Sentimentality in the Pictures and Sound Effects of Pearl Harbor - Term Paper Example

Both the film effects and events show the condition of the American soldiers during the outbreak of WWII. For instance, the filmmaking techniques serve as ways out of which the director of the film portrays the themes of love, loss, and victory, and such a portrayal and filmmaking techniques led to the sentimentality of the film. Accordingly, this paper delves into the sound and picture effects of the overall narrative of the film.

Picture Effects
According to White, the episodic structure of Pearl Harbor mirrors Hollywood’s patriotism, considering the seemingly subjective way in which the events of the film are edited (722). For instance, in viewing the movie, it is observable that the film focuses heavily on the weight of the war on the soldiers, particularly in dealing with the loss of their loved ones. Further, the film also is more attached to the characters of the film than to the actual historical and political aspects of the film. Relatively, one can say that the picture and video editing aspect of the film emphasizes the personal lives of the characters. About its episodic structure, the form of film revolves around five aspects a historical prelude, the exposition of the setting, the outbreak of the war, and reconstruction. Such aspects are shown through the picture effects of the film including the outward specification of wartime events, personal, collective, and historical.

In the personal objectification of the events, McClean states that those pictures and events are only one-sided projections of the World War, considering that it focuses on the personal perceptions and condition of the Americans, regardless of the participation of Japan in the said war (82). Further, McClean asserts that Pearl Harbor combines both actual objects in the film set, as well as edited and computerized ones, although, the director ensures that such events and objectives, both real and edited remain true and within the historical context of WWII. Relatively, one can say that the combination of edited and actual footage contributes to the development of the sentimental themes of the film including loss, love, and victory that are associated with the war. Consequently, in the context of its narrative structure, picture editing contributes to the holistic and chronological development of the film, particularly at the onset of the war, as well as its resolution.

Sound Effects
Aside from the picture editing, the sound effects of the film also contribute to the overall impact of the film on the viewers. Sonnenschein mentions that pre-mix sound effects that are strategically placed in the film contribute to the dramatic impact of the scenes, particularly in setting the difference between major and major events in the film (50). For instance, viewers may consider the subtle changes and frequencies in the sound effects as signs that intense events are coming. For instance, Sonnenschein added that, in Pearl Harbor, there are noticeable adjustments to the pitch, frequency, and intensity of the sound effects, particularly with the explosions, airplane crashes and sound effects, and guns. This technique allows the director to manipulate the overall mood of the film.

Aside from sound mixing and effects, the choice of sounds also affects the overall impact and significance of the film, considering that certain sounds trigger different emotional responses. This relates to what White refers to as the capacity of auditory media in manipulating and engaging the mood of the audience (730). In this case, one can say that the audio mixing and editing contributes to the narrative and episodic transitions of the events in the film wherein the sounds give cues to the oncoming events that may happen throughout the film.

Conclusively, the technical aspects of Pearl Harbor relate to its narrative technique in a way that the two aspects give way to the portrayal of the personal perception and feelings of the American soldiers participating in the war. Specifically, the sound effects and video and picture editing of the film are appropriate enough to present the underlying themes of the film, which include the devastating effects of war, loss, and reconciliation. Read More