Greatest / favorite opening montage?
 

This came up recently because I've had Mychael Danna's "The Winner Is" from Little Miss Sunshine. What, in your opinion, is the greatest opening montage? Do you have any favorites?

I thought the one from Little Miss Sunshine was fantastic. Other recent ones are Amélie and I Stand Alone and Royal Tenenbaums - these are all with voiceovers though and not entirely musical like LMS's.

<b>JFK</b> - Perfect historical montage set to John Williams' magnificent score.

:thumbsup:

Lord of War

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was the first one that came to mind. By the end of the opening eight minutes, I was in Middle Earth.

I seem to remember (too late tonight) Miracle having a good opening. Showing things about the late 70's.
But, I can't remember if that was the opening or later on.

I don't know if it's the greatest, but Goldmember definitely ranks up there.

The opening scene to Grand Prix had a good montage of drivers and cars getting ready for the race in Monaco. It made the viewer feel as though you were part of
the race.

The Naked Gun movies. That cop car could go ANYWHERE!

It's not an opening montage, but there's a great montage scene in Oldboy. It's a split screen chronogically scrolling through things that are going on while he is locked up. Very effective in showing the progression through time.

The Player

I like the recap of Superman: The Movie at the beginning of Superman II.

Raising Arizona

The Alex Ross artwork montage recapping Spider-man 1.

Star Wars: A New Hope...with the ships going overhead and then Darth striding out of the smoke...nothing tops it...period.

I agree with Royal Tenenbaums and Raising Arizona but my two favorites would have to be Trainspotting and American Gigolo. Both had great songs to go along with great editing.

Saxon

...and ripping off Superman II. ;)

Actually, I thought the pre-credits scene for Mission: Impossible III was the one of the best I've seen ever...but that's not a montage, just a set-up for the movie.

Apocalypse Now.

I can only think of Army of Darkness and The Pianist which wasn't much to write back home about. But L.A. Confidential did have a great opening montage.

Contact has a pretty great opening

Ooooh, good one! :thumbsup:

Terminator 2

Oh yeah, Boogie Nights is probably my favorite.

Miike's DOA1

Isn't that more of a "continuity editing" where shots are put together in order to tell a story, as opposed to 'intellectual editing" in where random shot are strung together to tell a story; which is what a montage is.

- Batman: Danny Elfman's score still gives me chills when I see this opening. Probably my favorite opening sequence.

- Dick Tracy: Probably not a real popular choice, but again, a great score with a montage that perfectly sets the tone for the film.

- Little Miss Sunshine: Almost haunting music with accompanying scenes that lets the viewer know they're going to be seeing a comedy with dramatic tones.

- The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: I love, love, love the music and although it's a simple visual opening, it works.

- Spider-Man: Much like Batman, this opening never fails to give me chills.

- Sin City: I guess I just have a thing for comic book-inspired openings.

Speaking of opening montages, anyone ever watch a movie with someone who fast forwards them? My ex used to want to do this most of the time, using the "logic" that it was "just music and credits." This is a habit she picked up from her parents, who fast forward the movie until there's talking. Annoyed the hell out of me, too, since I've always viewed the opening credits as the bulk of the film that sets the mood for what follows.

not yet mentioned:

Saving Private Ryan

Fargo

25th Hour, even though I'm not an American.

Do any of you know what a montage is?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zixAjmrmn6g

boogie nights.

That reminded me that "even Rocky had a montage". That being said, the one at the beginning of ROCKY III is pretty damn good.

another vote for
Lord of war

Casablanca.

Streets of Fire
The Big Chill
All That Jazz (this may be wrong...I haven't seen it in a while, but it does start with the daily routine montage, doesn't it??)

I cannot believe nobody said these yet.

Rules of attraction - Amazing opening and character development.
Magnolia was also great.

I cannot believe nobody said these yet.

Rules of attraction - Amazing opening and character development.
Magnolia was also great.

Mallrats - Jason Lee's voice over about his Uncle Walter getting the cat stuck up his ass, all while showing the various scenes (and more importantly, the great store names) around the mall.

I would agree!