Gladiator Essays

Gladiator Essays Gladiator Essay Gladiator Essay At the start of the scene just before battle you see the camera follow the soldiers up the stairs making the arena look massive and interestingly making you feel like your in the stadium. The camera is then seen from behind the crowd tilting down on the stadium. The camera movement here is used to give you an overall view of what is going on in the arena and what Maximus and the others are up against. There are also panning shots used which emphasize how massive the crowd is and give us an impression of what the landscape is and looks like. Just before they are due to battle there are different types of shots used again to emphasize the size of the stadium making Maximus and the fellow slaves look increasingly small. This type of shot is used to show that they are weak, small and not strong. This then cuts to close ups of Maximus and his two closest companions showing us that they are discussing an alternative rather then endure the fate that is being put forward. This is giving us hope seeing the emotion on his companions faces, showing us that they are nodding and listening. As the soldiers faces are featured in close-ups, their expressions indicate their faith in the generals abilities. When they are in battle the camera cleverly follows the warrior on a horse mounted carriage and this makes you feel like you are in the battle scene, it also makes you feel like the blade on the carriage is inches away from you as its spinning in action. Long shots are then used again to give you an overview of the battle and the cutting back and forth between characters keep you in suspense. The shots of Maximus on the white horse towards the end of battle also make him look extremely powerful. I noticed that to enhance this they have also cut out the other characters and focused sole ly on Maximus. Towards the end of the scene when you see Maximus defeat them the panning shot of the crowd is done to show that they are honouring him and supporting him. This brings you to feel close to the character and the chanting from his supporters makes you feel like your there in the crowd and make you want to join in. When Maximus is confronted by the Emperor you notice that there are mostly close ups used to show the emotion and tension between the two rivals. : The lighting at the start of the scene is extremely dark as they are in what it seems like a tunnel. You can hardly see any of the characters as the lighting is dark, grey and dull. Thus making us feel that the characters are trapped. They then proceed to walk up in lines of rows like robots with grey dark shadows appearing beside them. I felt at this bit they were in trouble and probably not going to win against whatever it was they were up against. When they arrive on the battlefield it then becomes a lot brighter and I noticed that in the crowd you see several bright lines of bold red and yellow this looking like fire from a distance. I think this was used to show the danger of the grounds and added a fiery feeling. The colour of the slaves armour and the grounds fairly matched this making the whole scene look in tact. Most of the colours used in the scene are bold rich colours such as reds, blues, gold and silver. When Maximus is confronted by the Emperor you will notice that the lighting on the emperor is dark and shadowy. This portraying the Emperor as dark and evil in a sense, his face is gradually touched by rays of light but he still comes across as gloomy and pale. However the gladiators face is a lot brighter and clearer basically portraying him as the good guy. The costumes used in the scene are mainly heavy armour such as helmets, axes, swords and other weapons and shields. The swords can symbolize power in many different ways, and towards the end when Commodus is deciding weather Maximus will live or not you see various swords being pointed towards him in that direction, this indicating that at the time Commodus is the ruler and a lot higher and more powerful then Maximus. Also you will notice with this being set historically there are a lot of robes and head and hand jewelry. The footwear that is used is plain and simple such as sandals and leather boots. Having the right costumes in the film have really prepared you for every little detail. I think some of the special effects that were used in the film were mainly to do with the historic roman architecture and buildings such as the arena and stadium. You will also see thousands and thousands of people in the crowds, this mainly being computer generated. I think the reason for this is to give it that realism feel and to show that Maximus had that many supporters. I also think it has that feel because the whole storyline is actually closely based on real events. Also the music that was used throughout the clip is extremely in tact from when they were starting to battle right through to when they are talking and conversing. In the scene you see him as a slave then a warrior/hero then revolutionary. In the battle scene you see them all plotting and