action movie analysis- James Bond Quantum of Solace and skyfall

At the very beginning of the film just after the title credits there is a fade to black where the audience see nothing yet can hear the fast paced chords as the soundtrack of the film as a non diegetic sound. This creates a brief anticipation, which is briskly revealed in an establishing shot of a mountainous, beach landscape. This sort of landscape is atypical of usual Bond movies, so the establishing shot straight away introduces the audience to somewhere original and new. The soundtrack does not seem to be fitting to this landscape as typically you would expect the diegetic sound of birds, crashing waves, the sea breeze...however asynchronously the music continues- increasing in pace and volume as the camera pans nearer to the mass of rock. Action movies like the Famous bond films usually begin with fast paced full pelt action from the very first few minutes, there is barley any introduction and the conventions of constant cyclic action are met very quickly. In this quick paced action style, the camera shot cuts to a completely juxtaposing extreme close up of the wheel of a car zooming around. The low chord non diegetic fast paced soundtrack continues, however the synchronous diegetic sound of a car engine begins to come into play alongside the shot. The extreme close up pacefully alters to a high angle shot looking down upon the car and then once again an extreme close up wheras this time it is the back of the car. Not much is revealed in these very brief shots of the car, however the audience would assume it could be Bond or even a key antagonist driving because this car is obviously of importance, and its shiny coating and dark black coloring suggests a mystery or an enigma. These car shots contrast with the surroundings because we wouldn't connote such a peaceful looking almost euphoric setting with a fast travelling mysterious car, however the alternation of the shots of the huge rock mass and the car both hold a link because both are large, powerful and both seem to maintain this link additionally through the same soundtrack played with each.

The camera pans closer and closer across the water to the large rock mass where it becomes evident there is actually a road. zooming across water like this is a technique used in movies like titanic, and many romance movies as water and the sea usually connote distance and travel- which can show how love too can travel across distances. Also, still water like this connotes peacefulness, or would be the setting for a boat journey..a chance to have establishing shots of picturesque surroundings however the car chase and fast paced camera tracking takes away all attention from the surroundings. More extreme close ups of silver wheels with delicate noises among the soundtrack keep the audience even more in suspense until finally the first glimpse of any character is revealed with the eyes of a concentrated male. Non natural flashes of lighting illuminate the eyes of this man suggesting he could have a dark persona, or be an antagonist because we are left in mystery about the rest of his features...however in an alternative perspective...this could merely show the secrecy of Bond and create an awaiting lust for his presence.

At 1;02 the soundtrack reaches a climax and reaches its highest pitched notes when it is immediately cut off by the loud roaring sound of the car engine as the car for the first time is seen in daylight. we see a long shot of a silvery car..which leads us as the audience to presume that there is a car chase due to the shiny black car we were introduced to previously. Every camera shot is very fast and cleanly cut to a cycle of alternating shots for example a wing mirror close up shot recognizes the look of the other car just after the long shot. The camera tracks one of the cars, however infrequent medium shots capture a possible antagonist shooting a machine gun at the other car, smashing the back window. Although the shots are so quick and difficult to understand the full scenario- we know there is a dangerous car chase...once again typical of action films and in particular Bond films as Bond always has a flawless modern vehicle. at 1;10 a low angle shot seems almost hand held at ground level looking up at the cars and here as the audience are meant to feel the uneasiness of the scene, which is reinforced next at 1;12 when we see Bond with his hands un-easily on the wheel of the car seeming almost calm yet concentrated and in danger. the camera tilts towards a canted angle at points like this where we see Bond managing to take control of the situation and maneuver the other car out of the way. We recognize that the male we see is most definatley Bond as the un-mistakable side profile of Daniel Craig is a hint, as well as the pristine recognizable James Bond suit. Point of view shots also allow us to relate to Bonds character and we see the danger from his perspective, rather than point of view shots from the perspective of antagonists which would make our hero seem belittled. such a wide variety of shot types allow the audience to be enticed to almost a 360 degree angled shot of the entire action packed scene, making the whole environment seem daunting, putting viewers on edge and with the different sounds and shots making it almost seem like a simulator kind of animation...like we are actually there too. At 1;21 a handheld non-still shot above a punctured wheel is effective in showing even minor details and showing a contrast in the still and wide shots showing bond and the hand held close up shots showing Bonds achievements or skills.....however this completely subverts Bonds powerful steady representations when at 1;24 the camera shot focuses blurrily and un steadily on Bond when he is almost scathed by a large metal prong that plunges through his car door.

The car chase continues at this fast paced speed with alternate angles and close proxemics of the cars up until 3;31 where bond actually manages to defeat one of the antagonists and the music and action dies along with the driver. after this, we realize that Bond is still alive and well and his car drives through a more safe looking haven with stone archways and a town style. the non diegetic soundtrack looses volume, low notation and pace and we reach the outcome of the car chase..however we know that because this is only the opening few minutes there will be a lot more action to come. The scene is found to be Italy, and we receive a long shot of Bonds car from a tunnel view making it seem even more superior and awaited. when we hear bond state 'its time to get out' to his captive antagonist in the bonnet of his car the filming cuts straight to the famous bond opening credits which leave audience in suspense after they have just met and heard the new famous bond actor, Daniel Craig. also, his dialogue is very vague making interpretations of what he has just said very broad. I thought it was very effective also that this action movie began with a fast paced driven car and ended with a safely stopped one...this flaunts the car chase cliche all action movies adopt and also shows just how much importance vehicles and travel mechanisms have in action movies.

I wanted to compare Quantum of solace with another of the Bond films to confirm any comparisons or additional genre conventions of action movies. The opening scene to this bond movie, Skyfall, begins with a motorbike chase-linking strongly to Quantum of solace because both involve fast paced high power vehicles. Also the fact it is between Bond and an antagonist once again shows that often the heroes, incredible spies or key protagonists of action movies are commonly always followed by an enemy of some form of opposition. Bond in this film uniquely subverts from the typical black dinner style suit he is always pictured in and instead flaunts a tanned sandy colored suit..however we still recognize him due to the famous actor playing bond from other movies- Daniel Craig and the smart suit and gun. We see Bond in the fitting role of a spy with his sophisticated, smart and clever mannerisms. The suit color almost fits the setting of this Bond movie as it is set in Istanbul in turkey and the sandy off yellow surroundings almost make his suit seem like a camouflage- reinforcing that he is possibly on a secret mission. The black conventional suit Bond wears would seem inappropriate to the surroundings as Bond would stand out too dramatically and his spy cover immediately revealed. The location here is effective because the conflict that actually has happened throughout history in Turkey would make an audience be able to relate to international issues in Turkey and see almost a context behind the film and its location. Also, having the middle eastern antagonist in his home surroundings automatically creates a brand new exclusive location for the film regarding issues further from Bonds HQ.  

 The main conventions of the opening scene is much like Quantum...to create a chase is that is exhilarating, enticing and a scene to reinforce the genre...hence why a vehicle chase is just fitting.  In contrast, the opening scene differs to quantum because in the prior film there is few people, we are introduced to nothing but cars in the first few minutes and the exotic coastal Italian location seems peaceful however here the village the chase is set in is greatly populated, hinting to the audience there will be confusion and difficulty in the capture of the antagonist. Most Bond films however do in fact begin with a capture of an antagonist...flaunting Bonds power very early on.