Longest/Best opening credits

abouttobebanned · 26-06-2011 11:09am #1

I'm watching superman again and of course it's a bloody long opening credit sequence but how bloody awesome is it? It's a pleasure to listen to the entire John Williams theme and the time flies by.

Se7en is long too but creepy and original.

What are you favourite opening credits and what long ones do you remember? Good or bad

FortuneChip · 26-06-2011 11:19am

I enjoy Tarantino's. Kill Bill and Resevoir Dogs in particular.

But Casino Royale takes it for me. Excellent tune, not overly "creative" or anything, just lots of casino references (go figure). But it all felt somewhat new/fresh after a couple of bad Pierce movies (save Goldeneye). I remember after having seen the initial Black and White scene getting excited as Chris Cornell kicked in

RichT · 26-06-2011 11:25am

Two of my favourites that spring to mind are....

Lock Stock

and

Snatch

Joeyjoejoe83 · 26-06-2011 11:27am

The naked gun films.

Best ever,discussion over,close this thread now!

krudler · 26-06-2011 11:34am

Love me a good credits sequence, the Spider-Man movies have great openings, love the Alex Ross art in 2's.

Burton's Batman has a fantastic opening credits shot, the camera moving around what turns out to be the bat symbol, and that epic music.

26-06-2011 11:46am

I always think of Saul Bass as the master for setting the tempo of film using titles. See Psycho:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tek8QmKRODw

Hmmm.. embedding not working:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tek8QmKRODw

Kess73 · 26-06-2011 11:50am

Zack Snyder has done some great opening credits.

Watchmen and Dawn Of The Dead spring to mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14vTrFyHO94

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

I love how the DOTD into worked in the film where the pre credit opening just blended into the credits on show in the clip.

bnt · 26-06-2011 11:53am

Dr. Strangelove cracks me up every time - the surreal combination of that soppy music over the shots of B-52 bombers refuelling ... the tanker crews actually say "we got a wet hole" when they're ready to refuel a plane - make of that what you will.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs7EikHQGlA

The written credits were only supposed to be temporary, but Kubrick liked the effect, so this was the start of the famous "Pablo Ferro style".

e_e · 26-06-2011 12:11pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL0lNGXoP8E

When I first saw it in JDIFF 2010 I was like :eek:

_Kaiser_ · 26-06-2011 12:34pm

Lord of War has a great sequence I think... excellent film too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5xgg_WIurw

johnny_ultimate · 26-06-2011 12:35pm

On mobile so cant post a link but Paprika is the film that always pops into my mind when this topic is brought up. Dreamlike, humourous visuals and inventive credits backed up by a seriously excellent soundtrack. Ah Satoshi Kon, the man had some great work left in him

Another one that impressed when I saw it recently was the Man Who Knew Too Much, where the credits play over a live orchestra performance that ties into the main narrative later on.

Mister Jingles · 26-06-2011 12:55pm

One of my favourites.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4WJlLNIsyY

Hank_Jones · 26-06-2011 4:20pm

The opening credits of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind always struck me as interesting,
considering they are 18 minutes into the film.

Nolanger · 26-06-2011 4:52pm

Hank_Jones wrote: »

The opening credits of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind always struck me as interesting,
considering they are 18 minutes into the film.

Not as interesting as Dennis Hopper's Last movie where the credits appeared much later.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 26-06-2011 7:44pm

FortuneChip wrote: »

But Casino Royale takes it for me. Excellent tune, not overly "creative" or anything, just lots of casino references (go figure). But it all felt somewhat new/fresh after a couple of bad Pierce movies (save Goldeneye). I remember after having seen the initial Black and White scene getting excited as Chris Cornell kicked in

Agreed. Its the best Bond intro there is.

Nolanger · 26-06-2011 7:55pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL--FHZ7wwA

26-06-2011 8:00pm

I think the Fugitive has the longest, the last credit is near the 20 minute mark. John Carpenter has a habit off creating long, long credit sequence, Prince of Darkness and the Fog both come to mind.

This is one of the greatest openings of all time.

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

Ridley · 26-06-2011 9:34pm

Can't find it on youtube. Back to the Future.

Tick tick tick tick film title tick tick tick tick Brown Mansion Destroyed tick tick tick tick Plutonium theft

Dog food > key under mat > skateboard rolls into plutonium casing > amp

Mister Jingles · 27-06-2011 12:52am

Deleted User wrote: »

I think the Fugitive has the longest

I always wondered why it was so long, last credit to appear is when he is on the prison bus which was 15 minutes into the film.

