Movies with excellent opening acts

rizzla

Here be Spoilers, although it'll just be the begining of movies

So what movies have excellent opening acts which grab the viewer right by the balls? Or the rest of the movie just doesn't live up to the begining?

Scream - Drew Barrymore getting whacked right at the start. Really made me sit up and take notice.

X-Men 2 - The whole Nightcrawler BAMF fight scene through the white house. The rest of the action in the movie just never lived up to this stunningly choreographed and truely original fight.

Blade - I think the music made this what it was, but the massive fight in the vampire rave made me very giddy. Plus I could feel myself nodding along to the beat of the music. I really got into it.

Predator 2 - The massive columbian gunfight. Epic.

Thats just of the top of my head... Anything I missed, I know it'll be alot?

EDIT: Just thought of another one...

Up - Wow, I don't think any opening to any film was as emotional as this one.

Duggy747

The Dark Knight - Bank Heist scene, great finish with The Joker reveal.

The Matrix - Trinity showing us the first glimpse of the now infamous "bullet-time" effect.

rizzla

The Host - Not the very begining in the lab or the opening credits but in the park on a nice Summer's day. All of a sudden the Monster attacks and all hell breaks loose in a great intense scene which sets up the rest of the movie nicely.

astrofool

Jeepers Creepers. They should have ended it 30 minutes in.

rizzla

Pulp Fiction - Diner, nuff said.

rizzla

pebbles21 wrote: »

The Rock

C'mon don't just turn this into a list thread. I've seen The Rock but can't remember the opening, give us a lil description to jog my memory.

BrianJD

Walk the line - With the famous Cash beat, the crow and the atmosphere of the jail. The beat alone made it a "hair in the back of the neck" moment in the cinema.

epgc3fyqirnbsx

Saving Private Ryan - every time I see that I'm amazed that those poor men (mostly boys) had to face such carnage. Can't imagine the terror

Citizen Kane - I'm just saying that to p1ss off Outlaw Pete

Goodfellas - The monologue and meeting all the nicknamed gangsters, always laugh at Johnny two times

Shrek - reading a typical fairytale storybook then wipes his arse with it!

MagicMarker

Star Trek XI - Just so fúcking awesome.

aleybert

The opening battle scene in The Lord of the Rings in the cinema. My jaw hit the ground.

rizzla

Trainspotting - Excellent voice over and Iggy Pop.

Duggy747

People better not just list movies or else the Thread Hammer is gonna be a-coming.

I'll probably say Star Wars cuz of that now legendary opening title roll-up "A long time ago...." and the ship that slowly comes down from the top of the screen firing lasers. That one nugget has been parodied more times than I've taken a shìt.

Apocalypse Now - Martin Sheen in his room, fades between a forest that shoots up in Napalm with helichopters flying by............all to The Doors.

Terminator 2 - Starts by showing us busy streets and kids in a playground before a white flash to doom, gloom and a close-up of a skull..............which a Terminator crushes with it's foot. EDIT: Jeez, how could I forget THICK AUSTRIAN ACCENT "I need yur clothes, yur boots, and yur motorcycle!"

GoodFellas - "....always wanted to be a gangster" and then we're introduced to the mob guys.............."I'm going to get the paper......the paper"

Saving Private Ryan - The beach invasion that changed how war was to be filmed.

Back To The Future - Supreme 80's cheese with Marty playing the guitar on a huge amp, blowing it and the realising he's late for school........It's hip to be square!! Badda ba dam dam...........:pac:

2001: A Space Odyssey - Chimps beating the shìte out of each other before one of them cops on that using a bone to crack another one over the head ain't a bad idea. Then the iconic slow-mo shot of him throwing it into the air, the sign of evolution!

Indiana Jones - The great scene where Indiana gets chased by the boulder, great saturday matinee stuff!

Blade Runner - A pure rotten-looking future with those fire pumping chimneys and the giant screen of the asian girl.

No Country For Old Men - Our pudding-haired villian escaping custody and deciding to use his cattle prod.

Mr McBoatface

Bronson - I was taken totally by surprise by Tom Hardy's opening scene.

mike65

My favouite opening scene, a mix of brilliant atmospherics, and spine tingling music by Tangerine Dream

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywwc-V5M-zY

Kiith

The entire starting scene in Inglorious Basterds was fantastic.

