47 replies to this topic

[Agent 76]

Well I would very much like to know which pre-title sequence(s) is/are your favorite(s). 

 

 

Please be kind and share with fellow CBner's your preference! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ps: If any forum admin. would be so kind to add a poll 

Edited by Dustin, 02 June 2013 - 05:35 AM.

[jmarks4life]

Mine is the chase scene in TSWLM when Bond (RM) skis off the mountain and his parachute comes out with the British flag on it. Just a great stunt.

Edited by jmarks4life, 01 June 2013 - 06:26 PM.

[Hansen]

Goldfinger's as it is a Bond film by itself. Editing, pacing, music... It is perfect.

I also love OHMSS. The editing of the beach fight is great.

Honourable mention to CR also (but PTS is not the chase but the fight in the restrooms and the killing of Dryden in Prague)

[Guy Haines]

Good question. Here are my picks:-

 

1960s -From Russia With Love - chilling introduction of one of the best Bond movie henchmen, Grant - not for the first time in that film you think, albeit briefly, that Bond has "had it" at the hands of SPECTRE's chief executioner.  Goldfinger, because it is a bit like a mini James Bond film - gadgets, fights, explosions, Bond gets the girl (briefly), another fight and a one line witticism ("Shocking, positively shocking") and You Only Live Twice - because of the outer space scene. John Barry's "Capsule In Space" ramps up the tension, and you just know that US astronaut isn't going to survive his spacewalk.

 

1970s- The Man With The Golden Gun unusual because it focuses almost entirely on the villain of the piece. Also, inevitably The Spy Who Loved Me for the ski chase scene.

 

1980s- Had it not been for a totally misjudged use of background music I might have gone for A View To A Kill. However, I'll plump for the PTC from The Living Daylights which like the Goldfinger PTC is a mini Bond film in itself (But, unlike Goldfinger's PTC actually has something to do with the rest of the film.) Also for outrageous use of a horsebox and an Acrostar jet plane, I'll vote for Octopussy as well! 

 

1990s- Tough, because we have three more "Bond movies in a nutshell" type PTCs here, but I'll plump for GoldenEye because of the spectacular opening shot and overlook Bond's apparent ability to defy the laws of gravity! Tomorrow Never Dies was something of a Bond movie within a Bond movie - all those top brass and M watching our hero on TV.

 

2000s- Casino Royale strictly speaking the PTC was the black and white intercutting of Bond's brutal pummelling of his first kill and his cold, clinical despatch of the MI6 traitor Dryden. Again, unusual for Bond and very well done. I'll mention the parkour chase as well, as in any other Bond film that scene would most likely have been straight after a traditional gunbarrel/Bond theme opener and before the theme tune.

 

2010s- Until something better comes along, it has to be the PTC from Skyfall. It's a good one anyway - not only full of action but it sets up the relationship with Eve Moneypenny - and the tension later between Bond and M - and leaves us wondering, however briefly, about Bond's fate at the end.

[Sir Godfrey]

I think it's The Living Daylights for me. Timothy Dalton's James Bond is very well introduced and it marks a beginning of a new area for 007. John Barry's track is excellent (OHMSS and TLD are the two best John Barry's scores).

 

And I find that John Glen was a good director : I think he took more pleasure to make the two dalton movies than the three moore.

[plankattack]

The last three actors have all been introduced with terrific PTSs - and each PTS plays up the strength of the actor and foretells their tenure. DC in CR - tough, dark, dark humour, PB in GE - spectacular, borderline outrageous, with Bond as a one-man army; TD in TLD - intense, determined.

 

Each PTS is exciting, works on their own but containing elements of the plot to come. A special shout-out to the QoS car chase, and then of course TSWLM. 

[ChrissBond007]

Very difficult one. I think OHMSS and TWINE would be my favourites.

 

OHMSS' is a great introduction for a new Bond, very good fight scene, John Barry's best score (and of the series in general in my opinion) and just a great sequence overall. 

 

TWINE's is notably longer than usual, which works very well for the movie. And the scenes at the bank in Bilbao and the boat chase on the Thames are just superb. 

Edited by ChrissBond007, 29 May 2013 - 05:00 PM.

