I love watching movies, be it Indian, English, Korean, Chinese etc...Escpecially the romantic comedy ones! But the occasional thriller and action is a relief, when I get an overdose of " I love you's " and running to the airport ending scenes.
So I decided to equate some of the movies I watched, to the architecture I connect with it...and I came up with a few of the following:
1.THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (2004)
SOURCE : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyZU7lfGjyk
SOURCE : http://www.bluemartialarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/bourne-supremacy-fight-scene.jpg
SOURCE : http://brianwelk.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/bourne-supremacy-knife-fight.jpg
SOURCE : http://www.img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140129224644/bourne/images/d/d3/Jason-bourne-lotta-armi.jpg
Part of the Bourne series based on the book by Robert Ludlum, the movie is an action thriller with lots of action.The movie is about a CIA assasin suffering from amnesia.
Watching this scene, it makes me feel dizzy.After reading about it, I realised that, this is a technique called "shaky cam" where the camera is purposefully shaken to make the viewer feel like they are going on a roller coaster. The eye is made to follow every movement of the fight at fast forward with certain areas where the actors are out of the scene, as a result we tend to search all over the frame for them.
MANDARIN ORIENTAL,SINGAPORE
Similarly, I had visited the Mandarin Oriental hotel recently in Singapore, where the atrium seemed to go on forever up. Looking up, made me feel so dizzy, that I had to look down immediately.
SOURCE : http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4101/4905934951_807a5ca03a.jpg
The spiral effect causing the eye to follow the movement of the lines is the reason for it. Sort of makes me hypnotised!
2. BLADE RUNNER (1982)
SOURCE : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx02tM0os7k
SOURCE : http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/1336756409-blade-runner1.jpg
SOURCE : http://www.niels85.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/blade-runner-cityscape.jpg
This film is known for its futuristic themes, starting from its architecture set, to the costumes, to the soundtrack. It portrays "futuristc" Los Angeles, in 2019 (the future according to people in 1900s).
What makes it seem futuristc?
I think, the main thing is the sets, where the buildings are all tall and dark, made of metal completely.Spaceships flying in the air, lights blinking, denoting windows in the skyscrapers, the futuristc humming and the electro music playing in the background, all add to the effect.
LLYODS BUILDING,LONDON
SOURCE : http://www.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjIvH1hn_ezR4hhrYLpRyG4H3VVm8xLglNmAgFxge1-305aRcq5V3n3Xr4IwpRj24WhN8vLr2otjjP1gqIja-6g0WFd3rPKZDP4sEtRLWw5pumOeavLZn2fbn7HTihTGGZA_ROXWMbQI/s1600/lloyds-building-london.jpg
The Llyods Building in London, gives me a sense of outerspace....With its steel, curved elements and skyscraper height, the building stands out among the others of its context. The almost robotic feel caused by the repetition of each floor, and the almost subtle glass openings for windows, makes me think of the sci-fi movies.
3. PASSION OF THE CHRIST (2004)
This is a movie based on the execution and subsequent execution of Jesus christ. Watching it, made me cry buckets, due to its story and the very graphic portrayal of the execution. The entire movie made me feel sad, helpless and horrified !
JEWISH MUSEUM,BERLIN
If I had to equate the feelings I felt in this scene, to an interior space....it would be the Jewish Museum by Daniel Libeskind.This museum portrays the horror that was the massacre of countless Jews during the World War by the Nazis.
SOURCE : http://www.//archide.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/berlijn_106.jpg
The exterior looks like a robotic warehouse container which seems impersonal and raw.The diagonal lines on the fascade gives me the impression of taking a blade to it.It seems like the building is a person and the slashes are angry knife cuts made on him.
SOURCE : http://blogs.artinfo.com/museumviews/files/2011/07/Jewish-Museum-Berlin-56.jpg
The theme of the cuts continue throughout the building in the form of projections or indentations, thereby portaying the immemseness of the crime and the carelessness with which it was implemented for the fun of it, maybe similar to how the Nazis treated the Jews.
SOURCE : http://www.tomdefreston.co.uk/artist/wp-content/uploads/1dsfghjfd.jpg
This room to me, is the most horrifying of the lot. Metal faces are scattered throughout the floor, over which the visitors have to walk in order to go across.This is meant to symbolise the effect of walking across countless dead bodies, which were burnt as a pile, during the war.The worst part is, the fact that the noise of the metal crunching against the shoes, echoes throughout the tall space, making it seem more enhanced.The architect has made sure that the people move across this, as it is on the way to the other spaces.
Daniel Libeskind has created a masterpiece that is dramatic to the extreme, making us feel helpless for the countless people that were killed and horror for making us relive the methods and process of execution.
4.INTERSTELLAR (2014)
Another movie I recently saw here, was the sci-fi thriller, Interstellar, directed by Christopher Nolan.It follows the theme of future ending of earth as a planet, and the need to save the future generations from extinction. There is a lot of physics involved in it, which makes the film believable and thereby making the viewers think...."Can this be true? " or "Is this really going to happen? " Thats what I thought.Initially, I only understood half the movie, but on later recounting, I understood what the movie was portraying. The entire setting for the movie, is a more believable future USA, where all the scenes are dull and contain dirty surroundings.This shows that the Earth's nature is getting exhausted. Most of the movie is shot with outerspace backgrounds, cementing the whole excitement of otherworldly!A mood of contemplation and thinking.
SOURCE : http://cdn.indiewire.com/dims4/INDIEWIRE/7eefeac/2147483647/thumbnail/680x478/quality/75/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fd1oi7t5trwfj5d.cloudfront.net%2F98%2Ff0%2F452c3e5c4f9cafda306cef6b21a2%2Finterstellar.jpg
SOURCE : http://thefilmstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/interstellar_2-620x413.jpg
SOURCE : http://www.d1jqu7g1y74ds1.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/On-the-edge-of-a-black-hole.jpg
SOURCE : http://www.dailygalaxy.com/.a/6a00d8341bf7f753ef01bb07b10d55970d-pi
DEER SHELTER IN YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE PARK
During our first week of University, we were taken to visit different galleries and museums.The Yorkshire Sculpture park was one were sculptures were placed outside in the hills of Yorkshire. Pieces were placed randomly all over acres of land, across which we had to walk.At a secluded portion, was the Deer Shelter, a place for contemplation.
SOURCE : http://www.fotothing.com/photos/022/0229a017144142fbe326b59ce2e9ffd2.jpg
SOURCE : http://www.thescienceofpatterns.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/deer-shelter-skyspace_james-turrell.jpg?w=500&h=375
The fact that the space is so small at the same time tall, gives it a feeling of reaching for the heavens. The use of raw, grey materials, adds to the crudeness and zeness of the space. A small opening at the top is the only source of light into the interiors, hence no opportunity for distractions form the side. We feel small, in such a vast space, thereby adding to the mood of contemplation and reverence.The need to talk is diminished, because we know that anything in such a small space will echo and make it loud.
SOURCE : http://jamesturrell.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/deer_shelter_interior01_aperture-1024x682.jpg
There are many emotions I feel when I watch a movie. A lot of elements contribute to it, like the right lighting, the theme created by the sets, the costumes according to the genre or period, the right background score (the silent films are always more emotional that the others) , and the cinematography.Architecture too, has similar charecteristics that it follows, to achieve the reactions.Both film and architecture have to appeal to the same target - the public! Sometimes, the two can help each other to bring about the same result.
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