How tension is created in an opening thriller

For this presentation I worked with Laura Chilem, we looked at how tension is created in an opening thriller from a sequence made last year by another pupil in our school.

By discussing the opening sequence, we were able to work together to delve deeper in the opening scene.

My Favourite Film

My Favourite Film

If you’re looking for a feel-good film to put a positive spin on your Thursday evening, I would highly recommend you just go with it! 

If you’ve seen Grown-ups, Jack and Jill or Big Daddy- I assure you’ll love ‘Just Go With It’ as director Denis Dugan asserts his humourous; yet heartfelt touch throughout the movie. Adam Sandler working alongside Jenifer Aniston is like peanut butter with jelly, it is like watching two best friends in one another’s company, their offscreen friendship really highlights their onscreen chemistry, despite this being their first collaboration together. It was released on February 11, 2011 on the lead role Jenifer Aniston’s 42nd birthday, indicating its not only a feel-good film but a celebratory film.

It starts off fairly sombre where the protagonist becomes heartbroken as he’s forced to walk out on his own wedding day. He uses his wedding ring to his advantage to meet girls; this is a success for him... until he meets Palmer who strongly disapproves of the ring as she blames herself for his broken marriage, due to believing he is still married and she is his mistress. Instead of confessing to his antics, Danny decides to ‘just go with it’. He recruits his fake wife: the one and only Jenifer Aniston, and her two children, who are roped in for a trip of a lifetime to Hawaii in an attempt to win over Palmer. Throughout the holiday they bond as a ‘happy family’ experiencing many highs and lows’, contrasting with the slightly deeper meaning that the children do not actually have a true father figure in their lives, thus pulling on the audience’s heartstrings and creating an emotive theme. Moreover, there is an underlying moral to the story which adds an element of depth to the narrative through the idea that telling the truth is highly celebrated and encouraged through the idea that every time the truth is told in this story, the ensemble edge even closer to a happy ending and resolution of the narrative. This can be seen when Michael, the youngest child, speaks about the upsetting truth involving his real father not wanting to spend any time with him. Palmer, shocked and disapproved, assumes he means Danny, which forces Danny and Michael to spend some bonding time together, thus forcing their characters to have a stronger bond, similar to that of a father and a true son as seen by the happiness in Michael's face, whereby Danny teaches Michael to swim.

No matter the mood Just Go With It will forever put a smile on my face and bring me joy. I remember when I first watched it, my sister had recommended it to me; I was probably about 9- on a plane rearing to get away! Since then I have probably watched it over 100 times and introduced it to numerous people including my grandma who has a newfound love for Adam Sandler! Furthermore, the lightheartedness and simplicity generate an easy-watching atmosphere as it’s simple to follow and it appears to appeal to almost everyone with the seamless transition between romance and comedy.

Trivia- When Adam Sandler and his family go across the bridge, the family which tells them that the bridge is only made for only one person. The two children are Adam Sandler's kids and the "wife" is Adam Sandler's sister-in-law.