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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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. 

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.


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. 

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.

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.