Film Opening Analysis (DYM)

I have chosen to analyse the 'Welcome to Jurassic park' scene from Jurassic Park (1993)

Enigma Code:

• What is he looking at and why is he so surprised (0:05)
• Why are there dinosaurs in modern day times? (0:37)
• Why is the old man not surprised by the dinosaurs? (1:55)
• How did the dinosaurs get there? (2:25)
• How are the dinosaurs able to survive? (2:34)
• Where in the world could this be? (2:40)
• How is this possible? (2:52)

Action Code:

• We prepare ourselves for something very shocking, just from looking at the woman's face. (0:29)
• We expect something exciting to happen when the dinosaur stands on two legs and the people stumble back with shock. (1:28)
• We learn there is a T-Rex so expect danger from them. (1:56)
• We see many dinosaurs and anticipate the action they will cause. (2:25)

Semiotic Code:

• The safari-like jeeps with a logo on them, suggests the setting is some kind of travel tourist attraction. (0:01)
• The logo says "Jurassic Park" so we get the idea it is some kind of a nature park. (0:02)
• The fact all the characters are wearing sunglasses makes us think the area is quite sunny or the time of year is. (0:05)
• The vast amount of wildlife and nature, makes the setting seem like a well preserved land. (2:33)

Cultural Code:

• We can tell the man and woman who leave the jeep are some kind of tourist adventurers from the cloths they wear. (0:47)
• The old man can be recognised as a clever scientist from his clothes, glasses and his white hair suggests he is experienced. (1:03)
• We know the creatures are dinosaurs from knowledge learnt from being taught, reading books, watching films and visiting museums etc.

Symbolic Code:

• Shock- The things seen by the people are shocking and unbelievable. (0:32)
• Amazement- They are interested by what they see and go closer to the dinosaur. (1:00)
• Happiness- They are happy and excited about what they have seen. (2:45)