Camera Shot Analysis

In class we were told to get into pairs and analyse a film clip's camera shots, following on from last lesson. My pair decided to analyse a clip from X-Men First Class (2011) starring Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy. During this clip there are many interesting camera shots that all add to the effect of the film, so I decided to take a few examples.

    First here's the clip:

First example is a reverse shot form 0.03-0.09 seconds in the clip there is a reverse shot, which is where a character is seen looking back at another, unseen, character. This kind of shot brings the eyes in, signifying that the next thing you will see is going to be important. The effect can be very unsettling.

At 0.22 seconds we see a low angle shot, emphasising Fassbender's characters, Magneto, dominance and power, also because it's a medium close up shot we can see how his body is positioned in a very dominant stance.                                            A screen capture from that moment here- 

0.51 seconds shows a long shot being used so the audience can see the destruction that has just occurred, allowing us to learn more about the scene.

At 1.46 seconds there is a medium close up of Rose Byrne's character, Moira MacTaggert, which really emphasises the distress her characters face allowing the audience to experience what her is really feeling.

From 4.12-4.30 seconds there are many different close ups because it's is important for the audience to see what how each character has real emotion when Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) is shot. The close-up shot of Charles Xavier after he gets shot is very effective as you really see his pain and emotion.

Here's a screenshot of this moment-