301 Topic by TechNoir

(47 replies, posted in Off Topic)

So I figured I'd finally contribute with a topic (hopefully not an existing one).

Basically, whenever you come across it, give examples of camerawork, or general cinematography, that you like. Recently my brain has started being tickled by this sort of thing, mainly because I've had a camera for a while and really gotten into the nitty gritty of photography in general, not being able to appreciate composition, exposure, focus-pulling etc.

Examples can be of composition, intricacy, timing, etc. Those types of things. Also "shots" in general, where camera and sound work together.

I'll start to give some examples:


I saw "Contact" again after 10 or so years, probably more. Wow, what a great movie I've been neglecting for all this time. In terms of camerawork and cinematography, there are just tons of little flourishes and details here and there that I just adored.



Youtube examples with timecode (will work as long as the full movie is on youtube, I hope this is acceptable, I am not posting torrent links or anything, this is as available as it can get and it's up still after 6 months). Examples generally end at the edit immediately after them. There are quite alot of them in this case.


1. Intro shot - http://youtu.be/NOZPYQWRPyU?t=26s
Be aware of sudden sound.
This shot is beautiful, as the camera moves back the radiowaves from earth become older and older.


2. http://youtu.be/NOZPYQWRPyU?t=4m53s
One seamless shot.


3. http://youtu.be/NOZPYQWRPyU?t=16m31s
One long take/move (2 edits in).


4. http://youtu.be/NOZPYQWRPyU?t=22m
I even missed this one initially it is so flawless. Slow-motion tracking shot with a twist.


5. http://youtu.be/NOZPYQWRPyU?t=24m31s
Basically no.2 reversed.


6. http://youtu.be/NOZPYQWRPyU?t=25m49s
Inside to outside car.


7. http://youtu.be/NOZPYQWRPyU?t=33m8s
Steadicam or crane by canyon. This is probably the most beautiful shot in the film.



8. http://youtu.be/NOZPYQWRPyU?t=36m5s
The smoothness of this extreme close push-in is just pure gold.


9. http://youtu.be/NOZPYQWRPyU?t=38m43s
Long steadicam move, but the finesse in how it starts and ends is just wonderful.


10. http://youtu.be/NOZPYQWRPyU?t=1h35m58s
The move at detonation from monitors to outside view is great. Bonus for the projectile slung at the control tower and the smoke hitting the window, also perfect.


Overall this film is porn for steadicam-lovers. Lots of sensitive scenes have long slow push-ins and the visual language overall is just teriffic.

Get posting, I'd love to find some new stuff to swoon over.

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302 Reply by TechNoir

(40 replies, posted in Off Topic)

Allison wrote:
TechNoir wrote:

Michael Sheen is in the first 4 for maybe 15 minutes, I think? They are just some vampire counsil in a different country that the movies sometimes cut away to in between periods of non-events (all of the events, that is).

What did you guys do before a teenage girl joined this forum? Don't answer that.

Michael Sheen plays Aro, the leader of the Volturi. The Volturi are like the vampire police and are based in Italy.  His appearances are in the 2nd, 4th, and 5th movie. His biggest parts are in 2 and 5.

Ignorance is bliss?

Thanks for the info, I failed to remember any of this despite seeing 4 of them. smile To clarify I didn't mean to say Michael Sheen appears in all movies, but over the first 4, to me he doesn't appear nearly enough to warrant someone watching them for him.

Thinking back, the best way to see these movies, if one absolutely must, is probably to watch the 1st one, and the 5th one. Nothing happens in the middle 3 that can't be inferred when watching the 5th one, I'd say.

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303 Reply by TechNoir

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I've seen the first 4 Twilight movies, mainly because they have Rifftrax accompaniment available. Do not see them unless you get the Rifftrax. Seriously. They are so fucking slow and boring. There is not nearly enough schlock to get any normal human being through these things. Michael Sheen is in the first 4 for maybe 15 minutes, I think? They are just some vampire counsil in a different country that the movies sometimes cut away to in between periods of non-events (all of the events, that is).

The first movie establishes things so it is bearable, though with generally horrible line delivery and facial expressions. It can be fun in the right mindset. 20 minutes into the 2nd one I just thought "Really... more of the same shit?", and at that point Rifftrax to the rescue. Some of them are barely watchable even with Rifftrax, they are just so slooooooooooooooow. You watch one of these 2-hour stresstests and once they are done, you will swear they were all in slow-motion, all the time.

