Analysis of four films.

1. Analysis of Film Openings

2. Oceans Eleven
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcVOfUtzq7c
Oceans Eleven starts with a fade in to a poorly lit room where sat in the
middle is an empty chair. Added to this are footsteps shortly followed by a
middle aged man who sits in the chair. Everything that has happened so far is
very slow paced and quiet leaving the audience waiting for something to
happen. This means that when we first hear the women’s voice it draws our
attention. The medium shot allows us to focus on the man in the center while
still being able to get an idea of the setting he is in.

3. 21 Jump Street
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN_aEGCLn4Q
21 jump street starts with “THE YEAR 2005” this is to inform the audience that the
film starts in the past tense.
The film then flashes to the movie conglomerates and production companies then
back to a camera following the main character, then the title 21 Jump Street
flashes with lights in the style of a police siren, this is to symbolize what the film is
about (police).
Playing through the opening scene is an Eminem song which fits well with the
target audience. This then cuts quickly drawing attention to the screen.
Then the sequence cuts back to following the main character as he walks through
his high school and asks a girl to go to the prom with him, then quite
embarrassing things follow.
This gives the audience a feel of things to come up in the film and shows them
what kind of film 21 Jump street is like. From the start of the film you get an idea
of the genre. We can tell from the dialogue and actions that the film is going to be
a comedy.

4. Lord of War
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4jMzKxYB74#t=14
Lord of War starts with a camera on crane showing a small section of a
factory. The camera being placed on the crane gives a smooth rolling shot.
This works well for the factory scene because it shows the smooth pace at
which the factory is working.
From the start an upbeat song plays at a steady speed timed well to the pace
of the factory machines. The fact that the rhythm of the machine keeps in
time with the rhythm of the song gives the factory a harmonious feeling that
they are trying to portray. The unexpected song choice gives making bullets
the feel of being something quite ordinary all the way through. This then
changes at the end when the bullet hits the boy and the music cuts. The
dramatic end to the music ends to the shock of what we have seen.

5. Through out the opening the titles play in
simple bold white font with names fading in
and out slowly. This keeps to the peaceful feel
of the film so far.
The editing is done so there are no jumps or
anything too sudden meaning that at the end
of the scene the shock would be much more
intense because it was so unexpected.
The opening follows the life of a bullet which gives you a good idea of what
the film is going to be about. From this we can tell that the film is going to have
something to do with bullets and guns. This encourages the audience to imagine what
could happen next at the same time creating suspense.
From this opening we also get an idea of the genre of the film. The industrial mise-en-
scene allows us to guess the film is going to be something to do with crime or maybe a
thriller.

6. Step Brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sczh_KjjFNU
Step brothers start with a quote appearing on a black screen followed by the
production company Columbia Pictures. The titles fade in and out for a short time
then it cuts abruptly to the first scene. While the title sequence plays diegetic
sound come from the scene it is about to cut to. We hear rustling which makes us
wonder where the noise is coming from.
In the opening scene we get a really good idea of the story line in a very short
amount of time. We see a mother going to work leaving her lazy middle aged son
at home on the sofa and then we are also introduced to a father with his lazy
middle aged son. The mother and father meet and instantly have a connection.
This works well because it makes the audience want to carry on watching to find
out more about the two families.
There are a range of different shots used
throughout the opening sequence. Long shot is
used to show the setting as well as the characters.
It works well because it gives us an over view of
the whole bedroom and shows us how child like it
is.