Posted by: ABennettWriter, November 26th, 2012, 9:38pm
For my short screenwriting class, we're supposed to come up with "Five arresting visual opening scenes".
That got me thinking of favorite opening scenes. What are some of yours? I'll share mine later, once I have more time to think. :)
Posted by: Grandma Bear, November 26th, 2012, 9:47pm; Reply: 1
Nothing beats the beginning of Natural Born Killlers!!!
Posted by: RJ, November 26th, 2012, 10:02pm; Reply: 2
Have to say I always have and always will love the opening (and everything else) in The Goonies.
Posted by: ABennettWriter, November 26th, 2012, 10:07pm; Reply: 3
I love the opening shot of BOOGIE NIGHTS.
Posted by: dogglebe (Guest), November 26th, 2012, 10:54pm; Reply: 4
As much as I am underwhelmed by the movie, the opening sequence to Star Wars is visually impressive:
There's also The Stand:
but I think the music is everything here.
And then there's Up:
Phil
Posted by: oJOHNNYoNUTSo, November 26th, 2012, 10:58pm; Reply: 5
I've gotta say Apocalypse Now, that's a great way to start a flick!
Posted by: Grandma Bear, November 26th, 2012, 11:45pm; Reply: 6
Phil, UP had hubby choked up!
As far as NBK goes, it was such an amazing new experience at the time and I will forever have Juliette Lewis, Woody Harrelson and Tom Sizemore in my heart. Stone already was Thanks to Midnight Express.
Btw, NBK is the reason I insisted on Tom Sizemore being Helsing in the ff vampire script. :)
Posted by: dogglebe (Guest), November 27th, 2012, 12:11am; Reply: 7
I read people saying that the first four minutes of Up told more of a love story than the entire Twilight franchise. I'm gonna guess that's true.
Phil
Posted by: ABennettWriter, November 27th, 2012, 12:12am; Reply: 8
True statement.
UP's opening sequence has more emotion than the entire Twilight series has. Or just Kristin's face.
Posted by: Reef Dreamer, November 27th, 2012, 8:03am; Reply: 9
Blade runner
Posted by: CoopBazinga, November 27th, 2012, 10:09am; Reply: 10
You can't beat the classic ones like Star Wars, Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
But I thought the opening to Lord of War was pretty good showing the life of a bullet.
Posted by: Electric Dreamer, November 27th, 2012, 11:13am; Reply: 11
I skipped school and took a bus to Boston to catch this one opening weekend. And boy, did it wreak havoc on my high school mind. Never looked at movies the same after this one...
Posted by: DanBall, November 27th, 2012, 11:20am; Reply: 12
My faves:
Raising Arizona--it's 9 minutes long! Superman Star Trek II--the Kobayashi Maru sequence was a nice fake-out Catch Me If You Can Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Hot Fuzz 2001: a space odyssey Skyfall A Serious Man Big Lebowski
Sorry there aren't more artsy, intellectual ones on the list. 8)
Posted by: DV44, November 27th, 2012, 12:07pm; Reply: 13
I agree with Coop - Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jaws are two of my favorite. I also love the opening to Swingers. It's simple, two guys talking about heartbreak.
Posted by: alffy, November 27th, 2012, 12:51pm; Reply: 14
Irreversible has to be the best, worst opening ever! Anyone who's seen it will know how shocking it is.
Raiders is good too.
Posted by: Mr. Blonde, November 27th, 2012, 10:59pm; Reply: 15
In no particular order:
Magnolia. Dawn of the Dead (2004). Swordfish. Mission: Impossible III. Casino Royale. Snake Eyes (more in its awfulness and virtual uselessness).
I'm happy you said favorite instead of best, because if you had said best, we'd all have exactly the same choices. =)
Posted by: B.C., November 29th, 2012, 2:45pm; Reply: 16
WITCH!!
Posted by: dogglebe (Guest), November 29th, 2012, 2:59pm; Reply: 17
UP's opening sequence has more emotion than the entire Twilight series has. Or just Kristin's face.
Wilson, from Cast Away, showed more emmotion than Kristin's face.
Phil
Posted by: MacDuff, November 29th, 2012, 6:42pm; Reply: 18
Are we talking open 'scenes' or 'sequences'?
For me - it has to be Saving Private Ryan. I can remember watching the movie and could feel the entire audience hold their breath for the entire sequence.
It was quite mesmerizing.
And on completely different levels:
Super Troopers - pulling over the kids The Dark Knight - bank robbery
and...
Jaws - 'nuff said
:-) Stew
Posted by: irish eyes, November 29th, 2012, 9:23pm; Reply: 19
The Untouchables!
Mark
Posted by: rc1107, November 30th, 2012, 3:11am; Reply: 20
'Sling Blade' is probably my favorite opening scene (sequence) ever. Bert also brought to my attention the opening was a short film, also.
And I love, love, love, the opening of 'The Way of the Gun'