The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan 2008)

Camera:
The first shot establishes the location: Gotham City (Urban buildings.) The camera also zoom-pans towards a particular building where a window is smashed. The next shot shows the cause of the broken window- a man with a harpoon.
The camera stays on one side of the 180 degree line. The line is marked by the zip chord which the bad guys use to get across to the roof of the opposite building. The rule is kept in the first scene so that it gives the audience a chance to adjust to the movie. If the rule was not obeyed in this instance the scene would be too confusing and people would not be able to relax enough in order to watch. The opening sequence is therefore very important for grabbing the audiences attention, by giving an impression of what to expect throughout the film.
The next shot is a low mid-shot which zooms in on the back of the character by the road waiting to be picked up. The main part of the image which the audience is drawn to is the clown mask so that they can identify on what side (baddies or goodies) the person is without revealing their face.
It creates a sense of curiosity and suspicion.
Sound:
The sound begins with a deep boom and then a ticking noise and one long string like note as the first shot appears after the titles. This gives a good introduction to the film by creating tenshion which increases expectations of the audience for an exciting movie.
As soon as the window is smashed, the music builds and the ticking noise gets louder. A second low boom occurs when the shot changes again and the music dies down to the same simple long note as before for more suspense. The car pulls over and the music goes into an electric guitar/violin like sound.
The sounds is most used to increase tension and excitement during the clip. Every so often the music increases or decreases in volume when either a scene changes or a door is opened, e.g. one of the bad guys opens the door to the room with the safe and the music quietens immediately.
Editing:
Computer graphics are used for the titles at the beginning. The colour blue is used in the logos and the flames to show aggression.
Cuts are fast at points of action to create tension.
The overall editing is seldom, so that is doesn't distract the audience from the narrative and the action.
Mise En Scene:
The location is urban as shown in the establishing shot.
Props, e.g. the clown face masks, are used to resemble the main villain 'The Joker' (Heath Ledger) so that the audience knows who's side they're on. The idea of wearing a mask indicates that they are guilty, i.e. bad guys.
Guns are used in scenes of action. Other weapons such as the grenade that was given to one of the civilians. The concept of a life threatening event means that the audience is excited by what would happen next.


Titles shown in the Opening Sequence:
Warner Bros. Pictures
Legendary Pictures
DC Comics

People Involved:
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Producer:
Christopher Nolan
Emma Thomas
Charles Roven
Written by:
Christopher Nolan

David S. Goyer

Actors:
Christian Bale
Michael Caine
Heath Ledger
Gary Oldman
Aaron Eckhart
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Morgan Freeman
Music by:
Hans Zimmer
James Newton Howard

Photography by:
Wally Pfister

Editing by:
Lee Smith

Produced by:
Legendary Pictures
Syncopy Films
DC Comics
Distributed by:
Warner Bros. Pictures