What Makes An Amazing Film Opening?

[@mikes5637]

Spoiler alert: The lava lamp is Georg Rockall-Scmidt. The other guy is an actor reading a script.

[@goofycker]

[@trentbardy2271]

@@goofycker Say it ain’t so 🤢

[@dalangilbert]

You may have added the lava lamp to the mise-en-scène as a joke, but now - whether you like it or not - it is a hallmark of your channel. It is iconic. Long after you are dead, and your videos remain timeless on the internet, historians and scholars will discuss the significance of the lava lamp. For posterity's sake, please do not remove the lava lamp.

[@fuzzy8593]

Don't you dare touch that lamp! I Love Lamp

[@Laotzu.Goldbug]

LÅÅMP

[@Skittenmeow]

🤖

[@lizardladder1118]

The lava lamp is a genius tool of editing. It gives continuity to the shot when you cut your line delivery. Of course, you know this, but it's such a clever idea that is lacking from many "jump-cut" videos.

[@EbonyPope]

I hate this jump cut trend so much. It's as if nobody can utter a coherent thought anymore without editing it.

[@elliebee6537]

I think the lava lamp is great! It provides a good atmosphere, and lighting.

[@thekweewee]

I dunno, it could be bigger

[@Matthew_R77]

Jeff The Theorist Same here

[@palasta]

Everything could be bigger.

[@zanjose9806]

I feel its also now a part of his style

[@LordVader1094]

MomoTheBellyDancer LIES AND SLANDER

[@BlackburnBigdragon]

The lava lamp is the best thing ever. It's mesmerizing. It makes listening to you like a meditation and very relaxing. I love it!

[@TheCGJeff]

The lava lamp is ominous, can be an iconic part of your channel. Adds some visual flair to the footage of yourself. I personally love it, and thought it was very deliberate. Quirky but with class

[@Nostalgianerd]

I think I've just found my favourite film centered channel.

[@solidsnake58]

The lava lamp is your signature! It really sets you apart. I'm also a fan of when you turn & cut to camera 2 for comedic effect.

[@GeorgRockallSchmidt]

I definitely need to use the second angle a bit more.

[@wilkinru]

Yep its your thing and must stay. I do look at it when your talking and it's kinda perfect for the insight your offering.

[@MUMSUniverse]

#Ilovelamp

[@snark567]

But it isn't even real lava.

[@GeeVanderplas]

I love the opening of Alien, first the pan across the planet, ominous music and the title slowly appearing, followed by the long tracking shot through the empty space ship corridors. Perfectly sets the mood.

[@girlspooptoo8567]

That shit is so great

[@icecreamisnice117]

The lava lamp sets you apart from the other film analysis channels and provides a calm, chilled atmosphere.

[@mattbrigidi]

i’m three years late but the lava lamp is iconic. i have been going back watching your videos

[@Rob6203]

The lava lamp is your thing mate, keep it! You're videos are awesome by the way, I have been binge watching when I had time. Keep up the good work!

[@FlynnMTaggart]

Rob6203 It's like his symbol.

[@kota86]

Thank you so much for giving a seizure-warning. You're literally the only person I've ever had do that, and it means so, so much to me.

[@Lawls]

Long love the lava lamp!!!

[@footofjuniper8212]

I dug the opening sequence of Contact. Saw it in a full theatre when it opened, the noise slowly fades out and you're deafened by how silent it is. No hiss, no ambient buzz, just dead silent. It was eerie, and it seemed to go on forever. Kind of blew my mind the first time I watched it.

[@thegoldencaulk2742]

I think the best part about the opening of Star Wars was the angle with which the Star Destroyer chasing the rebel ship is filmed. What I mean is, _the low angle implies dominance._

[@michaeldegginger7076]

I see your comments all over my favorite videos from RLM to Forgotten Weapons. Good on ya.

[@handsomebrick]

So it's like the scene in T2 where John Connor is on a moped, being pursued by a semi truck driven by the T-1000?

[@Paul91-]

"In fact I think this shot was so good. George Lucas hated it and fought against having it in the movie". Thank you Mr Plinkett and RedLetterMedia.

