Shrek is a 2001 comedy movie in which we follow Shrek (Mike Myers), a big, green ogre on a quest to get his swamp back from being overrun by fairy tale creatures who were evicted from their land by the tyrannical lord named Farquaad (John Lithgow). On his adventure he meets a talking donkey called Donkey (Eddie Murphy), who helps him find Lord Farquaad and arrange a deal with him to get the deed to his swamp back in exchange for rescuing the Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz), who, after rescuing, he falls in love with. However, Fiona has a dark secret, that will change both of their lives. Although it’s a film primarily for children, there is phenomenal writing, being able to craft both hilarious jokes and compelling drama and weave in positive messages, all with an edge of innuendo to keep the adults entertained. Shrek has many positive messages, in a time when prejudice and bullying are more prevalent, Shrek teaches us that beauty isn’t always on the outside, diversity is important and should be embraced and bullying is a sign of weakness. Just because you’re ugly, doesn’t mean you can’t be loved. The animation has aged gracefully, without many of the growing pains that 3D animation was going through at the time. It pushed the boundaries of CGI, so much so that it won the first Oscar for Best Animated Picture. The cinematography is excellent with amazing attention to detail. For example, at the start of the movie, when Shrek is going about his day, there is a scene where he looks at a mirror and it smashes, and Shrek is happy about it. However, during the Hallelujah sequence, Shrek finds that same mirror, still smashed, and is sad. The music is expertly implemented, with a jukebox musical approach while still creating an original score that rivals even modern movies. There’s one thing that you may have noticed while watching the movie, and that’s how the licensed non-diegetic music only plays when characters are ‘putting on a mask’, whether for others or themselves, while the original music plays when the characters are being who they really are. The only exception to this would be Donkey, which I think was very clever to make him one of the two characters in the movie to sing diegetically. I would like to mention the editing in one specific way, and that’s the editing in the Hallelujah sequence. In this sequence, Shrek is sad and about to lose all his needs, and during the sequence there’s constant cross-fades between shots to show how, while Shrek needs Fiona and Donkey, they also need him. This is also contrasted with the opening ‘All Star’ montage, showing shots from that montage in a new light because Shrek now realises how lonely his previous life was after experiencing real bonding with the two people he’s just driven away. In conclusion, Shrek is an underrated masterpiece that too many people write off as a meme
Film as a genre can be a form of simple escapism or it can be a way to inform and educate. A good film allows us to escape reality and transports us into another world, but it can also help us to see the world through someone else’s eyes and show us a world that we would not normally see encouraging empathy and awareness.
There are many key elements that make this possible. It all starts with a narrative. Films can be both simple and complex but still have the same impact.
The genre of the film whether it be a thriller that leaves you on the edge of your seat or a horror that you almost can’t watch; each genre has specific criteria, and each director has their own style. With good editing, cinematography and music a simple story can become something people can identify with.
Cinematography is one of the important elements as it shows us what we the audience should be looking at (or the director wants to see) and allows us to see things from the perspective of the characters. A good film should include different types of shots to imply meaning. For example, the iconic “what’s in the box” scene from se7en (1999 David Fincher). When filming the character of John Doe (Kevin Spacey), the director (David Fincher) chose to use a mounted camara so that the camera was steady and in control, symbolising John doe is in control of the situation. Whereas for the characters played by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, Fincher uses handheld camaras which are shaky and out of control. This is used to imply chaos and confusion.
Cinematography, however, is meaningless without editing. Cutting shots and putting them in the right order can be the make-or-break of a good film. It is essential that a good film is edited well as the film will run smoothly and make sense. Editing can also help to build tension; with lots of fast cuts it can create a sense of urgency and drama. As well as this when using more sustained shots it allows the audience to focus more and think about what they are watching.
No movie is complete without music and sound. A Good film should have a score that is instantly recognizable and that evokes meaning and emotion whilst helping to present key themes in a subliminal way. The music is an indicator to the audience on how they should be feeling. For example, the shire theme from the lord of the ring trilogy (2001-2003 Peter Jackson) is repeated throughout the film constantly reminding the audience of home and a safe place. The theme is changed throughout the film for darker moments using shifts in key which imbues a sadder tone. Music helps the audience to connect and invest more in the film.
In my opinion the best films are those that make the audience think and leaves them reflecting on them long after the films have ended and also those that Carry a hidden message and do not directly influence the viewer but instead allow them to make their own decisions.
A well written story with a great cast, impressive cinematography and a beautiful soundtrack; are all features that anyone could refer to when ranking a film, but what about a film’s influence? How does a film affect the people watching it?
