Analysing and Comparing 3 Opening Scenes

                                                                                               

The 1998 film, The Parent Trap is an adventure, comedy, drama starring Lindsey Lohan, Natasha Richardson and Dennis Quaid.

The opening establishing shot of the film is of the sea. The calm waves create a calm and idyllic setting for the audience. Nat King Cole's L-O-V-E plays during the introduction. This lounge style music creates a happy and positive mood immediately and adds to the audience feeling calm and relaxed.

The camera continues with a tracking shot over the sea and so you feel as if you are gliding over the sea and following a route. We then get a close up shot of a boat, which enables us to see the name of the boat: Queen Elizabeth 2, this suggests that this will be an important feature of the film and also tells the audience that this is set in the modern day as our current Queen is Queen Elizabeth 2.

The camera then zooms back out to enable the audience to watch the boat pass, which makes the audience feel as if they are on the sea watching the action take place, meaning that they are more involved and engaged in the action. The boat we see is large and lavish and therefore it has connotations of wealth and perhaps a special occasion.

The shot of the fireworks in the opening titles create connotations of celebration and continue the positive imagery and celebratory theme.

We then see a close up shot of the wheel of the boat, again, this is lavish and luxurious. The gold colours create connotations of wealth and luxury for the audience. Furthermore, the captain of the boat is dressed in a white blazer and has matching gloves which suggests to the audience that he is of importance. White is a very positive colour and is generally associated with the protagonists or angels and purity.

There is then a close up shot of a book, judging by the way it is held and the appearance of the book it appears that it may be the Bible. Again, the man holding the book is dressed in white formal clothes with gold buttons, connotating wealth and luxury. We then see what we automatically assume is a couple, joining hands, indicating to the audience that this could be a marriage ceremony.

It is then confirmed that it is a marriage ceremony because there is an extreme close up of a marriage certificate and a man signing his name.

The close up shot of the hands is repeated, however this time the female's hand is featured more heavily in the foreground and we see a ring being placed on her finger. The woman's hand is delicate and well manicured which could suggest that this is a special occasion as she has got her nails done and confirms the special occasion. The ring going on the finger is a very symbolic image and is often seen as a positive image because a couple is marrying.

This shot then fades into an extreme close up of the woman signing the marriage certificate.

We then see a mid long shot of a row of butler's, all dressed in identical white uniforms, lighting candles in synchronization . This highlights the formality of the event. The warm lighting and the laid tables adds to the wealth and lavish atmosphere which has already been created.

There is then a long shot of double doors and the couple (whose faces still have not been revealed to the audience) linking arms to walk through the doors. We then get a Point Of View shot as the couple walk through the doors and we see everything from their perspective, making us feel like we are part of the ceremony.

The 2007 film, Enchanted is an animation, comedy, family film starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey and James Marsden.

 

The film begins with a long shot of the classic Disney castle and then we zoom into the castle, making you feel like you are going into another world. The first thing we see is a book on a stand, a blue piece of material around it and some flowers. This creates connotations of the importance of the book as it is standing alone and it is raised up as if it is above everything else. The camera zooms in further and we are able to see that the book is called; "Enchanted". Therefore, the audience are ready to hear the tale and get the impression that it is an important story.

 

The book opens and the camera pans down to a low angle shot to signify the importance of the book. the book is a 'pop-up' book which has connotations of children and innocence. The book has a warm, golden/yellow glow which is a direct contrast to the dark blue background. This could have connotations of good within evil or the fact that evil will over rule all.

 

There is then a narration (Julie Andrews). This again is a typical 'fairytale' feature. The narrator has a very soothing voice and is very clear so it is easy to listen to and understand.

 

The camera then appears as if it is delving further into the book and so the audience feel like they are going further into the story and they feel a part of it.

 

Once we are in the other land, there are bright, light colours around. The first things we see are animals and nature. These are very unthreatening images and so make the audience feel safe and happy as it appears as if nothing bad will happen. Through the use of a long shot, we continue to see animals as we enter into the house in the trees.

Animals are very popular and so the audience will feel very comfortable and safe with the mount of animals around.
We then see a mid long shot of a 'beautiful maiden'. She is dressed in pink which has connotations of romance and love. It is a very innocent and girly colour and one that stands out amongst all the colours of nature. The fact that she is the first 'person' that we see, suggests that she will be the main protagonist within the film.

We then also hear dialogue from a chipmunk and get a close up of this animal, suggesting, unlike with the other animals, that he has a personality and will feature quite a lot within the film.

 

 

The 2004 film, The Notebook is a romantic drama film starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.

 

The Notebook begins with a wide long shot of a lake and a sunset above it. The main colours within this are black and red. These colours have connotations of evil and death and rage, however, red can also be associated with love and passion. The audience can see the silhouette of a man rowing across the lake. It is not clear which direction he is rowing in which creates an element of mystery and intrigue for the audience. The man rowing could suggest that this will be a prominent theme throughout the film.

 

 

 

Once the camera pans in closer to the rower, they are lit by the sunset which could suggest that they are the protagonist within the film and they are good due to them being highlighted and lit by the sunlight.

 

 

 

The camera them moves in further to the rower using a tracking shot. This is very effective because you feel as if you are following the rower and you are with them on their journey. The camera then moves back into an extreme long shot again which could perhaps have connotations of the rower being lost or having no sense of where they are rowing to.

 

The calm atmosphere created by the soundtrack is a strong contrast to the evil and powerful colours that are used within the opening scene.

 

After following the rower, we then see a flock of white birds (doves) pass by. These are very symbolic of purity and goodness and can be seen as a religious symbol too. Through the use of slow motion, it then becomes apparent that the birds are flocking to a house of some description, which overlooks the lake. It could be viewed as the birds showing the rower the way.

 

The camera then changes to an over the shoulder shot of an old woman looking over the lake. Here the whit doves become black because of the light, creating a sinister feel.

 

 

COMPARISON AND ANALYSIS

 

All of these films have similar and different features. The Parent Trap and The Notebook both rely solely on the soundtrack to set the scene and the tone for the rest of the film. This is very effective because it means that the audience can really focus on what is on the screen as they are not concentrating on dialogue. This is a good way of setting the scene and getting the audience interested in what is going on.

 

Enchanted is the most different of the three films because the opening scene is animation and unlike the other two films, contains bright colours and setting.

 

All three films use colour effectively to portray to the audience what sort of characters are in the film and who is good and who is bad.

 

Overall, I think all of the films set the scene very effectively, however I prefer the style of The Parent Trap and The Notebook because I really think that the soundtracks can change an audience's view of a film but can also let them make their own stories up.