Opening Sequence to Skyfall (2012)

This opening sequence is extremely effective as the viewer is captivated within the mind of Bond as he sinks to the bottom of a riverbed after being shot by friendly fire during the film’s opening. Set in the background of his own private thoughts and memories, the sequence contains a combination of many themes: his past and current emotional state, his uncertain future, his many indistinguishable misdeeds and duties flashing before his eyes. It is the first Bond sequence, and the first Bond film, to dig into 007’s psychological past, both using his childhood home as an emotional safehouse and a prison, giving his character greater depth and a vulnerability more in step with creator Ian Fleming’s incarnation of this gallant, yet flawed, superspy. While the content and construction of the Skyfall titles are novel, darkening the tone significantly from past sequences and employing a Z-oriented digital camera without brakes, it does however stay true to the Bond title tradition, apparent both in its tempo and in the use of familiar images and typography. Adele’s theme song gives the sequence a dreamlike quality, acting both as a contrast to the abrasive subject matter and a complement to its sinister tones.

 The first thing that we see is a man that appears to be unconscious or dead sinking in deep water, presumably the sea.

  

As the sinking man falls and falls we realise that it is James Bond.  We also notice that his shirt is covered in blood. This may be foreshadowing the moment that his fellow MI6 agent, Eve inadvertently shoots Bond, allowing the person they are chasing, Patrice to escape. Bond then falls into a river and goes missing, presumed to be dead. 

 This shows the production company that is in charge of producing the film. While this is happening, we see what looks like another hand pulling Bond even further down. It looks like a women’s hand. This signifies how badly injured he is and that it was a woman that had shot him, that the order to shoot was given by a woman, and that to an extent Bond’s vulnerability as a character came from a woman’s betrayal.

 We then realise as the actor who plays Bond's name is displayed, that it is in fact a giant hand that is pulling him down by his ankles.

 The person who created James Bond, Ian Fleming, has his displayed so that he has some credit for the film because without him, there would be no Bond. We then also see the world from Bond's point of view and he continues to be dragged further and further down.

 The name of the film is displayed in white so that it stands out over the background. We then see Bond being dragged through an opening in the sand which symbolises the fact that he going through into a different world.

The name of the actor who played the villain in the film is displayed.

 As the names of the actors in the film are displayed, we see a gun target. The gun target which we later see is a picture of Bond, represents the fact that he is a targeted man in the film. Also, the fact that it is 'leaking' blood represents that Bond is attracting dangerous attention. 

We then see a female body in the water and we presume it is the famous 'Bond Girl' that is featured in every Bond movie.

The knives and guns falling down in the graveyard foreshadow when the villain is killed near the end of the film in a graveyard.

The fact that M's name is shown in the graveyard also foreshadows her death

As the sequence progresses, it is obvious that the camera seems to be moving forward all the time.

The change in setting during the sequence is achieved by moving through a portal of some description, for example an open door, the iris of Bonds eye.

In this frame, the camera is moving forward through water. The red substance is similar in appearance to seaweed or kelp but is the colour of blood and so signifies the violence and death within the film.

The camera keeps moving forward and we go through the gun into the next scene.

This is a reference to the scene where Bond sails through a river covered in Chinese lanterns

You then see Chinese Dragons as he continues across the water. The name of the Special Effects and Miniature Effects Supervisor and the Stunt Coordinator are displayed on this frame, which itself uses special effects to bring the dragon to life. 

 Bond sees his own reflection and shoots at it, a reference perhaps to his own self doubts. 

Foreshadows the use of violence within the film and sets the scene for the thriller (Bond's childhood home) by causing expectation of violence and death which is typical in a Bond movie.

The sequence finishes by zooming in slowly into Bond's startlingly blue eye so that we know that it is in fact Bond. 

http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/skyfall/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4gdhsVKTcs

http://movieline.com/2012/11/15/skyfall-james-bond-title-sequence-danny-kleinman-007/

Opening Sequence to Pulp Fiction (1994)

Before the opening sequence even begins, we see a man and a woman in a diner. They decide to rob it after realizing they could make money off the customers as well as the business, as they did during their previous heist. Moments after they initiate the hold-up, the scene breaks off and the title credits roll. Below is the man and the woman as they attempt to rob the diner.

The first thing that we see is the film corporation that made this film.

This shows the production company created by Quentin Tarantin that catapulted to fame as a result of this movie. Its logo is a stylized image of the robbers from Reservoir Dogs and it was formed in 1991. 

The production companies do lots of work so it is only fair that every movie gives them credit and shows their name in the opening sequence.

This shows that the film was written and directed by Quentin Tarantino

Next, the title of the film is introduced in big, bold letters as it rises up from the bottom of the screen. The simple black background makes the title of the movie stand out even more than it already does. The red lettering behind the yellow gives it an effect that makes it look 3D.

As the actors who are in the movie are displayed, the title of the movie get smaller and smaller until it is barely seen

The co-stars are shown quite quickly as these are actors that appear in the film briefly, including the director, Quentin Tarantino himself.

It then shows who was in charge of casting the actors to play the roles of the characters

It then shows the music supervisor, the person who combines music and visual media

Then the person in charge of the characters costumes

 Then the production designer, the person responsible for the overall look of the film

 The person who edited the film together

 It then shows the director of photography, who is chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, television production or other live action piece and is responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image.

The co-executive and executive producers are listed

The producer is shown just before the film starts and we see two men in a car talking to each other while one is driving. It then becomes apparent  that they are gangsters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI1yt38A9-E

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinematographer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_supervisor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Production_designer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulp_Fiction#.22Prologue.E2.80.94The_Diner.22

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Band_Apart