The filmmaker also uses many ‘low angle’ camera views. These angles are used to show a character or building seem more threatening, larger, imposing and/or powerful. This is shown as soon as the evil comes into the picture when the tower/castle is shown. It is dark and is taken from a low angle for the effect. It also happens a lot to Gandalf, the wizard, when he is around the hobbits.
There are other camera angles used too that include ‘high angle’ shots. These are obviously the opposite of low angle shots. They are used to show a person or building seem smaller and less threatening. An example could be when we see hobbits. Hobbits are very small creatures so high angle shots would be used here.
Close-up and extreme close-up shots are used too. These are used to show facial expression. This is very often in he film. Probably every scene in the film has a close-up and extreme close-up shot. There are also double shots. This is when two people are shown in the picture and this shot is often used to show conversation. A good example of this is when Gandalf and Bilbo, the hobbit, are smoking the ‘weed’ late at night. This is also very early on in the film.
The makers of the Lord of the Rings use many other aspects of film making to create the same contrast. One of these aspects is music and sound effects. During the film there are many different types of music and sound effects. At the peaceful areas there is quiet slow music as if it were in the distance. There is also sounds of the wind, children’s laughter, birds chirping etc. This again gives the effect of a peaceful place that can do no harm.
In the parts of the film where evil is present, there is much louder and more powerful music. This is often accompanied by screams and loud banging in the background. When the first tower/castle shot we see comes you can hear all of this. This is a sensational effect and is a brilliant example of how the contrast between evil and good is shown.
Also used in the film to create certain effects is lighting. Using light is a very good effect to show different places in film. For example, in places where evil may be present it is incredibly dark. The sky is always dark (often night-time) and the building are even darker. There is just enough light to see the right details. This often creates a shadow-like effect. An example of this would be when we first see the sight of evil in the film. There is loud banging, screams, panning and low angle camera views as well as limited light and fire.
Quite often in the film, where evil is present, the only source of light is fire. Fire can also be associated with hell which can add to the effect of evilness. This is a very good effect and shows the contrast between good and evil very well. This is because in the film where we are seeing ‘good’, there is sunlight and flowers and grass make the place seem brighter too.
Characters body language and their facial expressions are a very good effect in the Lord of the Rings. Body language in the film is used to show tiredness, exhaustion, sadness, anger, etc. Body language shows a small portion of the contrast between good and evil. Some of the evil characters almost always look as if they are full of energy and up for a fight. The good characters often look exhausted.
Facial expressions are one of the most important aspects of film and not just this particular film, any film. Facial expressions can do so much. They can show whether a person is worried, scared, happy, bored, aggravated, sympathetic, to name just a few. Sometimes facial expressions are used instead of speech because they show so much. During the film most, if not all, facial expressions are shown using close-up, extreme close-up and double camera shots. As shown in the picture below, it shows that Gandalf is clearly worried. Also note that he is in a dark place as he realises they is in grave danger.
The Lord of the Rings also has a range of dialogue that adds to the contrast of good and evil. During the film time there are many types of language used. For the parts of the film where good are involved, speech is in a medium pitch and often a medium volume. It is not spoken in a threatening or negative way either. In the times of action/panic/when evil threatens the dialogue is often loud, low pitched, negatively spoken and often rushed. As for when it is an all evil part of the film, the dialogue is very low pitched but the volume varies although there is loud banging, crashes and screaming in the background of those scenes.
The dialogue in the film is also spoken at different speeds and tones. For example, if speech is quick, then there is a sense of panic, threat or danger. The setting/action will be calm and peaceful if the speech is quiet and slow. These two examples show, in a small way, a contrast between good and evil. The tone of voice of a character helps the viewers to understand what the character’s message may be or how they feel about the topic.
Costume is no doubt one an incredibly vital part of the contrast between good and evil in the Lord of the Rings. It is possibly the best aspect of the film but is taken for granted in a way.
For the good characters their costume is often white and brown colours with other dull colours. They also have little or no armour, especially compared to the forces of evil. This also makes the viewer feel slightly sympathetic for the good characters.
For the forces of evil, however, the costume is very dark colours; blacks, dark browns, etc. They also have good armour, clothing and the faces are very evil. They always look mean, angry, resentful etc. This helps to show the contrast as it shows it shows the characters are evil.
The Lord of the Rings is one of the best (if not the best!) films that has ever shown such a clear contrast between the forces of good and evil. This is the main reason to the success of the powerful film. It uses great camera angles, music and sound effects to show this. It uses huge amounts of successful body language and facial expressions, it uses outstanding costume, it uses every ingredient to show the forces of evil and good really are separate and to be a great film. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring proves that to make a truly great film, you not only need the characters and what they do to be good, you need virtually everything to do with a film.
