the soundtrack is alot more slower.
There is an interesting mix of the soundtrack and the movement of the camera, being when there high paced action the camera moves the pace a the soundtrack making the sudden movement to blend in with the track. There is one scene however when the movement of the camera is limited and that is at the start with the jumping in the scene, because the camera very much stays still to give the audience an observent angle to the action.
Media Representations
There are many different representations in Casino Royale, however in every Bond movie there will be specific representations that catch the eye of the audience. The main one being is the role of James Bond, who traditionally takes up the role of the hero in the movie.
All throughout the series of Bond movies there have been many different actors acting as James Bond, some better suited to the role than others, for example critics and audience members will argue that Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnen were the actors who best suited the roles of James Bond (seen more as clever and humerous and devious), whereas now with Daniel Craig being Bond the role has changed slightly with Bond suddenly becoming more sinister and violent, which is represented in the phyisical appearance of Bond with Daniel Craig being more muscular than previous Bond's.
Another key representation in the Bond movie is the main focus of the study, the 'Bondgirl'. Many people will argue that over time the role of the 'Bondgirl' has very much stayed the same with them still being represented as sex objects, which in many ways is true however the role itself of being 'Bondgirl' has evolved with the role being more 'hands on'.
Looking through from the start of the Bond series up till now there is a definate change of approach as to how the Bondgirl is to be percieved. The sex part of it is very much still there however the role is more significant because of the violence and aggression that comes with the role in the recent movies. For example in 'Dr No' the 'Bondgirl' has a weapon but does not use it possibly connoting that females are unable to attack, whereas recently in 'Die another day' the 'Bondgirl' is armed with a weapon and uses it throughout showing a more violent side to the role of the 'Bondgirl'.
The last main representation in the bond movies is the representation of the villians. Most memories of the bond villians are Goldfinger or Dr No stroking his cat constantly to create suspense, however the role of being the villian has changed to a degree has they are much more active rather than passive.
There is however one representation of the villians that has never changed thorughout the bond movies and that the wealthy and ric representation of the villian. No matter what the villian looks like or what gender the villian will always be rich and that is the main nessesity for a bond villian.
All throughout the series of Bond movies there have been many different actors acting as James Bond, some better suited to the role than others, for example critics and audience members will argue that Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnen were the actors who best suited the roles of James Bond (seen more as clever and humerous and devious), whereas now with Daniel Craig being Bond the role has changed slightly with Bond suddenly becoming more sinister and violent, which is represented in the phyisical appearance of Bond with Daniel Craig being more muscular than previous Bond's.
Another key representation in the Bond movie is the main focus of the study, the 'Bondgirl'. Many people will argue that over time the role of the 'Bondgirl' has very much stayed the same with them still being represented as sex objects, which in many ways is true however the role itself of being 'Bondgirl' has evolved with the role being more 'hands on'.
Looking through from the start of the Bond series up till now there is a definate change of approach as to how the Bondgirl is to be percieved. The sex part of it is very much still there however the role is more significant because of the violence and aggression that comes with the role in the recent movies. For example in 'Dr No' the 'Bondgirl' has a weapon but does not use it possibly connoting that females are unable to attack, whereas recently in 'Die another day' the 'Bondgirl' is armed with a weapon and uses it throughout showing a more violent side to the role of the 'Bondgirl'.
The last main representation in the bond movies is the representation of the villians. Most memories of the bond villians are Goldfinger or Dr No stroking his cat constantly to create suspense, however the role of being the villian has changed to a degree has they are much more active rather than passive.
There is however one representation of the villians that has never changed thorughout the bond movies and that the wealthy and ric representation of the villian. No matter what the villian looks like or what gender the villian will always be rich and that is the main nessesity for a bond villian.
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