Best opening to a film ever - *mod note post 2*

tunguska

An opening scene that was burned into your memory, and why it was so? For me it was Narc. Good film overall but that opening sequence was something special(shocking). It was so realistic. Having witnessed a few stabbings first hand in my time, I have to say it was spot on.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWJ1IfpenII

johnny_ultimate

A pre-emptive warning that if this thread just descends into lists / youtube links, it'll be locked. Take the time to explain your choices, will create a much more interesting thread for everyone. Not expecting essays, just a sentence or two to justify your response

The Mad Hatter

Two of my picks (which I recently mentioned in the Recently Watched thread):

Orson Welles' Touch of Evil opens with the most ambitious and impressive one-take crane shot I've ever seen. Watching this for the first time left me (a) stunned at the planning and choreography that must have gone into making this scene work on a technical level and (b) tense and worried about the fate of the car which flicks in and out of focus right through the scene. Because of the sense of doom hanging over the car, we strain to watch it and Welles masterfully pulls it away from us over and over and forces us to look at other things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg8MqjoFvy4

Tarsem's The Fall shows us a fairly surreal scene, which isn't really understood until the end of the film, with the most beautiful photography I've ever seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhARR-zmTCE

I bought both of these films on the basis of the opening scenes alone.

qz

The Watchmen intro popped into my mind too. The perfect marriage of a song to a back story and setting up the next 2 and a half hours. Lovely.

jacool

Just because the first 15 (or 20) minutes is all one tracking shot. Cool.

pasta-solo

Saving Private Ryan has a very visceral opening scene, really throws you into the thick of it. It seems odd to say that its entertaining, but... it kinda is!

wallyking

Inglorious Basterds for me. Didn't love the whole film but Christoph Waltz is brilliant.

Goldstein

One of my favourite recent ones:




The simultaneous looks of utter terror for his life and abhorence for himself on Carlysle's face.

The contrast between the idylic peaceful family meal and complete devastation and panic.

The 4 note electro power guitar music in the background.

It's brilliant.

fruvai

Intermission's opening scene is pretty memorable

Ricosruffneck

Star Wars, any one will do,

John Williams going ddddddddddaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa di da di da da da da ta da bom bom bom bom bah .


what does all that gibberish above represent you ask?
the opening scene's music.

Skerries

Goldeneye's opening sequence was just brilliant when we see Bond drop down the side of a dam and all practical stunts which we are unfortunately slowly moving away from

actually to be fair any of the Bond opening sequences are always something special

Trainspottings opening monologue followed by the thumping beats of Iggy Pop leading to Rentons chase and capture goes down as one of the most epic openings ever

2001:A Space Odyssey's opening with "man" discovering the Monolith and the bone been thrown into the air segueing to a space station with Holst The Planet Suite playing in the background is just sublime in film work

ziedth

My first thought was fairly obvious one of Saving private Ryan but to be a little more random I'm going to go for scream:

Something very real and eerie about that scene and (granted I was a young lad) I was actually fairly afraid watching it that I don't think I have been since.

CLARiiON

For me one of my favourite intros is from the cartoon Up. Thought the intro [4mins] was as good if not better than the film.
Its simple and genuinely nice and I've watched it loads of times without it getting boring:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yjAFMNkCDo&feature=player_embedded

Danger_dave1

Great movie, The music at the very onimous, It was very important to show how powerful Unicron in the first scene, then to top it off a real eighties version of transformers theme tune

Also an interesting side note it was Orson Welles last ever movie role as Unicron !

johnny_ultimate

Lost in Translation - I'm not talking about the ass-shot, although I'm not complaining about that either. The first scene where Bob is in a Tokyo taxi, driving through the neon of Shibuya, Shinjuku etc... while Girls by Death in Vegas plays is a perfect tone setter. If you've been to Tokyo, you'll know that first impressions are hypnotic, amazed by the scale and lights of the city. The opening of LiT captures that post jetlag haze without a word being spoken. LiT isn't the best film about Japan, but it is the best film about visiting Japan. That it follows it up with a perfect ending 90 minutes later is a fine achievement, Bob's lonely and noticeably greyer taxi ride to the airport contrasting with the opening and the rest of the film.

Manhattan - a film that is a love letter to New York, Allen doesn't really need two hours because he nailed it in five minutes. Obviously the rest of the film is one of Allen's finest, most mature romantic comedies - and by that logic, one of the best rom-coms of all time - but the opening ranks as possibly Allen's finest directorial achievement. Gershwin as the soundtrack, gorgeous black and white photography, energetic editing and Allen's amusing, neurotic voice over. It's pure cinema, and has real rhythm.

Duddy

Watchmen intro is amazing, sets the tone for the whole movie.

