LOTR Scene analysis

Lord of the rings – Scene analysis

The start of this scene opens with a ‘wide shot’ using the rule of thirds to put rocks either side of the screen. This is to create the feeling of isolation and entrapment moving through an ever narrowing tunnel. The scene also uses ‘low key lighting’ to make the setting look dark and ominous. There is also a big contrast between the bright open outside and moves quickly to a confined dark cave. The camera then ‘tracks’ back until Frodo is in complete darkness.

Then the scene edits and another camera type is used. It looks to be a ‘POV shot’ because the camera is shaking slightly, this will be a handheld camera and it is effective in creating realism. It also helps in increasing tension because the audience can sense what is coming – Frodo is being watched by something. This frame again has rocks either side to create the feeling of isolation.

Now the camera is shown as another POV shot but this time through Frodo’s eyes, we know this because he is not shown in the frame as the camera tracks forward and pans around the corner. This use of the POV shot is to draw the audience in and put us in Frodo’s position so we can emphasise for him and sense that us moving into darkness could be a trap, this also builds tension.

Another POV shot is then used but this time it is through the eyes of something unknown and the camera pans to follow Frodo, now the audience know that there is definitely something watching him. A slight high angle shot is then used to position Frodo as weak and vulnerable. This could mean that whatever is watching him is stronger and more powerful.

The camera movement again might show the same unknown person or thing is still watching Frodo. But this time the camera angle is low looking at Frodo which symbolises power and dominance. The foreground is then blurred to focus the audience’s attention on Frodo then it shifts so the background is blurred and the foreground is in focus to show the skeleton embedded in the rock. This could be foreshadowing death or indefinite danger.

The camera then moves to a different location and puts the spider webs as a main focus, also Frodo gets tangled in them this could mean that it is significant in some way and it could possibly become a problem later on. The framing continues to maintain the idea of entrapment with the narrow corridor as the camera tracks back. Again a POV shot is used looking at Frodo but when he turns round, the camera hides behind the rock so it can stay hidden for now watching Frodo.

The camera then changes from a mid-shot to a close up to show Frodo’s emotion and create more unsettlement and put the audience on edge. At this point the tension has been increasingly built up, this makes the audience think that something is about to happen.

Frodo feels very uneasy having been on his own through this dark cave and a noise comes from a distance and the camera quickly switches to a POV shot through Frodo’s eyes panning left then right quickly. We are now emphasising for him and we are drawn more into the film and we want to find the source of the sound.  We then see a mid-shot of Frodo’s face and we can see that he is sad and scared because he notices the skeleton that we were shown earlier, cut ins are cleverly used to increase danger showing other skeletons. Frodo then panics and tries to escape. As he runs away the camera follows him as a POV shot of the unknown ‘thing’ that shows movement that is very un-humanlike.