Your best opening in a film?

[Johnnytheboy]

Excalibur - Uther Pendragon hacking people up, while Merlin just keeps quietly calling his name, then straight to the sword coming out of the lake.

Paris, Texas - amazingly long tracking shot of Harry Dean Stanton walking across the desert with Ry Cooder guitar strumming.

[daddy cool]

What about Blade Runner?


("He say you Brade Lunner")

Edited by daddy cool on Monday 7th April 11:54

[Nimby]

Contact.

- even parodied on The Simpsons.

[PlayersNo6]

Always liked the opening montage in Soylent Green :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlVczvB4FQk

[vxr8mate]

Quantum of Solace (shame about the rest of the film)

[monthefish]

Veeayt said:

Rollcage said:

Layer Cake - an RS6 and The Cure!

I might be wrong, but was it FC Kahuna in the beginning?

Yes.
'Hayling' by FC Kahuna in background for the opening monologue.
'She sells sanctuary' by the Cult as the backing track whilst the RS6 is speeding along the driveway towards the country club.

[motco]

nicanary said:

Going back a bit - David Lean's "Great Expectations". Spooky black-and-white graveyard scene on the marshes when Pip first meets Magwitch. Eerie and very atmospheric.

Black and white films of that era seem to have an atmosphere unequalled in modern cinema; 'The Third Man' is fantastically atmospheric, and greatly under rated is 'The Long Memory' for its camerawork. Not opening scenes, I concede...

[jesta1865]

HD Adam said:

nick heppinstall said:

Star Wars for me followed by Top Gun.

A vote for Star Wars Episode IV as well.

The scrolling text, the Rebel ship, then the Imperial Starcruiser coming into view from above.

ILM at it's finest.

wash your mouth out with soap it's a Star-Destroyer. Not the local bulk cruisers, mind you. I'm talking about the big Corellian ships, now.

it is an awesome beginning

i also like (i think) a few dollars more when they are all in a circle one with a rope round his neck, years since i saw it but thought it was a great start to a film.

no youtube links banned at work

[North West Tom]

Inglourious Basterds.

[Asterix]

North West Tom said:

Inglourious Basterds.

Hmmmmm - verbose as all QT films are but there's denying it is beautifully shot.

[North West Tom]

Asterix said:

Hmmmmm - verbose as all QT films are but there's denying it is beautifully shot.

Agreed, but I mentioned it more because of Christoph Waltz's performance rather than QT.

[toerag]

Lord of War -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHn1zogeyO4

[boxst]

Lords of War is good.

Also for some reason Kuffs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4sJlZd9DOQ

Although having just watched it again, I can only assume it was memories from (a very young) me looking at Milla Jovovich dancing around in her (rather large) pants.

Edit: To fix mess of a URL.

Edited by boxst on Monday 7th April 15:59

[daddy cool]

boxst said:

Although having just watched it again, I can only assume it was memories from (a very young) me looking at Milla Jovovich dancing around on her (rather large) pants.

Oh, on a related note then, Lost in Translation - Scarlett in pink knickers. Oh yes.

[nicanary]

motco said:

Black and white films of that era seem to have an atmosphere unequalled in modern cinema; 'The Third Man' is fantastically atmospheric, and greatly under rated is 'The Long Memory' for its camerawork. Not opening scenes, I concede...

Funny you should mention "The Long Memory" - it's been on the box a few times lately. Not a well-known film but I like it. "The Third Man" is an all-time classic.

I quite like the start of "The Man Who Would Be King" - the returning Michael Caine unrecognisable to Rudyard Kipling after his adventures entering Kipling's office in fading light with the mysterious bundle hanging from his belt. Spooky.

[james_gt3rs]

Antony Moxey said:

James Bond usually has some great opening scenes, most notably diving off the dam in Goldeneye and skiing off the cliff and a union jack parachute opening in The Spy Who Loved Me.

Goldeneye is great.

The Moonraker intro is great fun!

[prand]

Another Bond one for me The Spy Who Loved Me, especially Bond skiing over a cliff and his union jack parachuteopens to Carly Simon singing ''Nobody Does it Better'.

Then you get Barbara Bach and the submarine Lotus Esprit. Possibly one of my all time bond faves!

[Pooky67]

Cracking dialogue followed by fantastic soundtrack. Brilliant start to a film!

[motco]

nicanary said:

motco said:

Black and white films of that era seem to have an atmosphere unequalled in modern cinema; 'The Third Man' is fantastically atmospheric, and greatly under rated is 'The Long Memory' for its camerawork. Not opening scenes, I concede...

"The Man Who Would Be King" - the returning Michael Caine unrecognisable to Rudyard Kipling after his adventures entering Kipling's office in fading light with the mysterious bundle hanging from his belt. Spooky.

I'll look out for that, thanks!

[Dan_1981]

Way of the Gun