Opening Sequence Analysis: Part One

Batman: The Dark Knight - Opening Sequence Analysis

My detailed breakdown of the opening sequence of Batman: The Dark Knight (2008) - Click HERE to view sequence.

Who/What has been selected? What can you see? Why is it there?

DENOTATION
A bank robbery featuring 'criminals' of Gotham city. The Character of The Joker is introduced. His personality is revealed. Themes include Game theory vs. fair division, as well as more basic themes (Morality vs. Evil.)

CONNOTATION

The Joker is introduced as an incredibly intelligent and cunning character, this is shown through his organisation of a complex and ingenious bank robbery. Furthermore The Joker is portrayed as ruthless and greedy through his insistence that each mobster should kill his partner to increase each member’s pay-out. We see the cowardice and intense greed of the mobsters of Gotham when they agree to the Joker’s scheme of game theory, The Joker prevails as the only remaining member of the robbery, this infers his superior intelligence in comparison to Gotham’s other criminals.

Mise-en-scene - Locations, Costumes, Props, Casting, NVC, Lighting, Colour

DENOTATION
The location, Gotham City, visually stunning cityscapes. Each criminal sports a plastic clown mask – hiding expressions. Well lit, crime carried out in broad daylight.

CONNOTATION
The scale of Gotham City shows the ambition and scale of the robbery. The clown masks portray the criminals as conformists and anonymous, These masks also insinuate that the criminal’s work for The Joker as the Jokers image is similar to that of a clown.

Technical construction - Camerawork, Special Effects, Resolution

DENOTATION

Opens with breath-taking aerial shots of the fictional Gotham City, memorable use of aerial tilt. Many tracking shots and pans.


CONNOTATION

Extreme long opening shots act as establishing shots and again show the scale of the crime and more-so give the fictional Gotham City a sense of identity. The aerial tilt and opening long shots also manipulate the use of IMAX cameras deployed in the main action sequences. 

Audience - Demographic, Psychographic

The age demographic of the Batman franchises has traditionally been fairly young (Batman is based on a comic book series of the same name.) However the Dark Knight aims to appeal to a far wider audience, this is reflected in the opening sequence with the use of gritty scenes of death as well as the far darker portrayal of The Joker. The film will appeal more to males due to the dark and gritty atmosphere of the film; the mainprotagonist and antagonist are also male characters. The film features violence, action, a tight, clever and sophisticated plot as well as very strong performances from A-list actors, it meets the needs and wants of avery wide demographic.