Your favourite Movie and TV opening sequences.

[Gordy Lechance]

Sometimes the opening sequence of a movie or TV show stays with you long after the memories of the actual contents are over. Not surprising as it is meant to grab your attention.

Here we share our favourite opening sequences; one or two every few days to keep this thread fun and alive.

To start off:

The heartbreaking opening sequence to Terminator 2 Judgement Day. Nothing drives the message to make the world a better place for our children than the imagery of a burning playground juxtiposed to Brad Fidel's gentle yet soulful re-endtion to the Terminator Theme.

The opening theme to MacGyver. Randy Edelman's unapologetically idealistic and upbeat music, coupled with truly exciting action and gadgetary really makes that 1980's kid in you want to a hero too.

How about yours?

More to come later.

[Dilla]

I totally agree with you on the Terminator 2 opening. Really hard to match that.

Anyhoo:

Call me corny, but the Space Jam opening really stuck with me. Probably becuase Michael Jordan was the face of professional sports back then, and was basically viewed as every kid's basketball hero. Saw the movie in theaters three times.

Wanted to added NARC as well, while many dislike the handheld when used in movies, I think it did a good job of portraying the frantic chase that Jason Patric's character doing. And it was pretty gritty in terms of content.

This was my grandfather's favorite show back in the day, and I used to watch it with him. While I liked the show well enough, it was the theme song that stuck with me longer than any other scene there.

Also, the small, country town I grew up in (Washington, NC) fits the setting to a tee.

[Gordy Lechance]

Originally Posted by Dilla

Anyhoo:

Call me corny, but the Space Jam opening really stuck with me. Probably becuase Michael Jordan was the face of professional sports back then, and was basically viewed as every kid's basketball hero. Saw the movie in theaters three times.

Oh, I only saw it twice.

Good On Ya, Mate!!

[Vexx]

For me, I'm going all the way back to 1968 and the opening sequence of 2001: A Space Odyssey. You have to put your mind back in 1968 in a 70mm state of the art *LARGE* theatre (not the boxes of today). This opener just blew people's minds up it was so different from anything else they'd seen on the big screen up to that point. I think the next film to even come close to that was the very first Star Wars when it was released in 1977.

And one of my favorite openers to one of my favorite offbeat films of all time: Kelly's Heroes.

[Gordy Lechance]

Originally Posted by Vexx

For me, I'm going all the way back to 1968 and the opening sequence of 2001: A Space Odyssey. You have to put your mind back in 1968 in a 70mm state of the art *LARGE* theatre (not the boxes of today). This opener just blew people's minds up it was so different from anything else they'd seen on the big screen up to that point. I think the next film to even come close to that was the very first Star Wars when it was released in 1977.

Ah, 2001, along with The Bugs Bunny Show cultivated my love for classical music.

And oh sir, if you want to see a 70mm print of 2001 Space Odyssey, and have a chance to pop down to the city of Melbourne in Australia, look up the following website:

http://www.astor-theatre.com/

This theatre regularly screens 2001 along with a whole host of other classics.

Well worth a visit for the film-lover who comes to Melbourne.

[Vexx]

Whoa... there's still a full 70mm theatre in the world? Marked as a must-visit if I ever round down to Australia then.

edit: wow, this is a GREAT theatre with all of its classic feature runs.

[GuidoHunter_Toki]

A Clockwork Orange: In my opinion one of the most iconic, utterly gorgeous opening shots in the history of cinema (a shame I couldn't find a video of it to post). I love the distinctive interior design and the look of Alex and his gang. It's a straightforward tracking shot, starting on a close up of Alex's face, made-up and staring malevolently out at the audience, and pulls slowly back to reveal the gang, the bar, other customers and and a white-clad bouncer. It's simple, but it's still cinematic perfection.

Blue Velvet: This is one of the best in allegorical opening sequences. In this one sequence Lynch sets the tone for the entire film, an astonishing exploration of the darkside of everyday life.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: When I saw this movie for the first time this scene scared the living cripes out of me and is one of the reasons I consider this movie a horror masterpiece.

Ong-Bak: The music and camera movements make for a masterfully done opening sequence.

I also agree with Terminator 2. Some other honorable mentions I'll give are Saving Private Ryan, Se7en, An American Werewolf in london, Bladerunner, American Beauty, and American Psycho.

It seems I only did movies. Oh well, I'll post some of my favorite TV openings at another time.

[GreatTeacherKen]

My favorite is far sillier than the examples people have given so far, but I've always found the the first 2 minutes of Shoot Em Up to be highly amusing, and sets the tone for the rest of the movie quite well (hilariously over the top ).

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E7binKYegA]

[james0246]

How the heck do you do Youtube inserts?

