Film Opening Research #1 - Skyfall

Skyfall Opening Sequence
    
Analysis
There are 32 titles displayed during the opening sequence.  Most of the prioritized images include James Bond himself.  However, there is also heavy imagery hinting at the main themes that the 007 franchise often deals with, such as death (gravestones, blood, and skulls), lust (women and weapons), psychopathy and mental disorders (Rorschach inkblot images), and betrayal (deceitful shadows). The camera is almost exclusively zooming into these symbols to either reveal what they hide behind them or use them as transitions for the next shot. This title sequence cleverly plays off the question of "will James Bond survive the fatal bullet?" It constantly goes back to the imagery of Bond with a bullet wound on his chest, and even shows him doing it to himself, suggesting that he caused this fate himself through the choices that he made. This is one of the main dramatic questions of the film, as Bond faces the risks and consequences of the job he takes on, which is why it's so beautiful to see it played out in the opening titles. 
        This film is a spy thriller, which is mainly represented through the dense fog that carries on throughout the opening credits, although it sometimes takes the form of smoke, blood, and shadows.  CGI is cleverly used to make these images come to life and seamlessly transition between each other. Adele's "Skyfall" provides a mysterious and dramatic tone to the sequence. It even uses some undertones from the original James Bond theme. This, along with the low-key lighting that is used throughout most of the opening, makes it all the more secretive. This is exactly the feel that an audience would expect from this character. 

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