Given that it's already grossed £50 million in just ten days at the UK box office, we're guessing that you've seen the new James Bond film, Skyfall. So you'll know that the film doesn't begin with the traditional gunbarrel sequence, where Bond walks into the sights of a sniper, accompanied by the James Bond Theme, and shoots said sniper with his customary elan and grace.
Instead, like Quantum Of Solace, the gun barrel sequence is reserved for the end of the film, a decision that has become one of the few contentious points about a film that's been otherwise universally embraced.
And now Sam Mendes has spoken about the decision to do so, during an Apple Store Q&A with Empire's Chris Hewitt. Responding to a question from an audience member who raised the issue of the gunbarrel sequence, Mendes replied, "I tried very hard to put the gunbarrel at the beginning and my intention was always to do that. If you see the film, the film starts with Bond walking down a corridor towards camera and lifting a gun. And of course the gunbarrel is him walking, stopping and lifting a gun. When I put the two together, it looked ridiculous!"
Mendes went on to explain that he is a fan of the gun barrel sequence, which still hasn't officially started a Daniel Craig Bond movie. "For me, I love the gunbarrel logo being at the beginning. It's almost the best bit. Everything is possible in that moment, it's like Christmas Eve. It was frustrating to be not able to make it work in that way."
To see and hear Mendes' answer in its entirety, as well as his thoughts on directing another Bond film (or Star Wars Episode VII!), press play on the video below. And for the whole Meet The Filmmaker interview, go https://itunes.apple...522?i=123471467
So Academy Award winning director Sam Mendes has gone on record saying the gunbarrel sequence is "...almost the best bit."
