[Sundae]

I don't really rate films highly.
It's not my art form of choice.

What I value in a film opening is: NOISE.
Stun the audience, shut up the chatterers, let people take a slurp of drink or a crunch of popcorn and get it out of their system.
And hook people through the throat from the get-go.

Sadly, few producers have read my weighty thesis (which touches on issues such as cinema air-conditioning/ dry throats/ long films/ toilet breaks) and they try to build suspense with sneaky, creepy, shush starts. Leaving people like me all frowny and cross and not in the best mood to apprecaite a film.

Worst one ever - Gladiator.
Started SO quietly. I had a cough. Not a great idea on my part, but surely it's a film full of blood and guts and sand and shouts? Oh noes... I had to silently consume over 500ml of Diet Coke just to get through the opening without making a nuisance of myself. Meaning I was desperate about halfway through the film, much to the Evil Ex's disgust. Luckily, very little had happened in the time I was away. Killings and stuff. Plenty noisy then I'll tell you! Could've coughed as much as I wanted!

ANYWAY.

The bottom line is I can't think of a favourite film opening sequence that isn't simply a result of loving the film and watching it countless times on DVD. But I promise I will have a think and get back to you.