Sum Up of Opening Sequences

From my research on film opening sequences. Most of the film opening sequences that I have analysed fall into more than one genre category. It seems that I have been most attracted to the films which are in the drama/thriller categories. I also have done a few films which are in the comedy and adventure genres. However I think I may create an opening sequence which is partly in the thriller genre but mostly in the the horror and drama genres, because I have some good ideas to do with horror! 
Action- 2
Adventure- 3  
Thriller- 5 
Horror- 1 
Romance- 2 
Comedy- 3 
Drama- 7 
Fantasy- 1 
Crime- 1 
Sci-Fi- 1

Mission Impossible- Opening Sequence

This film is an action/adventure/thriller type of film.

This shot immediately introduces the main character. Just from this small segment of his face we know who it is and we also get the impression that they is something there thats frustrated or interested by the look in his eyes. The glasses make him seem like he's in a smart business. I like the lighting in this shot because it is made so that it looks like he is working at a desk with a desk lamp on.

This shot in the opening sequence is showing in an intelligent way, that times ticking out for him to complete his mission. I really like the neon kind of lighting in this part.

This shot seems like he's just found or seen something. The low angle shot makes it seem like he's looking down on someone or something. He looks quite frustrated still, because of the frown on his forehead.

Here he is removing his glasses, this shows to the audience that he has done his research and he is going out on a mission. I like the lighting in this shot because you can see the shadows of his hands on his face and I think this looks really effective.

This shot shows us that he obviously works as a spy or something along those lines, from all the details given in this shot. I really like how you can still see the sparkler burning out, faded into the clip to remind the audience that he is running out of time.

In this shot we can see who his victim is and what he most probably was looking at on the computer at the beginning of the opening sequence.

Six Feet Under- Opening Sequence

This film falls into the drama genre.

I like this shot because it shows that he is washing the dirt from something off his hands, this intrigues the audience and makes them want to watch on to find out what he is washing off his hands. I like how it is only focused on the hands and that there is no background features just plain blackness.

I like this shot because it seems they have made the body into an object that you can buy or send off, it could possibly be that they are sending it 'six feet under' the ground. 

This shot shows that the body is going to heaven or just out of life into nothing. I like the lighting in this because it shines through every gap in his toes and I think it looks really effective. I also like the camera angle because it has been positioned so that it seems like its the dead person looking down of himself.

I really like this shot because it shows that there actually is a body and secures the audiences possible thoughts.  I like the low angle shot that this clip has used because it seems like it could be the body looking up at the van. I also think that the light shining through the window looks really good.

I like how the credits have been made to look like they are engraved on the gravestone, I think that I would like to re-create this type of shot in my own opening sequence. I like how the colours have gone from quite bright to duller and darker as the body goes underground.

I really like how this clip draws the line down and around to show the position of the coffin, I think that it's quite clever and quite an effective shot. This shot also shows that the body has been buried away from anyone or anything and then the film title appears in the coffin square.

The Fall- Opening Sequence

This opening sequence is set in black and white to emphasize the fact that it's set in the old times. It includes really powerful and moving music, different shots and a range of different effects such as slow-motion to support and emphasize the powerfulness. This film falls in to the adventure/drama/fantasy genre.

I think this shot is really effective and powerful because it seems like he's gasping for breath, the slow-motion used in this shot makes it stronger and more powerful.

I like this high angle shot because it shows 'the fall' from a persons point of view standing on the bridges point of view. I like how the ore still remains in the capsized boat but upright, so it makes this shot quite unique and unusual.

This shot is quite striking in the fact that even the dog is barking because it is worried and trying to get attention and help. This shot is quite moving because the dog's owner only has one leg, this makes the audience feel a little less worried and a bit more emotional.

The expression on these guys faces make this seem so much more dramatic than it would have been if they had no expression and gasping for help. I like the camera angle of this shot because it shows that people are looking down on them.