[@coopergreen7961]

Back then they did not have stuff like that

[@nicosmind3]

I wonder the percentage of upvotes cause they understand the reference, vs like the comment for its context

[@kobathedread]

The opening credits of Enter The Void is one the most incredible experiences I have ever witnessed in a cinema. BTW keep the lava lamp.

[@tolar9]

You're doing really compelling work on your channel, Georg, and you deserve a much higher subscriber count than you've got currently (10,069). Your conception, writing, production, and performing are all superlative. I can see that you're experimenting with genre (history, commentary, comedy) and style (documentary, informal dialogue, frenetic stream of consciousness social satire, etc), trying to find a comfortable niche and/or a wider audience. If it's of any help to you, I found you through your movie exposition--I was watching reviews/doco's on The Thing (the GOOD one!) and one or two of your videos appeared on the sidebar. While I'd hate to see you narrow the range of work you're producing, for what it's worth, I think you would increase your audience substantially by doing short reviews of (would-be) blockbusters and getting them posted as early as possible (before hacks like Stuckmann or Jahns) with the movie name in the video's title. I know you prefer to do the longer, deeper examinations of film production (and they're great, btw), but I think you should look to build your supporter base first, then sloooowly transition to more satisfying projects. Just a thought (and no doubt nothing you hadn't already considered yourself). Oh, and keep the lava lamp because it's already become iconic, like your tatty merkin.

[@GeorgRockallSchmidt]

What you said makes a lot of sense, and I appreciate you saying it. I try and shy away from direct movie reviews (what I was doing at the beginning was more akin to that), but I'm not saying I wouldn't do anything about a movie that's just coming out. I would just need to find an analytical reason to cover it in terms of what it's saying, how it fits into its genre, or in terms of what it means for the business, rather than just whether I like it or not. I will cover Alien Covenant when it's released, also Blade Runner 2049, The Mummy, and Dunkirk. Maybe more, but I'm not sure which releases yet. Thanks for your thoughts on this, I'm also glad someone likes my, *cough*, merkin.

[@richardh8811]

Huh, I was checking out info on The Thing when his videos appeared for me as well. Odd. Watched several since & also subbed, very interesting & well done imo.

[@tolar9]

Wow, one week later and you've jumped to 22,562 subs! Noice.

[@TMOR99]

We all know how youtube works. Amazing youtubers like you, Scaretheater, Rusty Cage and many more have barely any subs, but then Logan Paul and clickbait boxfort videos get millions of subs and views.

[@trueaddict8733]

Seumas im genuinely curious, but why is chris stuckmann a hack?

[@the_sixxness]

My favorite opening to any film is the opening to A L I E N. It says so much without saying anything. It shows us the layout of the ship and give the audience a sense of emptiness and overwhelming dread. All of this before the film"s characters are even introduced hammering home the feeling of isolation.

[@TheSpecterRanger]

I kinda like the lamp. It's something unique, and I do look at it quite often while listening to you. It might also be helpful for newer / occasional viewers to remember you by, if they've only seen your videos from the "recommended" section. It's almost like a little mascot that represents the channel.

[@ooloncolluphid7904]

I agree with your assessment of A New Hope, but my favorite part is between those that you mentioned, namely the chase. Not only does it obviously grab you with "Oh shit, we're in trouble," but the contrast between the Rebel Corvette and the Star Destroyer instantly spell out the relationship.

[@justcallmemarcus]

One of the best movie openings ever: John Carpenter's Halloween. The whole 'from the killer kid's perspective thing, through the eyes of the mask, the music, all of it sets up the psychological effect needed for a slasher flick brilliantly. Also, I came in very late, but I rather like the lava lamp.

[@PictureProductStudio]

It is a great opening, but there's also a genius title sequence, that sets the mood and the atmosphere even before that.

[@whitrulzes]

The fact that you went to the effort of having your lava lamp be the same unbroken take in your opening joke with the bottle is the kind of attention to detail I love.

[@shemp69]

I'm usually pretty stoned when I'm watching your vids. The lava lamp is nice to capture the gaze while your soothing voice reverberates through my noggin.

