This is an analysis of the Star Wars film opening. I go through each part of the film thoroughly and describe each shot and why the directors have used these shots.
1. Star Wars starts off with an establishing shot. This sets the scene
and tells the audience that it is a sci-fi film and where they are
(space).
This shot also shows the Death Star in the background of the shot,
which is unfinished. Because it is in the background, it hints to the
audience that the film may have something to do with the Death
Star.
2. This Establishing shot carries on as the ship passes above the camera.
This shot is very long (28 seconds). They do this to show the audience
the size of the ship which is passing above.
3. This shot is a cut away shot. They do this to show the technology and also
what is on the screen which the man it using.
4. This is an over shoulder shot of the characters from behind. They do this
shot because the Death Star is in the background and this shot
emphasises the size of it. This shot also shows that the Death Star is
unfinished.
Furthermore, the audience can see that the 2 characters are wearing the
same thing (uniform) which could indicate to the audience that they are
part of something bigger.
5. In this shot, the theme music starts to play in the background as the ships
land. This sound is non-diagetic because it is a sound that we cannot see on
the screen.
Moreover, the theme tune will tell the audience what they are watching
because it is such a famous theme tune.
6. There is a siren in this scene which is non-diagetic because it is a sound
which we cannot see on screen, it is in the background.
This shot also shows the technology and how advanced it is.
7. In this wide shot, Darth Vader's ship has arrived. The theme tune has gotten
louder in this shot, which could indicate that Vader is a villain or a main character
in this film.
Also, this shot shows a welcome committee stood waiting for him to get off the
ship, this shows that he is an important character.
8. This shot follows the man walk through the middle of the welcome
committee, which could show that he is an important character also.
9. In this close up of the man, it show that he looks nervous for Darth Vader
to come off the ship, like he is scared because he may have done
something wrong.
10. In this shot, they use a tilt shot as Darth Vader walks off the ship. This
shot looks up at Vader as if he is more important that everybody else.
The audience gets the impression that he is a villain because he is
wearing all black and a big helmet.
The music (theme tune) begins to become slow and cynical and deep.
12. As both characters share a conversation, Darth Vader has a very
deep voice which can come across to the audience as threatening.
13. As Darth Vader leaves the man and walks off, the camera returns to a wide
shot, similar to the beginning of the Darth Vader scene. This tells the
audience that this sequence has come to a close.
14. Genre โ sci-fi
Conventions โWell known music โ theme tune, dark
colours, technology.
Iconography โ Futuristic technology, Darth Vaderโs helmet
and cloak, space ship, space.
Enigma Codes โ Who are they? Whoโs the emperor?
Where are they?
Narrative - Fabula