[hilly]

Goldfinger has the perfect mix of cool ( Connery) humour ( the tuxedo/wetsuit, plus the final line), a great fight and one of Barry's best scores. Tswlm comes close, for the sheer chutzpa of theski-jump, followed by the twine boat chase

[glidrose]

Best?

GF, TMWTGG, MR, AVTAK, maybe even TND

Flawed

FRWL, TB, DAF, SWLM

Very flawed but with some great stuff

GE, DAD

Overrated or just downright poor

LALD, OCT, TWINE, CR

[thecasinoroyale]

Hmm...it's out of three for me..

 

'Moonraker' and the free-fall sequence. After the chilling shuttle theft, the following freefall stunt is brilliant, and some epic 007 music to go with it. I just let the falling Jaws gag go by.

 

'Quantum Of Solace' opens like all Bond movies should - brilliant music, fast action and no chance to breath until the last second. A great opener, and fantastic car chase.

 

'Skyfall' is long, but gives us so much that I love about Bond; the obvious MI6 team effort, the stunt work, the tense music and the action packed fights leading to a breathless finale.

 

 

I may have to get back to you with the Number One..!  

[tdalton]

My picks:

 

MOONRAKER - One of the best stunt sequences in the entire series.  Bond falls out of the plane without a parachute and must battle mid-air to retrieve someone else's.  Great stuff.

 

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE - "Bond" vs. Grant opens the film on a great, tension-filled note.

 

CASINO ROYALE - Great fight scene.  One of the best since Bond vs. Grant in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

 

GOLDENEYE - although a decidedly mediocre film follows, this is a great action set piece that does a good job of introducing Brosnan.

 

QUANTUM OF SOLACE - great care chase, and it's refreshing to see a car chase in a Bond film that doesn't feature some kind of gimmick, as most of the recent car chases in Bond films seem to.

[Dustin]

TLD's for me.

Mod note: be looking into the poll matter, may take until tomorrow.

[ViperSRT87]

I'd say my overall favorite is TLD. I also really like Skyfall, Casino Royale, Octopussy, The World Is Not Enough, and Goldeneye. 

[Double Naught spy]

Although I have a soft-spot for the PTS in Moonraker because it was my very first introduction to 007, I'd have to go with Tomorrow Never Dies.  Despite the "Filthy habit" comment (Enough!  We get it.  It's the 1990's and Bond doesn't smoke, constantly gets emasculated by the women at MI6, etc...), the fact that the mission is being watched by M, Adm. Roebuck, and the rest of the gang adds to the overall tension.  Plus, after the abysmal treatment M gave 007 in Goldeneye, it was nice to see her show him the respect he clearly deserves by responding to Adm. Roebuck's question by replying, "His job." 

 

Honorable mentions - Thunderball, Goldeneye, and A View to A Kill (minus the soundtrack).

[Dustin]

Poll added.

[S K Y F A L L]

Poll added.

Does NSNA really belong there? Misspelled 'What' btw. 

 

EDIT;

 

Its a tough one. I really enjoy;

 

GF

MR (just a great stunt and Jaws is there)

AVTAK - Why didn't they use SURFING' USA by the Beach Boys instead? So help me I'll start a thread one this.

TLD 

LTK

GE (so ridiculious and the geography is so wierd but perhaps you believe it cause its set during the Cold War)

TND (just so much fun)

TWINE (I didn't think jumping out of the window at the bank was that impressive but the boat chase was kind of fun)

DAD (liked the surfing, the flame thrower and even the lame 'save by the bell' line)

QOS 

 

Had AVTAK not missed the mark and used SURFIN' USA it would have got this Canadian's vote.

 

I voted TND because its like a mini Bond film. Bond has to race the clock to stop Soviet SB-5 nuclear torpedoes.

Edited by S K Y F A L L, 02 June 2013 - 03:13 AM.

[Dustin]

Poll added.

Does NSNA really belong there? Misspelled 'What' btw.

Oh, thanks. It's not easy doing this on such a flimsy mobile screen, while driving a car at 120 mph, in the middle of the night, minus headlights...
I'll change that ASAP.

About NSNA: it does have a pre-titles sequence, stands to reason it could be somebody's favourite.

[thecasinoroyale]

Can't believe 'Goldfinger' is leading...that's one of the most boring openers, bar the classic use of the plastic duck and Connery's pun..still, each to their own of course!

