Dark Knight Opening Scene Analysis

Dark Knight Opening Scene Analysis

As the sequence begins we see an establishing shot which is used to show the audience the setting which is a city with large skyscrapers and professional buildings. During the establishing shot the camera zooms up onto one building.

 The window is then broken and the camera switches to a mid-shot showing a man which a clown mask shooting a zip line across from the building to another building The camera then cuts to show a man standing at the corner of the road holding a clown mask in his hand and a bag. The camera then slowly zooms up to the mask which leads the audience to think that they may see the identity of the person holding it as unlike the other characters he is not wearing it and this builds tension, but this tension is soon settled as the camera stops zooming in and then a long shot is used showing the man getting into the back of a van.

The camera then cuts to show to men wearing clown masks sliding down a zip line. A bird’s eye shot is used to give the audience a sense of how high up the clowns on the zip line are and to build a sense of fear.

A tracking shot is then used to follow the clown going down the zip line which again creates a sense of fear as the clown are of miniature size compared to background which is the city below them. A long shot then shows three cars in a van and then switches to a two-shot showing two clowns talking to each other. The two clowns are then shown getting out of the van and one of them is holding a duffle bag; this reinforces the idea of the film being a heist film as a duffle bag is usual associated with a robbery and this is further backed up by the fact that the clowns are then seen walking into a bank.

A tracking shot is then used to show the clown entering the building, and another is used to track one of the clowns as they hold up the bank this is to keep up with the action which is going on, on screen. The camera then cuts to shown two clowns on the roof. One of the clowns is then shown shooting the other in the back which leads the audience in to thinking that one of the clown isn’t who they seem or that one of them is double crossing the rest of them. As the scene goes on a long shot is used to show the banks safe, the effect of this is that is shows the audience how secure the bank is and that it will not be easy for the clown standing at front of the door to break through it.

The camera then cuts and a shallow focus shot is used to focus our attention on the grenade which has been taped to the hands of the people who are being held hostage at the time.

The effects of this that it shows us that the situation has become more serious as people have been taken hostage by the clowns. The scene progresses and a long shot is used showing the clown in the front of the camera and is shown being shot in the back from one of the accountants in the building. A tracking shot is then used to show the accountant walking towards the clowns at a steady pace while shooting. The accountant who is shooting at the clowns is shot by one of the clowns and a zoom shot is used to show what wouldn’t be the emotions shown on the character’s face but all that is seen is a clown mask which shows a permanent sad expression that does not waver which could indicate that the person doing it shows no remorse for his actions as he has become so accustomed to killing people that it no longer affects him.

The camera then cuts to show a clown running to another clown who is opening the door to the safe. He is successful in opening it and is then shot in the back by another clown. The clown who is shot in this scene is the clown who shot the other clown earlier in the scene. The effect of this is that it leaves the audience wondering who to trust as it seems like all of the clowns are working for their own motives and leaves them on the edge of their seat wondering who is next to be shot. The camera then cuts to show a tracking shot following the clown in the bank with all  the hostages and a long shot showing one clown entering the safe indicating to the audience that there are only two clowns left and building up the atmosphere while leaving the audience in suspense as to who is the next to die.  A zoom shot is used to show the clown in the bank as he puts the money into the duffle bag focusing on the money, which indicates that the money may have been his motive for killing the other clown.

The camera then cuts to shows the other clown pulling a duffle bag to a pile with others. An over the shoulder shot is then used to show him as he turns around and the camera then cuts to a mid-shot showing him as he turns around and then cuts to show the other clown with his gun facing towards the camera from the other clown’s view. A close-up is then used showing the clown looking at his watch which makes the audience wonder what is so important that he looks at his watch while he has a gun pointed at his head. A tracking shot is then used showing him stepping to the right and a close-up is used showing the other clown moving to the left. A long shot is then used as a bus breaks through the front door of the bank and hits the other clown killing him in the process leaving the audience thinking that there is no more clown, but a long shot is then used to shown another clown getting out of the bus and helping the clown but the duffle bags onto the bus. This leads the audience into thinking that the two clowns were working together but a long shot is used again shown that clown being shot which indicates to the audience that this clown may have set up all the clowns into killing themselves so that he could keep all the money to himself.

A tracking shot is then used showing the clown walking towards the account that he had shot earlier, leading the audience to think that he is about to kill him. A mid shot is then used showing him putting a grenade into the accountant’s mouth. The camera then switches to the clown and a close-up is used to show the clown as he takes off his mask to reveal that he has clown makeup on his face which is running down his face and showing a permanent happy expression on his face. The effect of this is that it shows the audience that this person may be happy with the action that he has done. It also shows the audience that this person may not be mentally stable as the clown make-up is running down his face and is showing a happy expression although he does not seem to be happy showing a happy expression. The fact that he wears a clown’s mask and wears clown make-up as well shows that what the audience is seeing may not be his true identity and that it may be another persona.