It’s always fun when because of someone talking about a certain movie that they just saw or whatever it turns to a different but still related conversation. Recently I had one about the best movie opening shots/scenes (or towards the beginning) you have ever seen. I just wanted to mention it on the blog and get other people’s favourites. Here is some of mine:
Blade Runner - A movie that took me a whopping 4 times to appreciate and now I LOVE it. And even when I HATED it I still really loved the opening shot. The overview shot of the city with the explosions and the close-up of the eye (BEAUTIFUL!).
Donnie Darko - We open with the view off the top of a mountain road, we pan over to a guy lying on the road with his bike next to him. He gets up (after presumably sleeping there all night) turns towards to the camera, a sly smirk comes on his face and he walks away and the words DONNIE DARKO come on the screen in front of the sky. Don’t know why I love that shot so much.
Once Upon A Time In The West - This may be actually a bit of cheat because with this I am referring to the first 5 minutes. The three cowboys commandeering the train station and waiting for the train to arrive. One of them sits with his hat slightly over his face, with a fly annoying him. The eerie silence and tension is fantastic (and cheers to Kurt for encouraging me to see this masterpiece).
Memento - The ULTIMATE film for playing around with the plot order. And the opening shot (which is actually the end of the story) of Guy Pierce standing there after having just killed somebody and then it reverses to the picture he tok going back into the camera, the gun flying back up into his hand and the guy he just shot coming back to life. It’s a crazily effect movie with that shot opening it perfectly as far as being in tune with what the rest of the movie is like.
Reservoir Dogs - One of my all time favourite scenes in one of my all time favourite movies. Tarantino as Mr Brown explaining the meaning of “Like A Virgin” by Madonna. And of course Mr Pink not tipping the waitress. Classic and hilarious.
Okay those are just some of mine but what are yours?
Though not yet announced officially on the main TAD site, Twitch is declaring Alone (MP review) as the winner for the 2007 audience choice awards. This is very good news. This little Thai horror flick had me nearly gasping for breath with the scares and then totally enthralled with a great story to boot.