#10 Prestige World-Wide 2 - Analysis of Opening Title Sequence from 'Mission Impossible'

In this opening title sequence of the film ‘Mission Impossible’ it really draws you in and is very dramatic. It is a short sequence of 48 seconds. Throughout the title sequence most of the shots are close-ups and extreme close-ups, there is a rapid shot change as it changes every second or half second. This is a technique to draw you in as everything is changing so quickly and it keeps you watching. Before the titles appear there is a build-up of many different rapid shot changes and then the title appears. When the titles appear there is a black background with in big font there is luminous white letters coming across saying ‘TOM CRUISE’ as the protagonist is ‘Tom Cruise’, these letters come in the background and come horizontally across the screen from right to left very fast. Whilst this is happening, in the foreground there is still writing saying ‘Tom Cruise’. This is not just done with the protagonist, it is done as in the foreground it says ‘Paramount Pictures Present’ and in the background it comes across saying ‘Paramount’. In this sequence, to show intensity and possibly suspense, it will show the character in a close-up shot, and then it will quickly change to the next shot of an extreme close-up, this draws the audience in and it does this almost every time you see the main characters in the opening sequence. The director will have a camera shot of the actor or actress and have it in normal colour, but then will change it to a luminous colour, this changes the mood and atmosphere of the title sequence as by lots of colour change it keeps you watching and interested. The director has started the title sequence with a match being lit and then put onto some dynamite, by having this as the opening clip; it tells the audience that there will be an element of action. What the director does is keep coming back to that burning piece of rope every few seconds of the title sequence; he also ends with the end of the rope being burnt and then an explosion, and then the final title ‘Mission Impossible’. This shows you that time is running out and there will be action and suspense. The costumes used in the title sequence is smart potential CIA costumes or field agents as the actors are wearing suits and it makes them look important. The lighting fluctuates between light and dark as there are bright lights as the rope is being burnt and things are blowing up and then usually dark scenes. Dark scenes with dark lighting are there to show that bad things can be done in dark places and there is potentially going to be something there that they cannot see. In the title sequence, there are sound effects as you can hear the lit fuse and the sizzling of the rope being burned, this shows time is running out and adds the extra effect with the noise instead of just seeing it. This lit fuse and sizzling takes place right at the beginning of the title sequence and it builds up the atmosphere until you get into the famous soundtrack of ‘Mission Impossible’. The soundtrack is very memorable as it is a very fast, it gives a thrilling feel and a feel of action.