First Impressions



   
     I'm finding in my research that the truly great science fiction movies almost always have captivating and creative openings sequences, because that seems to be one of the most important things for a movie: a solid first impression. Captivating the audience and giving them a positive first opinion right when the film starts is huge, and this is clearly evident in what is considered to be one of the best opening sequences of all time, the scene from the original Star Wars. 

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      Every second of this 7 minute scene is amazing. It starts out with the famous yellow text crawl to set the exposition, with the awesome theme music playing in the background. It then shows a giant star destroyer chasing a tiny cruiser, firing the laser cannons directly at it, with special effects that were years ahead of its time. Then, in the interior of the ship, the scene builds a lot of tension and suspense as the rebel soldiers await the imperial invasion coming through the doors. The scene then progresses to the action packed firefight, setting the tone of the film from the very beginning. The scene then shifts to introducing the specific characters, with the two droids' comedic stroll through the heated battle showing the humor and charm of their characters. Princess Leia is introduced at first as a sort of damsel in distress, but quickly shatters that stereotype as she guns down a trooper. Finally, the villain, Darth Vader, is introduced at the sound of his own low, intimidating music. This tone of intimidation continues because the first thing he does is choke someone to death, setting the ruthlessness of his character.


     To sum up, the iconic Star Wars scene:
- Sets the exposition for the story
- Establishes the tone/mood of the rest of the film
- Introduces the characters and their specific qualities
- Overall tells a suspenseful but charming opening sequence that captivates the audience

     All these qualities of the opening sequence I will do my best to implement in my opening sequence, and try to condense it, but still make it as effective and captivating as possible.

Source: Looper video: "The Greatest Opening Movie Sequences Ever Filmed" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzei8S4lkC8


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