The specific piece of media I choose is the final scene of the first Godfather movie. More appropriately named the Baptism scene. In this five minute video it starts off in a church with the remaining Corleone family. The holy hymns are loud with a crying newborn baby in the background. Giving off the idea and feeling of all things pure, then the pastor starts reciting all prayers necessary in order to baptism Michael Corleone’s nephew. Which the music in the background playing throughout and the cold look on Michaels face directly contrast each other. Then a series of shots showing other members of the Corleone family, one handling a gun, the other walking to his car with a package and shots of Michael again in the church continuing the baptism. Then a shot to the five heads of the other crime families, all the while the preacher continues his prayer. The more the preacher goes on, the more the family members of the Corleone family advance to their predetermined spots. While the preacher is reciting the prayer to the baptism no words are in English, then the climax is reaching higher as the preacher asks Michael if believes in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, continues on his prayer as all the members of the Corleone family are advancing then the baby starts to cry at the same moment that the heads of the other families are shown. The climax is reaching higher, then the baby stops crying the music is at its loudest and the preachers asks Michael is he renounces satan, the five heads now meet their fate as the members of the Corleone family meet then and assassinate each and every one of them. Michael say’s he does renounces him and all his works. And finally asks if Michael will be baptized. This scene is wonderful in the fact that it shows the exact opposite of what Michael is doing, he is being evil killing men and becoming the only crime family left all the while in church. The juxtaposition of images and shots between each scene is powerful and showing opposites of Michael’s “pure” moment, all the while the music is along helping each shot, each action in a powerful fashion.
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