Coolest start to a film.....

[iGav]

Which films do you believe have the coolest beginnings?? either action or title sequences.....

I really love the start of Dirty Harry with Scorpio on top of the Bank Of America, and then DH , with that funky ***** Lalo toon when he walks to the top of the building... sets the scene perfectly.

The beginning of 'The Fog' is probably the most atmospheric I know, from the ghost story, to showing the town at night when weird ***** starts going down!!

For title sequence design, I'd probably choose 'Seven', this really pushed title sequence design to new levels.....

Films and short descriptions please!! :)

[edesignuk]

The open sequence to James Bond: The World Is Not Enough. Very cool :cool:

Also most of the other opening sequences to Bond films, they're generally very good and action packed.

The Austin Powers films also have some groovy opening sequences ;)

[000111one111000]

Hmmmm......let's see, great openings......

"The Ninth Gate" had a good opening. Nothing spectacular, as in effects, but it set the movie going, with the music and the "camera" going through the nine gates one after the other.

"Seven." Another great one. Especially the music. :) NIN's "Closer (Precursor Remix)" :)

"Lost Highway" was also good, but again, that was more of because of the music. With Bowie's great song "I'm Deranged" playing, the "headlight sequence" really fit the mood of the whole movie (as in "where the hell is this going?").

"Cannibal! The Musical" has a frickin great opening sequence. hehe, you all really need to see that movie, frickin great. Trey Parker and Matt Stone's first movie. They made it while they were in college. And it's actually based on a true story and very historically correct. It's all about Alferd Packer, the only American ever convicted of cannibalism.

that's all i can think of for now, but I'm sure I'll think of more before too long

enoch

[WinterMute]

Saving Private Ryan.

Although descending to the depths of mawkishness later in the film, the first 20 mins were something else. I've heard veterans say it was the closest depiction of combat they'd ever seen.

Looked like hell on earth to me.

Matrix and Alien for the FX...

Wings of Desire for cinematography.

[howard]

yeah all the james bond movies have cool beginnings, high action. And i also like closer. NIN just adds so much. i also like vanilla sky, when the camera is moving around up above his apartment and then radiohead comes in volume up. that rocks.

[scem0]

Definitely the Matrix. The 'trinity escape' scene. That scene
totall rocks. I love Trin. ;) :D :D

[MacFan25]

Originally posted by edesignuk
The open sequence to James Bond: The World Is Not Enough. Very cool :cool:

Also most of the other opening sequences to Bond films, they're generally very good and action packed.
Yeah, I like most of the beginnings to the James Bond's too.

The car chases are always good in the Bond movies. :D

[vollspacken]

Originally posted by iGAV
Which films do you believe have the coolest beginnings?? either action or title sequences.....


Kubrick's "2001"
- The whole 'dawn of man' opening sequence with the primates and the monolith is just awsome!

Orson Welles' "Touch of Evil"
- Unbelievable, the placing of the bomb - without a cut!!!

[Dignan]

I like the title sequence of Catch Me If You Can

Otherwise, Magnolia has a good opening sequence.


The first shot of the BMW film "ticker" is killer

The opening sequence of Manhattan is a classic

Mallrats has a funny opening sequence

Rushmore with the Max's activities sequence


All I can think of right now

[Moxiemike]

Originally posted by vollspacken
Kubrick's "2001"
- The whole 'dawn of man' opening sequence with the primates and the monolith is just awsome!

Orson Welles' "Touch of Evil"
- Unbelievable, the placing of the bomb - without a cut!!!

I have to agree with 2001.

Also the beginning of "contact" with Jodie Foster was pretty impressive at the time.
"8 1/2" by Fellini also. :)

[WinterMute]

Originally posted by scem0
Definitely the Matrix. The 'trinity escape' scene. That scene
totall rocks. I love Trin. ;) :D :D

Hey, take a look at my desktop in the new desktop thread.

Trinity, mmmmmmm;)

[scem0]

I saw.... Trinity rocks. I hope she has a lot of fight scenes in
the next two matrix sequels. ;)

[P-Worm]

I really like the way the tittle were done in 'Panic Room.' Not by any means a classic or anything, but the titles were cool.

P-Worm

[GeeYouEye]

Stargate, both the opening with the statue of Ra, and the pan over the archaeological dig in Egypt. Great shots, those.

