In Depth Analysis of The Amazing Spiderman 2
The Amazing Spiderman 2 opening scene:
Mise-En-Scene: Setting
The very first thing shown at the start of this sequence is the spider logo on the back of Spiderman's suit. This is showing the audience that he may have evolved from a spider. The camera zooms out suddenly to show the rest of Spiderman's body which shows that he may have started as a spider but is now has a human-like figure. This links in with the name of the film being "The Amazing Spiderman" which suggests that he has become something different, like never before. This creates a great sense of enigma for the audience as they're not too sure as to what they should expect. Spiderman is then shown to be falling from the sky towards the city with the camera tracking him then suddenly zooming out which showed the audience the place that the film is set. The camera then zooms out further to show the audience New York with Spiderman swinging from building to building which suggests that he is looking over New York city like a surveillance camera. Tall buildings show a large urban, metropolitan area. Furthermore, Spiderman flinging off tall buildings further emphasises his powers. This also helps to show his dominance in the film. He is then shown to be flying alongside helicopters which further enhances the audience's knowledge of how high Spiderman can fly.
Mise-En-Scene: Props/Costume
In this opening sequence, we are immediately greeted with Spiderman himself which shows the audience his costume. He is shown to be wearing a "typical" superhero suit as it's worn in conjunction with a mask and is red and blue. The choice of colours on this suit represent that he's related to spiders due to the red colour which signifies poisonous spiders. In addition to this, the red parts of his suit have a spider web-like design which also helps the audience to understand that he may have powers like spiders such as being able to make webs.
Mise-En-Scene: Characters/Objects
The opening sequence of this film shows that Spiderman is swinging from building to building which shows the audience that he can reach great heights due to each building looking like a skyscraper. This shows his power to the public and that he is somewhat superior due to the height at which he is swinging over New York. We are then shown a point of view shot of the buildings from Spiderman's perspective which also tell the audience the audience that he is "reaching great heights". I use this double entendre as it means that he is physically reaching new heights as well as "great heights" of protecting New York against any crime. We can differentiate between good and evil as the criminal leading the heist of the plutonium conforms to the dominant ideology of being a bulky person with a completely shaved head.
After this series of events, we are also shown supposed criminals who seem to have stolen a truck and are being chased by the city police (NYPD). This ties into the representation of Spiderman being a superhero as he is shown to be chasing these criminals down and preventing them from getting away.
Mise-En-Scene: Lighting and Colour
In terms of lighting, low key lighting is used to ensure that Spiderman stands out with his bright red and blue suit. This gives the audience who may not have seen the first instalment of this film the idea that he is going to be the main character for the rest of this film. An example of this is, at the very start of the film, we are shown a blank black screen through which the Spiderman symbol is shown in a slow fade-in effect. During his descent towards the city, everything brightens up to establish the scene of him swinging from building to building. However, his suit still seems to gleam which again, somewhat represent his power which is being used to protect the city.
Acting
The acting at the start of this film is very focused on Spiderman himself as it starts off by showing him and his powers through which he his flying over New York. Spiderman seems very relaxed to start off with and it looks as though he's flying around just for fun. However, as he's flying, he seems to become serious as he hears that a truck carrying plutonium is being hijacked. He is portrayed as a witty superhero as he's stopping the criminals from getting away as well as saying jokes and being funny.
Make-Up
It is not known whether any make-up is worn at this stage as Spiderman is dressed in the typical "superhero" suit where his whole body is covered. However, the criminal at the start is shown to have tattoos which are usually symbolic of a negative or villainous character.
Setting
It can be established that the film is being shot in America as the typical American cabs are shown. Not only that, but NYPD police cars are also shown which is the New York Police Department.
Camera
There are various camera techniques used during the opening sequence of the film. At the very start, there is an extreme close up of the spider embroidery on Spiderman's suit followed by a slow zoom out and tracking shot which makes the audience feel as though they are flying with him too. To add to this, a rather unusual point of view shot is also used to enhance the audience's interaction with the film as though they are present in the film.
Editing
The editing used in the film is very sleek and flows together quite well. For example, at the start, as a blank screen is shown, the image of the spider is faded in slowly to allow the audience enough time to think about what may happen. This also allows the audience to establish who the main character is. Matching on action is a technique used quite a lot as it reduces the amount of time each move takes but also flows quite smoothly. For example, as Spiderman dives towards the ground, a tracking shot is used to follow him all the way down up until he shoots a web onto a building. At this moment, matching on action is used as we can see him shoot the web, then we're suddenly shown him swinging up towards the building.
