Textual Analysis of Mission Impossible 4 Blog post #25

Textual Analysis of Mission Impossible 4 (Ghost Protocol) - 2011

Textual Analysis 2/3 - Blog Post #25

               

Representation:

The opening title sequence for Mission Impossible 4 (Ghost Protocol) is full of action, the characters within the sequence are represented as being heroic for example the main character Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is portrayed as a very masculine character for example he is wearing a vest which shows his muscles which suggests strength and power. Furthermore at the start when the two characters come down through the zip wire the first man falls over which shows that he is not used to it whereas Tom Cruise comes down with no problem at all which suggests that he is professional and that he has had practice in these types of  'jobs' before.

Camera:

In terms of camera work there is a lot of motion control this is when the fuse is introduced, the fuse is being burned and it moves along whilst constantly tracking around different sceneries, the fact that the camera is constantly moving helps create the sense of action and thriller, both of which are the key genres within the film, furthermore the fuse being ignited whilst moving creates upbeat action which could suggest that time is running out (ticking clock scenario).

Sound:

The sound within this opening title sequence allows the audience to familiarise with the film series, the fact that this is the fourth installment of the Mission Impossible series the audience may already know the theme tune as it has stayed the same throughout all movies, for example Harry Potter does this, within the opening title sequence the soundtrack is played at the beginning in order to remind audience which could potentially give a nostalgic feeling. Furthermore the sound of the fuse burning is running in the background of the soundtrack, this creates a tense feeling as the noise is almost 'sizzling' this creates a more realistic professional opening title sequence. Moreover in the underwater scene you can hear the water almost as if the you're (the audience) inside the water which again makes it seem more professional and 3 Dimensional.

Mise-en-scene:
The mise-en-scene within this opening title sequence is constructed very well in order to maintain the thriller convention. For example the use of dark lighting suggests that the film may consist of dark scenes such as killing and the use of weaponry.

The props used in the opening title sequence also suggest that the work they are doing may jeopardise their health, for example whilst coming down the zip line already suggests that they are working under cover and that they should not be there. Furthermore Tom Cruise is holding a torch and the female is also wearing headgear with a troch attachment which suggests the place they have entered is dark which could suggest death and potential hazards.

In terms of setting the beginning of the opening title sequence is set underground, this shows that unusual things are happening which suggests that they may be under threat, this is because their route isn't considered as a standard route.

Editing:

 The editing within this title sequence is fantastic, it really complements the genre. For example the fact that the fuse is running all the way through whilst the credits are being displayed it creates a sense of a ticking clock scenario (as mentioned earlier), this connotes that there may be danger after the timer has run out which creates tension and a sense of fear as the audience do not know what will happen. Furthermore the use of capital 3D text creates a sense of sudden urge and really complements the tracking of the camera, furthermore the ignition of the fuse (whilst being burned) forms the text 'Mission Impossible' which is a clever technique whilst editing, the text was motion tracked so that the movement fits in with the action.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this opening title sequence is quite subversive, this is because the title sequence itself is a compilation of other scenes in the film, whereas normally we would expect the opening title sequence to be an exclusive introduction clip where the title gives us the audience a sense of narrative. The title sequence is action packed and creates a lot of drama from the very start, the use of fuse as mentioned earlier creates a jumpy and tense mood.