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What is your favourite/least favourite Pre-Title-Sequence?

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  • ProfJoeButcherProfJoeButcher Bless your heart
    Posts: 1,711
    STLCards3 wrote: »
    HOT TAKE ALERT!

    LALD's PTS was atmospheric, intriguing, and a perfect mood-setter for the oddly satisfactory supernatural tinge of the film. Bond's mysterious absence (especially while introducing a new Bond) fit perfectly well with the tone of the film. It also led perfectly into one of the best title songs of the series. I don't need to see Bond in THIS PTS for it to work.

    I totally agree. And it's got the weird coffin trick everybody loves!
  • R1s1ngs0nR1s1ngs0n France
    Posts: 2,148
    STLCards3 wrote: »
    HOT TAKE ALERT!

    LALD's PTS was atmospheric, intriguing, and a perfect mood-setter for the oddly satisfactory supernatural tinge of the film. Bond's mysterious absence (especially while introducing a new Bond) fit perfectly well with the tone of the film. It also led perfectly into one of the best title songs of the series. I don't need to see Bond in THIS PTS for it to work.
    100% agree 👍
  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    Posts: 4,483
    The funeral murder in LALD is good, the sudden change of the music is mean and cool. The other two murders are a bit odd but the first one shows that Kananga has political power and the vodoo stuff is solid because it helps to close the circle later when Bond saves Solitaire from this place.
    The LALD PTS works surprisingly good for the fact that Bond is absent, however, I prefer most of the others.
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,584
    I used to rate the LALD PTS near the bottom simply because of the lack of Bond, but I find it great. I always want to see more of Hamilton talking like Shane Rimmer. Very cool that we see a snippet of each of the main locations so early on.

    I might put the DAF PTS at the bottom but I really like the mud bath scene.

    Favourite PTSs are: GF, TSWLM, GE, TND, CR.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    edited June 2021 Posts: 9,509
    Favourite:

    TLD
    OHMSS/SF
    TB
    GF
    QoS

    Least:
    I’m exerting a lot of energy since I sincerely like all of the PTSs… but I suppose the GE one gets on my nerves. From the one liner to introduce the new Bond to Alec’s “death” (the fake bullets somehow really killed one of the Russians), to having a man catch up to a plummeting plane….
  • RevelatorRevelator
    edited June 2021 Posts: 2,918
    The LALD pre-title isn't bad on its own but definitely suffers next to the best in the series. And it squanders the chance to give Roger Moore a really memorable introduction scene as Bond, in the way that OHMSS, TLD, GE and CS did (and DN, though it didn't have a pre-title sequence).
  • DeathToSpies84DeathToSpies84 Newton-le-Willows, England
    Posts: 257
    STLCards3 wrote: »
    HOT TAKE ALERT!

    LALD's PTS was atmospheric, intriguing, and a perfect mood-setter for the oddly satisfactory supernatural tinge of the film. Bond's mysterious absence (especially while introducing a new Bond) fit perfectly well with the tone of the film. It also led perfectly into one of the best title songs of the series. I don't need to see Bond in THIS PTS for it to work.

    That’s a good point 🤔
  • Some_Kind_Of_HeroSome_Kind_Of_Hero
    Posts: 6,844
    Revelator wrote: »
    The LALD pre-title isn't bad on its own but definitely suffers next to the best in the series. And it squanders the chance to give Roger Moore a really memorable introduction scene as Bond, in the way that OHMSS, TLD and GE did (and DN, though it didn't have a pre-title sequence).

    You gotta admit waking up next to an Italian bird in a yellow bathrobe pretty much defined Moore's take on Bond though.
  • StirredNotShakenStirredNotShaken Toronto
    Posts: 2,402
    I'm sure I probably chimed in on this at some point in years past, and my takes were probably the same back then as well.

