this is the end essay

1. Analysis of This Is the End Heaven Scene
In this essay I will be analysing the ending scene of the movie This Is the End.
This is the End is a comedy film produced and directed by comedy legend Seth
Rogan who also stars in the movie. The movie stars a bunch of extremely
famous actors, for example Seth Rogan, Jonah Hill, James Franco and more.
The movie takes place in Los Angeles and is about Jay Baruchel going to visit
his good friend Seth Rogan, however once he takes Jay to James Franco’s party
things take a turn for the worst. They see beams of blue light shine down and
take people up into the sky, they haveto figureout whathappened to the
world whilst trying to survive. I will be analysing the ending scene when 3 of
the 6 main characters meet back up in heaven after escaping the devil.
The scene starts with Seth and Jay against the devil, Jay sacrifices himself
which then causes him to be picked up by the blue beaming light of God. As he
is leaving, Seth says his true feelings for Jay which in turn lets him be brought
into heaven
alongside Jay.
Shot reverse
shots are used to
show both the
characters
emotions for each other. This is effective as the audience can see both the
characters faces as they are saying their feelings to each
other. Oncethey reach heaven there is a blank white picture,
this shows purity and cleanliness. I think the producer used
pure white as most people imagine dying and going to heaven
as a brightwhite light whilst your life flashes before your eyes.
This is used in many movies and TV shows when a character dies and someone
says something like “don’t go towards thelight.” This effect gives the audience
the feeling as if their life is coming to an end and puts them in the shoes of the
character entering Heaven. Italso gives the audience the feeling of safeness
and togetherness as once the white screen passes it shows Seth and Jay
skipping in a white foggy setting with a rainbow in the background. An extreme
longshotis used to get the setting and characters in shotall at once. The
rainbow is positioned in the centre and surrounds thetwo characters frolicking

2. toward the screen. This creates natural framing as it uses the rainbow in order
to frame the two characters. Itis obvious that they are on top of the clouds
which makes it obvious they are about to enter Heaven. They are also wearing
all white clothes, this connects to the setting as everything in shotis bright and
fluorescent. The two characters haveextremely happy and joyfulexpressions
on their faces, this shows they know they are in a place wherethey will be
forever happy. If the characters had depressed and sad faces it would show
they do not like the place wherethey are about to enter which is not the case.
Two giant golden doors then open; Craig is
standing in the middle of it with a halo on his head.
A close up is used; it is used here to get his halo and
facial expressions in shottogether. This shows the
audience that his act of bravery is symbolised from
him being an angel. He has his sameclothes on
however now they are also completely white like the
others. Craig then gives Seth and Jay a halo too, up
to now the three characters havebeen non-stop
smiling and happy towards each other, this contrasts
to their personas during the movie as although they
are all friends they used bad language toward each
other and didn’t show how much they all like each other. When Craig says
“come this way” the camera zooms forward into clouds, this is an enigma code
as the audience are wondering what will be behind the clouds and why Craig
looked so happy when he gestured forwards.
After the camera comes through the clouds a giant group of people are
collected together dancing and having a good time. Everyoneis smiling and
looking as if they are having the times of their lives. This makes the audience
feel happy and makes them think of a time and place where they felt as happy
as the characters in the movie. Seth, Jay and Craig are still all smiling together
and dancing whilst walking through the crowd. This shows they are also having
the besttime of their lives and are loving being in Heaven. This whole scene is
extremely similar to the beginning of the movie whereeveryoneis in James
Franco’s househaving a party, this shows the audience the beginning and end
of the movie are exactly the same. This connection makes the audience think
about how although the settings, sounds and feelings are exactly the samein

3. both scenarios, they are both set in different worlds. This is a binary opposition
of life vs death as in the beginning they were having the best party whilston
Earth and living whereas now they are in Heaven but still having an amazing
party together.
Craig then shows Seth and Jay that they can wish for anything they want in
Heaven by getting weed, Seth wishes for a Segway and is blown away by the
magic of Heaven and the thought of being able to haveanything he wants. Jay
then says “anything?” This is an enigma code for the audience as they wonder
what he’s going to wish for. As a hand appears on screen the words
“Everybody” aresung. A man with a halo is then walking through the crowd as
they go nuts, this creates another enigma code for the audience as they are
wondering who it is as only the back of his head is visible. Craig and Seth are
also amazingly surprised atwhat Jay wished for, this all creates an exciting
atmospherefor the audience as they are anticipating who it is, if they don’t
already know. Then out of nowhere the five members of The Backstreet Boys
are in centre stageand start singing their first single “Everybody (Backstreet’s
Back).” They are in the foreground of the shot whilsteveryoneelse is in the
behind them dancing along, in the background is a futuristic city. All of this
together makes the audience feel as if they are in a place with everything and
anything they want whenever they want it. Including the Backstreet Boys is a
good way to make the audience moreinterested in the movie. If they like this
group or type of music then they can dance along with everyoneand it makes
them closer to the movie. This was also used at the beginning as a wholelot of
famous celebrities were involved in the party. Such as Rihanna, Kevin Hart,
Emma Watson and many more. This also makes the audience more interested
in the movie as if they see a celebrity they really like they will enjoy the movie
more whilstthey are involved.
Itthen highlights each of the three main characters, Jay dancing
and throwing money into the air, Craig break dancing and Seth
holding a dog. This shows again that anything is possibleto wish
for which makes the audience feel jealous as they have everything
they want. They all then join the BackstreetBoys and everyone
including the characters in the background all do the exact same
dance as the Backstreet Boys. This is significantas everyonein the

4. shotis doing the samedance like a big dance party, it also shows everyone
having fun together and enjoying their time. There are multiple panning shots
wherethe camera is placed above everyone; this is to get a lot of people in
shotwhilst dancing which creates a better vibe for the audience. It then goes
fromeveryonedancing to spotlighting different groups of dancers, this is to
spread the joy to the audience and show all different types of fun that the
characters are having during the song. At the end of the song confetti is
sprayed everywhereand everyonegoes into slow motion, this shows the
audience that it is the end of the movie as it then goes into the credits. The
credits are differentcolours of writing on a black background which contrasts
with the white setting which the audience is used to fromHeaven.
Harry