Pearl Harbor Movie Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx6HnLvK9M0&feature=related
I chose the movie trailer for “Pearl Harbor” because I love war movies. Personally, by watching these movies I can achieve a great sense of pride in my own country. The movie “Pearl Harbor” was based on the actual historical even that occurred at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This date “that will live in infamy” (as Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his speech to the presses) occurred on December 7th, 1941 where the Empire of Japan “suddenly and deliberately attacked” the United State of America. I can say already that I have seen this movie and based on the trailer and what I have seen from the movie, the plot follows two main characters Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck) and Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett) who are army pilots.
The narrative is established by the voice over representation of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Throughout the trailer we hear his speeches that he makes to the cabinet in a combination with the one he makes with the people. He says “how long is America going to pretend, that the world is not at war.” This immediately implies that the movie will be taking place in America where they will be forced into a battle to defend its home front. The trailer than introduces “Japanese aggressive movement” which shows that there will be conflict between the two countries. A montage of dog fights are played in a sequence to show that there will, in fact, be a struggle that keeps the protagonists (the Americans) from winning the battle.
The cinematography in the film proves to add dynamic characteristics in the plot. For example, the navy ships at Pearl Harbor represent America’s symbol of its power and a symbol of hope because these vessels provide relief to countries all over the world. When Japan destroys the several dozens of ships docked at Pearl Harbor it portrays that Japan is a force to be reckoned with. Another piece of cinematography focus is when Japan is sending all of its bombs off on the ships and the camera focuses on just one as it descends towards a ship. As Roosevelt is describing how the attack was deliberate it reminds of a quote from Call of Duty that says “friendly fire, isn’t.” This quote relates because throughout the beginning of the movie, Japan deceived America for continued peace. Meaning that a true ally would never wage war even if it meant fighting over resources like oil, which described in the movie, is what Japan lacked.
The only technique of editing I see in this trailer is the use of montage. Montages in this trailer represents a continuous battle where the action never ends, thus, compelling the audience to seek the thrill of war through this movie.
The sound effect in this trailer that is dominant is the sound of airplanes. Now, besides this obvious use of character placement (the airplane is a character of this movie) we notice an overwhelming noise from the flashes of the cameras that take pictures of Roosevelt. This is a representation of the bombings that occur at Pearl Harbor only because the flash sounds so intense that it makes itself to be like an explosion. By bringing this flash noise to the cameras on the president it’s like saying: when you bomb America, you bomb the president himself – and that is an act of war.
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