[iGav]

Originally posted by vollspacken
Kubrick's "2001"
- The whole 'dawn of man' opening sequence with the primates and the monolith is just awsome!


I was going to put that, but ran out of time because of a deadline.....

The cut from 'Dawn Of Man' to 'Space' just totally blows the mind...... ;)

[iGav]

Originally posted by Moxiemike
I have to agree with 2001.

Also the beginning of "contact" with Jodie Foster was pretty impressive at the time.
"8 1/2" by Fellini also. :)

2001... classic.....

I also like the the credits of 'Alien' ultra minimal... and still looking good....

I'd completely forgotten about the credits for 'Contact' it reminds me of the film 'Powers Of Ten' by the creative team of Charles and Ray Eames, where the film pulls back at 1010 metres a second......

[iGav]

I'd also like to add...

'Bullitt' for it's title sequence design..... very cool!!

Also the start of 'The Shining' taken from a helicopter zooming along a lake somewhere in the Rockies/Oregon.... looks great on the big screen!!

'Vertigo' was also very ambitious considering it was done in the late 50's.... Hitch rules the roost!! ;)

[job]

Fight Club.

I loved the opening.

The opening in Snatch was also quite good.

Does anyone know how many films Guy Ritchie has made?

[scem0]

what was the opening in Snatch. I forgot.

The pre-credit-things for Spiderman were kind of cool.

[job]

Originally posted by scem0
what was the opening in Snatch. I forgot.

They rolled the screen credits while the group of guys dressed like Rabbis entered the diamond place. Right after the diamond is stolen, they introduced each major character in their normal setting, but connected each one with an object (i.e. a diamond, deck of cards, etc.)

[scem0]

oh yeah! And when they introduce the person, they show a still
of that person. Yeah, that was a cool intro. Not as cool as the
Matrix though. ;)

[Moxiemike]

Originally posted by iGAV
2001... classic.....

I also like the the credits of 'Alien' ultra minimal... and still looking good....

I'd completely forgotten about the credits for 'Contact' it reminds me of the film 'Powers Of Ten' by the creative team of Charles and Ray Eames, where the film pulls back at 1010 metres a second......

Powers of ten. Indeed. Awesome. There's just something powerful about sitting in a huge theatre and that type of effect is happening

totally made me like contact more than I should have-- damn film dragged on too long. haha

[mcrain]

The beginning of "The Player" is cinimatically very interesting. It's one long scene with no cuts, introduces you to the backdrop and main characters, and was just interesting. (Speaking of long cuts, have you all seen the Russian Ark trailer?)

Star Wars was innovative at the time...

[beez7777]

Originally posted by Moxiemike
Powers of ten. Indeed. Awesome. T

yeah, i saw that a week ago in bio, and it was amazing. suddenly i felt so insignificant. it was awesome. as for the topic of this thread. i dunno, there were so many good ones, most of em mentioned already, and i'm being really lazy right now and the simpsons are on so i cant really think straight. :)

[Dignan]

Russian ark was a strange, but cool movie.

and the high def looked pretty good too.

one guy in one of the orchestras breaks character and turns around, and looks right at the camera. d'oh!

[Steradian]

Well I would have to say that Indiana Jones and the raiders of the Lost Arc having Indy place that Idol with the bag of sand was quite amusing :).....

[Mr. Anderson]

StarWars, the original one, really was a far cry from anything that had been done before. I think I remember hearing that Lucas had to get special permission not to have opening credits.

As for comedy - Austin Powers, Goldmember is by far the best - MiniMe, played by Danny DeVito, Kevin Spacy as Dr. Evil, Gwyneth Paltrow as Dixie Normous and Tom Cruise as Austin - I was laughing so hard during the whole 5 minutes. ;)

D

[eyelikeart]

this I'll have to go over a bit...

but I am always partial to Pulp Fiction's opening scene... :D

"alright everybody be cool this is a robbery!!!" he he he ;)

[scem0]

Originally posted by dukestreet
StarWars, the original one, really was a far cry from anything that had been done before. I think I remember hearing that Lucas had to get special permission not to have opening credits.

