Greatest start to a film

[Don Quixote]

Goodfellas, best opening I have ever seen.

 

[Spun Cuppa]

Pulp Fiction

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Raiders of the Lost Ark is pretty peachy. "Throw me the whip" "Throw me the idol" "So you see Mr Jones, there is nothing that you can have that I cannot take away" "Shame the Hovidos don't know you like I do Ballack" "I hate snakes, I hate 'em" (and similar mis-paraphrased bullshite)

 

[Barrow Boy]

Can't agree with Digweeds Trousers, Speilberg always manages to grab your attention right from the start of his films, it's almost a trade mark of his.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was pretty good, with a young Indiana being chased carriage by carriage along a moving Circus train.

 

[Gwylan]

Up! had me in tears

That's quite brilliant - wasted on kids.

I think the opening credits to Touch of Evil, that two-minute one-take shot is superb - a mini-masterpiece of film making.

Love the opening to Apocalypse Now as well.

 

[backson]

Can't believe this has been missed:-


"CHOOSE LIFE"

 

[Barrow Boy]

This really had to be seen on the 'Big screen' to appreciate the impact of the stunning camera work combined with Ron Goodwin's music.

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[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Not a bad shout - Touch of Evil

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[Nibble]

Was gonna say Raiders of The Lost Ark too. Remember the first time I saw it and was hooked straight away.

Agree with Close Encounters too.

2001 A Space Odyssey is a great opening, not action packed obviously but classic.

Last Man standing, starring Bruce Willis and directed by Walter Hill. Set in 30's I think. Shot of Willis' car driving across the dustplains then entering the small western town. His car is shot up for no real reason so he enters the gangsters office and demands compensation. when they refuse he shrugs off his jacket to reveal a veritable arsenal of guns and proceeds to shoot the place up. Loved it.

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

I thought the Inglourious Basterds one was quite good, it really gave an introduction to Hans Landa, and the ton of suspense he keeps behind that cool expression on his face, In fact, Christopher Waltz was the only guy I really paid my full attention to in that film.

this.

 

[PHCgull]

The Italian Job (first time round)

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

Up! had me in tears

Possibly best ever start to a kiddies film..... hoınestly started questioning whether I had brought my daughter to the wrong film. My wife was in floods of tears.

 

[corkster]

star wars, casino, pulp fiction & the daddy has to be saving private ryan. never has the job that those brave boys did been captured so vididly (sp)

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

For me one of the most memorable was Gladiator.

That 'walking through the wheat field' scene has been often copied and then the stunning battle against the Germans.

What!! Germans in Farnham woods?? Would never be allowed - this is Surrey you're talking about here.

 

[murphy's law]

Super troopers

 

[Faldo]

there's that french farmer that's hiding a load of JEWS (including the cinema owner lady) under his floorboards, and that proper evil nazi guy KNOWS IT

and he's like drinking milk and stuff going "ooh mr. frenchy, this milk is well good"

basically

Having watched this the other day - I have to agree. Fantastic scene!

Good description as well!

 

[keaton]

I'd echo:
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Star Wars: A New Hope
Saving Private Ryan
Gladiator
Touch of Evil

and nominate:
Lost In Translation
Wall-E
and whichever James Bond opens with a clown being chased and killed as that scared the shite out of me as a child

 

[Easy 10]

Good thread, this.

One of my favourite starts to a film is Blade, the scene in the underground nightclub when the vampires get showered with blood - then Blade turns up and starts slicing and dicing. That was one thrilling intro.

As mentioned, Reservoir Dogs. Not just an intro to a film, but an introduction to a director who writes the best and most entertaining slacker dialogue in Hollywood. The whole 'I don't tip' routine is a masterpiece and a joy to watch.

And for an intro dripping with tension and atmosphere, Alien. The camera drifting slowly and quietly around the ship, the claustrophobic corridors, the "grungyness" of the interior of the craft giving it a whole new realism compared to the modern, polished spaceships we were used to seeing, and the soft spooky background score. You just knew you were going to see a great movie just from those first 2 or 3 minutes.

 

[Nibble]

The last 2 Bond films both have great openings.

Although Quantum Of Solace lost it's way a bit the opening car chase is fantastic. Through the tunnel, into the quarry throwing the Aston around like there's no tomorrow to then reveal that during the whole scene Mr White has been in the boot of the car. I liked that.

And whichever Bond film it is that has Moore being chased on skis and then going off the mountain side to open up his Union Flag parachute. Top stuff.

 

[Easy 10]

Casino Royale also has one of the best Bond themes and intros of recent times. 'You Know My Name', great song (INFINATELY better than that hip-hop dirge they did for Quantum).

That chase through the building site is stunning.