The Hurt Locker

Q1) Explain two ways the characters and/ or events fit the action adventure genre. (10 marks)


In 'The Hurt Locker' the characters automatically fit in with the action/adventure genre because they're in the army. This makes the audience feel as if they will be action as army is associated with action/adventure due to wars. The characters fit in with action/adventure because of the situation they're put in and the way they try to solve the problem. It all goes tense as people begin to say that they should just shoot him and people begin to shout and become nervous of what will happen.

The civilians fit in with the action/adventure because the civilian is wearing a bomb vest which was put on him and that's what makes the action theme. As well all the other civilians are running away because they don't want to get blown up if the army cannot take the bomb vest off him.

Q2) Explain how each of the following is used to create effect:
soundtrack
editing
mise en scene
camera work

In 'The Hurt Locker' the soundtrack consists of mostly dialogue. At the start of the clip the army begin by shouting at a mysterious character who is approaching them with his hands up so you can tell in their voice that they are nervous about this man walking towards them. As he gets closer their volume increases  and it seems that they're becoming more and more nervous to the point where the soldiers suggesting to just shoot him to not put all of their life's in danger. The protagonist then equips a body suit so he could go and try to save the man. When he gets to the man with the bomb vest he has to get a friend to translate for him due to their communication difficulty, during this time he speaks calmly to the man so he doesn't get even more nervous and uncomfortable than he already is. Whilst the protagonist and the victim are talking he explains that he has a family and begins begging that he fixes the problem. As the protagonist realises that  he will run out of time he has to apologise to the victim and run for his life shouting at his fellow army colleagues to get back and take shelter before the bomb explodes so they don't get injured as well.

With in 'The Hurt Locker' editing rally sets the pace for this scene as it's very tense with them being in a war zone as they always feel in danger. As the man approaches the camera changes camera angle all around to see people watching the man approach as well as the army backing up. This happens fast because it makes the audience know that this scene will be action genre due to the way the editing has influenced it.

Mise en scene is added in this film as the lighting is natural due to them being outside. The props involved would consist of the army uniforms to the guns and the bomb, everything wore and used such as the bolt cutters to try and remove the bomb vest would be classed as a prop because without them the film wouldn't look as realistic and therefore wouldn't make the film look as good.

The camera work really sets the scene and lets the audience know that the scene is a action scene. The way people know this is because of the fact that the camera is focused on the soldiers and makes the audience see they're nervous as this random man approaches. Because the camera is focused on their faces and is switching to another soldiers face around every 3 seconds it really sets the pace of that particular scene.