tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post1816393781727767469..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: The Great (film) Debates vol. 79AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-30818214506563618312013-05-05T23:39:50.921-04:002013-05-05T23:39:50.921-04:00Tardy to the party, but:
Scream's opening seq...Tardy to the party, but:<br /><br />Scream's opening sequence-- Totally sets the tone from the get-go, powerful enough to stand alone as a short film<br /><br />Dawn of the Dead's opener, re: TV station in chaos-- those things are always supposed to be so scripted that the chaos of the station illustrate's society's concurrent disintegration.<br /><br />Alien3's mix of quit, tight cuts and credits on space excellently sets the tone of the movie. I'm the *other* guy on the board that loved it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-16134847643639732482013-04-30T14:10:45.251-04:002013-04-30T14:10:45.251-04:00Good topic. I see some of mine are mentioned here...Good topic. I see some of mine are mentioned here already, like Bladerunner and The Matrix. How about 2001? The whole Dawn of Man sequence is sets the tone for the whole film. Dwizzumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13426076114959867132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-9680965456093497582013-04-29T15:29:37.722-04:002013-04-29T15:29:37.722-04:00djskit, I like it when films find ways to close ou...djskit, I like it when films find ways to close out the same way they started. It gives a feeling of continuity.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-26905749207220320182013-04-29T15:28:52.169-04:002013-04-29T15:28:52.169-04:00rlaWTX, LOL! I can't remember the opening eit...rlaWTX, LOL! I can't remember the opening either. Maybe the wedding shooting?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-62083094956053082312013-04-29T15:28:11.456-04:002013-04-29T15:28:11.456-04:00Big Mo, I haven't seen Glory in many years.Big Mo, I haven't seen <i>Glory</i> in many years.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-32204051578955972102013-04-29T15:26:58.685-04:002013-04-29T15:26:58.685-04:00Outlaw, I kind of liked Watchmen, but the more I s...Outlaw, I kind of liked <i>Watchmen</i>, but the more I saw it, the less I liked it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-54305300179008227992013-04-29T15:25:51.799-04:002013-04-29T15:25:51.799-04:00Scott, Thanks for deleting it.
Dave, We get his ...Scott, Thanks for deleting it.<br /><br /><br />Dave, We get his with a TON of spam. There have been days where we've gotten over a 1,000 such comments.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-54168602327857583902013-04-29T15:24:44.579-04:002013-04-29T15:24:44.579-04:00Eric, I agree about Blade Runner I like that the ...Eric, I agree about <i>Blade Runner</i> I like that the version where he doesn't speak especially well because you're just taking it all in.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-798819488193569862013-04-29T15:24:03.071-04:002013-04-29T15:24:03.071-04:00GypsyTyger, Excellent list! I agree completely ab...GypsyTyger, Excellent list! I agree completely about Deliverance. It's such an understated opening, but it really works to draw you into the feel of the film and let you understand who the characters are.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-88370193065627234362013-04-29T13:38:18.538-04:002013-04-29T13:38:18.538-04:00Major League. It opens with the montage of the dec...Major League. It opens with the montage of the decline of Indians baseball playing out over the song then goes right into the meeting where Margaret Whitton hands out the list of has beens and never beens that she plans to invite to camp.That sets up the call to Tom Berringer. The call that will awaken a slumbering hero,destroy the ambitions of a tyrant and restore a city's tarnished image of itself.<br />GypsyTygerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-31153169545048444662013-04-29T12:37:25.684-04:002013-04-29T12:37:25.684-04:00Late to the party but the "book-end" ope...Late to the party but the "book-end" opening and closing of "The Searchers" always impresses me. <br /><br />The opening of the door, the camera stepping out to the vistas of Monaument Valley, the wistful tune. <br /><br />The ending? The same only in reverse. Walking back into the house, with Ethan Edwards alone on the porch - always the outsider - the door closes. The End.djskithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13497045723185560102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-67018294127077558392013-04-29T12:16:47.693-04:002013-04-29T12:16:47.693-04:00Raiders.
Star Wars.
