Just Like Heaven Analysis

Just Like Heaven

 

Just Like Heaven is a 2005 film by Mark Waters. It stars Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. The story is about 'A lonely landscape architect (Ruffalo)  who falls for the spirit of the beautiful woman (Witherspoon) who used to live in his new apartment' (imdb).

At the start of the film you see the Dreamworks logo, this is of the clouds and the blue of the sky. This then goes into the the main film, with the camera spiralling down out of the sky through the clouds, this suggests to me as a viewer that it could be an angel falling from the sky. It also makes the scene misty when you are shown the woman in the rose garden as you seem to still be in the sky amougst the clouds, this is very dreamlike, but it also links to heaven as you expect everything to be perfect and peaceful which is exactly how you see it. It also links in with Adam and Eve and you know the story of them in the garden, however in this case it looks as though she hasn't got an Adam, but maybe he'll come along.

As you are shown in the garden the woman looks relaxed, you then see her slowly being shook, this is where you learn that Reese's character Elizabeth is waking up after falling asleep on her job. It is here you learn that her character is a doctor, and that shes been working for 23 hours. This gives you the impression shes a hard worker.

You later see her surround by three other women in the bathroom. These woman are either married, divorced or have children. But it's Elizabeth who is the odd one out as she has no one but her job. This then creates sadness which you see when a mirror shot is used of Reese, this shows her to be looking down through a close up, which in a way makes you feel sorry for her.
You also see that her sister is married and has children, this could make her feel more alone as her sister ends up setting her up on a date.

As you know Elizabeth (Witherspoon) is a Doctor, reverse tracking is used to show her working in this enviroment. It shows her to be busy and very confident in her work. Panning of the hospital is also used to do the same thing.
Jump cuts and superimposition have been used to show the passing of time, both are able to show you how much Elizabeth does, it also shows you the amount of time shes been working. From these shots you see that Witherspoons character also drinks a lot of coffee, this also shows the time as it suggests she's got to keep herself awake. You also see that she is good with people of all ages, from children to the eldely. This too comes across with the use of sound, especially when one of the old men propose saying 'marry me' this happens 3 times across the time period.
Music is also used, at the start of the film a song called 'Just like a dream' is played, this isnt the studio's sound but it could be a possible theme tune. Two others songs are also played throughout the opening, these are both upbeat, pop songs.

The titles you are shown at the start of the film are pink, this alone suggests love could be on the cards throughout the film, but alongside this from the bright blue of the sky it makes it very positive as theres no darkness being cast. The titles then turn white as they carry on into the film, these titles show the rest of the cast and the director.

Near the end of the opening sequence, you learn that the film is set in San Francisco, this is when Elizabeth is driving to her sisters after finding she had got a promotion, however this soon becomes an unhappy scene when the music 'let the good times roll' is played and then all of a sudden a bright white light takes over the screen, suggesting that something has certainly gone wrong.

Analysis of the opening of Halloween

Halloween

Halloween is a 1978 film by John Carpenter. It is an American independent horror film that has been set in Haddonfield, Illinois, USA, a fictional town on Halloween.  It follows a psychotic murderer who was institutionalised since the killing of his sister at a young age escaping, and going back to his home time. It is here that 'stalks' a girl while his doctor chases him. 

Many critics have credited the film as it was one of the first films to be inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960).  The film itself doesn't contain very much violence or gore, but it has originated many of the cliches found in horror films throughout the 80's and 90's. 

 

Camera Angles
On the opening credits it the camera zooms into the pumpkin, this happens slowly. The pumpkin is a symbol of Halloween in itself and people tend to make them to scare away danger, this is significant to the film as somebody in this case it could be the murderers victim needs to be kept safe.

The camera also pans into the house, this sets the scene of where the action is going to take place during the opening sequence. Also by doing this you are shown that the horror has been moved to a suburban area which isn't normally done. Near the end of the scene you are shown the setting again, this is done when the camera zooms out on the boy Michael and his parents to then go into a crane shot, it is here you are shown more of the street.
Throughout this scene you are seeing everything that happens from the point of view of the character, by doing this the viewer doesn't know who this person is that has been watching the couple, this then keeps you in suspense as all you can do is watch. When the light goes off upstairs the mysterious character looks as if he is moving quicker. This builds more tension as you don't know what's going to happen, however once the first murder is over, Michael the young boy is shown to be the killer.

