The opening of The Dark Knight Rises establishes the key conventions of a film opening by introducing the main characters, setting the scene, and creating intrigue for the audience. It establishes the genre through the use of music and production company logos. Jump cuts between images, action, and title cards keep the audience engaged and wanting to learn more. The film stars major actors like Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, and Morgan Freeman, and its worldwide success makes it a pivotal part of the highly successful Batman trilogy directed by Christopher Nolan.
2. FILM OPENING: CONVENTIONS
• Establish character
• Establish setting
• Create enigma
• Establish to the audience who is involved
• Establish why we should be interested
• Contain continuity editing and cross cutting
• Images/action intercut with titles
• Name of production companies at beginning
• Use of music suited to genre
• Clear generic conventions
From the opening of ‘The Dark Knight Rise’ we are able to tick off all of the conventions. The
opening most importantly creates enigma and makes the audience want to continue watching.
This is done through the jump cuts of images and action, with the titles running throughout.
3. INFORMATION
The Dark Knight Rises is portrayed worldwide as a successful film, and part
of an extremely successful trilogy. It is directed by Christopher Nolan and
stars huge actors such as Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, and Morgan
Freeman, which are highly regarded in the Film Industry.
The opening of this film informs the audience of what genre it is, who is in
the film, and even reveals clues of what to expect.
5. CREDITS
After the distribution
and production titles,
we are shown the
directors name
The iconic batman logo is shown straight before the title appears
A few of the main characters names appear on screen, followed by a
visual image after each one
The final credit is the
directors name, this is
unusual to be shown again
6. IMAGES AND VISUALS
One of the first visuals we are presented with is a
photograph of Christian Bale. The photo has been
ripped slightly and has tears in it, suggesting
something bad might happen to him in the film
This picture of Anne Hathaway
is also quite revealing. She
seems to be hiding behind her
hat, perhaps to illustrate that
she may be hiding from
something in the film.
Another picture of Christian Bale,
which is being circled, suggests
that he is going to be targeted
This image of the batman
logo smashed, could lead
the audience to infer that
batman becomes
defeated.
The broken glass and
hand with a glove on
could also connate
danger
The final image
we see if
batman’s mask
lying isolated
on the floor, this
could support
our
interpretation
that batman
may be
defeated.
