The Taking of Pelham 123 Title Sequence

The Taking of Pelham 123 (Director: Tony Scott)


A title sequence which I analysed was from the film The Taking of Pelham 123.  I thought it was an effective title sequence because of the range of shots used which conveyed the genre, and I liked the use of editting as it established the plot of the film well.






Plot

Medium shots are shown of the trains moving and arriving at the stations.  This establishes the plot of the film is going to be based in the train station.

Editting

In the opening you see the Columbia Pictures logo playing in a small section in the middle of the screen.  As it continues, the section slowly approaches to fill the screen. This imitates the movement of a train going through a dark tunnel, making it appear as of the audience is in a subway tunnel.  This may be suggesting the plot is based around a train as you hear sounds of a moving train and the screeching of the brakes.(Pelham 1 2 3) 

When the names of the cast are appearing, a black stripe moves across the names.  This mimics the movement of a train, also the background sound is of a moving train which denotates what the film may be based on.

 When the name of the film is shown, the numbers 1,2,3 appear as the lights of a moving train are seen in the background.  Denotating the storyline of the film is about a train called Pelham 1 2 3.


Camera

This close up shot of a MTA badge, conveys the film involves the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, hinting towards the character of MTA dispatcher Walter Garber (Denzel Washington )

You see a long shot of the building in America which automatically tells the audience that the film is set in New York city. The music after this shot changes to rock music as it is fast paced to match the speed of the writing as it appears on screen this also sets the pace for the opening of the film.

We then see a medium shot of the side view of John Travolta.  The focal point in this shot is the tattoo on his neck which reads “from my cold” around a gun, which suggests he may have a gun.  The meaning behind the tattoo is “I’ll give you my gun when you take it from my cold, dead hands”.  This means he won’t let go of his gun until he is dead.  Also people who have been to jail are normally associated with tattoo's.  This conveys he is a strong and powerful character and hints that he could be the bad guy in the film.

Music

The music suddenly changes to a more fast, intense and rapping music.  This may be suggesting the busyness and amount of population in New York city.  It could also suggesting the film is set in a rough area.  

Genre

We get the hint that the genre is action/crime/thriller.  This is connotated through the fast-pace music and the fast movement of transitions suggesting action.  We see a shot of John Travolta with the tattoo of the gun, symbolizing death/he is a criminal.  We also see a close up shot of a bag in someone's hand at the train station.  This suggests that there may be something suspicious (i.e.gun) in the bag.  These connotate the genre thriller/crime.