Action & Adventure Film Trailer Analysis

     For the media prep that was set, we were asked to take a trailer from an action and adventure film, and explain ways in how the events fit the genre including the soundtrack, camerawork, editing, and the mise en scene. The movie trailer I chose was, 'Indiana Jones Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'. The trailer video below shows the basic and significant components of an action and adventure film.

     First of all, the soundtrack starts off in a mysterious way as if to introduce something that is not of the normal. Then it turns to a heroic music featuring the 'hero' and the chase that he is involved in. The location of the setting is in a warehouse full of war supplies, and the clearly visualised US army forces add to the realistic feeling of an adventure that lies ahead. As the hero is being chased by the soldiers in the car, the camerawork plays a crucial role. When Indiana Jones has a higher ground compared to the chasers, the camera is recording from a floor above even the hero to distinguish the fact he is in a very high position. The camera angle changes instantly as Indiana Jones moves such as jumping up to the ceiling and landing on the car.

     Another important fact is that the background of the scene is not an everyday place and has a sense of mysteriousness to it, thus adding to the features of an adventure film. This includes the temple with stone pillars which is shot from a very high angle to portray the settings as a massive and exotic destination of the hero and his chasers. Quite frequently, explosions occur which is another component of the action and adventure genre and nail biting situations fill the framework often. The editing towards the end of the trailer works to show the many events either positive or negative that happen in the film and gives the observers the basic information of the events that the hero experiences throughout the film.