Task B & C - Thriller Research - James Bond 'Quantum Of Solace'

James Bond (Daniel Craig) descends into mystery in 'Quantum of Solace' as he tries to stop a mysterious organisation from eliminating a country's most valuable resource. All the while, he still tries to seek revenge over the death of his lover.


Analysis Of Opening Scene

The scene opens with tense dramatic music being played whilst the audience can see an establishing shot of where the scene opens. This creates tension as the establishing shot shows calm waves crashing into what appears to be a peaceful island. However the tense and quick paced music makes the audience feel like something unexpected is going to happen as the sound and picture seem to show very different stories. Next we see the screen alternate between a dark screen and that of a car. We only see specific close up shots of part of the car. The audience can hear the sound of the wind pushing against the car which makes it seem like the car is travelling at high speeds. This again creates tension as there is always a greater risk of a crash when travelling at a faster speed. We then go back to the original establishing shot, however this time the camera seems to be moving across the water towards the land. This could be a way of showing to the audience that the closer they get to land the closer they will get to the truth of the scene and what is happening. Next, the audience sees that what may be the car seen at the start has ammunition on board. This shows that violence will be a key part of the film; however it may also make the audience feel scared as they are unaware of what or who the target is.

We then get the first image of a person, who looks to be the driver. He seems to be anxious with sweat round his eyes and we then hear the noise of a gun being loaded to create tension. The audience can tell that the scene is at a climax and then the music stops to show this. Suddenly we hear the sound of the car’s engine and the noise of the car going up a gear. The noise continues to get louder, showing that the car is going faster and faster. This creates tension as there is a greater risk of a crash. We then finally get a clear idea of what is happening in the scene and we find out that there are two cars involved in a chase with one shooting at the other. This gains the whole of the audience's focus and puts them in an exhilarating position as they feel they are sitting in the back of one of the cars.

Next shown on screen is a mid-shot of James Bond who is easily recognised from previous films. We then see a truck lose control and bump into Bond's car.  This creates a sense of shock as the audience feel a crash could be about to happen. As his car starts to spin the picture goes into slow motion however the sound effects get quicker. Still in slow motion we see Bond regain control back over the car and there is a sense of relief with the audience. This also shows that Bond has got respect from the audience as they are impressed with the level of skill he possesses.

As they appear out of a tunnel the tense music begins again to show that the chase is still at a dramatic stage and maintains the audience's focus. Next we hear the first piece of dialogue in the film, the foreign police calling for back up. Some viewers who can guess the accent or language gain an insight into where the film is meant to be set before they announce is to the rest of the audience. Through the use of multiple still shots of the cars travelling past the camera it gives a sense that the cars are travelling at a fast pace. Then there is another point of view shot, this is the police's angle - they have also joined the chase. We see the back window of the car in front smash and a gun appears which seems to be aimed at the audience. This puts the audience in a frightening position as they feel they cannot control the situation. The music then reaches another climax culminating with Bond shooting the driver of the other car and it plummeting to the bottom of a cliff. This finally gives the audience time to relax and feel relieved. As Bond slowly enters a town the camera rises and we see an establishing shot of the town. The caption 'Siena Italy' is also displayed. This gives the audience additional information as to the setting of the scene. The scene ends with the traditional Bond music and the screen cuts to the tiles and some cast members.

Ideas To Use In My Thriller

• I like that there is a contrast in beliefs at the start of the scene so that the picture being shown does not match the sound played. I believe that this is unique and gains the focus of the viewer.
• I also agree that the opening should contain action so that the viewer is 'hooked' and wants to carry on watching.
• I also like the way music was used in the scene to create tension. The fact it reached a climax and then suddenly stopped worked really well and I will definitely include this in my main task.