Evaluation

On the whole, the use of a blog was an effective tool in documenting my research findings. In many ways the blog enabled me to edit and submit my research easily in the form of posts, where I could type my research findings and could modify the posts at any time. As well as this, the blog was a visual tool where I could voice my opinions on the films and the issues within British comedy films.

Generally, I found the blog was an easier alternative for the project, as I had experience setting up and using blogs in my A level Media Studies course and could be set up fairly easily, with the use of an email address and personal information needed to set up a blog.

In contrast to writing an essay, the blog was an effective way of posting research, as well as images and videos, which could be analysed and be more interactive. Most importantly, the use of the side bar showed the posts which I created throughout the project and also showed the journey of the project from beginning to end .The use of features such as the spell checker, tools for image and video posting, as well as the preview link were useful, as I could look at the research post before I could publish the post and edit the text or images in the post. The use of comments enabled anybody to comment on my post, which was useful for feedback.

The ability to edit posts enabled me to change information and learn about public opinion in the form of articles from online newspaper sites such as The Guardian, The Daily Mail, as well as reviews from newspaper sites and specialist review websites. By accessing this information, I could comment on public opinion and how the public receive British comedy films. In the earlier posts, I included historical research on comedy and the various types of comedy such as screwball, slapstick and other types. As a result, I learnt about how forms of comedy developed over the years, from silent comedy to comedy film which included sound and comical sight gags.

Though, the blog did have some problems, in that posts that were deleted seemed to disrupt the flow of the blog. In some cases, the embed codes for the Youtube video url links did not work when the posts were published. At times, the blog seemed to be more time consuming due to the constant updating and additions of information in various posts. In terms of the research, some of the texts were not accessible, which made it difficult for me to analyse them and link my research such as facts with the scenes from films such as East is East.

Generally, the blog was a more effective and interactive way of conveying my research to a wider audience. The blog also developed my skills, as I was able to condense and edit information fairly easily, through the use of the preview link. In addition, my organisation skills were developed through the use of the blog, as I could edit and post information in order, from when I started the project to the concluding stages. Unlike any essay, the blog was a more personal format, as I could customise the blog with additional features such as quotes, dates, games and other features which made it informative and entertaining. The fact that the blog was public enabled my supervisor to check the blog at any time, which was convenient.

From the beginning of the project, I focused on the types of comedy and issues within a specific decade. Alongside this topic, I researched from books and websites, particularly looking at the history of comedy films. As the project progressed, I decided to narrow my research down to focus on issues in British comedy film between 1985-1995, which was beneficial for me, as I was able to look in depth at specific films which included issues that reflected public opinion. In many ways, my research skills developed, as I had to explore the historical issues in that decade and had to find revelant texts which included the issues which I would focus on.

However, I found that the research into a specific decade was too limited in terms of research and was insufficient, in that I could not find enough texts which explored issues such as technology and crime. Therefore, I decided instead to concentrate my research on specific issues in British comedy film, which proved to be successful. As a result of my decision, I research closely to texts and issues, such as The incompetence of the police, Religion and Immigration and found facts and statistics to back up my points. From researching, I learnt that comedy films are intended to reflect the public's hidden fears and use humour to dumb down serious issues such as terrorism.

On the whole, the project was successful , as I was able to show my passion for comedy films and was able to analyse specific films such as Four Lions. The fact that British comedy films use humour to mock specific issues in society, made me reluctant to explore this in a project, as these issues such as immigration have affected me, as my family have migrated to Britain and have experienced Britain in the decade of mass immigration . If I was to do the project again, I would improve on research, as I could have researched into British comedy film institutions and how they advocate the messages and issues in the films.

As well as research into institutions, I could have conducted an interview on the public, which would gather an opinion of what people think of issues in British comedy film. By being organised, I could have dedicated time to specific issues such as immigration and could have researched in depth on the issue and incorporate research from articles and questionnaires on issues in comedy film. Consequently, there would have been a strong link throughout the project if I organised the project carefully.

