SKYFALL
Skyfall opens with a chase scene that culminates in Bond's partner accidentally shooting Bond instead of shooting the bad guy. The bullet hits Bond hard enough to blow him off a train into the river below, and everyone concludes that he died.
Later, Bond turns up alive and shirtless, sporting a shrapnel wound (which he is touching in the picture below) received from the bad guy -- but no apparent injury from the bullet that blew him off the train.
So where on his body did that bullet hit Bond? Or was Bond faking that the bullet hit him? (Bond was able to hear M order the shot, so maybe upon hearing, he was shocked enough and upset enough to fake like the bullet hit him and bail out of the situation - which seems consistent with his subsequent refusal to report in for duty, his descent into drunken abandon, and most importantly his apparent lack of bullet wound.)
The opening sequence of ‘Skyfall’ unravels an abundance of indications towards the genre and narrative.
Iconography has been used where appropriate; for example: guns, knifes/swords, blood, grave stones, skulls, shadows etc…
From iconography alone, some may presume the film genre would be considered a thriller or horror. However: lighting, characters and pace suggests other wise.
Similar to ‘Boardwalk Empire’ the ‘James Bond’ opening sequence consists of predominantly dull colours (grey, black). Alternatively, with in the ‘James Bond’ opening sequence it has injected a handful of vibrant colours: white (from high key lighting (in underwater scene)), blood red and orange, yellow, purple (from lights).
Lighting: Dim (low key lighting) with areas of high key lighting, the image above being an example.
Costume: Suit, indication of significance in film (along with repetition of presence in opening sequence), suggests power, authority, professionalism, and potentially a serious character.
Cinematography: No consistent pattern, wide variety. Low and high angles (medium long shots, extreme long shots, extreme close-ups, mediums close-ups) of protagonist – James Bond. Therefore from this I feel there is no message being conveyed through shot types. Suggestions of the protagonists characteristics/role for instance. Conventionally someone in a placement of power and control, would be shown through low angle shots. Where as someone who is considered weak, would be shown through high angled shots, as if you as the audience are looking down on them.
Titles: Fit around composition of shot (what is included in the frame). Example below:
Skyfall opens with a chase scene that culminates in Bond's partner accidentally shooting Bond instead of shooting the bad guy. The bullet hits Bond hard enough to blow him off a train into the river below, and everyone concludes that he died.
Later, Bond turns up alive and shirtless, sporting a shrapnel wound (which he is touching in the picture below) received from the bad guy -- but no apparent injury from the bullet that blew him off the train.
So where on his body did that bullet hit Bond? Or was Bond faking that the bullet hit him? (Bond was able to hear M order the shot, so maybe upon hearing, he was shocked enough and upset enough to fake like the bullet hit him and bail out of the situation - which seems consistent with his subsequent refusal to report in for duty, his descent into drunken abandon, and most importantly his apparent lack of bullet wound.)
Iconography has been used where appropriate; for example: guns, knifes/swords, blood, grave stones, skulls, shadows etc…
From iconography alone, some may presume the film genre would be considered a thriller or horror. However: lighting, characters and pace suggests other wise.
Similar to ‘Boardwalk Empire’ the ‘James Bond’ opening sequence consists of predominantly dull colours (grey, black). Alternatively, with in the ‘James Bond’ opening sequence it has injected a handful of vibrant colours: white (from high key lighting (in underwater scene)), blood red and orange, yellow, purple (from lights).
Mise-en-scene:
Location differs throughout, implying elements of action and fast pace. Where as a social realism film would probably be located is fewer locations, as very little happens, and they have no need to move on, run (chase)/hide from where they are. With ‘Skyfall’ there characters that would typically be considered either: villain or hero. Therefore have their own locations to either hide with in, or be chased out of. Due to the film being a cross between multiple genres (cross genre): action, with elements of a crime drama; the locations changes to suit both. For example, there are scenes in offices – crime drama. But there are also an abundance of scenes on top of trains (fighting) setting an ‘on edge’ era. Also car chases; both portraying action.
Lighting: Dim (low key lighting) with areas of high key lighting, the image above being an example.
Costume: Suit, indication of significance in film (along with repetition of presence in opening sequence), suggests power, authority, professionalism, and potentially a serious character.
Cinematography: No consistent pattern, wide variety. Low and high angles (medium long shots, extreme long shots, extreme close-ups, mediums close-ups) of protagonist – James Bond. Therefore from this I feel there is no message being conveyed through shot types. Suggestions of the protagonists characteristics/role for instance. Conventionally someone in a placement of power and control, would be shown through low angle shots. Where as someone who is considered weak, would be shown through high angled shots, as if you as the audience are looking down on them.
Titles: Fit around composition of shot (what is included in the frame). Example below:
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