Reservoir Dogs with the two in the diner:p
Pulling a gun out, screeching at customers, MISERLOU!
Awesome

AnonoBoy

Duddy wrote: »

Reservoir Dogs with the two in the diner:p
Pulling a gun out, screeching at customers, MISERLOU!
Awesome

That's Pulp Fiction you're thinking of.

missingtime

I know its ovbious but The Matrix starting for me really was such a great set up for the movie. I had heard nothing about it and went into the cinema not knowing what to expect and then this scene starts to unfold giving tid bits of information and glimses of what was coming throughout the movie.

The scene where Trinity runs to the phone box while the cement mixer revs up finishes the whole thing up nicely and, even if you thought you had pieced together some idea of what was going on, this scene knocks you right back to the start again.

Children of Men

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCTgUq6hzUk

Everything seems normal - Clive Owen goes about his normal business, getting coffee while people are crowded around a TV watching some vague news clip, he exits the café and then BOOM. It was totally unexpected and set the par/tone for the rest of the movie. I remember the first time I saw it I was left completely awed and shocked. Also the fact that it was essentially all one shot too, bar the close-up of the TV, which added to the shock. The effect of the hum coupled with the woman walking out with an arm missing was incredible.

Duddy

AnonoBoy wrote: »

That's Pulp Fiction you're thinking of.

How embarassing:o

Danger_dave1

Danger_dave1 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lo7JPLJUUU

Great movie, The music at the very onimous, It was very important to show how powerful Unicron in the first scene, then to top it off a real eighties version of transformers theme tune

Also an interesting side note it was Orson Welles last ever movie role as Unicron !

Just wanted to fix your YouTube tags, 'cause it is an unreal opening. I really wish I had known more about Orson Welles when this movie was first brought out - would have definitely appreciated it a lot more as a child.

Phoenix Park

The opening of Irreversible blows you away, you're thrown in right at the deep end. When i saw the film i'd no idea what it was going to be about, with so much violence on TV and in movies it takes a lot to really make you recoil now but the opening to that movie certainly shocked me.

ziedth

You know what I think also deserves a mention? Dark City.

So many films spoon feed the audience at the risk on confusing anyone but Dark City just went straight into it leaving you not a clue what was going on and leaves you work it out.

I'm aware that there was a version released that had a voice over that explianed everything but it's not the version I saw

krudler

Jaws for me, sets the tone brilliantly with the sharks pov moving through the reef, girl goes swimming and then...well you know the rest. How many people have been affected for life about swimming in the ocean from that scene? its nearly impossible to go swimming and not have the Jaws theme in your head at some stage. And you dont even see the shark.

stanley1

Goldstein wrote: »

One of my favourite recent ones:




The simultaneous looks of utter terror for his life and abhorence for himself on Carlysle's face.

The contrast between the idylic peaceful family meal and complete devastation and panic.

The 4 note electro power guitar music in the background.

It's brilliant.

what movie is this ?

krudler

stanley1 wrote: »

what movie is this ?

28 Weeks Later

Penn

Reservoir Dogs. Such great writing, the conversation flows perfectly, even then so much comes out about their characters even when they're just talking general bullsh*t. The fantastic 'tipping' conversation.

Then the iconic walk to 'Little Green Bag'. Fantastic.

The Mad Hatter

ziedth wrote: »

You know what I think also deserves a mention? Dark City.

So many films spoon feed the audience at the risk on confusing anyone but Dark City just went straight into it leaving you not a clue what was going on and leaves you work it out.

I'm aware that there was a version released that had a voice over that explianed everything but it's not the version I saw

Yes, that's an amazing opening - love the light cast by the swinging, er, light - very disorienting and creative. I love the pacing and the control of the release of information in that film - it keeps surprising right up until the end.

krudler

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

Yes, that's an amazing opening - love the light cast by the swinging, er, light - very disorienting and creative. I love the pacing and the control of the release of information in that film - it keeps surprising right up until the end.

the theatrical version ruins it though, the directors cut loses the opening speech by Sutherland where they tell you

its out in space

Beruthiel

wallyking wrote: »

Inglorious Basterds for me. Didn't love the whole film but Christoph Waltz is brilliant.

That's the first thing to pop into my head when I saw the thread title.
Superb.

rednik

The opening sequence in The Dark Knight. First ten minutes sets the tone for the rest of the movie and shows the joker for what he is. The bank job from start to finish is brilliantly filmed and the first scenes with Batman.

Dempsey

Saving Private Ryan - Opening 30 minutes (D-Day scene)

Peoples' idea of combat and courage forever changed by a film

Zulu

The opening to "Up". Get that lump out of your throat in a hurry! Incredibly sad.

marienbad

2001 A Space Odyssey- the theory of evolution ,the opposable thumb, and the history of mankind in 3 minutes. And the Strauss's , both Richard and Johann never sounded so good.

