Research + Analysis: Swat (2003)

<object width="640" height="271"><param name="movie" value="http://www.megavideo.com/v/9VQ7T6ZK5ac3dc7d9900edb756bbb6045e80b5fb"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.megavideo.com/v/9VQ7T6ZK5ac3dc7d9900edb756bbb6045e80b5fb" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="271"></embed></object>

I will now look at the film swat, and analyse the title sequence and first part of the film.

The film starts with a radio sequence which would be used by the emergency services, you hear them talking about a hostage situation and how they need the 'swat' (special weapons and tactics). From this the film begins, you go straight into the action with a long shot of the famous Hollywood sign upon the hills, and as it pans in your hear the diegetic sound of a helicopter flying above the head. The camera tilts up to a shot of the police helicopter in the sky.

However as you hear the sound of the police radio you see blue flashing lights, which represent the emergency services and from the lights you see the titles appear in front of the blurred lights. The title sequence is short and to the point, you see who the film is made by (Colombia pictures)  and then the title of the film (S.W.A.T) this just allows them to get the audience to watch as it goes straight into the action and the story begins.

You see the people who have taken the hostages outside in balacava's which represents them as criminals, shooting at police cars which inevitably shows them as the criminals they are. This gives a clear link from the representations and what is correct. You also see the police struggling to hold them back which is building up for the 'swat' team to come and be shown as hero's.

Levi strauss's idea of binary oposition is very clear here, the hero's which are the police, and the villans which are the people taking the building hostage.

Throughout the whole opening sequence the writer and directors are giving a clear message of how the films going to plan out, full of action and major incidents.

The 'swat' are represented in a positive way when they come, through the action on screen and the non-diegetic music thats played as they arrive. As the truck pulls up the camera focuses on them as people move barriers and all out the way for the arrival of them, this shows there importance as people all seem to be glad of there arrival through there actions. The music shows more importance as it is almost a heroic theme and is fast paced so again shows signs of what the rest of the film is going to be like.