Rush Hour analysis

1. Title sequence analysis
Rush Hour (1998)
i. Order of titling
ii. Use of colour
iii. Font style
iv. Duration on screen + speed
v. Background colours / image
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i. Setting the tone of the fIlm
ii. Matching the genre conventions
iii. Narrative

2. Distribution company logo
This is the first thing to appear in the title
sequence. Displaying the distribution company
logo is a typical convention of title sequences as it
portrays that it is the most important company
involved in the film.

3. Director credit
This is given twice to display the
significance of the director. This
credit is also the only name besides
the main actors’ credits that
appear in the centre of the scene,
connotating the recurring
convention of having the most
important names in the centre.
Font style
The sans-serif font is very simple and has the names
of companies and people in bold, capital letters
while the supplementing words of the credit – e.g.
“Directed by” – are significantly smaller and thinner
as they allow a contrast to be built between the
role of the person/company and the actual name.
This credit is the first credit that does not attempt to give more
attention to the scene. Rather than this, it gives equal importance
to the director and the scene. The scene where this credit
appears and is giving importance happens to be the scene in
which one of the main actors, Jackie Chan, makes their first
appearance in the film.

4. Main actor names
These are the first casting credits that
appear in the title sequence. This is a
typical convention of action-comedy
films as these actors are the ones
delivering the majority of the action
and the jokes.
These are the only casting credits that appear in the
centre of the shot, representing the importance of the
A-list actors who are given privilege over any other
actors. Due to this special privilege, they are granted
greater prominence on the screen.
These credits are also the first to appear over scenes
of the film. This correlates with how these people are
part of the actual film.

5. Film name
This is the only title credit to appear in a different colour to the rest of the credits, giving more
significance to the film name more than any other credit.
The animation of this credit is entirely different compared to the rest of the credits as well. It
explodes onto the screen, decreasing in size and centres itself in the space of a second. The
sudden and quick appearance of the credit shocks the audience and thus gives connotations
of a typical action film due to the fast-pace and explosive nature of the credit.

6. Supporting actor names
Now that the main actors’ names are out the way, the supporting actors’
names appear smaller and either to the left or right – unlike the main actor
names that appeared enlarged and right in the centre.
The supporting actors are given less space on the screen as they are less
important than the main actors. The purpose of this is to enable the film to
go into its opening scene now that the main opening credits – the
distributor, production company, director and main actors – are out of the
way.
The rule of thirds is utilised to convey the side of the scene that the audience
should be focusing on, during which the supporting actor credit appears in
either the first third or final third. For example, the actor’s name is on the
right of the screen while the boat is to the left, which is what we should be
focusing on instead of the credit. This signifies how the supporting actors’
credits are given less importance and allows the scene to develop.