Code Unknown (Michael Haneke) - A 9 minute opening tracking shot of a Paris Street,of incredible complexity introducing all the protagonists and achieving in a few minutes what a lesser filmmaker would'nt do in a day.

Is Haneke the best now operating ?

Quite enjoyed the opening to Dawn of the Dead (2004). Especially when the child goes absolutely crazy, biting the husband who then turns into a Zombie himself and chases after his wife. The scene where she's in the car driving through the city, showing all the devastation around them is just wonderful

tunguska

The opening of the Parallax view, the assination scene is a bit of a shocker, Which then cuts to the announcement scene where the camera slowly pans towards the officials seated behind a judges bench. Great score by Michael small(I think) aswell. Really sets a paranoid tone for the rest of the movie. Closing scene and the camera pans away from the officials to give the perfect bookend.

karma_

Some of my favourites are already mentioned, 2001 was really good, I loved the opening to the original Star Wars also.

I also think this one is exceptional, The Hitchcock inspired, almost 8 minutes long tracking shot of the Robert Altman film, The Player. The opening to Serenity was done in the same fashion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0epB5Z6ijpk

Certainly worth a mention in a thread about great movie openings anyway.

Cartman78

The Dark Knight & Inglorious Basterds are good...first one that springs to my mind is the opening heist/robbery in "Heat".

Great action & suspense right up to the point where Waingro goes missing.

Appleblossom42

For me nothing can beat Jaws Incredible, it just draws you right in!

L31mr0d

Would of thought this would of been mentioned already.

Zombielands opening was superb. Excellent editing, score, typography. Just sublime. It was a case of nuking the fridge though as the rest of the film had the hard task of trying to match it in quality, which, for me, it didn't.

Oh and probably nsfw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uUHamXmUAI

tvnutz

One that stands out for me was the opening to X-Men 2. I remember being in the cinema and just being blown away by that opening. It was such a thrilling and exciting intro to a movie. It also looked amazing,the effects,the music and just the way it was shot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrVdCkKxty4

SVG

One of my favourites is from Zodiac. The film opens with sequence viewed from the passenger seat of a car driving through the suburbs on the 4th of July. It's just gorgeous to look at and it really establishes a time and a place.



It's kind of anonymous and eerie and the soundtrack adds to that feeling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqs3FXE2AyQ

Goldstein

*drums*

Choose life. Choose a job.
Choose a career. Choose a family.
Choose a ****ing big television.
Choose washing machines, cars,
compact disc players, and electrical tin openers.

...

Boyle's introduction to Trainspotting grabs you in the first instant and McGreggor's 5 minute matter of fact induction to junkie life monologue from screenwriter John Hodge is superbly executed. Throw Iggy Pop's Lust for life in there too and you can consider your next 90 minutes accounted for after an opening like that. The tempo of that track always triggers the desire to start running. Inspired choice.

It's incredibly fun and enjoyable to watch, enthralling.


An iconic opening sequence from a generationally defining movie.

These are just from the first 5 minutes:






"Noe whay wud I poison ma bo-day wi'dat shyte!"

quickbeam

Not sure if it counts as it's more opening credits than opening scene, but this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHn1zogeyO4

One of my absolutely favourite songs, coupled with an imaginative bullet's eye view of its lifecycle. Wasn't too keen on the film overall, but I could watch the opening over and over.

sprinkles

There's a lot of great intro's mentioned here but none compare to the opening sequence of Top Gun.... fighter jets taking off from an aircraft carrier to the sound of one of the best movie themes ever!!! I mean how can you possibly top that?

Anyway.... turn the sound up and enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C5_-VWU6ks

McChubbin

I always thought this was pretty timeless:

It's attention grabbing, has a funky beat and sets the tone for the rest of the movie. Not the greatest ever but definately one of my all time favourites.

STIG83

This one pops into my mind, Colin Farrell chatting up the one behind the counter, then decks her one in the face

Mickeroo

The only one of my favourites that hasn't already been mentioned has to be this opening to Hal Ashby's brilliant Harold & Maude. It builds slowly lulling you into a false sense of security with the great music by Cat Stevens. The less you know about the movie the more effective it is so if you haven't seen the movie don't watch the clip! Brilliant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3taMrJZ6p8

tony1kenobi

Way of the Gun....because there is no better way to open a film than by giving Sarah Silverman an almighty clatter into the face.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xsaMcw69D8

Bus77II

The one that comes to mind, particulary because I was'nt into the rest of the film is this Polish cult comedy film called ehem...Sexmission. Just the whole introduction plus opening scenes were a great and surreal send-up of 80's sci-fi and the 'space-race'.

Tags

It's not exactly the opening of the movie being about six minutes in but it's the opening of the future section of the film and introduces us to the war against the machines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZIgMP28RXE