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Review of Lock Stock and Smoking Barrels

In this review, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' director, Guy Ritchie is seemingly mimicking Quentin Tarantino's work, yet the film refers to films such as Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. Whats' more, the article states how British films being shown across the Atlantic have mixed reviews. Though this article states how the film 'relies heavily on ironic plot twists', making it more suspenseful and engaging for an American audience.

In response to comedy, the film is more is more comical and gives constructed representations of British people, as the way in which the story unfolds is both expected and unanticipated, which enhances the comic flavor. What's more, the article advocates the film's plot twists, as 'the movie manages to be unpredictable, and it never loses its sense of humor'. In this way, British comedy films are successful and reflect public opinion of crime with the accurate representations of British gangsters and the British criminal underworld. Many caper comedies have a tendency to run out of steam before the final act; that isn't the case here, and the coup de grace is impeccable.

The sheer comic essence of the film is cited through the use of dialogue, as signified in the film, as '...one character remarks that he expected an easy job not "a bad day in Bosnia." In addition, '...another individual, quoting a line attributed to Winston Churchill, comments that "golf is the perfect way to spoil a good walk.") Therefore, the use of British humour appeals to more than just a British audience, as the American audience identify with the characters and the fact that most of the characters get gratifications out of violence and use witty criticsms to mock their situation.

As well as this, the film's cast manage to successful represent the typical British gangsters to a finer degree, as echoed in the review, '...everyone does a solid job essaying one of the various inept thugs or criminals'.

http://www.reelviews.net/movies/l/lock.html

Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Scene Analysis

This particular scene from Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is most comical in the way that the crime is carried out by a supposed ' small time gang'.

The scene opens with the contrapuntal sound of a guitar playing alongside the deigetic sound of the telephone. The use of the cut progresses the scene into a low angle shot of the gang walking into a warehouse. By using this shot, the audience are seemingly subservient to the dominant gangsters. The cut signifies a group of men inside a three wheeled van, which is iconic of British gangsters and also reflects the stereotype of working class British people. Whats more, the dialogue and cockney dialect of the characters is from North London, which is stereotypical of British gangsters.

The binary opposition of the British men in the van in contrast to the black gangsters connotes how the two groups are different in terms of their ways of crime, as the gang is instructed in a close medium shot, by their leader to do a 'clean job'. Also, the facial expressions of the British men in the van are more relaxed in contrast to the black gangsters, as they are more serious and sinister as signified in a close up shot of the gang leader. The use of low key lighting in the van connotes sincerity , as the black gangsters are ready to kill. The most funniest line in the scene is when the leader, Rory Breaker (Vas Blackwood) says " "they've got a bit of an arsenal and they don't mind using it." The sense of irony is used by Breaker as he knows he and his gang are in for a long night, as he knows they are bound to get injured.

Interestingly, the parallel sound of the guitar beat gradually increases, which connotes how the action is about to begin and climatic events are about to unfold. The music seemingly stops as the black gang enter the house. The close up shots of the gang members faces connote vigilance as they are looking threateningly around the room. Though they are seemingly surprised as the gun shots go off unexpectedly and comically, as signified in a low angle shot of the man underneath the furniture.

Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) revolves around a deceptive poker player Tom (Jason Flemyng), who ends up losing £500,000 to a powerful crime lord in a rigged game of three card brag. In order to pay off his debts, he and his friends decide to rob a small-time gang who happen to be operating out of the flat next door.

Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels managed to gross $3,753,929 in the US, making it more successful to a global audience.

One of Guy Ritchie's first major successful films, Lock Stock... introduced actors such as Vinnie Jones to the world stage. Since the success of Lock Stock... Vinnie Jones has starred in many successful British films such as Snatch (2000), Mean Machine (2001), as well as American films such as Gone in 60 Seconds (2000), Swordfish (2001), X Men: The Last Stand (2006) and many more.