[@dougthedonkey1805]

Ok weedbrain

[@theSemiChrist]

@@dougthedonkey1805 this from a donkey

[@dougthedonkey1805]

@Sean Wilson bro donkeys are awesome

[@NOMAD-qp3dd]

🤣

[@jameskellogg2162]

Children Of Men will likely always have my favorite opening. it's an insanely looked over film

[@The_Isaiahnator]

Agreed, it's one of my favorites as well. What astonishes me about it is that it manages to achieve its epic scope while still being under two hours long. Most movies need over two hours of runtime to achieve the level of world-building and sense of history that this movie effortlessly achieves from just its opening.

[@HellCandyman]

My favorite opening is the aperture scene of Conan the Barbarian 1982, the phrase of Nietzsche next to the little drums and the the immortal phrase "between the time when the oceans drank Atlantis and the rise of the sons of Aryas there was an age undreamed of, and unto this. Conan, destined to wear the jeweled crown of Aquilona upon a troubled brow. It's I, his chronicler, who alone can tell thee of his saga. Let me tell you the days of high adventure". And then the strongest drums song meanwhile the steel sword was forged. When you saw that you know that will be an epic adventure.

[@GeorgRockallSchmidt]

That's a really good one, thanks. I always remember Conan working the Wheel Of Pain as the other kids died - sets it up really well.

[@ryanbarker5217]

always in these movies they rarely forge a sword, they pour into a mould. sure, it looks bad ass, but has nothing to do with reality, lol. just a nit. love the movie....

[@Football__Junkie]

My favorite too

[@CapitanJusticia]

That opening was bad ass! Just reading about it gave me goosebumps!

[@xz5685]

definitely keep the lava lamp. it makes your videos feel like an honest conversation with a super well spoken chap i've met at a friend's place or something. the ambience it provides is instrumental to the viewing experience for me and is one of the many things separating your content apart from all the other guys sitting at desks talking about films culture and art on youtube.

[@EveryDaySkinnyGuy]

I love your videos because you have thoughtful and thorough ideas, and I'm glad I found your channel. Keep up the good work, Georg

[@RadCineFilm]

The Lava Lamp is your signature "look". When I'm browsing through content I will intentionally look for it in the thumbnail because I like your film commentary so much. I wouldn't change it bro. It's part of your brand and adds a cool bit of production design to your set.

[@demongrenade2748]

I wonder if its frustrating to be seeking actual conversation about the video topic and the only thing anyone is talking about is the damn Lava Lamp....

[@kurtfranklin2680]

DemonGrenade274 It is

[@archibaldhaddock5474]

I agree.

[@georgebailey8179]

I wish he'd stop talking and let me concentrate on the lava lamp ;)

[@consonantsandvowels1]

Ok, but what about the lava lamp?

[@x3_2.0]

And yet, even you are talking about "you-know-what"

[@tychoazrephet3794]

One of my favorite openings is from Seven Psychopaths, starting us off cold with two gangsters discussing their line of work in public, something actual made criminals would never do but its a classic set up we all love. As they chat to each other waiting to perform their hit, you're given echoes of something like Goodfellas, or Pulp Fiction. An intro with an element of grit, quiet tension, dangerous men doing casual things while the audience all the while is waiting with baited breath for what's about to happen. Only, as by the nature of this cliché, most viewers figure they'll get at least a couple minutes of this conversation to establish the tone of the film before any action happens. Then the Jack of Diamonds Killer walks up behind them and shoots them both in the back of the head, carefully flicking his signature cards onto their corpses, then walking away. Its a brilliant moment of violence that catches you off guard and shatters the tension, and it is this moment that defines the nature of the film, that of an absurdist take on the crime thriller and an atypical character driven zany narrative. One of my favorite comedy action films of all time, with an intro perfectly tailored to subvert your expectations and let you know to stay on your toes over the course of the movie.

[@justin188541]

Came for the Yor, stayed for the lava lamp!

[@NeoSef]

Well he IS the man.

[@MichaelGerrard]

I like the lava lamp. Once Upon a Time in the West has the greatest opening, it was great you included it. Another opening I like is Alien! How we are taken around the quiet ship waiting for the crew to wake, a masterpiece.

[@DonTheMovieReviewer]

The opening to Stanley Kubrick's The Shining stands the test of time.

