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What are the main colours used in the poster? What symbols are used in the poster? Do you need audience foreknowledge to decode the symbols?
Black and white contrasts and the limited use of colours make red stand out. Red – connotes blood and death, it’s a powerful colour. This links to the men being powerful and strong. Greys- give hard ‘metallic’ look, they appear hard and strong ‘unbreakable’.
What are the main figures/objects/background of the poster? Are they represented photographically, graphically or illustratively?
The men standing tall and in formation. They appear as a team but angry expression and strong stance is like an intimidating gang. The skull/gun icon is illustrated. Connotes death and violence. The metallic finish again establishes a testosterone fuelled action film - sense of 'hardness' (stereotyping).
Are the messages in the poster primarily visual, verbal, or both?
Visual, but text used to promote actors in the film. Combines images and icons, which audiences can then go on to recognise as a symbol of ‘The Expendables'.
Who do you think the intended audience for the poster is?
Extremely male, young adults, into action/violent genres. Have liked the previous films the actors have been in. Older audiences who like Rambo etc.
Which genre conventions are used?
Action/War= Men are strong muscles - dressed in bullet proof vest, off to kill people? Icon is surrounded by firearms + knives, indicates war and action.
What USPs are used?
Most of the actors are known from previous franchises of action films. The text above emphasises this. The poster is selling the film through star-appeal.
What gratifications are promised by the poster?
Will be full of violence, guns, men fighting. You may be thrilled, gripped by these fast-paced scenes. Could hold reminiscent references to older action films.
How is attention gained?
Again, contrast of strong colours. There are only 3 main colours and this seems be be a convention used in poster advertising.
What is the tagline? How does this work?
No tagline. But title ‘expendables’ gives a tone of harsh, unforgiving nature.
Very ‘man-ly’.
How important is the information on the poster?
Even though smaller, the actors names are in bold and in a contrasting colour at the top of the poster. The title and date of release are in red, stands out. Important so audience know when the film is showing.
Judging by the quality of the production, how expense was this poster to produce?
Seems high quality, and perhaps more expensive than The Dark Knight poster. A photo shoot was needed, and by looking at previous posters they took many different types. The logo seems well done, so money would have been needed for a graphic designer.
Critical Evaluation:
I think it is a good poster because it communicates quite clearly who their primary audience will be and what the films content will be about. However, I think the poster is so male-orientated that they will cut out lots of female audience who may interested in this film. Personally, I don’t find the poster offensive, but the title of the film ‘expendables’ and the polished image of guns and violence put together seem to give a flippant attitude to warfare.
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What are the main colours used in the poster? What symbols are used in the poster? Do you need audience foreknowledge to decode the symbols?
TDK: Black- connotes a dark, mysterious atmosphere. Also direct link to the colour of bats. Eerie feeling. Dark blue-works in different tones showing the tunnel. Night-time, danger and sense of coldness. Oranges/Reds- shows explosion, the shapes show speed. Also draws attention to an otherwise dark poster. White –absence of colour shows space and breaks poster up, easier to see. Also the blur of white shows movement.
What are the main figures/objects/background of the poster? Are they represented photographically, graphically or illustratively?
Batman is a still from the film, then enhanced, as well as the motorbike. The photo is more enhanced because in the film the action would distract from the specific details of the bike. Shows a race, movement scene = action. Bat symbol=iconic, easily identifiable. Logo for film and easy to transfer to merchandise. Explosion connotes action, we know what to expect from the film.
Are the messages in the poster primarily visual, verbal, or both?
Very visual – image is the main focus, it gives a snippet of the action scenes to come. Early posters do not have reviews or a tease of the actual film, no alot to read.
Who do you think the intended audience for the poster is?
Predominantly men, comic fans, a younger audience who wants to see the ‘new’ modern batman but then the opposite - Older audience who has grown up with the franchise. Also uses star appeal.
Which genre conventions are used?
Action/Adventure= explosions, flying debris in the tunnel, fast moving bike, modern/futuristic looking, blur of lights - fast paced
What USPs are used?
Text advertises the well known stars so will bring in pre-determined audience. Filmed in IMAX.
What gratifications are promised by the poster?
Action packed scenes and very thrilling. Might make you feel tense, excited and on the edge-of-your-seat.
How is attention gained?
The bright explosion and the contrast of colours draw the eye to this poster, also the iconic batman icon.
What is the tagline? How does this work?
Only has the title ‘The Dark Knight’, other posters have the tag “why so serious?’ use of black humour to attract audience.
How important is the information on the poster?
The audience notice the image, but then the title and the date are both white showing equal importance. Title is above the date - more emphasis on the franchise.
Judging by the quality of the production, how expense was this poster to produce?
The physical expense was not that high as it is a still from the actual film. However the digital illustrator designs will have taken time and money to produce, but I think the quality of the explosion was not extremely high standard for a high concept film.
Critical Evaluation:
I think this poster is eye-catching and grabs the audience’s attention with its use of dark Vs bright colours. Communication is mainly through the image, then uses some text that promises an action movie with IMAX - very popular now, new technology, guaranteed
And lastly, a general question...
How important a part of the whole marketing campaign is the poster? Where are movie poster placed?
On buses, taxis, bus shelters, trains, billboards, newspapers, flyers, outside the cinema, even on breakfast cereal boxes. Trailers can be shown “piggy backing films” at cinemas, spots at stadium games, viral marketing.
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