How far do the opening sequences of the films you have studied for this topic introduce their key messages and values?

The opening sequences for Get Carter and Bullet Boy are very similar and depict how important location is and the effects it has on societies in the films. The train introduction in Get Carter begins in a very green and open place, coupled with sunshine, connoting quite a pleasant and free atmosphere. As the journey continues, the train passes factories which represents a more industrial environment. The sun begins to set until it is completely night time and this is when Carter arrives in Newcastle. The music, which was once white a fast and upbeat tune has withered to just a slow and single beat which shows Newcastle as a bleak place. This has been done to show how Carter feels about the north and to comment on the north/south divide in England, Carter sees himself above everyone in the north.

The introduction to Bullet Boy is very similar. The characters begin in a very open countryside area which has quite a free and safe atmosphere, but they travel into a very urban environment. When Ricky arrives in Hackney, his POV shots show tall buildings that surround the characters and connotes a sense of entrapment, Ricky can not see the sky passed the buildings showing that he is stuck in this lifestyle forever. When they were in the countryside, a lot of wide and mid shots were used which again connotes to a feeling of security and freedom, whereas in the city only CU's are used on the characters which reinforces that they feel trapped. This introduces how the theme of location is used in Bullet Boy, the characters are stuck in this way of life and are brought up to believe that there are no other choices.

Both opening sequences involve the use of drugs. In Get Carter, Carter uses hard drugs which is a result of the 'swinging sixties' and how the social acceptance of softer drugs such as marijuana have evolved into bigger drug problems in the 70's, which is when this film was made. The use of drugs have added to the dark atmosphere of the film and also represents post 60's society. The sixties was apparently a time of women liberation as its when the pill was introduced, women felt that they could be more relaxed and have more sexual freedom. However, this meant that men felt that their masculinity and status was being challenged. This is represented in Get Carter by how passive women are. Men in the film are very thoughtless when it comes to women see them as a lower class, women are objects only good for sexual pleasure. In Bullet Boy, Ricky is smoking pot and during this Curtis has a blade of grass in his mouth, absently mimicking his older brother. The use of this scene is to show how impressionable Curtis is and shows how characters have been conditioned to a criminal lifestyle from a young age.