Comparison Legally Blonde and Se7en

Shot Types

Legally Blonde
-ECU of girl brushing her hair at the beginning, gives us the idea that maybe she is the main character
- Mainly use of ECU and CU of the main character throughout the opening to focus on her routine of getting ready but not revealing her face
- LS when showing the other characters using pans and tracking on the campus so we get a feel of the people that go there and also we get to see the typical American campus atmosphere
- Also use of slow-motion when showing the card for the main character, we see the card go from different characters and the slow motion makes us focus on the card so we know it is important or for someone important

Se7en
-Mix of CU and MS when looking at the main character so we get to see his surroundings such as when he is at home and also we get close up on his possessions so we get a feel of what he is like
- Out of focus on the things that are to do with the case or the crime as if they don't want to reveal too much
- Tracking and MS following the conversation between Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt as if we are walking with them and listening in and it makes it evident they are the main characters

Comparison Both openings make it clear who the main characters are by using CU and MS on them. Also both openings make us clear of the surroundings of each film and the atmosphere, so in legally blonde we see that it will be a bright cheery movie because of the campus and teenagers but seven shows us a more gloomy, dark coloured atmosphere so we know this theme will continue in the film.

Narrative Expectations

Legally Blonde
- The movie begins with a close up of the back of long blonde hair with a girl brushing it, we then get the idea that this is going to a movie that focuses on appearance and materialistic things
-We then are shown, in slow motion, the rest of the main characters bedroom such as her dressing table with nail polish, hair dye, expensive branding so this also gives us the impression this is a girly film and it is will focus on the fact that the main character is materialistic
-We are shown a college campus so we know that it will be set in a college around a lot of teenagers, showing the groups of girls and boys and how they interact with each other so we also see that it will be based on a school romance or romances
- We also follow a card being passed around campus with the name 'Elle' on it, at the end it is passed to the girl we see at the beginning suggesting this is the main characters name
- There is music in the background with the words 'perfect day' so it shows the film will be all cutesy and 'perfect' and that it will depict how there are no faults in their lives at the start
-Scene ends with mention of Elle’s boyfriend so this suggests he will play an important role

Se7en
- Dark beginning in terms of lighting and we see the main character getting ready for work, doing everyday things
- The main character is followed from his home to work and then to his conversation with Brad Pitt so we are shown he works with the police or investigates crime and we know the rest of the film will follow this
- We know that also the film will show the relationship between Pitt and Freeman and how maybe they won't always see eye to eye
- Creepy music starts with unclear and mysterious images begins to give us an idea the crime the characters will be solving a difficult crime
- The word seven is mentioned so this also suggests the film will revolve around this number

Comparison They are opposite in theme, one is a dark and mysterious and one is upbeat and colourful. Legally Blonde suggests a happy ending and that it will largely involve a lively mood whereas Seven shows that there will be lots of twists and it will be a dark and thriller like.

Character Expectations

Legally Blonde
-Girly, ditsy, pink
- Main character is young and blonde, and seems very popular within her campus
- Elle seems caring as she has a dog and seems to look after it
- The characters all seem to care about their appearances, dyed hair, perfect nails, and designer clothes

Se7en
- Morgan Freeman’s character will be serious whereas Brad Pitts seems less serious and jokier - Freeman seems very pristine and immaculate in his ways showing he will want to do the job properly and carefully. The main character seems to care a lot about his job, his home seems very simple as if his life at the moment is all about his work and he doesn’t spend much time at home.

Comparison
Characters in Legally Blonde seem upbeat and more interested in themselves and shallow teenage issues Seven they are more serious and it seems to be more based on the crime rather than focusing on just the characters issues Brad Pitts character however seems slightly less serious and quite young so a similar character to maybe one of the males in Legally Blonde