I think we fans mostly judge the official Bond title song separately from the actual main title sequence. For me personally I'd prefer to rewatch the entire total package to get back that mystical Bond feeling. That's why I'm curious to know what audiovisual total package of main title designs with songs has the most impact on you. For that reason I ask you the following question:
Which main title with attached song works best for you and is actually the most effective when you watched it for the very first time in cinema?
You can vote for every main title total package since 'GoldenEye', being:
01) 'GOLDENEYE':
Title design by Daniel Kleinman, song written by Bono & The Edge, song performed by Tina Turner.
02) 'TOMORROW NEVER DIES':
Title design by Daniel Kleinman, song written by Mitchell Froom & Sheryl Crow, song performed by Sheryl Crow.
03) 'THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH':
Title design by Daniel Kleinman, song written by David Arnold & Don Black, song performed by Garbage.
04) 'DIE ANOTHER DAY':
Title design by Daniel Kleinman, song written by Mirwais Ahmadzaï, Madonna & Michel Colombier, song performed by Madonna.
05) 'CASINO ROYALE':
Title design by Daniel Kleinman, song written by David Arnold & Chris Cornell, song performed by Chris Cornell.
06) 'QUANTUM OF SOLACE':
Title design by MK12, song written by Jack White, song performed by Alicia Keys & Jack White.
07) 'SKYFALL':
Title design by Daniel Kleinman, song written by Paul Epworth & Adele, song performed by Adele
But you can only give a TOP 3 and award the following points. My example and my vote first:
4 POINTS --> 'SKYFALL':
Simple the most haunting Bond main title experience I have ever seen in cinema. It is this main title experience in which both title design and song are perfectly fitting. Going down a grave has never been so exquisit.
2 POINTS --> 'THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH':
Similar as with 'Skyfall'. Also rather haunting, slow edited design that gives away the plot quite well. Combined with Shirley's sultry voice and all that oil it becomes Binder-esque erotical.
1 POINT ---> 'CASINO ROYALE':
Wunderful and unique title design by Daniel Kleinman. Perhaps his best design. But I can't help thinking that the titles deserved a bit more slow-tempo Barry-esque title song. Chris' voice cancelled out the elegant designs a bit.
I will add up the points every now and then and post the total scores :-).
Comments
2 points ---> 'Skyfall'
1 point ---> 'The World is Not Enough'
And now your 2 points and 1 point ;-).
I dont really have one in mind for 2 points but for one 1 point ill give it to Die Another Day, apparently the style of the titles was a homage to the ones seen in Goldfinger according to the director. Too bad it ended up looking like crap. I did like the song though, thats like the only plus about that title sequence
two points - The World Is Not Enough - Kleinman - Garbage
one point - Skyfall - Adele
2 POINTS --> TND
1 POINTS --> CR
Although I missed GE in cinemas ( :( ) , it's probably the best 'total package'. There are certain cues in the song which match the effects, such as the hitting of a sledgehammer, and one of the dancing girls exploding. For me, TND is nearly on par with GE. The total package combined to create a kind of roller coaster ride.
This was life-changing cinema for me. I was 11 years old, in the theater with my dad, when that black/white opening sequence led to that fantastic gunbarrel, and then "You Know My Name" started blasting out of the cinema speakers. I was completely blown away. I love the song, I love Kleinman's title design, I love everything about it. I don't know if it's absolutely my #1 title sequence but it is definitely a contender.
2 POINTS - GoldenEye
I really like the song. Great design, it just... works.
1 POINT - The World is Not Enough
I really don't like any of the others, but I like Garbage's theme song and think the titles were well made. This made it, though, simply based on the fact that TWINE was my first Bond film ever.
2. GoldenEye - 2pts. Fairly ok song but it's the retro, Binder style title sequence that stands out along with the revamped gun barrel. Love it.
3. Casino Royale - 1pt - I actually really like Cornell's theme song but I'm not a big fan of Kleinman's title sequence.
2. Casino Royale - 3 pts. Love this - it was different from all that had gone before and fit this film to a T, and the song rocked.
3. Goldeneye - 2 pts. Lovely, fun, beautiful and a good theme song.
4. The World is Not Enough - 1 pt. Quite well done, Shirley really gave it the Bond touch, good title sequence.
2. SF - Another Kleinman tour de force and and one of the best songs again for 20 years. Quieter and haunting which is no bad thing but lacks the kick in the bollocks factor of CR that blew you away on first viewing.
3. GE - Epic PTS which segues into a shameless brassy rip off of GF and the explosion down the gunbarrel of Kleinmans updated but classical titles. Bond was definitely back.
2. Goldeneye 2pts
3. Quantum Of Solace 1pts
2) Casino Royale - Best song of the modern era and great visuals too.
3) Goldeneye - The song is o.k. but, like Skyfall, it's much better when presented with the title sequence.
Honorable mention - TND. I was never a fan of the song so it loses some points for that but I really like the visuals even though some parts are quite dated now. Hey, this was cutting edge back in '97!
2) SF - 2pts
3) DAD - 1pt
I agree with the great man himself.
2. SF- The Oscar winning song is not as good as YKMN but the titles are utterly amazing in color, depth, and meaning.
3. GE- Despite the PTS becoming the worst of all the minute Bond goes running free (thankfully this aspect doesn't count in this poll), miraculously not getting hit by machine guns galore out in the open (were all these Russians drunk or just horrible shots?) and then compounded by a plane stunt only someone mentally challenged would believe, the Bono/Edge/Turner title song collab along with Kleinman's titles works very well. If only Bono/Edge had written the rest of the soundtrack :(
HM- DAD for the incredibly innovative title sequence. Would be in my top 3 for it's originality alone but then we are also supposed to be enjoying the title song, and well...
1. Skyfall Titles
2. Casino Royale Titles
3. GoldenEye Titles
2 points: CR (Imaginative, original.)
1 point: SF
Lowest of the lowest: QoS. My head spins, it feels like I have a drug induced fever when watching it.
More to the point why are EON acquiescing to Forsters urging that MK Dons (or whatever they are called) get the gig? I'm pretty sure he insisted they had to come on board.
Good call Marc - even Tamahori knew to leave it in Kleinman's hands.
34 POINTS: main title experience 'SF'
26 POINTS: main title experience 'GE'
23 POINTS: main title exoerience 'CR'
13 POINTS: main title experience 'TWINE'
06 POINTS: main title experience 'TND'
02 POINTS: main title experience 'DAD'
01 POINTS: main title experience 'QOS'
2. SF
3. GE
Sounds about right to be. We have impeccable taste here on MI6 Community, y'know!
2. Skyfall - The integration of the plot with Kleinman's imagery is spectacular. Adele's theme fits wonderfully as well.
3. GoldenEye - Love the song and the visuals hold up quite well.
2) Casino Royale
3) The World Is Not Enough
TND I can barely even remember, DAD I liked but the theme song ruined it, the QOS titles were poor compared to Kleinmans efforts and SF's titles were too all over the place for me to really enjoy. Seemed to shoot from one random segment to the next, I think Kleinman tried to cram too much into one sequence.