To gain inspiration, I analysed the openings of three films- "I, Robot", "Star Wars III" and "The Matrix Reloaded". Each time I asked myself the question- "How does this opening engage the audience?" The answers are below.
I, Robot
The intro of I, Robot engages the audience with a combination of two mystery elements of the narrative- we see three laws (supposedly "Robot Law") and then we see someone who is involved with the main character (Will Smith) die. This is then contrasted by a big close up of the main character waking up, signifying a dream or a flashback perhaps, and therefore inverting Toderov's narrative theory. The structure then reverts back as we are introduced to the main character as he goes about his morning routine. There is another contrast as he opens his door and we see the outdoor world- a manic and robotically controlled world. The music in this passage is key in signifying the contrast between the character and this modern style of life, and therefore the next stage in Toderov's narrative structure- "Disruption Of Equilibrium". All of these elements went to create an excellent introduction. I especially like the highly effective use of sound contrasts within it.
Star Wars III
The first thing we see is the archetypal rolling credits- a code and convention of "Star Wars" films. The camera then pans down and we see the classic generic signifiers of a large space ship and a planet. Our attention is then immediately grabbed by two futuristic space craft being tracked by the camera. They fly close to the larger ship, therefore allowing us to view the tech-littered spaceship close-up. What follows is an exciting and futuristic dog fight with all the archetypal laser shots, panic, explosions and all of the genre laying things you would expect from a "Star Wars" film. I found that this film opening was good, however, littered with cliche, and therefore i didn't find it particularly "engaging" as there was not enough interesting camera/sound/editing work.
The Matrix Reloaded
The intro to this film is again, archetypal- green "Matrix coding" making up a clock. We zoom out further and further until this is apparent. This represents the complexity of the matrix as it exemplifies an everyday item, as one to be so complex. We are then immediately hooked in to the narrative as the next thing we see is a fast paced scene- a motorbike comes crashing through a window in slow motion, complete with fully black "ninja-esque" rider. She dismounts mid-air- causing the bike to explode in front of her, precisely as she lands. This amazing section of camera/SFX/editing immediately establishes her character, and the film generally and slick and sophisticated. What follows is an archetypal physics-defying fight scene, with moody lighting, again heightening the audience's adrenaline and interest. We then see the same character falling from a building, the music is now picking up (with overlays of bullet SFX), and we are in super slow motion- signifying a key area. More "Matrix" film codes and conventions are now introduced as we see the slow motion bullet effect. The girl dies. This is then contrasted with the character's partner waking up with her- the light is good and there is no music. This represents the last scene as a flash forward. I think that this is an amazing opening to a film, the best out of the three i watched because it is extremely engaging and sophisticated in terms of camera shots, editing, sound effects and lighting.
The intro of I, Robot engages the audience with a combination of two mystery elements of the narrative- we see three laws (supposedly "Robot Law") and then we see someone who is involved with the main character (Will Smith) die. This is then contrasted by a big close up of the main character waking up, signifying a dream or a flashback perhaps, and therefore inverting Toderov's narrative theory. The structure then reverts back as we are introduced to the main character as he goes about his morning routine. There is another contrast as he opens his door and we see the outdoor world- a manic and robotically controlled world. The music in this passage is key in signifying the contrast between the character and this modern style of life, and therefore the next stage in Toderov's narrative structure- "Disruption Of Equilibrium". All of these elements went to create an excellent introduction. I especially like the highly effective use of sound contrasts within it.
Star Wars III
The first thing we see is the archetypal rolling credits- a code and convention of "Star Wars" films. The camera then pans down and we see the classic generic signifiers of a large space ship and a planet. Our attention is then immediately grabbed by two futuristic space craft being tracked by the camera. They fly close to the larger ship, therefore allowing us to view the tech-littered spaceship close-up. What follows is an exciting and futuristic dog fight with all the archetypal laser shots, panic, explosions and all of the genre laying things you would expect from a "Star Wars" film. I found that this film opening was good, however, littered with cliche, and therefore i didn't find it particularly "engaging" as there was not enough interesting camera/sound/editing work.
The Matrix Reloaded
The intro to this film is again, archetypal- green "Matrix coding" making up a clock. We zoom out further and further until this is apparent. This represents the complexity of the matrix as it exemplifies an everyday item, as one to be so complex. We are then immediately hooked in to the narrative as the next thing we see is a fast paced scene- a motorbike comes crashing through a window in slow motion, complete with fully black "ninja-esque" rider. She dismounts mid-air- causing the bike to explode in front of her, precisely as she lands. This amazing section of camera/SFX/editing immediately establishes her character, and the film generally and slick and sophisticated. What follows is an archetypal physics-defying fight scene, with moody lighting, again heightening the audience's adrenaline and interest. We then see the same character falling from a building, the music is now picking up (with overlays of bullet SFX), and we are in super slow motion- signifying a key area. More "Matrix" film codes and conventions are now introduced as we see the slow motion bullet effect. The girl dies. This is then contrasted with the character's partner waking up with her- the light is good and there is no music. This represents the last scene as a flash forward. I think that this is an amazing opening to a film, the best out of the three i watched because it is extremely engaging and sophisticated in terms of camera shots, editing, sound effects and lighting.
In conclusion, i think that personally i find exciting, sophisticated camera work, good accompanying sound and lighting most engaging elements.
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