Stanley Kubrick - film analysis

The Shining

Strange music score, footage of landscape but camera movement flying through mountains and twisted movement. - research correct terminology.

This sequence brings the audience into the film and to introduce the characters at the same time. We also follow a car through the scenery. Realising we only follow one car and where the car is driving we don't see any other vehicles driving past. This suggests that the location they are at will be desserted where there are not many people around.

Introduced to a boy whom looking into the mirror in the bathroom talking to 'someone' but no one in the room except himself. Big close up to see reaction and suggests to the audience the significance of the boys personality and issues which plays an important part of the film.

Boy playing darts by himself, turns to see 2 girls.  - camera reaction quick zoom, sound high pitched score.

Shot of father sleeping in bed. We do not realise it is a mirror shot until the camera zooms out to reveal the mirror and the mother bringing breakfast, then zooms back in.

Maze shot

follow mother and son getting lost in maze, comes out to see the father playing ball in hotel and walks towards a model of the maze. He stares at the maze and we get a reverse shot of the maze. We are drawn back into the maze where we see figures moving, then audience hears dialogue suggesting the mother talking to the son. The camera starts zooming into the maze still with strange noise creating suspense. Clever editing.

Quite often we are shown the boy playing the tri-cycle by himself. 

This suggests he is lonely and has no friends. 

When we see the boy playing once more, the audience is shown what the boy is seeing. We see the girls once again but this time down a corridoor and this would be the first time we hear the girls talk and ask him to play with them.

Nightmare - framed under the table, see the table leg.

Sitting at bar - even though the room is big, there are so many lights, it is still dark in the room. We can still see the actor as the lighting is naturally coming up on actors face from the bar.

So many long shots with characters on their own suggests vulnerability. 

This also builds suspense that shows there's no help in preparation of what is going to happen later in the film.

Full metal Jacket

Intro - shaved heads, music about vietnam war

Introduces characters and personalities when Major shouts and finds out who they are e.g guy who smirks.

Then we see the guys training. When 'piles' slacks we begin to see the guys work together.

Sequence of piles being shown how to do things, all mid shots or close ups so we feel we are getting to know both characters. Whilst we see training we also hear a marching beat of music that suits the marine army.

We begin the see that we may be following one character. Leonard (piles) it began after he hid his doughnut and the rest of the platoon had to do press ups whilst he ate it infront of them because he was hungry. That same night they platoon all ganged up on him, wrapped a soap with a towel and tied him down and hit him with it. We start getting a few close ups of him feeling alone and thinking alot.

The story changes when in the bathroom at night we see him shoot the major then shoot himself.