Kingsman opening scene analysis

The scene begins with a quiet and calm soundtrack (Money for nothing – Dire Straits) which acts as a sound bridge to be played over the opening credits. As the scene changes from the credits to the opening scene the soundtrack continues but now appears to be playing from a speaker in the scene so the sound has gone from non-diegetic to diegetic. Drums are then played in a pattern which overpowers the previous sounds. This sound motif is used to illustrate the scene has started and something is about to happen, building tension and anticipation. The camera pans away from the speaker and starts to display a wide shot of the scene where 2 men with guns appear to be guarding something. The soundtrack then gains in volume as a helicopter rises from the horizon. The helicopter is shot at a low angle to make it look dominant. The soundtrack then has some electric guitar playing just as the helicopter is fully visible so the sound is synchronous to the scene. Electric guitar is used here to symbolise something hard-core and dangerous. As the helicopter is rising we start to hear the sounds of the blades spinning and gun shots fired from the helicopter. As the scene progresses and the helicopter travels forwards, over the camera, and the sound of the blades get louder so to show it is closer to the camera. This is again diegetic sound. We then see a building which the helicopter is approaching. The helicopter fires a missile at the building and there is a loud firing sound which intensifies on contact with the building and we hear an explosion. During this, the soundtrack is still playing but it doesn’t appear to be from the speaker anymore so it has gone back to non-diegetic sound. As the missile is fired the soundtrack kicks in with some more overdriven and powerful electric guitar which again portrays danger and power. The helicopter, shot at a low angle as well as having just blown up part of a building and being accompanied by a rock and roll soundtrack, now looks unstoppable which reveals to the audience that they are a supreme force.The camera then slowly zooms towards the building. As we get closer we start to hear more explosions, then gunshots from inside the building, people shouting and finally people talking. The order of these sounds is used appropriately to confirm how close the audience is to the building. The first scene ends as the camera gets inside the building where we hear diegetic sounds of communication via walkie-talkies. The soundtrack fades off as well as we get inside. Then the sound is almost purely dialogue with a few faint background sound effects of the continued fight scene.All of this opening scene builds up the feeling of hard-core power and danger which gives the audience an impression of what the rest of the film will be like. Therefore the first set of sounds are very important as they dictate the feeling of the entire film.

Daniel Grimley OLL