Martin Scorsese establishes key themes and introduces main characters in the openings of his films Casino, Goodfellas, and Raging Bull. Specifically, the openings introduce the protagonist in the first shot through a long shot in Casino, three characters in a car in Goodfellas, and Robert De Niro boxing in slow motion in Raging Bull. Scorsese also uses elements like low-key lighting, diegetic sounds, and titles spaced between objects to set moods of danger, cynicism and establish settings and characters at the start of each film.

1. MARTIN
SCORSESE

2. CASINO
At the start of the opening we see character
Walking through a set of doors. As this is the
First character we see it instantly suggest
That he is the protagonist. This shot is a long
Shot. Martin Scorsese has done this purposely
So we can see the setting as we get the
Impression that the protagonist is living a upper
Class life. The narrative includes Enigma codes,
Where is he coming from ?

3. GoodFellas
At the start we are introduced to the main
Three characters. Martin Scorsese uses low
Key lighting this could be to create a
Pessimistic atmosphere. The narrative in the
Opening of Goodfellas uses a lot enigmatic
Scenes, for example we are asking , where is
That noise coming from the car? Where are
The protagonist driving to ? We hear a
Sound bridge over the title sequence of
Traffic . We later see the main characters
Sitting in a car on the road. We know where
The location of the film as they state New
York.

4. Raging bull
Similar to the two previous openings of
Martin Scorsese films, they all introduce
The protagonist in the first shot. This is so
We can establish straight away who is the
Main character. Martin Scorsese has used
Shallow focus and using a bright light to
make the figure look like a silhouette. The
Title sequence during the opening Is spaced
out between the ropes. The colouring of the
Title is red this connotes the theme of danger
And blood, as a boxer blood is a key theme .
A orchestral sound runs through out the
Opening, this is contrapuntal sound as it does
Not match. It also uses a sound bridge towards
When we see a fade to black and text stating
The location Is New York we immediately hear
Traffic and what we interpret a busy city to sound
Like.

5. Martin Scorsese Trademarks
Martin Scorsese uses a lot of noticeable
Trademarks. One of them is in the images
To the right. On the front cover of the DVD
Cases we see more then one main
Character. Martin Scorsese uses the a dark
Background this creates a cynical attitude
That surrounds them. Also during the
Opening of the three films that I have choose
Have got a similar themes that run
Throughout the opening. One of these themes that run
Throughout is the introduction of the characters. In the first shot
We see of the main character or characters. In raging bull we see
Robert deniro boxing in slow motion. In Goodfellas we see the
Three protagonist in the car. In Casino we see the main
Character coming through the door. In the opening they all use
Diegetic sounds. The lighting in the raging bull and Goodfellas
Uses a dark pessimistic low key lighting.