SOUND
The sound used in this opening is very well done for it's genre, with noises usually taken for granted are brought into the foreground by exaggeration, namely the "woosh" of the door being kicked open, and the smacks, cracks and pows of the punches reminds you that this is a movie based off a comic, and that they have tried to keep that comic feel. This effect is then discarded as we lead into the montage/title sequence, with the song "The Times They Are A-Changing" by Bob Dylan. The sound effects now work in the opposite, hushing everything into the background. It creates a feeling that these things are memories, events of the past, and almost like they are being remembered by someone who can't quite pinpoint all the details.
These effects make us think that we could be hearing what The Comedian hears, the accentuated sounds from his monotonous days at home, that they are the first moments of excitement in weeks, coupled with an adrenaline rush, and then, the toned down noises makes us think that this is his life flashing before his eyes, all the memories and things he has done being shown to him one last time, but he can't remember exactly what goes where.
You have identified some examples of sound in this opening. You have also explained why you think the director has changed the volume of the sound. Think about why the director would want to place the audience in the shoes of the comedian, since this is what you suggest the effect of the sound is. And then ask yourself the question to answer for Excellence, "so what?" Check my blog and the handouts to see if you can answer any more of the deeper questions about the techniques and the director.
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