Ancillary Task - Film Review Example

Film reviews include a variety of aspects and traits that make them recognisable and simple to understand. The conventions used within a film review offer the chance to not only incite interest but portray the content of the film and its production. It also creates a range of views and interpretations that allow the audience to develop their connection with the film, raising debates and questions that previously may not have been considered.  Film reviews are also designed to entertain and give basic knowledge about the film e.g. genre, director, cast/crew. Below is an example film review that I have written previously. It contains some of the features expected within a film review and offers room for development and basic features that a review on the short film “two” should contain.

Alice in Wonderland - Tim Burton

Why is a raven like a writing desk? The answer to the riddle eludes us all and continues to in Tim Burton’s new imagining of Lewis Carroll’s highly acclaimed series.  Alice returns to Underland aged nineteen and finds the world in disarray under the rule of the Red Queen. The narrative offers an exciting and thrilling insight into the world of Alice Kingsley and her attempt to liberate her new found allies. The stunning visual imagery conveys the importance of mise-en – scene to the director, and what a perfect story it is for his world renowned style.

Mia Wasikowska plays the imaginative and stubborn young girl, who breaks all of society’s norms, refusing to wear stocking and her corset, forging a strong connection with a modern day audience. She is confident, cautious and dubious at her surroundings, rejecting everything a high class society would have expected of her. These features are crucial to her success in Underland, standing up against the Bandersnatch repeating with confidence that this is her dream.

The Hatter, mad eccentric but naive with his desires, is her kindest ally and offers a chance for the audience to engage in the passion of Underland and most importantly conveys the human need for friendship and familiarity. The moral and the most importantly concept of self discovery are represented by the bond created by Alice and The Hatter. With his vibrant red hair, and ever changing accent, Johnny Depp’s interpretation is the embodiment of Underland and the unique tones it creates.  A never ending friendship helps to bond the two realities together. The Dormouse, Cheshire cat and Absolem; Barbara Windsor, Stephen Fry and Alan Rickman respectively, add to the theme of friendship and the importance of casting within the film; continuing the Burton tradition of British casting.

The production of the film was shot using predominantly green screen. This allowed the changes of reality and to connote the importance of the characters and locations. Without this technology the content of the film would not be as vibrant or as stylised as they are. Green screen also had the chance to add depth and reality to the film, an important aspect of Burton’s new vision.

Although some may question the “muchness” of the film compared with the other recognisable styles in Burton’s previous work. The pataphysical state of Underland and the perversion of normal boundaries certainly connect strongly with his other films such as Beetlejuice. The Fantasy genre that the film possesses, allows the mise-en-scene to be in control of the film, also with the importance of the unusual and yet with the use of verisimilitude, relatable characters. The film culminates with the battle between Alice and the Jabberwocky, the long shot used as a classic image of victory for women and Underland.  In the words of the Hatter “You would have to be half mad to dream me up” and with this triumph, it shows that Burton had the vision to succeed with this challenge.