Theatrical Trailer Analysis- Godzilla (2014)

Godzilla (2014)

You could say this 2014 film is a 'remake from a remake'. The first 'Godzilla' film, was made in 1954 which was the grass roots of this franchise. Another remake was produced in 1998 by director Emmerich, who wanted to develop the Japanese franchise, which would hopefully lead to sequels of it. Although there was no sequel, there was another remake which is the 2014 one. Due to the vast amounts of profits from this film, $439.7 million, there is talk of a sequel.

The establishing shot of the trailer is very effective from the use of shot used, special effects, music and dialogue used. Firstly the trailer is established by a black screen where Bryan Cranston voice, who plays 'Joe Brody' says 'I want to talk to somebody in charge'. This automatically makes the audience intrigued as they do not know why he wants too. This dialogue also tells us about the character's status, which is suggested fairly low as he has to ask for the 'person in charge'. The tone of his voice also suggests that this is an urgent matter in which it needs to be addressed, due to the rush and hasty tone in his voice. Following this dialogue is the use a low drum beat which increases in volume, therefore increasing tension of the trailer from the outset; very effective use non diegetic music. This music introduces the establishing shot of the trailer which a tracking crane is shot evaluating the devastation within the shot. This shot allows us to gain an insight of the location and what the film is going to involve. This creates many enigmas on why there are so many cars and a crashed burning plane in the centre of the shot. Joe Brody's character voice continues and acts as a narrator over this shot, which he says 'You are not fooling anybody when you say that what happened was a natural disaster'. This tell the audience that he is a man who is trying to get the truth out of the powering leaders who has said this was due to a 'natural disaster', which as you can see, it definitely is not. This instantly makes the audience attract to the character as he is acting as an honest man who trying to state the truth and facts. The use of the special effects (maybe CGI) of the burning plane, follows the conventions of an action trailer as devastation is usually within these. Using Bryan Cranston as the first character you see and hear, is a very effective unique selling point (USP), especially as he huge fan base of millions of fans (including me), due to the recent franchise 'Breaking Bad'.

A fade out and fade out shot introduces the next shot, which is entwined with the low beat non diegetic music again, which is used to build tension and suspense. This makes the audience pay attention and to continue to engage with the film. This over the shoulder shot is very effective due to many factors. Firstly you get to see the location of where the film is set. Most importantly it shows the contrasts of background and foreground. In the foreground, the lighting makes the scenery/location seem happy, however it is disrupted by the small children running and scream. This bright lighting and children screaming (ambient sound) suggests that this location used to be a loving and safe place, however it is not anymore, due to what is commencing in the background of the shot. This over the shoulder shot also allows us to see the background of the frame, which is obviously the focus pull. This creates an enigma for audience as we do not know why this devastation is occurring and makes the audience feel sympathetic for the people who are living there as it is effecting everyone even the children. The main reason I believe this shot is effective is because in the top left hand corner are origami birds, which symbolise (symbolise code) the foreshadowing events in which may take place within the film; very clever!

 Another fade out and fade in transition is used to show a man running frantically with people in hard hats running in the opposite direction. This reflects the panic and chaos this so-called 'natural disaster' is causing. The urgency and panic is reflected through the use of flashing alert light and the facial expressions on the fearful people's faces. Having the man as our main focal point implies that he is more dominant than the other character running, which could suggest that he is the main character. A dissolved transition is used to show military vehicles driving along linear road, in a desert location. This tells the audience that the government are getting involved, in whatever is causing these event. Brody's voice continues saying 'Because what's really happening is that you’re hiding something out there'. Having him as a narrator over these shots, suggests that he is addressing the government to do something about this matter. This phrase also makes the audience keep engaged and intrigued as the word 'hiding' is really emphasis. This furthers the enigma on what they are hiding. The use of the contrasting location, from the city to desert, suggests that this exotic area is where all these disasters began...

The extreme long shot is emphasized y the low horn like music, again building tension for the trailer. This panning extreme long shot allows us to see the vast amounts of devastation caused over the city, as you can see smoke, destroyed buildings etc. The panning shot acts as though they are following the military helicopters, which is reinforced by the use of the ambient sound effect of the propellers. The lighting used here is dull which reflects the saddened and hopeless atmosphere, pathetic fallacy. Using an iconic landmark, 'The Statue of Liberty', firstly tells the audience that the film is based in America but most of all it symbolises (symbolic code) that America's society has fallen.

Bryan Cranston is the first character you see from this trailer, as I said, a very effective USP. This close up shot shows the frustration his character is in, due to the interrogated tone of his voice and due to the camera being so close to his face, as if he was getting up close to someone face, in this case the audience. The camera is behind a glass sheet which makes Bryan Cranston's character seem as though he is trapped and unable to get out of this, which makes the audience feel sympathy for his character as all he has done is try telling the truth.

Furthermore, the longest shot of the trailer is around a minute into the trailer, which used to create suspense. This shot is where astonished people are looking up at something which is coming out of the water, moving ships and rocks. This is a powerful shot as the non-diegetic music decrease in volume and the ambient sounds of the water draining and people screaming is all you can hear, building up suspense. This creates an enigma of what is coming out of the see to cause this much panic and chaos. The shot which follows is of what we presume was caused by this 'thing' coming out of the water, a tsunami. This shot is a low angled shot from inside a car, which makes the audience fell as they are the people in the car as this shot acts as a POV shot. The use of the low angled shot emphasis how big this tsunami is and therefore emphasis how huge this creature is. Having the water crashing on to the lens of the camera makes the audience feel as though this has hit them, and therefore making them feel as if they have to hold their breath. These special effects attracts the audience as it is so realistic, the audience would feel like this could happen. As soon as the water hits the lens the camera goes black, and a man's voice says ‘God help us all'. This acts as a plead for help and emphasises the amount of action which will be involved within the film, which this trailer would help entice the action thriller fans.

