Apollo_13

Apollo 13 APOLLO 13 Question: By discussing either The China Syndrome or Apollo 13, discuss the ways in which film-makers can manipulate our emotions. Answer: “Apollo 13” is an exhilarating film documenting the acute tragedies that fraught the Apollo13 moon mission. Through the use of camera techniques, symbolism, and the documentary genre, the audiences’ emotions are effectively manipulated, thus compelling them to relive the “edge-of-the-seat” calamity. Camera techniques are effective in manipulating emotion, especially during the two climaxes: the sequencing and the re-entry. Firstly, during the sequencing scene, Ken Mattingly is called upon to conduct simulation exercises to find a solution to conserve power for re-entry. However, it was obvious that tension was mounting, despite the little successes that had already transpired. This, combined with close-ups of Mattingly in the simulator, contributes to heightening the tension, thus putting the viewer in suspense. Secondly, whilst preparing for the re-entry phase, the L.E.M. was detached, and as drifted slowly away, it was at this point that one realised that now was their only chance to return home. As a result it causes a rise in tension, and a build up to the climax. During re-entry, a long shot focusing apollo, re-entry, 13, viewer, emotions, tension, space, manipulate, during, viewer’s, techniques, sense, mission, mattingly, genre, film, documentary, america’s, upon, tragedy, thus, through, symbolism, suspense, shots, sequencing, secondly, scene, said, phase, part, one, never, missions, lost, ken, home, gives, gene, firstly, fact, determination, combined, camera, both, angle, allows, allowed, addition