Sub-Genres Action Thriller

Taken

1a) Some of the conventions we think are in an action thriller are things such as: Mature cast, binary opposites (Antagonist and Protagonist), clues which lead to focus of storyline and helps viewer follow, objectification of females.
The main character is called Brian Mills, he is a father of a 17 year old girl who wants to travel Europe with her friend. He is seen as the protagonist this is because he has weaknesses he is isolated and his job was preventing dangers for the government which also emphesises why he was isolated. Binary opposites are used with the main character and the people who have taken his daughter, they are completely different as one works to prevent crime and the other causes crime also their race is very different and culture.  Many clues are shown to help Brian find his daughter, for example he plugs his phone into something to record the Antagonists voice this helps the audience see that he has what he might need to find his daughter.

b) The main character that was introduced properly first was Brian Mills, who we think is retired, and once worked for the government to prevent danger. he is a typical protagonist as he is isolated from a lot of people, most notably his daughter and this is blamed on his job and comes across to be very paranoid. His paranoia is one of his main weaknesses as it drives his family away.
Another character shown as plays a very big part in the film is his daughter 'Kimmy' a montage is shown of her at the start of the film and this makes a  big point of time lost. We can see this as Brian is looking through old pictures and you get the impression that he wasn't there for her for a large period of her life and doesn't fully see her enough now. The female characters also shows objectification of females, for example another character called 'Peter' later on shows that he only started talking to them as they were young, vulnerable and attractive.

c) One of the main editing techniques that had a big impact on the viewer would be sound, music was played at emotional parts for either the daughter or the father character, this helps the viewer relate to the father especially. We feel this is typical of a thriller as it builds suspense, especially when she was hiding under the bed and thought the people had gone away.
Also parallel editing was used to film the father and daughter on the phone, this shows their distance as he is in America and she is in France, this shows how helpless he is and he could be feeling that he is letting her down again. The quick shots between different locations build tension as they are fast moving.