Film Openings relating to the Briefs

Action

X-Men: First Class

The link for the opening scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI7SEIKaKwE

Mise en scene- The mise en scen in this clip sets the time period. Their costumes, rain, sludge, and the narrow road all connote to negative representations. This suits the historical nature in Poland 1944. The lighting is very siignificant also, by adding to the tense, stressful atmosphere. The grey/dark blue filter portrays the clip in connoting death. Again linking in with the history.

Sound- The sound reinforces these connotations, as the diegetic sound: rain, screaming, and the gate slamming, adds to the dramatic torturous start, again relating to the history. Moreover, the non diegetic soundtrack, consisting of a low pitch drone overlapped by high pitch sting instruments adds to the ominous/tense atmosphere. The brass instruments were also added, to resemble the actions taking place in the scene (synchronous sound).

Titles- There is only one title in this opening 'Poland 1944'. This is used to help the audience understand the content. It is small and in the centre of the frame, and fades out.

Creativity- I would say that the lighting is used in great effect of setting the atmosphere. Also, the gate creaking open, adds to the subtlety of the super powers entering the film.

Audience- The audience is aimed at 12+ years olds. This opening is more suitable for a higher aging audience, as it subverts the action/comic book genre by adding distressing images.

Camerawork- They're many camera shots used, maily high/low angle shots to portray the child in being inferior, and the officers in have more authority. Moreover, establishing shots, and long shots were used to show the scene, maily aiming down on the people. Again showing them being inferior. The tracking shots were also used to symbloise their movement, in travelling to the concentration camp.

All of these codes and conventions used to create the clip portray a typical war film. The atmosphere and tension created reinforces this. However, the film is aimed for a younger audience (12-17). It uses normal looking characters in having super powers. The torturous atmosphere results in the opening, portraying the difficult circumstances the characters have been through, which enhances the evil/traumatising actions. This adds to the moral ambiguity at the end if the film, and subverts Tzvetan Tordorov's idea of starting a film with equilibrium. Which again adds to the build of suspense.