Klingon Hamlet

Serenity: A great way to introduce all the characters in about 8 minutes, plus it's all layered, like the facets of River's fractured mind (can't find it on youtube)

Star Wars: A New Hope: simply mindblowing.Throws you into the universe with the first image of the immense star destroyer.

GoldenEye: 007 and 006 breaking into a Russian base, with that supercool bungee jump, the sneak around and the ambush, followed by the escape and the perfectly Bond-esque jump off bike onto plane whilst hurlting earthwards.

Gladiator: epic.

rednik

The Thing.

Little did I or anybody in the cinema realise why the Norwegians wanted to kill that dog so badly until it was placed in the cage with the other dogs

, great start to a classic movie.

À bit of conversation and debate would go a long way to ensuring that this thread stay open, it's descended into yet another lis thtread with people posting youtube videos or the name of a film.

The opening scene of Up has to be one of the greatest openign scenes I have ever seen. It manages in 11 minutes to offer more heart, story and truly great storytelling that most films mange in 90. To condense an entire life down into such a short running time and yet lose none of the emotional complexities of the characters is a truly awe inspiring achievement. Everytime I watch the scene it gets me and I end up wiping away tears.

Other recent examples have included Zombieland which managed to set the mood for the film perfectly. It was funny, entertaining and managed to give the art of Zombie killing a fresh twist.

Kick Ass also had a great opening though much of the impact was lost given how it was given away in the trailer.

ShagNastii

Not really much an act but I watched Lost in Translation last night.

Scarlett Johansson's ass was a beautiful opening to the movie.

krudler

As this is meant to be about opening acts, not scenes. I'll go with two of my favourites, Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark..

Jaws: its one of the most perfect examples of a 3 act movie structure you can find, theres the beginning premise with suspicions of a shark attack, up to the point where the whole town finds out and Quint is hired to kill it, and then the venture out to sea and climax. For me from the iconic opening attack to around where the attack on the beach where Brodys kid is nearly eaten comprises the first act.

Raiders of the Lost Ark. Talk about setting up a premise brilliantly. From the brilliant dissolve from the Paramount logo to the South American mountain, the iconic opening is as close to perfect action-adventure cinema as you can get.
Fords cool as fcuk entrance out of the shadows after disarming a would be assassin with his whip, the journey through the temple, the guessing the weight of the idol, the frantic escape from the collapsing temple, the villain is introduced, and our hero is chased through the jungle only to escape by the skin of his teeth onto a plane and back to his humdrum everyday life as an archaeology professor. It manages to cram in more action and characterisation into 20 or so minutes than some hack directors can in 2 hours.

Skinfull

rednik wrote: »

The Thing.

Little did I or anybody in the cinema realise why the Norwegians wanted to kill that dog so badly until it was placed in the cage with the other dogs

, great start to a classic movie.

I was gonna say this one. Brilliant opening! And to have McReady playing chess with the computer only to have it win, so he pours the whiskey into the disk drive and says "Cheating Bitch!"

Also, Halloween 1978. The POV shots as the kid circles the house then goes in the back door, grabs the knife and kills his sister. Epic opener.

Peyton Manning

Mesrine: L'instinct De Mort

Great opening scene, loved how they split up the screen into segments, although that may have just been me. His death was brutal, but I just though it was excellently done.

Spiritoftheseventies

Not to get pedantic shouldn't thread title read Movies with great opening acts. Doesn't read right. Though OP was talking about Fred and Ginger when I saw it first.

Peyton Manning

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

Not to get pedantic....

That's exactly what you're doing, and exactly what you intended.

Thread title is fine. It's better than fine actually, I f*cking love the thread title. Well done OP, I applaud you.

gandalf

Hmm I am taking opening act in a different way.

XXX - Because it introduced me to a band called Rammstein properly, I had heard some of their stuff earlier but it never registered with me but seeing them in the opening scene of this film it made me go and actively search out their complete catalogue and I became a fan (including seeing them live earlier this year).

Good opening to the movie as well with the US spy being killed at the concert, plus its in Prague one of my favourite cities

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ah5KD6evlM

mudokon

The opening scene to Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels is good, I like the way it introduces you to the characters & it sets the tone for the film really well. I also really like the dialogue of it.

builttospill

The opening scene of Enduring Love is unforgettable. However, the rest of the film is utter scat.

