Research: Opening sequences (part two)

 How is the sequence engaging and how does it conform to traditional Thriller codes and conventions?

BOURNE IDENTITY 

In Borne Identity the opening sequence serves as an introduction to the movie. Not only is it intriguing, but it also gives the audience key information that gives an insight into Jason Bourne's character, and the key themes of the movie.

The first image shown in the sequence is of a man (Bourne) floating on the surface of the ocean. 

  

This image unleashes a range of questions in the minds of the audience. They will predominantly be asking who the figure is, if he is alive,  and why is he in the middle of the ocean in a storm. This image also introduces the colour blue, and a sense of dark ambience which is reflected throughout the rest of the opening. The following shot is an establishing shot of a ship out on the ocean and together these to images set up the opening sequence.

These shots are done with a hand held camera which creates a sense of uncertainty. This feeling is also reflected on the face of man in the shot on the left. The light out on the water is Bourne and it creates a sense of curiosity as to what it is and what is going to happen.

At this point. They have lifted the body into the water and discovered it to be alive. There is more intense music, shouting, lots of movement within the shots, and fast cuts between shots which creates a sense of urgency.

By this point, the noise drops down and the audience is shown this extreme close up of one of the men aboard cutting into Bourne's clothing. The shot is very confronting with the sharp blade which is a key thriller convention. The following shots contain a lot of blood imagery as bullets are removed as well as a tracker. These items paint a picture of where Bourne has come from (possibly a spy/agent background) and the reason why he was unconscious.

This is the first time the audience sees the tracker. The tracker is a key symbol of his identity. It appears in the movie again several times as he tries to figure out who he is. The red hue is also introduced here and becomes a symbol of his new life and identity.

In the final part of this opening Bourne wakes up and tries to attack the man who has been extracting the bullets and the tracker. He is in a bit of a state as he is asking him questions and coming to terms with his environment. When he finally calms down he is asked who he is and he says that he doesn't know. This question ultimately sets up the whole movie where he sets out to answer this.

UNHINGED

In the establishing shot it is night, it is raining and there is a car parked in front of a house. This gives context and sets the tone for the scene.

Next we see the subject open a cylinder with medicine in it, so the audience automatically knows that there is something off about him. It also is a sign of weakness which one may assume is a mental issue.

This shot of him taking off a wedding ring and tossing it away suggests that he has a problem with relationships and could even suggest who lives in the house that he is parked in front of.

The imagery in this shot is very deliberate. He lights a match and watches it until it burns out. This foreshadows what he is about to do to the house, and shows that he is very unstable.

As soon as he pulls a hammer and a bottle of gasoline out of his car, the audience immediately can be sure that he is about to do something very extreme.The camera captures him walking, swinging the hammer back and forth, from the waist down. This adds a sense of drama and focuses attention onto the items he is holding. These weapons are an example of very common thriller conventions which add fear and suspense to a scene.

 

He starts to break down the door to the house, and one of the lights in the house turns on. This shows that there is a person or people inside. This adds another layer of fear and suspense because there is a vulnerable character(s) involved.

After setting the house alight he looks back at it from his car with tears in his eyes. The close up shot allows the audience to examine him and get an insight into where he is mentally. He has clearly been hurt by the people who live in the house and associates bad memories with the place.

The final shot is of him driving away from the exploding house. This gives a sense of the beginning of a very extreme turn of events. The shot is very fitting in relation to the title of the movie which is 'Unhinged'. He as a character is definitely unhinged, and so is the potential for extreme events in the story. The fire is another convention of a thriller which is a continuing theme in this movie.

CASINO ROYALE 

 

Right from the beginning, the audience can see that this movie is most likely an action thriller. There is dramatic past paced music, a gunshot, and blood dripping down from the top of the screen within the first 10 seconds. This is a James Bond opening sequence which have a distinct style that separates them from other movie openings. They normally include art that stylistically reflects the key themes and setting of the movie, which in this case is gambling in Montenegro. 

Guns are a staple symbol in James Bond sequence. The overall theme of spies and secret agents is shown in a creative way including images from playing cards and Southeastern European inspired animation.

Guns are a staple in James bond opening sequences. These images give a fresh touch to the familiar symbolism by animating them in a southeastern European art style which is appropriate to the setting of the movie. The bright colours and interesting shapes make the images memorable and effective in engaging the audience.

The images above present James Bond in powerful and dominant light. They all present the idea that no enemy can defeat Bond and that he wins every fight. It also helps to show that the genre is action-thriller and is an accurate foreshadowing of the fighting that will take place throughout the movie.

This image very cleverly shows the image of a queen from a playing card and a female character, using a target which is another action thriller convention. This image suggests that woman shown is a possible love interest or plays the role of a damsel in distress who Bond is going to save.

Finally after showing all those images which present James bond as dominant, strong, unbeatable and the hero. He himself appears to show add a realistic touch to the animation. This final extreme close up affirms the messages shown throughout the sequence and tells the audience simply that this is the main character who is going to save the day.