Anaylsing Film Openings.

To help us understand film openings even more and see whats involved, we were set the task to analyse a number of openings and by doing this, once we come to creating our own film opening we will be an expert about whats involved.

Reservoir Dogs

Narrative – A gang, going somewhere to cause trouble.
Genre – The Genre I think is gangster/thriller.
Atmosphere – The atmosphere in the opening scene is very cool, rough and serious but fun at the same time.
Titles – The titles are used well as when the camera does a close up on each of the characters, there name appears below so you can tell easily who is playing what part.
Sound – There is background music playing which is a juxtaposition because it really doesn’t suit, they should be having a very cool song playing but the song doesn’t suit their style.
Character – There are a few of the gang members in suits then there are others dressed very casually which already gives us an idea about what each character is like.
Themes – The themes I get from the opening is gang culture, smoking and swagger.
Setting – The opening is set in the streets in an urban city as it looks quite rough and loud.

Hitch

Narrative – Men are trying to get women but they need help from a matchmaker.
Genre – The genre is a romantic comedy as the films about love but humour is also involved.
Atmosphere – The atmosphere is very happy, humorous amusing and cheerful (high spirits).
Titles – The writing is small and is before the action, the text also signifies business (matchmaker because that is will smiths business).
Sound – Non diegetic soundtrack is played which is very positive and slow (perfect song about love), also Will smith does a voice over talking about relationships.
Character – There is going to be a lot of women and men (couples) as the film is to do with relationships and also there is Will smith (the matchmaker).
Themes – The themes are Love, relationships and men trying to get women.
Setting - The film is set in a city and uses iconography of yellow cabs.

Saving Private Ryan

Narrative – The narrative it quite hard to make out from this opening but I think it's about a man who was a soldier in the war once, and he is telling us his story and what happened to him on his journey and at the end i think you discover that he is a hero.
Genre – The genre of "Saving Private Ryan" is war.
Atmosphere – The atmopshere is quite dull and emotional,obviously because there has been a lot of deaths as the film is to do with war.
Titles – The title of the film comes at the very start before we see anything, it is very plain (black and white) and suits the genre (as its to do with war you wouldn't expect lots of bright colours and fancy fonts) its basic.
Sound – There is non-diegetic soundtrack in the background which is very slow and respectable (you could imagine and army with this music) its also quite moving and royal so fits perfectly with the the genre as well.
Character – You see one main character, an old man who has obviously been in the war when he was younger and lost a lot of friends as you seem him visit graves. Also by watching the opening he seems like a hero this is because as he is walking people are behind him following so he must be well known.
Themes – The themes I get from the opening are war, death, courage and bravery.
Setting - The opening is set in a graveyard with thousands of graves which represent the soldiers that died in the war, it also shows the iconography of the American flag (they fought for their country).

The Shining

Narrative – There is going to be some sort of "bad evil" guy in it, who is going to trap and murder a lot of people and because it's in the middle of nowhere he will get away with it.
Genre – The genre of "The shining" is horror.
Atmosphere – The atmosphere is very tense, you have a feeling something is going to happen and you are just waiting for that moment.
Titles – The timing of the titles i thought was excellent, they came up just at the right time but i don't think the style of the writing suited the genre because it's suppose to be a horror yet there is baby blue writing, I really don't think it went well with the opening.
Sound – Throughout the opening there is a non-diegetic sound track played with is very eerie and nervous.
Character – We don't see any characters in the opening just see a car which I think either has a couple, or a family in it.
Themes – The themes I think that there is going to be is death, violence, torture and kidnapping.
Setting - The setting is in the middle of nowhere (which is perfect for a horror) in some sort of hotel in the mountains which looks very old and creepy.

Superbad

Narrative – The film is going to involve two guys (best friends) just having fun and having a laugh with their life.
Genre – The Genre of "superbad" is a comedy.
Atmosphere – The atmosphere is very cool, relaxed amusing and enjoyable.
Titles – The titles I think are spot on, they come in at the right time, the style of them is very bright and cheerful which fits with the genre of comedy.
Sound – There is a soundtrack being played which is very fun, up beat and is what you would expect with a comedy.
Character – In the opening we see two male characters, look like there young, funny and just having a good time.
Themes – The themes I think that will be involved is friendship, girls, college/high school and growing up.
Setting – We don't actually find out where the setting is as the opening is in animation with a coloured background.