Best opening scenes? (1 Viewer)

[Christ Reynolds]

CONTACT, very impressive
8 1/2
Manhattan
Vertigo
Boogie Nights
Raising Arizona (no credits for 11 minutes)
Apocalypse Now (no opening credits at all)
Godfather
Dawn of the Dead (just throws you into the action with no setup)
Being John Malkovich (puppet show)
A Clockwork Orange
The Shining (i love the entire opening sequence, the closing of the hotel, prob my favorite opening 20 minutes for any movie)
2001: A Space Odyssey (not the monkeys, but the overture, really sets the mood for the film, i never skip over it)
CJ

 

[Rob Tomlin]

8 1/2 (nightmare)

Would you believe that I just finished showing this opening scene to a bunch of family members that were here for xmas because they wanted to know why I was making such a fuss over this movie!?
It made quite an impression, especially when the "kite" fell to the water!

 

[JohnRice]

The Godfather is an automatic, and I like the homage the Coens did in Miller's Crossing.
Titus has one of my all time favorite opening title sequences.
Donnie Darko, at the very beginning until he gets on his bike and the movie actually gets started.
I'll have to think of more.

 

[JohnRice]

Here's one that just came on FX, Mad Max. Now that's one flick that starts off with a bang.
What do you know, it may be P&S, but they're showing it with the original dialog.

 

[Andrew_Sch]

Recently, Gangs of New York has quite an impactful opening scene.

 

[Blaine Skerry]

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE for the opening shot(closeup on Alex's eye and subsequent pull back to reveal the Korova Milk bar)and W. Carlos's synthesizer score(Purcell's Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary).

 

[Louis C]

How about the 'opening scam' in The Sting or Scrat opening scene in Ice Age?

 

[Bruce_S]

My top 5...IMO

The Matrix - When Trinity jumped up and bullet time was introduced.

Gladiator - Great Battle sequence.

Saving Private Ryan - First 30 minutes was unbelievable.

Toy Story 2 - Buzz Lightyear all the way, well - until he got shot!

Jaws/Jurassic Park - Almost identical, shark/dinosaur respectively

 

[Matt Pelham]

How about:
Trainspotting - "Choose life, choose a job..."
I LOVE that opening.

 

[Michael Reuben]

Sunset Boulevard. No explanation needed.
The prologue to Magnolia, narrated by the incomparable Ricky Jay.
M.

 

[Chuck C]