favorite long take in movie history.

Children of men for sure. But what about "the Protector" when he starts at the bottom of the hotel and fights his way all the way to the top floor. That scene is amazing. he kicks everyone's ass, complete with breaking doors, vases, sinks, statues, chairs for at least 6 floors. Check it out on youtube and see what I am talking about. I have never seen a martial arts film do anything like it. I read about how he had to shoot it 8 times to get it right and they used the last one.
 
how about a classic by Welles, The intro to A touch of Evil.
Click to expand...
.

Yessss
because it's beautiful an because with the bulky camera and crane in 1958 it's a piece of art!
 
Opening sequence of "serenity" when the spaceship is descending and might crash. It is not the longest shot (6 min) but in my opinion one of the smartest in applying rules of cinematography+steadicam theory. Every single pan, move or dialogue is used to conceal the movement of the camera in very tight quarter so you can focus on the dialog and not be distracted by the constant motion.

Even I did not catch on the first time I saw it that it was 1 long take on a steadicam, I was just drawn into the dialogue.

Just a few pointers:
-Jane comes out the right side of the hallway when mal is coming down the stairs to prevent the camera from having to tilt down.
-Zoe cuts in to the dialog so the OP can do a whip pan that conceals him going up the stairs.
-When Mal is talking to Kaylee in the engine room, grips sneak in a light to light them from below when the doctor confronts the captain after a whip pan.
-When mal and the doctor are walking down a very steep staircase they pretend to the ship is shaking and stop to get their footing. That allows the steadicam OP to place himself at the top of the stairs, stop, prepare for his decent and start moving as soon as the actors continue.

there are possibly a few dozen more actions like the ones I mentioned. Check it out.
 
filthrich said:
Children of men for sure. But what about "the Protector" when he starts at the bottom of the hotel and fights his way all the way to the top floor. That scene is amazing. he kicks everyone's ass, complete with breaking doors, vases, sinks, statues, chairs for at least 6 floors. Check it out on youtube and see what I am talking about. I have never seen a martial arts film do anything like it. I read about how he had to shoot it 8 times to get it right and they used the last one.
Click to expand...

yeah this long take is also amazing - also just because of how much choreography is used. but nothing trumps children of men for me - ten minutes in a fully blown combat sequence with beautiful mise-en-scene just blows my mind.
 
Also check out "lucas with the lid off" music video by lucas from 1994. Very creative single take on a steadicam.
 
Finnegan said:
yeah this long take is also amazing - also just because of how much choreography is used. but nothing trumps children of men for me - ten minutes in a fully blown combat sequence with beautiful mise-en-scene just blows my mind.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I must have watched that 10 times. It pissed my wife off, she just does not get how impossible that shot is to pull off.
 
Not really that long, but the hallway fight in Oldboy. Really an awesome one take scene. Also Alfonso Cuaron's short in Paris, je t'aime. The whole short was one long take. Very cool.
 
I'd like to add that the sequence in Shaun of the Dead, when Shaun leaves his place to go get an ice cream and paper at the corner store, is brilliant. Especially since the very same sequence is repeated later on after the zombies have wreaked havoc and Shaun is totally clueless.

Cheers.
 
filthrich said:
Children of men for sure. But what about "the Protector" when he starts at the bottom of the hotel and fights his way all the way to the top floor. That scene is amazing. he kicks everyone's ass, complete with breaking doors, vases, sinks, statues, chairs for at least 6 floors. Check it out on youtube and see what I am talking about. I have never seen a martial arts film do anything like it. I read about how he had to shoot it 8 times to get it right and they used the last one.
Click to expand...

You mean this: http://steadishots.org/shots_detail.cfm?shotID=58 ?
According to the site they actually got it on the second full try. Although it took a ton of rehearsals. Either way, it's really awesome.

davide
 
I personally do not care for the "protector" scene at all from a cinematography point of view. The stunt people are AMAZING in that scene but the steadicam Op has a 10MM lens and has very little to do as far as trying to hit his marks or timing. The theory behind his motion is very weak and he just has to be in the ballpark of placement and just point in the general direction to catch the action. Most of the time I found his movements very distracting and I think it took away from the amazing talent and daring of the stunt people in that scene.

Just my opinion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top