I recently heard a conversation where they were discussing that the opening shot of the original Star Wars (1977) cannot be touched...They were obviously talking about the star destroyer flying overhead chasing the smaller ship against the backdrop of space. Obviously, at the time nothing like that had ever been seen. But is it the most impressive opening shot ever? Or has there been something since then that surpasses it...I haven't been able to think of anything.
Opinions?
Lastyear
03-03-08, 03:59 PM
The long tracking shot at the opening of Orson Welles Touch of Evil is a favorite.
you realize that's sofia coppola's ass and not scarlett's right? still nice but i'm sure scarlett's would've been better.
Rad14
03-03-08, 04:23 PM
Apocalypse Now
jpoppe
03-03-08, 05:03 PM
Boogie Nights
The long shot through the entire club that intros us to the whole cast. Awesome.
Mr. Cinema
03-03-08, 05:12 PM
The movie is incredibly dumb, but The Day After Tomorrow has a nice long tracking overhead shot.
dr5279
03-03-08, 05:18 PM
Leon: The Professional - Central Park Reservoir
chrisih8u
03-03-08, 05:20 PM
Contact?
dom56
03-03-08, 05:36 PM
Das Boot
scott1598
03-03-08, 06:00 PM
"Lord of War"
dhmac
03-03-08, 06:17 PM
A couple of Kubricks:
2001: A Space Odyssey (after the entrance music, that is)
and
A Clockwork Orange
Robert
03-03-08, 06:49 PM
Schindler's List - The opening shot of Schindler's face in the restaurant as Tango plays in the background.
Artman
03-03-08, 07:01 PM
Fight Club
printerati
03-03-08, 07:08 PM
Snow Falling On Cedars.
Like Lastyear, I am also a big fan of the Touch Of Evil opening.
zekeburger1979
03-03-08, 07:08 PM
Back to the Future. The opening shot lasts about 2:10 and shows us 1)Doc's obsession with time, 2) we hear an advertisement for Statler Toyota, 3) see the pictures of the articles from when Doc's mansion burnt down, 4) Pictures of Doc's heroes (Einstein and Franklin), 5) see a newscast about the stolen plutonium and 6) the automatic food makers (both Doc's and Einstein's (the dog, not the man! :))).
greg9x
03-03-08, 07:47 PM
you realize that's sofia coppola's ass and not scarlett's right? still nice but i'm sure scarlett's would've been better.
From what I remember reading Sophia enacted the scene to show Scarlett how it would look to get her to do it, but the shot in the movie is Scarlett.
Ron G
03-03-08, 08:20 PM
The Player
SuckaMC
03-03-08, 09:40 PM
Innerspace: You think its something cellular but when it pulls back its a glass of ice.
Dr Mabuse
03-03-08, 09:45 PM
Aguirre: wrath of god
you beat me to it...
i'll be damned...
didn't think anyone would have gotten that one but i checked...
one of the best...
Corleone316
03-03-08, 10:43 PM
The Godfather
Dashed
03-03-08, 11:42 PM
The 1st 10 min of 28 days later is hard to beat. And while we are talking Danny Boyle movies, Sunshine has a nice opening.
rotfl
That's awesome, if Star Wars was a 60s comedy like The Pink Panther or something.
Coral
03-04-08, 05:57 AM
8 1/2
creekdipper
03-04-08, 07:48 AM
THE SEARCHERS.
I'm sure that the 'doorway' framing device used at the opening (and repeated at the closing) had been used before (maybe even by Ford himself), but it seems that this is the movie that made this oft-repeated device popular.
Ron G
03-04-08, 05:54 PM
Betty Blue
:hump: :banana:
Good answer.
amplified
03-04-08, 06:05 PM
Run Lola Run
DarkEye
03-04-08, 06:10 PM
Blade Runner
the big train
03-04-08, 06:50 PM
I've always liked how they zoomed in on the Universal logo until it got to Ray's street in The 'burbs. Similarly, I enjoyed Spielberg playing around with the Paramount logo in Raiders.
PopcornTreeCt
03-06-08, 01:28 AM
I always thought Star Wars had the worst. Probably because I always found the space battle scenes to the be the "low" points of the films.
I'm sure that the 'doorway' framing device used at the opening (and repeated at the closing) had been used before (maybe even by Ford himself), but it seems that this is the movie that made this oft-repeated device popular.
That was going to be my call as well. You know you're viewing a masterpiece right from the opening shot.
Rival11
03-09-08, 12:42 PM
Death Proof (even if you hated the movie - great opening)
Lord of War
History of Violence
Gone Baby Gone
No Country for Old Men
There are a ton more but that's all I can think of for now....
Nick Danger
03-09-08, 01:02 PM
My first thought was The Godfather.
One that no one has posted is Once Upon a Time in the West.
Brack
03-09-08, 01:19 PM
I think I agree with all mentioned, though some are more "opening sequences" than shots, but anyway
some other great opening shots:
Superman
Snake Eyes
Swordfish
TomOpus
03-09-08, 02:48 PM
Alien - Talk about setting a mood for the movie.
zekeburger1979
03-09-08, 05:31 PM
I haven't seen it, but the movie Russian Ark is one continuous take, so I think it qualifies for this thread.
William Fuld
03-09-08, 05:35 PM
The Hill
ryuryu2949
03-09-08, 05:39 PM
Fight Club was pretty sweet also. And I believe the first 20 minutes of Snake Eyes is one-camera single take.
Panda Phil
03-09-08, 06:45 PM
ST:TMP. If only the rest of the movie had been as good.
stingermck
03-09-08, 09:57 PM
Once Upon a Time in the West
innocentfreak
03-09-08, 10:24 PM
I love the opening to Way of the Gun (NSFW language)
5xsaMcw69D8
stingermck
03-09-08, 10:30 PM
Yes, Way of the Gun is great, and a great movie as well. As much as I like Sarah Silverman, where else can you see her get popped in the mouth :)
Dr Mabuse
03-09-08, 11:24 PM
I love the opening to Way of the Gun (NSFW language)
5xsaMcw69D8
good one...
one of my favorite films...
dyerjp
03-10-08, 12:38 AM
any props for the good, the bad, and the ugly?
PopcornTreeCt
03-10-08, 01:34 AM
Yes, Way of the Gun is great, and a great movie as well. As much as I like Sarah Silverman, where else can you see her get popped in the mouth :)
I thought that was the chick that was fucking Matt Damon. That was a hilarious clip.
riotinmyskull
03-10-08, 06:03 AM
way too many "opening sequences" in this thread and not enough "opening shots"
Buy: