Peer Reviews of First Cut Movie Opener

Hello blog! My group and I collaborated to review our fellow groups videos and write what we thought were good and bad about each.

FILM #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX32iRuSMvc

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you like?

In this film, I really appreciated the parallel editing. It made the film interesting and dynamic. The parallel editing alongside the tracking shots made it feel like we were actually in the film. Additionally, I feel that the music in this film helped add to the romantic atmosphere. It flowed well with the scenes and helped bring the sequences together.

 

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you dislike?

My least favorite part of this film was when the characters started talking to each other. Instead of making the film more interesting and adding depth, the dialogue just removed the sense of mystery and excitement that was built up from the first few scenes. There was also a lot of background noise in the dialogue which made it difficult to focus on the conversation at hand. Also, I did not like the camera angles at which their conversation was filmed at. I think that the close-up shots of their faces made the scene awkward,

Did this look like a movie opener and did it make you want to know what happens next?  Explain.

I think that the first 50 seconds of this film felt like a movie opener. However, after that, I felt like we lost track of the storyline. Because the characters grew fond of each other so quickly into the sequence, it felt like we already knew what was going to happen. We can essentially guess what happens next, giving away the rest of the movie. This is why it feels a bit less like a movie opener.

Was there anything that left you confused? (be specific)

I was confused about how quickly the characters’ relationship progressed. In the span of only 2 minutes both characters went from complete strangers to holding hands while walking around the store. It made the film and their relationship feel rushed. This made the film confusing. It also made it feel very unrealistic. 

What suggestions do you have to make this movie opener better?

I would suggest changing the dialogue, making it more interesting and feel more natural. I would also suggest changing the camera angles of their conversation to maybe a two shot. This would make the conversation also feel more natural. Additionally, I would have ended the film on them meeting, lengthening the time they are apart and giving insight into their individual lives. This would make it feel more like a movie opener and leave the audience in suspense. 

FILM #2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZb_-I5CZGM

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you like?

 I liked the tracking shot in the beginning of the film. It made the scene more interesting and helped the story flow better. I also liked the low-key lighting used in the first part. The lighting helped add to the ominous atmosphere. This kind of lighting also liked the props used like the headset for the respondent and notebook for investigators. They helped sell the ideas and better tell the story. 

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you dislike?

I wish that there were more types of editing techniques used outside of straight cuts. Also, different camera angles could’ve been used. I was also confused by the aspect ratio used for the scene at the end with the investigation. It was not cohesive with the rest of the film and just felt out of place. The scream includes also felt non diegetic even though it is supposed to be diegetic.

Did this look like a movie opener and did it make you want to know what happens next?  Explain.

Yes, I do believe that this opener leaves room for more to be explored. Because of the ominous atmosphere and the mystery of the crime, I believe that this opening sets up the rest of the movie very well. It left me with a lot of questions that I would expect the rest of the movie to answer. The dialogue also gave clues toward what could have happened. Because of this, I think this film makes for a great movie opener. 

Was there anything that left you confused? (be specific)

The straight cut at 0:21 was very confusing because it felt like a large part of the sequence was missing. The victim went from walking and listening to music to crawling on the ground. This was unexpected and confusing. I was also confused by how the story went from the 911 call to the investigation. Additionally, the film felt rushed as the crime and investigation somehow happened in only two minutes. These all were just very confusing and made the film feel not cohesive. 

What suggestions do you have to make this movie opener better?

If the music at the beginning were the same as what the victim was listening to in the beginning, then the audience would be more aware of the victim’s situation. It would also make the attack more surprising. It would also be cool if parallel editing was used to depict the 911 phone call and crime. I would change the angle of the 911 call to be directly in front of the character. Overall, I feel like there needs to be a focus on one thing, rather than cramming everything into such little time. 

FILM #3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORoNP73icvo

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you like?

I really like how the film starts off with added music and that it stops as soon as the character removes their headphones. This not only gives insight into what the character likes and their personality traits, but it also helps us see that they were zoned out in this part of the sequence. Additionally, I really like the parallel editing used to show us what the other characters are doing, and the sounds that are made from those actions. It adds a sort of playfulness to the film. I also liked how each character’s outfit matched their personality. 

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you dislike?

I did not like how the straight cuts were not coordinated perfectly. It feels like the editing is incomplete and needs more refinement. In the scenes where the characters are having a conversation and straight cuts cut between them, the scenes are not sequential in a timely manner. This makes the film feel unfinished and a bit more choppy. I also would have left out the loud cough from the teacher. It just felt random and added no meaning to the film. 

Did this look like a movie opener and did it make you want to know what happens next?  Explain.

Yes, this movie opener made me interested in why the characters were in detention and made me want to learn more. Because of how the argument at the end went, there seemed to be a lot of built up anger and tension that would be interesting to explore as an audience. Because of this, I believe that this film is a great movie opener. It also sets up the conversation about them being in detention really well. 

Was there anything that left you confused? (be specific)

I was left confused as to why they were in detention. I am not sure if this was on purpose or because the sequence was unfinished. Since their conversation was cut off, the film did feel incomplete and the reason as to why they were in detention was left ambiguous. Aside from this, I think that this film does a good job at keeping the storyline clear. I do not find it very confusing. 

What suggestions do you have to make this movie opener better?

I would suggest adding some background noise. A good portion of this film had no sound, so I believe filling in these portions with sound would help. I also believe that cutting out some portions of the clips and refining the editing would help everything flow better. Additionally, I would consider moving the opening credit sequence to another part of the film or lengthen it. It went by so quickly that I did not get to read what it said. 

FILM #4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsLQ4OGn1tU

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you like?

I really liked the props used for this film. It was super creative and helped convey the story really well. I also liked the use of diegetic sound. A great example of this was the EKG in the background of the surgery. The costumes used were also really great. I loved the surgeon’s costume especially as it made the surgery feel real.

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you dislike?

I did not like the special effect or camera filter used at the end of the film where the surgeon was sprayed with blood. It was pretty inconsistent with the rest of the film. I also would have liked to get more camera angles and close up shots of what exactly the surgeon was doing. I did not like that the view of the surgery was so limited. This would have made it more interesting and dynamic. 

Did this look like a movie opener and did it make you want to know what happens next?  Explain.

I definitely think that this could serve as a movie opener. It is ambiguous enough for more to follow and leaves room for there to be more of a story line. Also, it was only 50 seconds, so I am assuming that there must be more.

Was there anything that left you confused? (be specific)

What suggestions do you have to make this movie opener better?

I would suggest adding music to the film or some other kind of sound. Additionally, the sound of the EKG should be louder. 

  

FILM #5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZf7mfqLTdA

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you like?

I really liked the wide shot at the beginning of the film. Additionally, the tracking shots following the characters was my favorite as it made the characters’ conversation more dynamic. The midshot of the creepy figure also helped add a sense of mystery to the film. 

What specific technical elements of the film opening did you dislike?

There was nothing I disliked specifically. This film was actually my favorite out of all of the films I watched because it felt like a real movie opener. 

Did this look like a movie opener and did it make you want to know what happens next?  Explain.

This film does a great job at building a mysterious atmosphere. It leaves room for further story building and is ambiguous enough for the viewer to want to know more. The film does this by ending on the disappearance of the main characters. 

Was there anything that left you confused? (be specific)

I was not left confused by anything in this film because of how clear the creators were able to make the storyline. 

What suggestions do you have to make this movie opener better?

I would suggest adding more camera angles. This would make the film more technically interesting and add more depth to the current story. I would also suggest maybe including some type of music or sound to make it more engaging.