The Chase

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="005dba33.gif"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.frodolivesin.us" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.frodolivesin.us"><U><IMG SRC="006ef530.jpg" border=0 width="239" height="83" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> |    back to  <A HREF="http://www.frodolivesin.us/nonlotr/id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.frodolivesin.us/nonlotr/id64."><U><B>Casey Connor: Action Hero!</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Lounge"><U>The Lounge</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Roof"><U>The Roof</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Bus"><U>The Bus</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Pool"><U>The Pool</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Cage"><U>The Cage</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Tests"><U>The Tests</U></A>   |   <B>The Chase</B>   |   <A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Bleachers"><U>The Bleachers</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Attack"><U>The Attack</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Eeewww"><U>The Eeewww</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The End"><U>The End</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="166746e3.gif"> <div> <B>     </B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="4" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="562" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#0000FF" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 36 ><NOBR><div> <I><B>C</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>a</B></I></FONT><I><B>s</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>e</B></I></FONT><I><B>y</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B> </B></I></FONT><I><B>C</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>o</B></I></FONT><I><B>n</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>n</B></I></FONT><I><B>o</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>r</B></I></FONT><I><B>, A</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>c</B></I></FONT><I><B>t</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>i</B></I></FONT><I><B>o</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>n </B></I></FONT><I><B>H</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>e</B></I></FONT><I><B>r</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>o</B></I></FONT><I><B>: T</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>h</B></I></FONT><I><B>e </B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>C</B></I></FONT><I><B>h</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>a</B></I></FONT><I><B>s</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>e</B></I></FONT></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>This page is </B><I><B>not </B></I><B>a beautiful example of the art of screencapping!  Some of the frames are really bad, the lighting is irregular throughout, and the pics are unclear, with Casey often not looking at all like Casey.  But I posted all the caps I had, anyway, because this page is really meant for scrolling. And if you watch it that way, the problems with the individual pictures aren't so obvious!  For scrolling purposes, I've numbered the frames so I can comment without breaking in.  There are really two sections: caps 1-15, and then everything else.  Physical acting in both sections, but in caps 1-15 it's subtle, completely immersed in the character physicality, and in the rest it's action.  IMHO, they show the difference between gift and skill.  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In 1-15, Casey's getting ready to take his most courageous action yet--</B><I><B>purposely </B></I><B>jumping out in front of the alien in order to lead it/her into the gym.  From the way the action plays out after this, I believe Casey has the rest of it already planned at this point (possibly along with some contingency plans in case the alien had followed various options).  From now on, Casey's not running from the alien to save himself, but to take down the alien, and it shows, especially in the gym.  But if we watch Casey in caps 1-15,  that won't be any surprise.  He has his arm across his chest to be in position to move quickly, but it has the side effect of making his breathing more visible to the audience.   This isn't frightened, panicked breathing (not to say that he isn't scared--there's no courage without fear, right?).  It's purposeful, "Here we go!" breathing.  This part of the scene reminds me a lot of Frodo at the Black Gate, but without Gollum to pull him back. (Minor point: also a bit of a Froshadowing in the view of the eye sockets, an important part of Elijah's expressive anatomy.)  Starting in </B><A HREF="#caseychase9" TITLE="The Chase"><U><B>cap 9</B></U></A><B>, Casey takes the plunge--literally.  He dives in front of the alien, holding that big breath he's just taken as if he's diving into the swimming pool. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In </B><A HREF="#caseychase16" TITLE="The Chase"><U><B>16</B></U></A><B>-26, we see that Casey possibly took more of a dive than he meant to, ending up on the floor. (Note: More of a dive than </B><I><B>Casey </B></I><B>meant to; I'm sure </B><I><B>Elijah </B></I><B>did exactly as he'd planned.)  It's not too hard to see why he goes down--his right (our left) foot and ankle are already turned at a bad angle when he jumps out. (Actually, I think there's a small continuity break between the two camera shots.  In 15, Casey's clearly jumping/diving out of his hiding place. In 16 ff, he seems to be sliding, which probably simplifies the fall. Not that this would be noticed at regular film speed.)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>By the time we get to </B><A HREF="#caseychase31" TITLE="The Chase"><U><B>cap 31</B></U></A><B>, Casey's getting up and the lockers are starting to fall.  The falling lockers are one thing I'm not sure Casey had expected--he really did have to run to keep himself from getting caught beneath them (although I'm sure most of the locker action was added later, this still shows some pretty good timing on Elijah's part).  The alien has evidently been growing since Casey last saw it, as it's big enough now to not be able to fit between the rows of lockers.  This gives Casey a lead, which he'll be able to use when he gets to the gym.  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="107f4190.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="281" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>2</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="10df41d0.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="285" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>3</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="10ef41a0.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="282" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>4</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="10ff4190.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="281" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>5</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="110f4190.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="281" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>6</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="111f4190.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="281" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>7</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="112f4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>8</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="112f4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>9  </B><B> <A NAME="caseychase9"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="114f4180.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="280" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>10</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="115f4190.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="281" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>11</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="116f41b0.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="283" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>12</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="124f4190.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="281" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>13</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="125f4190.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="281" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>14</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="126f4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>15</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="127f4190.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="281" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>16  </B><B> <A NAME="caseychase16"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="11ef4130.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="275" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="11f8c960.jpg" border=0 width="140" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>17</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="120f4130.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="275" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="121afb20.jpg" border=0 width="175" height="178" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>18</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="128f4140.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="276" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>19</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="12af4170.