Title Research: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

For the next title research blog, we watched the opening sequence to the movie "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo".

There was a total of 30 titles shown in the two minutes and thirty five seconds of the opening scene. Each title had the same silver font and moved slightly, swiftly horizontally before disappearing. The first title is the film production industries, which is Columbia Pictures and Metro Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. Then, a "Scott Rudin and Yellow Bird Production". Then it moves on to the director, "A David Fincher Film". Afterwards, names of the main actors that are featured in the film are listed. The titles then move on to other production related features, like who the music is by, costume designer, sound designer, editors, etc. Finally, the sequence ends with, "Directed by: David Fincher". I did find it strange that the director was featured twice, once in the beginning and the end. 

Some of the sequences follow a linear development through the narrative, whereas other scenes are not related to a particular chronology. The opening scene is made up of black, liquid fluid-like matter, developing into objects and characters to tell a story. Each scene had a distinct type of fluid; some were very intricate and liquid-heavy, while others were more straightforward. For instance, there was an uncomplicated close-up of a person's lips with liquid spilling out of them. 

However, in other instances, such as the "hot hands" that melt a character's face, or the head being torn apart are a bit more violent, but easy to tell. The final instance, the scene where a character pulls herself out of the earth, the liquid is more fundamental to the idea. A fluid simulation reveals how complex all of those layered components are.

The liquid and everything it makes up is black, creating an ominous feeling. The lack of color and dark scenes can add suspense to scenes and throw off the audience's emotions and adds tension.  The use of fire also creates a destructive connotation.

Overall, the editing is fast with quick cuts, since it quickly alternates one scene to the other. This almost creates an anxious feeling since everything seems to be happening so fast. The music is quick paced also adding to adrenaline. If the opening scene had been in color, the genre could almost be depicted as an action film. However, the lack of color and destructive vibe warns the audience of a twist, making it seem more like a mystery film.