Opening sequence textual analysis: Casino Royale SHOT 10

There is now several cuts between the fight scene and the office scene where the protagonist is seen having the upper hand in both. The fast pace editing helps create excitement and build up to the final moments of the antagonist’s life before the protagonist kills him.  When the antagonist is shot there is a cut to a high angle shot of the antagonist flying back in their chair. This shot shows more mise-en-scene such as a picture of the villain’s family which alongside the high angle shot makes the audience feel sympathy for him in his final moments.

Opening sequence textual analysis: Casino Royale SHOT 9

There is then a quick cut to the present to show the antagonist pulling out his gun and aiming at the protagonist. The camera remains at a low angle to both the protagonist and antagonist which further implies that the both of them think they have the upper hand over the other. The whole time during this the director follows the 180°rule. The music has sowed down to a tense hum which helps create tension and along with the emphasised diegetic sounds increases the thrill of the villain pulling the trigger only to realise that he has lost the upper hand because the ammunition for the gun is missing.

Opening sequence textual analysis: Casino Royale SHOT 8

The conversation leads to a story of the protagonist killing one of the antagonist’s henchman. Which is the shown on screen in flashback form. This is a match on action shot. The whole scene of the protagonist in the bathroom fighting the henchman is cut incredibly fast to build the feeling of anger and tension. It is also filmed in high key lighting which could imply that the characters are blindly fighting which is why the fight is incredibly violent. The music in this scene is fast paced which increases the tense atmosphere and makes the audience feel more exited for what is to come.

Opening sequence textual analysis: Casino Royale SHOT 7

The next scene is of the conversation the characters have after the reveal of the protagonist. It starts with a low angle shot of the protagonist suggesting that he is trying to be intimidating but cuts to a worm’s eye view of the antagonists which; as well as implying that is sinister; also implies that he has a way to counteract the position that the protagonist has put him in. This is proven true when a quick cut to show that in his draw is a pistol. Another cut to a low angle shot which follows the antagonist as he sits down suggests that he feels he has the upper hand with the reveal of the pistol he has. The protagonist is covered by low key lighting which suggests that his secrets aren't known to the antagonists whereas the antagonist is in high key lighting suggesting that the protagonist knows what he is hiding and about the “upper hand” the antagonist has.

Opening sequence textual analysis: Casino Royale SHOT 6

The next shot is a slightly high neutral view of the antagonist when he realises something has been taken from his office. The angle is used to show the sudden panic this antagonist is feeling, making him seem vulnerable. The background music stops at this point as well making the scene completely silent for a second which mounts up the tension for the reveal of the protagonist shortly after. The reveal of the protagonist is a pan to the left of the other antagonist moving from a close up of the antagonist to an over the shoulder shot revealing the protagonist. This camera movement and change of scene without a cut suggests that these characters already have some form of a relationship. It also sets up that the 180® rule will start being followed from the antagonists left.

Opening sequence textual analysis: Casino Royale SHOT 5

  After this the antagonist leaves the elevator and enters a room, the first shot starts with him opening a door and then walk to the far end of the room. The camera pans from a low angle to keep him in shot. During the middle of this shot something blocks the view which implies to the audience that somebody is there, paired with the diegetic sounds of him entering the room increases the tension further. The mise en scene shows a clean office which paired with the antagonist outfit suggests that this person is organised, making him seem more threatening.  There is also a tray of cigarette butts, these have negative effects on a person’s health which gives the antagonist negative connotations because he smokes.

Opening sequence textual analysis: Casino Royale SHOT 4

After this it cuts to the antagonist in the moving elevator. The shot is from a high angle looking down at him whilst he counts the floors as they go by. This could suggest many things. Firstly it could imply that the antagonist is tense because he knows what waits for him at the top which helps show that there is something more intimidating than him to come because in a few seconds he goes from unknown what he is looking at until it cuts to show the floor counter being portrayed with a low angle shot to a high angle shot. This scene is edited well because it is from the antagonists view. The only sound that can be heard is the elevator moving which creates even more tension.