An example of a film that had an impact on the industry for good was ‘Citizen Kane’. Which utilized a new style for shooting film; this new style was further applied on future noir movies such as ‘Double Indemnity’. Great movies have the ability to change things; from how a person looks at the world, to how a director decides to shoot a film.
For an audience; a film that affects them on a more complex and emotional level tends to be more memorable; which creates a conversation between the viewer and the film ( the viewer begins to search for answers to questions within the film ). A film could have a great story, and amazing cinematography, but without a connection to the audience and the film, it becomes meaningless.
A personal example of a beautifully choreographed film would be ‘her’ (2013, by Spike Jonze). ‘Her’ is a journey for both the audience and the main character (Theodore), as the audience follows the story of a lost man going through a divorce; and finding solace in a new artificial intelligence installed onto his computer. A unique love story between an artificial voice and a man. Throughout the film the audience is given short montages from the past of Theodore’s colourful life with his ex-wife, whilst also showing how dull his present is. As the audience becomes more acquainted with the character they begin to develop an attachment which later develops into empathy for the character.
Furthermore the film also utilizes the effect of cinematography; the shots of Theodore mainly consist of shallow focus and single shots in contrast to those around him, such as couples; who are always shown in two shots. The single shots signify his loneliness and detachment from other people. The use of shallow focus highlights his detachment from his surroundings; as everything around him is a blur. There are always reasons why a director chooses to film in such a manner; they use it to portray a deeper message, or to enthrall an audience.
What makes a good film? My summary would be that everyone looks at a film in a different way; one may favour a film’s use of cinematography, whilst the other could favour a film’s storyline more, but I believe that those two are meaningless without the audience’s attention and enthrallment to the film itself, so a film that works harmoniously with the audience; utilizing all aspects of the film ( not only the cinematography and storyline, but its message ) is what I would consider a ‘good’ film.
Because film is an art form what makes a film good changes from person to person and what their preferences are. The film I will be using for my reference as what a good film good is the film ‘Spirited Away’ which was directed and written by ‘Hayao Miyazaki’. This film won an academy award for best animated feature in 2003 and in 2016 was voted 4th best film of the century by the BBC from 177 critics from around the world. The film follows a ten-year-old girl who accidentally enters the spiritual world and must find a way to escape and find her parents. This film’s art and music both work together to make this film an unforgettable experience to watch.
In a film even though the macro elements are extremely important such as the message and the genre, I think that the micro elements such as editing, and sound are the ones that make a film good because when done wrong it can take away attention from the story and the macro elements of the film. Good sound and editing can help the watcher immerse themselves into the story and not get distracted by bad camera angles. The soundtrack in Studio Ghibli movies are unique soundtracks that were created by Joe Hisaishi, the soundtracks are unique and help to create an atmosphere and convey emotions in the film. One of Joe Hisashi’s most recognizable compositions was from the opening theme of Spirited Away and it’s called “One summers day”. This opening theme adds magic and helps the watcher immerse themselves into the film.
In spirited away a good representation of mis en scene is this scene. This wide shot shows Chihiro (the main character) walking off to the horizon. I think that this scene can show how she has grown and developed as a person and how much braver she is, it also shows how she is alone, this contrasts to the beginning scenes where she was too scared to leave her mother’s side. Because of the sky and the sea almost blending into each other this scene also shows how big the spirit world is and how she is so small in comparison
Macro elements such as themes make a film good because then the film will leave an impact on the watcher and then will not easily be forgotten because of the way that the film made the watcher feel. The themes in spirited away are identity, greed and isolation, even though this movie is aimed at kids the meaningful themes can be noticed by anyone who watches this film and can teach life lessons. Studio Ghibli’s style is very eye catching and unique it adds another level to their movies, this style combines Japanese manga and anime with American animation. The studio Ghibli style also has amazing scenery and landscapes seen in howls moving castle and spirited away.
To conclude I think that what makes a film good relies on the micro elements being good so that the macro elements of a film will be noticed.
The key elements that make a good film are a mixture of a passionate director, a well-written script and outstanding actors, combined with great cinematography, an emotive story and a unique soundtrack. However, there are many more factors that can be considered to make a film “good”. What makes a film good can also differ depending on the audience and what they enjoy.
As an example, I will be using the film ‘The Dark Knight’ which was directed and co-written by Christopher Nolan. It won the People’s Choice Award for Favourite Movie in 2009 and was ranked as the 15th greatest film in history on Empire’s list of the “500 Greatest Movies of All Time’.
