Continuity Editing Analysis

Match on Action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht8gZM81Ewg

In this clip from 'The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers' match on action is used to empathize and also create the sense in a scene; from the use of this technique we can understand what is happening more clearly, while also gaining more information and interest of the scene. Match on action is an editing technique where a scene/action in one shot, cuts to another shot that links and matches to the first. This technique shows the action in the first shot and, therefore, the consequence of this in the second shot.

     Here we can see a man who accidentally fires an arrow - from this shot we know what action has taken place, however, from this shot alone the audience would not know the consequence of this, or why it is an important shot. The next shot that matches this shows the arrow killing an ork - the audience can now see that by the killing of this ork the war has now immediately begun. If this second shot was not used in this clip, the audience would be confused of how and why the war has so suddenly started.

Shot/Reverse/Shot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFEjcvIRMDo

A shot/reverse/shot is an editing technique where one character is shown looking at another, and the other character looking back at them (often used in conversation scenes). These two shots of the different characters are edited in order to look as if they are looking at each other, however, these two shots of each character may have been created at completely different times then edited in to look like a continuous clip.

      

     In this clip from "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith", the shot/reverse/shot is used in order to create and build tension, suspense and also portray the importance of what each character is saying to one another. We can see Yoda and Darth Sidious talking in a strong, powerful manner as each shot switches between one another; we know this is greatly effective to the audience as from this technique we can see the scene building up to a fight between the two - and therefore creating excitement and on-edge entertainment.

180-Degree Rule
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShB-37_wvrk
(Please excuse the language, was the only clip I could find.)

The 180-degree rule uses a series of shots in order for the audience to keep more of an understanding into what is happening in the clip. It uses a 180-degree line between the characters and camera; this line cannot be crossed by the camera, otherwise, the change in position of characters can and will confuse the audience who are watching. This means the characters will always be on the same side of the shot(left, middle, right) which keeps the audience notified of where they are in the scene.
     From this clip we can see as the shots change, the camera never passes the 180-degree line; this makes the audience understand where each of the characters are as we can see Henry is always on the lest of the shot and Dabs is on the right. If the shot did not use the 180-degree rule then the audience would assume they are switching positions each shot, this would make the scene look lower quality and is much more less effective to the audience.