Example Responses
Below are 3 example responses that are designed to help you with your revision and the writing of your exam responses. Remember to add as much technical terminology into the exam as possible as well as theory if you're aiming for the A and A* grades.
Question 1c - Micro Analysis

The pace of editing displayed throughout Magneto’s attack on the police officers proves effective at creating excitement in the audience. As Magneto takes control of the many hand and shot guns, Singer alternates a number of cuts between close up shots of terrified police officers and long shots displaying the large number of officers who have been effected. The expert use of the rapid cuts between these two types of shot heightens both the speed of the scene, raising excitement in the audience, but it also enhances any fear we as an audience feel. Magneto has taken control over the people who are stereotypically thought of as the first line of protectors. If Magneto, a mutant, is in control of the police, making them look inadequate and futile, who is then going to protect us from him?
The mise-en-scene is also expertly used to create excitement in the audience. The costumes of Magneto, Sabretooth and Toad are the first line of the excitement which is created. We are intrigued by the interesting and unusual costumes and we can learn a lot about the characters from the colours/materials used. Magneto for example is clad in a purple mettalic material which not only links to his name and powers but also gives him the impression that he is invincible. His only point of weakness, his head, is covered almost completely by a metallic helmet displaying his omnipotence and mysticism. The excitement is further heightened as the three villains take their place on the top of the steps of the train station. They are met by red and blue flashing police lights which fill the audience with an excitement that the day will be saved. Police have connotations of strength and the red flashing lights remind an audience of this. Alternatively, the red light can also hold connotations of danger and a warning of the threat which Magneto poses to the men in the scene.
Question 2 - Key themes and Conventions

2 a)The theme of violence is used in the extract.
b) In the key scenes from Elektra the theme of violence is used to present Elektra’s dominance over the The Hand as they attempt to kidnap Abby and kill Elektra. The use of violence allows us as an audience to see the power of the Elektra and her ability to protect the ‘good’ characters within the film. Elektra’s power is particularly shown within the point of view shot where Elektra directs the tree to fall on and destroy Stone.
c) The theme of violence is also used in the key scene from X-Men where Magneto displays his dominant power over the police officers at the train station. The diagetic sound as he raises the police cars above his head and smashes them on top of each other creates a sense of panic and fear within an audience as the use of violence proves effective as the viewer can see the omnipotent power of the super-villain Magneto. (Clear example) He has no constraints and the human police officers have no power in their ability to control him. As an audience we react in a significantly shocked way as the police are emblems of our protection. As the police are being made to look insignificant and small an audience member’s concern for the super heroes increases. This use of the key theme of violence is different to Elektra as Magneto in X-Men is using violence to create fear within the audience in an attempt to make the audience think that the evil within the film may win the battle. In contrast, Elektra uses violence in order to try and restore an audience’s faith that good will overcome evil.
The theme of violence is also used within The Amazing Spiderman as Peter Parker attempts to defeat the mutant giant lizard that is attempting to bring devastation to New York. As Peter attempts to defeat the giant lizard we see a close up shot as he directs an out of control liquid nitrogen pipe that freezes the limbs of the lizard. This theme of violence has been used to attempt to bring the film back into a new equilibrium and solve the problems that have been caused by the super-villain. The audience support Spiderman as he attempts to bring the villain to justice and they feel tense as he struggles to defeat his nemesis. This use of the theme of violence is similar to Elektra as Elektra too tries to use violence to defeat the super villains that are her enemy and a threat to the safety of Mark and Abby.
Question 3 - Film Promotion and Wider Industry

DVD covers encourage an audience to rent and buy films in a number of ways. The first method is through the use of star power on the front cover. As the Elektra DVD cover uses a mid shot of Jennifer Garner displaying a direct mode of address, the audience are met by a clear attraction to the film through a noticeable and famous actress. Jennifer Garner is an actress known for her role in many high budget films and this draws audiences into the watching the film. The mid-shot also displays the way that Garner is playing famous super hero Elektra and an audience of superhero movies fans are also attracted to the film. Interestingly, the character’s intense and aggressive gesture codes connote anger and violence which intrigue and audience. Garner is an actress who isn’t usually known for her roles in violent roles like the one she plays in Elektra and this would create enigma codes in the audience to try and understand what type of violent role she plays. This use of star power is also used effectively on the front of the The Dark Knight Rises DVD cover which displays a long shot of Batman in an action pose displaying an exciting image that makes the audience want to buy or rent the DVD.

Repeat this process until you have 3/4 PEA paragraphs.