What are some of your favourite opening scenes? and why?

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Uncanny Web-Slinger

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Sometimes an opening scene is done so well that it just grabs your attention and lets you know you're in for a good time.

A few of my favourites include:

Inglourious Basterds
Going in I knew only that this was a Tarrantino WWII film, other than a teaser and posters i knew nothing else.
The opening scene with Col. Hans Landa interrogating Misure LaPadite about the location of his Fugitive Jewish neighbours was so good i initially thought that Misure LaPadite would be a main character.

Watchmen
Has one of the best montages ever in movies. The song and style perfectly captures the progression of time and culture from past to present. Even the second scene with the Assassination is fantastic.

X2: X-Men United
One of the best intros scene to a superhero movie, features Nightcrawler teleporting through the White House disabling guard after guard to the majestic score lf Dies Irae, until finally just moments from successfully assassinating the US President he is stopped, leaving behind a dagger with a "Mutant Freedom Now" banner. Sets up the film brillaintly.

Up
If you didn't get teary eyed during the opening scenes with Carl Fredrickson and Ellie then you are dead inside.

Kill Bill vol. 1
Filmed in black and white, we are introduced to a woman beaten, bloodied, terrified and in pain with a man known only as Bill (according to his embroidered handkerchief) explains to her how it is only now that he will make her realise how sadistic he can be, she tells him simply "Bill, it's your Baby" and is shot in the head with the scene cut to the opening credits to the superb song 'Baby shot me down' by Nancy Sinatra.

Simply Magnificent !
 
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Re: What are some of your favourite opening scenes?

I loved the Inglorious Basterds and Up intros. Adding to the list,

The Lion King
The Dark Knight
 
Re: What are some of your favourite opening scenes?

Basterds is definitely a good one. Lots of tension in that scene. You know the ****s going to hit the fan, but the build-up is what makes it.

A handful of my favorites:

'89 Batman
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight Rises
Casino Royale
The Godafather ("I believe in America" speech)
Halloween '78
Raiders of The Lost Ark
Star Wars (1977)
Jaws
 
Re: What are some of your favourite opening scenes?

Lion King definitely. Its so breathtaking you almost forget its animation.

And such great memorable music.

Alot of the best openings are such because of a superb marriage of music or score and the visual working in harmony.
 
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Re: What are some of your favourite opening scenes?

And such great memorable music.

Alot of the best openings are such because of a superb marriage of music or score and the visual working in harmony
I agree. I get goosebumps every time it plays because it stirs so many emotions and childhood memories. Beauty and the Beast is another Disney film with a very good opening.
 
i'm gonna throw in another

X-Men First Class
In a WW2 Concentration Camp, Kevin Bacons' Klaus Schmidt A.K.A Sebastian Shaw tries to force a young Erik Lensher A.K.A Magneto to move a metal coin with his mind with the threat of killing the young boys mother if he fails.
The boy cannot do it and witnesses his Mother Murdered in front of him. In his grief he unlocks his power over Metal and destroys the office & kills two guards in a blind Rage, much to the delight of Dr Schmidt.

Like Mando says about Inglourious Basterds, it's the tension and build up and delivery thats makes these type of scenes, along with great performances (Kevin Bacon)
 
Prometheus should be a given. best opening. ever.

then the cast showed up with their logic numbing dialogues. :lol
 
Re: What are some of your favourite opening scenes?

And such great memorable music.

Alot of the best openings are such because of a superb marriage of music or score and the visual working in harmony.

I agree. I get goosebumps every time it plays because it stirs so many emotions and childhood memories. Beauty and the Beast is another Disney film with a very good opening.

That last *Boom* as the music cuts and the title shows still makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I saw it again in the theatre during its 3D run and it didn't dissapoint!


While most of my picks were for a sense of action that really draws you in I have to say the opening of Shawshank where it bounces back and forth between the trial and "murder" is another great one. Sets up the story perfectly without having to draw it all out.
 
Raiders of the Lost Ark (told you everything you needed to know about Indiana Jones)
The Dark Knight
Gladiator
Casino Royale
Toy Story 3 (a barrell-of-monkeys mushroom cloud ... as epic as a kids' movie can get)
Goldeneye
Saving Private Ryan
The A-Team (Alpha Mike Foxtrot)
Inception
Star Trek

Just off the top of my head.

SnakeDoc
 
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Zombieland. (for whom the bell tolls doodut doodut tooosh)

Completely badass ...

600px-ZL-Type84_01.jpg


SnakeDoc
 
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