[Dustin]

I just see I didn't give reasons for my preference for TLD's pts either:

It's a stunningly strong action sequence after years of relatively bland so-so stuff. I wasn't expecting something like the Gibraltar penetration drill and "SMERSH" attack and the subsequent plot connected this nicely. The slopes on the rock are truly precarious and in some places I wouldn't want to run at any decent pace, let alone stunt drive that MoD Landrover. The fight between Dalton and the killer is perhaps the most underrated one in a film that showcases several fine fistfights.

As for NSNA's: that pts is a nice glimpse into Bond's job away from HQ, practically a short Bond story in itself. Conceived after the Goldfinger-blueprint to me it's much more entertaining action-wise as well as funnier in its solution. Perfectly fitting for 'the original 007 ™'

Edited by Dustin, 02 June 2013 - 11:19 AM.

[jmarks4life]

I think it's The Living Daylights for me. Timothy Dalton's James Bond is very well introduced and it marks a beginning of a new area for 007. John Barry's track is excellent (OHMSS and TLD are the two best John Barry's scores).
 
And I find that John Glen was a good director : I think he took more pleasure to make the two dalton movies than the three moore.

I like that one too. Being a big fan of Daltons Bond.

[Ed83]

I voted OP.  It's hard to narrow it down with so many to choose from.  I also like TLD and LTK opening scenes.

 

As far as NSNA, when I first saw it years ago, I thought that it was really awkward with the music, but after watching it so many times I really enjoy the opening scene and music.

[Professor Pi]

I'm gonna go with For Your Eyes Only as my favorite (but maybe not best) because of the way it sets itself up as a sort-of-sequel to OHMSS and rather brilliantly deals with the Blofeld question despite the legal controversies.  As a kid, the whole dialogue was fun to memorize despite the awkward 'delicatessen in stainless steel' line.  Moore plays the scene well, Bill Conti's electric score adds to the updated feel, and it's a great use of London's smokestacks.

 

Casino Royale 2006 is pivotal for toning the PTS down and focusing on drama rather than bloated stunt pieces, while also getting inspiration from Fleming.  Likewise, Goldfinger's set the tone for future films, and was also inspired by a line in the Fleming novel.  But The Spy Who Loved Me is the one to whom all inevitably get compared, the stunt, the union jack visual gag, the bond theme, and its seamless edit into the title song.  Perfect.

[jmarks4life]

I honestly think that if the chase scences at the beginning of CR & QoS happened before the pre title sequenes, they would've been the best two

[thecasinoroyale]

Ahh...'The Living Daylights'. Often over-looked but that is a brilliant one. From the parachute entrance, to Dalton's epic reveal to camera and the dangerously exciting chase down the mountain, it's got a great soundtrack to keep it going to and a perfect start for a new Bond.

[Agent 76]

Poll added.

thanks my friend!

[jmarks4life]

I'm gonna change my vote to TLD(for obvious reasons). After recently watching that movie again, the introduction of new Bond Timothy Dalton was perfect.

[jamez007]

spy who loved me ski chase jump of cliff james bond music then nobody does it better what could be better

[thecasinoroyale]

I love this about Bond fans, the differences between us and what we like over 23 films. That's what makes this place so good to be around fellow fans.

 

I myself find the popular choices of 'Goldfinger' and 'The Spy Who Loved Me' mediocre pre-titles, and no way favourites, but yet lots of you love them.

 

It's great variety!

[Leon]

Funny how the two biggest votes go to the two films that are always hyped about. Goldfinger's PTS is actually pretty naff - the stuffed pigeon on the head looks stupid and the fight is like two completely incompetent old men who've never had a fight before in their lives, let alone been trained.

TSWLM PTS is also a bit naff, it's gimmicky with the Union Jack parachute and the ski chase is daft - nowhere near as good as some of the OHMSS ski chase work.

Feels like many people are in fact voting for their favourite movie, not taking the pre-title sequences on their own merit.

[MooseWithFleas]

It's gotta be TSWLM for me. Bond 77 theme is so catchy and dated or not, I love it! Bogner is great again with the ski chase sequences ending in the best stunt in all of Bond. Love it!