[@rawbebaba]

I'm not sure why I like this channel. I'm partly convinced it's the accent and the lava lamp. I'm not even super into movies, or like, critiquing them, but he definitely knows his shit and is pretty damn informative.

[@teehubruum6844]

I fucking love your style of video. It's simple and easily to just relax and listen to. The lava lamp is a iconic part of these videos for me now :)

[@911jdc]

Although not one of my favorite movies, I've always loved the opening sequence to Apocalypse Now. The elemental contrasts between the green jungle and the searing fire... the helicopter crossovers... the fades into Martin Sheen's character's spiraling, and all blended with The Doors' "The End." Most impressive to me as an amateur movie enthusiast, is it being shot completely with practical effects and seemingly (and necessarily) all in one take.

[@WMICx]

I like the lava lamp because it reminds me of your practical vs cgi video. nothing wrong with this but other channels like nerdwriter use a lot of editing to keep your eyes on the screen, where as your videos I find my eyes drawn to the lava lamp waiting to see if the globs will ever combine into one big glob lol.

[@Heretbg]

Just found your channel and I wanted to say I not only like your content, but I also love the atmosphere in these videos. Cheers, bro!

[@Wess212]

All hail Lava lamp, all obey lava lamp!

[@Rstraub12]

I think the lava lamp is perfect; I just commented before finishing the vid, and almost mentioned it after seeing another comment about it. I wouldn't say it's distracting, I think it's soothing and relaxing which complements the tone of your videos in a good way. As you mentioned, it's something to look at besides you talking, and again I mean that in a good way.

[@crozraven]

Casino Royale opening scene totally sets up the mood and what kind of the new james bond is in the movie.

[@mrpoopybutthole1041]

Like okay, I swear I'm listening but that lava lamp kinda steals the show. That says a lot considering this is a super captivating channel. Cheers from a big fan

[@iidirectxii7545]

Casino Royale has one of my favourite openings. Straight away you know this is a different type of Bond.

[@Paul91-]

Just the fact that it opens without the traditional gunbarrel and has a different feel to it but at the same time evoking that same classic retro 60s Bond feel with the use of black and white making it look like it was shot in the 60s really does make it feel like it is the first Ian Fleming Bond novel 100% translated to screen.

[@conalcochranh3274]

@@Paul91- Daniel Craig makes a poor 007.

[@emilymcplugger]

Include within that the titles that introduce Bond also, which are for me the best Bond titles

[@Malgon3DR]

Just stumbled across this channel with The Thing 2011 Practical Effects video and have checked out a few other videos and have found them quite enjoyable, so you have a new subscriber! As for film openings that immediately immerse you, the two that spring to mind are Full Metal Jacket, with Gny. Sgt. Hartman inducting the new recruits at boot camp with a barrage of insults, and the The Two Towers with its smooth shots over the mountain ranges before taking you back to the confrontation between Gandalf and the Balrog. There's so many good ones, but these always stuck out to me.

[@TheSigurdsson]

When I see that lava lamp, I imagine the globs of lava are actually egg yokes, floating in a tiny ocean of sprite. The idea of floaty sprite-eggs amuses me, thus I'd quite like it to stay.

[@Satorotas89]

I’ve exhausted all your vids and am rewatching and this is a particular highlight Georg

[@TheXeldrak]

The Lava lamp has to stay! You on the other side.....

[@TheXeldrak]

Joke aside - great channel, great content. You should have more subs.

[@TheNeanderthal051]

I love the openings to Road to Perdition, The Dark Knight, The Prestige, and Reservoir Dogs. Also, even though it's technically not an opening scene, I love the dueling banjos scene in Deliverance. I think it does a great job of establishing the calm before the storm idea you mentioned. And I just found your videos today, but so far I'm liking the lava lamp. I don't mind if it stays.

[@pieroog]

"The Thing" / "Predator" got some cool-ass openings. However, my favorite opening CREDITs are from the "Universal Soldier" when JCVD and Dolph are presented just a few seconds before zipping their body-bags up. BTW, THE lava lamp must stay.

[@CapitanJusticia]

The Thing and Predator have basically the same ending!

