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Initial Research - Movie Opening Analysis ( Spiderman )
institutional information
Spider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi. Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, the film stars Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, a high school student living in New York City, who turns to crimefighting after developing spider-like super powers. Spider-Man also stars Kirsten Dunst as Peter's love interest Mary Jane Watson, Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn (a.k.a. the Green Goblin), Rosemary Harris and Cliff Robertson as Aunt May and Uncle Ben, and James Franco as his best friend Harry Osborn.
Target Audience
The primary target audience would be aimed at males from roughly the ages of 8-25. However this is not exclusive to this demographic, do to comic books, in general, having such a wide reach meaning that the movie can be appealing to everyone due to its combination of a romance narrative in conjunction with high-intensity action.
Opening Sequence
The scene immediately starts with a shot of cobwebs in the corner of the frame which is a method of foreshadowing peter parker's ascension into his spider-like powers. By having the webs as the first thing that we as the audience see provides context for the secondary target audience who perhaps have never read the comic books, or have no idea who the character is and why he is called Spiderman.
The choice of a voice over to start the sequence further helps provide context by giving an explanation of everything that is happening, from directly introducing his love interest to dollying down the bus to show the lower status of character and how he is not with his love interest because she is with 'Flash Thompson' played by Joe Manganiello who according to Levi Strauss' binary opposition theory suggest that 'Flash' is portrayed to be the binary opposite of 'Peter' Therefore, a villainous character. Which many viewers could perhaps relate to mainly younger teenagers. Also, the use of a voice over provides a closer proximity of relationship between actor and audience. Furthermore allowing for the audience to establish character arcs and status within the story world. In addition, the character 'peter' does not even start inside the bus representing to the audience that he is an outsider to society.
Camera Angles
Our first introduction the protagonist of the story is through a dirty shot from a side exterior mirror, the use of a dirty shot to establish a character suggests a plethora of notions. Firstly, we can see that even the bus driver refuses to stop for him. This places peter even below the bus driver in the hierarchal structure. This is demonstrated by the fact that the camera is slightly tilted downward suggesting the shift in power between the characters and the smug facial expression on the bus driver's face as he continues to drive.
The next show after the 'cobweb' shot, is an establishing shot from a crane. We can see the urban landscape of New York and establishes the scene for the audience. The use of deep focus provides a sense of involvement in the scene as we can look anywhere. However, we are drawn to the yellow bus, off center of the frame which is the brightest in colour to draw attention and is the focal point of the wide establishing shot.
We can infer from the use of close-ups switching to mid shots, that the character of Peter Parker is very insecure and isolated by him being the only character that has been given that kind of angles. Also, it helps build intimacy for the character by having him to seem closer to the audience. Alternatively, is love interest is seen to be the other character shot using a mid shot and could represent their soon to be the close intimate relationship. By having him fully invested and her not too sure, followed by him also being not certain.
On the other hand, Sam Raimi's use of a tilted camera when as Peter Strolls down the aisles of the bus can show the power he soon will have over these people. And be used as a method of foreshadowing and dominance that is not yet certain.
Narrative
The narrative of the opening emulates a very stereotypical love story found predominantly in early 2000' American love films. In the clip, the voiceover refers to her as "the girl next door" this terminology is found throughout love films and also widens target audience. The film itself follows Todorov's theory of narratives by having three very distinctive stages within the movie. At this point I am only referring to the theory from a love genre perspective, because it shows the very similar character development to those found in love films, and because Mary Jane Watson starts the film in a relationship with Flash Thompson ( Binary Opposite ) and concluding with Peter Parker acting as the resolution and returning the world back to an equilibrium. Although, the main plot also follows the theory. Where the disruption of equilibrium is caused by the spider bite and later is resolved as Peter Parker becomes a hero.
The next show after the 'cobweb' shot, is an establishing shot from a crane. We can see the urban landscape of New York and establishes the scene for the audience. The use of deep focus provides a sense of involvement in the scene as we can look anywhere. However, we are drawn to the yellow bus, off center of the frame which is the brightest in colour to draw attention and is the focal point of the wide establishing shot.
We can infer from the use of close-ups switching to mid shots, that the character of Peter Parker is very insecure and isolated by him being the only character that has been given that kind of angles. Also, it helps build intimacy for the character by having him to seem closer to the audience. Alternatively, is love interest is seen to be the other character shot using a mid shot and could represent their soon to be the close intimate relationship. By having him fully invested and her not too sure, followed by him also being not certain.
On the other hand, Sam Raimi's use of a tilted camera when as Peter Strolls down the aisles of the bus can show the power he soon will have over these people. And be used as a method of foreshadowing and dominance that is not yet certain.
Narrative
The narrative of the opening emulates a very stereotypical love story found predominantly in early 2000' American love films. In the clip, the voiceover refers to her as "the girl next door" this terminology is found throughout love films and also widens target audience. The film itself follows Todorov's theory of narratives by having three very distinctive stages within the movie. At this point I am only referring to the theory from a love genre perspective, because it shows the very similar character development to those found in love films, and because Mary Jane Watson starts the film in a relationship with Flash Thompson ( Binary Opposite ) and concluding with Peter Parker acting as the resolution and returning the world back to an equilibrium. Although, the main plot also follows the theory. Where the disruption of equilibrium is caused by the spider bite and later is resolved as Peter Parker becomes a hero.
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