Narrative Film Theory - Character Analysis of Marcus (Freedom Writers)

For this assignment, I have chosen the film Freedom Writers (2007) and focusing on Marcus's character to analyse.

Freedom Writers (2007) is a film based on the true story of Erin Gruwell and Wilson High School's Freedom Writers. Ms Gruwell is excited and ready to share her knowledge with her new class only to realise that these students were not interested. They want nothing more that to make through the day. Her class were made up of students from diverse racial groups and walks of life. There were the African Americans, Latinos, Asians, juvenile delinquents, gang members, and underprivileged students from poor neighborhoods. The common thing that these students have is the mutual hatred feeling they have for each other because of their diverse ethnic groups. However, Ms Gruwell is a determined, positive attitude educator who is willing to go beyond her job to make a difference in these kids lives. So, she have decided to ask these students to pen down anything, especially their thoughts and feelings in a journal for their English assignment.

Wants: To go back home to his mother and leave behind his gang life

Needs: To show interest in school and mix with good company to prove to his mother that he is so much better than she thinks he is

Change: He was forced to watch his own back and face the world by himself at a very young age after he was being wrongfully accused of a friend’s death. Since then, he has learnt to be independent. After leaving juvie, he joined a gang that has offered him "protection" and has been it since then. However, after attending Ms Gruwell's English class and the positive impact she has on him, he decides to leave the gang for good.

Flaws: Marcus was very defensive of his own kind(his ethnic group) and will protect them at all cost 

Conflict: He knows that there is no way out of the gang life apart from being dead. He knows that he is still young and there is a lot more that life has got to offer.

Narrative Film Theory - Freytag's Pyramid in Taken

Figure 1 Movie Poster [Still Image]

Exposition:

Kim manages to convince her dad(Bryan) to allow her to go to Paris with a friend (Amanda) to watch U2's European tour.

Conflict:

Upon reaching Paris, Kim and Amanda decided to share a taxi ride with a stranger(Peter) who was a scout for a kidnapping gang. He then learns about the girls' stay in an apartment with no adult supervision.

Rising Action:

Peter and few members of his gang sneaks into the apartment where he dropped the girls earlier. They kidnapped Amanda and Kim.

Climax:

Bryan fights with the Albanians inside a brothel in search for his daughter.

Falling Action:

Bryan goes over to Saint-Clair's mansion where there was a large party and girls were auctioned of in his basement.

Resolution:

Bryan manages to save his daughter before the buyer (Prince Raman) was able to do anything to her.

List of Illustration: 

Figure 1 Taken (2008) [Movie Poster] at http://www.gallomovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/taken_ver4_xlg.jpg (Accessed on 10 October 2014)

Narrative Film Theory - The Archetype Hero's Journey

Figure 1 Movie Poster [Still Image]

► The Hero- Oscar

A fish who dreams to be rich and famous

► The Mentor - Sykes
The pufferfish who owns the Whale Wash where Oscar works at. He becomes Oscar's manager when Oscar was rich and famous.

► The Herald -  Katie Couric
The local news reporter who announces Oscar as the Shark Slayer.

► The Shadow -  Don Lino
The leader of the Underworld who was after Oscar when the news of Frankie's death(his masculine son) was of Oscar's doing.

► The Threshold Guardian - Angie
His best friend who got him out of trouble every single time

► The Trickster – Ernie and Bernie
The two jellyfish who goes after Oscar when he did not pay their boss (Sykes).

► The Shapeshifter – Lola

A flirtatious lionfish who goes after Oscar when she finds out he was rich but left him when he became poor.

► Allies – Lenny and Angie
They were always keeping him company throughout his adventure.

List of Illustration: 

Figure 1 Shark Tale (2004) [Movie Poster] at http://bioskop24.biz/shark-tale-images-wallpaper-hd/shark-tale-images-wallpaper-hd-for-desktop (Accessed on 3 October 2014)

Narrative Film Theory - The Hero's Journey

Figure 1 Movie Poster [Still Image]

For this assignment, I have decided to do on the film Never Back Down (2008).

List of Illustration: 

Figure 1 Never Back Down (2008) [Movie Poster] at http://i36.tinypic.com/otlzlk.jpg (Accessed on 27 September 2014)