The document analyzes the opening sequence of the film "The Expendables 2" to understand how thrillers set up narratives, introduce characters, and establish genre conventions. It finds that the sequence quickly establishes the location, introduces tough and skilled main characters, and puts them in an action-packed scene involving vehicles, weapons, gunshots and explosions typical of the thriller genre. The sequence follows the pattern of building suspense then releasing it through action, supporting its status as an exemplar of effective thriller openings.

1. Analysis of similar
texts
BY AARON GEMMELL

2. Introduction
 In this task I will be analysing similar films
within the thriller genre and with similar
themes to the opening sequence which I
will produce in order to gain an idea of
how the narrative has been set up; how
characters are introduced and how the
genre's conventions are established within
the thriller genre.

3. Film 1:
 The first opening sequence which i have selected to analyse is from
the 2012 film The Expendables 2, directed by Simon West.
 This film is considered a combination of action, adventure and
thriller genres on IMDb, because of this combination the film is rated
as a 15 by the BBFC as it contains a good amount of swearing and
violence.
 I have chosen to analyse this opening sequence because it is part
of a highly successful franchise of thriller films, this means it must be
doing something right and be a good example of what to include in
my own opening sequence.
 For my analysis, I shall be using:
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNmtTC8PMFI

4. How is the narrative set up?
In the opening sequence for the
Expendables 2, the location is quickly
established through camerawork.
The opening sequence begins
with an establishing shot in
which you can see the dry,
desert landscape and a urban
area with smoke emerging from
it. The fact that it is a desert lets
the viewer immediately know
that is is abroad, we can also
deduce from the fire and
smoke that some action has
already occurred beforehand.
We quickly learn the identity's of the
main characters
The sequence continues to
show a close-up shot of each
character in order to introduce
them briefly to the viewer. By
the time this has been done
you can deduce that the
characters are a group of
tough, heavily armed men who
are intent on attacking
something.
We gain more of an idea of what is
happening
As the sequence progresses
you consolidate the idea that
these men are going to attack
someone as they end up
attacking them with the heavy
weaponry they possess. They
attack what is clearly a hostile
area and so the action
sequence starts.

5. The introduction of characters
The first image of the main
characters we see presents them as
brave and tough.
In this shot we can see how the
characters are driving heavily
armoured vehicles alongside
heavy weaponry, this shows
how the characters are
courageous as it is made clear
to the viewer that they are
about to attack someone with
a very small amount of them,
against an unknown enemy.
We can tell that the characters are
highly trained and skilled.
It is clear they are highly trained
as they have a strong physique
alongside the ability to use a
variety of weapons and work
well together as a team. This
paints an image of them being
tough, fearless and powerful.
The characters are shown in action,
and are seen to respond well.
The characters are put under
heavy fire and have a difficult
task to perform, despite all the
noise and commotion they still
operate flawlessly as a team to
achieve their goals. This
illiterates the training and skill
which they must have and just
how fearless the characters
must be.

6. How the genre is established
The props in The Expendables are
typical of the thriller genre.
The main props are large guns
and heavy armoured vehicles,
these all are very common
within the thriller genre and can
be spotted among many thriller
films, including this one. This
means that the film related to
the thriller genre through the
props used.
The main sounds used within the
opening sequence are gunshots and
explosions.
Gunshots and explosions are
common in the thriller genre as
they symbolise action and
fighting, this is a common
occurrence in thriller films as
they contain suspense before a
large fight scene or action
sequence which usually
contains guns and explosions.
The action and effects support the
thriller genre.
This is because the action of the
opening sequence is as a result
of a build up, this is how a
thriller works, a build up of
suspense before a large action
sequence which is thrilling and
exciting for the viewer to
watch, as this one is. The effects
add to this and so are also
supportive of the thriller genre.

7. Conclusion
 I have seen that in the expendables 2 opening sequence, the set up
of the narrative; introduction of characters and how genres are
established are all in the typical and conventional way shared
across the thriller genre. This opening sequence links to Toderov’s
stages theory as there is an equilibrium, followed by a disequilibrium
and it will be continued throughout the film. I shall attempt to use
similar techniques as used in this opening sequence as it is a very
successful thriller film franchise and so the ideas will be useful to use
in my own production.