analysis of a thriller opening sequence - migp

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Analysis of a Thriller Opening Sequence MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 4 GHOST PROTOCOL Jordan Crookell

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Analysis of a Thriller Opening Sequence - MIGP

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Page 1: Analysis of a Thriller Opening Sequence - MIGP

Analysis of a Thriller Opening SequenceMISSION IMPOSSIBLE 4 GHOST PROTOCOL

Jordan Crookell

Page 2: Analysis of a Thriller Opening Sequence - MIGP

Titles In the opening sequence to Mission Impossible 4 Ghost Protocol there are many titles that are shown to the audience. One of these titles are the production companies (Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions). There is also a list of about 4-6 key actors in the film for example, Tom Cruise and Simon Pegg. Another title that is shown is the visual effects supervisor. There are many more examples of titles that are in the film’s opening such as; co-producers, music by, costume designer, editor and many more.

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How do the titles fit into the narrative of the movie?

The opening titles to Mission Impossible 4 Ghost Protocol is one of the most effective openings to a film that I have ever seen. This is because the typography and the writings follow a lit fuse. This fuse follows the action of the opening to the film as Ethan is escaping from the underground base. The fuse is shown as one long wire that goes from the underground base through a building and into water. It then surfaces and is turned into a rocket being fired from a submarine. Whilst the camera follows the fuse, the typography shows all the different titles such as the actors and producers in the film.

As well as this, we follow the lit fuse through parts of the movie that occur later on. For example we see the fuse going through a building that Ethan breaks into later on in the film. This gives the audience a feel for what could happen later on and may hint at what is in the movie. This helps the audience establish the thriller genre and the style of the film as well. In a way, the path of the fuse tells us a short summary story of what is to come in the film. This helps it relate to the narrative of the film.

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Typography Typography is the way that the text/font is presented to the audience. This can include shape, size, colour and any effects added to the lettering. For example, when the title of ‘Ghost Protocol’ is shown, the producers have added a sort ghostly effect to it. Another example of this is that the title of ‘Mission impossible’ has the effect of being on fire. This is because the fuse looks as if it sets light to the title adding the sparkling effect to it. Typography can be used to give the audience a better understanding as to what the mood and style of the film is, weather it is a sad, comedic or an action-based film.

When the two most important actors in the film are being introduced to the audience (Tom Cruise and Simon Pegg) the camera shot is of the typography of the actor’s names and then straight after shows us a moving image of the actual character in the film. This is so the audience can relate the names to the faces of the actors and be more aware of who they are. They can then relate that actor to the other material that they have been in and other films they may have starred in. The colour of the typography links to the background of most of the opening to the film. It is a whitey grey colour which links to the background of the buildings shown in the opening.

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Camerawork Throughout the whole of the opening, the camera is shown to be following lit fuse. The camera moves along with it as the fuse wire travels through different scenes in the film and gives the audience a preview of some of the action later in the film. Pretty much all the camerawork in the opening titles is following the lit fuse through the action.

As well as this, there are a few high shots taken from a helicopter that show us an eagle-eye view of the building that Ethan Hunt breaking into in the film. They are shown through some sort of secret government computer that has al the information about the building on it. The camerawork used is very effective for the viewer as it does not only give us hints about the film, it also sets the scene and atmosphere of the film.

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Editing The editing of the opening titles is very effective for the audience. This is because it entices and intrigues them into the film and makes them want to watch on to find out what happens. The use if some aspects of editing makes the opening extremely visually effective. One of the most effective uses of effects in the opening sequence is the use of graphic match. This is where one image turns into another image that resembles the first one. This can be thorough colour or a match in the images shape.

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Sound

Page 8: Analysis of a Thriller Opening Sequence - MIGP

Mise-en-scene

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Enigmas

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How is the sequence engaging to watch?

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What makes an effective thriller opening?