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Comments
Sometimes this approach works, but sometimes it doesn't.
I think the "SPECTRE" titles tried to focus on the ties between Bond and Blofeld. And obviously the logo of syndicate S.P.E.C.T.R.E. always has been an octopus. So its tentacles are....everywhere. They even reach to Bond's bed (which in a way is true, because Madeleine Swann and Lucia Sciarra all have ties to S.P.E.C.T.R.E.).
I think IMO the "SPECTRE" titles are very beautiful. On top of that, they seem to be the most erotic, much sex-heavy main titles ever since Maurice Binder did the same with his titles. Some people are disgusted by that, but I love that approach. Very Fleming-esque, very Robert Brownjohn-esque, as the females in the titles are brought to you in such realistic detail. You can even see skin textures.
So there's a bit of nostalgia in it as well. Which IMO is entirely logical. It was about time Bond was bedding more girls. Thus we had to see more 'sex' in the main titles (sadly, many conservative countries, like India, can not handle that anymore...).
I think what really works today and didn't work very very much during the Brosnan-era, was the amount of CGI. Back in the 1990's CGI felt colorless and dodgy. Ever since "Casino Royale" that changed and CGI actually enhances the realistic feel of the titles.
If I had to rank the last 8 Bond main titles, then they would look like this:
01. "SkyFall": In combination with Adele's theme song the most effective titles, as they are really like a trip through Bond's mind. He starts of like the healthy chap, and at the end we see that his face is a tad bit wrinkled.
(main titles by Daniel Kleinman/Framestore)
02. "Casino Royale": A wonderful throwback to 1960's main title design. Think of Saul Bass and indeed Maurice Binder's first titles for "Doctor No", and you know what I mean. Adding imagery of casino games and British Pound banknotes adds to the realism and the stakes the new 007 is up against.
(main titles by Daniel Kleinman/Framestore)
03. "SPECTRE": 3rd place, because of all the things I said above. Not so much a 'trip through Bond's mind', but certainly the first main titles since "The Man With The Golden Gun" and "Goldfinger" that focuses on the main villain as well.
(main titles by Daniel Kleinman/Framestore)
04. "The World Is Not Enough": I still love Garbage's song over these slow-moving titles. The oil theme was very effective. Though the CGI looks a bit dodgy at times, it is never as irritating as the 'visual noise' from "Tomorrow Never Dies".
(main titles by Daniel Kleinman)
05. "Quantum Of Solace": MK12 is underestimated if you ask me. If you look at all the independent stills/screenshots, you can actually see how the colors make the titles a unity. The theme of drought/sand/desert really adds to the arthouse-feel of the director's ideas. But the busy movements made me feel dizzy.
(main titles by MK12)
06. "GoldenEye": Good titles, heavy on plot and theme. Though I had to get used to them, especially after the simplicity of Binder's last main titles for "Licence To Kill". Seeing a gun coming out of a gaping female mouth was a bit...too much for me. Very...OTT.
(main titles by Daniel Kleinman)
07. "Tomorrow Never Dies": In two words: Too messy. The media theme didn't work very effective to me. And especially with these main titles the CGI looked quite dodgy. The color-negative effect didn't do it for me either.
(main titles by Daniel Kleinman)
08. "Die Another Day": In my opinion these titles were simply not that beautiful. Too moch depressive colors. And the fonts in red and black made these titles look rather dodgy.
(main titles by Daniel Kleinman)
Agreed. It's not Bond esque at all. Just a forgettable metal song.