Analysing Opening Sequences - The Avengers

Scene Summary

 Narration is heard as the second production logo has faded out in the cube. The next scene begins in a dark place. It looks like outer space but looks very creepy. The person who speaks is not shown in the extract and we have a no head shot of the second person who is kneeling towards the other. This shows that one of them is superior to the other. This could also represent how much power each character has. The one who is sitting down gives the other person a sharp object which looks like a weapon. It looks sharp and there is something blue glowing in the middle. The little pieces of video are taken and presented in short clips with mysterious/creepy music – an example of dynamic editing. This scene finishes as the animation zooms in toward the blue cube and fades into the next scene.

 The first thing we see in next scene is a helicopter, which could represent conflict. It is also very dark outside which seems like it is night time. The camera pans upwards, giving the audience a better look at the area. This is the establishing shot/ aerial shot where the film begins. There are lots of buildings, lights and vehicles which tells us that it is an urbanised area. We get a closer look at the area as the helicopter is flying over.

 The people seem very busy and look like they are evacuating the area. We also can hear non-diegetic music/ announcement in the background to evacuate the area. It looks like a conflict zone. We can see lots of military trucks as well as civilians.

 We are introduced to the first character using a close up. The character is well smartly dressed and wears sunglasses; it looks like one side of the character's face is darker than the other (use of lighting). The helicopter lands and two people come out from the helicopter. We are introduced to them in a low angle shot/group shot.

 Sound

Non-diegetic music begins right from the start of the movie. The production logo music is adopted to suit the film. The music gives the audience a mysterious/scary feeling. Synchronous sound adds in as narration. The voice keeps on bouncing back and makes things even creepy. Then the non-diegetic music comes in to the movie, we first hear the helicopter and then the vehicles. We also can hear people shouting, talking, walking etc. Everything sounds very busy. 

      The opening few clips, were dark and creepy. In this shot, it is a POV as we are seeing the stairs through a person’s perspective.

   The lighting in this shot makes it really hard to see the character’s face, this adds to the mystery of the movie, as the director intended it to be this way, so the audience feel suspense, as they are waiting for the identity of the character to be revealed. This a two shot, as we can see two characters on screen, the two shot has been put in place, and so the audience can see the relationship between the characters.



     This the no head shot where the superior one gives a weapon to the other. It looks like this person is the villain. The no head is again done for the build of suspense.

     This is the first establishing shot we get in the film. It is an aerial shot. It looks very dark and the lights really stand out.

     This is a much more detailed/closer establishing shot which is taken by having the camera on a downward tilt and this shot lets the audience see what’s happening in the area.

      The first character on screen captured using a mid-shot. He is dressed smart and wears sunglasses

     We are introduced to two more characters using a low angle group shot. It gives detail as to where they are and how they are dressed.

Titles and Credits

 There are three separate titles before the movie actually starts; two of them are distribution and production credit titles, which are graphically put together using a dissolve effect. But the first slide showed a cube and the two production logos, appear out of it. This is some kind of clue, as the cube could be related to the movie and must have some significance.

The two things that stand out of this opening are the lighting (very dark which adds a tense atmosphere) and the use of diegetic sound to create a sense of action. We need to remember that not everything is about what happens and we need to think really carefully about the other techniques like mise-en-scene and sound.