Spiderman 2 - Thriller Research

SPIDERMAN 2 (Directed by Sam Raimi, 2004)

The opening sequence for this film relies majorly on the editing and sound to grab the audience’s attention, the main factor of the sequence being that it highlights the original format of the plot which was published in the comic book, as shown by the introduction to the company Marvel in which the title appears after the flicking through a number of comic book pages and the way in which the previous film is told through a number of drawn pictures as the titles appear (below).  

 The music dominates the opening sequence as it starts with a string section and as the tempo gains speed, percussion is added. A range of techniques are used to add tension as well as a number of small crescendo’s taking place throughout to be immediately replaced with the fast rhythm again. The build up towards each of these small crescendos also helps to develop tension as during each one a pinnacle point to the previous story is portrayed through the images, by using this effect it gives the impression that the music leading up to the final crescendo, will be an important or even frightening revelation as well, giving the audience a sense of foreboding as well as eagerness to continue watching. Different emotions are also reflected through different types of instrument, this being shown through the dominance of a brass section when the picture of where a character expressed fear or anguish and the increase in percussion and cymbals when the picture of the antagonist appeared. This helps create tension as the audience’s emotions are altered through the empowering music, allowing them to be controlled based on how the director wants them to feel about each individual scene and character pictured. 

The titles appear through a wipe transition and are wiped out in the same format, a colour scheme is used (red, black, white and blue) with colours that complement each other so as for ease of reading the names as well as matching the colours of Spiderman’s costume. Through the use of the colour red, tension is created due to the fact the colour is commonly associated with danger. The font is possibly designed specifically for the film and matches the colour scheme as well as being easy to read due to the colour white working effectively against the mixture of backdrops and this is important due to the fact the titles are quite small, however still clearly readable.  The film title is easily recognised due to the fact it is larger than the rest of the titles and illuminated as well as having a specific noticeable background of a web that links in with the plot, title and emphasizes that this text has a higher importance than any other. As for the titles organisation, they are wiped in from a multitude of directions and the same with the wipe out, the effect of the wipe indicates the possibility that it is mirroring Spiderman’s web due to the long thin lines linking across the screen, this keeps in with the films theme as well as adding interesting effects due to the way in which these webs act almost as mirrors, refracting the titles so they appear disorientated across the screen, this coincides with the way in which the opening sequence is edited as it appears slightly rushed so as to give the impression of a fast paced film as well as making sure the previous film’s plot could be done justice whilst not losing audience interest.

  

The company who own the rights, this being 'Columbia Pictures' also had a unique title presentation as did the director, whose name appears twice, guaranteeing them the recognition they have earned.

The Titles in the order of which they were presented: 

  A Marvel Enterprises/ Laura Ziskin production 
 Tobey Maguire
 Kirsten Dunst
 James Franco
 Alfred Molina
 Rosemary Harris
 J.K Simmons
 Donna Murphy
 Daniel Gillies
 Dylan Baker
 Bill Nunn
 Vanessa Ferlito 
 Aasif Mandvi

 Casting by Dianne Crittenden

 Music by Danny Elfman

·         Costume Designers; James Acheson, Gary Jones

·         Visual Effects Designed by John Dykstra, ASC

·         Film Editor; Bob Murawski

·         Production Designer; Neil Spisak

·         Director of Photography; Bill Pope, ASC

·         Co-Producer; Grant Curtis

·         Executive Producers; Stan Lee, Kevin Feige

·         Executive Producer; Joseph M.Caracciolo

·         Produced by Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad

·         Based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

·         Screen Story by Alan Gough, Miles Millar and Michael Chabon

·         Screenplay by Alvin Sargent

·         Directed by Sam Raimi