Slan- Beowulf Wants to Die Scene

The scene where Beowulf is basically trying to commit public suicide is the scene I believe had the most emotions. I heard a lot of people say their faces did not move, but in the close-up when Beowulf is repeatedly saying "Kill Me" you can see real emotions from the digital creation. As I look at it, I feel like I am watching a real actor. Ray Winstone must have watched that scene over and over to give the powerful voice he puts into that scene. No doubt he fits Beowulf perfect. This film might be all digital but with the combination of great voiceover, you may be able to feel like you watching a film real people. The fact that this film is digital creation of an old tale gives it that once upon a time feel. When you watch movies that make 3D images with real people it sucks. I've seen very few movies where the dragon looked real. You could tell it was computer generated. I've even seen another version Beowulf different from the one staring Gerald Butler and the digital one we had to watch in class. In that film, Grendel was a digitally created beast with claws and 100% fake. Our technology has gotten to the point where we can make it look like a real person or monster is in the film but some just dont have the budget. This version of Beowulf was perfect in my eyes. Their use of digital creations kept the film feeling realistic.

Mis-En-Scene Analysis:

Lighting: The scene starts off with Beowulf on a cliff watching the battle between his army and the Frisians. It is the first scene we see of him after becoming king. As he is on the cliff the lighting is bright but no comparison to sunshine. Then he moves down towards the beach where his men have captured a Frisian Raider who wants to fight Beowulf. As he rides up to the raider the light is bright. Beowulf tells his men to kill the raider then he starts to trot off. The raider tells Beowulf to come kill him himself. As Beowulf dismounts, you notice in the background this dark cloud of smoke or dust cloud. The lighting gets real gloomy. As Beowulf and the raider speak the camera goes back in forth. Behind Beowulf is the dust cloud and behind the raider is the sea. The sea is brighter than the dust cloud even though the sky is dark and gloomy. As Beowulf gives his kill me speech, the camera closes up on his face and it gets brighter. This type of lighting makes this scene appears to be a battle of good and darkness. With the lighting shifting it gives that feel of a struggle. As it closes up on Beowulf, behind his head is the half bright and half dark. It kind of says he is torn between the two.

Camera Proximics: In this scene, it starts off social then moves to intimate. As Beowulf approaches the raider, who has an axe and is ready to take his life, the camera begins to get close up on Beowulf's face. While Beowulf gives his speech the camera proximity changes with each point of his speech. The closer he gets to the raider the closer the camera gets to Beowulf. It gives you that near death and desperate feeling. Each step is a closer walk towards death.

Dominant: The dominant in this scene is Beowulf. He has this bright red shirt on under his armor. It draws and keeps you focusing on him. Despite the cloud of dust behind him the red shirt appeals to the eyesight.