Overview of crime in society in 2000s

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=442

This post features my research into crime and the fact that the level of men commiting crime was much higher than women. In many ways, men are responsible for sexual offences and are more likely to be found guilty of burglarly, robbery. As well as this, men are considered to be heavily involved in theft and robbery and have been guilty of theft, as the graph shows.

Though, women are seemingly less involved or found guilty of any crime. Though, the website cites that women are more 'worried about being mugged or physically attacked' and are five times more likely than men to be very worried about being raped.

Analysis of Snatch (2000)

Snatch (2000) is a hybrid comedy crime film which was directed by Guy Ritchie. Upon its release, the film grossed $30,328,156 in the US and £12,137,698 in the UK . Though many critics responded negatively to the film, as it had similarities in plot, setting and characters with Ritchie's previous film Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

The film itself focuses on two intertwined plots, concerning the protagonist Turkish (Jason Statham ) where he has to recruit fighters such as the Pikey (Brad Pitt)as part of his deal to boost a fellow gangster Brick Top 's (Alan Ford) business . The other plot concerns the hunt for a diamond and the ways in which the gangsters fight to claim a stolen diamond.

In this scene, Bullet Tooth Tony (Vinnie Jones) confronts 3 gangsters in a pub, which is a iconic setting in crime films. These 3 gangsters seemingly threaten Tony , as signifieid in a two shot, where Tony is on the phone. The use of the over the shoulder shot signifies how the gangsters are more dominant, whereas Tony is seemingly vulnerable. In this way, the audience can identify with Tony, as he is intimidated by 3 armed men who could kill him.

However, the comical aspect of the scene is the fact that Tony doesn't fear the men, as signified in the scene, where he moves his head in a sort of bewildered way, as if to show his fearlessness and bravery, as the stereotypical British assassin. Funnily enough, the fact that Sol (Lennie James) has to take orders from Vincent (Robbie Gee) connotes how he is apprehensive and anxious, as signified with the medium shot of his hand trembling. As a result, his irrational feelings are signified, as he tries to shoot Tony but is stopped. The binary opposition of the criminals and the assassin is signified, as the 3 criminals tremble at seeing Tony react in a bold way.

The humour inflicted upon the criminals by Tony connotes his enjoyment at them being irrational and disorganised, as Vincent is represented as being the big d**** who is the leader of the gang with his accomplices being his two balls, which connotes how they are followers who are instructed to carry out actions by their supposed 'master'. What's more, Vincent's facial expressions and gestures connote uneasiness and anxiety, as he awkwardly holds the gun. The fact that Tony senses fear, makes the gang members have second thoughts, as they do not know what Tony will say or do next.

Funnily enough, Tony notices 'Replica' etched across the sides of thier guns in a medium shot , this therefore connotes how the gang are incompetent and amateur gangsters who are outfoxed by a professional criminal. Tony's instinct comes into play as he is able to spot the finer details. The tracking shot of the guns supports Tony's instinct, as the non deigetic sound of mechanical sound connotes how they are truly stupid. However, the use of a zoom on Tony's gun shows the contrast in intelligence and authenticity of weapons, as Tony is a clear expereinces criminal who is better than the amateurs. The use of the non deigetic sound of the subtle guitar fade connotes the shock of the criminals, as they have been made to look like idiots by the victim. In this way, he asserts his dominant status as he instills a sense of fear into the gang.

As a result the long shot of the gang walking away signifies thier defeat and connotes how they are not really brave and hardline criminals.

Rise in organised and drug related crime

Within British comedy, the issue of crime has been explored to some degree. Though, much of these films focus on crime in the rough areas in London, often depicting East End British gangsters in the criminal underworld.

In many ways, British comedy mocks crime and the fact that criminals may seem more foolish and irrational in serious situations, as seen in Snatch (2000), Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Parole Officer (2001). However the use if drug references and drug culture has been explored in comedy, in order to reflect the fact that smuggling drugs was a serious issue in the late 1990s. These films focus on the comical underworld, where gangsters are pitted against each one another in order to pursue something, as evident in Snatch where the ccriminals are fighting for a diamond and resort to comical means to go about getting the jewel.