Opening Credits Analysis 1 - Skyfall

Analysis of Skyfall Opening Credits

The opening credits instantly start with loud music and James Bond falling into the water but with no panic. The colours that have been used are dark blues and sometimes light blue to show the direction in which he is heading.

The music then kicks in with 'Skyfall' and we see James Bond being pulled under the water by a large hand as if something else is controlling him and he is a puppet. Then we see his legs but with no hand as he is heading towards a hole in the seabed. A  point-of-view shot has been used so we would feel as if we were James Bond.

As he falls into the hole in the seabed, 'Skyfall' is shown on the screen and then this fades out as he goes deeper. Cross fades have been used into the next shot.

We are shown a target with blood pouring from it and this foreshadows what is to come. We can instantly see from this shot that the film is going to have a lot of violence in it and possibly training to kill because these 'dummies' are used when police/ military are training. The shots continue to use dark blues with the light blue to show light on important parts of the shot such as faces, guns or blood.

When the chorus of the music kicks in the shots have used a red colour and this connotes blood. It foreshadows what will happen through the film. The music has also used a title hook 'Skyfall' is sang in the chorus and this is also the name of the film.

We are then shown a close up of 007's eye and the red hue has faded a lot but we can see the light blue of his eye which connotes that he is the good in the evil.

A crane has been used when we see James Bond shooting his shadows, it is almost as if he feels small and he is trying to escape from himself. A sepia effect has been used on this shot and this connotes that he can never have a taste of reality in his life because all he knows is how to kill so he will never live the 'normal life'.

The blue and red colours have then been used in the same shot, the red acting as pouring blood and the blue connoting the good in the blood. This connotes that the good could be easily destroyed. The blood then creates a skull which connotes death and toxicity.

The next shot shows a gun and it zooms in on the end of it where we can see fire through it. Fire connotes destruction but warmth and this could foreshadow what is going to come in the film.

A black and white effect has been used in the next shot of the woman moving around and this gives the impression that something is unbalanced and no one knows which way to go, almost as if there is a constant divide in what's right and wrong. There is also a kaleidoscope effect which connotes unbalance and a dizzy feel to the film.

The skull appears again in black and white and then we are shown a graveyard which we associate with loss and misery.

James Bond's eye is shown again and zooms in on it as the music begins to fade, the same chord has been used at the end of the music as at the beginning and this connotes that although there could be some trouble everything will fall back into place again.

Order of Titles:

The Production Company

Main Character

Title

Starring

Actors

Co-Producers

All of the roles of set design, makeup/ hair, costume, effects etc.

Casting

Main titles designed by

Special Effects

Stunt Coordinator

Editors

Director of Photography

Production Designer

Music By

Performed By, Written By, Produced By (music)

Executive Producer

Written By

Produced By

Directed By