ST - PRODUCT ANALYSIS

WATCHMEN
(Zach Snyder, 2009)GENRE

The film is a superhero action thriller. The audeinces generic expectations of the genre is quickly defined in the opening because of the fight scene which takes place between two heroes, with super-human qualities. However the generic experience is disrupted by being very violent and seeing the characters as drunks and murders rather than crime stoppers.

FILM LANGUAGE

Throught the use of mise-en-scene the main hero (Comedian) is seen as a washed-up and depressed hero, there is a glass of whiskey, a gun and a adult magazine he also seems to be dirty and undressed while watching TV. The other hero, who kills him is kept in shadow, so the premise of the film is created, the assaliant is much dressed more like a criminal with black leather gloves and a mask and therefore assurts more authority the the Comedian.

The camera throughout the opening uses a mix of close-ups on the comedian at different intervals to show his feelings, such as when watching TV compared to later on when mid-fight. As well as this the camera is used to show points of intrest for the characters, using point of view shots, such as the walking up to the apartment door, the gun and the knives during the fight. The camera uses a pan up on the assaliant entering the room, this connotes power to the audience.

During the fight the camera cuts to close-up on points of action such as when being punched in the face, this is extended when slowed down to focus on the action. There is also a huge pan across the entire apartment from the outside through the window, again in slow-motion, to once again focus the audience on the strenght an inhuman abilities.

Sound is used throughout the sequence, a slow song from the time (1960s) Unforgettable by Nat King Cole, it is very juxtapostious to the fight in the scene and makes the fight seem very depressing for the Comedian. As well as this the non-digetic sound in the sequence is added to in editing, throught the use of sound effects the punches and other soundes are enhanched to make the sound even brutal and stronger then a normal fight.

There is very little dialouge between the two, other then the comedian refering to ".....it was only a matter of time" implying that the Comedian knew his assaliant and had thereofre made enemies prior to the film. However throught non-verbal language of the Comedian he is contented to be by himself a drink and watching TV.

The use of symbols is key throughout the film and is very present during the opeing scene. The smiley face badge with a blood drip is iconic of the film and of the Comedian. The smiley face can also be seen on his gun, it is a refecene to the comedians morality, that war is just a joke and killing is a game.

NARRATIVE

The narrative is linear following the Comedian shortly before his murder, which sets one of the premises for the film, involving who killed him and why? The audience is positioned with the Comedian and later in the film with other heroes. The comedian is the only character the audience has seen at this point and the scene is set in his apartment, the audience is made to feel sorry for the character, who is lonely and wash-up as a vigilante. Whereas the assaliant is kept from showing his face which alienates him from the audience as well as his much better fighting ability then the character positioned with the audience. Tension is created in the scene through the use of point-of-view shots from the assailant while walking to the door, it tells the audience someone is coming for the unsuspecting Comedian. As well as this the scene ends with the death of the only character and narrative of the film so far, the audience is left wondering where, and who the narrative will move to. Moreover the assaliant is not shown to the audience creatign tension for the audience and asks questions about his identity.

REPRESENTATION & IDEOLOGY

The social groups conveyed in this scene is the old and the comparison of the young. The Comedian is quite old and seems to "washed-up" and possibly regretful of his youth because of his solitary life. This is compared to the youth of the assailant who is much faster and stronger during the fight.
The values of the Comedian is befily touched upon during the opening and is explored more throughout he film. There is also the ideology of urban crime and a criminal culture in urban areas, because of the Comedian's remark of "....it was only a matter of time." It also represents the ideology that the elderly cannot keep up witht the youth and are generally taken advantage of.
The use of semiotics is used throughout the film however in the opening the Comedian is wearing a dressing gown which connotes the eldery and sets a framework for the representation of the older man, who is unready and unable to keep up with the youth.

MEDIA AUDIENCES

The target audience of the film is adult males (18-35), it is not for the normal superhero audience of youths becuase it is over-stylized and mature subject matter. It has an already fan-based since it is based on a graphic novel of the same name. The audiences reading of the text is that is shows a different reality during a pivital time in US history, the audience during the opening is that the characters are morally flawed and are the opposite to the normal of the genre that is already known. The film delves into many ethical theories and questions weather they are correct in society, such as utilitarianism and the moral absolutes. However many of these ethical matters will be unnoicted by much of the audeince. As a young British teenager, who has studied the period of history and ethical theories influences my reading of the film, the text is quite relevant to me and I find it an intresting subject matter, however the over-stylized violence is appealing to teenage boys as well. The film is able to cater to those who who want to watch an action thriller, but also the people wishing to hear an alternate theories to ethics.

INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

• There aren't many well known actors used in the film, because of budgeting issues, many of the actors showed intrest in the film and nomiated themselves for the part. In the case of Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) the fans wanted him to be the part, and the studio listened, giving Haley the part.
• The studios producing the film were, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Comics and Legendary Pictures. It was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures. The film is an industrial film.
• The film was advertised to the already fans of the novel, by having director and actor apperances at Comic-Con. there was also several tie-in games released at the same time as the film.