Homework: A-A clip genre analysis: Kill Bill

This is the final scene from Kill Bill vol. 1:
I chose Kill Bill because I think it is an amazing film, it is one of my favourites, and is an iconic action film.

Narrative

Kill Bill doesn't follow Todorov's typical theory of equlibrium, disruption and restoration. The first film is part of a two volume set, so the restoration comes at the end of the second film. The opening scene of volume one is between the main character (The Bride) and the villain (Bill), ending with the villain shooting the main character. The main body of the film is about the main character's revenge to kill Bill (hence the title). Her only way to finding and killing Bill is by finding and killing the rest of the group of assassinators, called the Deadly Vipers Assassination Squad (DVAS). All of the situations are fight scenes, between the protagonist and her enemy. Typical sounds include sound effects, like the sound of someone being hit, or being thrown against a wall. These sounds are exaggerated, used to amplify the theme of fighting, conflict and violence. The main theme of this film is revenge. From The Bride's perspective, it could be considered good vs. evil (she is good, Bill is evil), however she has bad aspects, and murdering a lot of people for your own interests full of vengeance would probably not be considered 'good' and she is not doing these things for the greater good, or for protecting society. 

Iconography

Weaponary is a huge aspect of this film, and many of the characters use swords as their choice of weapon. Instead of big guns and snipers, most of the characters opt for swords, allowing there to be extravagant and violent fights between the characters. 

Block colouring, mostly black, is used for costumes, such as the Crazy 88 (one of the enemy's groups) wearing dark, black suits and black masks to hide their faces. A lot of the other characters also wear smart clothing, for example Elle Driver (another of The Bride's enemy's) is wearing a dark suit during her fight scene with The Bride. 

The Bride's iconic outfit is a yellow, leather jumpsuit. Hers is the only outfit which is a bright colour, and the bright colour and tight-fit represent her feminity. 

The lighting varies, from natural to artificial, depending on the setting. In household settings, the lighting is clearly artificial, but in more natural settings, such as the desert the lighting is mroe natural. Most of the lighting is artificial, as the The Bride is interupting her enemies on their day-to-day life, many of the scenes are sets in their homes or in hotels, illustrating her intrusion.

Special effects are a major aspect of the Kill Bill volumes. Taratino uses sound effects during the fights to emphasise the violence in the fights. Fake blood is also used during the fights, however this is used in almost a comic way, as the blood spurts from the harmed body, is a way that is clearly staged. This gives the film a comic side, but it could be argued this makes the film even more creepy and sadastic. Slow-mo is used often through-out the film, again during fight-scenes, a typical convention of action films.

Characters

Heroine: The Bride. She is called this, as she was attacked during her wedding, adn her revenge is based upon this. Throughout the film, the audience is not given her real name, it is covered artificially so you cannot find out.  
The Bride is not a typical hero but has aspects that make her recognisable. For starters, she is a female protagonist. However, she shows strength, courage and intelligence, important aspects of an action hero. 

Villain: Bill. Bill and The Bride were once in a relationship, and Bill and the DVAS attempt to murder The Bride because she was pregnant with Bill's child and left him. There are other villains, none as major as Bill, but many that The Bride must face while searching for Bill, for example the DVAS. 
 Bill, also, is not typical. He does not necessarily want to take over the world, in fact it is not really known what any of the enemies are doing with their lives. He tried to kill The Bride in an act of revenge, but he too shows aspects of a conventional villain. He is clever, cunning and wants to bring harm and danger to others. 

Princess: There is not really a princess in the film; it is about a woman's revenge, she is not tryign to save anyone.

Helper/donor: donors are an important part of the Kill Bill volumes. It is because of the donors that The Bride knows all the knowledge and wisdom that allows her to find and kill Bill and the DVAS. Hattori Hanzō is the main donor in vol. 1. He is a renowned swordsmith who trained Bill, but is now retired. He makes "his finest sword" for The Bride, as he is ashamed of what Bill has become and feels like he owes it to her. In vol. 2 there is also a major donor, Pai Mei, who trains The Bride in kung fu and teaches her the lethal "Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Tehnique", which The Bride eventually uses to kill Bill.

Setting

The story follows The Bride as she travels around, looking for different characters. This means there are a variety of settings in Kill Bill.Many take place in the character's home, for example Vernita Green. The Bride stops by during the day, disrupting Vernita's life, illustrating surprise and intrusion. Using settings like homes create a sense of security and comfort, and so this makes the violent intrusion even worse. This is relfected when Vernita's daughter arrives home from school, emphasising the shock and surprise of The Bride's visit and the brutal intrusion into their home. Most of the settings include lots of glass, and other smashable materials, as well as objects which can be used as weapons, such as kitchen knives. This allows for very physical fighting, with lots of characters being thrown against walls which smash around them, adding to the atmosphere and emphasising the raw violence in the fights.

Homework 1: Legally Blonde - character, narrative and genre analysis

Legally Blonde - court room scene.

In this scene, Elle successfully wins her first case in the court room.

Characters

Heroine: Elle Woods - bubbly outgoing soroity girl.

Princess: Emmette Richmond - the young, male attorney that Elle falls in love with at Harvard.

Villain: Vivian Kensington - the posh, snobby girl who is the fiancee of Elle's ex-boyfriend. Later in the film, she and Elle become friends when Vivian is inspired by Elle and starts to be nice.

Anti-hero: Professor Callahan - originally suggested to help Elle and want only the best for her, they seem to be allies. However, he starts to flirt with Elle and make her feel upset. When the audience see his bad side, this is the same time Vivian shows her good side.

Main helper: Paulette Coolidge - is Elle's best friend while at Harvard and is her confidante. The two help each other overcome obstacles in their lives.

Donor: Professor Stromwell - donates wisdom and encouragement to make Elle feel worthy and confident, full of courage. 

 Narrative

Equilibrium:

Elle is living in a soroity house and is in a happy relationship with her boyfriend Warner. She is content with her materialistic life and is in love with Warner. She believes that soon he will ask her to marry him and this is the most important thing in her life.

Disruption:

Elle goes to dinner with Warner, believing this to be the time when he will propose. She is ready for his proposal and all the girls in her soroity believe it also. However, his life plans don't coincide with Elle's, when instead of proposing, he breaks up with her. He tells her how he is goign to Harvard Law school, and how he is expected to be extremely successful and find a sensible girl more appropriate for marraige. This break up is what causes Elle to enter Harvard Law, so that she can show Warner she is the kind of girl he needs and to win him back.

Restoration:

When Elle wins her first case, while still a student, not yet a fully qualified laywer, she shows her true intelligence and courage. She is made head-speaker at the graduation ceremony, and is in a happy relationship with Emmette. Her situtation is completely different to the beginning, she is no longer naive and ignorant, living in a soroity house, or in a relationship with Warner. She is now much more educated and experience, living in Massachusetts and in a serious relationship with Emmette.

Genre

 Legally Blonde is a romantic comedys. 

The romantic aspect is portrayed through Warner and Emmette. The whole reason for the film, the core motive for the film, for Elle applying to Harvard is for love: to win back Warner. The blossoming relationship between Elle and Emmette also portrays the romantic feature.  
The comedy aspect is prtrayed continuously throughout the films, mainly through the characters' representations. The stereotypical, soroity girl Elle at the beginning is comical and the stereotypes are exaggerated for comic reasons. The character Paulette also portrays humour throughout the film, with many of the most well-known, funny scenes including her, such as the 'bend and snap':