Analysing The Action Film "The Other Guys":

 

Analysing three action films:

Opening scene of 'The Other Guys'

 

The scene straight away starts with a high angle shot of the city, as the films begins to start the camera beings to move out and you see more of the city. There is a voice over and you can hear sirens in the back, the voice is very deep and he sounds like a Gangster. Within 10 seconds the action starts, straight away it focuses on a road which is busy and the music becomes very upbeat and energetic. They focus on one car which looks expensive and there is a man laying on top of the car, straight away people and wondering what is going on and why he is up there. The music then becomes quiet and the two actors begin to talk and he asks him why is up there, this would make the audience think he is putting his life at risk and whos car is he actually on. The car behind is tail gating the car the man is on top of and he has a siren on the top of his car, this suggests he is to do with the police and he is after the man in that big car. He then gets out a gun and fires it at the car and the back window smashes, this suggests he knows what he is doing because he doesn't shoot his friend and doesn't hurt the man, it is like he is doing it to scare him. The next shot is an extreme close up of a moving bullet, the shallow depth of field in the background creates dramamtic effect as the audience are only able to focuses on the bullet. It draws the audience in as it goes in slow motion towards the car and then speeds up making the viewers think the bullet is going to hurt someone or something. It then speeds up and it breaks the siren but because the film is meant to be a comedy as well as action the man just gets out another siren and out it on the top of the car.

There is then diegetic sound as the man says 'uh oh' but you can not see him this gives the effect that something could of happened that the audience do not kow about and it would make up worried about whats going to happen next. The man on top of the car then panickes and stauight after there are gun shots trying to be aimed at him. The car behind then accelerates to try and help him which shows even the calm one is starting to panick and wans to help him. You then get an over the head shot of the man jumping from one car to another to try and dodge the bullets and it goes into slow motion, this suggests he is very active and has done this before. They then dodge cars on the road showing that what they are dong is very danderous but again they are very aware of whats going on and can cope with it.

They both are now shoting at each other and not only are they putting each other at risk but also the public around them. The physical stunts and car chases makes the scene effective because it shows what action is really like, around 1.5 minutes into it the gun shots are very repetitive causing the cars bonit to flip up making the actors not being able to see where they are going. They come to a T juntion still not being able to see but they still seem to be very calm and not worry about it, like it is funny.  By dodging other cars and having the upbeat music suggests that the scene is very tense and something is going to happen, within 2 seconds a truck falls over and it spills all the rubbish over the road. The traffic is at a stand still which suggests it is going to cause difficulties with the other people who may need to get somewhere, you get a close up of the front of the bus not noticing anything around it which may give the effect that the bus is coming towards the audience and could make them flinch.

The men in the police car then both shoot at the bonet to try and break it off this then flies off and disapears this shows detailed action. You then get a long shot view of the people sitting on the double decker bus and are on a tour, they seem surprised to what is happening and begin to take pictures. The police car drives over all the rubbish on the floor suggesting that they don't care what they have to do they will get to those people they are after. You then get another low down long shot of the bus and then the car flies over and crashes into the side of the bus, this shows skill due to their professional ability. Luckly no one was hurt and to try and make a joke of it the man says 'did someone call 911, holy shit?' this gives the effect that not only is this an action film but it is also a comedy. This would suggest that the target audience would be males as not only do they like action but they also like comedies and the two mixed together works really well, also it would be an older audience because of the language which is being used would not be suitable for a younger audience.

The car carries on running and the audience would have thought he got away because the car is now ruined and they are stuck in a bus, although this is happening they still seem to chase them which would make the audience know that they do this on a regular basis. You then get a long shot of the front of the bus and you can see a reflection of one of the men driving it, you can also see the car is still in the bus suggesting the men are in there still not wanting to give up and all the passengers are still on board but they don't seem to be to affraid showing that this is a action comedy. They are dodging every car in sight to try and get to them, you get a close up of the car and the background is blurred suggesting you should focus on the car and to make it seem tense as the audience would want to know what is going on. You get a close up of the wheel and you hear it screech which highlights that the scene is tense and it shows that he has given up and he is willing to fight which emphasises danger. He then jumps out of the car and gets his gun to aim at the bus and begins to shot this shows that he is in control and he wants to end it.  You get a long shot of the two men who are firing at the bus which  takes their power away because it is so far away and it is slightly above the where as when you get a shot of the man driving the bus you always seem to get a close up of his face which shows he is the one that they want the audience to focus on. The bus is being shot at and there are bullet holes in the windscreen and the driver begins to turn the bus whilst he is shouting, you get a close up of the two older passengers screaming which shows fear making the audience feel like the man has put himself before others.

You get a close up of the top of his shoe on the brake and you hear him shout but the expressions on his face still does not seem to be to affaid and it looks like he is enjoying what is going on which also suggets he is still willing to put himself in danger. You get a close up of the man with the gun to show the anger on his face which gives the effect that he is willing to kill the people in the bus. As the bus is on a slant and ready to turn over it hits a taxi making a smashing noise which makes the scene more exciting and it draws the audience in, as the bus hits the taxi the police car come crashing out towards the two men who are shotting. You get a close up of the bottom of the car whist it is flying in the air which gives the effect that it is powerful and it makes would make the audience wonder who is in control of the car and could make them worry to what is going on. The camera then shows you then three men shotting, one is standing at the front asting as if he isn't affraid and he wants the car to come to him as he has had enough of all the chasing, the other two men seem scared but don't want to let their friend down so they are still ready for it but are hiding. In the background you also get a view of the gold plated shop which shows they are in a place they shouldn't be as it looks posh and upperclass but they do not which could be the reason why the police men are chasing them. The camera then changes quickly to a close up of the damaged car and you see the driver with his two hands off the wheel whilst holding two guns and in slow motion says 'You have been ordered to remain silent!' this gives the effect that even though he is half way through the sky and is about to hit another car and put his own life at danger he is still doing his job. The two minutes end with the bullet hitting the car window and it smashing which shows the man is aiming in the right direction.