Home Theater Forum - View Single Post

MatthewLouwrens · 07-30-2006, 08:05 PM

I was just remembering this thread the other day, and thought I might throw in a comment.

I was just thinking about how great the opening credit sequences for HBO shows (or at least, the HBO shows that I watch) are.

If we exclude Curb Your Enthusiasm (which doesn't have any real opening credit sequence - although it still deserves a mention just for the music), there are four HBO shows that I watch, and each one has a credit sequence so great that I would never even think about skipping or fast-forwarding through them.

* The Sopranos - Nicely understated in comparison to the others I'll mention, just footage of an unseen Tony driving through New Jersey towards his house, but the images and the song perfectly match the tone of the show.
* Carnivale - it has already been mentioned repeatedly in this thread, and deservedly so. The tarot cards, the 1930s images, the battle of good and evil, all combined with an incredible piece of music, really create an enchanting lead in to the show.
* Rome - the living graffiti through the streets of Rome. Very cool.
* Big Love - we only got this show last week in NZ, but again I love the credits. The ice skating/dancing, the threatening cracked ice, the dinner in a world of their own, perfect.

I think the thing I love about these sequences is that they are all absolutely unique, unlike any other sequence I've seen, and provide almost a summary of the show's main themes. Wonderful to see so much care taken in this area.

**HTF Ads**

07-30-2006, 08:05 PM	#68 of 120
MatthewLouwrens Member Location: New Zealand Join Date: Mar 2003 Local Time: 08:11 AM Local Date: 07-06-2008 Posts: 2,876	Re: Best & Worst Title Sequences I was just remembering this thread the other day, and thought I might throw in a comment. I was just thinking about how great the opening credit sequences for HBO shows (or at least, the HBO shows that I watch) are. If we exclude Curb Your Enthusiasm (which doesn't have any real opening credit sequence - although it still deserves a mention just for the music), there are four HBO shows that I watch, and each one has a credit sequence so great that I would never even think about skipping or fast-forwarding through them. * The Sopranos - Nicely understated in comparison to the others I'll mention, just footage of an unseen Tony driving through New Jersey towards his house, but the images and the song perfectly match the tone of the show. * Carnivale - it has already been mentioned repeatedly in this thread, and deservedly so. The tarot cards, the 1930s images, the battle of good and evil, all combined with an incredible piece of music, really create an enchanting lead in to the show. * Rome - the living graffiti through the streets of Rome. Very cool. * Big Love - we only got this show last week in NZ, but again I love the credits. The ice skating/dancing, the threatening cracked ice, the dinner in a world of their own, perfect. I think the thing I love about these sequences is that they are all absolutely unique, unlike any other sequence I've seen, and provide almost a summary of the show's main themes. Wonderful to see so much care taken in this area. AFI Top 100 lists: 100 Movies, 100 Thrills - Completed 100 Laughs - 25 to go - last seen: Bull Durham 100 Passions - 39 to go - last seen: Breakfast At Tiffany's 100 Heroes & Villains - 10 to go - last seen: Tom Powers in The Public Enemy 100 Songs - 45 to go - last seen: "Moon River" from Breakfast At Tiffany's 100 Quotes - 19 to go - last seen: "Toga! Toga!" in Animal House 100 Years of Film Scores - 3 to go - last seen: How the West Was Won 100 Cheers - 43 to go - last seen: Philadelphia TOTAL (458 movies) - 146 to go - My AFI movie list here. My blog / Films watched in 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008. Last edited by MatthewLouwrens : 07-30-2006 at 08:10 PM.