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Genre

Film trailers are important marketing tools to communicate the genre of a film to potential audiences.

The following trailers are all for films within a similar genre. Watch each one carefully, and then discuss the questions that follow.

  • How would you describe the genre of each of the three trailers? Do any of these trailers seem to feature elements of other genres?
  • What similarities can you spot in the representation of male and female characters across the three trailers?
  • To what extent are special effects a feature of these trailers?
  • How does the soundtrack help to create the genre of the trailer?
  • Who do you think this genre of film is aimed at? Give reasons.
  • List the main features you would expect to find in films of this genre.
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Oblivion

JACK: The last super bowl was played right here.

VICTORIA: Jason told me it was a classic.

JACK: Classic game, eighty thousand people on their feet, seconds left on the clock…

[DOG BARKS]

JACK: So Hubey throws a Hail Mary. Touch down! 166 is back online.

JACK: Sixty years ago Earth was attacked.  We won the war but they destroyed half the planet. Everyone’s been evacuated, nothing human remains. We’re here for drone repair, we’re the mop-up crew.

JACK: This is Jack Harper. I’m good to go.

VICTORIA: Two more weeks Jack, then we can finally leave and join the others. Don’t take any chances.

TEXT: FROM THE PRODUCERS OF RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

MALCOLM: I’ve been watching you Jack. You’re curious. What are you looking for in those books? Do they bring back old memories?

WOMAN: We have an unidentified impact.

MALCOLM: Don’t ask too many questions.

JACK: They are human.

VICTORIA: Mission is ordering you to return to tower!

JULIA: Jack

JACK: How do you know my name?

MAN: They’re firing on survivors. Stand down!

JACK: What have you done?

VICTORIA: I can’t protect you.

TEXT: TOM CRUISE

JACK: They won’t stop ‘til they find me.

MALCOLM: If you’re looking for the truth, that’s where you’ll find her.

JULIA: You need to know what happened.

TEXT: EARTH IS A MEMORY

JACK: What aren’t you telling me? Who are you?

TEXT: WORTH FIGHTING FOR

VICTORIA: Jack, mission is ordering you to stand down.

JACK: I’m not going to do that.

[CRASHING]

JACK: This is the only way.

TEXT: OBLIVION

TEXT: COMING SOON

 

Iron Man 3

[MUSIC]

IRON MAN: I’ve got a lot of apologies to make. Nothing has been the same since New York. You experience things and then they’re over.  I can’t sleep and when I do I have nightmares. Honestly, there’s a hundred people who want to kill me.  I hope I can protect the one thing I can’t live without.

TEXT: THIS APRIL

MAN: Ladies…children…sheep...some people call me a terrorist, I consider myself a teacher. Lesson number one – heroes – there is no such thing.

[GUN SHOTS AND EXPLOSIONS]

TEXT: IRON MAN 3

TEXT: APRIL 2013

 

After Earth

[SOUNDS OF BREATHING]

TEXT: FROM COLUMBIA PICTURES

[MUSIC]

CYPHER: Crash landed, two confirmed survivors.

CYPHER: Son, this is not training. This is a class one quarantined planet. The threats we will be facing are real. Everything on this planet has evolved to kill humans. Every single decision we make will be life or death but if we are going to survive this, you must realise that fear is not real, it is a product of the thoughts you create and do not misunderstand me, danger is very real but fear is a choice. Do you know where we are?

KITAI: No, sir.

CYPHER: This is Earth.

TEXT: AFTER EARTH

TEXT: COMING SOON