Case Study 2

The Dark Knight Rises - Institution Research.

1) The Dark Knight is a Hollywood blockbuster which is a comic adaption as well. The film is a trilogy as it begins with Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and lastly The Dark Knight Rises. All three of the films have been a massive hit with the audience which clearly highlights it is a successful blockbuster. Furthermore, the The Dark Knight Rises follows on from the ending of The Dark Knight as Batman takes the fall for Harvey Dent murder. The narrative for the The Dark Knight is full of thrilling aspects and excitement which would keep the audience gripped to their seats. Batman has to go through obstacles to defeat the evil force called Bane who has arrived to Gotham city in order to achieve his goal by taking over the world and to reveal the truth of who Harvey Dent really was.

Director: Christopher Nolan

Producers: Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven.

Starring: 

Christopher Bale (Batman/Bruce) 

Anne Hathaway (Selina Kyle/CatWomen) 

Tom Hardy (Bane)

Josepth Gordan - Levitt (John Blake/Robin) 

Michael Cain (Alfed Pennyworth)

Gary Oldman (Commissioner James Gordan) 

Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox) 

Marion Cotillard (Miranda Tate)

Distributor - Warner Bros. Picture

Release Dates: July 16th 2012 (USA) and 18th July 2012 (UK) 

Running Times: 165 Minutes.

Budget: $250-300 million

Box Office: $1,081, 041, 287

2)

The scene I have chosen to analyse from the film is when Selina Kyle enters into the Bar and serves justice by  catching out the dangerous character male. The reason why I chosen this specific part is because Selina Kyle also known as Anne Hathaway is represented as being a powerful and sly female character in this scene and through out the film. This is effective because, it goes against the views of how females in society are stereo typically represented as being inferior compared to men. One could argue that in The Dark Knight Rises she holds the same power as men or is even more superior than them. Moreover, the setting of the scene is takes place at night in a quiet bar and the low key lighting creates a mysterious atmosphere. A long shot is used of the female character wearing a black dress with red lipstick, as she walks into the bar  with all these men in around which gives the audience a sense of conflict. The colour black could connote she that she is dangerous and not the girl men would want to get on her bad side; Where as, the colour red represents her in being seductive and feminine which could appeal to the male audience. Additionally, the over the shot conversation is used to show an on going conversation between both of the characters clearly highlights to the audience that conflict is going to occur. The male character is dressed formally with wearing a suit which could suggest that he is wealthy. However, his facial expression in looking serious and the fact that he is waiting for the female character to come while other men one the look out which highlights that the male character is dangerous. An example of this is when the one of the male character worker puts a gun against the side of Selina Kyle head as the prop of the gun symbolises death/violence. Furthermore, the atmosphere completely changes once the fighting begins with the Selina Kyle then men which grips audience attention. The fast pace action with the fighting, gun shooting and police coming all creates a hectic and exhilarating atmosphere as a lot is going on in just one scene, also links to the genre of being an action/thriller. Moreover, the fact that the female character is fighting all of the men clearly represents her as a strong woman which some of the female audience may aspire to be like her.

3) Differences

• Both films target a different audience.
• Ill Manors is directed by a famous well known artist Plan B (Ben Drew) whereas, The Dark Knight Rises is directed by Christophere Nolen who is also successful but is not a singer/rapper.
• The Dark Knight Rises a big Hollywood blockbuster and Ill Manors is a low British blockbuster.
• The genres are different as Ill Manors is a Urban Drama where as The Dark Knight Rises is a hybrid as the genre of the film is action, thriller and drama 
• The Dark Knight made $1 billion in US box office whereas, Ill Manors made £453,570 in the UK box office.
• The actors and actresses which appear in Ill Manors are not well known to the public, whereas in The Dark Knight the actors and actresses which star in the film are successful  popular with the public therefore more people are likely to watch the film.
• Both film certificates are different as The Dark Knight is a 12A (UK) and Ill Manors is an 18.
• Settings are completely different.
• Batman is a comic adaptation.
• Ill Manors had a multi-strand narrative

Similarities

• Contain aspects of actions.
• Includes enigma codes.
• Both films included more male characters compared to females.

The Dark Knight Rises
E - Media

The website for The Dark Knight Rises really engages the audience due to the different tabs which allows them to access more things. Once you access the website the trailer for the film appears straight away which highlights the key concept of synergy; however, viewers can close the trailer if they do not want to watch it. The trailer is as it gives the audience an insight of the film if they have not see the trailer before. Compared to Ill Manors there are more tabs available for the audience to engage in or find out more information about the film, watch clips, download wall paper through Iphone and Ipad etc. Also, the audience are able to interact with the film through the social networks such as Face Book which highlights the concept of user generated content as the audience would keep the audience connected and engaged. The strap line on the website "Own It, Blu-Ray Combo Pack, DVD, Digital Download, Now" clearly highlights the concept of synergy as now people can watch the film on DVD or download the film rather than watching it in the cinema. Furthermore, the colour black is used on the entire background of the website which creates a mysterious and dangerous atmosphere and links to the genre of the film as being a thriller. Moreover, the first image which appears on the website is of the protagonist Batman (Bruce Wayne) and the setting is of an explosion in a city which the colour orange is used to create an thrilling atmosphere. The fact that the audience cannot see Batman face due to his black masks covering his eyes does represent him as being a mysterious and heroic figure as he wants to hide his identity. The typography for "The Dark Knight Rises Own It Now" is in a bold white font which is a good contrast with the background colour of black.

Trailer
Broadcast/E-media

The beginning of the film trailer is set in a football stadium as a young boy sings the national anthem while all the fans stand up listening, creating a quiet atmosphere. However, the atmosphere changes once audience are introduced to the villain Bane, who is climbing up the steps which clearly highlights to the audience that conflict is going to occur which is clearly shown through the clips later on in the trailer.  The fact that the title of the film is shown at the end of the trailer is effective as it keeps the audience engaged and appealed with all the chaotic elements being shown they would ant to know what the film is called. Additionally, important information such as the release date is also shown at the end as well after the title of the film, this would make the audience aware of when the film will be coming out in cinemas.  Furthermore, montage editing is used through out this trailer which shows it is a non linear narrative in terms of the shots and fast pace and it is a multi-strand narrative as there is more than one narrative; effective in generating excitement for the audience. Also, the different action shots is effective in creating a thrilling atmosphere which would keep the audience engaged and links to the genre. The fact that actors and actresses who are starring in the film are well known is effective as more people are likely to watch the film as they maybe fans of them. According to the narrative   Propp character theory which is related to the trailer is: the 

Hero -Batman (Christopher Bale) 

Villain -Bane (Tom Hardy)

 Princess - could be Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) as in the trailer we the audience would be aware of the close connection she has with Bruce Wayne (Batman)

Donar - could be Alfed as he has looked after Bruce Wayne since his parents got murdered and he has been there for him throughout all of the Batman trilogies.