FILM OPENING RESEARCH #2 - HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

 

NOW SHOWING - HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

I'm back again, doing almost the same thing as last time, but now with a new movie. I had a Harry Potter phase back in my day, though it was more embarrassingly like an obsession. It had been a while since I interacted with any of the movies, so I thought my old favorite could be a fun one to blog about. Anyway, you already know the drill, and if you don't, go check out the blog post before this one. On with the post!

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequence to the film?

In the movie, only two titles are displayed during the opening sequence. The first is the Warner Bros logo, which coincidentally was in the last film I blogged about. The second is the name of the movie, bold and strong in that unmistakeable Harry Potter font.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

During the opening, the very first thing we see is absolute pitch black. A very small light flickers in the center of the screen, growing larger each time it shines. Then, there is a neighborhood, one house centered between two others that the audience can see. The houses are identical. One window remains illuminated despite it clearly being the dead of night. We get closer to his bedroom. It's quite plain and the shadow from the window's bars are reflected on the wall. We discover that he is practicing a spell under his covers. Harry quickly shifts into a sleeping position as his uncle comes to check on him. Upon his uncle's exit, he continues to whisper the incantation. Finally he speaks it aloud, and the light is so bright, it brings the audience to the title of the film.

What connotations do the images carry?

At this point in the series of films, the audience knows that Harry hasn't had the greatest time. Through the images, however, even someone who does not have prior experience with the Harry Potter films can understand that it is not going to be very happy despite the world of magic in which he lives. The darkness shows how much metaphorical darkness surrounds Harry, his constant mourning and struggle. Him being the only source of light shows his difference, as a magical wizard among other things, making him stand out from everyone else who might be considered "normal". The shadows of bars from the window are a symbol of how this house makes Harry feel imprisoned, far away from the new comfort of the magical world. The spell being a light spell and coming off that bright is a reiteration of the metaphorical light around Harry for his special differences.

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

To step into the world of fantasy, the film took an average area, and threw something spectacular right in the middle of it. The monotony of the identical houses right next to each other, regular and plain looking, make it all the more easy to make Harry and his fantasticality stand out. And, if that's not enough, there's a wand in his hand emitting light while he speaks a spell. Also, his companion owl; not too common.

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

In order to appeal to the target audience, the film definitely had to add the magical aspect, and do so well. We only get a touch of it in the opening, but it's clearly there. With the spell in a non-English language, the wand, and the owl, there is already quite a few things to draw in someone fascinated with other worlds. They also make it secretive. The magic must be hidden from outside sources, people who aren't familiar with the wizarding world. It draws in an audience who likes fantasy because they can feel like they are in on something exclusive.

How has technology been used effectively? (You may want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques)

Implementing the logo displayed at the start into the world of the film and having it match the mood of its surroundings was a smart decision, because this way it takes nothing from the film, only stands there briefly as the story starts up. We get the perspective of Harry looking down at his book, a POV shot of sorts, that puts us there with him, hiding under the covers with nothing but the magic within himself. Then, it cuts on the action of the light getting brighter, quite smoothly might I add. The new high angle of the camera further emphasize Harry's stance in the story. The dollying backward to where the film began through the white light of Harry's wand, transitioning into the title of the film, letters moving around then standing solidified and proud is very impressive, both visually and technologically.