Strong seconds for 2001 and Blue Velvet.

Anyway...

Television (in no real order):

Spoiler for Long...:

(couldn't find the actual intro...but this is the song. Probably the best instrumental opening of the 50s)
Green Acres (shitty quality, but due to copyright issues, seemingly the only version of the song on youtube)
Sesame Street (couldn't find the original, so here's one from when I was a kid...)
The Twilight Zone
Get Smart
Twin Peaks
Cheers (not from the first season, but still basically the same)
Hill Street Blues - couldn't find anything...
Star Trek [/I](1st three series (Original 66', Next Gen. 87' and DS9 93'))
X-files (there were hundreds of personalized intros, but I couldn't find the real one...yet)
The Prisoner (a mini-story all of its own, great theme and great story...)
Danger Man (both the British and American versions)
The Simpsons (since it is always changing, here is one of the newest ones)
All in the Family
Miami Vice
Dr. Who (the original 63 theme by Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire wa so effortlessly cool...)
Monty Python's Flying Circus (one of many different openings)

Films (not emphasizing music quite as much...also in random order):

Spoiler for Long...:

Touch of Evil
Dr. Strangelove
Belle de Jour (Up until the 5:30 mark; Viewer Descretion is advised...)
Manhattan
Se7en
Reservoir Dogs
Jaws (couldn't find the opening sequence)
The Shining
Le Samurai (couldn't find anything online)
Written in the Wind (couldn't find anything online)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (just the credits sequence...)
Brazil
The Third Man
High Noon
The Godfather
A Shot in the Dark
La Dolce Vita
From Russia With Love
Charade
Vertigo
Trainspotting
Bunny Lake Is Missing
Shaft
To Kill a Mockingbird
Raiders of the Lost Ark
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Once Upon A Time in the West
Halloween
Live and Let Die (actually, not just the song, but the entire openng is great...)
Lord of War

The Naked Gun series and movies probably deserve an honorable mention...

edit: finally know how to embed youtube videos...but now I am too tired from linking all the videos instead...sorry .

[-KarumA-]

Originally Posted by james0246

How the heck do you do Youtube inserts?
.

you use youtube tags and the numbers in a youtube link
example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdPWrAMXGGo
vdPWrAMXGGo goes into tags

(youtube)vdPWrAMXGGo(/youtube)

but beware sometimes it doesnt work right on forums, I sometimes hear no sound which means I will have to clean out all my cookies and not watch it here but on youtube itself

as for the movie, I loved it I was too scared to leave the house afterwards

[Vexx]

Quite a few of these are giving out the "embedding disabled by request" bullshit error message. Just fyi...

[Westlo]

*sees threads*
*thinks to myself I'm gonna rage if no MacGyver is in this thread after 10 posts*
*sees in OP post*

Good man!

[james0246]

^Using similar logic, here's one for the ages...

[Gordy Lechance]

Today...

Please, Mr Michael Bay, make a live action adaptation of this!!

Heartwarming relaxation defined...
Too bad Rob Morrow had to leave for a short-live movie career.

[Tsukase]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQBQlFZyZ-c

the theme song of the best movie i've ever seen!!!
The Goonies =]

[Gordy Lechance]

Today...

Hail Don Adams, up in Heaven. You will be missed.

Goodnight out there... whatever you are. Muhuhwahahahahaha!!

[Kusa-San]

This thread is for me Ok some of them that I really likes :

Spoiler:

Band of Brothers (one of the best tv series ) :

The Predenter :

Stargate SG1 :

Quantum Leap :

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance...enerique_music


Lois and Clark :

Magnum :

A-Team :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIRiF8WCak0

Walker Texas Ranger :

Happy Days

Starsky and Hutch

Dallas :

Dallaaaaaaaassss Daaaallaaaaas XDD

Arnold et Willy ! :

And there is many many other

[Narona]

Originally Posted by Gordy Lechance

The opening theme to MacGyver. Randy Edelman's unapologetically idealistic and upbeat music, coupled with truly exciting action and gadgetary really makes that 1980's kid in you want to a hero too.

How about yours?

My father loves this series

Anyways, here some I like

The Star Wars openings

So simple, and yet so awesome

The Corpse Bride

I love Danny Elfman music.

Forrest Gump

Titanic

Spoiler for And the ending scene as a bonus :3:

[youtube]tPlfbVQRBGc[youtube]

<3

O'Brother

I didn't find the opening, but here another scene :3

Ocean Eleven

Didn't find the opening on youtube =(

[Woopzilla]

Airwolf

I really liked the intro music to this.

And a cool guitar version of it.

[Gordy Lechance]

For those of us who pre-bought our tickets 3 weeks ago for today....

Transform and Roll Out!!