Evaluating the opening sequence of Bourne Identity

The opening scene of the film Bourne identity starts by cutting straight to a storm. The scene does not fade in making then movement smooth and calm. It flashes in telling the audience that something dramatic is happening. The storm is used to foreshadow that a storm may be coming. The music begins as a group of mystery characters are shown nearby a boat. The sailors communicate in a foreign language making it difficult for the audience to figure out if these characters are good or bad - this therefore adds to the curious atmosphere. Parallel editing is used to show that the two scenes - the sailors on the boat and the floating body- occurring at the same time. This builds up tension as the audience watch the characters eventually meet. They wait in anticipation to see who will reach the other first.

The floating body shown reveals to the audience that a murder has been committed. The audience may wonder why and who has done this crime but this is part of the story and have to work it out for themselves. This is also generally used in both spy an thriller scenes as it creates a mystery that needs to unfold. A POV shot has been used here so that the audience so that the audience can see what the sailor is currently seeing. This also reveals to the viewer that the sailor has spotted the body as we wait to see his reaction and whats he's going to do next. A flash of lightening turns the screen completely black, the title emerges. Random letters appear in a coding effect that forms in the title.

This can foreshadow that the character has to figure out something highly complicated in the future. After the sailor has spotted the body the music tempo increases as the audience can now see what we may assume to be the main character of the film clearly and evidently for the first time. The theme of the mystery continues as we still have no idea who the man is.The diegetic sound as well as the pace of the music as the sailors realise that the man is still alive. They also start to shout to each other as they panic in a rush to save his life. The music starts to fade out as an extreme close-up is used - inevitably to attract the audiences and also focus their attention on the scalpel which is about to cut open the main character. The now nearly silent music is used to emphasise the focus needed when operating on a body.