The Opening Sequences of David Lean and Alfonso Cuaron's Film Version of Great Expectations

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The Opening Sequences of David Lean and Alfonso Cuaron's Film Version of Great Expectations

In this media assignment I shall be analyzing and comparing the

similarities and differences of two famous directors' film versions of

'Great Expectations'. The two directors are David Lean and Alfonso

Cuaron. David Lean's version was more popular and well known than

Alfonso Cuaron's because Lean was the first director to actually

direct 'Great Expectations'. This made it more difficult for Alfonso

Cuaron because he had to bring the film up to date by making the film

more modern and there have also been 10 other films based on the novel

'Great Expectations'. David Lean had directed his version of 'Great

Expectations' in 1946 and Alfonso had directed his version in 1998.

Both film versions of 'Great Expectations' begin with the opening

credits which let the audience know the producers, executive producers

etc… the opening credits of both movies have some similarities and

differences.

In Alfonso Cuaron's version of 'Great Expectations' the credits are

shown in a rippled effect, which gives the audience hints that the

opening scene might be set in a beach or a place with water

surrounding it, such as a port or harbur. In the background of the

credits there are sketches of people and fishes, there is also a dark

green background, which is symbolic of envy. The reaction of this

towards the audience might be that the film could have scenes of a

horror genre and a sinister atmosphere, which keeps them attracted to

the film.

In David Lean's version of 'Great Expectations' he reveals his opening

credits with also the main characters, produ...

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...-tempo

atmosphere and tension.

Finally the dislodge in my eyes is different and similar because they

have the same effect on both boys in the films but Alfonso Cuaron's is

much more aggressive because the modern audience like aggression and

violence. There is also a great deal of bad language in his film.

Lean's version is also slightly aggressive but nowhere as near as

much, and there was no strong language in the dialogue because the

audience in them day's were much more civilized and strict.

In my opinion I think that I would still prefer to watch Alfonso

Cuaron's version because as a modern audience I am used to the

aggression and violence of modern films and novels. The language in

the original film versions is more true to the novel, but is therefore

more difficult to understand, as it is old-fashioned.

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