Trailer Analysis - Quantum of Solace

Despite not being the most critically acclaimed of Bond films, the trailer for 'Quantum of Solace' is still very powerful and does a good job of selling the film. Although it was criticised for having too much action and very little plot, this works in the film's advantage in regards to the trailer, as there is plenty of variety when it comes to showing action sequences. As with the 'Clash of the Titans' trailer it makes it look as if the film is non-stop action (which, to be fair, it is) and looks exciting from start to end. I particularly like the start of the trailer, which juxtaposes fast flashes of shots with slow fades in. This is most obvious in the sequence between 0:39 and 1:03 where it goes from such fast shots that it is hard to even tell what they are, and Bond walking up a hill in slow motion. Behind all of this is the James Bond soundtrack, which hits an iconic five notes in time with the quick shots. The James Bond theme is so iconic, that if people didn't realise they were watching the James Bond trailer before, they would do at that point. The slow shots are accompanied by a long, drawn out note and a line from 'M' which creates an interesting juxtaposition. This builds the tension, as in the slow motion shots Bond slowly lifts up his gun, whilst the fast shots show sneak previews of the action sequences to come, without giving too much away. It holds the audience in their seats as they look forward to what is going to come next. As the sequence moves on, the long, drawn out note grows louder each time it returns, building the tension very powerfully. Also building the tension is the slow realisation that in the slow motion shots Bond is carrying a gun. In the first of these shots just Bond's head is seen, so the audience is made aware that it is Bond, but are also aware of the tense note in the background, leading them to the conclusion that there is more to the shot. Then in the second of these shots it reveals that Bond is holding something in his hand, and then in the third shot it is clear that he is holding some sort of machine gun and he raises it up, as if readying it for action. The audience now realise that something important is going to happen and avidly await the climax of the trailer. By having a satisfying climax (which I will discuss next), the film gives the audience what they want and they go away from it wanting to see the whole film.

The climax of the trailer is very well put together, especially from when Bond asks 'How long have I got?', to which the response is '30 seconds'. From then until the end of the trailer it is exactly thirty seconds, which almost makes it seem as if the characters are aware that they are in a trailer. This establishes the all important relationship with the audience, and they feel like the film makers have had them in mind whilst making the trailer. It seems to be done to impress the audience, and this is appreciated as they know that the trailer is meant to sell the film to them, not to just be a Directors' showreel. The last thirty seconds of the trailer are extremely fast, trying to fit in as much action as possible in as little time as possible. It is specifically marketed towards the stereotypical male demographic, showing nice cars, action sequences and sex scenes. There is also a nod to the female audience through the shot of Daniel Craig topless. This is one of my favourite trailer endings, as it gives itself the challenge of fitting as much as it can in thirty seconds, and pulls it off exceptionally. The James Bond music in the background helps it even more, with the action seeming even more intense as a result of it. The amount of variety in these last moments is astonishing, with chase sequences in planes, cars, boats and on foot. It is very impressive how much has been fitted in. For our trailer I'd love to create something like this, maybe giving ourselves a similar challenge to fit as much as possible into a very short time frame. I also like the way that the trailer starts very slowly and manages to pick up a very fast pace by the end. The opening shot sets the scene very well: dragging the chair slowly across the floor in a darkened room. The sound effect of the chair scraping the floor is drawn out to the perfect extent to make it sound highly menacing. The following few shots assist this menacing start with the darkened lighting that only shows half of peoples faces, leaving the rest of their face covered in shadow. This follows the dialogue, where the antagonist says 'we have people everywhere', making it seem like no one can be trusted which makes the audience wonder who to trust, with everyone in the shadows.

This trailer is very powerful and I have learnt a lot through analysing it. I particularly like the ending where the film makers set themselves the challenge of showing as much of the film as possible in thirty seconds. This is something that I could take inspiration from, as it is a good technique of engaging the audience and establishing a relationship. It is also very memorable, as it is an original way to kick start the climax of the trailer. There is a lot to like here, from the juxtaposition of fast and slow editing to the drawn out opening shot of the chair being dragged along the floor. The lighting is very gloomy at the start and begins the trailer with a foreboding atmosphere. This is sure to become a trailer that I will reference back to many times over the course of creating my trailer.