THE VERY BEST OPENING FILM SEQUENCES

And 3... 2... 1... Cue the projector, DVD, Blu-ray, stream, or VHS if you're feeling a little old-school 

We all have our favourite films, and we may have watched them tens of times, but what's important is to retrace why we love that particular flick. Perhaps you started watching a film halfway through and it kept hold of you till the end. However, what's usually the case is a film's either recommended to you or you like the look of the trailer. All this aside, a film has to draw you in and this done with an introduction that 'hits all the notes'.

So here are a few films that I found particularly mesmerising just by viewing the opening scene.

5) Blade (1998) - Blood Rave
Dir: Stephen Norrington

A confident young woman leads a try-hard to a secret rave club, of which he is obviously nervous about, but tries to stay cool. Once within the club, the young man then suddenly gets covered in a heavy sprinkle of blood and realises he is at the centre of a vampire 'blood bath'. As the coven prepares to feast on him, in steps Eric "Blade" Brooks played by Wesley Snipes. What happens next is an array of broken bones, putting silver in anatomical body regions and Blade absolutely tearing the resisting vampires apart, and all this happening with Public Domain - Operation Blade blaring in the background. Better love story than Twilight? It's a slick opening sequence, which sets-up arguably the greatest contemporary vampire film, ever.

4) Star Trek (2009) - The Future Begins
Dir: J.J. Abrams

J.J. Abrams' Star Trek begins in the 23rd century, with the Federation starship USS Kelvin, which is investigating a highly-unusual "lighting storm" in space. From this storm emerges a Romulan ship known as the Narada, which is enormous in size compared to the USS starship. The Narada then, without warning, fires upon the Kelvin and leaves the USS starship's Captain Robau no choice, but to negotiate a cease fire. Once on board the Narada, its Commander, Nero kills Robau after questioning him about "Ambassador Spock", who he has no knowledge about. The Kelvin's first officer, George Kirk orders all personnel to abandon ship, whilst he bravely pilots the Kelvin on a collision course with the Narada. As well as having characteristics of bravery, anger and trickery all in the opening sequence, this scene provides outstanding visual effects, which when first viewed will take your breath away.

3) Men In Black (1997) - The Dragonfly
Dir: Barry Sonnenfeld

Bit of a curve ball here, but Men In Black's (MIB) opening scene is funny and everything that is nostalgic. It is set on what looks to be a warm, calm night on a dark dessert highway (sly nod to The Eagles). A steady build-up score provided by Danny Elfman begins, which is assisted with the visual aid of an energetic dragonfly. Although MIB is about aliens, the fluttering Odonata insect provides a sense of alluring and mystifying escalation, which increases rapidly as the score gathers momentum.

The dragonfly takes one last flight into the moonlight and decides to dangerously weave between oncoming traffic, while all the time the viewer is wondering what the motive of this airborne maverick is. As the music climaxes, the dragonfly sees red and kamikazes itself into the windscreen of a truck, which is aptly ended with, "Goddamn bugs!"

What's interesting about this opening sequence is, as said before, it has nothing to do with the main plot of the film, but it shows how effective, A) correctly using a splash of confusion and B) thinking outside the box can be when luring in audiences.

2) Drive (2011) - The Getaway
Dir: Nicolas Winding Refn

An unnamed driver (Ryan Gosling) stares out of a Los Angeles apartment and gives instructions to a criminal of how he will facilitate only five minutes of his time for a robbery that will be perpetrated. Within those five minutes, the driver will provide a getaway service of the highest caliber. Cue the opening getaway scene.

This scene grabs the audience immediately with a constant, unruffled, Crokett's Theme-esque beat, and American neo-noir motif, all of which is spear-headed by a cool-headed driver who is under the clock. Once the robbery has taken place and the driver's time limit hasn't been breached, he begins to knit and twist between the labyrinth that is downtown LA, whilst perfecting the art of not raising suspicion by professionally, skillfully and uniquely avoiding police detection through listening to a police frequency radio channel.

The opening sequence is sharp and more importantly sterile all in one. This is important because it sets the tone for the remaining ride that the audience are about to be taken on. It's a film about pace and a lack of extraneous elements, which ultimately provides Drive's soul.

1) The Lion King (1994) - The Circle of Life
Dir: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

Let's end on a high shall we. Without a doubt, The Lion King provides not just the most awe-inspiring opening sequence, but the most feel good and nostalgic too. With the rising sun and the uniting of animals all heading to welcome the new future king of Pride Rock, it is, still to this day celebrated as being the greatest animated masterpiece by Disney or maybe even of all time. It provides an opening scene that, even with the advances in animated technology over the past twenty years, has still not been surpassed.

No matter what age, whether you've seen it countless times or are lucky enough to experience it first time as a wide-eyed child, it will pull at the emotional heartstrings in all the right places. Its beginning is hypnotic and will forever stand the test of time. The Lion King is an imperfect film that provides waves of brilliance. However, the opening scene in question - with its hard-hitting struck notes and carefully choreographed animals, which don't have a single flaw, slight hoof or even hairline out of place - well, that is perfect.