Movies with opening scenes better than the climax

[Kevin Roegele]

I noticed more people were raving about the opening fight scene in Spider-Man 3 (Harry attacking Peter) than the climactic royal rumble. Thinking back, there are a number of films which peak far too soon, and have the most exciting moment at the start, when it should be at the end. The Hollywood method is, "start with a bang, and build up to a climax," but too many flicks have a finale that doesn't match the early levels of excitement.



The World is Not Enough

Opening: A fantastic speed boat chase thru London, climaxing with an exploding air balloon ove the Millenium Dome!

Climax: A lame punch-up between a soggy Pierce Brosnan and Robert Carlyle.


X2

Opening: Nightcrawler invades the White House. Breathtaking, spectacular, still the greatest action scene in the X-Men series.

Climax: A lot of running around in a bunker. Also, Wolverine's fight with Deathstrike is shown far too early - it should be taking place as the place is collapsing to be truly climactic.


The Matrix Reloaded/Revolutions

Slightly different, but still; a rule of heroic fiction is that the hero must face ever-increasing challenges. For instance, Peter Parker fights Flash, then Bonesaw, then the Green Goblin.

In Reloaded, Neo fights a hundred or so Agent Smiths.

In the climax of Revolutions (and the whole trilogy), he fights ONE Smith.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Elektra - The first scene shows what Elektra should be, the rest is pure garbage.

 

[hammerhedd11]

http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272788

 

[Joker]

The Matrix Reloaded/Revolutions

Slightly different, but still; a rule of heroic fiction is that the hero must face ever-increasing challenges. For instance, Peter Parker fights Flash, then Bonesaw, then the Green Goblin.

In Reloaded, Neo fights a hundred or so Agent Smiths.

In the climax of Revolutions (and the whole trilogy), he fights ONE Smith.

but they acknowledge that...Smith has the oracles powers of premonition, and sees that it's that particular Smith who kills Neo, so he has no need to use the others.

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

28 Weeks Later

The opening with the infected attack on the cottage was intense as opposed to the sedated conclusion with shooting the dad.

 

[Secret_Riddle]

but they acknowledge that...Smith has the oracles powers of premonition, and sees that it's that particular Smith who kills Neo, so he has no need to use the others.

I dont see why people prefer the 100 smith vs neo fight to the climatic oracle smith fight anyway.

I thought Revolutions climax was brilliantly choreographed, and it had great cinematography, not to mention it was really emotionally charged.

 

[Golgo-13]

Blade 1, the Bloodbath scene. Best opening scene in ANY superhero movie, ever! And the coolest intro of a superhero..Blade standing there, motionlesss as vamps starting crapping themselves saying..."It's the Daywalker!"

 

[Showtime]

Blade's opening scene was definately well done.

 

[Mr. Socko]

Gotta disagree about Matrix Revolutions. I thought 9/10 of the movie sucked horribly. I hated the battles in Zion. But the one thing I did love, was the final fight between Oracle Smith and Neo. That was one bad-ass sick choreographed fight.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Die Another Day-The Hovercraft chase at the begining was one of the best action sequences in Bond history,the final sequence on the plane with that bad guy in that robo suit as Korea was getting cut in half was just lame

 

[Furious Styles]

There are a few Bond films that don't live up to their opening. Moonraker and TLD can be added to that list. Although I do believe TLD is Top 5, the finale is a major letdown compared to the great action found throughout the film, especially the beginning.

 

[FCEEVIPER]

Superman Returns.

Airplane catch at the beginning, then the rock moving thing at the end. :\

 

[cryptic name]

it's always a shame how boring that comes across on screen. but the concept is f**king amazing, he hurls a CONTINENT into space!!

 

[Fried Gold]

The problem with climax to the Matrix: Revolutions, is that all of the other Agent Smiths just stand around like grinning idiots.

 

[The Kid]

it's always a shame how boring that comes across on screen. but the concept is f**king amazing, he hurls a CONTINENT into space!!

Agreed. Shame too. The kid tossing the piano was more thrilling and epic than superman lifting stuff. I guess it seemed less amazing since he lifted a bunch of heavy junk before that. I'd have preferred he just turn back time... can't get much easier than that.

I'll say Indiana Jones and the Last crusade. The movie's good for only the first 20mins or so, then just becomes a joke.

 

[Fried Gold]

I'll say Indiana Jones and the Last crusade. The movie's good for only the first 20mins or so, then just becomes a joke.

ERRONEOUS

 

[Halcohol]

ERRONEOUS

Totally.

I can't believe you actually said that, Weyseed. Nothing has been more wrong in the history of mankind.

 

[The Kid]

Yeah? Compared to the end of Raiders and Doom, crusade's sucked.

I was highly dissapointed by that weak sauce from my fav director. All of spielberg's recent films have weak sauce endings actually now that I think about it.

 

[AssMan]

All of spielberg's recent films have weak sauce endings actually now that I think about it.

& Speilbergs most WTF ending is War Of The Worlds with how Robby survived that alien attack he ran directly into

 

[The Kid]

Yeah that movie is the shadow of a classic. Too bad it was rushed and ended up the half assed adaptation that it is.

 

[Natural Black]

Belly

 

[Sloth7d]

X:2.
That opening scene demonstrated how Nightcrawler could have been used but he wasn't. And the action in the rest of the movie is almost non existant.

 

[Sloth7d]

but they acknowledge that...Smith has the oracles powers of premonition, and sees that it's that particular Smith who kills Neo, so he has no need to use the others.

Plus, its apparent that Smith had gotten so strong that Neo couldn't even face one of him without struggling. Its apparent that the challenge increased since before Neo could handle 1000 of them without concern.

 

[ghost_x]

Talking of Bond films, I think we should very much include Casino Royale, a fantastic opening, including both the 007 kill and the crane chase sequence, to the climax of really nothing

 

[Furious Styles]

Talking of Bond films, I think we should very much include Casino Royale, a fantastic opening, including both the 007 kill and the crane chase sequence, to the climax of really nothing

Although I do see your point, Bond confronting Mr. White and uttering one of the most famous lines in movie history was pretty awesome!