What sequence in a movie (any) do you find extremely good?

Wolfgang · Post by **Wolfgang** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 2:12 am

Any sequence from any movie...No particular length...What sequence do you guys find to be the epitome of filmmaking?

iamnothing · Post by **iamnothing** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 3:02 am

I don't know about the "epitome of filmmaking", but there are several moments in a number of movies that worked extremely well. Some of it is writing, some of it is cinematography, some of it just things that "feel right."

Like the locker room sequence in The Faculty. The use of shadow tentacles on Mary Beth rather than CG or practical tentacles worked extremely well because it showed the beast that was lurking inside this beautiful woman with a very simple effect that was actually better than it would have been using other effects.

The late-night puppet show in Fanny and Alexander.

The baby scene in Grosse Pointe Blank.

Marat/Sade

The crow's blood drop in 28 Days Later. Not so much because of the scene, but because it's one of the few movies that I've seen where everyone in the theatre took a collective breath and uttered "oh s***" at the same time.

There's a lot, but it seems that I have difficulty thinking about these things when I actually see a topic about them.

The_Brand_New_Tarantino · Mon Jan 26, 2004 9:16 am

the montage in Donnie Darko where the Sparkle Motion girls dance to Notorious by Duran Duran in slow motion and Donnie burns down Cunningham's house.

padawanNick · Post by **padawanNick** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:18 am

Well, I'm not saying this is "the epitome of filmmaking", but it is a whole lotta fun to watch over and over.

In "THE FIFTH ELEMENT" from the Diva's song to when the DJ signs off from his broadcast has to be one of my favorite movie sequences. Loads of action, comedy and drama all edited into a single fast paced sequence.

Have fun.

film fanatic · Post by **film fanatic** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 6:22 pm

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN: Omaha Beach

Point Taken?

TommyPollock · Post by **TommyPollock** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:28 pm

Speaking of Montages, the 'Secrets Montage' in Identity is good. Not for any of its own merit specially, but it just breaks the story into the two acts so well, and advances the story.

(By the way, if what the montage of secrets is is unclear, its the bit soon after everyone has gathered at the hotel, and the con is trying to escape, Larry is hiding the photo, Ed is popping the Pills, Rhodes has a bullet hole, etc.)

budgetguy · Post by **budgetguy** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:34 pm

the ending of star wars episode II when u realise Sidious is controlling both sides of the war. the music and the epic armies make the scene even better.

also in aliens when they aliens break into the med lab, and the cast goes from about a dozen to just 2 survivors in few minutes

duffman · Post by **duffman** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 8:01 pm

i have no particular favourite piece of film, as i enjoy films on many levels. But for me my epitome of film is Peter Jackson.

Going from LOW LOW LOW budget (bad taste), to meet the feebles, braindead, cuminating in the most accomplished piece of cinema in my 28 years... The Lord of the Rings... Now that is Classic..

JohnTravoltaisMyHero · Mon Jan 26, 2004 8:03 pm

Ocean's Eleven, the recruiting portion, and then torwards the end when they "reveal" how they got the money out of the casino. Really a slick movie overall.

Epsilon · Post by **Epsilon** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 8:12 pm

Only but a few of my favorite movie sequences:

The cyberdyne building sequence in Terminator 2.

The tree fighting sequence in Two Towers.

Van Pelt chase sequence in Jumanji.

Moonlight Serenade sequence in Pirates of the Caribbean.

And of course, like film fanatic, the Omaha Beach sequence in Saving Private Ryan.

Riggzy · Post by **Riggzy** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 9:36 pm

Yet again I like the beach sequence in Saving Private Ryan

El Brenty · Post by **El Brenty** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 9:41 pm

JohnTravoltaisMyHero wrote:Ocean's Eleven, the recruiting portion, and then torwards the end when they "reveal" how they got the money out of the casino. Really a slick movie overall.

Is that the recent re-make or the original classic?

I think any scene in a movie where they spill the beans on something that's going to happen, but don't tell the full story, and show this in such a way that the lead actor (Hero?) doesn't realise what's going to happen. I guess years ago at the cinema, we'd all be shouting out "Look out behind you", like the actors could hear, but seems people have become too integrated into film and television to participate in that way.

JohnTravoltaisMyHero · Mon Jan 26, 2004 10:58 pm

The new Ocean's Eleven, with Clooney, Pitt, Mac, Cheadle, Roberts, Garcia, Reiner, Damon. The "revealing" sequence is where they use a different camera angle on some shots from before and show how they were able to pull off their stunt and knock off the casino.

rockettRJP · Post by **rockettRJP** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 12:08 am

From a character/director driven standpoint

-The whole chapter in Pulp Fiction after the guy gets shot in the head in the back of the car and they have to deal with it
-The whole opening/ending sequences in Magnolia (but most of that movie was just one awesome long sequence)
-The ear-cutting scene from Reservoir Dogs
-The little 3-way collision from Snatch
-The whole Neo discovering hes the one at the end of The Matrix
-The ending voiceover/wrapup from 21 Grams
-The piano seqence towards the end in The Pianist
(Theres probably some more but those really made me go apeshit)

From a strictly action-oriented standpoint

-Gandalf and company storming down the hill in Two Towers
-Saving Private Ryan beach scene
-Lobby scene from The Matrix
-Crazy 88 massacre in KILL BILL!

