UNDERWORLD

Underworld (2003)

September 27, 2020: Camera Shots in Major Motion Pictures Assignment

I chose the movie Underworld, which is the first of a series of 5 films. I chose this film because I really enjoy this series and I enjoy the majority of the movies directed by Len Wiseman. The shots I wanted to capture on my phone were terrible quality when I tried recording my TV, so I found most of them on Google to get the point across. This movie is filled with amazing  action and many different types of camera shots as well. I have 5 shown below. 

This is part of the opening shot of Underworld. It is a long shot that establishes the setting of a gloomy city, presumably in Europe looking at the setting behind the main character Selene who is in the forefront of the shot. This scene foreshadowed the seriousness of what would be going on in the movie, as there was no sound except the sound of the rain and the bustling city, there was no dialogue between Selene and the character that appeared on the ledge moments after this shot, only serious facial expressions and head nods before they jumped down to the street. 

This is a following shot of Selene walking into her superior's (Kraven) room after she had discovered that the Lycans (Werewolves) had attacked humans in search of a man who she would figure out to be Michael Corvin. In the movie, this was a fast-paced shot that made the situation with the Lycans seem extremely urgent. Looking at the other vampires around Selene, it is clear that there is confusion and fear around how fast Selene is moving to speak to Kraven and this shot brings about a sort of anxiety to the watcher to see what will happen next.

This is a reverse-angle shot that showed conversation between Viktor, who is like a father to Selene, and Selene. From this shot, a feeling of worry and more urgency to act against the Lycans arises and begins to flow into the climactic action of the film, where war wages between the Vampires and Lycans. The conversation between the two was serious but emotional, and established their close relationship to the watcher as well.  Also being shown from a low angle here, it suggests that Viktor and Selene are above the others at that given moment in time, and their decisions are extremely important for what's to come next.

This is a close shot of Michael Corvin after he has transformed. This scene is the explanation for the reasons he was being chased by the Lycans. Michael is a hybrid (Vampire/Lycan) and his power in that form would be indestructible. The feelings that radiate from this shot are primal or animalistic. Michael has turned into a ruthless, remorseless killer that has little control over the instinctive rage that his hybrid form provides him. 

This close shot of Selene and Michael shows obvious confusion from Selene. She did not know Michael was a hybrid until she entered the area of the building that he was in. She seems scared as well, but not scared enough to be driven away from him. I did not feel as confused as she did though, because he transformed in the scene above which was right before this one in the movie.