[@Iconoplastt]

There Will Be Blood gave you the whole character's backstory up front with no talking and tension that was unreal, really set the ton. Unfortunately at the time when I was watching that great intro in theaters at opening a geriatric was taking about a minute to sit down.

[@tracegreathouse3295]

As far as movie openings go... you could have mentioned John Travolta's iconic sidewalk strut from Saturday Night Fever. That opening set up everything for the rest of the film.

[@silvergamedog8168]

My fave film opening? Persona. Hands down. So glad I found your channel.

[@danobrian4011]

The lava lamp is really cool. You should use a different lamp in each video or some type of lighting feature and not even mention it

[@Luk4zguy97]

I have grown quite attached to your soothing voice paired with the hypnotic visual of that gorgeous lamp . I would really hate to see it go.

[@starcobra123]

I quite like the opening for the Final Cut of Blade Runner The music and the scenery greatly help I also quite like the opening of Ghost in the Shell (the original one)

[@mebradhen]

starcobra123 True in every way true

[@DioHard]

Love the lava lamp. Love your videos. Also love the openings from Watchmen and from Sucker Punch, which are basically music videos.

[@jonbbaca5580]

Dio Hard yeah, watchmen is good. First the wicked fist fight, then the very informative Montage set to Bob Dylan.

[@ThreadBomb]

Scott Pilgrim

[@titanayrum]

Just discovered your Channel because of the Fear and Desire video. Great find, congrats on your work mate! Cheers from Brazil

[@Spark877]

I vote for the Lama lamp to stay forever.

[@videokilledaradiosta]

The Lava Lamp is spot on, also thank you for saving me the time and hassle of making my own KZbin channel

[@justin188541]

I grew up loving the Pink Panther openings, as well as a lot of other 60's era films that opened with animation. Even I Dream of Jeanie cones to mind for that reason.

[@Dreadpirate46]

Great video, Georg! I happened across your videos after watching your Terminator one and you've got a subscriber out of me. It's funny that you mentioned Yor, Hunter from the Future because that's one of my favorite low budget movies. It's so campy and goofy, but it has a certain charm and it also benefits me seeing it as a kid so there's a small bit of nostalgia. And seriously, that song "Yor's World" rocks - it's completely 80's rock. I'm not really sure what my favorite movie opening is. One I really like is Ronin - it's short, somber, but also tense and it helps to give you a glimpse into the lonely life of people who have no place in the world anymore through the music and dead of night empty streets of France. The opening explanation of who Ronin are is a bit unnecessary (chances are anyone watching already know) but I can overlook it. And of course it's too late, but I love the lava lamp. I'm glad to see you kept it.

[@sackyhack]

Lava lamp is love. Lava lamp is life!

[@asdfghjkl52472]

Criminally Underrated channel

[@hossbonaventure_ceo6693]

I find Watchmen's open credits scene one of the best opening scenes of all time,cheers!

[@GeorgRockallSchmidt]

You're right, it is!

[@StarDustSid]

Agreed. Blade Runner's opening is also excellent.(the voight kampff test and the shooting, not the preamble.)

[@Freebytes]

I cannot believe that after coming here and posting this exact same comment, I found two other people mention Watchmen. I also think Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Gone Girl, and Pulp Fiction had amazing openings.

[@crozraven]

landon rodriguez yep, the opening scenes covered half of story on the comics.

[@thegoron9915]

I agree

[@Hellware]

Hey Georg I recently found your channel and now I'm binging all your videos. Really really love them! Lava lamp included!

[@toolongforyoutoread6]

The opening of 2001: A Space Odyssey is incredible.

[@chriswilson3126]

Keep the lava lamp, through set re-design and everything. Looks cool mate, gives the vids a nice tone and a splash of colour.

[@oliverdent3163]

I've always loved the opening of Drive, but my all time favourite opening has to be John Carpenter's The Thing.

