I Am Legend
An interesting movie to look at when analysing editing in the post-apocalyptic genre is I Am Legend. It begins with an establishing shot where several long takes are used in order to display the scene's setting in detail, with straight cuts utilised in between each shot. This usage of long takes illustrates the theme of isolation and abandonment within the deserted city often found in post-apocalyptic movies.
This is continued throughout the opening scene when the characters are introduced which shifts the focus to them rather than the evacuated city. A match on action cut is employed shortly afterwards to demonstrate the character rolling down the window for their canine companion which cuts to the dog rolling its head out of the window.
All of the takes are fairly long in order to emphasise the balance and quietness of this deserted area which is quickly disrupted by several deers running around the car. This disruption is clearly signified in editing terms with the abrupt change in pace of cuts; they become significantly quicker than the cuts utilised earlier on to convey a sense of action and danger. The panic that the character is feeling is projected throughout the exercise of quick, abrupt cuts.
Several match-on-action cuts are used from this point onwards to amplify the rushed atmosphere and show the character's hastened driving from a variety of different angles. This is a form of continuity editing which means that the cuts are almost 'invisible' but sticks the shots together in order to support the narrative as well as make the scene cohesive.
Elliptical editing is also used to show the distance the character has driven in the abandoned city without making the audience actually sit through the inconvenience of the whole time it takes to cross that distance. In shorter words, this form of editing is used so as to compress time.
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