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304 Reply by TechNoir

(58 replies, posted in Off Topic)

Some of my favourites:


Double Feature Show: Two guys watch two movies each week, and then talk about them, what they felt was interesting, notable, etc. 3-4 years running. About 45 mins /episode.

Skeptoid: Huge archive on all topics science and skepticism. Excellently researched and presented. 10-15 mins/episode.

The Comedy Button: 5 guys formerly of Gamespy Debriefings podcast spend an hour each week recording random conversations, reading email they got, just casual chatting. They also have so far made 4 commentaries that can be played along with the movies. I'd highly recommend listening to their commentary of Home Alone 2, a personal favourite of mine as far as commentaries go, think Rifftrax without a script, and a few too many beers. Their Turtles 2: Secret of the Ooze is also a good one. 60-ish mins/episode.

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305 Reply by TechNoir

(51 replies, posted in Episodes)

Since I think some in the chatroom hadn't seen it, here is the Steve Oedekerk parody "Blair Thumb". If you've seen "Thumb Wars" you know what to expect. So quotable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g02jT8lXhaA

Parts 2 and 3 on the right hand side.


As for the movie itself, for me it is definitely dependant on what mood I am in, it is a bit same-y throughout, but it can definitely be effectively unsettling.

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306 Reply by TechNoir

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Been a while since I saw it, but my IMDb score is currently 9/10. I plan on seeing it again very soon to see how the score stands after a 2nd viewing. And this from someone who recently, as I view more and more horror films, have been scoring horror films lower, and lower, and lower...

As I recall, I was unsettled by the film in a way I am usually not. The way it first describes horrifying situations and the effects of them, and then plunges you right into them, forcing you to live them. I suppose it simply depends on what you fear, similarly The Descent worked for me since I was already affected by the claustrophobia and feeling of isolation from the start.

I was also very impressed with the acting in the film. The director impressed me again recently with The Tall Man so it seems me liking Martyrs perhaps wasn't a fluke.

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307 Reply by TechNoir

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Not sure how many here have ever listened or heard of the Swedish band Meshuggah. It depends on whether you are into metal in general, what you think of non-musical screaming, and if you can cope with polyrhythms and polymetrics. And if you want your ass kicked really hard.

For any non-believing heathens like myself, this song has quite interesting lyrics, from the POV of a dictatorial god. The drummer Thomas Hakke consistently writes quite interesting lyrics for their songs.

Follow along with the lyrics from here: http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/meshug … oss.html#1


And again, they are definitely an aquired taste. I spent a good 2 years with them before I really understood their music fully and could somewhat predict all the syncopated snare hits, weirdly laid-out guitar sequences, etc. Curiously most of their music is in 4/4, but one or more elements rotate around it in various ways causing alot of unpredictability.

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308 Reply by TechNoir

(1 replies, posted in Off Topic)

Thanks for posting. Very nice to watch.

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309 Reply by TechNoir

(133 replies, posted in Off Topic)

Trey wrote:
TechNoir wrote:

I think anyone who has seen Terminator has at some point tried this as a username on forums though. wink

Yeah, I know it.  It's on Pico.

Touché. smile

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310 Reply by TechNoir

(133 replies, posted in Off Topic)

Nope, did not. I think anyone who has seen Terminator has at some point tried this as a username on forums though. wink Atleast that is my experience trying to keep this username consistent through various forums and failing miserably most of the time.

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311 Reply by TechNoir

(133 replies, posted in Off Topic)

Thanks, not extremely active generally, but I'll try to contribute as best I can. smile

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312 Reply by TechNoir

(133 replies, posted in Off Topic)

New user. Depending on the theatre quality, definitely see the 3D version if possible. I saw it in Sweden opening night, and I was very worried, as one might be in these days of such difference in 3d quality between films. It is filmed in 3D, and the 3D is basically only used in a natural way. No gimmicks at all. It provides a basic natural depth which helps to give the spaceship etc alot of atmosphere. Also the brightness was very acceptable. The lighting was considered and so there was no situations where you are staring at a murky hazy mess. Also for the design elements in the film, the 3d giving them some depth really gives them added realism.

So as long as the 3D in your theatre can show good 3d well, definitely see this one in 3D. It was a flawless experience for what it is, the only variable I suppose might be if certain projectors have problems outputting enough brightness, my theatre might have cranked that up. Still, quite a well lit film for being in dark environments.

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