[@joesycamore2899]

Two of the best openings I have seen in recent years have been totally opposite. In Passengers, the much derided Science Fiction Romance, the music starts then you see the Starship Avalon from a distance, the meteor shower and the building music, then inside of the ship with the sleeping passengers and finally the meteor strike causing the one pod to activate all accompanied by a building crescendo that finally subsides. In Red Sparrow, you get the opposing shots of the young ballerina beginning her day and the CIA agent receiving his instructions. As the music builds you see her preparing for her dance and him preparing to meet his contact in Gorky Park. The shots cut back and forth from the Ballet to the Park as the dance builds up and the CIA agent is interrupted by the secret police. She leaps into centre stage as he runs through the streets of Moscow the scene ends as he throws himself down onto his knees in the grounds of the American Embassy and she, at the same time is brought to her knees by a dancer who deliberately breaks her leg, bringing her career to an end. Cue the title and the film starts. The opening scene of Red Sparrow is ten and a half minutes long.

[@crazychameleon123]

2001's beginning is brilliant as is Apocalypse Now's

[@dermotmcdermott6890]

Although there is something to be said for a simple and elegant set (Charlie Rose) I think the lamp adds some movement and color while not being too distracting. Great content love the channel!

[@Scrooge042]

Inglourious Basterds is one of the best openings ever imo, Tarantino at his best. Amazing ramping up of tension through masterfully written dialogue.

[@mrmeerkat1096]

I agree. You can tell Tarantino was inspired by Sergio Leones spaghetti westerns in this movie.

[@MikeNepo]

People can diss Rogue One's Second Act all they want, but that intro was great. Beautiful panning shots. Gritty, dark and atmospheric. The Death Troopers are actually quite menacing. Krennic is surprisingly funny for a villain and Jyn's initial character motivations are explained. Cassian's bit was quite cool as well. An intergalactic marketplace, cool. Actual physical signs of Imperial oppression, cool. A rebel shooting an innocent person, WHAAA? Almost wish that was how they opened the movie, but I still love it. Way better than the rehash of TFA.

[@Jesse__H]

I think the lava lamp is important! Your set is pitch black, there are long scenes of just you talking, no cuts to screenshots or clips, no movement from you at all, in fact you're perfectly still. None of this is inherently problematic, but if the lava lamp weren't there, and it was just you, motionless in the darkness, talking directly at me, I would feel the need, after a moment, to look away. Or I would wish for a cut to a clip. Or at worst, I might stop watching. The lava lamp, perhaps surprisingly, relieves that impulse entirely. Now, it's not the lamp specifically that I like, It's the fact that there's something at all I can watch while listening to you, to avoid constantly staring right at you. If, for instance, you replaced the lamp with an occasionally changing image, say, of a movie poster or screenshot or headshot related to your current topic, that'd work just as well, for me. Or if you cut away to full screen clips or images more frequently, or even if the set itself had more incidental things I could rest my eyes upon... all of these would probably perform the same function as the lamp, and equally well. But for now, if you make no other changes, the lava lamp should stay! (I'm on mobile and can't figure out how to vote, so add one to the 'im for it' pile for me!) Thanks, loving the content.

[@profharveyherrera]

I suddenly feel the urge to get myself a lava lamp. New subscriber here, love the content and the way you present it.

[@jeremylatta9038]

I'm surprised he didn't talk about the James Bond films when talking about the Fistful of Dollars opening

[@hanabolik]

Speaking of musically driven openings, one of my favorite films Scott Pilgrim vs. The World has a really entertaining one. Starting with an 8-bit version of the Universal Studios theme which is inspired by 80s video game culture (which is a prevalent theme in the film), the opening hits you with loud, fun indie music played by the fictional band Sex Bob-Omb with the credits overlaying the screen. That opening won me over.

[@zacharyroberts2809]

You should have more subs

[@welpfuish]

Zachary Roberts he will eventually !

[@thekweewee]

Yep I'm a new one today :)

[@DrunkJackal]

I believe he was under 10,000 when I subscribed today, but it looks like he's earned several hundred over that at the time of this comment, so they're rolling in pretty fast.

[@BooshmanLee]

He was under 6000 when I subbed before the weekend. Growing quickly as of late.

[@mistman1977]

He was on 6k on Thursday.....11k today. Well deserved.

[@itsguncledave]

I like the lamp. Also your insights on film. Keep up the great work. And the lamp.

[@chimaerica1613]

The Departed has a great opening.

