Opening Title Sequence: Blade II

Blade II (2002) is an exemplar action horror thriller produced by Amen Ra Films and Directed by Guillermo Del Toro. The film's titles blend in the other features of the opening sequence, like the camera shots and voice over, and are framed in such a way that they don't distract from the overall narrative style opening of the film (it's a sequel).

The titles depicted in the opening sequence are minimal and only convey the key production companies (Amen Ra Films and Imaginary Forces) and main distributor (New Line Cinema). This is done for numerous reasons. Such as: to make the film appear innovative; so the audience remained focused on the key character Blade (played by Wesley Snipes); to create an over all artistic and fast paced title sequence.

The colour and font of the tiles are semantic to the images they're placed over. Throughout the opening sequence the lighting remains dim which contrast with the red titles. Red connotes danger, bloodshed and love, blades, blood and darkness as well as a blood covered newborn being taken from a mother emphasises these meanings. The end title conveys blade ll written in a silver sharp-edged font, similar to daggers, the diegetic sound of a sword slicing through the air reinforces it's appearance. The font of the titles are similar to that of a comic book font, relates to the film's identity as it was based on a series of popular comics; Marvel Enterprises were also involved in the film's production, although they aren't mention in the films opening credits.
Overall the titles reinforce the films genre which is an action horror thriller.

The main shot used throughout is panning at eye-level it gives the impression that we are spying and are given an exclusive insight to his ominous life. A majority of the shots are close ups on key props which key are conventions of vampire films, such as, silver bullets, swords, guns and the black leather costume and shades presents Blade as a reluctant hero. Over the shoulder shots of Blade are also used which build curiosity and suspense amongst the audience. Special effects, like a blur into the main distributor at the beginning of the sequence and the use of negative to present key characters which have formed Blade's persona (mother and Whistler his mentor) are also present in the opening this implies that the film may have a surreal element, whilst the negative shows it's the character's flashback. Non-diegetic medium tempo music is also used to create a seedy atmosphere and mount tension and suspense amongst the audience.

The Blade ll opening title sequence is particularly effective because although it appears minimal it conveys a lot about the films genre through the use of colour and font