Since the comment above about ...Raiders.<br />Star Wars.<br />Since the comment above about Tombstone (which is in my absolute fav movie list), I've been trying to remember the intro and can't. Guess I need to rewatch it. rlaWTXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09319344164726195144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-67520972848986611472013-04-29T10:23:12.031-04:002013-04-29T10:23:12.031-04:00Late to the party here. (Saw the question yesterd...Late to the party here. (Saw the question yesterday but couldn't respond.) My vote for the best opening is <i>Glory</i>, from the old "Tristar" credit through the end of the Battle of Antietam sequence. The re-enactors performed wonderfully depicting camp life, on the march and battle. Especially chilling was when Shaw and the Union soldiers approach a split-rail fence lined with Rebels, the 100 or so CSA re-enactors let loose a volley almost as one. (For a Civil War nut, it's impressive discipline for everyone to fire simultaneously.) <br /><br />The voiceover from Matthew Broderick as Shaw reading from some of Shaw's letters is effective, particularly ending with the quote from Emmerson.<br /><br />What really pulls the opening together is James Horner's stunning music, which includes voices from the Boys Choir of Harlem. BIG MOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10556263286375426353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-12107671879884417332013-04-29T09:54:52.615-04:002013-04-29T09:54:52.615-04:00Just remembered, the opening to Watchmen was prett...Just remembered, the opening to Watchmen was pretty awesome, I'm kind of torn about the rest of the thing though.Outlaw13https://www.blogger.com/profile/17232117096525959967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-31640313530926683332013-04-29T09:26:19.568-04:002013-04-29T09:26:19.568-04:00If anyone's reading this, the comment to which...If anyone's reading this, the comment to which Dave is referring was just more spam.<br /><br />[sigh] It sucks, but someone's gotta clean it up. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-81434067299728162162013-04-29T08:07:08.288-04:002013-04-29T08:07:08.288-04:00I know that the above comment will get deleted soo...I know that the above comment will get deleted soon, but I just have to say to assholes like that: Thanks for ruining the internet for all of us.Dave Olsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-37878942016254102582013-04-28T23:58:53.619-04:002013-04-28T23:58:53.619-04:00Damn Damn DAMN! While Rocky II is still the best,...Damn Damn DAMN! While Rocky II is still the best,how could I forget The Terminator- "That battle will be fought here,tonightRaiders of The Lost Ark,The Road Warrior and The Dark Knight, Which of course opens with the crooks wondering about the Joker,and the iconic shot of Heath Ledger,from behind,standing on the street corner holding the blue gym bag and getting ready to plunge Gotham City into terror and mayhem.<br />GypsyTygerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-66177246908646679512013-04-28T23:48:53.476-04:002013-04-28T23:48:53.476-04:00Blade Runner -- City-scapes bursting with flames, ...Blade Runner -- City-scapes bursting with flames, lightning and flying cars taking us to Leon's explosive Voight-Kampff test. Hell, yeah! All the more impressive being 12 years old and seeing it for the first time on a drive-in screen.EricPhttp://www.threedonia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-50794242225031716342013-04-28T23:29:24.158-04:002013-04-28T23:29:24.158-04:00Sharky's Machine opens with Burt making his wa...Sharky's Machine opens with Burt making his way through the railroad yard on his way to the meeting with the drug dealer,which turns into the shootout that goes wrong,getting him transfered to vice and setting up the story.First Blood begins with no backstory at all,just Sylvester Stallone hitch hiking up the road.<br />But the single best opening ever is the beginning of Rocky II. The previews ended,the house lights went down,and then with the voice over from the first film the big yellow letters roll across the screen,one digit at a time rather than just having the whole title pop up. Then the 14th round of the first fight comes up,with the announcer screaming "Balboa can't even get his gloves up to protect himself" as you watch Balboa take that terrible beating,then rally. Then it goes into the ambulance ride to the hospital and you're into the new movie. I saw Rocky II before I saw the original and within 10 minutes,without having watched the first story I was completely sympathetic to the character of Rocky Balboa,who I once posted on this site was the greatest movie hero of all time.<br />I didn't really mean to go on so long but once I started it just kind of unspooled. :) I've watched alot of movies.<br />GypsyTygerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-55242306855005581832013-04-28T23:27:47.226-04:002013-04-28T23:27:47.226-04:00^I think we found a winner. :-)^I think we found a winner. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-32635811376570846422013-04-28T23:13:11.849-04:002013-04-28T23:13:11.849-04:00I've always been struck by the opening to Deli...I've always been struck by the opening to Deliverance.As soon as the movie opens you're watching the crew ride down the road in the truck while they make small talk with each other. There's no buildup to the trip.The introduction to the characters occurs while the story is already in motion. I love the opening voiceover to The Crow.<br />The opening to Full Body Massage is great. It starts with the wind blowing back Mimi Rogers' hair as she drives home in the convertible and within 10 minutes she's examining the second best pair of breasts ever created in a three way mirror.I wasn't reading The Great Film Debates when # 28 was posted but she's my answer.In case you're wondering,the best pair were worn by Dolly Rebecca Parton in The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas,by the way.<br />continued Below<br />GypsyTygerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-9358659537497133732013-04-28T23:08:54.757-04:002013-04-28T23:08:54.757-04:00Jason -
Great calls on both Trek and Temple of D...Jason - <br /><br />Great calls on both <i>Trek</i> and <i>Temple of Doom</i>.<br /><br />Re: the former, Nicholas Meyer actually wanted to license Holst's <i>The Planets</i> but it cost too much money. <br /><br />Re: the latter, I love the opening of <i>Doom</i> and I wish more action-adventure movies would start off-kilter like that. (Though that's the kind of thing that only works in sequels where the characters are already known to us.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-30230891064297212942013-04-28T23:01:58.122-04:002013-04-28T23:01:58.122-04:00So many things come to mind.
Several people have m...So many things come to mind.<br />Several people have mentioned the opening to Star Wars. It is iconic and it still holds up all these years later.<br />The opening to Jaws is incredible. The moment the woman runs into the water you're internally screaming NOOOOOOOO. Then even though you know what's coming the tension is terrible. The fact that the shark isn't seen in that scene makes it even more terrible. I remember the first time I saw Night Of The Living Dead. The two people are in the cemetary as the person stumbles towards them. The woman is concerned but the man is laughing at what he thinks is a drunk and then BAM! It's a zombie and you're right into the story. The first time you see The Thing you wonder "Why are they shooting at that dog?" I love the opening to A Fistfull Of Dollars. Eastwood is completely nonplussed as the goons shoot at his mule's feet and it bucks him off.Then he walks back towards them,pausing briefly by the undertakers."Three coffins,old man." There's the opening to Big Jake,where Richard Boone rides up,briefly talks to the foreman,then kills him.<br />Continued below<br />GypsyTygerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-89083799647071310682013-04-28T22:12:42.559-04:002013-04-28T22:12:42.559-04:00Brn, I'm not familiar with The Sheepman.
Suck...Brn, I'm not familiar with <i>The Sheepman</i>.<br /><br /><i>Suckerpunch</i> had some good visuals, but what an awful movie.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-13864508506917178262013-04-28T22:10:53.948-04:002013-04-28T22:10:53.948-04:00Jason, That's probably the strongest opening o...Jason, That's probably the strongest opening of any of the films because it really pulls you right in and sets the tone. The other movies all seem to start slower.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.com