Chicken Run Argumentative Essay Example
Chicken Run Argumentative Essay Example

Chicken Run Argumentative Essay Example

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  • Pages: 6 (1416 words)
  • Published: September 13, 2017
  • Type: Film Analysis
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The film "Chicken Run" by Nick Park and Peter Lord uses various presentational devices such as camera angles, lighting, costume, setting, sound effects, music and character interaction to depict two main characters in dissimilar ways, significantly influencing the audience's perception.

The film's standout characters are Ginger and Mrs Tweedy, and presentational devices are used to contrast the two. From the opening scene, viewers can discern that Tweedy's farm is not an ordinary family-run farm where happy, content animals are cared for by the owners. In contrast to this idyllic setting, Tweedy's farm has dark colours and miserable weather. One chicken, Ginger, stands out as a leader as she makes desperate attempts to escape from Mr Tweedy and his two guard dogs. The other chickens wait for Ginger's next command, and the low angle camera shot is employ

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ed to make Ginger appear larger than the rest of the chickens.

Despite being reversed several times, the trick of portraying Mr Tweedy holding Ginger by the neck and slinging her into solitary confinement gives off a lighthearted resemblance to the film 'the great escape'. The punishment of Ginger, who is small and helpless, creates an impression that the other chickens need her as no plans for escape are arranged without her. Although desperate, Ginger's ideas to escape to the countryside give self-belief and hope to the other chickens. The audience empathizes with her as she is selfless and good. Upon Mrs Tweedy's introduction, her wicked laugh, dull dress sense, and bossiness towards her husband instantly hint at her character.

The revelation that the chickens are organized and planning to escape is met with ridicule and dismissal by Mrs

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Tweedy in spite of it being true. This suggests that she is the one in control of their marriage and calls the shots. The use of low camera angles serves to make Mrs. Tweedy appear powerful, while a few close up shots capture her evil smile and devious behavior, defying the conventional notion that men typically run farms in present day culture.

Observing from the farmhouse, the sound of a bell prompts the chickens to gather in organized lines. Mrs. Tweedy is then seen entering the chicken pen with Mr. Tweedy following closely behind. This display illustrates the chickens' ability to comprehend human interaction and their capacity for intelligence. Passing by the chickens, only Mrs. Tweedy's imposing boots are visible, emphasizing her substantial size and importance in comparison to the diminutive birds. The thudding sound of her boots resonates on the dusty ground, creating a sense of unease among the nervous chickens as she attentively checks her list. Suddenly, she halts and collects a chicken by the name of Edwina before carrying her off to a barn, leaving the door partially open.

As Mrs Tweedy holds an axe, a dark shadow looms and the scene turns silent until the axe falls on Edwina. The resulting weather change and slow, melancholic music bring down the mood of the film. After Mrs Tweedy leaves, leaving Mr Tweedy to clean up, close-up shots show the distraught brood of birds. However, Ginger steps in and lifts the mood while planning their next escape. As she inspires the chickens, brighter skies appear, hinting at hope. When Ginger ends her speech and leaves, she breaks down but refuses to bring everyone else down

with her.

Using a high angle shot, the directors capture the hills and countryside that she longs for. However, the camera quickly zooms in to showcase her misery and despair, as well as that of her friends. This allows the audience to empathize with her and feel sorry for her as they witness tears falling down Ginger's face. Suddenly, a cockerel flies above her head and catches Ginger's attention by saluting her before crashing into the chicken pen. The commotion causes the hens to become excited, but Ginger intervenes and takes control by calming them down. Due to the unconscious state of the cockerel, the chickens turn to Ginger for guidance, even including old-fashioned Fowler.

The film features A.F, a lighthearted mascot who is initially suspicious of the unconscious Cockerel named Rocky. However, as the film progresses, it becomes clear that Ginger and Rocky develop a bond, even though her trust in him initially leads to complications involving an American circus attraction. The narrative then shifts to Mrs. Tweedy's latest scheme to make money, which involves fattening up chickens to make pies and replace the income from selling eggs. During an inspection, the group is pleasantly surprised to find that character Babs is not taken away despite her failure to lay eggs.

During this scene, the director creates a sense of anticipation by echoing the fatal scene where Edwina was killed. The use of slow music, thudded footsteps, and camera angles builds suspense as Mrs. Tweedy approaches what the audience believes to be her next victim. This tension is a direct result of the rigorous flight training that Ginger made Rocky lead so that he could pass

on his skills to the rest of the hen group. The camera angle effectively conveys the intimidating presence of the farm owner, intimidating both the hens and the audience who have already figured out her sinister plans for the chickens. Despite their uncontrollable frenzy for more food, Ginger eventually regains control and confronts both herself and the group asking why they feel entitled to more sustenance.

During the announcement, the camera angle makes her appear taller and the sun shines directly on her, giving her a positive image. The groups are disappointed when she finally realizes and explains that she thinks they are being fattened up by the owner. The weather worsens again and close-up shots of the chickens' faces show their disappointment and sadness. Rocky takes Ginger aside and tells her some harsh truths that upset her. He thinks Ginger's honesty won't improve the situation with the depressed chickens who are playing with the good Mrs.

Tweedy is getting ready for the unveiling of the new pie-making contraption to the chickens. A mid-angle shot depicts Mrs. Tweedy towering over her husband, who hurriedly rushes back to finish the nearly completed machine. The barn, where the machine is housed, is always shown in darkness to convey a sense of sadness to the audience.

At the end of the film, despite previous repair works on the pie-making machine, the chickens are still determined to escape and make a final effort. They use stolen gadgets from two untrustworthy rats to construct an airplane. Although Ginger is skeptical of these materials, they prove useful in assembling a suitable aircraft. However, Mr. Tweedy intervenes and catches the chickens in the act.

Despite his intimidating size, Ginger leads the charge in attacking him and saving the day with the help of her peers.

The director emphasizes the size difference between Tweedy and Ginger, portraying Ginger as the beloved hero by the audience despite this. The runway is quickly and impressively prepared before the aircraft takes off. However, the final obstacle appears in the form of Mrs. Tweedy. The close-up shots of the farm owner depict her as even more evil than before, desperate to stop the chickens as the plane rises from the ground. In a duel between the two main characters, Ginger emerges victorious by heroically cutting the rope Mrs. Tweedy clung onto and climbing up. Mrs. Tweedy's defeat is a satisfying conclusion to the encounter.

As Tweedy takes a fall, her signage depicting a seemingly idyllic and harmonious farm breaks her fall, revealing a less attractive and joyful image of herself to onlookers, a deliberate move by the director to unveil the real farm owner. The scene transitions from an establishing shot of the chicken's new surroundings to a mid angle shot that captures a tender moment between Rocky and Ginger. Through this film, I have gained insight into how editors can manipulate color brightness or music style to shape the audience's emotional response.

The film illustrates Ginger's pursuit of freedom through the use of bright colours, while Mrs. Tweedy's plans and actions are accompanied by dark and dreary colours, which bring the mood down. The contrast between modern-day farms and Mrs. Tweedy's full control over her husband is emphasized by the directors, which represents a deviation from the past.

Simplifying the process facilitated the portrayal of Mrs.

Tweedy as both power-hungry and avaricious for Nick Park and Peter Lord.

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