Taken

1. Taken – Film Opening Analysis
The openingtitlestoTakenconsistof white textona blackbackground.The use of the black
backgroundcouldconnote variousthings;itcouldrepresentdanger,deathandthe unknownand
thisrelatestothe name of the film “Taken”.The white textcould be usedtoconnote innocence and
purity.The white standsouton the blackbut there ismore blackthan white whichcouldsuggest
that there ismore danger,deathand thenunknownthaninnocence andpurity.Thiswouldbe
expectedof anactionfilm.
Afterthis,the screenopenstoa lowqualityvideowhichisobviouslythe audience watchinga
homemade videoof whatthe audiencecanonlypresume tobe the life of the maincharacter(s).The
home videoisof a youngperson’sbirthdaypartywhichshowsthatwhoeveriswatchingthe videoin
the filmisreminiscingabouthischildrenbeingyoungorhisownchildhood.Thismakesusfeel at
ease withwhoeverthe characterisas he/she isshowntohave feelings,and notjustbe a cold
heartedkiller.The use of diegeticsoundwhichconsists of amotherand daughterjoyfullylaughing
showsthat the people inthe home videoare happy.The charactersfacial expressionsalsoshow how
happythe familyisas theyare smilingandgenerallylookingpleased.The scenesjumptodifferent
things,whichagainhintsat the fact it’sa home video.The videojumpstoascene withsomeone
holdingabirthdaycake witha numberfive candle onit,thiscandle letsthe audience know that the
younggirl is vulnerable andthatherparents,especiallyherfather,feel the needtolookafterher.
Thiscare is a foreshadowingof howthe fatherseesherevenasa youngadultlateron inthe film.
Thisis furtherbackedupwhenthe home videoshowsthe mothersittingveryclose toherdaughter
as she blowsthe candlesout,justas a safetyprecaution.

2. The filmthencuts to a male character (LiamNeesonwhoplaysBryanMills) wakingupfromwhatthe
audience presumestobe a dream.The jumpinessthathe wakesupin suggeststhathe washavinga
bad dreamwhichjuxtaposesthe happy, joyful atmosphere thatthe home videohad.
A close upof Bryan’sfacial expressionsshow thathe ispossiblyconfused,tiredandupsetalmost
withthe dreamthat he just had.The camerathenslowlyzoomsoutto reveal thatBryanis alone.
The use of lowlightinglevelscouldrelate tohow Bryanisfeelingafterwakingupfromhisdream.
Once a nearlightisturnedon by Bryan, a close upof hisface is shownagain.Half of hisface is
literallyshadowedwhichcouldbe suggestingthatthe characterhimself isshadyorhas had a shady
past. Most actionfilmsdoinvolve some formof shadycharacter,thisusuallybeingthe factthatthat
the shadycharacter has killedpeople.
Bryan isthenshownto be slouchinginhisbed;he issurroundedbysome Chinese takeoutboxes.
These propscouldsuggestthatBryan is single,unhappyandalone.The factthat Bryanis inthe living
room couldsuggestthathe wants to be close to hisfamilyasthe livingroomisthe typical place for
familiestogather.The non-diegeticsoundrelatestoBryan’semotionsashe wakesuphow he did,
whichcouldbe a regularthing.The characteris shownto be holdingapicture frame whichthe
audience canpresume he fell asleepwith,maybe becausehe waslookingatitwhichcouldbe the
originof hisreminiscentdream. AfterBryanhaslookedatthe photo,he putsit downandthe photo
isshownto be of his daughter,andthe same girl inthe home videos.The sighthatBryan releasesas
he puts the photodownshowsthat he misseshisdaughterandisfedup withbeingdepressedand
alone.
As Bryangets upthe cameraslowlyzoomstoshow anotherpicture of his daughterridinga horse.In
the home videothe daughterisshowntoget a horse for a present.Thisshowsthatthe daughter
likeshorses;italsoshowsthatherparentsare and were caringand as theyuppedatoy horse to an
actual horse.
The title of the film“Taken”is thenshownnexttoa picture of the daughterwhichforeshadowsthat
the daughtercouldpossiblygettakenatsome pointduringthe film.The textisinwhite which
connotesthe innocence andpurityof Bryan’sdaughter.