Best Movie Opening Shots

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 6:52pm

Namo, this is an addiction that continues to tighten its grasp on my soul...


But anyway, one of the best movie opening shots of all time is A Clockwork Orange. Alex in the Korova Milk Bar, the camera pulling back so you can delight in the full visual sumptiousness while he narrates...BRILLIANT!

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 7:07pm

For me, it's Boogie Nights and Halloween.

Boogie Nights starts on a roof top, goes down to street level, crosses the street goes into a club and goes through a crowd of people and finally settles on a table all in one shot.

Halloween's is great as we see things through young Michael Myers' (Debra Hill was actually the one walking) eyes as he commits his first murder. Again, a lot of traveling through the eyes of a person with no cuts.

[BrendanStryker]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 7:12pm

THE SOUND OF MUSIC has the best opening shot in filmdom!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 7:15pm

The openings of the Naked Gun movies - especially 33 1/3 (and the 1st one is also good)

[fflagg]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 7:32pm

1. Vertigo
2. All About Eve
3. Funny Girl
4. Darling Lili
5. The Letter

[cudramacat]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 9:40pm

I have to say that I agree The Sound of Music sentiment posted above

[Craig]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 10:06pm

The first incredibly long take that opens "The Player"

[Parks]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 11:10pm

I think I'm gonna buy Funny Girl this week...I've never seen it. I'm obsessed with the soundtrack (well..I really like it) and I've only seen the stage version.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 11:14pm

Once Upon A Time In the West

[Aigoo]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 11:14pm

Parks, I just got Funny Girl and saw it. I really like it. I like Omar as Nick. I like Barbra in general ANYWAY so. Yes.

[kjklo]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 11:16pm

That beautiful "incredibly long take that opens The Player" is, of course, a loving homage to Orson Welle's legendary opening tracking shot in Touch of Evil--widely considered one of the greatest beginning film sequences of all time.

[Craig]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 11:23pm

I'll also add the opening shot of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" - the Paramount Logo fading into the rock...

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 11:25pm

Not an opening "shot," but I think the opening scene for The Hours is brilliant.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 11:43pm

THE CRADLE WILL ROCK also has an impressively long single shot, with the camera following Emily Watson out a theatre, onto the street, several other cast members putting up posters and bumping into each other, then it pans up a building and into a window, to Hank Azaria at the piano.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 11:55pm

Darn,
Craig beat me to it.

I loved the opening of "The Player"... Now, I'll have to rent "Touch of Evil".

[broadway86]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 11:59pm

Eyes Wide Shut - Nicole Kidman undressing. Wow.
Snake Eyes - A 10 minute shot. Stunning.
Moulin Rouge - Haunting, and instantly sets up a tone.
About Schmidt - The title character staring at a clock. Sums up the movie's themes perfectly.
Psycho - The landscape of Phoenix.
The Haunting (1963) - Hill House in all its glory. Creepy.
M - The children in a circle. Updated On: 11/28/05 at 11:59 PM

[Jon]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 12:03am

Not a single shot, but the opening montage of Woody Allen's MANHATTAN - images of New York City, shot in black-and-white, to the accompaniment of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Climaxing in fireworks.

[Yawper]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 12:10am

flying in off the lake and down the Chicago River at night - (apart from a few funny bits from Liza) it's the best thing in Rent A Cop

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 1:18am

Gosford Park, the opening in the rain. And before the actual picture, the sound of the rain. Beautiful.

[MyMeredithMonster]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 5:02am

Here it is again: "Harold and Maude".
Also "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 7:48am

"About Schmidt - The title character staring at a clock. Sums up the movie's themes perfectly. "

Completely forgot about that one! About Schmidt is such an underrated piece of genius...

[Glebb]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 7:54am

TOP HAT - Fred and Ginger from the knee down very clever and chic.

Robert Altman's THE COMPANY - Alwin Nikoli's 'Tensile Involvement' (from 1953 yet so today), the colors, the beautiful dancers, the camera work.

Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID - "Look out lad a Mermaid be waiting for you in mysterious fathoms below!".

[broadway86]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 9:48am

About Schmidt is such an underrated piece of genius...

I couldn't agree more.

[BrendanStryker]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 9:51am

I love that tracking shot in SNAKE EYES, broadway86. It's brilliant!

[Marquise]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 10:06am

WEST SIDE STORY
~ a concept that was *repeated* by Wise for the sound of music
Updated On: 11/28/05 at 10:06 AM