(H/W) - Conventions of 'The Amazing Spiderman' (2002)

CONVENTIONS OF "THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN" (2002)

In the movie Spiderman (2005), the director uses mise-en-scene to make  the audience aware of Norman’s evil conscious, the Green Goblin.  This is done by Norman looking into the mirror and being reflected. When the camera is viewing the mirror, the evil conscious starts to speak and persuade Norman to do evil deeds. However when the camera is upon Norman himself (not reflected), Norman is himself trying to understand who and what this other conscience is. By doing this shows that there is now two sides of Norman, a good and a bad, and makes the audience ware of this. This also symbolises that this conscious is a reflection of Normans personally meaning it’s the same but different as Norman is kind and loyal however the evil conscience, the green goblin is completely the opposite but still the same person.

Later during this movie, this idea is developed when the mask (containing the evil conscience) is talking to Norman. During this scene, Norman is on his hands and knees looking up to the mask. This use of positioning and levels (mise-en-scene) because the due to the mask being positioned higher than Norman shows that the evil conscience (the mask) has more power, control and significance than Norman and is over powering him. This is also shown by Norman as he at this point is on the floor, on his hands and knees, looking up at the mask as if the mask (evil conscience) has taken control and that Norman has become some sort of dominion or servant of this conscience and that the mask has won. The levels of the characters also show this as usually being placed ‘higher up’ shows more power and significance. Furthermore, a high angled shot was used at this point on Norman to show how little he was compared to his evil ‘other half’ which at this point was given a low angled shot to show its power over him.

A forward tracking shot is used to show characters falling in love. As Peter and Mary-Jane are realise they are in love, the camera focuses on their eyes (a close-up) and slowly starts to track forward getting closer and closer to their eyes. This tells the audience that they ‘have feelings’ for each other and also, there eyes are giving away a lot of the emotion. By tracking or zooming in to the characters eyes (goes from close-up to extreme close up) gives off the effect that both are looking deep into each other’s eyes, getting deeper and deeper as if they want to ‘find out more’ about each other reflecting the romance element. This takes place as Peter Parker (Spiderman) is flattering and saying sweet things about Mary. The soundtrack, non-diegetic sound, which accompanies this scene adds to the overall effect of the scene and develops the idea of a romance blooming between them both as the soundtrack includes pianos and violins which are quite feminine, peaceful, calming and soothing types of instruments which reflects both of their emotions at that current point. 

"The Amazing Spiderman" inherits media conventions that many other superhero films also contain. For example, 'Propp's Theory' is used during this movie. You have 'The Hero', who is of course 'Spiderman'. He has the special ability to climb walls like a spider and also has super strength and agility. He uses his extraordinary, superhuman powers to fight crime and defeat evil villains. Another feature this film inherits is the basic Superhero 'structure' - An Origin Story. A story which shows what made this person desire to become a crime fighting hero. There is also a main villain in 'Spiderman' . The Green Goblin'. This villain is designed to be everything Spiderman isn't; Uncaring, unsympathetic, Evil and the desire of the cities destruction. To show that this character is an evil villain, he is dressed in a green metallic costume with yellow glowing, evil-looking eyes, to suggest that he is the villain. His special power is the ability to fly and shoot bolts of energy from his hands which is similar in to Spiderman but uses the power against him and the citizens of New York.