Taken- A Bief Analysis

In class we were given the task of looking at different opening to thriller films and analyzing them, we were given the opening to Taken. We looked at the basic information of the film so, when the film was released, the basic story line, the director etc. We then went and looked at technical features so we looked at camera work and how it is used to present different information to the audience. We discovered that many close up shots are used on the kidnappers feet which creates a sense of mystery and the unknown. We also witness many low angle shots used on Bryan when he is speaking into the phone etc. and these shots are uses to show to the audience how in control and how powerful he is. We then looked at sound, we notice that the diagetic sound is amplified and this is a very common convention in thriller films. We also witness a pause of silence and this is done to present the feel of 'eerieness' and danger which is also a very common convention in thriller films.  We then looked at Mise-en-Scene so this included the costume, lighting and props we see that the kidnappers are wearing black to portray how dangerous they are and how mysterious. Using the colour black for the kidnappers costume is a very common convention in thriller films and many other genre of films as we always associate people wearing black as the bad guys. We noticed that the lighting in the room where Bryan is is very low key and dark whereas his daughter is is a very bright high contrast place, this is done to show the difference between the two destinations and indicates that they are no were near each other and she is far away from the help of her father. We then looked as the props, the daughter is carrying a mobile phone in which she speak to her dad on, the mobile is very representative of teenage girls and we know the director has done this to represent different social groups within the film. Editing featured parallel between the father and his daughter, during this editing every time the camera switches back to the father we get closer and closer to his face and this is done to present a sense of urgency and we can see the emotions he is feeling at the moment in time. The parallel editing is also used to help signify again how distance they are from each other and how we the audience can see how they are feeling but they cannot see how each other is feeling personally. We also see very fast paced editing so quick jumps between shots etc, this fast paced editing is done to amplify the sense of urgency that the dad is wanting to come and save his daughter even though they are oceans apart.
We then came to an conclusion on the film. I personally really like Taken, I feel that the storyline is very hooking and you want to follow the dads journey to find and rescue his beloved daughter. The film also features many of the thriller conventions such as fast paced editing and dark lighting which I really like as it really creates that thriller feel. I also feel the actors take up their role very well and make the film seem somewhat believable even if the storyline is very far fetched. All in all as a group we felt that the opening scene was 'bursting'  with the codes and conventions of the thriller genre therefore we think it's a good one!