Ironman76 · 27-06-2011 1:12am

My fav opening credits-

Superman (Best Ever)

Dawn of the Dead (Johnny Cash - When the Man Comes Around intro). Was only talking about this the other day.

The old Bond movies (Naked chicks swiging off giant guns and falling into giant champagne glasses, VERY cool).

I liked the opening credits to the movie Incredible Hulk (ie Ed Norton).

fryup · 27-06-2011 9:08am

the opening theme music to this movie is just on the button awsome

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwgsaYvHP3Y

ItsAWindUp · 27-06-2011 11:01am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx7Dh_lgIz4

Phony Scott · 27-06-2011 11:24am

A bit of a cheat this, but it was so random, I had to include it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz2ET5K6zY0

LittleBook · 27-06-2011 1:10pm

I love the opening credits for Monsters Inc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hff329Wi0P0

And Farenheit 451 is noteworthy in this category for having spoken opening credits, foreshadowing the plot of the film.

MitchKoobski · 27-06-2011 1:25pm

The music will now be in your head all day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZmjsWAfn14

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

Mickeroo · 27-06-2011 1:30pm

This is one of my favourite opening sequences from recent years, really sets the tone for whats to follow brilliantly!

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

MitchKoobski · 27-06-2011 1:39pm

Aside from the majority suggesting Superman again, couple of people throwing out suggestions say these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd1vBBXWlDE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSDU2tu7rpk

But as FortuneChip suggested, ALL of them said this as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfc9GLxlhEw

ztoical · 27-06-2011 2:31pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqIclb4qsJI

The opening credits to Panic Room have always been a personal fav

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

And Catch Me If You Can

Both very different but both set the mood for the films very well.

Growing up I always remebered the animated credits to Honey I shrunk the Kids but can't find them online .... boo urns!

Nolanger · 27-06-2011 5:29pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u4hxGL9wT8

TommyTippee · 27-06-2011 7:33pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpDzd5Sw5HU

Terrific intro, terrific film!

krudler · 27-06-2011 8:23pm

Fantastic opening

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai1T3KMRMpg

OutlawPete · 28-06-2011 12:35am

Can't find it out YouTube, but my favourite intro to a movie has to be The Birdcage (1996).

krudler · 28-06-2011 12:41am

I love that movie

"what are you giving her? what are Pirin tablets?!"
"H'its jus Aspirin wid de "A" and the "S" scraped off"
"you're a genius"
"I know"

Ridley · 28-06-2011 2:10am

ztoical wrote: »

Growing up I always remebered the animated credits to Honey I shrunk the Kids but can't find them online .... boo urns!

Thanks for the reminder:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86znnjhYrq4

Like the City Slickers animated openings too. And the Futurama movies. They count.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SzVQM-OOUs

by the way.

grohlisagod · 28-06-2011 12:47pm

Zombieland and Trainspotting are great shouts. For me, hard to beat this as mentioned before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzMpH9jjo4w

ImpossibleDuck · 29-06-2011 2:06pm

RichT wrote: »

Two of my favourites that spring to mind are....

Lock Stock

and

Snatch

Both awesome. Snatch's is the best of the two imo.

Surprised no-one has mentioned Hitchcock's Rear Window? The whole title sequence is shot in one take and it shows the whole set(which is amazing), introduces all the sub-characters, and tells us a hell of a lot about James Stewart's character in it. Sets the whole scene for the movie without one word being spoken. We know exactly what the scenario is and we are fully informed. Can't find it on youtube though.

norrie rugger · 29-06-2011 4:17pm

Of recent film I think that "Serenity" has a masterful opening sequence.
From the moment that the Universal logo becomes part of the movie.
First few minutes basically have to explain the entire premise for the TV show.
From introducing River, while explaining the Verse and Reavers, showing that this is a dream sequence, to having view of Simon's rescuse of River.
Then moving this to a holographic recording, to introduce The Operative and his abilities/mindset.
This is even before it moves onto the actual ship where you get a genius rolling shot of the entire ship and crew, with views of their personality traits.
I had never seen "Firefly" before "Serenity" but this intro set me up immediately to the story of the characters.
On mobile so can not link to it

The Mad Hatter · 30-06-2011 12:21am

Don't know how I forgot it, but I love the opening credits of I'm A Cyborg but That's Ok. Most of the credits are just written in on innocuous objects in the scenery, which are focussed on for a second and then moved past:D (This video doesn't subtitle them, but that's why the camera zooms in really close on, for example, her clothes.)

Video is slightly graphic, and may be NSFW...