As with most of Nolan’s films, ‘The Dark Knight’ has one of the best casts of talented and well-known actors. Heath Ledger, who plays the Joker in the film, even posthumously won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
One of the main reasons why ‘The Dark Knight’ is a good film is because of the underlying messages it presents. It shows that when faced with a crisis situation, the best and worst traits in mankind emerge. This was proved multiple times throughout the film, but the scene where this was most prominent was during the tense boat sequence towards the end of the film where an ultimatum was given to the passengers on both ferries.
The soundtrack in ‘The Dark Knight’ is incredibly unique and tense and was composed by Hans Zimmer. A soundtrack can introduce a tone throughout the film, as is the case with the Joker’s theme (“Why So Serious”) which consists of two notes played by electric cello, solo violin, guitars and a string section. Zimmer used razor blades on the string instruments to achieve the tortured, twisted sound to join the character on screen. A soundtrack can also portray hidden feelings such as, in the main theme, Zimmer used two repeated notes to represent Batman’s pain and guilt.
A good representation of mise en scene in this film is the last time the Joker is on screen. In the scene, he is hanging upside down as Batman confronts him, however the camera rotates so that the Joker’s orientation appears right side up. This reflects his final turning of the tables on his adversary, and being upside down with the Joker’s anarchy in these final moments leaves the audience in a state of unease that, even though he may have not won every battle, his plans with corrupting Harvey Dent has succeeded which shows that he won the war.
The film might appeal to many due to the amount of genres it covers such as action, superhero, thriller and drama. In films, genres are important because they give a standard for the audience and they know what to expect.
In conclusion, there are many factors that work together to create a good film, but the most important element is to create an interest for the audience.
The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008)12 Angry Men (Sidney Lumet, 1957)Parasite (Bong Joon-ho, 2019)Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki, 2001)
Of course, whether or not a film is good is subjective, however it is arguable that some ‘well-respected’ films display similar traits – most of which come under the efficient ‘micro and macro’ aspects of filmmaking.
Uncut Gems, a film released in 2019 under the genres: crime, drama and thriller on the IMDb website; is a perfect example of a well-made film in this context. The film follows a flawed protagonist ‘Howard Ratner’, as he essentially throws his life away as well as his family’s money and legacy.
Portrayed through an almost first-person narrative, the film seems less like an objective view of Howard’s life but rather a second lens of his own; this could be interpreted via the cinematography and editing: continuous shots used multiple times throughout which focus the main character in the centre of the frame. As a result of many shots which linger on Howard from the same perspective – without cuts – the pace of the film is enhanced. It is a sort of illusion for the audience who may feel like the timeline is relative to real life because of the lack of intense or rapid cuts to include more action or characters. Another important result of this is the connection created between the viewer and the protagonist, (arguable) as there is a clear bias in events which are almost all presented as fragments of his life. The style of the film appears to be a character study – character based, rather than one which would rely heavily on plot.
Sound is used in a subtle yet influential manner consistently; the original score which is mainly made up of electronic music could be a symbol for the inevitable downfall of Howard and his own sanity and confidence in himself and his decisions. It increases in intensity and volume as the film continues and as the protagonist finds himself deeper in his own ‘mess’. Additionally, the blue hue used in a similarly increasing state on screen represents the potential loss of emotions or ‘morals’ themselves as this downward spiral occurs. This and the aforementioned aspect of the film editing is a perfectly in sync accomplice to Adam Sandler’s chilling acting, that which gives a window into the appearance of a ‘regular man’ who is knowingly ruining his life, without knowing how to amend it.
The Safdie brothers successfully use symmetry by keeping Howard Ratner centre frame often with the aid of inanimate objects on set. On occasion, levels can be seen to represent the protagonist’s mental state or ‘power’ over his own destructive personality. Combinations of specific low camera angles partnered with props placed below Sandler could be interpreted as allegories of power; in the opposite manner, higher camera angles and higher placed or ‘grander’ surrounding props or elements of set could present lack of control or the beginning of a setback.
