Analysis of The Da Vinci Code (Howard, 2006, USA / UK/ France/ Malta) Opening Sequence

In 'The Da Vinci Code' Mise en scene was used to create many different meanings. For example costume is worn by the old man, which is  to create a meaning that he is smart and must be important and also that he is a high status person. this creates this meaning because suits are generally known as high powered people because they are usually worn by business people who are usually very powerful people. so then this tells the audience that he must own something big and must have a big part to play, so the audience ask, what is his importance? Also costume is used to create different meanings. The white almost priest like outfit of the flagellate, person who whips himself for Christ, creates a meaning of telling the audience he is religious and that he is evil also because it is a dark blue/black colour. The colour black creates this meaning of him being evil because the connotations of black is that it is the colour of darkness and people get scared of the darkness and also evil people always hide in the darkness. and he is hiding in his costume which is dark. This makes the audience ask questions like what is he going to do and is he the main bad guy ?


  Also in 'The Da Vinci Code sound is used to create many different meanings. For example the contrapuntal sound used when the the old man is running away from sillas and the speaking of the man doing the presentation is over that creates a meaning of importance for one of these characters and also that they must have a link between them. these meanings are created because since the mans voice is over the chase scene it makes the audience think, did that man ask for this to happen? or does he realise this is happening while he is doing his presentation? Also it creates the meaning of importance because it makes the audience ask are these two people linked or important in some way?

Also cinematography is used to create many different meanings in The Da Vinci Code. For example the close up of sillas used just before he shoots the old man is used to create a meaning that he isn't human or less human than the others. this creates this meaning because it shows the details on the guys face which is a very pale white showing the audience that he is doesn't go outside and that he is less human because he has no colour to his skin whereas the older man does have a slight tan to his skin.

Finally, editing is used in The Da Vinci Code to make many different meanings. For example the fast paced editing that is used when the old man is running away from sillas, the man with the gun, is chasing the old man, this fast paced editing creates a meaning of urgency. This fast paced editing creates this meaning because since it is showing everything quickly it is telling the audience that sillas is in a rush to get what he is doing done so that he can move on to a more important task later on, which makes the audience want to keep watching so they find out what it is.