As for comedy - Austin Powers, Goldmember is by far the best - MiniMe, played by Danny DeVito, Kevin Spacy as Dr. Evil, Gwyneth Paltrow as Dixie Normous and Tom Cruise as Austin - I was laughing so hard during the whole 5 minutes. ;)

D

I thought the opening scene to Austin Powers (3) was kind of
stupid. Same with all of pulp fiction. Maybe I am just feeling
negative though. :p

[kylos]

Originally posted by Steradian
Well I would have to say that Indiana Jones and the raiders of the Lost Arc having Indy place that Idol with the bag of sand was quite amusing :).....

Yup, when I saw that, I knew I'd be watching it. Can't wait for it to come out on dvd.

[Kwyjibo]

I liked the begninng of fight club, it really confuses you but then it all comes together. also star wars had a great start and the same with the matrix all geek classics.

[vollspacken]

Originally posted by iGAV
I'd also like to add...

'Bulliet' for it's title sequence design..... very cool!!

...and lalo schifrin's music:) :) :) :)
the bullit score is still my favorite sountrack album of all time (even before john barry's "thunderball"...);)

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by iGAV
Which films do you believe have the coolest beginnings?? either action or title sequences.....

I really love the start of Dirty Harry with Scorpio on top of the Bank Of America, and then DH , with that funky ***** Lalo toon when he walks to the top of the building... sets the scene perfectly.

The beginning of 'The Fog' is probably the most atmospheric I know, from the ghost story, to showing the town at night when weird ***** starts going down!!

For title sequence design, I'd probably choose 'Seven', this really pushed title sequence design to new levels.....

Films and short descriptions please!! :)

the beginning of goldmember (third austin powers movie)...but i dare not describe it for those who have not rented it yet

so go out and rent this movie:D

[Cheese]

Kung Pow: enter the fist!
Oedekirk Rules! You've got to give it up for that scene with the baby rolling down the mountain, getting (seemingly) rescued by the kind stranger, only to be rolled down the other side of the hill!
I vote for Spiderman and any of the Batman films as well.
What about Best in show? Any takers?

[daniel77]

Originally posted by iGAV
Which films do you believe have the coolest beginnings?? either action or title sequences.....

I really love the start of Dirty Harry with Scorpio on top of the Bank Of America, and then DH , with that funky ***** Lalo toon when he walks to the top of the building... sets the scene perfectly.

The beginning of 'The Fog' is probably the most atmospheric I know, from the ghost story, to showing the town at night when weird ***** starts going down!!

For title sequence design, I'd probably choose 'Seven', this really pushed title sequence design to new levels.....

Films and short descriptions please!! :)

You mean Se7en :P :D that was one scary movie :P

[scem0]

Originally posted by Cheese
Kung Pow: enter the fist!


OH HELL YEAH!!!!!!! That is the funnies intro I have ever seen,
with the baby rolling down the hill. Ahahahahah, I have got to
rent that movie. ROTFLMAO. Everyone has got to see the intro
to that movie. It definitely ties the matrix intro.

[pantagruel]

I think the intro to Psycho was one of the best ever, in fact many of Hitchcocks were great.

[Dont Hurt Me]

There have been so many all your posts are true, 2001, most of the bond films ( dont you love em) the matrix, i like the undiscovered country when that klingon moon blew up and the shock wave hit that ship.

[dynamicd]

I read a couple movie reviews about the 25th Hour with edward norton, directed by spike lee, which just came out. Many critics were saying that the opening sequence is one of the best they've seen.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by daniel77
You mean Se7en :P :D that was one scary movie :P

that movie posted a great ethical dilemna at the end...give kevin spacey closure to his diabolical plan of mass murder/suicide, or deny him that sick fantasy and take him away in cuffs

killing bin laden, even though he deserves it more than anyone on earth, will give him what he wants in his delusional martyr mind

somehow capturing him, trying him like the criminal he is, and then punishing him (however that's done) will make the free world the winners

we got milosevic and we got noriega, who were bigger threats to world peace and or commerce than saddam, and we got them alive

when brad pitt killed kevin spacey in the end of the movie se7en, i was bummed because kevin spacey's character ended up the master of that game

on the topic of kevin spacey, anyone see the end of the usual suspects?

[dynamicd]

Originally posted by jefhatfield
on the topic of kevin spacey, anyone see the end of the usual suspects?