Sound
The first soundtrack which starts with the film is upbeat and has a heroic feel to it. This increases the likelihood of the audience realising that Spiderman is in fact, the main character and superhero of the film. The non-diegetic soundtrack seems to speed up as Spiderman is swinging between the buildings which creates a sort of enigma for the audience as they're not quite sure as to what they should expect. The suspense is built up so the audience is left to guess whether he will hit the ground or spray a web and pull himself up again.
Enigmas
The opening sequence of The Amazing Spiderman 2 creates multiple enigmas such as:
Will Spiderman hit the ground?
The soundtrack leaves the audience thinking "What will happen next?"
Why is he flying around helicopters?
Mise-En-Scene: Props/Costume
In this opening sequence, we are immediately greeted with Spiderman himself which shows the audience his costume. He is shown to be wearing a "typical" superhero suit as it's worn in conjunction with a mask and is red and blue. The choice of colours on this suit represent that he's related to spiders due to the red colour which signifies poisonous spiders. In addition to this, the red parts of his suit have a spider web-like design which also helps the audience to understand that he may have powers like spiders such as being able to make webs.
Mise-En-Scene: Characters/Objects
The opening sequence of this film shows that Spiderman is swinging from building to building which shows the audience that he can reach great heights due to each building looking like a skyscraper. This shows his power to the public and that he is somewhat superior due to the height at which he is swinging over New York. We are then shown a point of view shot of the buildings from Spiderman's perspective which also tell the audience the audience that he is "reaching great heights". I use this double entendre as it means that he is physically reaching new heights as well as "great heights" of protecting New York against any crime. We can differentiate between good and evil as the criminal leading the heist of the plutonium conforms to the dominant ideology of being a bulky person with a completely shaved head.
After this series of events, we are also shown supposed criminals who seem to have stolen a truck and are being chased by the city police (NYPD). This ties into the representation of Spiderman being a superhero as he is shown to be chasing these criminals down and preventing them from getting away.
Mise-En-Scene: Lighting and Colour
In terms of lighting, low key lighting is used to ensure that Spiderman stands out with his bright red and blue suit. This gives the audience who may not have seen the first instalment of this film the idea that he is going to be the main character for the rest of this film. An example of this is, at the very start of the film, we are shown a blank black screen through which the Spiderman symbol is shown in a slow fade-in effect. During his descent towards the city, everything brightens up to establish the scene of him swinging from building to building. However, his suit still seems to gleam which again, somewhat represent his power which is being used to protect the city.
Acting
The acting at the start of this film is very focused on Spiderman himself as it starts off by showing him and his powers through which he his flying over New York. Spiderman seems very relaxed to start off with and it looks as though he's flying around just for fun. However, as he's flying, he seems to become serious as he hears that a truck carrying plutonium is being hijacked. He is portrayed as a witty superhero as he's stopping the criminals from getting away as well as saying jokes and being funny.
Make-Up
It is not known whether any make-up is worn at this stage as Spiderman is dressed in the typical "superhero" suit where his whole body is covered. However, the criminal at the start is shown to have tattoos which are usually symbolic of a negative or villainous character.
Setting
It can be established that the film is being shot in America as the typical American cabs are shown. Not only that, but NYPD police cars are also shown which is the New York Police Department.
Camera
There are various camera techniques used during the opening sequence of the film. At the very start, there is an extreme close up of the spider embroidery on Spiderman's suit followed by a slow zoom out and tracking shot which makes the audience feel as though they are flying with him too. To add to this, a rather unusual point of view shot is also used to enhance the audience's interaction with the film as though they are present in the film.
Editing
The editing used in the film is very sleek and flows together quite well. For example, at the start, as a blank screen is shown, the image of the spider is faded in slowly to allow the audience enough time to think about what may happen. This also allows the audience to establish who the main character is. Matching on action is a technique used quite a lot as it reduces the amount of time each move takes but also flows quite smoothly. For example, as Spiderman dives towards the ground, a tracking shot is used to follow him all the way down up until he shoots a web onto a building. At this moment, matching on action is used as we can see him shoot the web, then we're suddenly shown him swinging up towards the building.
Sound
The first soundtrack which starts with the film is upbeat and has a heroic feel to it. This increases the likelihood of the audience realising that Spiderman is in fact, the main character and superhero of the film. The non-diegetic soundtrack seems to speed up as Spiderman is swinging between the buildings which creates a sort of enigma for the audience as they're not quite sure as to what they should expect. The suspense is built up so the audience is left to guess whether he will hit the ground or spray a web and pull himself up again.
Enigmas
The opening sequence of The Amazing Spiderman 2 creates multiple enigmas such as:
Will Spiderman hit the ground?
The soundtrack leaves the audience thinking "What will happen next?"
Why is he flying around helicopters?
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