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I love Skyfall's pretitle sequence!


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#1 JimmyBond

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Posted 12 November 2012 - 03:37 AM

I wrote this up in another thread, but thought it was too good to be lost in the myriad of posts:

I think it's without a doubt the best of Craig's openings, though I still think Quantum is my favorite, just because the car chase is so much fun.

Bond coming across Ronson and then attempting to stabilize him with M telling Bond to leave him. That was just a wonderful moment and beautifully acted by Craig. Bond's look to Ronson conveys so much emotion: anger, grief, sadness. And there's just something so cool watching Bond creep through the hallway with his gun drawn. Not trying to disparage Brosnan here, but Craig makes it look cool in a way Brosnan never could.

Then the brief car chase is wonderful as well, thanks to Bond and Eve's repartee, my favorite being "That's ok, we weren't using it." Then Eve knocking off the other mirror "Wasn't using that one either." It's the first of many light-hearted quips we get from Bond in this outing, something that was sorely lacking from his first two films.

And the music, oh the music, Newman's Grand Bazaar track really elevates this whole sequence.

M's inclusion feels natural, and not once do we feel the MI6 scenes are intruding on the action, the whole sequence flows smoothly and really has that "mini movie" feel the pretitle sequences of past films had.

Oh boy, I already wrote a fair bit didn't I. Think I'll stop while I'm ahead ;)

#2 007jamesbond

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Posted 12 November 2012 - 03:41 AM

yea it was really good......but I wish the "trust me" line was include how could they take that out........

#3 x007AceOfSpades

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Posted 12 November 2012 - 03:54 AM

Yes it was great! The best in a very long time!

#4 thecasinoroyale

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Posted 12 November 2012 - 08:31 AM

Blistering! That's what I call it.

The opening moments in the apartment set you straight in and already feel the MI6 authority between operatives working together, none of this trust issue - a great chase, both on 4 wheels and 2 and an exceptional traintop fight and stunt sequence.

I enjoy it more each time, seeing Bond on top form mid-way through a mission (I don't feel we've seen him this comfortable on an actual MI6 mission in the Craig era, pity it's cut short!). If he's like this during Bond 24, I'll be VERY happy.

And don't get me started on the final moments as Eve lines up the shot - those few moments are my favourite in the whole series now for character drama, tension and a big payoff. Great music, great dialogue, great everythin in that sequence.

It's hard to put this against the exciting 'Quantum Of Solace' opening but certainly it's up there as THE Craig era highlight!

#5 x007AceOfSpades

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Posted 12 November 2012 - 08:47 AM

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Best Pre-title sequence in a VERY LONG time. From The cheers of the crowd watching Bond fight Patrice. The laughs seeing Bond adjust his cuff link. The dead silence of Bond getting shot and falling off the train followed by Eve saying "...Agent Down"

It was a stellar way to start off the film. Great pacing too.

#6 JimmyBond

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Posted 12 November 2012 - 05:49 PM

I think Newman's score really goes a long way in making it one of the best. Grand Bazaar is really a great track.

And I just can't get over how cool Craig is at the beginning. Moving around the room with his gun drawn, I sitll think that's a great image (and yes, I know I'm repeating myself here). As thecasinoroyale said, we're no longer seeing people talking about trust issues, here is an M who fully trusts 007, and it's just so cool to watch.

#7 Double-0-Seven

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Posted 12 November 2012 - 06:30 PM

Definitely the most "classic Bond" pre-title sequence we've had in a very long time. I absolutely loved it! Great score, great action, good dialogue, and full of suspense. All the thrills one expects from Bond packed into a blistering ten minute sequence. Exactly what a Bond pre-title sequence should be.

Casino Royale's was classy and exciting for a different reason, but I gladly welcome the return of the classic Bond. To be honest, I never cared for Quantum's aside from Bond's "It's time to get out" line.

