Your mom likes opening credits. Type Tuesday: Napoleon Dynamite

When trying to think of what movie I wanted to talk about this week, I started to think of how the fall is upon us, and kids are returning to school after the Labor Day weekend. So the natural and only choice I could come up with, was Napoleon Dynamite.

(video link at the end of post)

 

I have to say that I love this movie! In a time of over production and reliance on CGI it's such a refreshing change to see opening credits like this, and they fit so well with the story. In all the shots for the opening, they show objects or food that appear in the movie as part of Napoleon's life.

The use of hand written type on food that Napoleon, or one of the other characters eats in the movie [1] , is a genius and fun idea that Director Jared Hess and Cinematographer Aaron Ruell, the guy that also plays Kip in the movie came up with.

Each food item or object is placed over a very textured, vibrant or muted, but always rich color palette of carpet. According to an interview with Hess on the website artofthetitle.com, he got the carpet from a guy he knew in his neighborhood who owned a carpet shop. [2] This is one of the subtle touches that lends to the organic feel that Hess was looking for. All of these images accompanied by the song "We're Going to Be Friends" by the band The White Stripes, sets the over all tone of the film. It shows that this isn't your ordinary movie about teens, it's an extraordinary movie about ordinary teens, and the innocence, vulnerability, and hilarity of growing up.

Napoleon Dynamite Opening Credits Link

"Tonight I'll dream while I'm in bed
when silly thoughts go through my head
About the bugs and alphabet
and when I wake tomorrow I'll bet
that you and I will walk together again
Cause I can tell that we are gonna be friends
yes I can tell that we are gonna be friends"

—"We're Going to Be Friends" The White Stripes

References:
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1.  wikipedia.org
2. artofthetitle.com