G321 Thriller Research - The Third Man Review.

Strange deaths to fakery, in this review I will be talking about a film that claims to be the best motion picture in history "The Third Man".

The Third Man is a 1949 British film which belongs in the film noir genre, the film was directed by Carol Reed and stars Joseph Cotton, Alida Valli, Orson Welles and Trevor Howard. As I stated earlier this film is considered to be one of the greatest films of all time and is celebrated and respected for its acting, cast, soundtrack and atmospheric cinematography. Anton Karas wrote The Third Man theme and only uses a zither to play the score. The theme topped the international charts in the year 1950 a year after the film's official release to cinemas bringing the then-unknown performer fame around the globe.
The plot is about an American Pulp Western writer Holly Martins who travels to Allied-occupied Vienna in order to find his old childhood friend Harry Lime only to find out that he died in an accident. Holly along with some allies research and investigate his death and finding out later on that Harry really faked his own death to carry out his evil deeds.

The Third Man uses many ambitious and create cinematography and camera shots along with angles to create a dark, dingy and unsettling atmosphere. No CGI was used as computers where not invented during this time until recently when The Third Man was re released to cinemas and DVD / Blu-Ray in the brand new 4K quality which brings out more detail (which is just under 4000 lines) from buildings and even people. The Third Man got its film noir reputation through its use of black and white filters throughout the film.

The film uses thriller conventions from the use of weapons, locations such as wet streets, death and costume. The film also takes place in a realistic and dangerous location as Harry roams the streets and Vienna is a war-torn city just after World War II which adds obstacles along the way.

Unlike most thrillers The Third Man shows no excessive violence which is quite unexpected for thriller movies but judging from the year violence was not a popular aspect of films until much later in films such as the "James Bond" series and the "Kill Bill" trilogy.

The film is a brilliant piece of film and will interest anyone who adores thriller films, the casting suited the roles of the characters and the storyline is compelling. The music score is absolutely outstanding and the quality of the film is perfect.

G321 Thriller Research - The Third Man Case Study "Explain how Carol Reed uses, develops and challenges thriller generic conventions in this iconic noir thriller".

G321 Thriller Research - Essex Boys Case Study

G321 Thriller Research - Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Blue Velvet Introduction.

G321 Thriller Research - How does Quentin Tarantino display the Thriller genre from the opening of Kill Bill Vol. 1

G321 Thriller Research - Mad Max Review.

Crazy bikers to desperation for fuel, in this review I will be talking about one of George Miller’s most popular movies and soon a series “Mad Max”.

Mad Max is a 1979 Dystopian action movie set in Australia directed by George Miller, produced by Byron Kennedy and starring Mel Gibson as the title role as “Max Rockatansky”. The movie is about a group of Australian officers trying to eradicate a bike gang led by “The Toecutter” (played by Hugh Keays-Byrne).

This may be different that Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill Vol. 1 which were my past reviews but Mad Max uses really visually pleasing effects, no computers and CGI were used, instead professionals and hand crafted effects were used, in the year 1979 computers were not capable of editing film but the film makers proved that computers are not needed to produce such a masterpiece feature. Due to the success of the movie, Miller went on to spawn three more movies the first two being direct sequels to the original story line the films were “Mad Max: The Road Warrior” and “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdrome” and a reboot movie to the series and the fourth movie in the series titled “Mad Max Fury Road” which replaced Mel Gibson for Tom Hardy who took over the role of Max.

Mad Max mixes both action and thriller aspects for action it uses a character who can defy gravity and survive unlikely events, and for thriller taking place in a realistic setting and dangerous locations such as the hideout of the bike gang.

Mad Max is quite restricted and does not show much violence but that all changed in the sequels (not as bad as Kill Bill violence levels).

Overall the movie is too a must see and it is an absolute classic it cannot be missed, the sequels I will think will be great (I will review the rest of the Mad Max series in the future, stay alert for those).

Mad Max clips - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZbXA4lyCtqoi2WmV2Ofa268glWf5mpXL
 

G321 Thriller Research - Once Upon a Time in America study.

G321 Thriller Research - Kill Bill Volume 1 Review.

Badass martial arts to gory battles, in this review I will be talking about the fourth movie produced by Quentin Tarantino “Kill Bill Volume 1”.ll Bill Vol. 1 is a 2003 American Martial Arts movies which is written and directed by king of action and gore Quentin Tarantino who was most notable to have written directed and even star in his previous movie “Pulp Fiction” (Pulp Fiction Review - http://lukesyderasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/g321-thriller-research-pulp-fiction.html)

The movie is about a woman (played by Uma Thurman – Who last appeared in Pulp Fiction as “Mia”) as she seeks revenge on her cold blooded assassination squad led by Bill (Played by David Carradine) after they attempted to murder her during her wedding and in the process killing her unborn baby.

Similar to Pulp Fiction, the movie uses many professional and creative shots during the production, the constant change from colour to black and white filters brings out the personality and drama of each character and event, the most famous scene in the film being the fight against the crazy 88 with the black and white filter, the music played and the filter brings out a western and Chinese martial art movie tone.

Kill Bill Vol. 1 uses the elements of a thriller movie (like dangerous locations, a realistic setting which comes through events and locations, cramped locations such as Vernita Green’s house at the beginning of the movie, rooms and boot of vehicles).

Kill Bill Vol. 1 uses excessive gore and violent and is even more graphic than Pulp Fiction you think that was bad just wait until you watch Kill Bill there is literally blood spraying everywhere and limbs being taken away from the victims but I don’t want to go in greater detail unless you want your breakfast, lunch and dinner to come out.

