Narrative Assessment

Give three examples of the use action codes are used in the film Skyfall and explain how these help to tell the story.

At the start of the film a gunshot is fired to take out the villain however James Bond is hit instead, we can tell the character that took the shot and M both have regret, we know this because of the facial expressions shown by both characters, M sighs and stands up turns around and looks out the window, we see the pained look on her face this shows the regret of the character.

We see that Silva has a lack of consideration for his own safety, we see this when he is carelessly throwing grenades into the house without a care in the world. We also this when he is stood near house after watching a helicopter crashing straight into the building and he isn't even flinching.

Silva is portrayed as gay, although we don't hear him say he is or anyone else saying it we can tell by the way he speaks, he speaks in a camp manner and when he captures James Bond he strokes his leg and chin and feels his chest, this shows he is possibly gay.

Give three examples of the use of enigma codes 

An example of when an enigma code is used is when James Bond has been shot and in a later scene we see him come back, this raises questions as to how he survived, who found him? Why hasn't he contacted Mi6?

When James Bond is being questioned by the psychologist the psychologist asks him about Skyfall, we see James Bond get up and leave without answering questions, this again raises questions such as what is Skyfall? Why didn't he answer the question?

Another example of an enigma code is the hard drive, it raises questions such as why are they trying to retrieve it and whats on the hard drive? it keeps the audience engaged because it makes them want to carry on watching to see whats on the hard drive.


Analyse the film's narrative structure using a narrative theory, and argue which event in the film corresponds with each stage of the film

The films narrative structure corresponds to Robert McKees classic five part narrative theory. Part one is the inciting incident where James Bond is chasing Patrice which has stolen an important hard drive, this sets the story going as questions are already being raised at this point. The second part is progressive complications where the story deepens as James Bond is shot and presumed dead. The third step is crisis where things are getting worse, this is when the anonymous attacks on MI6 happen such as the MI6 building blowing up, M's laptop being hacked and the names on the hard drive of undercover agents are leaked. Crisis is when James Bond meets Silva on the island and captures him and takes him back to base, Silva then escapes going after M in the court room and James Bond saves her and takes her back to his old family home Skyfall where Silva follows and tries to kill them both. The resolution is when Silva is finally killed, the main issue has been resolved however the normality is different as M dies and a new M is appointed at the end of the film


Besides the narrative how else is the audience engaged by the film?

The audience are engaged by the film with the use of references to the older James Bond films, we see this when Q is showing James Bond some gadgets and James Bond asks about an explosive pen we see this gadget in an older film. another reference of older films is the classic Aston Martin with the ejector seats again referencing an older James Bond film