1. Matt Wood
Similar Products – Film Beginning Analysis
Rocky V (1990):
Studio: MGM/UA Communications Company
Written by: Sylvester Stallone
While the opening titles appear on screen, a bell can be heard over a crowd of people and
then a voice is heard introducing “the most watched event in boxing history” a fight
between Rocky Balboa and Ivan Drago. In this fight Rocky is being dominated and is in
serious trouble right from the start. This lasts several rounds before Rocky makes a dramatic
comeback to win the fight. This opening scene is action packed in order to capture the
audience and to excite the viewers.
Also, what the characters are wearing is important to
making sure the audience like Rocky and wants him to win.
Rocky is wearing red, white and blue trunks which are like
the American flag whereas Drago is wearing red and yellow
trunks which represent the Soviet Russian flag. This makes
any patriotic americans favour Rocky from the start. This
film was released towards the end of the cold war when
America was in conflict with the USSR so it would get people
interested.
The camera shots used are not like those of a standard
boxing match. In this film opening there are many close ups and panning shots in contrast to
normal boxing matches where there is normally one constant wide angle shot which
observes the boxing ring for the entire match. A variety of different shots have been used to
create the effect that this is no normal match. The shots used also make the audience feel
like we are there at the fight and we are involved in the action. This creates a link between
the audience and characters.
This is reinforced when we hear Rocky’s trainers talking to him inbetween rounds. The fact
that we don’t normally hear what is said in those conversations and we now do makes us
feel part of the action.