Spiritoftheseventies

Archimedes wrote: »

That's exactly what you're doing, and exactly what you intended.

Thread title is fine. It's better than fine actually, I f*cking love the thread title. Well done OP, I applaud you.

No it's not what I intended. Stop second guessing me Archi. We are talking about opening scenes are we not. Title is misleading IMO but not going to turn it into a federal issue.

Spiritoftheseventies

Very hard to find clips for opening scenes. can we widen the scope. Would make for a great thread. Thinking of one terrifc scene from American Beauty. That and another one from Apocalpyse now.

Flamed Diving

kraggy wrote: »

Magnolia (more opening sequence than act; one of the best I've ever seen)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAWDEsgMahQ

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Opus

1968

Two that come to mind.


The Blues Brothers (1980):

Absolutely fantastic 6mins opening. Long build up showing Joliet" Jake Blues (John Belushi) being released from prison that crescendos with 'She Caught the Katy' as he meets his brother Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd) outside the prison gates.

Couldn't find it on youtube. You can watch it fine here - http://video.interia.pl/obejrzyj,film,53591

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968):

One of the best openings in film history. Railway station. 3 hitmen. Charles Bronson. A harmonica. Nuff said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW-jSa9_k3M

johnny_ultimate

+1 on the new Star Trek film. Full of energy, reintroduces us to all the characters we know while also giving them some fresh backstory. Opening scene in particular stands out - fantastic action scene intercut with

the birth of Kirk

, followed by Michael Giacchino's epic score kicking in and the title logo. Just win.

Also definitely Up - the opening act condenses more insight and emotion into fifteen minutes than the vast majority of films can achieve in eight times that. Full of humour, warmth and sadness. Plus, got to love the newsreel.

On the Pixar front, Wall-E is another one. I'd say plenty would argue that the opening act is far superior to the two that follow, and perhaps I'd agree. I loved the film on the whole, but the first really does create a wonderful world and create two memorable characters with barely a word spoken (not entirely silent, but close). Toy Story 1 and 2 also open fantastically - with the whole birthday party sequence and the misleading Buzz Lightyear 'game' opening in the sequel in particular.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly's opening half an hour or so is filmed almost entirely from the point of view of the protagonist, so the audience has to get used to his new perspective as he does. It's a neat technique, and helps us get in the mind of Bauby quickly, while also establishing the quirky visual style. Also probably the best justification for a voiceover ever!

I could probably tie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind into any positive thread, but yeah it truly has a wonderful first act. Mainly because, like the film on the whole, it is playing with the concept of structure in cinema. It also acts as most of the film's third act, and while it may not stand out as anything other than the beginnings of a romantic story on first watch, it just improves upon reflection and rewatches. Gondry and Kaufman purposefully disorientate the viewer around fifteen minutes in, but the complex structure is just endlessly rewarding.

marwelie

ShagNastii wrote: »

Not really much an act but I watched Lost in Translation last night.

Scarlett Johansson's ass was a beautiful opening to the movie.

agreed! I haven't been the same since ;o)

foxyboxer

The dialogue free opening 6 minutes of Alien.
The hieroglyphic reveal in the title sequence, receiving the distress call whilstshowing off the impressive Nostromo set with a subtle sense of foreboding concluding with coming out of hypersleep. Fantastic cinema.

Spiritoftheseventies

foxyboxer wrote: »

The dialogue free opening 6 minutes of Alien.
The hieroglyphic reveal in the title sequence, receiving the distress call whilstshowing off the impressive Nostromo set with a subtle sense of foreboding concluding with coming out of hypersleep. Fantastic cinema.

Yes thats a good one.

Spiritoftheseventies

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

+1 on the new Star Trek film. Full of energy, reintroduces us to all the characters we know while also giving them some fresh backstory. Opening scene in particular stands out - fantastic action scene intercut with

the birth of Kirk

, followed by Michael Giacchino's epic score kicking in and the title logo. Just win.

Also definitely Up - the opening act condenses more insight and emotion into fifteen minutes than the vast majority of films can achieve in eight times that. Full of humour, warmth and sadness. Plus, got to love the newsreel.