Editing

During the title sequence, the screen fades to black into a caption screen, this reads 'Haddonfield, Illinois', it is here you learn where the film is set, in this case it's a town in America. As well as this 'Halloween Night' also shows up on the black background, this gives the viewer the time frame of when the action happened.
As you can see from above a black screen is used a lot, this suggests that this movie is going to be dark, also telling you that its going to be a horror movie and nothing light hearted. Also by having the titles going from yellow to red, it suggests blood and fire, as well as danger which is bound to be included in a horror film.

Sound
The music in the film was created by Carpenter himself, for example the iconic theme tune played directly at the start of the film, this is played up until the first sound bridge of the children resiting a poem about 'Halloween' where the frequency of the music gets quieter for a short period of time, it is just before the actual film starts that you hear the last spoken words of the children and these are 'Trick or Treat'.
Dialogue that is used during the opening sequence is 'We are alone aren't we?', this is iconic to a horror movie as it always makes you wonder if anything will actually happen or if the characters are just afraid because its dark, the line also starts to build tension in the film as you as the viewer look forward to finding out what will happen.
Incidental music is then used, this comes in the form of a high pitched piece that starts off loud and then gradually gets quieter as the clock starts to chime loudly. The music suggests that something bad is coming and on top of the clock chiming you can see that time is running out for the girl who you can hear singing happily to herself. By hearing this it makes the girl seem so innocent but there is no way this danger can be stopped.
Throughout this sequence you also hear the heavy breathing of the murderer, this reminds us that we are watching the action unfold through his eyes. It also adds to the suspense of the scene as their breathing gets deeper as they reach the room of the girl. This is where more dialoue is included as the girl says the name 'Michael', this is when you realise who this person is, and you wonder why this boy has killed somebody he knows.

Mise En Scene
From the opening sequence, props have been used. The first thing you see if a kitchen knife, you see this being taken from the draw. You as a viewer then think that there may be a murder that is about to happen and this is the weapon thats going to be used, however your not always entierly sure in a horror film.
A clown mask then becomes apparent in the opening, you first see it when the teenage boy picks it up off the floor, it is then later seen again when the 'murderer' goes upstairs and picks it up off the floor of the room. By using the mask it takes away the killers identity, you then wonder whether you'll find out who this person is, however throughout the rest of the film, the mask becomes a iconic feature as you never see the face of the boy again.
As a family they are seen to be middle class, you see this from the car parked at the edge of the driveway and the fact Michael's mother is shown to be wearing a fur coat, which tends to be expensive and his father is wearing a suit. Michaels character was then shown to be wearing a clown costume, this shows the 'Trick or Treat' aspect of Halloween because as a little boy or girl you'd tend to dress up. It could also symbolise fear as many people are scared of clowns.

Opening Sequence of Halloween

     

             

Analysis of The Dark Knight Rises Opening

The Dark Knight Rises

I am analysing the opening of the film 'The Dark Knight Rises'. I will be looking at the Camera Angles, shots and positions as well as Mise En Scene, Sound and Editing. 

The film was created by Christopher Nolan and released in the UK on the 20th July 2012. It stars Christian Bale, Tom Hardy and Anne Hathaway alongside Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
The story unfolds when Bane, a terrorist leader plans to destroy Gotham. Pushing Bruce Wayne to 'rediscover himself to 'Rise' and save his city' (imdb).

Mise En Scene
The first scene of the film takes us back to the 'Dark Knight' at Harvey Dents funeral. Its here you are introduced to Gary Oldman's character Gordon. By adding this scene into the film it makes you think the death of Harvey is going to be significant throughout, however theres a chance it could just be reminding you.
Three men are seen in the back of the car, they are all wearing different coloured trousers and tops. The man in the middle is shown in a black top, perhaps suggesting the character is of a dark background. He is also positioned in the middle of the other two men during the car journey and when they are stood at the airport.
The airport comes across as significant as its where you are introduced to the character Dr Pavel who you later learn is important in the rest of the storyline.
Bane (Tom Hardy) is then introduced on the plane, part of Hardy's costume is a mask, this becomes significant throughout the film as you learn that it can potentially harm his character Bane.


