Class Film Opening Analysis

 

Skyfall

Genre

From what we can see from just watching the first moments of the opening scene is that the film is clearly an action-thriller. Throughout the film opening there are clear references to death and violence which are common factors of action-thrillers. an example of this is James bond getting shot and falling into the water as well as the multiple targets sinking into the ocean and one of them looking like James bond. This connotes that someone wants to kill James bond.

Narrative

At the start of the film opening we see a James bond being pulled down by a women's hand. Then it takes us through a graveyard which has guns and knifes falling onto the ground. this is followed up by James bond searching for someone until his shadow points a gun at him. from there it goes to a dark background with multiple Chinese dragons flying around. the film opening ends with the camera zooming in towards James bonds left eye

Characters

The only character we clearly see is James bond. this implies that he has a significant part to play in the film. through the opening scene he is shown in low key lighting. this connotes that James bond is a mysterious character who has a dark inhuman side to him. We breathy see another character who is seen as one of James Bonds shadows. we barely see him and it is not clear when we do. this has been done to make him more secretive 

Atmosphere and Music

The atmosphere of this opening is dark and sinister atmosphere. This implying that this film has many tragedy elements in it.  The music suggest that something bad will happen within the film. The lyrics 'when the sky falls' implies that something bad will happen to one of the characters in the end.

The Titles

The font use is just a standard text. It is white. This makes the text stand out to the dark background.

Camera angles

When James Bond is sinking, it is shown using a low angle. This is to show how powerful and important he is, but then the camera tilts down, showing him from a high angle. This connotes that now he is at an all-time low. It’s to show the fall in statue.

The close up on the woman's hand connotes that women are the thing which has been holding him back and literally pulling him down. Another shot shows the same point. The long angle of James bond being pulled down connotes that women are the cause of all his problems and this is proven at the start of the film when he gets shot by his female co-worker.The close up on the women holding the gun implies that James bond isn't just in danger mentally but also physically.

Mise

In Mise on scene, we can see that the opening of the trailer is set in the sea. This is to reflect on James Bond mysterious and dangerous character. The opening of the film changes scene to scene throughout the clip. One of the locations shown in the opening is a graveyard. This foreshadows upcoming events and it even hints to who may die. The low key lighting which is shown throughout the film opening reflects on the atmosphere of the film.

Sound

 The non-diegetic music which is played in the film opening is very slow paced and it brings a gloomy feel to the film opening. The chorus is 

Let the sky fall
When it crumbles
We will stand tall
Face it all together
Let the sky fall
When it crumbles
We will stand tall
Face it all together
At Skyfall
At Skyfall

This constant use of  'when the sky fall' may foreshaddow future events or the films ending.