working together and this really interpelates you, giving you hope that they will all make it through. They courageously fight together, act together and save each other which keeps you in suspense guessing if they will all survive. I think this was a classic act to keep you watching. When Maximus and his fellow slaves defeat them it really makes you want to jump up and down. The violence in the scene reveals the character of Maximus and encourages us to participate emotionally. I have noticed that the link in the scene to make it more interesting is that Maximus is seen as a slave however throughout the film has been conquering barbarians that eventually became slaves. The barbarians he defeated in Rome suffer the fate that is eventually his too. In the scene he also created skilful and powerful tactics which were acknowledged by the rest because by this time he has gained the respect of the fellow gladiators all of this portraying Maximus as a powerful leader and displaying his character. The plot of the film is that Maximus a roman general is favored over Commodus the power hungry son of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. He is chosen to rule however Commodus has his family murdered and as he comes to Rome, he becomes a Gladiator and seeks revenge. The dialect in the clip also helps to communicate the whole theme of the film.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Conquistador and Explorer

Vasco Nà ºÃƒ ±ez de Balboa, Conquistador and Explorer Vasco Nà ºÃƒ ±ez de Balboa (1475–1519) was a Spanish conquistador, explorer, and administrator. He is best known for leading the first European expedition to sight the Pacific Ocean, or the South Sea as he referred to it. He is still remembered and venerated in Panama as a heroic explorer. Fast Facts: Vasco Nà ºÃƒ ±ez de Balboa Known For: First European sighting of the Pacific Ocean and colonial governance in what is now PanamaBorn: 1475 in Jerà ©z de los Caballeros, Extremadura province, CastileParents: Differing historical accounts of parents names: his family was noble but no longer wealthySpouse: Marà ­a de Peà ±alosaDied: January 1519 in Acla, near present-day Darià ©n, Panama Early Life Nuà ±ez de Balboa was born into a noble family that was no longer wealthy. His father and mother were both of noble blood in Badajoz, Spain and Vasco was born in Jerà ©z de los Caballeros in 1475. Although noble, Balboa could not hope for much in the way of even a meager inheritance, as he was the third of four sons. All titles and lands were passed to the eldest; younger sons generally went into the military or clergy. Balboa opted for the military, spending time as a page and squire at the local court. America By 1500, word had spread all over Spain and Europe of the wonders of the New World and the fortunes being made there. Young and ambitious, Balboa joined the expedition of Rodrigo de Bastidas in 1500. The expedition was mildly successful in raiding the northeastern coast of South America. In 1502, Balboa landed in Hispaniola with enough money to set himself up with a small pig farm. He was not a very good farmer, however, and by 1509 he was forced to flee his creditors in Santo Domingo. Back to the Darien Balboa stowed away (with his dog) on a ship commanded by Martà ­n Fernndez de Enciso, who was heading to the recently-founded town of San Sebastin de Urab with supplies. He was quickly discovered and Enciso threatened to maroon him, but the charismatic Balboa talked him out of it. When they reached San Sebastin they found that natives had destroyed it. Balboa convinced Enciso and the survivors of San Sebastin (led by Francisco Pizarro) to try again and establish a town, this time in the Darià ©n- a region of dense jungle between present-day Colombia and Panama. Santa Marà ­a la Antigua del Darià ©n The Spaniards landed in the Darià ©n and were quickly beset by a large force of natives under the command of Cà ©maco, a local chieftain. Despite the overwhelming odds, the Spanish prevailed and founded the city of Santa Marà ­a la Antigua de Darià ©n on the site of Cà ©macos old village. Enciso, as ranking officer, was put in charge but the men detested him. Clever and charismatic, Balboa rallied the men behind him and removed Enciso by arguing that the region was not part of the royal charter of Alonso de Ojeda, Encisos master. Balboa was one of two men quickly elected to serve as mayors of the city. Veragua Balboas stratagem of removing Enciso backfired in 1511. It was true that Alonso de Ojeda (and therefore, Enciso) had no legal authority over Santa Marà ­a, which had been founded in an area referred to as Veragua. Veragua was the domain of Diego de Nicuesa, a somewhat unstable Spanish nobleman who had not been heard from in some time. Nicuesa was discovered in the north with a handful of bedraggled survivors from an earlier expedition, and he decided to claim Santa Marà ­a for his own. The colonists preferred Balboa, however, and Nicuesa was not even allowed to go ashore: Indignant, he set sail for Hispaniola but was never heard from again. Governor