Favourite Opening Sequence Vol 2: Movies

[FunKay the Inevitable]

I started a very similar thread elsewhere in this section, but for television shows. Now, IC raised a good point that it'd be interesting to see what people chose for films. You can pick any opening film sequence you want, just give a reason.

Now, an opening sequence in a film has to set a tone for the series and make sure you understand what the films about. It can really help a film if it's opening sequence is a real eye-catcher. Films have tried it for years and not all have succeeded. Now, onto my pick:

Se7en
[YOUTUBE]SEZK7mJoPLY[/YOUTUBE]​

A dark creepy and psychologically difficult film, Se7en is about one detective's final case & another's first in the big leagues as they hunt down a mass murderer who is using the Seven Deadly Sins as his motif.

This opening sequence in it's own right is downright freaky. The song chosen is by Nine Inch Nails and simply is a scratchy, dark, dank song that simply perfectly sums up the movie. The visuals are impactful, as it takes place just after the first murder and really, we examine what we know thus far as we slowly creep our way through it.

That was my pick, now what's yours?

 

[Attitude]

The first movie that popped into mind was Austin Powers:Goldmember. The opening sequence had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. This was a great opening scene. It didn't give an overall idea what the movie was going to be about though. But what it did was get your attention. It made you more interested in the movie.

The other ones I like are the Lord of the Rings: Trilogy. The first one did great job explaining the rings and what the rings did and the history of the one ring to rule them all. The third one did a great job with Gimili in showing how the ring has effected him throughout his life.

Those are mine.

 

[Spidey Revivey]

[YOUTUBE]lwusCDRiDwE[/YOUTUBE]
(btw, if you cant see the video please notify me; because I usually can't)

Pulp Fiction opens up in tribute of the exploitation movies of old- out of nowhere and a few minutes before showing the movie title. "Misirlou" is executed right after Honey Bunny says her line "Anybody moves then I'll execute every last one of you-" It just makes a classic moment in movie history.

 

[#hamler]

Dark Knight.
The movie starts out with a medium shot of a biulding when a window breaks. Two theives glide across a zip line 20 stories or so above the streets of Gotham. Very great camra work here. Then below we see a man with a clown mask. A car's tires screech to a stop to pick him up. The robbers don't like the fact that the Joker get half of everyones profit. The Joker instructs each member to take out another member of the group. By now it’s clear the Joker wants everyone dead, and minutes later we learn the Joker has been present on the job all along. The plan finishes with two more deaths both involving the escape vehicle a bus. He was able to bribe the weaker robbers into killing each other then he puts a twist on the game by killing the last member and taking all the money. This is when he leaves in a bus where the camra follows the bus outside where we see at least 20 more buses full of school children. End scene. This was a great way to start this movie. The movie could've been ALL talk after that and it still would've been a great movie. One of my favorite movies ever.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

A Bronx Tale

all through the neighborhood...you would hear young Italian men romancing their women.

-Hey, Marie! Get in the fucking car!
- No!
- Get in the car!
- Leave me alone.
- You know I love you.
- Yeah, bullshit.
-Get in the fucking car!

The opening scenes and sequence in Bronx Tale really brought you back to a time we've only ever heard about or read about. This was the old New York city boroughs. Kids opened up fire hydrants on hot days to get some relief from the heat because there was, of course, no AC. Street peddlers sold anything they had off a cart. Racial tension was high and neighborhoods were segregated. The opening sequence truly put you in the time.

Rocky 3

[YOUTUBE]F8ZABoz26R8[/YOUTUBE]

This opening sequence LAUNCHED the song "Eye of the Tiger" into the fucking stratosphere in terms of all time fire you up gym songs. Truly epic, showing Rocky's 10 title defenses and how he started to lose his edge, and how the hungry Mr. T trained and prepared. It took 4 minutes, and in the greatest musical montage I can speak on, you established the flaw in the protagonist AND the new antagonist. This is some of the most efficient plot exposition in movie history.

 

[Wolf Pac]

I'm sure I can think of something else but right now what comes to mind is Enter The Dragon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a274OwEjP4Y

It's a 10 min opening sequence. The opening fight isnt what did it for me although it's a decent fight and the post match flip into the air over the monks arms was awesome but the training scene between Bruce & his student is what did it for me. When the student kept getting the training wrong, Bruce kept telling him off & came out with all these quotes which were catchy and the scene was a bit funny too, it then lead into the opening credits with the Enter The Dragon theme playing in the background which was a japanesse mixed with black type of music, it sounded pretty cool. To hear the rest of the theme in the opening credits, you'll need to go onto Part 2 of Enter The Dragon on Youtube.

Also I kinda liked the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the original) opening with the man with the deep voice talking in the background about the plot of the film which then lead into a shot & a closeup of a burnt skeleton, pretty creepy opener.

 

[jmt225]

Okay, I'm going to answer this in two parts. First my favorite music opening to a film, and then my favorite opening sequence to a movie period. With that said...

