'Gattaca' Semiotics

Semiotics:

Vincent’s dreams to go to space are symbolic of his high aspiration,
-a metaphor showing his desire to ignore the limit society has given him, the sky is not his limit (in contrast with the saying).
- Stars are a global symbol of wishes or dreams.

A motif of identification and being categorised.
- a catalyst of much of the film’s tension,
- serves to emphasise this society’s aim to remove individualism.

The advanced scientific technology (for Vincent to hide his true identity) is not so far removed from that available today that the words from the beginning of the film “In a not too distant future” ring true and the audience’s disbelief is suspended.

Futuristic conventions: - the technology
- the clean and clinical looking environments 
- remind the audience of a science lab implying that the whole world is now scientifically focussed.

Jerome’s silver medal is symbolic of his perceived short-comings and of the world that made him feel that way.
It is significant therefore that in the final image of Jerome he reclaims the medal as a possession of pride and it is the last thing the audience is shown of him.

There is also a motif of light and dark :
- hints at secrecy and mystery.
- brighter, naturally lit scenes are generally those in which Irene and Vincent connect.

Action Sequences: As a thriller tension and mystery are generally substitutes for actual action.
The only really violent scene, the murder of Gattaca’s mission director, is not shown on screen. In one scene Victor attacks a policeman in order to escape. This is in contrast with his almost continuous composure in ‘public’ and is therefore all the more surprising.

Minority Report Trailer Deconstruction

The trailer for “Minority Report” starts immediately into the action of the film. A low angle shot is used to show four 'officers' from 'Pre-crime' crashing through a skylight window into a house and apprehending a felon for committing murder before he has actually committed the crime. A close up of the main officer singles out actor Tom Cruise as the protagonist as he arrests a man for the “future murder” of his wife. Due to this opening, the film's genre is apparent as a Sci-Fi Thriller straight away. Emphasis on the action element of the opening is put on by the lack of music, which fades in but remains quiet throughout the scene. A blue tint effect is used throughout the trailer to further show the futuristic, sci-fi, element of the film's narrative.

A black screen follows the 'arrest', in which bold white anchorage is used to explain that “The Future Can Be Seen / The Guilty Punished / Before The Crime Is Ever Committed”. The use of “The System Is Perfect / It's Never Wrong” and a law enforcement style badge/logo indicates the film is set in a controlled society, whereby the “Department of Precrime” has the power to arrest criminals before they commit a crime.

The shot then zooms in on the logo to show three people who seem to be connected through telepathic monitors, highlighting the sci-fi genre via futuristic technology. The shot zooms further until it reaches the eye of one of them. At this point anchorage fades in saying “Until It Comes After You” and the shot changes to Tom Cruise's character, now in casual clothes, being told not to run. It is clear to an audience that he has become a victim of the system and as protagonist, an audience should sympathise with him.

Cruise's character then replies “Everybody runs” and the music swells and speeds up, which is then coupled with a series of fast paced straight cuts that depict several action scenes of the film. During these cuts Tom Cruise's name flashes up to signify the importance of his character and also his name in drawing in a potential audience of the film. Steven Spielberg's name as director also has this effect and is displayed after Cruise's. Another series of straight cuts from the film begins and speeds up along with the music and ends with a banging sound and a new screen with “Minority Report”. The block font, shiny metallic colour and use of the “Department of Precrime” logo as the 'o' in “Minority” brings emphasis to the film's sci-fi genre, as well as its focus on futuristic law enforcement.

'Blade Runner' Key Shots

What is most interesting about the title was that it appears over a dramatic shot which then fades away leaving just the title on a black screen in order for it to stand out.

The use of a striking close up, half in light, half in darkness is displayed here and has many symbolic connotations, particularly for complex characters. Roy’s character veers between evil acts and, if not good then, sympathetic intentions and motivations.

This image is of one of the replicants punching through metal in a moment of fury and violence. The container releases a large plume of smoke, under the cover of which the character escapes. The banging of his hands is synchronous with a raise in tempo and volume of the music giving the moment tremendous power.

This shot was particularly interesting. The protagonist jumps down and lands  running towards the camera, pulling up short and for a moment the audience is allowed a clear view of his facial expression during a sequence that had been fast paced music. In the trailer this shot cuts to black and silence so the audience’s thoughts linger on this image.

'Blade Runner' Action sequences (Trailer)

Action is one of the principle genres of this film and something that comes across strongly in the trailer. There is a sequence of a woman (one of the replicants) running down a busy, dim, but neon lit street and smashing through a pane of glass. This image is shown from a number of different angles and at one point is shown in slow motion to heighten the drama of the moment. The smashing sound also is loud and emphasises the impact.

Other short action shots are cut between at an increasing pace, for example Deckard being throw around, jumping through the air, chasing his opposition and (for the final shot) screaming in pain. However, these action shots are given tension and meaning by the images that build the layer of threat around each of the characters. Back lighting is used three times on Roy, once from a low angle to create a sense of intimidation and apprehension. The line “Prepare to die!” is heard over the scene where Deckard is being held by one of the replicants (Leon) and images of Deckard armed and wary, and injured create unease and mystery to further entice the audience.