Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Outline for 1st Term Paper

A. Introduction

  1. Introduce film: X2: X-Men United.
  2. Film is grounded in reality; intended that viewer feels as though this could take place in the real world.
  3. While mutants can do supernatural things, it's intended that they still follow real physics.
  4. Hypothesis: For the most part, this works well to create believability, leaving any moment that parts from this as glaringly unreal. 
B. Inconsistent gravity
  1. Works well; gravity typically feels real. 
  2. Magneto defies gravity, but it isn't distracting because it is explained by his supernatural abilities.
  3. Doesn't make sense in several fight sequences when characters don't fall at the correct speed. 
  4. Wolverine jumps off balcony; falls uniformly and in a somewhat straight path, rather than parabolic arc.
  5. Fight between Wolverine and female counterpart, supposedly hit hard enough to send them flying across the room; aren't moving fast enough for the path of action.
  6. In the same way we can identify where a baseball will land, it's easy to spot when there path of action is incorrect.
C. Magneto's power is unreal, but made somewhat believable by attempting to follow physics.
  1. One of the most visually appealing powers; most difficult to pull off.
  2. Plastic jail cell reminds viewers that his powers only affect metals. 
  3. Prison escape scene, mass of metal doesn't appear to stay consistent.
  4. Powdered metal wound not hold up the large mass of man, and he doesn't fall until all is pulled from his body. 
D. Limitations add to believability
  1. Nightcrawler needs to see where he's going when he transports or he can end up in a wall; Pyro can't create fire, only manipulate it
  2. Professor X has ultimate mental abilities but doesn't control physical properties.
  3. Freezes room; while he may be able to stop their brains, many would be off balance in mid step, center of gravity is forward when stepping
E. Conclusion
  1. Realistic physics allow the viewer to suspend belief over supernatural powers. 
  2. Instances where physics are wrong and unexplained take the viewer out of the moment

No comments:

Post a Comment