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="279" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>20</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="12bf4150.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="277" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>21</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="12cf4150.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="277" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>22</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="12df4180.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="280" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>23</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="12ef4150.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="277" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>24</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="12ff4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>25</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="131f4180.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="280" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>26</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="132f4170.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="279" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>27</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="133f4170.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="279" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>28</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="134f4150.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="277" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>29</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="135f4170.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="279" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>30</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="136f4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>31  </B><B> <A NAME="caseychase31"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="137f4150.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="277" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>32</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="138f4180.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="280" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>33</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="13bf4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>34</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="13cf4150.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="277" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>35</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="13df4170.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="279" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>36</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="13ef4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>37</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="140f4180.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="280" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>38</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="141f4150.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="277" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>39</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="142f4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>40</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="143f4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>41</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="144f4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>42</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="145f4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>43</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="146f4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>44</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="147f4170.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="279" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>45</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="148f4180.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="280" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>46</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="14df41b0.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="283" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>47</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="14ef4330.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="307" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>48</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="14ff4150.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="277" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>49</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="150f41a0.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="282" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>50</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="151f41e0.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="286" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>51</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="152f3120.jpg" border=0 width="499" height="274" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>52</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="153f4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>53</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="154f4320.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="306" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>54</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="155f4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>55</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="156f4150.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="277" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>56</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="163f41a0.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="282" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>57</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="158f4160.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>58</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="159f4140.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="276" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>59</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="15bf3160.jpg" border=0 width="499" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>60</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="15df3150.jpg" border=0 width="499" height="277" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>At the top of this page, I mentioned it showing the difference between a gift and a skill.  In all the action shots of Casey that I've posted, in stop action you can see not only what Elijah's doing but how he's doing it.  A budding action star could study the pics and say, "Okay, if I turn my ankle at that angle and slide just like that, that's what will happen."  And Elijah's really good at this--how he's doing it isn't noticeable </B><I><B>except </B></I><B>in stop action, so for a film audience it's great.  He's really developed the skill highly.  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>But when we see Casey's emotions, as in caps 1-15 here, there's a difference.  We still know </B><I><B>what </B></I><B>Elijah's doing, but </B><I><B>how </B></I><B>he's doing it is another matter,</B><B> </B><B>even in stop motion</B><B>.  In the action shots, frame-by-frame viewing shows us Elijah.  When there's emotional acting involved, frame-by-frame viewing shows us seamless Casey.  I don't know that many budding actors would be able to look at Elijah's emotional acting and say, "Okay, if I turn my eyes [and eye sockets] at that angle, hold my arm like that, and breathe the same way, that's what it'll look like."  There are too many variables to come up with a logical, thought-out, planned "how to"--apparently, even for Elijah, from some of the statements he's made. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This is why my jaw drops when I see something like </B><A HREF="http://www.frodolivesin.us/FotR/id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.frodolivesin.us/FotR/id42.htm"><U><B>Frodo's being thrown backwards from Galadriel's mirror</B></U></A><B>.  In stop motion, it's possible to see exactly how Elijah is pushing himself off into the fall.  But in facial expression and anything else that speaks of emotion, we have seamless Frodo, frame by frame.  And Frodo's not pushing himself backwards--he's being </B><I><B>thrown</B></I><B>. Is the one body and mind holding both Elijah (consciously) and Frodo (subconsciously)? </B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="16118050.gif" border=0 width="536" height="5" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Renewed gratitude for the </B><I><B>LotR </B></I><B>movies, for which the DVDs are such good quality that even the long shots look good in full-size screencaps, and which have, at least, believable-looking monsters.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="152" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 67 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id9_m.htm" TITLE="The Chase"><U><B><IMG SRC="00c7d3c0.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 67 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Bleachers"><U><B><IMG SRC="00d7d3c0.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 67 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Tests"><U><B><IMG SRC="02a7d3c0.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>