[@angledcoathanger]

Loved the intro to Soylent Green and how it bookended at the end with the cropped shot of the hand.

[@PunksterOS]

That's not a Lava Lamp, it is a jar of sentient pickled eggs.

[@suddenkancho4968]

Sentient ones have _always_ been orange. Duuh.

[@mantistoboggan5171]

ssssssshhhhhhhhhh! the club clearly specified we're not to speak of the eggs outside the club.

[@NekoBoyOfficial]

I love the lava lamp, it adds dimension to the scene. It's even become iconic to me.

[@Srirachatabasco]

The intro in La La Land

[@stefankarlsson1835]

I know the poll is closed but... KEEP THE LAVA LAMP, KEEP THE LAVA LAMP :) I think you are a genius and as many already acknowledge you present a calm, proffessional, serious, amazing analyses. Also, what is the idea with the background music which one barely can make out?

[@SharewareWizard]

Keep the lamp, lose the shirt. *wink*

[@WMICx]

lmao only on youtube

[@Baggydawg1]

I think we can safely ascertain that the lava lamp was not voted off

[@BetweenTheLyons]

If I had to pick my favorite opening, Lion King wins BY FAR, after that, Jurassic Park, Speed Racer losing to his dead brother's time, usually if a movie has a good opening then it's pretty telling that the rest of the movie will be good.

[@jonbbaca5580]

TheSonicNiGHT ditto on Jurassic Park

[@8BitMachine]

I have three favourite film openings; Shaun of the Dead (it sets up so much, has it's own style and is quite comical with a goofy soundtrack), Alien (slow, tense and dreadful, much like the film) and Swiss Army Man (a slow build up to a man using a farting corpse as a jet ski, brilliant). Also, I love the set-up; it's simple and pleasant yet not overly distracting from what you are saying - of which is very enjoyable to listen to. I'm always anticipating a new video, no matter what you talk about.

[@stannisthemannis8694]

pulp fiction has one of the best openings

[@OoziHobo]

I just found your channel, and I like the lava lamp! I thought it was a simple way to put a mark on your videos without much effort, and it made me a little jealous you thought of it. Keep it!

[@gwenharper3210]

please keep the lava lamp. It is very soothing to watch, and it has made me watch your videos longer than i usually watch any youtube video

[@Reshyrah]

One of my favorite movie openings is from Back to the Future, immediately the film introduces its main plot device, (time) gives away a spoiler (one of the clocks has a figure hanging from it in the same manner Doc Brown would later) and shows us how it all started with Marty's skateboard hitting the plutonium crate. Very subtle but very effective. Second favorite is the opening to Beetlejuice as it builds up both tension and atmosphere in the first minute of the movie with an impressively​detailed town model. Long live the 80s!

[@FronkZappa]

I can get why some people might not like it, but the intro to Mulholland Drive might be one of my favourite film openings of all time, both in how in the context of the overall film it explains the main character Diane and her background of her Hollywood dream and in how it cleverly but subtly alludes to the falsity of the narrative that proceeds the opening, with both aspects becoming more apparent as the film progresses

[@tedcrilly1]

It's funny you mention you're doing Die Hard next, the opening of Die Hard with a vengeance is one of my favourites. It sets the pace for the film brilliantly.

[@masonwelsh9718]

"He said it was one of the worst openings he'd ever seen... I like it." This ethos will keep me watching.

[@anarchodolly]

A few that don't seem to have been mentioned: Trainspotting - an absolutely iconic opening monologue, with "Lust For Life" setting the pace and tone perfectly; Land And Freedom - sets up the framing device in a very spare and economical, yet emotionally impactful way, seguing nicely from David's grand-daughter leafing through his old papers and pamphlets to the archive footage of the Spanish Revolution and the fantastic strains of "A Las Barricadas", with the title cards explaining the political context fitting neatly into the film screening at the 1936 meeting where David decides to go to Spain - classic Ken Loach really: unfussy yet artful; finally, Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas - the slightly off-kilter rendition of "Favourite Things", the archive footage of the 60s counterculture and the blood spilling over the Samuel Johnson quote, followed by that swipe cut and the Great Red Shark whipping past and one of the greatest opening lines in either literature or cinema: "We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold...."