    Casino Royale's PTS is a cinematic masterwork (as is the larger film) that is hard to top in movies as a whole, nevermind within Bond. If I were to pick a closest competitor, though, my first inclination would be The Living Daylights, although I have to say upon my latest rewatch that I found Licence to Kill's entire opening to be just about perfect and it might be my new #2 in the same way that the film is my new #2 Bond film.

    The worst has got to be Live and Let Die by default. The New Orleans third is pretty entertaining ("Whose funeral is it?" "Yours!") but the way the UN guy gets taken out is incredibly silly and the voodoo/snake stuff would've been better if it were actually Baron Samedi handling the snake instead of just... some guy? And how the hell do you have a Bond PTS without Bond? I know FRWL and TMWTGG are technically guilty of the same sin, but I find the intrigue behind FRWL's to be endlessly gripping, and while TMWTGG's PTS is certainly one of the bottom tier ones as well, it at least does an okay job of setting up Scaramanga as a threat.
  • marcmarc Universal Exports
    Posts: 2,610
    While I don't like the LALD PTS overall, without the Caribbean part (and perhaps the somewhat crass violence of the stabbing that can almost be felt) it would have been a really good PTS, and I don't mind Bond's absence at all. The slow funeral procession and the song leader are great.
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    edited June 2021 Posts: 2,641
    Favourite's
    TLD, what a way to introduce a new Bond
    Goldeneye, one my favourite stunts in the series. I just wish the first shot of Pierce would have been him peeking round the corner, instead upside down in a stall. Cut the bathroom bit out completely.
    Casino Royale, sets the tone for the film and this era of Bond perfectly. No time wasted and it tells you everything we need to know about pre 00 Bond.
    Goldfinger, classic Bond at it's best
    Skyfall, I love how we're just thrown into the action with no real build up, like QOS but with better editing and stronger plot

    Least favourite's
    LALD, very creative and memorable but no Bond stands out to me, he should have been there
    TMWTGG, same problem as LALD, the PTS to me should be us following Bond on a random mission or him slowly uncovering the plot that lies ahead.
    DAD, Bond surfing felt weird to me and the fight choreography was so forced on the hover graft. The title sequence was great though
    AVTAK, standard, a little bit forgettable, aside from the out of place Beach Boys song
    DAF, bit of a weak start to a bad film. Never understood the mousetrap in his pocket or the terrible editing of the line Bond, James Bond.
  • FoxRoxFoxRox
    Posts: 12,473
    1. Casino Royale
    2. GoldenEye
    3. No Time to Die
    4. The Spy Who Loved Me
    5. Goldfinger
    6. The Living Daylights
    7. Spectre
    8. For Your Eyes Only
    9. Skyfall
    10. Quantum of Solace
    11. From Russia with Love
    12. Moonraker
    13. Thunderball
    14. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
    15. The World Is Not Enough
    16. Die Another Day
    17. Tomorrow Never Dies
    18. Licence to Kill
    19. The Man with the Golden Gun
    20. A View to a Kill
    21. Octopussy
    22. Live and Let Die
    23. You Only Live Twice
    24. Diamonds Are Forever
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    NTTD certainly had one of the very best.
  • FoxRoxFoxRox
    Posts: 12,473
    Thunderfinger wrote: »
    NTTD certainly had one of the very best.

    I was blown away - it was the full range of emotions, and 100 times more blood-pumping than anything in SP.
  • ZekidkZekidk
    Posts: 3,276
    My two favorites are SF and TWINE. Best part of both movies.
  • StirredNotShakenStirredNotShaken Toronto
    Posts: 2,402
    25: Die Another Day
    24: The Man with the Golden Gun
    23: Diamonds Are Forever
    22: A View to a Kill
    21: Live and Let Die
    20: SPECTRE
    19: Quantum of Solace
    18: For Your Eyes Only
    17: Dr. No (placed here just for fun; if the Three Blind Mice sequence was pre-titles, this is where I'd rank it)
    16: The World is Not Enough
    15: You Only Live Twice
    14: Moonraker
    13: Thunderball
    12: Tomorrow Never Dies
    11: From Russia with Love
    10: On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    9: Goldfinger
    8: The Spy Who Loved Me
    7: Licence to Kill
    6: Octopussy (the only one to truly have not one iota of connection to the rest of the film!)
    5: Skyfall
    4: GoldenEye
    3: The Living Daylights
    2: No Time to Die
    1: Casino Royale (cinematic perfection; this sits up there with the likes of The Godfather for me as far as the greatest first scenes in movies are concerned)
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    I'll try to rank them all later. Just now, I think my top 5 would be:

