Class Film Opening Analysis

Genre

In this film opening from Skyfall (2012) the genre of this film is quite explicit because of the many references involved. You can tell that it is an action film because it involves guns and daggers and James Bond shooting with a gun. There are also a lot of references to death as a couple shots zoom in through the bullet hole on the James Bond target and there’s a lot of blood, skulls and graves.

 

Narrative

In terms of narrative, at the very beginning a low angle shot is used on the protagonist in the water suggesting that there is a problem and something bad is happening. Following this, a huge hand of a woman pulls him down which connotes that women cause him issues and bring him down. The whole opening mainly focuses on his weaknesses and develops a sense of emotion and despair.

Characters

Not a lot of characters are involved in this opening. We see James Bond, women, and a shadow of someone. James Bond is represented as weak in this opening as there are many references of him being killed for example him drowning at the beginning or the bullet holes in the targets. The targets represent him as a target towards others – like other people a coming for him. It shows a lot of emotion towards him and it almost looks like its referring to James Bonds fears. Women are also presented in this opening but there is one in particular that stands out at the beginning and in the middle as you see her face and she is holding a gun so she may be a character we come across in the film. The women are represented as another one of James Bonds weaknesses as they bring him down and trick him. Near the middle of the clip we see James Bond shooting his own shadows. This could refer to the fact that he chooses to put himself in situations that would risk him getting him killed. This could also represent the unknown identity of who the criminal is and if it could even be himself. The opening also refers to this when he shoots his reflection in the mirrors near the end of the clip.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere of the Skyfall opening is very emotional and intense and it gives you an insight of what the rest of the film is going to be like. It produces quite depressing and thrilling atmosphere as it’s all about death.

Themes

In terms of themes, the film opening involves themes of death, thriller and animation. When looking at the colours, a lot of red, blue and black is used. Red represents the love and danger within the film, blue represents the sadness and emotion, and black represents the dark/negative story behind it. Animation has been used for some of the parts of the opening like the guns and daggers floating down into the grave yard.

Setting

There isn’t a specific location involved in this film opening but a lot of it involves either underwater, in a grave yard or in a room with brick walls. The setting makes you as a viewer feel quite isolated especially in the room with the brick walls as it looks a bit like a maze that you need to get out of. The room is also very open, and as James Bond is the target, anyone can appear from any direction so it’s hard to hide from them. The shots underwater are quite daunting as it is a very dark, cold open space and somewhere you wouldn’t want to be. Also the idea of drowning and being pulled down into water is quite terrifying towards people. Also the idea of using a grave yard connotes that death is a main feature of the film and shows quite a personal perspective as well because the reason you would be at a grave yard is to visit someone who has died.

Sound

During most of the film opening, we hear non diegetic music which is ‘Skyfall’ by Adele which is the theme song made for this movie. It is quite a dramatic piece and suits the opening well as it sets quite an emotional mood. At the beginning we also get non diegetic sound effects of him falling into the water to make the scene feel more realistic which therefore makes it seem more scary and isolated. It then fades to black as he sinks down.

Titles

The first title that appears is ‘Albert R Broccoli’s Eon Productions LTD Presents’ at 0.16sec in, which is the company who produced the film. It begins with this film as they are the creators presenting it to the audience and they are the most important. Then at 0.20 ‘Daniel Craig’ appears who plays the main character in the film so as he is the main star, he comes next. It then says ‘as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007 in’ at 0.24 and then ‘Skyfall’ at 0.30. So it introduces that Daniel Craig is playing James Bond in this film and then the title appears. I like how the titles lead on to one another rather than just being names appearing on the screen. It then goes on to naming the cast and crew and right at the end it mentions the director stating ‘directed by Sam Mendes’.

By analysing the ‘Skyfall’ film opening it has helped me to get some ideas of what I can do for my own and I have learnt how important it is than you set the mood and drew in your audience while not giving away the story at the beginning. I have also learnt that a film opening needs its own story to make it intriguing and to introduce the type of film the viewer will be watching and will want to continue watching it.