The new Star Trek with the battle scene and Kirk’s birth.
Watchmen was received just fine. The critics hated it because it was a comic book that actually tried to tackle serious issues. But it made a bundle at the box office.
I’m not sure if it counts as credits or opening scene, but the first images in the Australian western The Proposition are 19th century photographs of pioneer families with a little girl sweetly singing the hymn “There is Happy Land” in the background. The photographs start looking grimmer and grimmer (men holding guns, etc.) until you see photos of those same pioneers murdered and laid out in their beds, women and children included. Brr, creepy.
I’m sorry, I forgot you were there. You may go now.
Do you perhaps mean “Quantum of Solace”? IIRC, the movie just starts in the middle of the car chase. Casino Royale starts with the back-story of how James Bond gets 00 status.
I’m here,Huckleberry.
The opening scene to Scream actually was pretty terrifying.
The year is 1988. Animation is dead. Oh, sure, Disney is still cranking out stuff like Oliver & Company, and Saturday mornings are ruled by folks who make Hanna and Barbera look like Rembrandt, but the last great cartoons in the anarchic, Warner Brothers style have been in reruns for a generation.
Then we go in to a dark theater and watch this.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
In the first four minutes are flying knives, bulging eyes, dizzying perspectives, vacuums, ovens, and various threats to a bunny’s existence. Then the director yells “cut!” and walks onto the set. Totally brilliant.
Age quod agis.
Not bad ass, but in a similar vein, the start of Serenity goes over the back ground to the series and then the main characters in a pretty slick way, letting everyone who didn’t see the series appreciate what’s going on.
Bad ass? I’d like to add Mad Max for consideration. A magnificent car chase that would have done for the conclusion of other, lesser, movies.
ETA; D’oh, how could I forget…
Agreeed
Credat Iudaeus Apella, non ego.
Star Wars by far. Everything else is just arguing over 2nd place.
I don’t know if this has already been said, but the opening car chase from the The Transporter is pretty f-ing cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8XqwRc74bA
I also always liked the opening scene from Contact:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLQF-4uyD4Y
Very cool…
Huh-huh… huh-huh… He said “tackle.”
Iventus (sp?) stultorum, magister.
BigShooter: Yeah that Transporter opener was pretty bad ass I must admit.
I have no idea how I forgot this scene! I suck at life for forgetting it. 
I don’t know how well known it is, but I know the movie as Formula 51. IMDb has it as The 51st State, as does the YouTube clip.
It’s a crazy and hilarious movie. Go watch it, now!
Yeah, no kidding. I almost called the TV station during that episode because I thought something must be wrong.
Oh, yes. Gives me the willies watching it on the tiny screen; you can imagine how it affected me on the big screen.
Just what was that capsule he bit down on before the festivities started? I’m guessing amyl nitrate but what do I know.
I don’t think it was amyl nitrates. Apparently those are just inhaled.
I had always thought he was on LSD.