Film Opening Research #2- Jupiter Ascending

 

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?

Three: Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures, and Jupiter Ascending

 

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

The first opening scenes of this movie are stars in the sky at night and a man looking at through a telescope. A woman then comes up to the man to ask him about what he is doing. There are no opening credits.

 

What connotations do the images carry?

The image of the stars tells the audience that outer space or the stars are going to be important later in the movie. It also suggests that the activity the man is doing was not common.

 

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

The genre of this movie is science fiction/action. The main character is named after the planet Jupiter which is already a hint towards the audience that outer space and Jupiter may be very important to the main character or the story. After the name is introduced, a bunch of men break into the father and mother’s house which signifies that there may be action in this movie since they all had weapons.

 

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

This movie has a cliché plot like most science fiction movies but, it establishes an enigma because after the main character is born, she narrates that she was born on a night where Jupiter was rising at twenty-three degrees ascendent. There is a constant reference to that planet which adds mystery as the audience may want to know why Jupiter is significantly important to the main character and her story.

 

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

The strategies used are the robbers breaking into the house which is used to appeal to the audience that are attracted to action and the constant image of outer space and Jupiter which is used to capture the attention of science lovers.

 

How has technology been used effectively? You might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques.

Editing has been used during the beginning as there is a voice over of the main character as she narrates and the images of Jupiter. There was an establishing shot of a boat in the ocean at night which may be used to depict how far away from home the main character was when she was born. Another strategy was the transition from her as a baby to her as a grown adult in a city which implies that she has grown up and is living her own life.