I really like this shot because you can see entirely the whole reflection of the bridge on the water, how many people are on it, the train passing by and then to top this shot of you can still see the two men in the water. I like how this shot shows how little and far down the men are compared to the height of the bridge.

I like this shot because it has been taken as if you were the men looking up at the bridge. This gives you another insight on the location. This shot is quite strange in the purpose that there is a hanging horse in mid-air. I really like this full-shot as you get a really good insight, finally, of the location.

Jonny English- Opening Sequence

The opening sequence to Johnny English is quite funny, although it is meant to be serious. The many different emotions on his face and body movements make it funny. If it wasn't for his facial emotions then I doubt that it would be that, or even at all funny. This opening sequence introduces his character completely. This film is in the action/adventure/comedy genre.

This shot introduces his humour, whilst this shot is also meant to be serious through the expression on his face it is overpowered by the comical squeaky toys.

I like the angle of this shot because the lighting is positioned so that it only glows on one side of his face. This emphasises the humorous/serious look on his face.

Here we find out that he was only dreaming, this just sums up and fully introduces his comical character by the things that he does in his sleep. This is a close-up shot that focuses on his face actions.

This is yet another humorous act that adds to the introduction of his character. He holds the gun up like he thinks he's properly in the business, then realises that there's the main piece missing.

I think this shot is trying to show that it is a too big/advanced business for his ability (comparing the size of the building to the size of him). In this clip he can't find his way round the place, this just backs up what I said before.

Through his expression on his face in this shot you can tell that he has made a mistake and maybe feels a bit stupid. I like this medium shot because it shows most of his body movement.

Ginger Snaps- Opening Sequence

The opening sequence to this film shows many different scenes of death. There are two shots of each scene. The real one and the rein-acted one. The sequence immediately scares you but it has been done very simply and would be a really easy opening title to re-create! This film falls into the genre categories of comedy/drama/horror.

Immediately from this first shot in the opening sequence you can tell that the film is in the horror genre, so it gives away the film genre straight away.

Here is another gruesome shot of someone rein-acting a death. If I were to choose to do a horror film opening sequence, these are all good and easy to do ideas to put in it. 

I like this high angle shot looking down on the bath because you get a full view of whats in the bath. The lighting and colours used in this shot are quite dark and mysterious.

This is a weird creepy message that shows that the film is going to be strange. The writing looks like a really young persons writing and the note is just plain weird. I could easily re-create a shot like this.

I think this shot is really horrible and creepy, I think the high contrast of black and white makes it seem more scary and weird. I like how the shot has been taken at a dutch angle, it makes it a bit more unusual.

Here she is rein-acting yet another scene of death. The lighting in this shot seems quite old and blurred.

Lord of War- Opening Sequence

This visually pleasing “life of a bullet” sequence is a perfect opening for a film about an arms dealer. It is a first-person narrative and shows the creation of a bullet right from the beginning where it is made in a factory all the way to it causing the death of a black-african child. The screen grabs I have got show this journey with the use of medium, close-up and high angle shots. This films genres are crime/drama/thriller.

This is a high angle shot, I like this shot because it shows from this high up shot the location as if you were the person looking down.

I like this shot because it is so clear. I like how the opening sequence has been made as if you are a bullet and takes you through the process of how bullet are made.

It is clear in this shot that this guy is a Russian soldier  because of his uniform. I like the use of HDR-based CG imagery in these shots as they make it more graphical and clear.

This shot just carries on the life of the bullet. I like the bright blue sky and how the colors' in this shot have all been emphasized by the used of CGI.

This shot shows the process of someone putting the bullet into a gun. I like how clear and focused the picture is on the persons fingers and nails, you can almost see every detail.

And this is where the first-person narrative of the life of a bullet ends, causing the death or a harmless child. I like this almost close-up, head shot.

