The document compares and contrasts the opening scenes of Casino Royale and LA Noire. It focuses on their genres, mise-en-scene, and cinematography. Casino Royale is an action/thriller that builds tension through its black and white cinematography and lighting that enhances the audience's view of Bond. LA Noire is an action/adventure game set in 1940s Los Angeles that introduces the player to the time period and culture through its use of color and costumes. Both use panning shots to set the location but Casino Royale employs more complex camera angles to develop character emotions during its more action-oriented opening.

1. Comparing Casino Royale
opening scene and LA Noire
title scene
By Lucy Grubb

2. I am going to focus on:
• genre
• cinematography
• mise en scene

3. Genre
Casino Royale
• action/adventure/thriller
• The opening scene builds tension to excite the reader,
which is typical of a thriller movie.
LA Noire
• action/adventure game
• Set in 1940s Los Angeles, the title scene of LA Noire
gives the player an understanding of the game, its
characters, scenery and culture. The title scene
doesn't depict the genre as it is only introducing the
game, but we can sense that there is something
hidden and secretive that we must uncover.

4. Mise en Scene
Casino Royale
• The opening scene is shot in high contrast black and white, perhaps
referring to the flashback of Bond gaining his "oo" status or
presenting Bond in a more basic way to previous Bond film opening
scenes.
• Lighting is hugely important in the opening scene of Casino Royale
as it enhances the audience's perspective of the film. There are
many scenes where bond's face is lit up with darkness surrounding
him, so the audience can focus on what he is saying. The lighting
also shows two sides to Bond; one being the darker more sinister
side.
• Bond is wearing a smart suit which shows the audience that is a
figure of authority and power and makes his character seem more
realistic.
La Noire
• Use of colour unlike Casino Royale which is in black and white. The
scenery and costumes used in the opening title depict the time in
history in which the game is set.

5. Cinematography
Casino Royale
• Camera angles are varied - use of long shots, close ups, bird's
eye view and over the shoulder angles. The use of these
different angles makes the opening scene more entertaining
for the viewer and can help portray the characters, their
emotions and locations.
LA Noire
• There is frequent use of panning to show the games location,
similarly Casino Royale uses panning and long shots in
establishing locations. Unlike LA Noire which mainly focuses
on scenery and culture, Casino Royale uses more close up
shots to show the development of characters emotions and
reactions.
• The camera angles in Casino Royale are more complicated
and developed due to the scenes having more action and
movement where as LA Noire has more of a relaxed movement
with basic camera angles.