Analyses of film openings we did in class (Children of Men and Lord of War)

Analyses of film openings we did in class (Children of Men and Lord of War)

I will be analyzing the film openings that i watched in class in: Genre, Narrative, Character, Atmosphere, Themes, Settings, Sound, and titles

Children of men

In order of Genre i believe this piece to by a hybrid genre (the mix of two genres) as i believe the fact its based on the future makes it a science fiction, whereas its stylistic jumpiness makes it very shocking, it could possibly be have a sub genre from thriller of psychological as I believe the whole plot of even the opening was very thought provoking with a drastic twist towards the end that makes the viewer think on their toes.
The narrative of the piece is explained very effectively through the black screen as we hear the vocals of a news report, the narrative is that their hasn't been any children born in over years and the whole of Britain has been consumed in a war, we discover during this that the youngest man alive has died.
As of Character the main protagonist is portrayed to be mysterious: however with the possibility of depression that's indicated through his reluctance to talk to anyone in the opening scene other then for his coffee and also the fact that he is seen poring alcohol into it, in broad daylight making him to be a vulnerable unsociable character.
The atmosphere of the piece is thrown at the viewer from the start, with the first thing we hear being news reports of war and no fertilisation and related pessimistic troubles it connoted that the atmosphere is depressive. This is then reflected by when the main protagonist goes outside, we see dirty streets with bin bags left out, and unclean buses et, to connote that no one really cares about anything anymore in this new hopeless society.
themes of the plat include Depression: as stated above this is connoted through the dirtiness of the city, and the reluctance of any conversation between characters. it also includes War: as said in the news report and presumably connoted by the explosion at the end. And lastly and most vitally the children-less society, as the news states representatively that the "youngest" man alive has died at 16, it is also connoted as the news refers to him as "baby Diego" (as he is 16).
The setting is very effective in this opening as the grim city really assists the theme of depression With bins just left around and the whole city just swimming in a mist of fumes and dust Connoting the reluctance to clean as it shows that no one cares as theirs to big tramours in their life's. Their is police warding the street to connote a sense of fear and law braking, and the street is compact with people connoting that they are possibly trying to stay busy to avoid thinking about the tragedies of their time.
The sounds is also very important as the first thing we hear is the voice of new reporters connoting that their is a tragedy instantly making the opening serious. Even the small dialect as the main protagonist is making his way through saying "excuse me" is extremely effective, no body replies however dose move connoting the real awkwardness between interaction at this point. The street however is vitally important as the honks, engines, squeaks of rusty cars and even the shuffle of passing podestrions connotes a very despite what's happening a working city, showing perhaps people are trying to work to forget about their problems. It also made for a huge build up in noise leading to the crescendoed climax of the explosion, which connotes fear, and war.
The titles are very minimalistic just Bold and white on a black background. I believe the minimalistic titles apart from showing respect to those who contributed helped connote the theme of depression, just plain uncoloured words that reflects the scenery later to be found around the protagonist.

Lord of War

In genre i would say this film is a war film, as the whole opening is based on the POV (point of view) of a bullet, as bullets connote war and weaponry. this is also connoted as their is an actual war at the end of the opening where the bullet is fired into someone head. the fact that this whole war process and ammunition stock looks very unprofessional and UN-organised with squabbling and such, it could be signifier of the representation of a "crime" sub genre.
The narrative to the openings is showing the lifestyle of a bullet from being created to transported to loaded to shot out of a gun this is all perfect connotations for war.
As the main protagonist isnt much seen all that can be gathered from his character is that he is professional as connoted by the suit, differing from every other person seen, and that his intents are good as he is not involved within the crime scene be-four.
The atmosphere of the bullets life is a very slow paced one  it connotes a disturbingly juxtaposing relaxing side of war for the bullet, just surviving and travelling, until in the very end where it gets fired into someone skull.
Themes of the piece consist of War as connoted through the bullet and the fight scene. Crime as shown by solider supplying this ammunition to said mercenary's. And death as connoted by the man that was shot at the end.
The setting changed through the life of the bullet as he was transported but the setting change showed the descent from regular war to the crime world, originally being shown in manufacture by professionals then used by the army to trade to the mercenary's then shot into someone head. this diversity connotes the complete process of war for the bullet. The fact that the bullet is one of many and is often just shuffled around or picked up and thrown is used to connote weakness juxtaposing the actual damage it could do until is is then shot to kill a man. This is an analogy on war and how it is brushed aside and disregarded and is used to connote the magnitude of the danger to the audience.
Sound is important as it helps set pace to the peice, as the whole thing was edited around the song "Buffalo Springfield - For What It´s Worth", this song is very effective due to how anti-war it is. It represents the meaning of the film and connotes Nicholas Cages thoughts: "there's battle lines being drawn, Nobody right if everybody wrong".
The Titles to the peice are very simplistic, just plain and white, however they flow within the peace very graciously fading in and out, assists the juxtaposing smooth pace of the bullets life.