Curse

Xue Yi Liang · Sep 23, 2005, 03:12 PM // 15:12

The opening credits and closing credits of a film can be an artform unto themselves in the movies. Here are examples off the top of my head that I'll never forget:

Opening credits:

Once Upon a Time in the West - probably the best opening credits in move history IMO - beautiful exposition and perfect use of cinematography and sound. Just perfect.

Face Off - the opening credits can be an entire action movie with the rest of the film being the sequel (seriously!). John Woo was much influenced by Sergio Leone and it shows

Run Lola Run (Lola Rennt) - smashingly kinetic blend of animation and live action. Love it!

Fight Club - convincingly real CG electron microscopic view of neurons firing in the brain and a protracted pull back until emerging from a single pore on Edward Norton's forehead over a terrific soundtrack. The relevance of the scene becomes more evident with subsequent viewing.

Kiki's Delivery Service - I can't explain it, but when the credits start up as she's leaving home for the first time triggers a huge emotional swell for me. Miyazaki has a knack for hitting my emotional buttons when I least expect it. For that matter I can include: Spirited Away with that wonderful score, Porco Rosso for it's delightfully economic setup, Princess Mononoke for the seemless blend of beauty, horror, mystery and sadness and Laputa another blend of dissimilar emotions...

Closing credits:

Almost every Jackie Chan film - the outtakes keep everyone from leaving the theater. I was disappointed that Around the World in 80 Days didn't have them (but I can understand since it's a Disney movie and they don't want to lose that signature).

The Incredibles - just really terrific graphics. And the way the credits had this 3d angle was so simple I wondered why nobody thought of doing it that way before.

... oops I'm out of time for now. To be continued.....

Vhayr · Sep 23, 2005, 04:48 PM // 16:48

Can I add to this? I thought the opening credits for Kill Bill (Vol. 1) were simply amazing.

Edit - And before anyone says anything, I know that for the most part it is just text, but the song and the way everything is presented really set the mood of the movie for me.

Divinitys Creature · Sep 23, 2005, 04:54 PM // 16:54

The Matrix movies opening and closings are quite good.

Synthos · Sep 23, 2005, 05:05 PM // 17:05

I liked the closing of A Series of Unfortunate Events. It was quite a beautifull and strange animation sequence. I cant really think of any other really memorable ones right now.

Count Feanor · Sep 23, 2005, 05:24 PM // 17:24

I absolutely loved the way they did the opening credits for Napoleon Dynamite with the food. It was quite creative.

Xue Yi Liang · Sep 23, 2005, 05:45 PM // 17:45

I'll second that vote for Kill Bill vol 1.
In that same vein the opening music and credits of most Tarantino and Rodriguez films are great at setting the pace: Pulp Fiction, Reservior Dogs, Jackie Brown, From Dusk Till Dawn and Desperado to name a few.

For closing credits I'd like to add The Apostle with Robert Duvall. I don't want spoil it, but the events that happen over the credits were like the last piece of the puzzle to the film's theme. Up until that moment the story had already ended but the closing credits were more like an epilogue - and a quite effective one.

EchoSex · Sep 23, 2005, 06:40 PM // 18:40

BEST intros? Defently the Dawn of the Dead remake where they played Johnny Cash and showed the scenes of Chaos. SO cool. Also, Land of the Dead. Best outro? Again, The Dawn of the Dead outro - the credits switch between scenes from a camcorder of what happens to the charictors and the actual credits. Very well done.

Xue Yi Liang · Sep 23, 2005, 06:43 PM // 18:43

yeah - that Johnny Cash song really makes those Dawn of the Dead credits. Good call.

Aniewiel · Sep 23, 2005, 07:17 PM // 19:17

Opening AND Closing Credits:

Any "Pink Panther" movie starring Peter Sellers. Ah the glory days of Henry Mancini's soundtrack, original Pink Panther cartoons and Peter Sellers outtakes.

Xue Yi Liang · Sep 23, 2005, 07:35 PM // 19:35

The Pink Panther films! How could I forget?

Mistress Eyahl · Sep 23, 2005, 07:40 PM // 19:40

Best closing scene I can think of is 50 first dates. It's from the moment she looks out of the window.
What happens in it and the music score.. it just gets to me. It's not a soppy film but I gasped out loud and got tears in my eyes. Then I went off to download the music, Isreal Kamakawiwo'ole's version of Somewhere over the Rainbow.

..did I spell his name right?

Aniewiel · Sep 23, 2005, 07:42 PM // 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mistress Eyahl

Isreal Kamakawiwo'ole

..did I spell his name right?

Who'd know?

Darned Hawaiians.