Troy

Audience and Institutions

  • Film Title: Troy
  • Genre: Action | War | Historical
  • BBFC Certificate: 15
  • Directors: Wolfgang Petersen
  • Release year: 9th May 2004
  • Production Company: Warner Bros / Plan B Entertainment
  • Distribution Company: Warner Bros / Fox Warner / Village Films
  • Awards Won: 3 wins / 18 nominations
  • Box Office Gross/Profit: $484,161,265
  • Successful advertisement campaign: Yes due to large budget funded by Warner Bros
  • Target Audience: Male, Interested in historical battles/war

 

Micro-Analysis

Camera

  • Long shot of two armies facing of at each other, sets the scene and give the audience an idea of what is happening/going to happen.
  • Tracking in to the two armies and to their leaders, builds tension and the anticipation of the battle.
  • Long shot of two leaders coming towards each other on chariots, shows the rivalry and conflict between them.
  • Close ups of the two leaders talking to each other. (Shows storyline and builds tension.)
  • Tracking shot of champion running towards the other champion.
  • Close up of sword going into the soldier’s shoulder, emphasises his pain and the brutality of the action.
  • High angle shot of the losing king when he leaves the battlefield, highlights his diminish of power.

Sound

  • The sound of the two massive armies marching towards each other, this shows the fierce brutality of the battle.
  • You can hear the slicing sound of the sword going into flesh when the champion stabs the other one in the shoulder, this ambient sounds shows the true savagery and ruthlessness of the battle.
  • The sound of the armour clanking is constant throughout the scene.
  • The horse’s hooves hitting the ground when galloping.
  • When the champion throws a spear at Achilles you can hear the spear gliding through the air, this shows the intense speed.
  • The music speed increases when the fight between the two champions begins, it creates atmosphere and engages the audience.

Editing

  • When Achilles stabs the other champion in the shoulder, SFX makes it look like the sword actually goes into his shoulder, this creates a sense of realism which engages the audience.
  • Blood gushing out of other champions wound highlights the brutality.
  • The background is digitally added it make it look like they are fighting on a huge land mass, this allows the date and time period the film is set in.
  • Many of the soldiers from both of the armies are digitally inserted because you cannot choreograph thousands people at the same time

Mise-en-scene

  • The outfits of the soldiers are similar to the battle gear worn at that time period.
  • The weapons used are the weapons used at the time period.
  • The chariots ridden by the leaders are very luxurious to show power and status but also time period set.
  • The horses are dressed in the same colours as the soldiers armour; this is to show that they are an important part of the army.
  • The setting is in a desert in Ancient Greece on the borderline of two countries.
  • The dirt covering the soldier’s faces is actually make-up, this is used in order to create a sense of realism and make it more believable.