Analysis of the opening sequence of Casino Royale

We can see that this is an action film from the opening sequence because there is a fight scene a few minutes in to the opening sequence. We can also tell that Bond is a calm but efficient figure and also that he is in the position of power over the antagonist by the fact that he takes him by surprise. The sequence shows a conversation, which does not initially make sense to the audience, which makes them want to continue watching in order to find out what the confrontation is about.

The film's target audience is teenagers and all adults. There is some strong language and violence, and also the plot is fairly complex, while Bond films have been coming out since the 1950s, meaning that almost all generations are familiar with the franchise. At the start of the scene, a shady looking character finds Bond sitting opposite him in a darkened room and they begin talking about a recent event. A flashback then shows Bond chasing down and killing another suspicious looking character, who the audience then find out was associated with the man Bond is talking to. Bond is calm throughout the scene, while the antagonist is startled at the beginning of the sequence although he becomes more relaxed as the conversation begins. It is clear that the characters have contempt for one another, despite them remaining composed.

We can see it is a modern setting as the car is a new model and the characters' clothing is also modern. The darkened room in Prague in which the scene is set is mysterious and suggests that there could be hostility between the characters. The dialogue and music match the mood in that it is tense and not much is being revealed. The scene is shot in black and white, which creates a sense of mystery, while there is minimal lighting to create suspense. Bond is shrouded in shadow, while the antagonist is not, reinforcing the fact that Bond is in the position of authority. Shot reverse shot is used during the conversation between Bond and the antagonist. At the start of the conversation, shots are fairly long and the camera is mostly static, but as the scene progresses, and approaches its climax, the shots become shorter and the camera moves more, which is used to stir anticipation in the audience. The pace is relatively slow at first, but speeds up as the scene intensifies, which helps to build up to the climax. The music in this scene is typical of a thriller, although during the action scene it becomes more frantic to suit the tone.

If I had watched the opening sequence alone, I would ask what relevance the opening sequence had to the rest of the film, and I would predict that Bond is going to delve deeper into the situation and travel to more locations in search of the true antagonist. As they are in all Bond films, the titles are integrated after the opening sequence and are iconic and therefore important to any Bond film.