Opening Sci-Fi Sequence Research – Star Wars

 Star Wars, A New Hope, is a successful Sci-Fi film apart of a sequel. Directed by George Lucas in 1977 this film stars Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker and Harrison Ford as Han Solo.  

The opening sequence starts with an establishing shot of outer space, with stars in the horizon and a dry planet below, possibly mars. Immediately a dramatic and adventurous non diegetic soundtrack kicks in, while two massive spaceships fly above where the camera is set. The pleonastic sound paired with the green and red lasers shooting at the spaceship ahead emphasises the action within this sci-fi film and that there is already conflict.  

A particular Sci-Fi element in the opening sequence is that the characters are robots. There is one gold robot and one silver both in human shape. We are also introduced to another smaller white and blue robot on wheels, all three can speak English. However, not all the characters are robots in this opening sequence, there are also humans in a grey and black uniforms with white helmets for protection. These characters all look very similar and act like the security or protectors of the spaceship, especially when they run to the door already to shoot the intruders.   

The tone is very fast paced, the audience is immediately dropped into the middle of the action. Within the first two minutes there is an action scene in one of the spaceships. The opposition explode the door open, and the two sides begin shooting at each other. The explosion is fiery pink which gives it another futuristic element. The enemies who step through the door are wearing full white hard amour, non humanly looking. The use of an outer world location, non-realistic characters and special effects all contributes to the Sci-Fi elements. 

If I’m being honest, I didn’t enjoy this opening sequence. I didn’t like that it was completely out of context. It just felt tacky and boring.  An opening sequence should grip you, and the only thing that was gripped was my phone. Although I didn't enjoy it, I do give credit to it considering that it would created in 1977. Without new technology and special effects Sci-Fi films are hard to create to a realistic level, this opening sequence did have some cool effects and shot types. 

The rest of the story could be about who sent these white stormtroopers and why they are coming to take over their spaceship. In the opening sequence they mention the how the princess won't be able to be saved. Maybe the film will be about the galaxy and the precious princess they have stolen or who are protecting. 

 

Opening Action Research - James Bond, Tomorrow Never Dies

 Opening Action Research – James Bond, Tomorrow Never Dies 

 

 

 

James Bond, Tomorrow Never Dies is an action sequel directed by Roger Spottiswoode in 1997. The film was produced by Sony Pictures and stars Pierce Brosnan as James Bond.  

 

Not only did the opening scene engage me but also the opening title sequence. The use of a catchy diegetic soundtrack ‘tomorrow never dies’ the name of the film, made the title sequence enjoyable to watch and memorable. The abstract, colourful pictures that featured weapons and human figures fitted nicely with the soundtrack and theme of the film. The x-ray and trippy effects flashing in and out kept me engaged because every second the images were different. Then to end the title sequence Bond shoots towards the camera and animated blood falls down the screen, the iconic James Bond non diegetic catch sound is played over it.  

In the very beginning of the opening scene, we can tell it is set on the Russian boarder due to the yellow title ‘A terrorist arms bazaar on the Russian boarder’ and the establishing shot of the home base surrounded by snowy mountains. At times, the audience are put as the perspective of the camera. The sequence then cross cuts to a spy's control room. We can tell it is a control room because all the people operating are wearing formal clothes such as suits and use ear pieces to communicate about their mission. Infront of the all workers on computers, which has hackers code on them, there are big screens of the Russian setting we saw previously. We are then shown another setting, through an establishing shot of a ship. The men are wearing sailor and caption costumes which shows the hierarchy in which they are working for the spy company. As we are shown this setting the non-diegetic soundtrack increases to show its importance and create higher stakes. The cross cutting immediately shows the audience that all the action in these separate settings are happening at the same time.  

 

The editing pace of the opening sequence is fast, which quickly shows that the stakes are high and that this film is action packed. The perspective through the camera along with the diegetic pleonastic sound effects of the camera zooming in and out and camera features like the ‘recording’ and hackers' number around the frame makes the audience feel like the spies. The non-diegetic soundtrack fits in parallel with the theme of being secretive and being on a mission, it is also iconic for being paired to Jams Bond, immediately we can tell action is coming.  The many locations, and fast paced editing paired with the close-up shots of the big red buttons triggering missiles from the ship is very actionesque, and this is only the first 4 minutes. The camera then crosscuts to the audience being in the perspective of the missile as though we are flying. This also creates tension because quickly we are getting closer and closer to the home base in Russia while the characters realise, they have made a mistake and try to destroy the missile before it blows it up. This opening sequence is filled with explosions, shooting, violence, agents and multiple locations. 

 

We get the idea that the people in Russia are the bad guys, as what they are doing in the scene looks illegal, their faces look suspicious. In comparison, the spies in the control room are on a mission to stop what the Russian workers are doing presumably.  We can tell Bond is the main character as he is the main agent, he also gets the most screen time in the fight. He is extremely well trained and saves the mission with his skills.  

 

The rest of the film will be around Bond and a certain mission he needs to complete. It probably adds on to the beginning in some way, but will involve lots of action, fights, twists and turns. This film was definitely successful in gripping the me into wanting to watch more, and what he'll do next.