1. Saving private Ryan
The opening sequence of Saving private Ryan starts the movie off with silence with only the pleonastic
sound of the waves breaking against the boat as the boat prepares to land on the beach. The silence already
builds up tension and prepares us for a very dramatic first scene as everyone is in silence as they are heading
into a bloody war battle, where most off them will be slaughtered. This very dramatic opening makes it very
clear of the War genre and the silence is almost sinister. The sound of the violent spraying of bullets killing
so many in such a short period of time is so powerful as this is the only sound we can here, yet its setting the
scene of how dark the battle would have been.
From the opening of the movie we can expect a very dark and powerful movie, we are unsure on how much
dialogue their will be throughout the movie as the first scene is shows a very gruesome start to the movie
and the little dialogue is represented by the circumstance. However we do expect little dialogue from just
the opening as we are unsure what happens later on in the movie.
The targeted audience is very clear from the title and from the opening sequence. From just the title we
know that it must be based around war as “private” is the first rank in the army. From the opening sequence
it soon becomes very clear as it starts in the very front line of war, showing how scary and gruesome the
beginning of the battle was and the short journey heading to the front line.
From the opening sequence we are focused on the characters on only one of the many boats, however we
can only assume the two main characters from the camera focus on them but we are still very unfamiliar
with them not knowing any of their names or their personalities. We can only see the fear from the look on
every single one of their faces and from many of them being sick from being extremely nervous.
In this opening sequence the main shot is close ups as this gives us a sense of how nervous the soldiers are
by the look on their faces and it makes us feel closer to the characters. It also builds up suspense from
moving from a close up of each soldier on the boat looking at one of the main features that they all have in
common the look of fear on their faces, which makes us prepared for the very dramatic scene which is soon
to come.
I think this is a very successful opening as it immediately makes it very clear of its genre, war. This satisfies
the targeted audience.
2. Conjuring
From the opening of this first scene of “The Conjuring” it immediately becomes clear that the
movie lives up to its genre of Horror as the first image is of a very sinister life size doll with the
camera using a extreme close up. From just the opening scene we are unsure what to expect
further into the movie but from just watching the clip we assume that the movie will be based
on the doll and about how she was haunting the two girls. As I have watched the movie this is
not the case, the opening sequence has got very little to do with the movie and doesn't’t come
up later in the movie but it sets the scene of the movie. We are introduced to five character's
but we only receive information from the two girls who are living in the apartment but we are
left unsure who the man is sitting next to the two girls. We assume that the focus of the movie
will be based around the story of the two girls being haunted by the doll called Annabel. We can
tell that the genera of horror is ghosts and demons based around supernatural events. This is
shown by the doll seeming to be possessed by a demon. This will be targeted towards teenagers
and middle aged people. The title conjuring also sounds very dark and makes in clear of the
genre from that.
In the begging of the opening scene an extreme close up is used of the doll which captures the
horror genre and also makes us focus on the doll throughout the scene as from the start just
from the camera shot we see it as evil. The close up from a side angle of the three victims
makes there feel as if there is an evil presence in the room and makes the three characters
seem vulnerable. I feel that this is a successful opening as it clearly captures the genera of
Horror and this immediately builds up fear and suspense from opening with the doll, however
this scene has very little to do with the later scenes and story in the movie which confuses us in
the beginning.
