Analysis of Sherlock Holmes Title Sequence

The story is being told through different clips of the film being put into the sequence. The clips appear random and show various different action shots of the characters before disappearing or dissolving. The sequence shows some what happens in the film, such as an explosion, fight, love interest but does so without giving too much away leaving the audience wanting to know what happens. This is why it works effectively as a title sequence as it immediately hooks the audience without actually showing any of the action.

Non-diegetic background music is used throughout the Sherlock Holmes title sequence, the music is fast paced with a steady beat which is catchy and recognizable. This works well with the pace of the sequence; the pace of it means that watching it doesn’t get boring for the audience. The music, in some places, helps to compliment the action or shots for example at the end of the sequence loud drum beats are used at the same time as someone if being punched which mimics the sounds any diegetic sound would make. The use non diegetic sound is good for the title sequence as it does not give away any details about what happens in the film through the sound. Also, it allows the audience to focus on the titles and the clips included. The music is made up of mainly strings, drums, a piano, tenor and an unusual sound produced is from a banjo gives the soundtrack a unique feel. The non-diegetic music helps to establish the genre of the film which for Sherlock Holmes is an action/thriller but also belongs to the comedy genre, the fast pace serves as a link to the action/thriller side of the film with the unusual instruments used reflecting the comic parts/side of the film. The genre is also reinforced by the dramatic shots throughout the sequence ad well as the quick transitions between shots.

The font and lettering used in the Sherlock Holmes title sequence is relevant to the mis-en-scene of it as it uses spirally writing which is very representative of the type of scripture in Victorian times which is the time period in which Sherlock Holmes is set. The lettering works well with the background of the sequence which is a sepia

faded colour which with the lettering looks like parchment and also reflects the mis-en-scene. In a lot of shots the background fades or morphs to a different colour so that the colour of the text is visble to the viewer, this is very effective as it makes the transitions between the different titles seem a lot smoother. The titles are incorparated into the different shots so the audience are able to read the titles as they go along with the

action of the shots. The same font is used consistently throughout which is effective as it becomes recognisable to the audience.

The style of the title sequence is very suited to the mis-en-scene of Sherlock Holmes, as the faded black, white and sepia filters are very representative of the Victorian time period in which it is set and the darkness of most of the shots portrays the light of London Victorian streets. The film is based on books and this is portrayed in the sequence by the different shots turning into illustrations of the previous picture.

The edit in this title sequence is interesting as there is no colour, except black and white and sepia, however splashes of colour are used at some points (eg. when wine is being thrown over Sherlock or which works

well as a contrast to the dull colours. The lack of colour makes the colour more effective when it is used. The action clips from the film are in black and white, whereas the titles are on a sepia background. I think the use of these colours helps to make the title sequence more intriguing. As the titles appear, the action freezes and becomes a drawing. This draws our attention to the titles without letting us forget what is happening in the action. The titles also have a fast paced dissolve around the edge as they disappear, fading back in the action.

There is a wide variety of shots used during the sequence to make it more interesting, examples of shots used are:

As well as the range of shots the title sequence also uses camera techniques such as tracking, craning and panning. All of which work well with the pace of it. The camera work helps the audience to see the shots from many different angles and perspectives which would help to intrigue them.

High and Low AnglesClose Ups, Wide Shots and Medium Shots