The 'soldiers' ride up to the bank, the wonderfully martial score rap-a-tap-tapping away. Kids avidly watch ants devour a scorpion in an arena (foreshadowing the grand finale of the film). Bounty hunters watch the soldiers from rooftops above. There's a temperance parade marshaling on the road outside. Tension builds relentlessly. Then Holden's classic line: "If they move, kill 'em."
Followed by the most violent and graphic gunfight in film history to that point. How do you top an opening like that? With a finale that features 150 extras and a gatling gun.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
Last edited by CliffFletcher; 02-19-2018 at 06:59 AM.
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As a devout 007 fan I have to add a few Bond flicks.
Golden eye with intro to Brosnan with the bunjee jump was great.
Thunderball and Sean Connery with the jetpack was genius for 1965.
Daniel Craig in Skyfalls fight scene on the train.. Fantastic!
I think Bond films are the first to have great openings. Made them famous along with the trick weapons
Goldeneye intro, which ends with Bond driving a motorcycle off a cliff then jumping off and entering a pilotless plane while in freefall is pretty good. But I see it as an homage to the greatest Bond opening of all time:
Fun facts:
Filmed on Mount Asgard on Baffin Island, stuntman Rick Sylvester was paid $30,000. The primary shot from a helicopter didn't catch the jump, but a backup cameraman down below saved the day with his footage.
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This might be the best intro to a film not included in the final edit. It's the scripted intro to The Graduate where Ben is giving his commencement speech.
NSFW!
EXT. AMPHITHEATRE - DAY SHOT - HELICOPTER'S POV -
Moving through clouds. The clouds separate and, f
ar below, we can
see a giant outdoor amphitheatre. There is no SOU
ND but the WIND.
As we move closer to the amphitheatre, we can hear
SNATCHES OF WORDS
and PHRASES as though from a public address system
.
2 EXT. AMPHITHEATRE - PODIUM - DAY - SHOT OF BEN
in cap and gown, standing in front of a microphone
. The WIND is
BLOWING. He has to hold on to the papers from whi
ch he is reading.
3 EXT. AMPHITHEATRE - SHOT OF AUDIENCE - DAY
Thousands of expressionless STUDENTS are sitting t
here.
4 EXT. AMPHITHEATRE - SHOT OF PODIUM - DAY
BEN
- and today it is right that we
should ask ourselves the one most
important question: What is the
purpose of these years, the purpose
for all this demanding work,
the purpose for the sacrifices
made those who love us? Were
there NOT a purpose, then all of
these past years of struggle, of
fierce competition and of uncom-
promising ambition would be mean-
ingless. But, of course, there
is a purpose and I must tell it
to you. I ask you to remember
this purpose always and I pledge
that I shall endeavor to carry it
with me forever.
5 SHOT - AMPHITHEATRE AUDIENCE - DAY
staring at him impassively.
6 INTERCUT BETWEEN SHOTS
of impassive students, seated, watching; of Ben st
anding
alone on the huge amphitheatre stage; of CLOSEUPS
of Ben
speaking; of loudspeakers; of wind-blown papers on
the
podium.
7 EXT. PODIUM OF AMPHITHEATRE - DAY
BEN
(continuing)
The purpose, my fellow graduates -
the purpose is -
He stops, trying to think of the word.
8 CLOSEUP - BEN
He begins to sweat.
9 SHOT - AMPHITHEATRE AUDIENCE
watching.
10 SHOT - PODIUM of AMPHITHEATRE
Ben's hands searching through the pages of his spe
ech.
The pages begin to blow away in the wind.
11 SHOT - AMPHITHEATRE AUDIENCE - DAY
staring.
12 SHOT - PODIUM OF AMPHITHEATRE - DAY
BEN
- there is a reason, my friends,
and the reason is -
13 CLOSEUP - BEN
He is in a panic. He looks up from his papers at
the audience.
14 SHOT - AMPHITHEATRE - DAY
The audience is gone.
15 SHOT - PODIUM OF AMPHITHEATRE - DAY
BEN
- the reason is - the purpose is -
SOUND of the WIND becoming the ROAR of an AIRCRAFT
coming at
us through the air.
16 SHOT
Location: A simple man leading a complicated life....
Exp:
From a pure action point of view the opening scene from Beverly Hills Cop stands as another favourite of mine. All the carnage and the bus doing a 360.... Gotta love an Eddie Murphy flick
"The truck? It just stopped, man! It just stopped!"
I was always partial to the Deadpool opening scene. Just a lot of fun from the visuals panning through the freeze frame to the opening credits names to all the little things (green lantern card, magazine with Reynolds on it etc).
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The Dark Knight Rises: Not as good as the Joker opening but the plane crashing sets the stage that the stakes are higher in this one. Plus Bane is a total bad ass who doesnt mess around.
I know most people hate this movie but Batman V Superman when we see the Superman vs Zod fight in Metropolis and Gotham from Batmans perspective. Mankind is introduced to the Superman...Brilliant
While technically not the opening scene, I think really love how the introduction to Peter Quill sets the tone for Guardians. You start with the heartbreak and serious of his mother's death and suddenly we get dancing with CGI rats and the movie just continues that mix of seriousness and fun all the way through.
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As a devout 007 fan I have to add a few Bond flicks.
Golden eye with intro to Brosnan with the bunjee jump was great.
Thunderball and Sean Connery with the jetpack was genius for 1965.
Daniel Craig in Skyfalls fight scene on the train.. Fantastic!
I think Bond films are the first to have great openings. Made them famous along with the trick weapons
Great thread idea Cap!
Echo the Bond film openings Cheese, would also add the Opening to Casino Royale to the list. Really set the new direction the franchise was going post-Pierce
Guilty pleasure, and while not technically the first scene, I still love it
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