Adventures in Babysitting... such an underrated gem in the history of eighties American cinema. Such a fun, fun fucking movie. I've loved it since I was a kid. Elisabeth Shue is perhaps my first crush ever, and it all started with this:

[YOUTUBE]Nly-bfguf4k[/YOUTUBE]

So fucking adorable, and that song kicked all kinds of ass; I'm not at all ashamed to admit it. Most people remember it for Goodfellas, but not me... it'll always be linked to this movie in my mind.

And as far as my favorite opening sequence... simple: The Rules of Attraction.

The movie starts off in mid-sentence, just like the book, with the character Lauren narrating. I want further, but will resist spoiling so people will just go check out this incredible movie themselves. I'll just say the opening sequence did the best job of any movie I've ever seen of letting us know right away who these characters are (Lauren, Sean, and Paul), and what we can expect from them. It's fucking mind-blowing right off the bat, and you can't help but to be instantly hooked.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Rocky 3

[YOUTUBE]F8ZABoz26R8[/YOUTUBE]

This opening sequence LAUNCHED the song "Eye of the Tiger" into the fucking stratosphere in terms of all time fire you up gym songs. Truly epic, showing Rocky's 10 title defenses and how he started to lose his edge, and how the hungry Mr. T trained and prepared. It took 4 minutes, and in the greatest musical montage I can speak on, you established the flaw in the protagonist AND the new antagonist. This is some of the most efficient plot exposition in movie history.

Perfect choice man, the "Eye Of The Tiger" song perfectly suits this opening sequence, which perfectly builds Clubber Lang into a threatening credible challenger to Rocky, and shows how Rocky has lost focus and become complacent during his spell as champion. From this opening you realise that Rocky is to be in for the fight of his life against Lang.

 

[Alex]

A Clockwork Orange

[YOUTUBE]UKbKy5-K38w[/YOUTUBE]

It's moreso the music that does it for me (The Funeral Of Queen Mary) its just so sinister, and then you hear Alex DeLarge talking about what he's planning on doing that night talking bout 'The old ultra-violence' and he does it so clmly, top that with his expression and you know this guys a psychopath.

 

[The Doctor]

DISCLAIMER: I don't watch a lot of movies.

I think this counts as an opening scene. If not, the following scene was also a perfect way to set the mood of the film. Now, this video is just a remake since the film in question isn't out on DVD yet, but:

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
​

Look guys, I'm so unpredictable!! Anyway, as soon as this little beauty popped up on the screen, I knew I was in for a real treat. The glorious rendering of the Universal logo in 8-bit, with the fanfare done in chiptune style made me know exactly what I was getting into and it made me love the movie from the word go. The following scene just drew me in further, with a white screen, black words, and narration:

A Long Time Ago...
In the Faraway Land of
Toronto, Canada...
Scott Pilgrim is dating a high-schooler.​

And then the intro chords from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past play as the camera pans down to his house. It's glorious and kickstarted the multitude of mark-out moments in the movie.

Great intro, great film.

 

[Chardee Macdennis]

Don't know if it was exactly the opening, but the first violent scene (storming the beach) in Saving Private Ryan is bad ass. Glad I wasn't alive for that shit.

 

[Wolf Pac]

Don't know how I could forget this but this is a badass opening.

[YOUTUBE]WPpe2_fsqD8[/YOUTUBE]

The red lighting, the Electrician by The Walker Brothers playing while Bronson is exercising in his cell before he starts fighting with the guards was a little scary but kickass. The combination of the imagery and the music is just pitch perfect. Really sets the tone for the film. And the way he laughs for a few seconds then stops is pretty chuckling. Damn good movie this is, I recommend everyone see it if you haven't already.

 

[Xemmy]

Remember, Remember, The Fifth of November...

V For Vendetta
​

Very good opening monologue that sets the pace for the rest of the movie, giving you a little history of why the 5th of November is important. Lovely fire to illustrate the V- and you've got yourself the opening to one badass movie. Very few movies send a message as great as this one, while being entertaining at the same time.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

A Bronx Tale


Rocky 3

[YOUTUBE]F8ZABoz26R8[/YOUTUBE]

This opening sequence LAUNCHED the song "Eye of the Tiger" into the fucking stratosphere in terms of all time fire you up gym songs. Truly epic, showing Rocky's 10 title defenses and how he started to lose his edge, and how the hungry Mr. T trained and prepared. It took 4 minutes, and in the greatest musical montage I can speak on, you established the flaw in the protagonist AND the new antagonist. This is some of the most efficient plot exposition in movie history.

I 100% agree with IC on this one. Great choice man! Rocky III showed how good Balboa was at the time he won the best, but how he had "lost his edge", become complacent and lazy while all the time the new up-and-coming Clubber Lang was rising through the ranks, absolutely unstoppable and totally determined to become the World Champion.

You immediately saw that this man was going to prove a MAJOR obstacle for Rocky to overcome during the movie, and add that awesome montage to the pouding sounds of one of the all-time greatest movie songs in "Eye Of The Tiger", and you have a classic opening sequence, my friend.