#8 Hockey Mask

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Posted 12 November 2012 - 06:49 PM

Definitely the most "classic Bond" pre-title sequence we've had in a very long time. I absolutely loved it! Great score, great action, good dialogue, and full of suspense. All the thrills one expects from Bond packed into a blistering ten minute sequence. Exactly what a Bond pre-title sequence should be.

Casino Royale's was classy and exciting for a different reason, but I gladly welcome the return of the classic Bond. To be honest, I never cared for Quantum's aside from Bond's "It's time to get out" line.

10 minutes? It felt like two.

#9 SolidWaffle

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Posted 12 November 2012 - 09:30 PM

I think the Grand Bazaar track is the best on Skyfall's score until the climax. The sequence itself is brilliant, though I won't say it's the best ever. But the sequence builds really well, from the slow start of Bond appearing and then discovering Ronson, to the car chase, to the bikes, to the roofs, to the train. It feels natural, like a fire slowly conflagrating. It sure as hell doesn't feel like ten minutes either.

I need to rewatch it, because I think the sound in my cinema was pretty crappy, as we were sitting in the way back. So I wasn't able to fully appreciate it, because I was gettting used to sound that was worse than my $40 second hand surround system at home. I eagerly await it.

#10 Joyce Carrington

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Posted 12 November 2012 - 09:55 PM

Me too, I really liked it.

In fact, once it was done and the title song kicked in, I was so excited I thought it alone was better than the whole of QoS.

#11 Iceskater101

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 04:17 AM

I really liked the pre-title sequence. Plus we haven't had an accoustic Bond song and I feel like Adele pulled it off perfectly. I think maybe in 2016 she should do another Bond song. Shirley Bassey did 3 or 4 Bond songs.

#12 Walecs

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 08:48 AM

I really liked the pre-title sequence. Plus we haven't had an accoustic Bond song and I feel like Adele pulled it off perfectly. I think maybe in 2016 she should do another Bond song. Shirley Bassey did 3 or 4 Bond songs.


3. Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, Moonraker. Yes, Adele should definitely come back.

#13 DominicGreene

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 10:32 AM

I absolutely adore the opening shot of Bonds blurred out body walking towards the camera, whilst the beginning of Grand Bazaar started playing.

#14 S K Y F A L L

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 11:50 AM

While I agree that SF's pretitle sequence was pretty good, I must admit that I wasn't all that thrilled with it because if you followed the production of the film there really isn't anything you haven't already seen.

#15 Vauxhall

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 03:16 PM

"Blistering" is indeed a good description. :) I initially went for "breakneck" or "relentless".

I believe Marc Forster once said he wanted QUANTUM OF SOLACE to be paced like a bullet from a gun. That didn't prove particularly successful, but it's certainly an image that I feel could be applied to the pre-title sequence of SKYFALL. It was one of the parts of the movie I was most concerned about before I saw it, but as the first bars of Adele's track kicked in, I was able to sit back and relax. They nailed the opening; one of the best.

#16 thecasinoroyale

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 03:20 PM

^ What 'e said. :)

That moment when Adele's soft opening bars start, you almost feel like Bond in the water - finally able to stop, for a moment, relax...take it all in. (Not that he was, mind you, but that feeling of weightlessness after such a big bold opening!)

#17 sharpshooter

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Posted 25 November 2012 - 01:37 PM

They nailed the opening; one of the best.

Indeed. I really enjoyed the low tunnels they went under. Very suspenseful and definitely raised the sense of danger. Looked good, too.

#18 DaveBond21

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Posted 28 November 2012 - 09:59 AM

100% agreed, Jimmy Bond. Great PTS and Eve is excellent.

I loved seeing the Top Gear special with Michael G Wilson explaining some of the stunts in Istanbul.

-

While I agree that SF's pretitle sequence was pretty good, I must admit that I wasn't all that thrilled with it because if you followed the production of the film there really isn't anything you haven't already seen.


There's a lesson for you then...:-)

I was entirely spoiler free

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