General Discussion : Best Opening Scenes?

[sixx]

I like films that get the ball rolling right from the very first minute. Can't stand it when a filmmaker beats around the bush for a few scenes before the storyline really begins. So I'm curious -- what are some your favorite opening scenes?

My vote would either have to go out to No Country for Old Men or Dog Day Afternoon, but Inglourious Basterds also comes to mind.

What does everyone else have to say?

[Kopenhaver]

Once Upon A Time In The West.

[nateb]

Boogie Nights

[zae]

Confessions opens with a 30 minute monologue. And it's awesome.

[mwgerb]

Once Upon A Time In The West.

This.

Also, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Touch of Evil, The Dark Knight, A Matter of Life and Death, and the opening scenes/montage of Up.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6taK92nFcY[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gne0Jjou1Yw[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OYBEquZ_j0[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSruSe_m8OI[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GroDErHIM_0[/youtube]

[TheDenizen]

Once Upon A Time In The West.

This was also my immediate thought upon reading the thread title.

Jack Elam catching a fly in the barrel of his gun and Woody Strode sipping water from the brim of his hat. For almost 10 minutes. Sweetness.

[ShogunRua]

Once Upon a Time in the West was indeed pretty awesome, but I'll go with Running out of Time.

Probably the most creative and amazing bank heist ever, to set the tone for the ridiculously cool, at times magical tone of the film.

[Xzlu]

My vote goes to Takashi Miike's Dead or Alive.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuVRi-6l7gg[/youtube]
(NSFW)

[ShogunRua]

I can't believe I forget this awesome beaut;

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_w4MV_LwMw[/youtube]