MovieChat Forums > 8 Million Ways to Die (1986) Discussion > Anyone else love the opening sequence?

Anyone else love the opening sequence?

posted 13 years ago by mike_cable
9 replies | jump to latest

First, we have the Tri-Star opening and the PSO studio signature that comes over it, eventually cutting it off before it's finished and doing it's own thing.

Did PSO do that to all Tri-Star releases? It was the first time I had ever seen it.

Then we have that atypical 1980s synth score from James Newton Howard, accompanying the helicopter shot over the skyscrapers and eventual catch up to the police car on the freeway.

Makes for a great opening sequence, the rest of the film was a bit hit and miss.

[–] joshua_carpino 13 years ago

i love the opening(and the rest of the film in general).

[–] WarpedRecord 12 years ago

That opening sequence was positively astonishing, a perfect fusion of aerial camera work, urban landscapes and James Newton Howard's mesmerizing score.

And while the rest of the film was hit and miss, I thought it was more of the former than the latter.

[–] darlingnicky767 11 years ago

When I see on my cable guide that this film is going to be on, I will invariably watch the opening sequence and it brings back memories and chills. I bet I have seen the full film 16 times.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] asktheages 11 years ago

Other than the rather cheesy narration, it is indeed a pretty stunning shot.

The film as a whole is a mess, but just barely manages to squeeze past competency. It's certainly entertaining enough, yet one wishes Ashby was able to oversee the editing. As is, the pulpiness of the material still feels like an awkward fit for him.

I much prefer To Live and Die in L.A., for a similarly wild, sun drenched 80s cop flick.

[–] dbeane 11 years ago

I really liked the opening also.

And I agree about the hit-or-miss aspect; I also liked lots of the film.
Unfortunately, two of the misses - the snow cone scene and the warehouse standoff near the end - were pretty bad.

[–] Tabbycat (748) 5 months ago

The sno-cone scene was an improvised classic. A highlight that also gave Andy Garcia work for life.

[–] KutWrite (1220) 5 years ago

Yup, me too.

I posted just that part on YouTube.

As others have said, the narration is so-so, but the opening is artistic and gives a great sense of dread and anticipation. Modern synths are better, but this one in James Newton Howards' hands gives me chills.

There are some memorable scenes, but I didn't believe Scudder's instant deep love for the girl... or that anyone would love her. I did feel hot for Alex Paul's character & very sad for how she ended up. The scene of her looking out the back of the car was reminiscent of Helen Mirren's character at the end of "The Long Good Friday."

Any idea what route that helicopter took?

Seems to me it starts downtown near the Forum, then cuts over to the 101E, then the 5S.

[–] Tabbycat (748) 5 months ago

Of course.
But I’d love it more in stereo.

Where is the original stereo soundtrack?

Original posters and L.A. Times ads showed “Dolby Stereo in Selected Theaters” but it never happened. Time for James Newton Howard to loan out his stereo dubs for CD release as David Shire did for “Taking of Pelham 1-2-3.”