On the Pixar front, Wall-E is another one. I'd say plenty would argue that the opening act is far superior to the two that follow, and perhaps I'd agree. I loved the film on the whole, but the first really does create a wonderful world and create two memorable characters with barely a word spoken (not entirely silent, but close). Toy Story 1 and 2 also open fantastically - with the whole birthday party sequence and the misleading Buzz Lightyear 'game' opening in the sequel in particular.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly's opening half an hour or so is filmed almost entirely from the point of view of the protagonist, so the audience has to get used to his new perspective as he does. It's a neat technique, and helps us get in the mind of Bauby quickly, while also establishing the quirky visual style. Also probably the best justification for a voiceover ever!

I could probably tie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind into any positive thread, but yeah it truly has a wonderful first act. Mainly because, like the film on the whole, it is playing with the concept of structure in cinema. It also acts as most of the film's third act, and while it may not stand out as anything other than the beginnings of a romantic story on first watch, it just improves upon reflection and rewatches. Gondry and Kaufman purposefully disorientate the viewer around fifteen minutes in, but the complex structure is just endlessly rewarding.

Sorry can you confirm. Are you tube clips allowed and is this a movie list thread or not?

abouttobebanned

Speed has a great opening. The whole film moves at break neck speed.

TheIrishGrover

The Lion King. Sure, Disney had come back from the brink with Sleeping Beauty but that opening number was just amazing. I remember watching it absolutely stunned!

johnny_ultimate

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

Sorry can you confirm. Are you tube clips allowed and is this a movie list thread or not?

Not if they are attached with no discussion. Also, try to keep this on topic - there have been a couple of posts by you in this thread trying to derail the conversation.

I've also deleted most of the posts that are just lists of films. I think there are a good few people who want to discuss the topic, so I'll keep it open as long as it doesn't descend into another list. Please post reasons if you're going to name a film

funkyjebus

cant believe no one has mentioned the watchmen. one of the best title sequences in history. if you haven't read the novel then that that opening is so important as it sert up the universe so well.

johnny_ultimate

funkyjebus wrote: »

cant believe no one has mentioned the watchmen. one of the best title sequences in history. if you haven't read the novel then that that opening is so important as it sert up the universe so well.

Yeah that really is a wonderful opening. It is the only time I thought the soundtrack worked to the film's benefit, and it definitely is a good intro to the characters (I smiled in the cinema when I noticed little Rorschach). Shame the rest of the film is so hit and miss, because for the first fifteen minutes or so (the visceral opening fight, the montage, the zoom from the badge) I thought they were going to get it so right.

Renn

Deleted User wrote: »

À bit of conversation and debate would go a long way to ensuring that this thread stay open, it's descended into yet another lis thtread with people posting youtube videos or the name of a film.

The opening scene of Up has to be one of the greatest openign scenes I have ever seen. It manages in 11 minutes to offer more heart, story and truly great storytelling that most films mange in 90. To condense an entire life down into such a short running time and yet lose none of the emotional complexities of the characters is a truly awe inspiring achievement. Everytime I watch the scene it gets me and I end up wiping away tears.

Other recent examples have included Zombieland which managed to set the mood for the film perfectly. It was funny, entertaining and managed to give the art of Zombie killing a fresh twist.

Kick Ass also had a great opening though much of the impact was lost given how it was given away in the trailer.

Always feel that people get a little bit carried away with the opening scene in Up. Granted it's a change from what we normally see when it comes to animated movies and it's refreshing to see, but I'd hardly put it in the 'amazing opening scenes' section. That's just my two cents.

Hated the beginning of Zombieland (then again, I hated that movie). Opening scene reminded me of some shítty computer game with all that rules jazz and had this horrible narration from Eisenberg "
"I've always been kind of a loner, I avoided other people
like they were zombies; even before they were zombies."

Ughhh.
And considering they could have done pretty much anything with the zombie deaths, what they picked in the end was lame.



Btw, huge +1 to the guy that said Once Upon a Time in the West.

thegoodgirl

300 - I loved the opener really gave you a feel of what the Spartan warriors go through in order to become great. Just watched it again the other day and remembered how good it was. The voiceover led us directly into the story and carried through the whole film.

I also agree with Up, I was crying with that, no talking needed just the follow through on his life picture by picture, so great.

