Goblet of Fire

The scene I chose to analyze this week was from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I chose this movie because it combines computer animation with traditional filming methods in attempts to create a seamless effect. The scene I analyzed is the beginning of an important competition that Harry competes in. To set the scene, we see a packed full stadium introduced by an establishing shot. The entrance is almost an aerial or flying-in shot. The MC announces the competition and the four athletes, one of which is Harry. We often see the camera snap back and forth from the MC to the crowd, each time zooming in on a different group of fans. This builds the suspense and tension by establishing the rivalry between the opponents. Throughout this whole scene, we see close ups of Harry's face. This establishes him as the main character, the one we want to route for. Each of the four competitors approaches a closed door. After the countdown and gunshot, they each enter their respective door. Following Harry into the door, the camera work gives the sense of tunnel vision, switching back and forth from a shot of Harry's face and a shot from over his shoulder. This creates a feeling of confusion and builds the suspense. Right in the middle of this confusion, the camera rises up and pans out broadly to reveal an aerial shot of miles of hedge mazes, and it becomes clear that the contest will involve finding the way out of the maze. After this establishing shot, the camera snaps back to Harry and follows him through the maze. The shot remains from behind his shoulder, allowing the viewer to experience the confusion of the maze with Harry. The camera work is done with a wide angle lens, allowing the viewer to see a very wide range of vision, which further allows the viewer to experience the maze with Harry. The camera work in this scene reveals the character's feelings and emotions. We are able to experience all the tension, nervousness, and excitement that Harry himself feels.