Top 10 Movie Openings

What are your favourite movie openings? I haven't really compiled a lot of thought into this thread, I just thought of it on the spot as it seemed like a good idea, so I haven't made a personal top 10, although I'll just mention a few recent ones that I've seen.

Apocalypse Now (the music fits the horrific imagery)

2001: A Space Odyssey (As above, the music fits the beautiful and awe-inspiring imagery)

Kill Bill vol. 1 (Carradine's voice-over is great, the directing in this scene was awesome - the fact we never see Bill's face, and the expressions Uma made gave a sense of horror)

That's as much as I can think of off the top of my head.

What do you think?

Within the first two minutes, your jaw is on the floor.

Apocalypse Now should definitely have top spot.

I completely disagree about 2001 though. IMO it's the most boring and pretentious opening of any film I've ever seen

Apocalypse Now should definitely have top spot.

I completely disagree about 2001 though. IMO it's the most boring and pretentious opening of any film I've ever seen

Junkie_man

Really? Then I assume you hated the whole movie then.

Within the first two minutes, your jaw is on the floor.

Verge_6

Oh I agree with this one, it really was shocking; I didn't expect that much violence. :?

Within the first two minutes, your jaw is on the floor.

Verge_6

Shame Patrick Swayze got cancer:(

Really? Then I assume you hated the whole movie then.

super_mario_128

Yes, music aside, you would be right in that assumption.

Jurassic Park's opening scene of the raptor's loading pen was very intense.

Star Wars III's opening epic space battle was very good too, too bad the rest of the movie wasn't like it.

[QUOTE="super_mario_128"]

Really? Then I assume you hated the whole movie then.

Junkie_man

Yes, music aside, you would be right in that assumption.

Well it's like Marmite. You either love it or hate it. You hate it and I love it in this case, but we can both agree that the music was beautiful.

Here's the opening for those who haven't seen it. No spoilors:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWnmCu3U09w

Star Wars III's opening epic space battle was very good too, too bad the rest of the movie wasn't like it.

_BlueDuck_

um are you going to judge that movie just because it didn't have enough action? You have the epic battles in the end, and Star Wars isn't just about action btw

[QUOTE="_BlueDuck_"]

Star Wars III's opening epic space battle was very good too, too bad the rest of the movie wasn't like it.

The_Last_Ride

um are you going to judge that movie just because it didn't have enough action? You have the epic battles in the end, and Star Wars isn't just about action btw

It doesnt really have much else going for it ashide from special effects.

[QUOTE="_BlueDuck_"]

Star Wars III's opening epic space battle was very good too, too bad the rest of the movie wasn't like it.

The_Last_Ride

um are you going to judge that movie just because it didn't have enough action? You have the epic battles in the end, and Star Wars isn't just about action btw

Not like it had much else, anyway. The acting was pretty poor all round, even from Natalie Portman who is a really talented actress. It would have been so much better if it had a good actor portraying Anakin in his descent to the dark-side.

Escape From New York had a pretty awesome opening thing.

Throughout the whole explanation of the New York City Prison, I was just constantly thinking "Woah! This is sweet 8)" And then those first several scenes with Snake Plisskin were awesome, as well.

[QUOTE="_BlueDuck_"]

Star Wars III's opening epic space battle was very good too, too bad the rest of the movie wasn't like it.

The_Last_Ride

um are you going to judge that movie just because it didn't have enough action? You have the epic battles in the end, and Star Wars isn't just about action btw

The prequel trilogy didn't have anything else going for it other than the action.

Well, maybe Qui-Gon Jin, but he died in the first movie.

[QUOTE="The_Last_Ride"][QUOTE="_BlueDuck_"]

Star Wars III's opening epic space battle was very good too, too bad the rest of the movie wasn't like it.

Film-Guy

um are you going to judge that movie just because it didn't have enough action? You have the epic battles in the end, and Star Wars isn't just about action btw

It doesnt really have much else going for it ashide from special effects.

well i like it, but you are entitled to your opinion mate:)

In terms of movie openings, you have to take Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark into account. The Star Wars opening was new for it's kind, as it was the first or one of the few movies to start the movie immediately. Plus, how can you not know the Star Wars opening. The same goes for Raiders of the Lost Ark. The movie begins even quicker with the great camera work in finding a mountain the same as the Paramount picture to start the movie off. Plus, how can you not love the great action sequence that starts that movie off? or Star Wars as a matter of fact. Set the tone of both movies.

In terms of movie openings, you have to take Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark into account. The Star Wars opening was new for it's kind, as it was the first or one of the few movies to start the movie immediately. Plus, how can you not know the Star Wars opening. The same goes for Raiders of the Lost Ark. The movie begins even quicker with the great camera work in finding a mountain the same as the Paramount picture to start the movie off. Plus, how can you not love the great action sequence that starts that movie off? or Star Wars as a matter of fact. Set the tone of both movies.

Yagr_Zero

Wait, were those questions aimed at me or were they all rhetorical?

[QUOTE="Yagr_Zero"]

In terms of movie openings, you have to take Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark into account. The Star Wars opening was new for it's kind, as it was the first or one of the few movies to start the movie immediately. Plus, how can you not know the Star Wars opening. The same goes for Raiders of the Lost Ark. The movie begins even quicker with the great camera work in finding a mountain the same as the Paramount picture to start the movie off. Plus, how can you not love the great action sequence that starts that movie off? or Star Wars as a matter of fact. Set the tone of both movies.

super_mario_128

I can't really make a top10 because I can't think of that many of the top of my head but the opening from A Clockwork Orange was awesome. I also like the one in A History of Violence. Almost forgot about the greatest of them all Once Upon a Time in the West.

[QUOTE="Junkie_man"][QUOTE="super_mario_128"]

Really? Then I assume you hated the whole movie then.

super_mario_128

Yes, music aside, you would be right in that assumption.

Well it's like Marmite. You either love it or hate it. You hate it and I love it in this case, but we can both agree that the music was beautiful.

Here's the opening for those who haven't seen it. No spoilors:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWnmCu3U09w

Pulp Fiction

Saving Private Ryan

Casino Royale

Lord of War

28 Weeks Later

[QUOTE="_BlueDuck_"]

Star Wars III's opening epic space battle was very good too, too bad the rest of the movie wasn't like it.

The_Last_Ride

um are you going to judge that movie just because it didn't have enough action? You have the epic battles in the end, and Star Wars isn't just about action btw

I meant more generally that the opening battle was excellent, the rest of the movie not so much.

Plus besides the action in the prequels, what was there? Bad acting and lengthy political senate hearings. I'll take the action.

The new Transformers movie.

"In the beginning...there was the Cube!"

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

That whole opening scene, going through the temple, grabbing the idol and then the escape, culminating with a run from the giant boulder is one of the greatest moments in cinema history.

Saving Private Ryan.

D-Day Landing. 'Nuff said.

In terms of opening credits:

Lord of War was very interesting, with the bullet getting made in the factory and ending in a kid's head.

Little Miss Sunshine was also very nice.

Werckmeister HarmoniesA_Tarkovsky

I see you enjoyed you enjoyed speed racer, same here I dont see why it gets so much hate. It was so damn colorful:)

[QUOTE="super_mario_128"][QUOTE="Junkie_man"][QUOTE="super_mario_128"]

Really? Then I assume you hated the whole movie then.

Junkie_man

Yes, music aside, you would be right in that assumption.

Well it's like Marmite. You either love it or hate it. You hate it and I love it in this case, but we can both agree that the music was beautiful.

Here's the opening for those who haven't seen it. No spoilors:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWnmCu3U09w