The Da Vinci Code Trailer Analysis

27/02/2013

The Da Vinci Code Trailer Analysed:

• Dominant colours dark blues, deep glowing reds, greys and silvers. 
• Trailer opens with whispers and light choral music
• Sound bridge; audience hears suspicious whispering before shot of man whispering his confession
• Montage of Parisian icons at start such as the Louvre.
• Most of the trailer takes place in either dark rooms/ buildings or at night
• Pan shots of large historical buildings onto close up of man praying in a whisper to himself as though begging for his life. Cut then shot of man self flagellating.
• Mysterious monk- face obscured by a black cloak hood
• Rapid editing; tension increases throughout.
• High quality marble floors, rich oak and mahogany
• Ancient classical paintings
• Sumptuous mansions connoting wealth, luxury, success.
• High angle shot of Hanks’ character looking up at painting so that camera then pans down towards his shocked and fascinated face- he knows something we don’t.
• Fast editing for tension.
• Gothic birds- eye shot of mutilated corpse of old man in museum. Lit by candles
• Repeated close up shots of eyes
• Theme of voyeurism

The film trailer was effective in engaging an audience reaction and interest in many different ways. It begins with the statement: ''symbols are a language...''

Many examples of signifiers and signs were used to convey an emotion, event or action. As the film includes a story based on various religious elements it is necessary that the film trailer also included this for example the candles surrounded the dead man whose body is structured in a religious stance.