3. The Dark knight
The opening scene to the dark knight immediately builds up suspense and introduces us to several characters. We do not get to know any of
the characters at first as they are all wearing masks. The fact that they are all wearing makes but also wearing suits shows us that they are
trying to hide their identities. The first part of the opening scene of several of the characters zip lining still in their masks and suits with duffle
bags gives us a very clear idea that they are attempting to rob a bank. The very little dialogue between all of the masked robbers starts to add
suspense as we are unsure on what will happen. We are left unsure on what will follow from this opening scene as its dark and shows betrayal
from some of the bank robbers killing other bank robbers we might assume that the movie will follow the story of the bank robbery however
this is not the case. As this first scene contains very little dialogue we assume that the movie will follow with more dialogue and the little
dialogue is explained by the very suspenseful robbery. In the end of the opening sequence we are introduced to two characters who we assume
are going to be the focus of the movie. The first character we are introduced to is portrayed as the hero who is unmasked fighting against the
robbers trying to fight them off. The second is portrayed as the main antagonist as he killed all off the members of what was seen as his team,
we can expect that’s the joker will betray anyone throughout the movie. He has a very evil and psychopathic personality, we can tell this from
him placing the grenade in someone’s mouth. The movie is targeted for a specific audience which is not shown as clearly as it could be in the
first scene as its based around a superhero which isn't clear. The movie is aimed towards teenagers and above who have a interest in action
movies as this is very clear from the opening scene but also those interested in superhero movies.
The dolly shot to a close up of the clown mask represents the masked theme of robbery. All of the robbers remain masked until the very end
when the joker removes his mask showing his true identity. This is him showing his power that he wasn’t hiding from the police but he was
hiding his face from the other robbers.
Many over the shoulder shots are used of the bank robbers which is showing how vulnerable they are as they all end up dead except the joker,
but it also shows the power that they feel they have which is soon taken away from them.
4. ShawshankFrom the opening scene a voiceover is used as the narrator of who we assume is the main character, the effect of this is
that it feels as if he is telling a story and that this happened years ago. We expect that the movie will have the same
narrator throughout the whole movie but in an affect of telling a story looking back on the past. At first we are introduced
to the narrator from the camera focus on his particular character. We are then introduced to a new inmate entering the
prison who we are being told about by the narrator who has been in the prison from many years.
From the opening scene its very obvious the setting of in a prison and we expect that the majority of the movie will be
spent in the prison however it is very hard to tell what the specific genera is from the title of the movie and the opening
scene. There are hundreds of people featured in the movie but from just the opening scene we are only introduced to the
two characters who we assume will be the main focus of the movie.
Pleonastic sound is used heavily throughout the opening scene to signify the prison environment of the prisoners talking
and laughing, however the main dialogue is from the narrator starting to tell the story which builds up the story and makes
us very focused on the beginning of the story from the very beginning. The use of the voice over makes the main character
seem as if he has been in prison for a very long time and also makes him sound very wise.
The opening builds a clear picture of the movie and also the narrator brings you into the story, however its very unclear of
the genre from the opening scene. Long shots are used throughout the scene to show the number of inmates in the prison
to build up the story, close ups show who we assume is the main character and the narrator. Tracking is also used
throughout the opening scene following the main character around the prison yard.
5. War Of The Planet Of The Apes
In the first part of the opening scene, there is silence but also a non diegetic song in the background which is gets faster and darker as the
soldiers go further into the Forrest. The silences makes tension and the music builds up the suspense of the scene suggesting a dramatic event
is soon going to occur. The music stops when the soldiers see a visual of monkeys which from the way the soldiers are hiding and staying low
suggests that they are the enemy. When one of the soldiers is loading a gun pleonastic sound is used which is showing us that the shot of this
gun will start the fight that we assume will happen. After the gunshot the noises of gunshots and screaming of apes is the only thing which can
be heard and shows the drama which was being built up, more music is then played as non diegetic sound which is darker that before but much
slower which makes the scene seem very dark.
From the title we can assume that it will be a Sci-fi movie , the opening scene soon makes this very clear as the soldiers are fighting apes which
are riding horses and have guns and can speak and the soldiers have “monkey Killers” on their helmets which suggests that its an on going
battle with them. The movie is targeted to a younger generation from teenagers to middle aged as we can tell from the beginning it has lots of
action in as well as a very unbelievable plot. The music also in the begging makes it clear that its sci-fi as its very dark and mystical with an
unusual beat which suggests the genre.
