The 14 Best Opening Scenes In Sci-Fi Films

The “Daybreak of Man” sequence in “2001: A House Odyssey” begins, fittingly, in darkness. After the unnerving chaos of the film’s three-minute overture subsides, the movie kicks off with a shot that has since turn out to be one of the recognizable in cinema: dawn over Earth, set to Richard Strauss’ “Additionally sprach Zarathustra.” Over half a century later, it is easy to write down off this second as popular culture wallpaper — oh yeah, it is that bit from “2001” — but it surely actually does not deserve such indifference. In just some seconds of display screen time, Stanley Kubrick’s dawn introduces that dreadful feeling of cosmic surprise for which the movie is so famend.

“2001” does not let up from there, both. As Kubrick tells his self-contained story of the evolution of mankind, he makes use of no dialogue by any means, as a substitute counting on the energy of his cinematography, sound design, and rating. For the coup de grace, the sequence employs a match minimize that has since turn out to be iconic, because the apes’ first software soars by way of the air to turn out to be a satellite tv for pc in orbit over Earth.

It is also price mentioning that this scene was as groundbreaking as it’s highly effective. In keeping with a Vanity Fair characteristic on the making of “2001,” Kubrick used a then-experimental idea often known as entrance projection to reinforce his soundstage, having didn’t safe a location shoot in Africa. That is “Daybreak of Man” throughout, although — not simply charming, however technically flawless, too.