Skyfall - Analysis of Mise-en-scene

In the title sequence of Skyfall it shows James bond falling into the water and seems to be wearing a blood stained shirt, this tells us that he has most likely been shot and could even be dead. Bond is getting pulled down by a huge hand and pulls him down and then the ground disappears into a black hole and he goes through it, this could be seen as significant to the film because the large hand could show that he is over powered in this film, the black holes could imply that this is almost like him going to hell for all the bad he's caused so it could also imply he is at a near death experience.

The next shot shows James Bond as a target to hit with a gun, in the target it has a shout wound with blood pouring out of it this implies to us that he has been shot at this moment in time, it also shows a lot more people behind him as targets which could be showing the amount of people Bond has killed but it also shows that there are weapons within this movie.

The next sequence shows are women who is unclothed, this is what we associate with the typical bond life style it also shows a gun in the background this also shows this, so we can tell that there is going to be violence in the film and potentially sexual scenes but the dark colours of the background could tell us that the women have a violent part to play in the movie.

The next shot shows a graveyard and it also shows guns and a knife which once again links back to the violence but the weapons and the gravestones could show a connection with death implying what could happen in the film. The use of dark colours could also connote death and violence or foreshadow death. The shot then zooms in on a house which has two stag statues, stags can signify vitality, confidence and pride which could imply what bond is. The house is covered in what seems to be blood and the colour red to us connotes danger which could imply this is where the action happens or even death, it also zooms in on Bond's eyes in the house which could imply this is the place he is hiding because we only see his eyes which could signify he is trying to hide from something.

The next shot shows Bond in what seems to be a large warehouse with four shadows surrounding him which he is shooting at, this implies to us that he is almost battling against himself, the scenery which looks like he is on sand which could imply it being a desert and could mean he is deserted from everything.

The next shot shows a skull which is made out of blood and surrounded by blood showing the theme of danger and death in the movie, there seems to be a long chain of blood implying that there is a long chain of violent events within the film. The shot then goes into a woman holding a gun once again showing the theme of violence and women within the

film. The colour surrounding the woman is dark blue or black which could imply that women have a deathly part to play in the movie.

This shot shows James Bond multiple times on fire this could portray that he is a target to multiple people and is like a most wanted because the fire could show this, the shot then goes onto what seems to be Chinese dragons which could show the cultural diversity within the film and this could also show where the film takes place for majority of the time.

Once again the shot shows Images of women and weapons showing the themes of violence and sexual scenes, but in this shot the women are presented as white showing their innocence’s but the Guns are presented in black showing they’re dangerous and a threat within the movie. The woman also move in an elegant way showing that women are big part of the movie as the woman in the scene is almost trying to show off. It also shows the other themes within the film such as the stag showing the characteristics of James Bond and it also shows the house which is implying where the main event takes place or the enigma takes place it then zooms into a grave stone which has bond on it implying that the enigma could be his death or it could show he has almost been resurrected.

The next

shot shows a mirror with Bond’s reflection in it with him shooting at his reflection in multiple images which once again could be implying he is fighting against himself and could imply he is lost because this could be a mirror maze.

The next shot shows the same scenery of the house and the stags but this time it shows them all being destroyed by what seems to be blood this shows that everything within the movie is falling apart for Bond or maybe the place where the enigma takes place is destroyed during the action but the end shot shows Bond’s face inside the house and it zooms in onto his eye which is the only thing in the title sequence which shows colour which could tell us that in the end Bond lives because it shows life in his eyes but is at a near death experience.

The costume that is worn by James Bond is always some sort of suit within the title sequence showing that he is a smart looking man which may also imply he is a smart man and knows what to do in risky situations, it also shows he is sophisticated and always willing

to do his duty to the best of his ability. The costumes worn by the women are worn to show their sexuality for example the woman in one shot is wearing nothing.

One of the main themes within the movie is the shot wound on Bond's right shoulder which may have a key theme within the movie as to what happens to bond whether it is that wound which kills him or is the enigma within the film.