In this post I shall be commenting on the different themes and how they are each portrayed within these films. I have chosen 300 and Dorian Gray, firstly because of the strong contrast in periods, and secondly because they both represent leadership. 300 in a more positive way, in the effect that the king brings his warriors together to fight against slavery and cruelty. Whereas Dorian Gray is promoted to inflict harm and unhappiness for other, to indulge in his own sinful pleasure.
The costumes the men, in Dorian Gray, are wearing are smart suits. But all in different colours. For example, the artist is in a white suit with a hat, which he takes off when entering the brothel in which this scene is set. This is to show that he is a good person and represents light within the grungy setting. Also in white is the girl which Dorian sees and falls in love with. For similar reasons she wears this and is considerably more clothed than the prostitutes which surround her in their darker coloured corsets. Which makes her appear more wholesome and kind whereas the prostitutes present a darker, more sinful part of London.
Dorian however is wearing a dark red suit. This contrasts well and shows that though he seems good he has the ability to be evil, which is lodged in his soul.
And Harry is in black which is to show that he is a dark and evil person, who later encourages Dorian to be the same.
300 on the other hand has people dressed in beige/white colours. Partly because it is set within a different time-frame, but also because it shows the kindness of the people of Sparta. Whereas the Persian messenger wears an outfit which is completely gold. This not only shows the wealth of the Persians but also their greed and cruelty. He also wears jewelry which makes all the Spartans look plain and not as pretentious as the Persians.
The lighting used in both films is very different. For instance the lighting in Dorian Gray is very dark and grungy. There is a dark yellow and sepia tint to this scene giving it an infected and filthy feel. It also makes us understand that it is a sinful place due to the dark contrasts and low lighting. Another interesting thing about the lighting is the fact that the artist is always in a lighter area than any of the other characters, for the same reason that he wears white.
However 300 has a far brighter lighting and though it has a slight sepia tint, it is fairly natural. To show the kindness and the goodness of the Spartans. Also the well in which the messenger is kicked into is black, and is the only dark part of the film. This represents hell and evil, because people believe that hell is underground and people who are evil are sent there.
The artist in Dorian Gray is always away from the other characters. This shows that not only is he in the light and wearing lighter-coloured clothes than the others, but that he is separated from them as he doesn’t have the same ability to commit evil as the them. Which, in contrast makes the others look more evil. Later on, there is a view from the painting of Dorian, which shows the characters looking into it. Most of this shot is held by Dorian himself, distanced from the other characters and, becoming evil himself.
The Spartan king is in front of all the others, this shows that he represents them and will fight for his people. When he turns on the messenger it is a view from just over the Persian messenger’s shoulder, showing us that it was Sparta against him. When later on in the film it is thousands of Persians against the three hundred of them.
The scene of 300 I chose features a Persian messenger at the edge of the well presenting the vulnerability of him against the Spartans. Because he is has threatened them with ‘slavery and death’ he is perceived to be evil, therefore in the ridge of the pit into hell. Also in the background is a line of soldiers, to represent the strength of their army against the Spartan slaves.
The setting of the Dorian Gray scene I chose is a brothel. They are drinking alcohol with women surrounding them, there are a lot of sexual references within their speech and in the setting in which they are sitting.
Basil and Dorian look extremely uncomfortable compared to Harry who is totally relaxed in the place he refers to as his ‘church’. Because they are ‘good’ men who do not visit such places. Harry however is leaning back into his chair observing the others, after Basil has left and Dorian sees the girl in the white dress he leans forward, and the camera focuses in his strong persuasive face. ‘Make it burn always with the hardest flame.
Tension is built throughout the 300 scene I chose, as the King paces up and down in silence. The King talks to the messenger who is standing, fairly vulnerably at the edge of the well. He then suddenly turns on the messenger, sword pointed directly at him.
‘earth and water, you’ll find plenty of both down there’ he indicates down the well. The messenger refers to them as madness. The King puts his sword back into its sheath and turns to his wife who nods her head. He turns round and kicks the messenger into the well and they throw the men he brought with him down into the blackness after.
I dismissed a comedy genre, this would be fun to make, but it would be hard to create something that others find funny. I may have an unusual sense of humour! The Inbetweeners was a good TV series, the men who made it used material that they found funny at school and used this to develop the script. To do a comedy around a school would be very challenging, and it has been done before.
