Film Opening Analysis

Catch Me If You Can

• As soon as the title sequence starts, we hear the music (diegetic sound) which sounds mysterious, reflecting the genre of the film, drama and crime fiction. This mystery is kept up throughout the sequence as the animated man, who appears to be representing the main character, spends the whole duration of the title sequence trying to hide or disguise himself, and looks as if he is trying to stay away from another character.

• The ‘main character’ moves very smoothly throughout the whole thing, which makes him look slightly ‘shifty’ in the sense he seems to keep calm, even when it seems like he is in danger. When he is put into a new situation, he seems to stand around for a short amount of time and looks like he is watching the people around him, and then changes his outfit and therefore blends in with the surroundings. This puts across the idea of disguises, which could then lead to the idea of him trying to fool people, which could suggest the film is based around a con artist of some sort.

• There are lots of indications of transport, which suggests he moves around a lot, perhaps linking in with the title and trying to keep away from someone who is chasing him. When it seems like he is going to be caught. This causes suspense and tension among the viewers, and makes them expect something dramatic throughout the remainder of the film. However, when he isn’t caught it calms down, linking with the title “Catch Me If You Can”, suggesting he is going to make it difficult. This difficulty is definitely portrayed in the title sequence. It hold quite a lot of tension as well, which perhaps sets up the audience to expect a lot of tension and drama in the film.

• There are times when the characters move in between these vertical lines appears often to show the main character is constantly on the move, nonetheless he wants to be unidentified by suspicious activity. This influence is also used for the taxi scene; the titles work as lines on the road to camouflage themselves, this furthers the idea of how things camouflage themselves to hide away from danger. The design choice to have these vertical lines gives an interesting perspective on how the title artist is telling a story; moreover, it gives an unfailing look and feel to the titles.

• The title the film is displayed near the end and it appears to be like all the other titles accept the word ‘me’, which looks different. Shortly after the title comes up, the ‘me’ title drifts off like a cloud. The word could suggest the person running in the opening could be the main character as the opening mostly centres on him. It suggests to the viewers that the person trying to escape from the ‘huge figures’ is not an easy task for them and it specifies the plot of the film. What links well with the title is that it indicates transport when the lines moves up to the sky where we the movie’s title suggest the process the main character goes.

Skyfall

The use of the low angle shot seems to connote that Bond is still a dominant character in the film. However, the element of his drowing suggests not only that death will be a prominat theme throughout the film, but that even someone as strong as Bond can die, suggesting that he will have a tough opponent.

The choice to have Bond being pulled down again illustrates a sense of Bonds weakness, which would seem to now be a theme in the rest of the film. Additionally, the collapse of the bottom of the sea that Bond is being pulled into foreshadows a possible trap that Bond will find himself in later in the film.

The use of the colour red again gives off the connotations of death, and that this will occur throughout the film. Additionally, the decision to put Bond on the target seems pretty self explanatory, that he is the target someone (most likely the villain) in the film. Furthermore, the use of the target employs a sense of duty that Bond will be abiding by, and implies that he will be a part of a training system.

The falling of the knives and guns again connotes a sense of death in the film. Also the use of the dark background conveys a sense of evilness and makes the opening rather sinister. Furthermore, the amount of weapons that continue to fall imply that there will be much violence in the film, and that as we are moving through what seems like a forest of weapons, it suggests that we will be at the heart all the action.

As the weapons take that form of a graveyard, the audience gets the impression that the violence will cause much destruction and deaths in the film. Additionally, it could be assumed that due to the graves being symbolic of remembrance, the viewers will remember someone's key death in the film.

Shutter Island

The use of the colour grey throughout the opening sequence employs a sense of mystery to the audience. Here the use the sound of water dripping quietly suggests a sense of isolation, and enhances on the sinister theme that seems to be present. Additionally, the fading out of the title names works well with the sense of tranquillity with the water.

The use of the chains here conveys a sense of being trapped, and kept against you will. This is also demonstrated through the sound of the chains also. The choice to use the shadows of the chains suggests that the camera is covered by something. One could therefore infer that this is from someone’s point of view.

Regarding my previous point, the view that this is from someone's point of view implies that they are being suffocated, reinforcing the idea of them being a prisoner. One could therefore imply that we will be seeing this film through the perspective of a prisoner, through the sense of being trapped.

Here we can see an image of a fence through this possible thing covering the persons face. The choice to use this image as a shadow further supports this point. Also we get the sense of this being a prison further, through this fence, giving off a sense of being enclosed. Additionally, the use of sound, as the music gradually gets louder, we get the feeling of something significant happening, keeping the audience’s attention.

The change to the establishing shot after the titles, the sense of mystery still remains, through the use of colour that still is the same. Furthermore, the use of this boat emerging from the mist further seems to emphasise on this sense of being trapped, and due to the title ‘Shutter Island’, the audience gets a sinister tone going into the film.

The Beach

The choice to use no music and purely a voiceover illustrates to the audience who their protagonist will be. Additionally, the use of this singular watch, loading on a computer screen connotes this sense of a boring life, that the protagonist is currently in.

Regarding my previous point, the voiceover is describing this boring life that most people endure. The use of the mouse hovering over travel, seems to suggest not only that he is looking for holidays, but that the also wants to escape from his current life. This implies to the audience that this film is based around a sense of adventure.

What appears for the protagonist on the computer screen is a map of the whole world, which illustrates that he has a choice of wherever he wants to go. The effect this had on the audience is that of mystery, as we do not know where he will pick and if it will be essential to the res of the film.

• Furthermore, in this second image, the choice to type in paradise demonstrates this sense of sheer desperation to get out of his current life, as he does not have in mind where he wants to end up, it would seem that the protagonists (whom we do not know at this point) main objective is to flee and seek a better life.

Here we finally get a sense of what our protagonist looks like. The use of the dark colours (black) suggests that there may be something rather sinister about this film, and our protagonist. Additionally, the use of putting the Leonardo DiCaprio’s name next to our establishment of him further helps us understand the main character, even if we already know who he is.

St Trinians 2

The first shot of this title sequence establishes what would seem to be a treasure map. The use of the skeleton suggests that death could be a theme in the film, however, this is contrasted with the music playing over the top that gives off a lighter tone, suggesting that this is not the case. Additionally, after the seeing the first of the two films, this ties in with the students at the school who disobey the rules, suggesting that this is a use of graphite,designed to establish misbehaviour.

What seems to be a treasure map also connotes this sense of adventure which is a prominent theme of the film. It also suggests that they are in search of something, which entices the audience on this sense of mystery. Furthermore, it would seem that this is a map from a school, due to all the additional doodles on it, such as the shark. This implies therefore, that the school involved is after this possible treasure, and they will be the ones on this adventure, which seems as thoughthe target audience for the film is that of a younger generation.

The use of the bland colours in this title sequence enable this irregular use of pink to establish that indeed there is a sense of youth in this film (linking with my previous graphite point). Also the vibrant colour, I would argue, gives off the idea that the students are relatively small compared to their opposition, as the skull is in the corner of the map, and is smaller thanthat of things like the sea monster.

As we then cut to the establishing shot of a ship, due to the dark colours, we get this sense that an unexpected attack will happen. This is also demonstrated through the creeping up of the ship behind them, which just comes on to out screens as it moves forward. One could therefore argue that the students in the film will be facing a tough opposition, as due to the darkness of the attacking boat the audience establishes them as bad. We can also suggest thatthe oppositionwill be sneaky in their tactics.