Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Stop-Loss

Key Elements

Forgetting Sarah Marshall:
The main elements emphasized in the poster is the large blue broken heart. The heart is not only broken into two pieces, but it is also broken into multiples sections. There is even a small piece laying on the floor next to his feet. The color of the heart can also be taken into account. For instance, when a heart is typically viewed in a graphic form it is pink or red, but in this poster is it blue; which implies suffocation, loneliness and is a color in the cold section of the color wheel. Jason Segel is the only character that is pictured in the poster; he is even in the very center; which implies that the movie is fully centered around this one character. Another key elements would be would be the advertise method of using almost half of the heart to portray other popular movies the directors have previously done; this is done to entice hesitant movie watchers to watch this movie as well.

Stop Loss:
For the movie Stop Loss there is not one defining key element. There is a group of people lounging around an old rugged four door Lincoln town car. There is an American flag superimposed in the background with soldiers even intermingled throughout the transparent image. Without viewing the movie the audience can assume that the main character is most likely the man sitting on the edge of the car; he is the only one wearing white, and the only one with graphics boldly printed on his T-shirt “Army”. A cowboy hat on Ryan Phillipe’s lap implies that this movie is set in the southern section of the Country; in particular Texas. The characters are as worn as the vehicle they are centered around. The main colors used in the poster are that of the American flag (red, white and blue), plus black. Illustrating a patriotic darkness.

Genre:

Forgetting Sarah Marshall:
The poster of this film surely signifies a clear understanding of the movie as being categorized in the Romantic Comedy genre. There is a large blue broken heart illustrating that it is about romance and a goofy sad man holding the heart providing the comic aspect of the film to be visible through the poster. The genre definitely is used to advertise the movie. For instance, in a quick-stumbled date decision it would be easy for the couple, or audience to see that this would be a safe funny movie, non-controversial and entertaining.

Stop-Loss:
The genre of this movie seems to be slightly more ambiguous, but leading towards a first glance of action drama. This interpretation can be justified be the patriotic symbolism displayed consistently throughout the poster. The group of friends with the army scene imposed in the background implies the present action, and the young and modern adults signifies that it is a current issue. As we all know, the societal issues of today are very controversial and instigate dramatic tones.

Audience:

Forgetting Sarah Marshall:
The audience of the first movie would be closer to a dating scene or a group of casual friends. Since it deals with love, and (as most romantic comedies do) it will probably close with a happy ending. It has a pretty broad target audience because if it’s relationship nature, it allows for almost anyone to relate to the film’s characters.

Stop-Loss:
The audience of the second film is much more specific, since many people just by looking at the poster would rule it out in many movie watching situations. For instance, it is fairly obvious that it will be about a controversial issue involving young people and the military; thus, it will not be a chipper movie night with friends movie as well.


Tagline:

Forgetting Sarah Marshall:
There is a tagline in this poster. “The Ultimate Romantic Disaster Movie”, however it is not the main captured element, since it does not need to be. The poster itself is very straight forward, simple and clear to the audience. Plus, the general romantic comedy has a typical plot line that can only be twisted in so many ways. The tagline suggests it would be ridiculous fictional, and funny. It does not seem to be a leading advertisement for the film, since it is some of the only font in black on the blue heart. Making it almost difficult to read and easily overlooked.

Stop-Loss:
The tagline of this movie is much more visible, “The bravest place to stand is by each other’s side”. It suggests that the movie encompasses a conflict within a group of friends, or their environment and that they will have to learn how to use each other to make it through their dilemmas. It helps sell the film by showing the dramatic side of the movie, and reassuring the audience that there is a possibility for a happy ending.

-Kevin Peterson, Taren Shelton and Daphne Clement