SkyfallTitle Sequence Analysis

Shot Types and Camera Angles• The title sequence to a Bond film is one

of it’s most iconic features, and it most tend to follow in the same footsteps as the ones before it in terms of style.

• A Bond film’s title sequence often reflects the theme of the film itself, and it does this in an artistic manner without spoiling the actual film.

• The same artistic shot types have been used to create this reflection of the storyline.

• As well as this the artistic portrayal also allows for a surreal feel to the sequence which increases the interest factor and draws in audiences.

• The sequence is primarily made up of CGI, animation and shots that are out of reality.

Lighting

• The lighting in the sequence is mostly dark and often has a blue tint to it. The dark lighting supports the darkness that surrounds the character James Bond and the actual darkness of the storyline that he actually follows, after all he is a spy which is a dark spot in most people’s lives as they don’t know much about it. The blue lighting reminds the audience that this sequence is taking place underwater which adds to the surreal element and ensures the audience don’t mistake this for anything other than the title sequence.

• At parts of the sequence the lighting switches to red which in this case is symbolic for blood or violence (there is even some blood in the sequence itself).

Mise en Scène & Typography

• In practically every Bond title sequence provocative women used throughout the sequence. They feature in the sequences because a main part of James Bond’s life is sex and women, it is also most often his downfall and on multiple occasions throughout bond sequences there will be a woman shooting him. In this case James is often shooting himself throughout the sequence, which is representative for the storyline that unfolds in the film where he trusts no one. A lot of guns, knives and other weapons can be seen as well which is expected from a bond film.

• The typography is rater basic but looks nice in the frame, this supports the artistic side to the sequence and doesn’t draw too much attention away from the action on screen.

Editing

• Pretty much every shot in the sequence has been edited in some way. Most of the shots are made up by animation but the rest of the time something surreal has been edited in to the shot. One of the most recognizable edits in the sequence is where the camera zooms on Bond’s eye and within his eye is the rest of the events of the title sequence. This could be symbolic for him being a spy therefore he watches everything but it could also be a sign that in this film James is fighting himself in a mental battle, which turns out to be one of the main features of the film. This goes back to the fact that the title sequence of a Bond film reveals the theme of the rest of the film.

Sound

• The only sound we get through the title sequence is the soundtrack “Adele – Skyfall” which is the theme song for this Bond film. The theme song is very iconic to a Bond film and is a large form of advertisement for the franchise, it is also a necessity for the title of the theme song to be the same as the actual film e.g. “Skyfall”, “Spectre”. The soundtrack also often reflects the theme/storyline of the rest of the film in it’s lyrics for example “This is the end” signifying the end of the MI6 James is used to.

Summary

• Overall I felt the title sequence was extremely effective in serving its purpose in the Bond franchise, the title sequences to this series have become a motif of the films and are usually very good.

• The most effective part of the sequence was the artistic format as it makes the sequence unique as well as interesting.

• Although it doesn’t really have you on edge it is clear what the theme of the film is going to be and it sets the audience up for the rest of the film.