Film Opening Research #2 - The Dark Knight

 Film Opening Research #2 - The Dark Knight

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences of the film?

    There are essentially no titles displayed throughout the opening of the film. The only things that appear at the very beginning are the logos from Warner Bros., Legendary Pictures, and DC Comics. Also, the logos that are displayed are tinted dark blue, which adds a serious tone to the film right from the get-go. I believe that this was done in order to establish a dark and brooding tone that the audience will understand immediately. 

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

    There isn't any specific image that is emphasized in the opening sequence, but there is something that is prioritized from the start. One of the criminals is that is attempting to rob the bank is shown a little more than the others, hinting that they may have some more importance. Of course, it turns out that that criminal is the Joker himself, which is referenced to be the mastermind behind the bank heist. What is striking about this is how he chooses to be right there, where the danger is, instead of away from it, which would guarantee his safety.

What connotations do the images carry?

    What the opening sequence heavily indicates is that the Joker is someone who is very malicious and will change Gotham, spirling it into chaos. The sequence also displays that Gotham may already be silently under siege by criminals as it explains how the bank is actually under the control of the mob. These set the stage for what it is Batman is going to have to overcome in order to free Gotham from the criminal masterminds.

How is the genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

    The beginning of the film sets out to have the audience understand that the movie is going to be dark and gritty, there will be a lot of action and violence, but as well as some philosophy. It shows how evil some can be, but also demonstrates that there is evil in ordinary people as well, like how the bank was being controlled by the mob.

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

    From the start, the movie doesn't being with any monologues or summaries, it goes right into the action, leaving the audience in the dark about what is going on and who is orchestrating the event. It is only through the words of the bank robbers that they understand what is going on. Similarly, the movie establishes the Joker as a force to be reckoned with, as he seemingly pulls off the heist with almost no effort at all. Having an imposing villain be established at the start of the movie will build the conflict with the hero, leaving the audience to feel much more satisfied when the hero defeats them.

How has technology been used effectively? You might want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques.

    There are a lot of quick cuts back and forth between the robbers to show off the plan that they have concocted. There are a couple of close-ups of the masks to highlight the insanity of the criminals as they attempt to rob the bank. Many of the transitions used throughout the scene are smash cuts as they occur when the robbers kill each other in order to receive more money at the end of the heist.