Research: 3 Opening Sequences

Firstly the audio track for Sucker Punch begins with the ‘star of the show’ giving a voice over, an intriguing narrative that is almost like a riddle. This character later turns out to be Sweetpea who the protagonist becomes to know very well. Whilst the voice over continues, curtains of a theatre are drawn and reveal the main character, Babydoll sitting alone in her old fashioned bedroom within a storm, here there is very dull lighting, so that when lightning strikes the room is clearly revealed, as well as the emotions apparent on Babydoll’s face for a few bleak seconds. Once the voice-over finishes a soundtrack begins. The soundtrack creates an atmosphere that reflects her situation, it sets a dark scene, one that shows that Babydoll is in danger. Already the audience are intrigued by what’s happening, I personally believe the next part is very important. A doctor walks in and shakes his head, and Babydoll becomes distressed and runs out of the room. This scene is entirely edited in slow motion to emphasize the emotions and significance of Babydoll’s origin to the film. We as an audience become emotionally attached to Babydoll already because of the loss of her mother to illness and the sly look upon her step father’s face an enigma is created. Colours are dull and mysterious most of the time, but when the step father is filled with rage a bright orange burst of flames is lit when he throws alcohol into the fire. Here we get hints of what is to come, for example mise-en-scene such as the gun within Babydoll’s step father’s draw signals action and death, as well as the katana styled letter opener with the same conventions. Other props like smashed lightbulbs and pierces pipes signal distress and agony with their screeching as pressurized gas is dispersed. The weather outside is stormy and shows the audience of the conflict and sorrow to come later, this is pathetic fallacy. There are not credits in this opening scene due to the advertising and the director’s (Zack Snyder) previous films, Watchmen and 300 – which are both notable. Finally the title of the film is introduced to the audience made of rain drops on the window of the car as it drives past the camera, taking Babydoll to her new life in Lennox house for the mentally insane. This opening scene establishes the setting, with dull colours, an extreme long shot of Lennox house and the escape of Babydoll from her step father momentarily wielding his own hand gun. Here we learn of her personality, her emotional distress and her origin.

Lord of the Rings

To begin with there is no background, just blackness and a voice over introduces the audience, her voice soft and pure and suggests something over worldly. We want to know what is happening, and then the title ‘Lord of the Rings’ in fancy golden text is revealed. From here the story of the Rings of Power is told by the woman in the voice over. As she explains what happens like a story, we as the audience see what happened and are pulled in by fantastic views of the world, its map and the fantasy or mythic like people who live within it. Effects are strongly used for glowing or great flames that signal the danger of Sauron, the Antagonist. These harsh flames contrast against the dark fathoms of the war raging in the background filled with Orcs with dull armour and elves with golden armour.  Here the genre is established definitely. We realise that this film is a fantasy-thriller, but action is teased to the audience with shots from the war that happened 2500 years ago. We see tension within the two armies before they collide. The soundtrack still persists and the voice over continues throughout the entire opening scene, pulling the audience in more and more by showing more and more, this amplifies tension. The voice over also leaves open sentences before being answered, making the audience wonder what could have happened and what will happen. Lastly, one of the main characters is named, Bilbo Baggins, this shows importance and we begin to want to know more about him which is later to come. After we learn the ring is bad news, we know something will go wrong after he picks it up and hides from Golem who has gone mad with obsession over the One Ring.  There is a continuous enigma surrounding Golem and the One Ring, as well as all those that come into contact with it, causing them to go mad with power or obsession over the One Ring.

Woman in Black

The Woman in Black opening is different and much shorter than the others. Here we begin with juxtaposed atmosphere with eerie music to pull in the audience who can already guess things are going too well for the three sisters having a tea party, most notably for camera work with close-ups on their faces, showing their happy smiles and laughter. Longer shots however leave open spaces around the girls, beside them and behind them, suggesting to the audience that another may fit in the shot somewhere creating tension. Our suspicions are only proved when all three girls mysteriously stare into the corner of the room, beside the camera and suggest tension and suspense. From here we know that this is a thriller. All colours are dull once again with many whites, greys and little colour on the rosy cheeks or red lips of the play dolls. Our next shot is a point-of-view from the sisters as they look at the three windows across the room almost as if they were ordered. Slow motion is now used and the audience is horrified with the suspicion that the girls are willingly walking towards the windows, all too calmly. As the girls make their way they crush their own dolls and tea cups beneath their feet. This suggests conflict and tension in the future, the breaking of relationships and even death. Closer towards the end and the climax of the scene, the soundtrack becomes louder and more dominant. Once the girls finally open the windows, stare out and jump to the ground willingly the soundtrack halts. This causes suspense as the audience is still in shock. Their deaths are confirmed by the horrific scream of their heart-broken mother in great despair. By now the audience are pulled in and glued to the screen, wanting to know why, when and most importantly who. In the last shot the camera zooms out to reveal the side of the infamous Woman in Black who the girls must have been staring at before, the antagonist and cause of their deaths. This scene establishes no roles accept for the Woman in Black, but even now nothing is known of her and causes mystery. No opening credits are used and no title is shown. This is due to heavy advertising and of course a world known actor, Daniel Radcliffe.