Which Bond movie had the best pre-title opener?

[BobJM]

Goldeneye (reintroduces Bond, showing some amazing action/tragedy in one explosive scene)

Die Another Day (displays Bond in a team of "00" agents, being betrayed, and tortured...something that has never been done before)

 

[The Batman]

Goldfinger
The Spy Who Loved Me
Moonraker
For Your Eyes Only
Goldeneye
The World is not enough

 

[Palpadious]

Goldeneye (reintroduces Bond, showing some amazing action/tragedy in one explosive scene)

Die Another Day (displays Bond in a team of "00" agents, being betrayed, and tortured...something that has never been done before)

What a shame the rest of the movie was, it had such a great premise and went down the toilet.

 

[Bishop2]

For Your Eyes Only. Bond visits his wife's grave, get trapped in an insane helicopter sequence, then finally kills Blofeld for good. What more do you need?

Close second would be the ludicrously long (and awesome) opener to TWINE.

 

[SpyderDan]

For Your Eyes Only. Bond visits his wife's grave, get trapped in an insane helicopter sequence, then finally kills Blofeld for good. What more do you need?

I always wondered why they'd kill off the only recurring Bond villain in the opening titles and then never mention it again.

 

[Bishop2]

I always wondered why they'd kill off the only recurring Bond villain in the opening titles and then never mention it again.

Because by that point they had lost the rights to using Blofeld and SPECTRE - they were retained by the guy who sued them over Thunderball and made "Never Say Never Again." As a result, they could never again use those characters, so they had to either ignore or go ahead and off him... without ever even NAMING him, because if he was identified as Blofeld, it was copyright infringement.

 

[SpyderDan]

Because by that point they had lost the rights to using Blofeld and SPECTRE - they were retained by the guy who sued them over Thunderball and made "Never Say Never Again." As a result, they could never again use those characters, so they had to either ignore or go ahead and off him... without ever even NAMING him, because if he was identified as Blofeld, it was copyright infringement.

Oh okay. I knew about the rights problems and everything but didn't realize that was the reason behind the opening.

 

[Agentsands77]

Oh okay. I knew about the rights problems and everything but didn't realize that was the reason behind the opening.

Well, the actual reason they went with that opening is that while in production, it was known that Roger Moore wouldn't be coming back (he came back at the last minute). This opening was supposed to be there to introduce a new Bond by grounding him in the history of the 60s films.

Personally, though, I think that pre-title sequence is rather shabby. It does no justice to Blofeld (he's spouting awful dialogue), and it's rather silly.

 

[SpyderDan]

Personally, though, I think that pre-title sequence is rather shabby. It does no justice to Blofeld (he's spouting awful dialogue), and it's rather silly.

Yeah, my problem with it was that it just seemed so half-assed and quick, not to mention it has nothing to do with the rest of the movie. But now, it makes some sense.

 

[Furious Styles]

It seems as if the PTS for FYEO was a parting shot at McClory. EON was basically saying, take Blofeld and shove it... Moore plays a fantastic older and more subdued Bond.

"Mr. Bond....Mr. Bond! I'm so glad I caught you! Your office called! There seems to be some sort of emergency!"

*Bond looking at Traci's grave*

"Yes, there usually is....."

 

[Everyman]

Well, the actual reason they went with that opening is that while in production, it was known that Roger Moore wouldn't be coming back (he came back at the last minute). This opening was supposed to be there to introduce a new Bond by grounding him in the history of the 60s films.

Personally, though, I think that pre-title sequence is rather shabby. It does no justice to Blofeld (he's spouting awful dialogue), and it's rather silly.

Another problem with it is that it is terribly inconsistent with what we just saw: Bond grives Tracy, then is at the emrcy of her murderer, gets the upper hand, and kills Blofeld with a smile on his face, making a few jokes at the same time. Bond should have been overcome with joy and rage while killing him.

 

[Everyman]

Yeah, my problem with it was that it just seemed so half-assed and quick, not to mention it has nothing to do with the rest of the movie. But now, it makes some sense.

It could have stress the vengeance theme of FYEO though, but they downplayed Bond's vengeance into something unsignificant.

 

[SpyderDan]

It could have stress the vengeance theme of FYEO though, but they downplayed Bond's vengeance into something unsignificant.

That's a good point.

