'Expendables 2' Analysis: Opening 5 Minutes

In the beginning of the opening, the sound begins to pick up into an adventure type music sequence. This is non-diegetic sound in the background and continues throughout the scene with the more predominant sound of guns, the vehicles and buildings being destroyed in the foreground. The music makes the story seem fast paced and adds to the suspense and power of the opening scene.

During the beginning, the camera cuts from close-up to close-up of each of the characters in 'The Expendables' team. We see the determination in their faces to finish whatever it is they have started and makes the audience wonder what has happened and makes them want to continue watching to find out. It shows the audience that these are the people we should be focusing on and showing their importance to the story. The quick cuts all around and the movement of the camera makes the audience feel like they are there with them. It stimulates confusion and intrigue as the camera follows all of the characters around the scene without really knowing where the scene is taking place. This creates a fast pace for the audience to keep up with which is contrasted in the dark room with the antagonists as they aren't really moving around.

We see an establishing shot of the town being destroyed with bright coloured flames surrounding and contrasting the bleak beige of the location. This cuts to a two shot in the vehicle, making the audience feel that they are in the scene with the actors. The characters each show their talents and pairings in each of their parts of the scene, which helps the audience to understand who to follow and who the film will continue to focus on. It then cuts to the group of antagonists with a hostage in a dark room and when one of them tells the other to shut the door, it is in another language. This conforms to the convention of antagonists being foreign.  

The heavy gunshots and explosions, although in longer shots, are prevalent as they are very much obvious due to their sound and powerful nature in the scene. We focus on these, showing that it may continue during the rest of the film. It also conforms to the convention of having violence and explosions all around, helping to attract the target audience. The opening itself is very much in-your-face. This is common as it helps to set in stone the theme for the rest of the film and keeps people intrigued from the very beginning.