Morality would probably be the main theme of this film; and I would argue that the main message it is attempting to put across is that of a moral and ‘actions have consequences’ nature. Being a popular message to portray in any kind of art, the way in which Uncut Gems presents it is quite unique and impactful. An attachment is formed to Howard Ratner who is introduced as the main character due to the style of cinematography which centres long shots around him and his relationships. He is a stereotypical protagonist; he has made mistakes which need to be corrected for him to achieve happiness, which he is portrayed as wanting more than anything else (to convince the audience of his morality). Scenes follow his mistakes and bad decisions at every turn, and yet each time we witness his regret and guilt and human emotion. Howard is a relatable character because he has ‘good intentions’ but is flawed in everyday life and tasks. He is therefore an easy protagonist for the majority of viewers who can relate to the feeling or yearning of goodness despite not being able to ever reach their own goals. As a result, the Safdie brothers can successfully use Ratner as an emotionally attached final message. Howard’s life ends in sync with the ending of the film, as he spirals downwards and becomes the inevitable victim of his bad decisions in life. Rather than just choosing to allow Ratner to have the life he has not truly earned, (though he ‘deserves it’) the choice to give him an unhappy or disappointing ending is a much more efficient way of showing a connected audience a message. The audience, who root for the flawed and relatable protagonist; see that although he is not necessarily a ‘bad’ person, he must still pay for his own mistakes. The Safdie brothers are arguably trying to show that life has no bias, nor any knowledge of your past or intentions; and that actions have consequences, regardless of who in particular you may be.
The question ‘What makes a film good?’ is usually answered with ‘The story’, ‘The Director’ and ‘The Actors’ and while that is true and it can just come down to the viewer’s opinion and/or preference once a film is analysed it becomes clear that there’s more that goes into it; such as the two levels of film, the micro and macro elements, are what make a film ‘good’. if a film has got superb Micro and Macro elements it is sure to be a superb film.
The Micro Elements of film are: the Editing, how the film’s scenes are arranged and cut in the final product. The Mise-En-Scene, the stage design and arrangement of actors in scenes for a film. The Sound, sound in a movie includes music, dialogue, sound effects, ambient noise, and/or background noise and soundtracks. Some sort of sound is always used to enhance the movie experience. And finally the Cinematography, cinematography involves such techniques as the general composition of a scene; the lighting of the set or location; the choice of cameras, lenses, filters, and film stock; the camera angle and movements; and the integration of any special effects. These four aspects of film are usually the easiest to look for and know if they’re bad or not.
I would like to mention an example of a good film with good Micro and Macro Elements, this film being ‘Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse’ (2018, Directed by Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman and Bob Persichetti) Just for the Micro Elements this film in this film you can tell it is fully deserving of its Oscar for best-animated film. The editing is obviously and clearly thought out well and when watching the viewer can tell that the crew behind the movie spent a long time on the storyboard and deciding what scenes to cut out from that storyboard because you don’t lose the story anywhere throughout the film, it keeps you captivated and focused. The Mise-En-Scene in this movie is another clear win, since this movie has a very unique style, an impressive comic art style that is heavily influenced by the original comics, and keeping in mind how time-consuming that art style must’ve been it would be quite rational to think that the Mise-En-Scene is therefore well thought out and well planned and that is exactly right the majority of the scenes in this movie are stunning. As for the sound in this film, the Musical score is said to be great and I can say I agree with that. The movie uses a mix of composed music made specifically for the movie and popular music at the time of the movie’s release, some of which mentioned spider man in the lyrics. One of these audios named ‘The Prowlers theme’ is an intense and well thought out audio used for whenever the second antagonist, The Prowler, is on screen. This audio is first used as a first impression to the audience to make sure that an otherwise fairly forgettable character stays in the viewers head throughout the movie which implies that he is significant to the story(which he is). The Prowler end up being the protagonist’s uncle, the person who he respected the most throughout the movie ended up being the person trying to kill him the entire movie. When their identities were revealed to each other his uncle was shot and that was the turning point for the main character and leads us to the next element which is The Cinematography in this film. After the death of his uncle, the protagonist decided to do a leap of faith off a building and hopefully swing away and this scene is where a macro element called ‘the messages and values’ shows. As the protagonist is preparing for the jump the camera is slanted which implies something is off or the character is feeling intense emotions(an example of great cinematography), the camera slants so the colossal buildings of NYC almost surround him like a jungle. And as he leaps off, the camera goes upside down to make it seem like he’s levitating up to the city, in this scene the city could be symbolising his new responsibilities(which he has been trying to run away from) and how he is now willing to accept it and face it(this shown by him going towards what’s being symbolised as his responsibilities by what looks like willingly thanks to good cinematography)
Now back to the Macro Element of Messages and Values, I believe that in this movie the message and value is resilience and the process of adapting to adversity, the ability to bounce back after difficult experiences throughout life fits perfectly and describes the implied message and values of the film.
In conclusion, what makes a film ‘good’ is its ability to spark an interest in the viewer and send the intended message to the viewer, films use different elements in different ways to do this and whether or not those aspects are done well is mostly up to the viewer’s opinion and/or preference. Furthermore, a film may have good editing, cinematography, sound et cetera but if it doesn’t interest the audience or doesn’t send a message that viewer can relate or agree with then although it may be good technically it won’t be seen as ‘good’ by the viewer.