Ornsack · Post by **Ornsack** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 2:08 am

Here are some movie moments that have provoked reaction, a rare occasion it may seem! Not the best films by far but still, reaction is what you want your movie to achieve!

Independance Day cities being destroyed - When CGI was still amazing us, mixed with the best model work ever!! I really couldn't get over what I was seeing at the time, still an amazing sequence. One thing after another, truely jaw dropping.

Jackass poo in the van - The scene where they try and take a dump in the store display toilet but he accidently goes too early and people including one of the cameramen throw up (we will never forget his oscar worthy throw-up shot as if it's from his own eyes!). So revolting, and I hardly opened my eyes, but the only time I've ever seen a whole audience react like that! Everyone in the packed cinema was laughing/whincing/expressing disgust. You just don't see that.

28 Days Later abandoned London scene - scary, amazing, inspiring... especially if you've ever been to London.

Jurrasic Park - When the T-Rex starts to walk out of his enclosure. Movie technology gone mad at the time! I was stunned when I saw that as a lil' kid.

Titanic, the bit we all waited for - Great bit of film making. Those who loved it would find it emotional. Those who hated it (Grant) would find it funny, the way bodies would fall and hit propellers and such. Something for everyone

But seriously, I thought it was a well constructed scene.

That's it really in my opinion, I count the days in which I find another jaw dropping scene. I long to see a trailer in which you just think "Wow.........". Hype these days is just cr**. Even with Lord of the Rings you think "That's a nice bit of CGI is that!". Grr.

Epsilon · Post by **Epsilon** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 3:29 am

I liked that Titanic scene too. Like where the guy takes his last drink of whiskey and falls an unforgiving drop.

I should have included Jurassic Park as well!

GLiO · Post by **GLiO** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 4:34 am

The Lobby Scene

I AM TEH WINNAR

pan-modo_pictures · Post by **pan-modo_pictures** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 4:52 am

In Jaws when Roy Schneider is chumming the water, then says "chum some of this s***" as the shark is emerging. That's one of my favourites.

The end of all films in the Lord of the rings trilogy were great, but Return of the king was just great, and really made you feel something

Although it is the sickest scene also, in pulp fiction, when bruce willis opens the door to the basement. I just said outload "slice that piece of s***"

The abandoned london scene in 28 days later, and also the scene when Jim goes crazy in the mansion in 28 days later, just because the music added so much.

iamnothing · Post by **iamnothing** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 5:22 am

Seeing Meet the Feebles on here reminded me of the ending Garden of Love sequence. Perfect with the "family show" setting combined with the carnage.

Titanic had some great shots, but the film itself showed that sometimes budget+proven film remake=$$$.

Dead Alive/whatever the real Aussie title is, but I'm too drunk to remember - meeting with the socialites.

Rocky Horror Picture Show - The movie that makes you say "It can't get any worse" and then it does.

Elizabeth - Opening

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka - Ghetto Olympics

Themovieman44 · Post by **Themovieman44** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 2:02 pm

I have to say:

The Hip Hop Montage in Requiem for a Dream as well as the Still cams on the actors, you can just feel their pain.

The Time Warp: Rocky Horror Picture Show

Omaha Beach: Saving Private Ryan as well as The Battle in Rumell

And the scene in the Lobby from the Matrix

DeadLogic · Post by **DeadLogic** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 4:13 pm

Well, for anyone here who has seen Band of Brothers, every time I watch the part where in episode 5, Winters runs across the field alone and runs over the embankment and it pans to show about 100 germans all hunkered down. A few seconds later, when all his troops reach the enbakment, there's this awesome pan along the embankment showing both the Americans rushing over the enbankment and opening fire, but it also shows the germans in the foreground running... I think it was all very nicely put together.

Another one good sequence was when in Black Hawk Down the part where the convoy gets it's first KIA, and the delta force guy takes up the 50. cal and starts to let lose, all to this very good music...

Of course, you'd have to see both of them to know what I'm talking about.

SgtPadrino · Post by **SgtPadrino** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 5:05 pm

The helicopter crash sequence in Black Hawk Down. The best CG effects you will ever see in a movie. Yes, that helicopter was CG. The insertion sequence was pretty intense too.

Themovieman44 · Post by **Themovieman44** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 5:45 pm

Yeah the Band of Brothers. That one was awesome. Winters got promoted for that which he really didnt want p*** me off

TommyPollock · Post by **TommyPollock** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 6:49 pm

Oh I forgot about the 28 days later scene. I loved the music in that! (It's called 'In The House- In A Heartbeat' for anyone who also wanted to get it).
Pretty much the last hour of Titanic is pretty emotional stuff, as many people have already said.

P.S. I hated the end of LOTR. It dragged on and on. If it had ended when everyone bowed down to the hobbits, the whole trilogy would have rested so much better in my mind. Remember kiddies, first and last impressions COUNT!

John Groshko · Post by **John Groshko** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 7:17 pm

In the trailer for the movie Troy; there is a lenghtly shot of a 1000+ warships that is incrediable powerful. When I saw the trailer in the theater, my spine tiggiled. Everything about that shot (including music) was perfect.

In movies,

-The gun battle in the rain from "Road to Perdition"
-The rentery sequence from "Apollo 13"
-The opening battle sequence from "Cold Moutain" (fawless)
-Final Battle sequence from "The Last Samurai" and "The Patriot"
-Opening battle sequence from "Enemy at the Gates"
-The inatial attack sequence on Peral Harbor, from "Peral Harbor"

That's all I can think of right now,