Analysis of the
opening sequence:
The opening title sequence for We Were Soldiers is one of the longest
title sequences to ever be produced, lasting a total of 4 minutes.
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The first shot of the opening credits shows a very vacant
forest with deceased trees; this can connote what the film focuses on or what
is going to happen. This shot also contains no text.
After a few seconds the sound of a typewriter occurs whilst the text “These are
the true events of November, 1965…” appears across the screen, this can be a
signal to the consumers that it was set in a time of importance to history. The
font of the text is white therefore connotes innocence but is also bold and
very harsh may be signalising the trauma of the War and the determination of
the young and old fighters. At the same time a much saddened male voice follows
– this is shown through the deep tone. The fidelity of this non-diegetic sound
is high as the voice speaks what appears on the screen, this allows the
consumers to realise that whatever the importance of this date is, it is moment
in history of deep sorrow.
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Between the first shot to the second shot there is a
sense of continuity by using the dissolve type of edit which goes smoothly
horizontal from the left to the right side of the screen.
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The same voice remains throughout the shots (sound
bridge) saying “the La Drang valley of Vietnam. The place where country does
not remember and a war is not understood. This story is a testimony to the
young men and the people’s army of Vietnam who died by our hand in that place.”
Additionally faint, obscure and secretive music plays in the background adding
tension to the audience as it can convey the mood. In this shot the camera
movement uses pan to show how deserted the forest is however unlike the first
shot you can see a small group of men in the distance implying to the consumers
something may arise from this spectacle. An example of mise en scene during
this shot is what the men seem to be holding; at a glance they look to be carrying
weapons which shows this is an action film as weapons is a convention of the
genre. Another main focus of this shot is the fractured and fallen tree this
can have connotations of the fallen soldiers who lost their lives in the
Vietnam War which older aged consumers will have recognition of how tragic the
War was. For the younger generation of consumers the narrator made it evident
there were many deaths through the line “this story is a testimony to the young
men and the people’s army of Vietnam who died
by our hand in that place.”
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUg9E0PcTyL9pdVyjKMRrwpcHZaN3eLK0Tsxj8Gb1fcZS7r-cObsMA062kzZqgWhObWpmn5Ckp__48aNhEDhyn7r9wsYcWzHv78g-p0iePRG_E7BEEzhBydf4YoSy_aRCXn2LAKupNQ8/s1600/4.png)
Between the second and third shot the edit used is a fade
in as the image of what looks to be military boots gradually appears eventually
taking over the image of the forest. This is the moment in which audiences will
have a distinct idea of the characters that feature in the film. The unknown
voice continues to say “to tell this story I must start at the beginning… but
where does it begin?” This is an example of enigma and would draw the audience
in as they may want to find out the answer.
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Here the camera uses three main shots. A medium long shot, a low angle shot and a
head on shot. Firstly the medium long shot shows the characters from the waist
up, the purpose of this may be to give the consumers a clear indication of their
profession this is also shown through the use of tilt, as the camera
deliberately moves up the soldiers therefore audiences can get a sense of the
costume. Furthermore the low angle shot infers they have authority and strength
as it makes it look as though we are looking up to them. The pace of the
opening sequences begins to increase implying that action is going to occur
shortly. With the voice continuing diegetic sound is now introduced for example
the boots marching on the dusty road, the murmurs of the soldiers and the
clanging of weapons. This is also an example of ambient sound. The loudness of
the soldiers increases showing they are getting closer to the camera and the
next scene may be dialogue between the soldiers. Lastly the sound perspective
shows the surrounding is spacious as you can still hear the general background
noise, for example trees shuffling and birds.
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The edit between the third and fourth shot is a simple
cut however it is also a cut away shot as the tree branch is in the view
blocking the image of the soldiers. This is also a use of natural lighting.
Finally throughout the shots it is evident that something is going happen to
the characters featured as the camera is constantly zooming in on them.
Throughout the shots displaying the characters, realism
is never broken due to them never looking directly at the camera. This shot is
an example of an oblique angle being used as the camera is filming from the
side. This is the moment in which the nationality of the soldiers is identified
as they speak French, this can make the consumers presume a tragic war is about
to take place against another country.
Suddenly the opening sequence becomes very gory and
melancholy. By this point it is even more evident that a war is developing as
the consumers would have just seen the first of many deaths. The contrast of
the royal red blood on the pristine white hat shows how awful the Vietnam War
was and the pain it caused too many. The shot used is a close up; this allows
the consumers to see the emotion of the soldiers face after witnessing the
traumatic death of his captain.
The edits are continuous cuts which show the different
types of action happening and finally the suspension of when the action will
begin is revealed, for example in this shot we see another death in less than 5
seconds. This can convey the disastrous plans made by George Armstrong Custer (army officer and cavalry commander in the Vietnam War) which unfortunately lead to many fatal deaths.
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In this shot there is one very clear convention of an
action film, this begin the explosion in the background. It is also noticed
that the sound goes from being mainly non-diegetic as the music is still
playing in the background to being completely diegetic as the focus is around
the shouting of orders, it is evident panic is beginning to take over because
multilogue is introduced showing there is no organisation. Furthermore the
commands are not very clear and the loudness also increases. The effect this
would have on the audience is they would feel like they are there in the
position the soldiers are. Additionally this will get the consumers
heart-racing and get them ready for the context of the film.
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The next few shots of the opening sequence use a variety
of camera shots such as an establishing shot which allows the consumers to get
the feel of the landscape of the war along with a high angle shot to implying all
the power and authority from the third shot has now departed. Lastly a medium
long shot showing the more recent characters are wearing a different uniform connoting
these are the enemies, of the French, from a different nationality.
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Abruptly the rate of projection slows down which will
make the consumers question why all the loud and nimble sound has been interrupted;
this will draw them in to the film. The fidelity of the sound is very accurate
because as the sound slows down it seems to be in time with the running speed
of another soldier running to attack; this is due to the use of slow motion. It
adds tension to the opening sequence. The lighting in this shot looks like low
key lighting due to the dark and shadowy smoke from the constant explosions
when in fact it is natural lighting.
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This is another example of a high angle shot and grants
the consumers to identify the effects of this war from seeing the number of
innocent bodies lying lifelessly when all they were trying to do was fight for
their country. The sound begins to focus on the stabbing of a French soldier
who is conveyed as the assistant captain, the sound becomes very sharp as you
see the knife pierce through his back, the effect this will have on the
consumers is it will make them have sympathy to all involved in the traumatic
event.
The next shot uses a medium close up; this pleasures the
consumers in seeing the emotion in the injured soldiers face. By this point the
ambient sound has stopped and the consumers would only be able to hear is the
breathing of the defenceless soldier connoting he is fearful. This may be due
to the fact he knows his life is about to end or based on what the enemies are
saying about killing everyone they send and knowing he cannot do anything about
this as he is too weak may scare him.
The shot used here is a point of view shot as it seems
like we are looking from the soldier’s angle. This would make the consumers
anxious as it makes it look as though we are in the injured soldier’s position
and that is a position that they wouldn’t like to be in.
When the soldier pulls the trigger a bright white light
flashes on the screen conveying the French soldier’s life has come to a
suffering end. After this the screen goes pitch black but the sound is very
bitter. We hear continuous gunshots followed by many high pitched screams of
torture. This provides direct mise en scene of a gun in use. This would leave
the consumers in deep sorrow and sympathy but also in question about what
happened after the image went off.
The last five shots of the opening sequence focuses on
introducing the producers, directors and a very well known character, Mel
Gibson. The use of military style music symbolises that this is a war film.