 

[Bishop2]

Another problem with it is that it is terribly inconsistent with what we just saw: Bond grives Tracy, then is at the emrcy of her murderer, gets the upper hand, and kills Blofeld with a smile on his face, making a few jokes at the same time. Bond should have been overcome with joy and rage while killing him.

Let's not forget that Connery's "vengeance" on Blofeld in the opening of Diamonds Are Forever is portrayed in much the same fashion - doofy one-liner and all.

 

[Agentsands77]

Let's not forget that Connery's "vengeance" on Blofeld in the opening of Diamonds Are Forever is portrayed in much the same fashion - doofy one-liner and all.

Well, it's quite debatable whether it's really a follow-up to OHMSS. I always thought the intention of that pre-title sequence was to let those who wanted to see a follow-up to Tracy's death see that, and let those that wanted to pretend OHMSS never happened see that.

 

[Bishop2]

Well, it's quite debatable whether it's really a follow-up to OHMSS. I always thought the intention of that pre-title sequence was to let those who wanted to see a follow-up to Tracy's death see that, and let those that wanted to pretend OHMSS never happened see that.

I dunno, I mean, Bond is obviously on some kind of rage-quest, killing anyone in his path to get to Blofeld in order to kill him (I mean, he chokes that one girl with her bikini top for no reason! Dude!) and when he gets back to MI6, Moneypenny mentions him being out of contact and MIA for a while... so apparently it was personal mission, for whatever reason. I suppose if you wanted, you could argue that he was just REALLY pissed off about Blofeld getting away in YOLT, but I don't think so.

 

[Furious Styles]

Let's not forget that Connery's "vengeance" on Blofeld in the opening of Diamonds Are Forever is portrayed in much the same fashion - doofy one-liner and all.

Good point

 

[SpyderDan]

I dunno, I mean, Bond is obviously on some kind of rage-quest, killing anyone in his path to get to Blofeld in order to kill him (I mean, he chokes that one girl with her bikini top for no reason! Dude!) and when he gets back to MI6, Moneypenny mentions him being out of contact and MIA for a while... so apparently it was personal mission, for whatever reason. I suppose if you wanted, you could argue that he was just REALLY pissed off about Blofeld getting away in YOLT, but I don't think so.

I like that theory very much.

 

[Mr.E.Nygma]

Definately GoldenEye of Goldfinger

 

[Everyman]

Well, it's quite debatable whether it's really a follow-up to OHMSS. I always thought the intention of that pre-title sequence was to let those who wanted to see a follow-up to Tracy's death see that, and let those that wanted to pretend OHMSS never happened see that.

I agree there. DAF is terribly inconsistent with OHMSS, but the beginning of the movie tries to bring some kind of closure to the previous movie.

 

[Clouseau]

For Your Eyes Only. Bond visits his wife's grave, get trapped in an insane helicopter sequence, then finally kills Blofeld for good. What more do you need?

yeah, although i'll still claim Goldfinger is the series' best, i have to say that FYEO's and YOLT's pre-titles both made a very big impression on me when i was younger... those, and TSWLM, with the Union Jack parachute... very classy stuff, IMO...

 

[Bishop2]

yeah, although i'll still claim Goldfinger is the series' best, i have to say that FYEO's and YOLT's pre-titles both made a very big impression on me when i was younger... those, and TSWLM, with the Union Jack parachute... very classy stuff, IMO...

You just KNOW that the American flag parachute in xXx was a total homage to TSWLM, acknowledging that movie's real roots in the Bond franchise.

 

[Drago]

Goldeneye

 

[Clouseau]

You just KNOW that the American flag parachute in xXx was a total homage to TSWLM, acknowledging that movie's real roots in the Bond franchise.

oh yeah, there's PLENTY in xXx to show it's a Bond rip-off... flag parachute or not!

 

[BobJM]

I justed rented Tomorrow Never Dies, and I have to say, that I was impressed. From the effects to the chess-inspired codenames (white rook, etc.), I was pleasantly suprised. Having Bond fly the nuclear-armed jet to safety was a great idea and the aerial fight was a great rush of adrenaline.

Also, I don't get why that many people liked TWINE's PTS. I found it way too long and a bit boring. The boat chase wasn't that great until the very end when Bond caught up with the cigar girl on the balloon. It just didn't feel like an opener to me, more like the first 15 minutes after the opening sequence.