Beauty and the Beast

The beginning of this film starts with an establishing pan of a woodland area with a subtle change in lighting, showing connotations of innocence and beauty. (Approx:0:05) As the shot continues we can plainly see a grand castle in the back ground, which could show connotations of mystery as we have no idea why a castle is in the middle of the woods.

The voice over used within this opening very much fits the stereotypical 'story teller' voice which allows audience members to understand that they are watching a fairy tale film and not, for example a horror. The voice over also narrates the story playing through the glass windows, which again allows the audience to establish what is going on within the film and also who the characters are, i.g. the protagonist and the antagonist.

The use of transitions within this opening are cross-fades which shows connotations of time progressing and also quite a whimsical style, which fits the mise-en-scene and also the genre of fairy tale.  The camera work as well uses zooms onto the 'glass paintings' to show connotations of their importance, which also can then establish to the audience members that, whatever is being zoomed in on, e.g. the rose (Approx:0:54) holds importance for the narrative later on within the film.

(Apporx:1:10) there is a change in camera, and instead of a zoom into the glass painting, there is a reveal as the protagonist changes into a beautiful creature, therefore implying that it has been revealed to the characters, e.g. the protagonist and also the audience,, therefore also showing connotations of importance and change within character.

at (Approx: 1:22) when the antagonist changes, we see a change in mise-en-scene. Instead of using such bright and cheerful colours, such as green, orange and yellow, the glass painting changes to use colours of red, black and purple, which all show connotations of a darker purpose e.g. red can be seen as passion, black can be seen to have connotations of death, and purple, I believe was used because the audience can then still establish that the now changed antagonist, is still the same prince they saw before because purple can be seen to have connotations of royalty.






(Approx: 1:30) we see the antagonist claw away at a picture of himself, which shows connotations of self hatred and also loathing, which can be established to the audience though mise-en-scene and also the voice over, who uses such lines as, 'ashamed of his monstrous form.'     The voice over also sets up the rest of the film for the audience members, for example with the line 'if he could learn to love another and earn her love in return...' which establishes to audience members that the narrative will now consist of having a love twist, and not, for example an action twist.


I believe  that the film would be rated either a 'U' or 'PG' because the overall tone of the opening sets down to be a fairy tale and for the light hearted, with subtle life lessons implanted for the younger audiences to learn. On the other hand, there were times when the atmosphere and tone changed, for example when the portrait is being clawed at, which could show connotations of that tone/atmosphere to carry on throughout the film, meaning that possibly it wouldn't be suitable for young ages without a parent/guardian present.