Anaysis of Reservoir Dogs (1992) Opening Sequence

This is the opening sequence for the well- known thriller film "Resevoir Dogs", it is just over 2 minutes long and just under half of the whole sequence is a black screen with just the cast and crew information.

Sound
Throughout the whole of the clip there is a Non-Digetic song played which is "Little Green Bag" by The George Baker Selection. The song is upbeat and fits in with the crew walking down the road, also you get the impression that the film might be a happy storyline, however this is the polar-opposite as to what the film is actually like. There is a short voiceover in the opening seconds of the clip, the deep voiced man says "it's just somebody else wanting to be in with the partridge family, it is hard to workout what the character means by what he is saying, but the chances are that he was one of the men that were sitting down at the table. There is no actuall dialouge in the opening sequence.

Colour

The coulour scheme for the credit sequence is a black backround and orange font writing, the font stands out on the backround, as well as when they are introducing the actors when the characters are walking. The colours of the setting are of a bright, sunny mild day, this isn't exactlly emplying anything apart from the fact that it is just a normall scene.

Mise-En-Scene
The film is set in Los Angeles, this is a good area, but the area is often associated with criminal activity, you get the sense that these men fit in with the setting, and the fact that most of the men are dressed in suits suggests that they are in some of gang or associated with crime, this is something which occurs in the film. The suits that the majority of the men are wearing is a conventional colour which is linked with gangs around the time period of which the film is set in, it also makes the men look rich and powerful. Some of the men are smoking, this is also something which adds to their "gangster" image, and some are wearing sunglasses this is as they are trying to look cool and impressive.
The majority of the men have a serious facial expression, but some are smiling, this could be to signify the different personalities in the group, that some are more easy  going than others and some feel like they have always got a reputation to live up to.

Camera & Editing

The camera and editing used for the opening sequence is rather basic, however this could be down to the year  the film was produced (1992). The main editing technique what you pick up on is when the group are walking, slow motion is used, it makes the men seem cool, and this is something which has been replicated in alot of more recent films. The slow motion alows you to see the characters for longer, and get in the actors names which is shown underneath when they are shown. Close up shots are used to show the characters facial expressions, something which can tell you alot about a characters personality. A tracking shot is used to follow the men as they are walking, and shows them as they walk of into the distance, this could be to imply that they are going to do some sort of job.

The opening sequence does not show enough to say if there is any dominant ideologies or not, and there is some conventional opening sequence elements such as introduction to characters, cast and crew information and credits. You do not get a clear indication of what the genre of the film is, but you can tell that the film will be about crime and gangsters, an example of something which gives you this indication is that the men are wearing black suits.

In conclusion i feel that this opening sequence is good, howvever is does'nt really give away much about what the film is going to about, or really what genre it is. It does have some conventional elements for an opening sequence, but not as many as you would expext. The film is an all time classic however and one of the most notable thriller films of all time.