Film Mapping and Opening analysis for Transporter 2

Film Mapping for Transporter 2

time in minutes when credits are shown 0:00-2:00

20th Century Fox logo (signature 20 second animation)

TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX presents

a EUROPACORP production        in coproduction with TF1 FILMS PRODUCTION

in association with CURRENT ENTERTAINMENT

with the participation of CANAL+         and TPS STAR

JASON STATHAM

ALESSANDRO GASSMAN

AMBER VALLETTA

and KATE NAUTA

with MATTHEW MODINE

and JASON FLEMING

TRANSPORTER 2 (film title)

time in minutes when credits are shown 3:30-6:30

KEITH DAVID

introducing HUNTER CLARY

SHANNON BRIGGS

and FRANCOIS BERLEAND

casting by ED ARENAS    MELISSA HIRSCHENSON

costume designer BOBBIE READ

original score by ALEXANDRE AZARIA

martial arts choreographer CORY YUEN

car stunt choreographer MICHEL JULIENNE

editors CHRISTINE LUCAS-NAVARRO    VINCENT TABAILLON

production designer JOHN MARK HARRINGTON

director of photography MITCHELL AMUNDSEN

executive producer TERRY MILLER

produced by LUC BESSON and STEVEN CHASMAN

based on characters created by LUC BESSON & ROBERT MARK KAMEN

written by LUC BESSON & ROBERT MARK KAMEN

directed by LOUIS LETERRIER

Film Opening Analysis for Transporter 2 

The first thing that is made apparent within this film’s opening is that it begins in a very similar manner to the first instalment. We initially see an extreme long shot of a black german saloon car sitting still within a car park at which point the camera will pan across to the left and zoom towards the vehicle, before cutting to a close up of the side profile of the vehicle and continuing to pan across until an extreme long shot of the Audi logo on the front grille is visible.

The first Transporter instalment (featuring the same protagonist) had a film opening that was almost identical to this one apart from driving a BMW rather than an Audi. I suspect the vehicle choice was a matter of advertising for the manufacturer in question as they get to feature their high end luxury vehicles in a high-grossing box office film.

Another thing worth noting is that the original film’s opening eventually lead to the preparation of a bank robbery and a very memorable car chase. The fact that the second film begins the same way would perhaps lead us to suggest many more scenes as memorable and action-packed as the first.

As for the protagonist himself (Jason Statham playing as Frank Martin, unnamed at the film opening), he appears to carry himself with discretion, looks totally in control and an aura of formality given off by his black suit and choice of vehicle. An example of the character’s relative calmness and control is that within two minutes of the film’s starting, he is already threatened by an amateur car-jacking. A gun is pointed at him initially and he is threatened with melee weapons when he refuses to unlock the car’s coded ignition for the carjackers. He never looks frightened, anxious or even slightly concerned about losing a then brand-new car. He takes the whole situation as if it is a minor irritation before disarming the thugs of their weapons without permanently harming them; showing us that he has a touch of empathy as he could have easily killed them for the threats and inconvenience, and more importantly, the brief fighting scene reminds us in abundance that this is an action film through and through, and the genre is clearly confirmed within the space of three and a half minutes.