The Departed's title sequence doesn't kick on until 30-ish minutes into the film, after Act 1 wraps up and the characters and the web they have to untangle gets established. With a montage showing the mob's boy making detective and the undercover agent beginning a jail sentence to infiltrate the mob, Dropkick Murphys' iconic opening to Shipping Up to Boston suddenly kicks on and the title sequence begins, hitting the audience like a truck and reminding them that the ride has only just begun. It's my favourite moment in a film full of favourite moments and a perfect way for the film to transition to the meat and potatoes of Act 2.
I loved The Cabin In The Woods title card. Making the actual title of the movie a jump scare, in the middle of a mundane conversation between two employees, was genius.
Everything, Everywhere, All At Once was a great example of a late title card. Establishing characters, motivations, conflict and settings before the title card comes in (i think) in the first 15-20 minutes.
I’ve always liked title cards that show up something like 5 to 10 minutes into the movie. Examples: A Quiet Place, The Lion King, Avengers Endgame, James Bond flicks, etc
I really love how the recent movie "Fresh" utilises its title card. The first twenty minutes or so set up the story as a typical romantic dramedy, but once that title card pops up, things take a turn for the freaky! 😱
I'm surprised The Departed wasn't mentioned in this video. Its title sequence doesn't kick on until 30-ish minutes into the film, after Act 1 wraps up and the characters and the web they have to untangle gets established. With a montage showing the mob's boy making detective and the undercover agent beginning a jail sentence to infiltrate the mob, Dropkick Murphys' iconic opening to Shipping Up to Boston suddenly kicks on and the title sequence begins, hitting the audience like a truck and reminding them that the ride has only just begun. I've never seen a better use of a mid-film title card than The Departed's use of one to transition to the meat and potatoes of Act 2, I hope it gets a mention in Part 2 of this essay.
Excellent point...here is how I saw it...they introduce all the characters a d then title card says "The Departed".....spoiler..........................................basically introducing who all dies.
I don’t know how long it takes but the delayed opening credits for Safdie’s Good Time is fantastic. Super good at showing us the characters and tone. I get goose bumps every time
One of my favorites late title card sequences actually in the show Good Omens. It's halfway through the season, so we've been used to the 2-3 minute prologue/flashback and then the title card and theme starting. This one is of flashbacks of the relationship between the leads growing over the centuries. The flashbacks finally catch up to the present and then suddenly, what feels out of nowhere, the title sequence begins, and you realize you're halfway through the episode. It's so great to see because you forget the title sequence is supposed to happen, you forget that this is the prologue. And you couldn't have the title card anytime before the prologue since its not as connected to the main story, and it would take away the impact. Having the title card there makes you realize how important these characters' relationship is. We already saw how they met and how they are now, but their journey is also significant to the story. Yes it didn't technically impact the rest of the episode, but impacts the entire show itself, giving the audience understanding as to how those two are interact with each other in the rest of the world due to their long, drawn out history. It puts many things into perspective
As someone obsessed about title design in movies I am genuinely excited about the follow-up video. Title cards in Mandy are some of the most creative assets of this film immediately establishing that you're not watching the usual stuff, even though genre savvy people would probably guess from the main titles, too. :)
The tv show version of FARGO has had some amazing title drops in its episodes that feel perfectly aligned with what is happening in their world at that time. It’s so deliberate, so impactful, and is entirely cinematic, despite being a series.
Thank you for making this video, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I'm currently sick, and it is such a comfort to consume content that profoundly tickles all my senses, in a good way. It's not a late title card, but I am fascinated by Taylor Sheridan's choice in "Wind River" to add an important message, a kind of -based on a real- story text at the end of his movie. After seeing a fictional and beautifully raw story, to have real facts about the story I just saw, slapped at the end, interests me. Also, I'm biased on anything by Taylor Sheridan, him and Denis Villeneuve create my favourite cinematic worlds.
I really like your "the day that X died/was born" series but I do love it so when you make these type of vids just based around a concept you find interesting, it's far rarer content.
This is the balance I'm trying to strike right now. Having a hard time getting eyeballs on non Day __ Died/Born vids, but I'll keep plugging away because I love talking about whatever I find interesting.
A video game example, but Nier Automata's 3rd playthrough's late title card nearly an hour and half of compleatly uprooting the status quo of the entire game (and prior 2 playthroughs), having the most emotional moment of the game so far and finally landing on a new element previously unmentioned up to that point, still leaves me breathless to this day. I'm trying to be vague about it, but anyone who's played the game this far knows what I'm talking about.
