Analysis into the opening sequence of 'Red Dragon' (2003)
Initial Titles
Mise en scene:
Mise en scene:
The colour of the majority of the writing for the opening titles is white with the first word coloured red, the connotation of this suggests that evil is coming before goodness. The colour white suggests purity and goodness, where as the colour red suggests evil, horror, blood and danger. The background colour of the title screen is black, the connotation of this is, death, sinister. The way that the opening titls have been designe is an early indicator of a horror/thriller film.
Sound:
The opening title music is high pitched, piano, violin orchestral music, which suggests it is not a children’s film. This music reinforces the fact that it is a horror/thriller film.
Editing: The main character appears to be annoyed at flute player for playing wrong thing he tilts head and squints his eyes, the connotation of this is like a dog who is ‘eyeing up’ food. This suggests that this character is a predator of some sort.
Mise en Scene:
Dr Hannibal Lecter (main character) is upper class as he is a doctor, he knows that the flute player has gone wrong because he is musical and is sophisticated. It is clear that he is well off, wearing suits, posh clothes.
Hannibal squints eye which shows that he is being made to feel uncomfortable.
The juxtaposition of Hannibal is central in audience, which means that attention is drawn to him straight away, this is important because he is a major character.
Camera Angles:
Establishing shot of theatre - Framing – extreme long shot. Looks like a point of view shot from above, shot from the middle of a row of seats. Close up to emphasise emotion – anger, sadistic, prey.
Conductor looks displeased by flute player playing wrong thing – close up
Sound:
The opening title music is high pitched, piano, violin orchestral music, which suggests it is not a children’s film. This music reinforces the fact that it is a horror/thriller film.
Editing: The main character appears to be annoyed at flute player for playing wrong thing he tilts head and squints his eyes, the connotation of this is like a dog who is ‘eyeing up’ food. This suggests that this character is a predator of some sort.
Opening titles fade in and fade out. Main character is first name that comes up, the person who plays Hannibal. This is the most important character.
Scene 1 - TheatreMise en Scene:
Dr Hannibal Lecter (main character) is upper class as he is a doctor, he knows that the flute player has gone wrong because he is musical and is sophisticated. It is clear that he is well off, wearing suits, posh clothes.
Hannibal squints eye which shows that he is being made to feel uncomfortable.
The juxtaposition of Hannibal is central in audience, which means that attention is drawn to him straight away, this is important because he is a major character.
Camera Angles:
Establishing shot of theatre - Framing – extreme long shot. Looks like a point of view shot from above, shot from the middle of a row of seats. Close up to emphasise emotion – anger, sadistic, prey.
Conductor looks displeased by flute player playing wrong thing – close up
Scene 2 - Dinner Party
Mise en Scene:
The interior of Hannibal's house is posh, not typically American, his home is more like an English home as it shows much of the typical iconography of an English, Victorian dining room. The props are things such as posh crockery, china, and posh food. Hannibal is hosting a sophisticated occasion for upper-class people. He is pouring red wine for guests, the connotation of this could suggest blood of Christ, red wine is commonly associated with religion, which is ironic because Hannibal in his actions is extremely immoral - as he is a murderer, and a cannibal. Red wine is commonly drank around winter time. Hannibal is circling the table, in the same way that a predator would circle their prey.
Sound:
Dialogue: “cribbing lines from Horus” – The man at the dinner party is upper-class and of intelligence.
When the woman asks Hannibal what he has made for them to eat, he replies with “if I tell you, you wont even try it” Hannibal appears to be calm, but also being serious but the woman doesn’t realise it, thinks he's joking.
Camera Angles:
Mise en Scene:
The interior of Hannibal's house is posh, not typically American, his home is more like an English home as it shows much of the typical iconography of an English, Victorian dining room. The props are things such as posh crockery, china, and posh food. Hannibal is hosting a sophisticated occasion for upper-class people. He is pouring red wine for guests, the connotation of this could suggest blood of Christ, red wine is commonly associated with religion, which is ironic because Hannibal in his actions is extremely immoral - as he is a murderer, and a cannibal. Red wine is commonly drank around winter time. Hannibal is circling the table, in the same way that a predator would circle their prey.
Sound:
Dialogue: “cribbing lines from Horus” – The man at the dinner party is upper-class and of intelligence.
When the woman asks Hannibal what he has made for them to eat, he replies with “if I tell you, you wont even try it” Hannibal appears to be calm, but also being serious but the woman doesn’t realise it, thinks he's joking.
Camera Angles:
Shot from table, looking up at Hannibal the connotation of this is showing he has power, dominance and is superior to the other peole around the table.
Crane shot from orchestra stage, to audience showing Hannibal central to everyone else
Scene 3 - Agent's VisitCrane shot from orchestra stage, to audience showing Hannibal central to everyone else
Mise en Scene:
Dr Hannibal's relationship to the agent is like a father, as there is obvious closeness between them, he touches his shoulder which suggests a friendly bond, or perhaps kinship. They are both dressed in white shirts which shows that they are similar, and have similar taste in clothing. The agent must have felt comfortable and close enough to Hannibal to visit his home late at night.
The décor of Hannibal's house has a lot of detail, with many ornaments, antiques, religious books, and freaky sculptures present. There are Japanese figurines around the room which directly relates to hannibals past. The arrows are significant in the room, the connotation of arrows is that they are used by 'hunters'.
The page selected in the book that the agent picks up has 'sweetbreads' highlighted, which is cooked organs, probably human's. This confirms the agents suspections that Hannibal is cannibal killer.
Agent pulls out gun as he realises Hannibal is killer, but ends up stabbing Hannibal with arrows, the connotation of this is the hunter becomes hunted, which shows irony.