The next sequence of shots, gives an insight of film which it explains and admit that these are not 'natural disasters'. The use of military soldiers emphasises that the government hid this from society, which is a very stereotypical action which government nowadays do. Using nuclear symbols and follows the conventions of an action. In this sequence, in my opinion the use of dialogue and music builds the tension, which makes this effective. The phrase 'We awaken something', which is one of the most iconic lines of the franchise, which is known as the 'Godzilla law'. This introduces the thought that a creature is responsible for this. This short but powerful phrase creates an enigma on what did them awaken... Furthermore a shrilling non diegetic music is used in the background, which increases in volume to increase suspense and tension. In these shots they involve explosions, guns and bombs, which conforms to the convention of an action thriller. Another piece of dialogue was that they didn't use these bombs for tests, which creates an image that they were using these to kill something, but what?

An interesting over shoulder shot is shown later by another fade in transition. This shot involve what looks like to many people who haven't seen the franchise, as a tentacle holding a bomb which is done by the use of visual effects. This creates an enigma as the audience would become intrigued on what it is and therefore watch the film which is being advertised through this. Having used an over the shoulder shot makes the audience feel as though they would feel part of the film. The use of lighting also illuminates this weird object suggesting that it is significant and may be vital to understand the plot of the film. 

Further into the trailer you see the first appearance of Aaron Taylor Johnson who plays 'Ford Brody'. This is another unique selling point created due to the use of a very successful actor. This would attract a huge portion of the female audience due to his well-built figure and attractive face. Due to his ruggedness and muscles the male audience are attracted to him in a way of wanting to be more like him whereas as the female audience would be attracted due to his attractive appearance. His character is also portrayed very normal therefore relatable to the audience so could engage with the trailer more. His normality is shown through the average clothing of an everyday leather jacket and jeans. The characters are compared with each other in shot a little later on in the trailer. They are compared by using a medium shot of having Joe Brody in the foreground and have Ford Brody in the background. Having Joe in the foreground suggests that he is more dominant character than Ford due to him being closer to the camera. This shot could, on the other hand, suggest the sort of relationship they have, which due to the distance between them not that close. 

Halo Jumpers obviously demonstrates the kind of adrenaline stunts the film will include, which appeals very much to the action thriller audience. The use of the high angled shot acts like a POV shot of the audience looking over at these jumpers, which makes them feel more engaged with the trailer. It also gives them a feel as what the jumper would feel like just before jumping out of a plane. The use of non-diegetic music emphasises the amount of courage and heroism these people need as the music is of singing choir, which connote this message. They halo jumpers are also jumping into thick smog, which could be a symbolic code for jumping into the unknown, meaning humans are fighting against something which is unknown and even unbeatable... 

There’s one major shot which subverts to a stereotypical action thriller trailer/ film. This is the shot of when Joe Brody (Cranston) is crying clasping his hand to his face. This obviously subverts to an action as they do not usually involve someone crying or being emotional in the trailer let alone the film. Furthermore having a man crying, suggest that it will gain an emotional response from the audience as stereotypically men do not usually cry. The crying shot emphasis the attachment the audience will become to the characters, suggesting the audience would become submersed into the film from the outset. 

The shot of inside the monster emphasis how big this creature is, creating an enigma of how they are going to kill this thing.  The shot is a high angled long shot, which emphasises how in superior the human race is compared to the creature. It also gives us an insight of the internal features of the creature, which is fairly similar to ours. The lighting is very dark which connotes dangerous and evilness, which could suggest that characteristic of this monster; this therefore creates a fearful and scared atmosphere, which is replicated to the audience. 

A montage of shots is used near the end of the trailer. A montage is a technique of choosing, editing and piecing together individual sections of film to form a continuous whole. This montage technique gives us, the audience, a clue of what the film will involve; therefore giving an insight to the storyline of the film.This gives clues to the film from using many shots, such as, the flares guns shooting flares in the sky, revealing the creature; to having shots which involve helicopters falling out of the sky. This is a clever way to give some of the storyline to the audience, as if they didn't do this the audience would be less interested into seeing the film as they wouldn't really know where the story would go.

The Most effective shot is when you see the creature, 'Godzilla', which is seen few second. The shortness of the shot makes the audience want to watch he trailer again to see if they can see more of it.  Due to the CGI 'Godzilla' is very realistic and creates the feeling that this could actually happen, which passive audiences would feel threatened and feared from this film. Having the low angled shot from behind a closing door makes implies two things; firstly emphasises how big the creature is and secondly creates symbolic code that the audience would feel like hiding away from 'Godzilla’. The music also increases as the doors are closing which suggests this is the ultimate climax of the tension building. This increase of this shrilling scream suggests the force of the creature which would make the audience feel vulnerable. The piercing screech was achieved by stroking the strings of a double bass with a leather glove covered in resin. This is a clever idea which could inspire me for our production. This screech scream is very iconic in this franchise which would obviously attract the fans of these previous films. 

The title of the film is introduced by a fade in transition which keeps the continuity of the film. There is a use of a misty red cloud behind the title, which connotes to blood and danger. This cloud acts like a blood cloud which could symbolise events which occur within the film. There is also a Japanese writing which blurs in with the cloud, which is used to continue the historical side of the film, as it was based on a Japanese legend. The font is also in block capitals and in black font. This allows the font to stand out from the red background and also makes the title stay in the audience mind due to the boldness.