Main Task- Analysis of Opening scene

Film Opening Analysis

Hitman-Agent 47 

Hitman-Agent 47, directed by Aleksander Bach (2015) created the film on the bases of a video game that had already been made, this therefore provided for an additional fan base for the current film. Immediately we as the audience are brought to the attention of a problem surrounding the existence of the film itself, therefore we are immediately intrigued as to what problems will occur and how will the highly skilled agent overcome these problems.

Firstly given the title of the film viewers already know that the film is mimicking the genre and storyline of the videogame series, thus further suggested by the dark and old fashioned colours used during the opening.  Simultaneously on display is the spasmodic placement of the titles, which also appear to all be the same; font size, font and boldness. However whilst on the screen the titles are not stationary and instead seem to be moving in the same angle/direction as the camera. This eerie effect could be interpreted as a Horror opening, but acknowledging the context of the film viewers are aware of the action genre. Also as the titles depart the screen they appear to jolt in unusual directions and also are accompanied by numbers (which are in a considerably smaller font size) which also change. This may unsettle the audience, especially when the titles are displayed over a sequence of fast paced editing, therefore leaving the audience little time to consume the information. However during some instances there are a couple of long takes which involve the camera speedily panning or tilting in order to show the events that are taking place. We assume these events to be of some significance given that the camera zooms, perhaps to highlight the situation. Additionally the voiceover speaks in monotone throughout, therefore leading the audience to link all the events together. All the following add to the action genre and a stereotypical action theme is evoked from the fast paced, ultimately intriguing the audience.

In terms of inspiration I like the eerie effect utilized throughout the opening credits, which is mainly exemplified by the colours that connote Horror- such as red (blood) and black (darkness), and I will consider using these effect during my opening, as they converge with the typical connotations of a Horror opening.

To conclude the semiotics of death and action create an active audience, by portraying both the brutality and the simplicity of death during the film through a character that was made for that specific purpose. Action and enigma codes are used throughout to display simplicity; also we cannot easily gather a understanding of the main character without being alert and involved to the mystery displayed in the opening.  For example we can only gather an understanding of appearance by paying close attention to just over 3 seconds of footage.