Commentary Number Three: Transformers - Dark of the Moon

Choose an image from a movie or TV program from the lists below. Write a commentary on any ONE aspect of either narrative OR mise en scene in terms of its importance to storytelling. 

This image represents the “all is lost” moment within the film, primarily with the use of the mise en scene techniques of lighting and colour. The exemption of colour from this shot and the use of shades of black, grey and white signal that the story has taken a bad turn. Evil has captured the destroyed city of Chicago, with the dark lighting of the scene enabling the premise of evil being present. The overall lighting of the scene is primarily dark; however the backgrounded sky suggests daytime, which accentuates the bleakness of the story at this point.

Back lighting is formed by the sky over the city which is in bright contrast to the rest of the image. This technique allows for a granule of hope to remain and further the storyline as light in a dark setting is associated with a fast approaching positive outcome. In addition to this, the bleak and monotonous setting, which is unlike any previous shots throughout the film, conveys most clearly that this point is the lowest of the film.  This serves as the catalyst for the heroes of the story to take action against the evil that occupies the city and extend the light hovering on the horizon.