Editing
At the start of the film, there are no opening credits, or any information about the film included, for example to actors names and the name of the producer. However this has been done because the Batman series is well established this is because the same the actors are in the movie, this then meant the titles weren't needed.
Fade in has been used at the start of the opening sequence, you see this when the Batman symbol starts to crack into the screen, and it fades to black to then go into the funeral, the effect this has is that it follows the sound bridge that came before.
Cross cutting is the used when the plane gets attacked, from this you are shown different action shots, for example the pilots loosing control. By the camera flashing back and forth the action set ups that have been put back together have started to create tension because you as a viewer doesn't know whats about to happen, this also makes the film more exciting as you want to find out.

Sound
Sound has been used throughout the opening of TDKR. At the beginning of the opening a sound bridge is used over the cracking of the screen, here you are listening to a speech being spoken at the funeral of Harvey Dent. By hearing this you wonder why your being told about him again, but it suggests he might become significant.
Dialogue is also used. One of the things you here is "The masked man", this suggests that the person that is being spoke about is known by having a mask, you then find out that this man is 'Bane'. Bane as a character then becomes important in the rest of the opening sequence and you later hear him say to one of the other masked men "Nows not the time to fear, that comes later", to me as a viewer it suggests that something bad is going to happen further into the film.

Camera Angles

Aerial shots are used in the opening of TDKR, Nolan uses these shots frequently as it is part of his style. You first see an aerial shot of the plane flying over the mountains, this shows the plane in the air. You see the plane over the mountains twice and each time it shows you in different areas. You also see an aerial shot of two planes, this is when a bigger plane comes and flies over the CIA plane. As well as this you see an aerial shot of Gotham City.
Zoom is also included in the film, you see this when the camera zooms in on the CIA agent, this shows his interest in what the man is saying to him.
The camera then zooms in on Bane when his face is being uncovered, this then means you are seeing who this person is for the first time.
When in conversation about Bane, you see the CIA agent and the other man talking, however over that mans shoulder you see the man in the long black top. Even though he is out of focus, you still get the idea that this man might be significant, as he is the only masked man that is still being shown.
A two shot is used when the CIA agent is reaching out to take Banes mask off, this is significant as it will be the first time your going to see him. You also see that the agent is apprehensive about what hes about to do as you see him pull his hand back. 
Low and high angle shots are used on Bane, both show his power and dominance over people. The low angle shot shows him to be looking down over the CIA agent and the men he was with as they fell to the bottom of the plane, this shows his power over them as they are suffering due to the plans he's put into place. The high angle shot then shows Bane to be talking to another masked man, here you see him placed above the man talking, it is here you see Bane's influence on other people.
The aerial shot of Gotham isn't the only thing that introduces you to the city, a pan is used to sweep across the scene to also show you where the film will be located.
After you see the city you are then taken to Wayne Manor, here forward tracking is used on the waitress. By tracking here she seems like she might be an important figure in the film, however you don't learn anything else.

            

Analysis of the opening sequence of 'Se7en'

'Se7en'

This is my analysis of the opening sequence to the film 'Se7en', I have been looking at how he title sequence has been constructed using Camera angles, Editing, Sound, Mise en scene and Special effects.

Se7en is a film by David Fincher (1995), starring Brad Pit as a major character Dt David Mills. He stars alongside Morgan Freeman who is the main character Dt William Somerset.

Before the title sequence starts there is a pre title sequence, this shows Dt Somerset (Freeman) in his kitchen alone. From looking at what is in his kitchen Somerset looks well travelled, this is because he has a collection of figurines that you wouldn't normally get from living in America. He also seems good natured, I get this impression from the animal figures this is because it tends to show a softer side to someone.

Also by showing him to have a chess board in his kitchen it shows that he is an intelligent man, who possibly uses strategy when he needs to, more than likely in his work.

By looking at his home, there is no sign of him having a family this is because there are no pictures up around the house. This suggests he's lonely as he hasn't got anybody around him. Also from looking around his kitchen you can see he hasn't got a real cooker, this suggests that his job takes up a lot of his time, which made us think he could of been a police man. I also noticed that his house was very ordered, and that everything lines up, this could link to his work and he might be ordered in every element of his life.

We are also introduced to Brad Pitts character David Mills, he is shown to be scruffy looking, wearing a leather jacket and a top resembling a shirt. He had chewing gum in his mouth that suggested he had an attitude and it didn't make him look very polite. Mills also had facial hair unlike Freeman's character Somerset, this suggested that his character doesn't really care about his appearance as its unkept and he doesn't really come across as a professional.