Roar

iron man 2 had a cracking opening act, right up until

the monaco scene

then the movie just stopped stone dead and failed to recover..

Otis Driftwood

One of my favourite opening scenes is from Miikes Dead or Alive - pumping soundtrack,a 5 metre line of coke,noodles exploding through someones stomach.Its just bonkers from start to finish and really sets it up for being a very different kind of gangster movie.

The opening scene in Carpenters Halloween is also wildly effective.

The "first person" view through the mask,the murder of the girl,then the reveal shot showing the murderer to be a child in a clown outfit.Even the way we can hear the breathing against the mask and the fact that it doesnt increase despite him stabbing someone to death.Outstanding setup for an outstanding movie.

hotspur147

i thought raising arizona's opening was brilliant.nic cage robbing 7-11's,getting caught,meeting holly hunter,marrying her,going straight and finding out shes "barren".the whole plot condensed into the first 10 mins all with a banjo playing yoddleing soundtrack in the backround.and then the opening credits roll.great stuff

Marty McFly

thegoodgirl wrote: »

300 - I loved the opener really gave you a feel of what the Spartan warriors go through in order to become great. Just watched it again the other day and remembered how good it was. The voiceover led us directly into the story and carried through the whole film.

Have to agree with you fully on 300 i thought the opening scenes really got your revved up for the rest of the film, especially when they send there young out to fend for themselves and he ends up killing the tiger or whatever it is cant remember now:o.

For me im suprised no ones mentioned intermission yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8EGCC9NNvo

Now for me i never really thought intermission as a whole was a great film but just love that opening scene because its so unexpected. Colin Farrell plays it brilliantly.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Klingon Hamlet wrote: »

GoldenEye: 007 and 006 breaking into a Russian base, with that supercool bungee jump, the sneak around and the ambush, followed by the escape and the perfectly Bond-esque jump off bike onto plane whilst hurlting earthwards.

That was ****e... the sarcastic laughs that bit got when I was in the cinema was all I remember about that film! FFS, you couls slmost ee the cursor dragging him across to the plane!

In answer ot the OP question: 28 Days later (Jim walking around a deserted London)

mikhail

Most people seem to be metioning opening scenes rather than acts, and I think that's what the thread starter intended. I'll stay consistent with that.

Master and Commander is one people haven't mentioned. The opening scene shows

the dawn watch on the ship going about their business, sets up the Jonah subplot and sees the Surprise barely escape their first encounter with the ship they're supposed to hunt.

Up and Watchmen have also been mentioned, but there was another great opening scene last year: Inglourious Basterds.

Raging Bull's opening shot is iconic:

La Motta shadow boxing in the ring - a wonderful image of his self-destructiveness.

jaykhunter

a lot of my favourite ones have already been mentioned so i'll try come up with other ones...

The Opening Act/Scene of...

SAW 1 : Two strangers wake up chained to a thick pipe in a dank basement, with a dead guy who looks to have shot himself in the head; with a tape recorder in his hand; with a hushed, gravelly distorted voice giving them cryptic clues about why they were abducted. Terrifyingly awesome.

Star Wars : Episode III : After dividing audiences with the first two prequels, Episode III starts with a massive CG "aerial" dog-fight, with ObiWan and Anakin in their ships, blowing up ships, droids etc, at the end of the Clone Wars, as they make their way to Grievous' ship to rescue Palpatine. Set to an 'army' version of the Jedi theme; the scene is long and awesome. It sets you at ease that this film is going to be awesome.

Casino Royale : I'm sure someone's mentioned this already. Bond (Daniel Craig) chasing a par-cour smuggler through a construction site in an amazing action sequence.

Naked Gun (1) : Drebin infiltrating the foreign evildoers' cave, the opening credits, Nordberg getting shot/injuring himself....all just genius.

podgemonster

The opening scene in Face Off where Travolta hunts down Nic Cage in an airport Hanger, excellent shoot out, just pure Bruckheimer!

Opening of Iron Man 1, Tony just being the coolest arms dealer ever!

Enjoyed the opening scene of Red Dragon where we see how Hanibal was caught.

Mission Impossible 1: Where Ethan team are picked off 1 by 1. MI:3 opener wasn't bad either.

Opening tragic story at the start of Lucky Number Slevin that Bruce Willis tells to some random train passenger, then snaps his neck.