We are introduced to many soldiers, however we don’t know anything about them. We can assume the main character of the movie could be
the last remaining soldier but this is still unclear as we aren't sure where the movie will go from this scene. We are also introduced later on in
the scene to lots of apes but the main focus is on an ape called “caeser” who seems to be a main character and the leader of the apes.
The first shot of over the shoulder but also a close up of a soldiers helmet showing the “monkey killer” which is important as this gives us a
backstory suggesting past wars with the apes. Tracking is also used as the camera follows the soldiers which makes us feel more personal with
the scene and builds up tension for us. The extreme close up of the soldier getting ready to fire the first shot captures the fear on the soldiers
face of his eyes and mouth. The Birdseye view shot, shows us the extent of the battle giving us a better understanding of the setting and how
many are fighting and also shows us how many deaths are occurring and the destruction which is happening. The close up of the last soldier left
alive captures the fear on his face from his teeth churning together and the fear in his eyes. When the leader of the apes walks through the
other apes to see this last soldier tracking and a close up is used as the camera follows him through to the soldier.
I think this is a very successful beginning as it leaves us clueless to what will later happen in the movie which adds suspense. It clearly shows its
genera from the title and the opening from the music and the nature of the scene, fighting with apes on horses. The different choices of
camera shot increases the speed of some of the scenes and captures the emotions of many characters very well.
6. War Of The Planet Of The Apes
In the first part of the opening scene, there is silence but also a non diegetic song in the background which is gets faster and darker as the
soldiers go further into the Forrest. The silences makes tension and the music builds up the suspense of the scene suggesting a dramatic event
is soon going to occur. The music stops when the soldiers see a visual of monkeys which from the way the soldiers are hiding and staying low
suggests that they are the enemy. When one of the soldiers is loading a gun pleonastic sound is used which is showing us that the shot of this
gun will start the fight that we assume will happen. After the gunshot the noises of gunshots and screaming of apes is the only thing which can
be heard and shows the drama which was being built up, more music is then played as non diegetic sound which is darker that before but much
slower which makes the scene seem very dark.
From the title we can assume that it will be a Sci-fi movie , the opening scene soon makes this very clear as the soldiers are fighting apes which
are riding horses and have guns and can speak and the soldiers have “monkey Killers” on their helmets which suggests that its an on going
battle with them. The movie is targeted to a younger generation from teenagers to middle aged as we can tell from the beginning it has lots of
action in as well as a very unbelievable plot. The music also in the begging makes it clear that its sci-fi as its very dark and mystical with an
unusual beat which suggests the genre.
We are introduced to many soldiers, however we don’t know anything about them. We can assume the main character of the movie could be
the last remaining soldier but this is still unclear as we aren't sure where the movie will go from this scene. We are also introduced later on in
the scene to lots of apes but the main focus is on an ape called “caeser” who seems to be a main character and the leader of the apes.
The first shot of over the shoulder but also a close up of a soldiers helmet showing the “monkey killer” which is important as this gives us a
backstory suggesting past wars with the apes. Tracking is also used as the camera follows the soldiers which makes us feel more personal with
the scene and builds up tension for us. The extreme close up of the soldier getting ready to fire the first shot captures the fear on the soldiers
face of his eyes and mouth. The Birdseye view shot, shows us the extent of the battle giving us a better understanding of the setting and how
many are fighting and also shows us how many deaths are occurring and the destruction which is happening. The close up of the last soldier left
alive captures the fear on his face from his teeth churning together and the fear in his eyes. When the leader of the apes walks through the
other apes to see this last soldier tracking and a close up is used as the camera follows him through to the soldier.
I think this is a very successful beginning as it leaves us clueless to what will later happen in the movie which adds suspense. It clearly shows its
genera from the title and the opening from the music and the nature of the scene, fighting with apes on horses. The different choices of
camera shot increases the speed of some of the scenes and captures the emotions of many characters very well.