When monsters are hurt, they carry on – Hannibal has been stabbed, but carries on walking forward to attack agent.
Dr Hannibal's relationship to the agent is like a father, as there is obvious closeness between them, he touches his shoulder which suggests a friendly bond, or perhaps kinship. They are both dressed in white shirts which shows that they are similar, and have similar taste in clothing. The agent must have felt comfortable and close enough to Hannibal to visit his home late at night.
The décor of Hannibal's house has a lot of detail, with many ornaments, antiques, religious books, and freaky sculptures present. There are Japanese figurines around the room which directly relates to hannibals past. The arrows are significant in the room, the connotation of arrows is that they are used by 'hunters'.
The page selected in the book that the agent picks up has 'sweetbreads' highlighted, which is cooked organs, probably human's. This confirms the agents suspections that Hannibal is cannibal killer.
Agent pulls out gun as he realises Hannibal is killer, but ends up stabbing Hannibal with arrows, the connotation of this is the hunter becomes hunted, which shows irony.
When monsters are hurt, they carry on – Hannibal has been stabbed, but carries on walking forward to attack agent.
Scene 4 - Title Sequence
Mise en Scene:
The title sequence informs audience that the agent has retired and Hannibal has been locked away, this is done through the use of newspaper headers within a scrap book, which has perhaps been created by a fan, or admirer of Hannibal.
The beginning of the sequence it shows a picture of Hannibal as "Local doctor" who is happy and smiling.
However, the heading then changes to "Hannibal the cannibal!" which shows that he has been found out.
The agent is shown to be in a critical condition – "Ghastly wounds".
There are disturbing images in the scrap book, such as a young boy's face which has been scratched out and ripped, which shows that it could be the author of the book as a child, who is ashamed of what they've become, and doesn't want to look as his full face, perhaps he has turned into a monster. There is an old image of a naked woman smacking child’s bum, which looks like it had been taken a long time ago could this be an image of early child abuse? Perhaps early child pornography? There is a scary-looking picture which is labelled as ‘grandma’, could suggest that there is past family relations who have also been 'evil'. The intention of these pictures is to disturb audience and make them feel uncomfortable.
In the scrap book there is a passage from the Bible -revelations 12:3, and pictures which suggests either the person who created the scrap book, or Hannibal is literally turning into a ‘red dragon’.
The initial picture shows Hannibal looking slick, wearing a suit and drinking champagne. However, the last picture shows him wearing orange prisoner outfit, this is a massive contrast.
Titles appear round the edges of the pictures, they are noticeable but not the main focus.
Light shone on book shows time passing like day light, moves from one side of the book to the other.
“Id like to get you on my couch” – put him in a vulnerable position
“You strike me as a man who doesn’t make many mistakes” – suspecting Hannibal is killer
“Remarkable boy” - admires him and his courage
“Ill eat your heart first” – sinister
Music builds from quieter to louder as agent reads the book, music gets louder and louder – high pitched sound cannot carry on, something has to happen, climatic
Camera angles:
Over the shoulder shot of Hannibal showing a fake smileshows hes ‘got away’ with something – sadistic. The people get what they deserve – eating their friend when they mock him
Over the shoulder shot – audience doesn’t see mans face – Hannibal addresses him as ‘special agent’ and appears to portray the feeling that this encounter is an unexpected pleasure
Shot-reverse-shot from agent to book to build tension, zoom in on page.
Mise en Scene:
The title sequence informs audience that the agent has retired and Hannibal has been locked away, this is done through the use of newspaper headers within a scrap book, which has perhaps been created by a fan, or admirer of Hannibal.
The beginning of the sequence it shows a picture of Hannibal as "Local doctor" who is happy and smiling.
However, the heading then changes to "Hannibal the cannibal!" which shows that he has been found out.
The agent is shown to be in a critical condition – "Ghastly wounds".
There are disturbing images in the scrap book, such as a young boy's face which has been scratched out and ripped, which shows that it could be the author of the book as a child, who is ashamed of what they've become, and doesn't want to look as his full face, perhaps he has turned into a monster. There is an old image of a naked woman smacking child’s bum, which looks like it had been taken a long time ago could this be an image of early child abuse? Perhaps early child pornography? There is a scary-looking picture which is labelled as ‘grandma’, could suggest that there is past family relations who have also been 'evil'. The intention of these pictures is to disturb audience and make them feel uncomfortable.
In the scrap book there is a passage from the Bible -revelations 12:3, and pictures which suggests either the person who created the scrap book, or Hannibal is literally turning into a ‘red dragon’.
The initial picture shows Hannibal looking slick, wearing a suit and drinking champagne. However, the last picture shows him wearing orange prisoner outfit, this is a massive contrast.
Titles appear round the edges of the pictures, they are noticeable but not the main focus.
Light shone on book shows time passing like day light, moves from one side of the book to the other.
“Id like to get you on my couch” – put him in a vulnerable position
“You strike me as a man who doesn’t make many mistakes” – suspecting Hannibal is killer
“Remarkable boy” - admires him and his courage
“Ill eat your heart first” – sinister
Music builds from quieter to louder as agent reads the book, music gets louder and louder – high pitched sound cannot carry on, something has to happen, climatic
Camera angles:
Over the shoulder shot of Hannibal showing a fake smileshows hes ‘got away’ with something – sadistic. The people get what they deserve – eating their friend when they mock him
Over the shoulder shot – audience doesn’t see mans face – Hannibal addresses him as ‘special agent’ and appears to portray the feeling that this encounter is an unexpected pleasure
Shot-reverse-shot from agent to book to build tension, zoom in on page.
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