@moo, i totally forgot about instances when video games do this as well and so because you got me thinking about it, what immediately comes to mind is the whole railcar ride at the beginning of the original Half-Life game that has credits appear onscreen as you travel also Resident Evil 4 comes to mind as well because the intro appears after a tense and thrilling introductory action sequence among yourself and the hostile villagers, only for eventually the town church bell to ring and everyone is called off from hunting you, leaving Leon standing there as he says "Where's everyone going? Bingo?" and then the title of the game appears, it's perfect there are probably a bunch of other interesting video game examples I could think of but these are what immediately came to mind, I haven't played Nier Automata but I'm certainly aware of how much that game is critically acclaimed for its presentation and style, I should maybe try to pick it up if I can find a copy somewhere
The Silence of the Lambs had an incredible opening sequence that completely drew you in with mystery and visceral fear right from the get go. Starling running on the course, watched by an unknown man. 🧑🍳💋
This one is specifically a sequel thing, but I like the opening sequences that are designed to return you to a familiar world and characters, reorient you in that world, so that by the time the title card appears, the movie can hit the ground running. It feels different from establishing a world, because it's not so much designed to teach the viewer new things, but more remind you about the tone and feel of the series. My favourite of this kind is The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, which drifts over mountains (perfect mood setting) before pushing into a scene from the previous film, then takes a sharp detour into new territory.
Hehe, well done with the intro placement. I also thought the late titles are cool, this analysis put the "coolness" into words. Great video as always Elk!
I remember these two episodes from Legion and Good Omens where the opening credits came in the middle of the episode, splitting it into two halves that I really liked. I wish more shows were flexible with where they put their titles like that, especially now with streaming where many people will just skip opening title sequences
My favorite title sequences are ones by The Safdie Brothers, they always put long and interesting fast paced montages/sequences over them backed by some really good music. Another good example of great title cards is in Donald Glover's show atlanta. The title cards are always built somewhere within the world and it's just really interesting to see where they place them each episode.
Ive loved late title cards ever since i first saw the fellowship of the ring. Its a perfect way to show what was the prologue and to establish a main theme. Edit: also, clever use of a late title card yourself XD
Loved this video, even more excited for part 2! Topics like these where you cover a bunch of movies consecutively are super engaging/interesting and a testament to your skill as a writer.
I'm glad you included the movies by the Thai director. I'd say at least 75% of the Thai movies that I have watched have a late title card, it kind of plays out like a 15 minute mini-movie before the main story.
Love Exposure has it's title card put 58 minutes into it's 4 hour runtime and it really did just add to the idea that the entire movie I had watched this far was merely the prologue. But this video really allowed me that this was the case
I remember watching Frozen for the first time, the ski lift one not the Disney, and kept joking during the movie that the ending title card would show up in the dumbest parts of the movie. Like the character peeing herself. And sure enough at the most anticlimactic ending possible, the big scary FROZEN ending title card popped up. Even memories of watching bad movies stick with you.
love this video! maybe it will be on the next one but really love the title card in good time when i saw it i remember the feeling as if i’m locked in and there’s only one way out!
Thanks! I watched the intro to Good Times and I think the time card came in at around 2-3 minutes. I liked it, but just didn't think it was big enough to highlight. Maybe I'm wrong!
@@EntertainTheElk Oh, I actually misremembered the title card does come in early, but the credits come in around the 17 min mark, and that is what really pulled me in! Maybe doesn't work for your video piece but found the placement engaging and similarly interesting.
One late title card example I always liked was “Hide and Seek” starring Robert Deniro & Dakota Fanning. The movie has its flaws but I always loved the delayed title sequence coming in several minutes in. It really sets up how screwed up Emily becomes due to her mother’s passing.
when i saw the thumbnail and the first 3 minutes i thought this video was going to be about when a director puts a character driving a car around or something. pleasant surprise that it was about title cards!
Just watched the new animated Film "The bad guys" the title card pops up at the 7 minute mark. In that time it introduces all main characters, the tone of the film and gives us a big opening chase sequence. I watched it just after watching this video so made sure to think about the title card 😄
It was mentioned here before but the moment I realized i've gonna love the OA was the title cards more than after 50 minutes into the fiest president. That episode already grabbed my attention but when the protahonist started telling her story and suddenly "Netflix Presents" pops up i know i was down for an unexpected ride.
Any Cuaron (Gravity) or Gaspar Noe (Climax) film tend to kick you right into the cinematic ride. I believe Long Day's Journey Into Night also has a late title card when the 3D section comes on.