Wow, thats one of the greatest movies of all time.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by dynamicd
Wow, thats one of the greatest movies of all time.

i can't really recall the beginning sequence, but the end is just so...well, you have to see it everybody if you already haven't...it's really one of the great movie endings of all time

and of course, for chick flicks...he he... when harry met sally has one of the really great endings for a movie

...but that's another ending and not an opening scene like this thread is supposed to be about:p

[eyelikeart]

I'm surprised Office Space hasn't become a resident discussion here yet...heh...

I'll also give Oliver Stone's "The Doors" a vote here...

that desert scene with the crash... ;)

[jefhatfield]

the movie "Ghandi" starts with the end so one knows exactly what the movie supposed to portray

and the rest of the movie explains why ghandi was such a powerful figure in world history

[rice_web]

Three Amigos

God I love that movie.

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by eyelikeart
I'm surprised Office Space hasn't become a resident discussion here yet...heh...

Office space was good, but it wasn't great.

I don't think all that much of it right now - but at the time it came out, the openning to Undiscovered Country was spectacular - nice call Don't Hurt Me.

D

[Dignan]

Office space not "great"?








wow.

[mcrain]

I love Kung Pow, and the beginning is hillarious ("So cute... bye bye...)

but...

Super Troopers had me rolling (no pun intended) on the floor.

[lmalave]

The beginning of Memento when everything's going in reverse, with a polaroid picture starting out clear and then fading, and then the polaroid goes back in the camera, and then the bullet goes out of the guy's head and back into the gun....

I was just like: whoa, this movie's going to be different!!! And sure enough it's the most original movie I've seen in years.

[lmalave]

Originally posted by dukestreet
StarWars, the original one, really was a far cry from anything that had been done before. I think I remember hearing that Lucas had to get special permission not to have opening credits.


Ahh, yes another excellent opening. Besides the now classic scrolling intro text, you gotta love a movie that start from the very first scene with lasers blazing. And doesn't let up from there either :)

[trebblekicked]

i think the pre-credit sequence in "amelie" is the best i've ever seen. the credit sequence is pretty good too.

i also like the pre-credit/credits for "monty python and the holy grail" and "raising arizona". come to think of it, "the hudsucker proxy" has a pretty good sequence too.

god, there's so many!

[G4scott]

I like the opening scene of Mel Brooks' History Of The World, Part 1...

I can't really remember much other movie openings that I liked, excepet for the Bond ones, that is...

[Foxer]

When I first saw the thread, Star Wars, Raiders, Undiscoverered Country and Goldmember all immeidiatly came to mind. So, in order to add something new, I will suggest Patton. Scott's monologue in front of the Giant flag is nothing if not memerable. the opening credits to Beavis and Butthead do America are also fantastic

[crassusad44]

Have to agree on the Matrix opening. First time I saw that movie I was stunned, and totally clueless...

I fell asleep the first time I saw 2001. Too boring for my taste.

And of course Kevin Spacey films. K-PAX and American Beauty. I like the beginning to American Beauty. «In less than one year, I'll be dead».

[lmalave]

How about the opening scene of Independence Day, where it shows the U.S. flag and then pans down to the footprints in the lunar dust, and then you see a huge shadow cover it and the vibrations wiping out the footprint.

Dope!

[shadowfax]

I was shocked no one mentioned it yet, that scene where Tom Cruise pulls out in his sweet classic sports car (wasn't it a Ferrari?) and finds Time Square totally empty was just awesome, and then he runs down the street... that was just one of the most fabulously filmed scenes ever, from an artistic standpoint. i also enjoyed the transition with that radiohead song, "Everything in its Right Place."

[iMook]

If you're into the powers of ten opening for Contact, there's a short documentary film titled "Powers of Ten", though its effects aren't as ILM-esque. It starts out in the air, then gradually zooms in on a picnic, then onto the picnic guy's hand, then into his hand, then down to the atomic level, then zooms back out until the Milky Way is just a speck. Just don't expect smashing FX, it's OLD.

film openings:
Matrix, Stargate, Gladiator (OMFG no one has mentioned this!), first part of "Children of Dune", Memento.

I don't remember the opening sequence specifically, but "Bone Collector" was better than Se7en IMHO.