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?

The long tracking shot at the opening of Orson Welles Touch of Evil is a favorite.

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Aguirre: wrath of god

Lost in Translation

can there be anything better?

Malcolm X is great.

That was terrible.

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.

Apocalypse Now

Boogie Nights

The long shot through the entire club that intros us to the whole cast. Awesome.

The movie is incredibly dumb, but The Day After Tomorrow has a nice long tracking overhead shot.

Leon: The Professional - Central Park Reservoir

Contact?

Das Boot

"Lord of War"

A couple of Kubricks:

2001: A Space Odyssey (after the entrance music, that is)

and

A Clockwork Orange

Schindler's List - The opening shot of Schindler's face in the restaurant as Tango plays in the background.

Fight Club

Snow Falling On Cedars.

Like Lastyear, I am also a big fan of the Touch Of Evil opening.

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! )).

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.

The Player

Innerspace: You think its something cellular but when it pulls back its a glass of ice.

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...

The Godfather