Film openings - What do you expect to see

What do we expect to see in the opening 2 minutes of a feature film?

American Beauty - opening monologue

A lot of the plot is introduced in the opening monologue. The main characters are introduced and it gives an insight into their lives by setting the plot. There are five characters shown, the man talking and his wife and daughter plus the two next door neighbours. There is also dialogue, the man starts by introducing himself, his life and the goes on to introduce each character. The monologue is set around the house there are six locations shown within the house and one show of the whole town. There aren't any opening credits wish shocked me maybe to show the importance of the scene.

Submarine - opening sequence

Submarine opening sequence begins with a wide pan of the boys room and then credits and back to a wide pan, then more credits with seagull noises. The room being cluttered tells us about him may be having a cluttered mind, has a lot going on in mind? It clears its set in the early 90's because there is a type writer and other old fashioned things. There's a telescope, skeleton and other science bits which let the audience know what kind of person he is right from the beginning. There's a submarine on the wall below water and the boy is laying below the water line as well this could be a metaphor for him and his life how he's going unnoticed like a submarine underwater and eventually the submarine will go up above water and be noticed like him.  Additionally there's narration, him talking looking back on the moment, and the camera cuts in and the boy looks at the lens - breaking the fourth wall. The camera the shows different landscapes around the town where he lives, they're dark like its distorting beauty. The opening sequence is a wide shot of the boy from the back under sea level again, over all the opening sequence doesn't give much away as there's only one character.

Toy story - opening

I think the opening gives us a good insight into what the films going to be about as it shows Andy playing with his toys. The main characters are introduced such has Andy, Woody and the other toys, even from the start its clear Woody is his favourite toy. There is a song in the background - you've got a friend in me and theres dialogue of Andy speaking and him pretending to be the toys. There is only one location in the scene: Andy's bedroom. By using one location it adds emphasis to the importance of the room. Additionally there are credits coming up on the screen as Andy plays with his toys.

Student made films

The cobra effect - as media 2 minute opening

I think a lot of the plot would be introduced in the opening. The narrator introduces us to each characters one by one (all eight of them). They pass round a box and the narrators tells us they stole it and that they're robbers. Additionally, the credits are at the start before they introduces the characters.

As media horror - 2 minute opening

The scene begins with an establishing shot: a convention for the introduction of the opening sequence. Next there are titles, simple white text in capital letters that fade in and out which is a typical form for horror films. Then we are introduces to what I presume, the two main characters: a young couple holding hands similar to couples in Zodiac. Then using the same white writing are the credits which goes against stereotypical horror films that don't usually show credits. We then see the happy couple again on there walk who are oblivious to the killer behind them and in the background is spooky music to give an ominous feeling and create tension. However as tension builds the soundtrack is removed and increase the volume of ambient/diegetic sounds heightens tension and suspense. Its ends on a jump scare as the killer comes up behind the couple: this leaves me wanting to find out more and questioning who the man is and what is he going to do next.

Abducted - as media 2 minute opening

In the opening it explains the plot by telling you what the film is be based on - a mans girlfriend gets abducted and he has to get her back by paying up 1 million in the next 24 hours. However, it never gives away what happens or if he gets her back: which makes me want to watch on! The key characters are introduced - the man and his wife and the people who have abducted the mans wife. The man talks about how life is perfect and then it contrast to shocking images of his girlfriend having a gun to her head and being kidnapped, which shocked me! There aren't many credits in the opening and I thought it was interesting how the title of the film came at the end of the scene rather than the beginning.