skyfall opening analysis

1. SkyFall - Openingsequence
Mise-en-scene
At the beginningof Skyfall anoutline of afigure isseenatthe endof a corridor.The figure slowly
movestowardsthe camerauntil we see hisface,itsBond.A large part of the screenisindarkness
withthe onlybitof lightbeingshone of the central partof Bonds face to symbolise thatthisisthe
man to save the day andthe hero/mainrole of the film.He thenproceedsbackintothe darknessto
showthat the dangerhas not passed.AsBondentersa roomtwo figuresare seendeadonthe floor
withbloodtoconfirmthe death.One of hisfriends/colleaguesisalivebutnearcertaindeath.
Everythinghadremaineddarktomaintainthe feelingof dangerandgloom.A car chase followsthis
scene,a traditional partof the BondFranchise anda fightscene ontop of a train issubsequently
carriedout to furthergive the audience asense of anticipationforwhatthe restof the filmcan
offer.
How are the characters introduced?
The character of Bondis seenfirstatthe endof the corridor withthe trademarktheme tune
wheneverBondison screen.AsBondprogressesthroughthe doorshe seeshisagentRonson,
althoughhe has nosignificantparttoplay,onlyto add fuel toBondsinnerfire.We can audiblyhear
the voice of the character of ‘M’ throughBonds earpiece whoisguidinghimthroughwhatevershe
wantshimto do. Thisgivesthe audience animmediate impressionthat‘M’has a huge leadership
role withinMI6 andpossiblyasignificantparttoplaythroughoutthe remainderof the film.Naomi
Harris nowentersthe frayas an unknowncharacterat thispointandthispossiblyleadstoquestions
aboutwhethershe isa new‘BondGirl’.
Title sequence
Duringthe title sequence the song‘Skyfall’isbeingsungbyAdele.Thishasa part to playthroughout
the filmas thiswaswhere Bondgrewup and the storyline seesJamesgobackthere.Atthe
beginningof the title sequence Bondisseenfallingintoadeepravine.Thissuggeststhatinorderto
findoutabout the past he isgoingto actuallyhave to go back intime to getsome information.With
the traditional use of dancinggirlsduringthe title sequence thisshowsthe audiencethatthe ‘ Bond
Girls’will have apart to playas the filmprogresses.Similarly,variouslocationsthatwillappearinthe
filmare shownto addto the anticipationastowhere Bondmay endup.These include the church
where Bondshouse isandthe newbase for MI6.