Analysis of opening scenes- Skyfall

Within the first couple of seconds the audience automatically knows what film it is, even without watching the screen! Having the iconic music of James Bond, symbolises the theme of spy, action, guns and fight scenes and allows the male audience to fantasize on being a spy themselves.

Having the establishing scene as being a blurred but long distance shot, creates tension and wanting to know the unknown figure walking towards them. This effect of blurriness suggests the audience is looking from a hidden place as they are unable to adjust their eyes on the figure. However the figure begins to move towards the camera increasing the adrenaline of the audience. Having the bright light contrasting the figure may imply that they bring goodness and is seen and known as being heroic.

As the camera adjusts Mr Bond’s face emerges from the darkness, having half his face lit and the other half in complete darkness. The use of the lighting could imply that his character is good but has a concept of darkness and badness within himself as the half lit face implies this. On the other hand this symbolises the whole bond aspect of being a spy and hidden and all the missions being under lockdown throughout.

The use of the music in the background increases tension and suspense due to the use of sound increasingly getting louder. The ticking elements used in the music allows the audience to associate it with a clock ticking down, implying it is a race against time and it is limiting every action Bond is doing.

The use of props all follow the conventions of an action film as involving the use of guns, technology and killings of enemies all associates with this genre. Having guns and high tech devices present in the scene allows the male audience to imagine being a spy as this attracts them to the film. The dialogue into the hidden microphone on Bond allows the audience to hear who he is talking to, which is a woman’s voice. The voice is very demanding, which gives an insight of her character being very forcefully and demanding. This shows the gender role change as women are not seen as having lots of authority over men, however does show that men do the dirty work, which suggests the gender in society of men and women are expressed as equals.

Having the low angled view of one of Bonds colleague dying due to a gunshot wound, makes the audience sympathise for the spy as it shows the emotions of desperation for surviving. The audience gains mixed emotions as they feel sorry for the spy but also may make them dislike the female voice as she said to Bond to carry on and to forget about him. The use of the light shining on the dying spy could suggest that he is going to a better place and shows his heroicness to whatever happened before James got there.