1. Media Studies 2013
1 Joe Weston
Olympus Has Fallen
Opening Scene
The scene opens with a somewhat melancholic orchestral backing track which develops into
a more patriotic piece,that could have connotations with the USA and its National Anthem,
as the image of a wintry forest appears, setting a secluded and isolated scene. The scene cuts
to a wide shot of the Presidential Retreat within this forest to detail whereabouts the
following scene will take place. Rather unexpectedly the scene then cuts to two men in a
boxing ring, however the top-down camera view allows the audience to see the men’s feet
and how they are only circling each other, showing no hostility towards one another.
Although the music is intensified here compared to the rest of the scene and the sounds of
the punches being landed are enhanced and combined with swift camera changes and
movements to increase the pace, close ups of the men’s faces, who are still unknown at this
point, confirm that these men are close as they seem to smirk and make friendly taunts
rather than have the serious body language of a professional boxer. When it is revealed that
one of the men is the President, the boxing ring scene could be associated with the strength
that this man holds, both physically and by his position. The tone of the Presidents voice
when he replies to the messenger is much more sincere than when he speaks to the man in
the ring with him, and this theme of a relaxed atmosphere with undertones of intention can
be seen throughout the opening scene. For example, the music calms and we can only hear
the President talking to the man on the other end of his headset, inferring seriousness and
urgency; however, the dialogue with his wife is much more informal. This fluctuation in
apparent importance induces the audiences’ curiosity, as once again the scene flips to a
welcoming environment: the use of the fire in the background and Christmas tree coupled
with the return of the soft music creates a relaxed atmosphere of a typical family home,
despite the breaking of the silence at one point by the gunshots of the child’s computer
game- this could even enhance the relaxed atmosphere as the characters do not react at all to
the sound of the gunshots whereas in a serious context, especially in the presence of the
President, the reaction would be entirely different. Informal language within the dialogue
such as “pal” and “buddy” contrasts the use of “sir” by the other males in the scene, and this
helps to show the divide within the character of the President from the start of the film; he is
both a family man and a very professional man. Both of these aspects correlate with the
theme of responsibility that is apparent in the opening four minutes, and this continues
throughout the film. Likewise, themes of family are present, and coupling this with the
earlier boxing ring scene a theme of protection could also be inferred. Towards the end of
the scene we see all of these themes as once again the tone of the scene flips as the language
becomes much more sincere as the President addresses the men in suits around the room in
hushed tones, saying short sentences such as “Watch the fort.” to once again show urgency,
but he also seems quite secretive and ambiguous when he says this, as if he is aware to
something the audience is not- this builds tension as to what will happen in the later scenes.
The scene concludes on a drumroll in the background along with a crescendo in the noise of
aircraft as the President speaks formally once again to his earpiece saying, “Let’s go”, to
show the start of the action in the film itself and to clearly close the opening scene.