SKYFALL (2012) - OPENING SCENE ANALYSIS

The opening shot begins with Daniel Craig (James Bond) falling further and further into the deep ocean, This shot is more so a medium shot, which gives us an insight to what is happening at the current situation. This is proceeded to be represented through various camera angles, inferring the importance of the character, these consist of high angle, establishing, and long shot. The use of CGI is highly developed throughout the opening minutes. This is really clever because it engages the audience. The use of red and silhouettes sets the genre, as we are introduced to guns, blood, action themed scenarios. Towards the end we are shown a kaleidoscope filter which connotes confusion and is generally pretty cool to look at..

A wide range of these shots focus on setting the scene, e.g - the ocean.

This whole scene creates a dream sequence or hallucination to the viewer. 

THE SHINING (1980) - OPENING SCENE ANALYSIS

As the opening sequence begins, we are introduced to an establishing shot to show the audience where the movie is going to be set. This shot shows the perimeter of a lake, of which creates the concept of the movie being held within open land, far away from help - the cliche of many horrors, this represents the isolation of the setting. This along with the non-digetic soundtrack infers the loneliness and likeliness of a horror story line - with an eerie atmosphere, which instantly intrigues the audience, there are slight remarks of echoes, showing the emptiness of the surroundings. This creates suspense and is engaging. The way this is set in broad daylight subverts the typical horror scenario (night time) and beings to develop the contrast we are looking for. 

The way the camera does not smoothly flow across the lake shows uneasiness and creates tension and confusion - but this is slightly toned down due to it being set in daylight as opposed to the fright of night. This then transitions into a tilting motion which gives the audience a feel as if they were exploring the setting and following the car along.  The birds eye view of the road creates the illusion of the car being miniature and inferior to its surroundings. 

CHILDREN OF MEN (2006) - OPENING SCENE ANALYSIS

We begin the opening scene with an overcrowded coffee shop, where we are shown locked eyes on a small TV set that is above them, It is aware that everyone is mesmerized by the TV set, besides a man who walks into the shop, this connotes the importance of his character as we are drawn to his actions. This then transitions into the camera following the man outside the shop. He pours a substance of what looks to be alcohol into his freshly bought coffee, this, along with him not caring about the news report, shows his feelings towards this dystopian world. It is likely he is an alcoholic as he has little enthusiasm and ambition in his life. The camera then continues to follow the man while displaying the small subtle features to the distorted world, we notice a blimp, poorly cared for streets, and several news advertisements on buildings. There are several tricycles, and the streets are paved with people and officers. We then see a 180 degree turn past the main character as we are shown an establishing shot, showing his surroundings and whereabouts. As this happens, it proceeds to stop while he places his flask into his jacket, and an explosion occurs in the coffee shop he had just left, this infers the chaos and troubles that occur in this dystopian world, this looks as if it isn't a rare occurrence. Unless we watch this opening scene several times, we will not notice that the lady limping from the cafe is in fact holding her own arm, this shows the strange and unusual things that happen, to the viewer, she does not look that scared.

AN EDUCATION (2009) - OPENING TITLES ANALYSIS

The opening credits are complimented by an up beat song "Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound" which indicates that this movie will not be a horror or drama. We already know that this is a Love Romance due to the movie poster, but there are mixed opinions to what this could be. We are then introduced to a medium shot, portraying what it seems to the viewer, a private girls secondary school - by the costumes shown, we know that this is set in the 1960's. This shot then follows the girls as they practice their posture the old fashioned way. This shot then transitions to a low angle shot of the school girls ballroom dancing with each other, indicating that this is merely a posh secondary school. The low angle begins to tilt upwards showing an establishing shot of the hall, this then begins to fade into the next scene where we witness cooking class, this starts with a close up shot of the girls whisking what looks like butter. We are then introduced to a long shot which shows a school girl walking across a street. The surroundings connote the season they are in, such as frost and damp concrete, we then see a mid shot of Jenny - who is wearing school attire. High angle shots are then displayed as we are shown of what looks like a playground as there are school girls hula-hooping, these shots glide across each other. this is then cleverly transitioned into the next shot as the camera moves to the right, the hula hoop acts as a transition into the next shot, as it swings we then proceed to some school girls breathing on a condensed window (typical British weather)  printing images with the palm of their hand - this shows that they are young girls. The next shot is an establishing shot of the girls sports team, this then rotates down towards the puddles where we see their reflection. Pure boredom by the school girls is then interpreted into the next shot as we are then directed to a class room, where half are asleep, and the other daydreaming whilst staring blankly into thin air; jenny is the only one taking into encounter what the teacher is saying. This portrays how important she is to the story as we are directly focused on her, and her expressions. 

NOW YOU SEE ME (2013) - OPENING SCENE ANALYSIS

Mise-En-Scene and Analysis:

The opening shot starts off as POV ( Point of View) as J. Daniel Atlas, also known as Jesse Eisenberg, introduces his magical illusion capabilities. The Characters are huddled together to witness a card trick, of which astonishes the crowd as one of the crowd's card is projected onto a skyscraper behind J. Daniel Atlas. The soundtrack begins to build up during this encounter, leading up to a big finale of the trick and a louder tone of music as you witness the audience cheer and are left speechless. This then transitions into the next main character, Merritt McKinney, played by, Woody Harrelson, as he proceeds to portray the con-man look. There is a strong use of close up shots and extreme close up shots, demonstrating how the target feel and their look of shock and emotions, these different shots are shown through different camera angles and are quickly flashed from shot to shot when Merritt is conning the Man out of his money, in prevention of a divorce from his loyal wife. This confrontation also has a high use of over the shoulder shots, portraying the conversation. As the scene ends, it then cuts into an extreme long shot, following a speed boat, then a rough walk by shot towards the introduction of the next main character.

The following character is fellow Jack Wilder, played by, Dave Franco. We are introduced to his as more of a con-man than an actual illusionist like the others...He approaches a few sightseers in the hope to produce a generous amount of money from the gullible pairs of eyes. The Crowd are portrayed as a bunch of floating wallets, only there for his success. These shots are mainly from the crowds perception, some are still, and some follow the crowds eyes. 

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971) - OPENING SCENE ANALYSIS

Mise-en-scene and Analysis:

Stanley Kubrick, who I believe to be an incredible director, directed "A Clockwork Orange" starring Malcolm McDowell who plays the psychotic nutcase known as Alex, who leads a gang to Rape, Violence and Crime. The opening Begins with a screen of Red as the introduction of "Funeral of Queen Mary" plays in the background, this creates an eerie atmosphere and devilish feel to the movie. It gradually builds up as credits appear and the flash of the blue screen that follows which then proceeds back to Red. We are then introduced to the Main Character, Alex, with a close up shot of him slowly breathing, whilst looking at the camera, we are shown his signature fake eyelashes that appear on both upper and lower lids. This shot then proceeds to elongate as we are shown who he is sitting next to; his "so called" gang of criminals, also described as "droogs" by alex. They are dressed in all white, with black top hats and Black boots, this interprets the idea of them being a "gang". They are shown sitting, all in possession of milk, with erotic sculptures surrounding themselves. Alex then describes his gang by their first names, and explains what he is doing at that current time, the shot still continues to lean away from the subjects, creating a long shot, showing the people around him, and his location. The location is reported to be a modernized Korova milk bar, where the milk was believed to "sharpen you up, and make you ready for a bit of the old ultra-violence".