It's not a film, but Breaking Bad's Ozimandias had an awesome late opening credits sequence. The whole opening scene, which is super dramatic and lengthy, finishes, then the next scene begins with the opening credits. It definitely adds an artistic touch, and makes the whole episode feel quite cinematic.
there's a recent paramount plus movie called three months about a young gay kid waiting to see if he is hiv positive after a random hook up and it establishes the concept and has him get his first hiv test before the title sequence and the dialogue directly leads to the title card because he asks the doctor how long it will take before he knows for sure and then three months is shown on screen it's really well done!
If you've read the short story it's based on, you know that everything before the title sequence is new material. It gives more texture and greater context to the original story, but it's never explicitly a part of it. That's where I believe the original idea for putting the sequence at that point came from. And the closest quote you provide in this video is the one talking about how it's a "preamble." This is all basically a preamble to the short story it was based on. That's just my take, having read the Murakami story first. Would love to know what other think! The rest of your vid is an excellent exploration of an oft-unexamined / discussed / considered tool in a Director's utility belt.
What a tease! I was thinking to myself “a video about credits and title sequences but nothing about 007?!” Then find out it’s in the next video?! Lol seriously this was a great video on the subject. Now I wanna check out this Drive My Car movie.
I find there are two kinds of loud directors, one I like, one I don’t. There’s ones like Edgar Wright, where I’m in in awe, and there ones like Wes Anderson, where I’m distracted. With the latter; it’s like I can always see the brush strokes. Every individual choice, from color use to shot framing is screaming for my attention. Meanwhile, with films like Baby Driver, I have to watch them over and over because the whole is so seamless that picking out the individual bits is a challenge
A very good point, but I'd say that there's nothing wrong with "seeing the brush strokes" on your first viewing. Repeat viewings would be beneficial for Wes Anderson movies too. You can ignore some of the visual flair and instead focus on the performances or the dialog. Thereby seeing how everything works together, not just focusing on the eye candy. Basically every movie benefits from repeat viewings, especially since we all notice certain things in different ways.
When I think of late title cards, I think pretty instantly of Scorsese’s The Departed. That one has a dual prologue, showing the different career paths that Damon and DiCaprio’s characters’ lives take before it finally ends with DiCaprio in prison, about begin his undercover life, as the title card appears and “Shipping up to Boston” blasts. It’s genius what Scorsese does there, and he always has a great grip on how to correctly do title cards.
Scream!!! Also, you covered them but I think The Fellowship of the Ring and Fury Road were two memorable ones but all three I reacted to the same way... Looked over at who I was there and mouthed "Holy.. shit...".
I know it's not thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat late, but TOP SECRET! is another example - first establishing the set up and the main character (even though he isn't even shown yet) followed by a music video style title sequence 🙂
@@EntertainTheElk When I realized what you’d done, I literally had to pause the video and say, “You sly dog,” out loud haha. I was already into your analysis, but you had me 110% convinced with that.
I can't remind right now of instances where the title card is dropped coincidentally at the moment some character happens to say the movie's title in whatever context it would make sense. I guess it makes more sense for very a comic-booksy stylization of things. "Yeah, It's Scott Pilgrim vs every ex-boyfriend now, it's _Scott Pilgrim vs the world!"_
You know I thought the same thing but I don't think it has the late title card. It just has that eerie music play with the pan up on the mountains in the distance. I thought the title appeared there, but alas no. I actually think that movie ends on title.
My favorite title card wasn't on a movie, it was in Assassin's Creed II. It is a good life we live brother. The best, may it never change. And may it never change us.
I honestly can't remember a single example of late title drop in a movie that left a lasting impression on me, simply because movies in general are very short and even "late" drops lack that element of surprise that should make them memorable. Video games, on the other hand, are a masterclass in the art of late title dropping, since they can do it dozens if not hundreds hours into the game, and in some cases after the major part of the game that felt like a complete story, but was hiding more after, etc.
Ah man, I can't believe you forgot Good Time. We get the perfect explanation of Connie and Nick's relationship, how Connie has no morals, the botched robbery, and them getting chased by the cops, only after Nick is arrested do they drop the title and credits at I believe the 20 something minute mark. Maybe that's in the next one, but it's the best late title drop ever. Also Long Day's Journey Into Night has a great one too.
@@EntertainTheElk nice! But ahhh man, no Good Time? Dang. I'm sad. Also, you have responded on two of my comments so far, I like you a lot. I'm Patreoning you now.
