Magazine Cover Analysis #2

This is a cover for film magazine Empire, which is a limited edition cover promoting the James Bond film, Skyfall. The cover itself is simplistic, drained of most colour and showing an image of James Bond in a smart suit, holding a gun. The cover acts as a pure character cover, that's main aim is to introduce the character to the audience and does this by giving Bond prominence in the poster, taking up most of the available space.  The image of Bond works to give the audience a clear idea of the characters personal traits. For example, the costume-work is used to show the sophisticated nature of the character, looking smart and perfectly clean whilst finding himself in a dangerous situation, which is highlighted by the prop of the gun which connotes action and violence (informing the audience of the genre). 

However, the character is also displayed as a dark and moody person, which is represented to the reader by the complete lack of colour surrounding the character as well as the lighting used, with half of his face in the shadows. This also carries connotations linking with the characters occupation (therefore giving audiences a better idea of the films plot), as being a spy would mean working in the shadows and remaining unseen all the time. The only colour that is used in the cover is reserved for the title of the magazine and a small print telling the reader that this is a limited edition cover, which are both shown in a gold colour, from which the reader can infer the character is used to the finer things in life with the colour of gold connoting wealth and riches.

  Locations are normally shown in poster and magazines covers to give the audience information about the film and to draw them in to want to see it, sometimes making the location one of the most prominent parts of the cover if it is one of the films main USP's. In this cover though it is the lack of information provided that would make the audience more intrigued. Instead the designer of the cover has opted for a plain white background in order to make the character stand out more. However, it is probably safe to assume that the audience of this magazine would be familiar with the Bond franchise and therefore more likely they would be familiar with the stereotypes of the typical Bond film, including the use of exotic locations. Here, none of the information regarding where the film is set is given, which would make audiences want to see the film even more.