Mise En Scene

After we were introduced to Freeman's character in the pre title sequence, the main title sequence allowed us to learn more about both characters. Props were used to shed light on Somerset's life this included a table where his possessions were layed out. This included his police badge which confirmed our thoughts that he was in the force, there was also a knife on the table, this could be there as it might be used throughout the rest of the film. The handkerchief that he then picked up suggested that Somerset as a character is old fashioned, this is because there weren't many people that used them.

We were also shown more of the Somerset's home, it showed his bed to be made neatly which could suggest he has an army background. Iconography is also used in the main sequence this showed Dt Somerset as a stereotypical detective dressed in a long jacket and a hat.

Throughout body language has also been used, this showed Mills (Pitt) with his arms folded getting defencive about what Somerset (Freeman) had said. By looking at both characters together the age and ethnicity of the two become apparent. This is because you can see that Somerset is taking his life more seriously as he is nearing the end of his career, whereas Mills is laid back and doesn't really seem to care. Also by showing them to be of different ethnic backgrounds, it could suggest that Freeman's character hasn't been able to take life lightly and he's had to work to get to where he is, whereas it doesn't seem like Pitts character has had to do the same, we see this when they are at a job and Mills doesn't bother to write any information down.

From the main title sequence you are then vaguely introduced to the 'serial killer', as you are only ever shown his hands it makes you wonder who this man is making the story that's about to be told more mysterious and slightly scary as you don't know what this man is capable of. In this sequence you are shown books, that have photos stuck in them along with a lot of writing, to us this seems like he is keeping a scrap book possibly of his victims or they might even be old case files of the murders, in this case it shows us what he or somebody else has done.
Samples of hair are also being stuck in the books along side the photographs, this tells us as a viewer that this man isn't really 'normal' as it seems he has kept something from a murder he's committed. Following this we are shown this man censoring out certain words in books he is reading as they refer to 'sex'. This could suggest that this man has a child like way of thinking and can't cope with these words or it's telling you more about him, and suggesting that he was abused himself and its these words that remind him of that time.

As well as doing this to books, of the pictures he has of different children, he crosses out the eyes on the photographs, to me this seems like he doesn't want them to be looking at him and in a way it could show remorse and how he doesn't like to see what he's become.

He also took the word 'God' out of the dollar notes, this could be giving you clues to the film and what is about to happen.
The colour red is also used, this symbolises danger and it could also show the blood thats already been spilled from his previous victims, it also suggests the killer could be in a dark room.

Camera Angles
Camera angles were also used. In the pre title sequence focus pull is used, this shows Dt Somerset analysing the crime scene while taking away from the rest of it in this case the other police officer. By using this it's the first time you see Freeman as a main character in the film.
A two shot is later used and this shows Somerset and Mills together for the first time, this is significant as it's the first chance you get to see how the two men act towards each other.
An extreme close up of the antagonist or 'serial killer' were used to show him shaving off his fingers tips. By doing this you know he is trying to cover his tracks so he can't be found, it also makes you wonder if he'll ever be found if theres no trace of him.
Also by using close ups, there is always the question in your mind of whether your actually going to find out who this man is, you also wonder why there doing this.

Sound And Editing
When Somerset (Freeman) is at home in bed, ambient sound is used, for example you can here sirens and alarms going off as well as hearing people shouting in the street, this suggests he lives in a flat as you can hear everything thats going on. This is when you see him use a metrobeat to block out the noise thats coming into his room.
Jump cuts are used so that you can't focus for a long time, this makes you want to find out what will happen even more. These jump cuts are accompanied by scratchy (inciental) music. By using both together it makes it more errotic and it seems to symbolise the mind set of the killer.
The theme tune 'You kept me closer to god' suggests that whats about to happen could have something to do with religion, it also makes you wonder why gods so significant when he's also cut the word out of the notes he had.
Images are also layered up on each other, by superimposing the images it shows the mans erratic behaviour as well as the jup cuts. This is because you are shown a lot of what the man is doing all at once, for example his writing and what pictures he has and how hes placing them.



         

Se7en Trailer.

                                              Se7en Credits - First Introduction to the killer