Comparison of Mise-en-scene

Mirrors

(Horror)

I Robot (Sci-fi)

Alexander (Action/Biography)

Costume-The costumes worn in the I Robot contrast to the ones worn in the films Mirrors and Alexander, and this is because in I Robot the main Actor (Will Smith) wears mostly casual clothes but mostly dark leather jacket and jeans which can really reflect on reality on how poeple usually wear. Throughout the movie he seems to wear dark colours which might indicate his power and superiority over people and the robots and it can also connote mystery and dark secrets. At the beginning of the trailer of the film Mirrors the main character (Kiefer Sutherland) is wearing normal casual clothes to indicate that he's a normal man, doing normal things but as the trailer goes on his change of clothes goes to black which connotes danger or something evil has happened, which sets an enigma to the film. In the film Alexander the costumes that are worn can be seen throughout the film as ancient history because of the location and costume the audience can see that it was set in the ancient times which connotes war and status. The connection between the three movies through the costumes worn is that each main character uses his clothes to show superiority and power, however the main connection is the films I robot and Mirrors because the clothes that are worn are dark clothes i.e. black jacket and it can connot mistery which sets sn enigma to the films.


Lighting-The lighting used in the film I Robot is traditional lighting of high key lighting and filter lighting which gives it a strong power effect making it seem realistic and creating a contrast between the shadows in the night footage and the sunny day which might connote happiness. There is a lot of low key lighting used when the robots start to control the world which connotes power and respect. Due to the genre of the film being sci-fi which indicate its set in the future because of the high key lighting at the beginning and low key lighting at the end. The lighting used in the film Mirrors is mostly dark low key lighting which connotes the genre of horror which creates mystery and spine chilling moments. However there are some moments that high key lighting is used like when the actors are shown in their home, might indicate happiness. In the film Alexander there is a lot of high key lighting used throughout the whole film because there is a lot of wars which are in battle lands which is shot outside, although in some parts of the film there is a bit low key lighting which creates suspense and dramatic moments.


Actors/Actresses- The actors and actresses in I robot are different with the actors and actresses in the films Mirrors and Alexander. This is because the directors choose to pick actors and actresses that would best suite the genre they play. In I Robot the main actor depicts a strong character because he's a policeman it makes him a powerful man which links to the film Alexandra the main actor Colin Farrell, because he is a leader and a powerful man with a lot of authority upon his people. The actor in Mirrors Kiefer Sutherland is the main actor who portrays a struggling man trying to make a living, which sets a contrast with the actors in I Robot and Alexandra, because he has no power or superiority.


Make up-The make up used in I robot is very different with the ones used in Mirrors and Alexander because its set in the future, a lot of natural make up is used accompanying the high key lighting makes it seem real and natural, although at the time where the robots and humans fight there is people bruised. There is a lot of make up used in the film Alexander because there are battles which have people bruised and bleeding which has a connection with the film I Robot, which shows that a good use of make up has been used. The make up used in Mirrors is very good because a lot of close up shots used the make up is very good and natural and clear.

Props-There is clear connections between the films Alexander and I robot because of the battles, however the difference occurs when the props used in the films because in the film I Robot is set in the future and machine guns are used and cars set in the future that can drive itself etc, but in the film Alexander is set in historian time the props used are horses, knives and body amour. The props used in Mirrors are mostly mirrors hence the title which connotes self-image and beyond what’s in the mirror, but apart from that the use of props used in Mirrors are things like torches, guns and police cars.

Setting- The settings used in the 3 films are very different because of the time difference between all films, for example I Robot is set in the future, Mirrors is set in the present and Alexander is set in the past. By the settings are also different, although Mirrors and I Robot have different time periods the setting seems the same like New York City, but the setting in the film Alexander seems to be set in a place like Rome or Egypt because of the sands its mostly looks like Egypt.

Genre/Target audience- The genre of the three films are totally different due to the themes, I Robot is set in the future which connotes sci-fi genre, Mirrors is set in the present and because of it's theme it automatically tells the audience its a horror film which is based for people 18 and over and this is shown through the dark low key lighting colours which shows suspense and fear, the film Alexandra is set in the past and has a genre of action, adventure, drama, war and romance and this is seen through all the themes and colours used in the film and its target audience is most probably 15 and over and mostly for men because of the war action based theme.