Film Opening Evaluation

Film openings are extremely important because it allows the audience to see, most of the time, what mood the film is going to start off with. The sound effects, music and camera angles all take part in the mood setting.

   

1) Divergent:

This teen film follows the story of a young girl in a post-apocalyptic world. When creating the opening credits for the film, the editors had to take great care in introducing the environment the film will be set in, for it is not a usual environment. I think they did this quite well, for many establishing shots of the environment, (a post apocalyptic version of Chicago), were used. Also, the audience can immediately judge that the film will involve forms of technology, due to the computer-like text used at the beginning, to introduce the actors, directors and producers, and the the title of the movie. Also, the music used throughout the majority of the opening credits is quite somber, for the effects of war and disaster are being shown in Chicago, yet the music lightens up immediately when the camera pans down to hundreds of people walking around, evidently healthy and happy. Overall, I found the film opening very suitable for the rest of the film.

 

2) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

This film opening is effective because it evokes emotions in the audience within the first few minutes, making it likely that they'll want to continue watching. The music, which is both tense and sad, also adds to the overall effect that the film gives. The very beginning opens with a close up shot of the Minister's eyes as he's giving a speech. This is a very dramatic opening, which throws us (the audience) immediately into the story of the film. Aside from the speech at the very beginning, there is not much dialogue in the opening, suggesting that the editors wanted the music to set the mood more so than the characters. At the end of the scene, an establishing shot of the empty street Hermione is walking on is shown, perhaps to portray that she is leaving home all on her own.

3) The Hunger Games

I think this film opening is effective, informative and a very good way of setting the mood of the film. The writing at the beginning is used to inform the audience of what the Hunger Games are, so that the characters don't have to conveniently explain it in the plot. Also, we get to see views from the Capitol, who are wearing  smart costumes in huge studios, and in the Districts where they were ripped clothing in small cabins. This creates an immediate comparison for the audience to make, and opinions are made almost straight away of the characters before we even know their names.