Overall the movie is a must see as it contains a memorable cast, effective filters and gripping plots.

Kill Bill Vol. 1 Clips - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgRlzeYc1nk&list=PL9D10D8B604D6B7EC&index=1

G321 Thriller Research - Pulp Fiction Review.

Cold blooded killers to heavy drug use, in this review I will be talking about the most popular Quentin Tarantino movie “Pulp Fiction”.

Pulp Fiction is a 1994 movie that was directed, written and even starred Quentin Tarantino. The movie is about the lives of two hit men Vince (Played by John Travolta) and Jules (Played by Samuel L. Jackson), a boxer known as Butch (Played by Bruce Willis), a gangsters wife Mia (Played by Uma Thurman) and two diner bandits named Ringo and Yolanda (Played by Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer).

The movie uses many professional and creative camera shots in the movie the most notable being the shot from the boot of the hit men’s car in the first part of the movie, the constant use of close ups and focus shots makes us ‘focus’ on a certain character or event that is put on the screen. The locations of the film make it a top quality thriller film for example tight corridors in Butch’s old apartment, the basement in the gun store, and the busy streets.

Pulp Fiction uses the elements of a thriller movie (like dangerous locations, a realistic setting which comes through drug barons and locations, cramped locations such as corridors and rooms and boot of vehicles).

The film also mixes black comedy and dresses it within a thriller movie, the funny moments include the hit men (who are displayed as two laid back and sarcastic men) especially when Vince shoots Marvin the reactions of the two just make the situation worse which combines the genres together (the guns and violence promoting the thriller, and the reactions of the men which lastly promote black comedy).

Overall, the movie is ambitious, the use of professional and effective camera angles really empathise the power of the hit men (boot of the car scene when we look up the hit men connoting authority and power) and the black comedy which gives the movie a dynamic and ambitious feel.

 

Pulp Fiction "I shot Marvin in the face" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBBni_-tMNs

Pulp Fiction "Ezekial 25:17 (Brett's death scene) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2WK_eWihdU

Pulp Fiction "A Shot of Adrenaline" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOoJoTAXDPk

Pulp Fiction "Butch meets Vincent" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHO6nBc4YFU&index=8&list=PLZbXA4lyCtqpEw2BcuvKhCvwblMYiZLs3

Pulp Fiction "The Wolf" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgzFPOMjiC8&list=PLZbXA4lyCtqpEw2BcuvKhCvwblMYiZLs3&index=12

 

G321 Thriller Research - Script of Audio Video.

G321 Thriller Research - Audio Version of Difference between Horror, Action, Thriler and Science Fiction movies.

G321 Thriller Research - The differences between Horror, Action, Thriller and science Fiction Movies.

G321 Thriller Research - The Seventh Seal

I have chosen to upload this clip because it uses a black and white filter and many ambitious shots that I could use for my Final Thriller Film.
I can use the shots and the filters in my movie to add tension and drama, these are the key items of a thriller film, and most successful films like "Casino Royale" and "Kill Bill" Movies use these to add a dramatic and dark tone.

The Seventh Seal: The knight's first meeting with death:

G321 Thriller Research - Kill Bill Volume 1 Clip

I chose to post this video clip from "Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)", because it includes many uses of different shots that I could use in my Final Thriller Film.
I can use the type of shots in order to achieve a higher grade by using ambitious shots, and to add tension and panic, this movie uses these shots to add tension and to make the audience be "on the edge of their seats" by using tight and claustrophobic spaces and shots.

At the beginning of the clip, it uses a type of effective shot this is "Shot Reverse Shot", the use of this reflects the past relationship between the protagonist and the antagonist known as "Vernita" and shows how the protagonist has grown to hate Vernita, the use of the black and white filter within the shot connotes sadness and despair to past events and the flip back to colour then shows the audience that the clip has gone back to the present and to display how much hate she has towards the antagonist.

The use of the worms eye shot in the clip gives the character vulnerability and displays a chance that the character may meet a gruesome and horrible end to their lives, many other action movies like it's sequel / follow up to Tarantino's classic "Kill Bill Vol. 2" and in Frank Miller's "300" use this to achieve the same purpose, to make the audience feel that the character is vulnerable and in danger, the character its looking up at makes them seem powerful and in current control

The use of zooms and close ups gives the clip a tight and claustrophobic atmosphere which will thrill the audience and create tension within the clip.
The use of zoom also focuses on the hate between the two characters (which is achieved in the beginning of the clip and during the fight).

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (1/12) Movie CLIP - Hello Vernita (2003) HD:

Studied Movies for Summer task images.

Here is the movies that I studied for my summer task:

Casino Royale, L.A. Noire and L.A. Confidential.

G321 Thriller Research - YouTube clips (Summer Gap Task Research).

Here is a embed of three YouTube videos, the first clip is the pre-title opening of "Casino Royale". The second clip is the opening of "L.A. Confidential, and the final clip is the opening of Rockstar Games "L.A. Noire. I chose this as it includes many similar features to a classic thriller film, such features like the black and white filter, a fight scene and a confrontation. I also studied these clips as part of my Media Summer Gap Task. Enjoy!
In the first clip, I can use its black and white filter in my movie because it can add a darker and eerie tone.
In the second clip, I can include the shots to produce ambition and to add variety to my film.
In the third and final clip, I can use the location and shots in my movie, I could use streets and alleyways to shoot my movie as most thriller film scenes take place in the street or in dark and treacherous alleyways, also I can use the shots to add tension and tone.
Once again, enjoy the clips!

Video 1:

Video 2:


Video 3:

G321 Thriller research - Media Studies Summer task.