Character

Characters are a key aspect to a film and are the representation of the film. I think they are quite essential in the opening of a film but not always necessary. Seeing characters gives the audience something to connect with, especially through characters emotions as it gives a deep and meaningful connection. Seeing characters in the opening also help the audience to connect more with the story and feel like they are actually there. A characters emotions helps us as the audience begin to understand more about them and what they have been though, thus helping us connect more with both them and the story.

Captain Jack Sparrow-Pirates of the Caribbean 

From the powerful music in the opening scene you can tell immediately that this character is both important and powerful. The way he is presented in the first few seconds of the film you can tell that he will be a force to be reckoned with. From the camera angles he looks like the most powerful pirate out there, or at least he does for twenty seconds until you realise that he isn't commanding on a massive pirate ship but instead sailing solo on a sinking little sail boat. You see this not so powerful pirate scooping water from his boat, showing his determination for it not to sink when he pays his respects to his fallen comrades, showing his consideration and also his bravery to enter a place where he could be hanged for his title. Although you might think this pirate isn't much, he still looks powerful as he sails is boat up to port riding it by the mask before it completely submerges in the water. 

The thing that makes this character so unique is the fact that he is so unpredictable to both the other characters and also the audience. He always seems to have a plan even if it isn't always evident and even though it doesn't always seem like he's quite there, he is always thinking of a way out of precarious situation. 

Captain Jack Sparrow adds to the narrative of the film as he is the main character which we follow through his multiple journeys across the sea. He is the character we follow through the films and learn more about. As each film comes along we learn more and more about this pirate and the world in which he sales on. He also helps us to learn and understand about other character such as Will Turner who discoverer's he is a pirate and in another film discovers where his father is.

Loki-Thor  

From the opening you don't understand much about this character until the end of the scene. You can see that his father is telling him and his brother about a great war he fought against the frost giants. Both Loki and Thor seem keen to know more about what happened but you can see how Loki wants to know if the frost giants were still around will all Thor wanted to do was go and battle them. You can also see from appearance that Thor is of a much broader build and looks much like his father compared to Loki who has dark hair and a smaller build. You also hear their father say "only one of you can ascend to the throne, but both of you were born to be kings." You learn later on how this was foreshadowing the fact that Loki isn't actually an Asgardian and was actually meant to be king of the frost giants. This character is very interesting due to his cunning nature and ability to manipulate and trick people. His ability to create illusions helps to show his devious nature and makes it hard for the audience to know whether he is actually being helpful or devious to others.

What makes Loki iconic is the fact he can so easily manipulate character and the audience into feeling certain emotions. When him adoptive mother dies he creates an illusion in his prison cell to others that he is completely fine but when Thor comes to see him and tells him to show himself, the illusion is removed and you see a broken man sitting on the floor with the room smashed up. His ability to trick people so easily is what makes him a good villain. 

Loki adds to the narrative of the film as it shows the multiple directions the film could go. The main character in the film is Thor and the story is him going to learn how to be worthy through his banishment so he can learn to be a good king, but Loki helps give motive in the film. It’s his actions that help Thor understand what it is to be worthy and understand that peace is better than war.  Loki makes it easy for us to connect with him, due to him being jealous of his adoptive brother and feeling betrayed by his family. These emotions are ones often felt by siblings and Loki seeking revenge just seems more understandable due to him feeling neglected.     

Jake Sully-Avatar

At the beginning of the film you see that Jake Sully is a very determined character. You can see him getting into a fight with a much stronger guy even though he is restricted in a wheel chair. This shows him to be both a brave and strong willed character. You learn that he used to be a soldier and that is how he ended up in a wheel chair and all he wants is treatment so he can use his legs again. When he get recruited to do some work for a company his brother worked for after his death, Jake agrees to go on the bases he will get his legs back.

What makes Jake Sully iconic is the fact that when he first went to Pandora his aim was just to do the mission and get the money for his surgery, but you can see after he first experiences his avatar and is able to walk, it’s like he is a new person. He wants to go out and explore this new world and doesn't really care for the mission. You see this again when he interacts with the natives on Pandora; all he wants to do is learn their ways which eventually leads to him helping them fight against the scientists and organisation.

Jake sully adds to the narrative of the film by showing this whole other world to the audience that none of the other character had been able to accomplish before. He shows us their way of life but also shows us the life on the base. His character helps us as the audience understand both what is going on at the base and what is going on in Pandora which helps us to understand he story better.