In partners, as a tester on Final Cut Pro, we edited someone else's video to get a sense of what to do. When I first opened the program it looked way to complicated, then Mr.Bonney talked us through what to do and it wasn't complicated at all. We used four different clips for this task and clipped them smaller so that the unnecessary parts weren't included. We started off with our first clip and clipped it from where we wanted it to start and then clipped it where we wanted it to finish, we then dragged it down the the bottom part where you attach all the parts together. We continued this process with another three clips and kept playing it after we had attached two shots together to see if they connect well (flow from one to another).

The Hangover- Opening Sequence

This film falls into the comedy genre.

I like this shot because of the high camera angle looking down on a deserted location. This shows us that they are in the middle of nowhere but then leads us back to their house, passing by everything they had passed by in the night.

I really like this low angle shot because it makes the statues look bigger and a lot more extravagant. The background being the sky and clouds looks really nice and makes this shot more stunning. 

This shot basically sums up what they have been up to, or it could give you an idea of what happens in the film. I like this shot because it focuses on the rude parts of the signs and maybe the whole sign isn't meant to give off a rude vibe but this shot has done this in a clever way.

I think this shot is really nice because the beautiful fountains hide the eeriness of the city behind them. They mask the industrialisation of the city.

I love this shot because it shows the beauty in the city. The sun is very striking so it makes the audience pay attention. I quite like the sun flare in this shot it makes it a bit more interesting.

This shot is good because it leads back to where the story started and starts the story off. I like how this shot take you though the gates and all the way up to the drive way and into the house.

Taxi Driver- Opening Sequence

The opening sequence to the taxi driver provides an insight into Travis Bickle and his world. However, it is still remains unclear whether Travis is a hero or a villain, a man with a clear conscience or an individual driven by rage and anguish. This film is in the drama/thriller genres.

I like this shot because it uses the fumes of the taxi to make the emergence of the taxi to seem more dramatic. As the taxi enters the fumes disperse so the main focus is on the taxi.

This shot introduces the main character but only shows and focuses on his eyes. Just from this short clip we can see a sense of fear, emptiness and loneliness in him. 

This shot is effective because is is quite artistic in the respect that you can still see the bright city lights through the blur  on the car window. This shot is good because it puts you in the position of the taxi driver (Travis) and shows what he is seeing whilst he's driving.

I like this shot because the city has been neon infused and it makes it really eye-catching . This intra-diagetic gaze provides an insight into the main characters psyche and his relationship to the city.

This is an unusual shot because the red lights give off connotations of blood, death and even fear. However the blue lights of the right side gives off a completely different set of connotations so it is hard to understand what is going on.

This shot is interesting because we can't really understand what his feelings are, but it seems like he could be upset. On the other hand he could be sensing fear or maybe even rage. This shot makes you wonder and think about him. Also the red colour included in this shot again gives us the connotations of death and blood so that helps to work him out.

Gattaca- Opening Sequence

I really like this film introduction because it is so simple, yet comes across as really dramatic and intense. It uses magnified DNA to introduce the story. From this opening scene we get the impression that the film has something to do with DNA and that it is in the science fiction genre which are what opening sequences are meant to do, set the scene. This film falls into the drama/romance/sci-fi/thriller genres.

This shot in the opening sequence starts to introduce the film genre. When the nail first drops in it takes a  minute or two to work out what it actually is. When you realise what it is, it makes you wonder why is it there.

Then after the nails have dropped, strands of hairs fall down and the music involved when they land is really dramatic, without the music it wouldn't be as effective.

When the skin falls down the title fades in and then fades out. I like this shot because it tricks the audience into making them think that its snow but really its dead skin being rubbed off someone's arm.

This screen grab shows all the DNA together, more skin, hair and nails all piled up. I could possibly recreate this shot if i wanted to.

I like this shot because it finally reveals slowly what all the 'snow' like bits that were falling weren't actually snow bits they were in fact parts of human DNA. The use of the colour blue makes the opening sequence seem more sci-fi.

I think this shot is really nice because it has been shot in a really nice location. The use of the sepia effect makes this scene seem more relaxing and the lack of any other cars in the same area makes this shot more appealing.