    1) NTTD
    2) CR
    3) TSWLM
    4) GE
    5) GF
  • jobojobo
    edited October 2021 Posts: 7,507
    I honestly don't think the PTS in NTTD can be topped. It was bondian perfection for me. A mini movie covering everything I want from Bond; danger, mysteri, glamour, romance, sadness, stunts, bondian moments... And all that without feeling too long. I am almost stunned by how good it is!

    Even if I hated the rest of the film I would watch it again and again just for the PTS!
  • marcmarc Universal Exports
    Posts: 2,610
    1. MR
    2. TND
    3. GE
    4. OP
    5. LTK
    6. FYEO
    7. YOLT

    8. SF
    9. TSWLM
    10. AVTAK
    11. TLD
    12. DAF
    13. TMWTGG

    14. DAD
    15. TWINE
    16. FRWL
    17. OHMSS
    18. GF
    (19. DN)

    20. TB
    21. QoS
    22. CR
    23. LALD
    24. NTTD (because of the Norway opening; the rest would be No. 9)
    25. SP
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    edited June 2023 Posts: 3,789
    1. Tomorrow Never Dies
    2. The World Is Not Enough
    3. Moonraker
    4. SPECTRE
    5. The Living Daylights

    6. Goldeneye
    7. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    8. The Spy Who Loved Me
    9. Thunderball
    10. Die Another Day

    11. Skyfall
    12. Octopussy
    13. Goldfinger
    14. Quantum of Solace
    15. Casino Royale

    16. A View To A Kill
    17. No Time To Die
    18. Licence To Kill
    19. The Man With The Golden Gun
    20. You Only Live Twice

    21. From Russia With Love
    22. Live And Let Die
    23. Diamonds Are Forever


    24. For Your Eyes Only
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,584
    Still maybe TND - that has probably been number one since first viewing in the cinema. Also high on my list:
    GF
    TSWLM
    OP
    AVTAK
    GE
    TWINE
    DAD
    CR
    Yeah, all Brosnan's PTSs were of a consistent quality.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    GF
    TB
    OHMSS
    OP
    TLD
    LTK
    GE
    CR
    QOS
    SF
    NTTD

    no particular order, just my favourites… If I had to choose just one, it’d be a fight to the death between GF and TLD….
  • 007HallY007HallY
    edited July 2023 Posts: 4,162
    I think the best PTS's of the series do a couple of different things. They help set up the story while also getting the audience hyped for the film ahead.

    For me my favourites are TSWLM, SF, GE and TLD.

    Ones that I'm more mixed on are OHMSS - Lazenby's introduction doesn't do him any favours in the sense that it feels a bit too much like they were trying to re-do Connery's introduction without the magnetism of Connery himself, and then there's of course the 'other fella' line. It's a great fight scene though, beautifully shot, but it doesn't quite succeed in really giving us a sense that Bond is going it alone and trying to hunt down his 'white whale' of Blofeld. CR has a great opening, but I can't say I'm a big fan of it being in black and white (feels a bit too self conscious and artsy for Bond, but otherwise it slaps). LALD and TMWTGG are also unusual ones for me. I love the idea of a PTS without Bond but instead the villain, and I actually hope one day we get another one (provided Bond himself gets an effective introduction afterwards) but both feel just a bit too small scale to match up to the best of the series. They really work for me though. FRWL's opening has the best of both worlds in this sense, and this is another I really like.

    The only PTS I'd say I hate is FYEO.
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