Analysing the Trailer of Marvel's Captain America: Civil War

Analysing the Trailer of Marvel's Captain America: Civil War 

The film trailer starts with an establishing shot of an isolated mountain range, it begins to zoom in before changing scene. Over the top of the shots of different locations, there is a sound bridge accompanied by a voice over from one of the characters. The character speaking hasn't yet been introduced, however the audience can automatically tell that this character is going to play a significant role throughout the movie trailer.

In the first 30 seconds there is a 4 second clip of the Marvel Studio's logo, this is accompanied by a dramatic chord of music over the top. During this 4 second clip, a reel of sketches is revealed, these sketches are the original ideas of the stories for the superheroes, and these are also strips from comics. These are presented as a 'flick book' and it zooms in to fill the whole screen until the Marvel logo is shown.

Throughout the trailer, there is a dramatic film score in the background which runs over the scenes. This generates a long sound bridge. However, this sound bridge is interrupted by the dialogue between characters. When the interruptions to the sound bridge occur, the volume of the film it gets lower. This mainly happens when there is dialogue either between characters or when there is a voiceover. Alternatively, when there is an action scene, the volume and tempo increases, creating a sudden excitement within the trailer to entice the audience to go and see the film when it’s released.

The film score is a contrapuntal sound as the music doesn't fit with the visuals. For example, when there are fight scenes, the viewers would expect to hear loud and fast tempo music, however instead, the music is a slow and calming sound. The slow paced music however, is appropriate during some of the introductions to the characters, as when they’re introduced it is a dramatic part of the film.

In the course of the whole trailer, all the characters are introduced. They're shown either during an action shot or during a direct dialogue scene. Each character is introduced with different camera shots. These camera shots include close up shots, mid shots and long shots.

The first character introduced, is portrayed through a mid-shot, which then zooms in to a closer up shot. The lighting, surrounding the character portrays him as the villain character, this is also represented as he is chained up which shows that he is dangerous and should not be released.

Just before one of the main characters is introduced, the screen blacks out for a few seconds, this creates dramatic tension and builds suspense. The main character, Captain America, is then introduced with a mid-shot, but the shot is of his back and he turns around. The location surrounding him is dark and grey coloured, however his costume is bright with vibrant colours. The vibrant colours indicate that for civilians he could be the ‘light in the darkness’ as later on in the trailer it is quoted that ‘people are afraid’ therefore needing a hero. The setting and a slow turn to look at the camera, creates a dramatic introduction for the main character, creating a suspense for the audience. The Marvel Studio's reel, is then used, this breaks up the trailer and slightly slows the pace to pause the trailer before action scenes are introduced and the pace of the trailer increases.

Special effects and sound effects are use. The sound effects used, include explosions, armour suits and gun fire, these are all on screen sounds. The gun fire sound is on screen sound which is diegetic as the characters can hear this, however they’re enhanced to exaggerate the scene.

The sound effects used are exaggerated to give a dramatic effect on the viewers as they are more prominent, this engages the audience and viewers as they would feel part of the film, therefore the trailer is 'doing its job' and creating an interest by the audience.

The gunfire and explosion sounds are parallel sounds to the trailer as they are 'caused' by the event on screen, the event is the action and fighting scenes between the heroes’. 

In the final 30 seconds, the name of the film, ‘Captain America: Civil War’, appears of the screen. As this happens the music is suddenly cut of then slowly a drumming sound starts over the top with another voice over of the other main character. This then takes the viewers to the scene where the dialogue is from and finishes the trailer with a comedy scene and then the date the movie is in cinemas.