Balboa was effectively in charge of Veragua at this point and the crown reluctantly decided to simply recognize him as governor. Once his position was official, Balboa quickly began organizing expeditions to explore the region. The local tribes of indigenous natives were not united and were powerless to resist the Spanish, who were better armed and disciplined. The colonizers collected much gold and pearls through their military power, which in turn drew more men to the settlement. They began hearing rumors of a great sea and a rich kingdom to the south. Expedition to the South The narrow strip of land which is Panama and the northern tip of Colombia runs east to west, not north to south as some might suppose. Therefore, when Balboa, along with about 190 Spaniards and a handful of natives, decided to search for this sea in 1513, they headed mostly south, not west. They fought their way through the isthmus, leaving many wounded behind with friendly or conquered chieftains. On September 25, Balboa and a handful of battered Spaniards (Francisco Pizarro was among them) first saw the Pacific Ocean, which they named the â€Å"South Sea.† Balboa waded into the water and claimed the sea for Spain. Pedrarà ­as Dvila The Spanish crown, still with some lingering doubt over whether or not Balboa had correctly handled Enciso, sent a massive fleet to Veragua (now named Castilla de Oro) under the command of veteran soldier Pedrarà ­as Dvila. Fifteen hundred men and women flooded the tiny settlement. Dvila had been named governor to replace Balboa, who accepted the change with good humor, although the colonists still preferred him to Dvila. Dvila proved to be a poor administrator and hundreds of settlers died, mostly those who had sailed with him from Spain. Balboa tried to recruit some men to explore the South Sea without Dvila knowing, but he was found out and arrested. Vasco and Pedrarà ­as Santa Marà ­a had two leaders: officially, Dvila was governor, but Balboa was more popular. They continued to clash until 1517 when it was arranged for Balboa to marry one of Dvila’s daughters. Balboa married Marà ­a de Peà ±alosa despite an obstacle: she was in a convent in Spain at the time and they had to marry by proxy. In fact, she never left the convent. Before long, the rivalry flared up again. Balboa left Santa Marà ­a for the small town of Aclo with 300 of those who still preferred his leadership to that of Dvila. He was successful in establishing a settlement and building some ships. Death Fearing the charismatic Balboa as a potential rival, Dvila decided to get rid of him once and for all. Balboa was arrested by a squad of soldiers led by Francisco Pizarro as he made preparations to explore the Pacific coast of northern South America. He was hauled back to Aclo in chains and quickly tried for treason against the crown: The charge was that he had tried to establish his own independent fiefdom of the South Sea, independent from that of Dvila. Enraged, Balboa shouted out that he was a loyal servant of the crown, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. He was beheaded in January of 1519 along with four of his companions (there are conflicting accounts of the exact date of the execution). Without Balboa, the colony of Santa Marà ­a quickly failed. Where he had cultivated positive ties with local natives for trade, Dvila enslaved them, resulting in short-term economic profit but long-term disaster for the colony. In 1519, Dvila forcibly moved all of the settlers to the Pacific side of the isthmus, founding Panama City, and by 1524 Santa Marà ­a had been razed by angry natives. Legacy The legacy of Vasco Nuà ±ez de Balboa is brighter than that of many of his contemporaries. While many  conquistadors, such as  Pedro de Alvarado,  Hernn Cortà ©s,  and  Pnfilo de Narvaez  are today remembered for cruelty, exploitation, and inhuman treatment of natives, Balboa is remembered as an explorer, fair administrator, and popular governor who made his settlements work. As for relations with natives, Balboa was guilty of his share of atrocities, including enslavement and setting his dogs on homosexual men in one village. In general, however, he is thought to have dealt with his native allies well, treating them with respect and friendship which translated into beneficial trade and food for his settlements. Although he and his men were the first to see the Pacific Ocean while heading west from the New World, it would be  Ferdinand Magellan  who would get the credit for naming it when he rounded the southern tip of South America in 1520. Balboa is best remembered in  Panama, where many streets, businesses, and parks bear his name. There is a stately monument in his honor in Panama City (a district of which bears his name) and the national currency is called the Balboa. There is even a lunar crater named after him. Sources Editors, History.com. â€Å"Vasco Nà ºÃƒ ±ez De Balboa.†Ã‚  History.com, AE Television Networks, 18 Dec. 2009.Thomas, Hugh.  Rivers of Gold: The Rise of the Spanish Empire, from Columbus to Magellan.  Random House, 2005.