Camera Technique- Low Angle Shots

• Chris Columbus is able to use low angle shots within the two films of 'Home Alone' and 'Harry Potter' to portray the idea of intimidation and vulnerablity, but also present the idea of conflict by a using low angle shot.

Where we see low angle shots in 'Home Alone':

• Kevin has been told by his brother that the local snow shoveller had murdered all his family many years ago, which in turn frightens Kevin. When Kevin is then left at home by himself he goes outside and frightingly runs into the snow shoveller. Here we see a low angle shot of the snow shoveller and this shot acts as a point-of-view shot from Kevin. It gives the idea that Kevin is very intimidated and scared of the man, and this shot also allows for us an audience to have the same feeling as Kevin. (30mins into movie) 
• He also runs into this person again in the local store and the same low angle shot of him is used. In the store we also see a low angle shot of the store manager, and also another low angle shot of the checkout person at the grocery store. This is able to emphasise that Kevin is very vulnerable now since he is only a child and is left by himself and is more vulnerable to danger. It also puts perspective into place of how he is a child living amoungst an adult world at this point and how he only has himself to rely on. (38mins and also 51mins into movie)

Where we see low angle shots in 'Harry Potter':

• The idea of vulnerablity and also intimidation is shown in 'Harry Potter' by the use of low angle shots.
• When Harry attends his first potions class with Professor Snape, Snape is shown in each shot at a low angle when he talks to Harry and imposes questions upon him. The idea of the low angle shot used in this scene  allows the audience to see that Harry is vulnerable to Snape, since he is the student and Snape is the teacher, and therefore Snape has more power over Harry due to this. Also, by using this shot the idea of conflict is presented as the low angle shot implies that Snape has authority over Harry, and we can tell that Harry is uncomfortable with this. (50 mins into movie)
• Like Harry, this makes the audience feel inferior to Snape as the shot makes us feel insignificant. Also, the low angle shot is able to give the impression that Snape is a threat.
• Again vulnerablitly is presented in the Troll scene where Harry, Ron and Herminone fight against the Troll in the girls bathroom. Almost every shot of the troll has been taken from a low angle and this emphasies that Harry, Ron and Hermione are vulnerable to the troll. Again, like 'Home Alone' the low angle shot acts like a point of view shot from the three students and puts into significance of how big the troll is and the challenge that it will be to fight against the troll. The low angle shot also adds the idea and intimidation because of this

Harry Potter- Potions Scene
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone- Troll Scene