[qznc]

Why do the mountains in the background even matter?

[icegreentea]

Because now you have a giant mountain (roughly a triangle), and the giant dinosaur (roughly a triangle) pointing more or less together. This helps focus the attention / energy of the shot.

It's definitely subtle, but a good amount of film making (or hell, photography) is that way.

[wmeredith]

Everything on screen matters. Modern Cinema is a HIGHLY evolved art form. If you have any interest in this at all, YouTube user Every Frame A Painting publishes, short, easily digestible, and well-produced YouTube videos about this stuff that are eye-opening.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Edgar Wright - How to Do Visual Comedy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FOzD4Sfgag

The Silence of the Lambs - Who Wins the Scene? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V-k-p4wzxg

Michael Bay - What is Bayhem? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2THVvshvq0Q

[not_that_noob]

Thanks for the links - excellent depth in the analysis. Loved the ones on Jackie Chan.

[wmeredith]

You're totally welcome. I'm not personally involved in that YouTube channel, but I try to spread it far and wide. It's such a great gem of content.

[tylermac1]

More refined sense of scope/scale.