SPECTRE Opening Titles Sequence

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  • dominicgreenedominicgreene The Eternal QOS Defender
    Posts: 1,756
    I used to be a fan of Kleinman. But I must be the only one who wasn't particularly keen on the opening titles. SF titles were way better. The CGI is so obvious. The "love" parts of the titles were also cringe inducing as the relationship wasn't as powerful as the film made it seem. The multiple eyes shot was extremely amature and uninspired, I could have done the same thing easily. The flame on Craig's shoulder looks bad. The octopus looked too fake and I fail to see the metaphor between Spectre in this movie and an octopus? It's not a clear metaphor and it ends up just being confusing rather than clever. The only things that looked stunning were the filmed for real silhouettes, the tenticle girl standing, Craig in the arms of the ladies, Craig shooting the gun, the smoke-haired girls, and the ESB skull.
  • Posts: 5,745
    I used to be a fan of Kleinman. But I must be the only one who wasn't particularly keen on the opening titles. SF titles were way better. The CGI is so obvious. The "love" parts of the titles were also cringe inducing as the relationship wasn't as powerful as the film made it seem. The multiple eyes shot was extremely amature and uninspired, I could have done the same thing easily. The flame on Craig's shoulder looks bad. The octopus looked too fake and I fail to see the metaphor between Spectre in this movie and an octopus? It's not a clear metaphor and it ends up just being confusing rather than clever. The only things that looked stunning were the filmed for real silhouettes, the tenticle girl standing, Craig in the arms of the ladies, Craig shooting the gun, the smoke-haired girls, and the ESB skull.

    Yes, the tentacle girl dancing will sit with me forever - I loved it. The rest of the titles? Not Kleinman's best (though that's still a complement). I liked the "eyes" scene as it felt very Hitchcock, though of course the film didn't live up to that (though I liked it!).

    But yes the transitions in SPECTRE's PTS were very lazy and unpolished, and the visuals weren't nearly as significant or striking as the dragons or burning targets in Skyfall's PTS.

    Also, the spectre of S.P.E.C.T.R.E. is a S P E C T R E, as in ghost - not an octopus. I see why the octopus could work, with multiple arms "reaching" around the world, etc, but I don't think it fit very well.
  • GettlerGettler USA
    Posts: 326
    Didn't the SPECTRE ring in FRWL resemble more of a ghostly skull than an octopus? Why this changed, I don't know, but the ghost symbol makes more sense given the name, however the octopus does signify the reaches of the organization.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Gettler wrote: »
    Didn't the SPECTRE ring in FRWL resemble more of a ghostly skull than an octopus? Why this changed, I don't know, but the ghost symbol makes more sense given the name, however the octopus does signify the reaches of the organization.

    It might have been because Syd Cain was production designer for FRWL while Ken Adam was away on Dr. Strangelove, and then Adam came back for TB, and might have changed it. Whether this is true or not, I don't know. Just a theory.
  • edited December 2015 Posts: 859
    deleted
  • JWESTBROOK wrote: »
    I used to be a fan of Kleinman. But I must be the only one who wasn't particularly keen on the opening titles. SF titles were way better. The CGI is so obvious. The "love" parts of the titles were also cringe inducing as the relationship wasn't as powerful as the film made it seem. The multiple eyes shot was extremely amature and uninspired, I could have done the same thing easily. The flame on Craig's shoulder looks bad. The octopus looked too fake and I fail to see the metaphor between Spectre in this movie and an octopus? It's not a clear metaphor and it ends up just being confusing rather than clever. The only things that looked stunning were the filmed for real silhouettes, the tenticle girl standing, Craig in the arms of the ladies, Craig shooting the gun, the smoke-haired girls, and the ESB skull.

    Yes, the tentacle girl dancing will sit with me forever - I loved it. The rest of the titles? Not Kleinman's best (though that's still a complement). I liked the "eyes" scene as it felt very Hitchcock, though of course the film didn't live up to that (though I liked it!).

    But yes the transitions in SPECTRE's PTS were very lazy and unpolished, and the visuals weren't nearly as significant or striking as the dragons or burning targets in Skyfall's PTS.

    Also, the spectre of S.P.E.C.T.R.E. is a S P E C T R E, as in ghost - not an octopus. I see why the octopus could work, with multiple arms "reaching" around the world, etc, but I don't think it fit very well.

    Totally agree.

    Kleinman has been great for a long time, but his titles for SP were a little uninspired. Personally, I feel he has run his course. The titles are becoming predictable and flat (and as some have said SP was pretty cringeworthy); I feel it’s time someone younger with a fresher eye took over.

    SP felt like Kleinman sleepwalking his way through the cliché rotes. I think an edgier and younger British graphic designer could have really made something more striking and memorable. I feel Danny has done some great work for the Bond films, but I really promote the idea of fresher blood. Otherwise, you can start to sense the staleness.

    The problem with Bond is that it’s a franchise built around traditionalism. The sheer notion of getting rid of one of the franchise’s stalwart with someone else is practically blasphemous. However, it’s one of the reasons the series has a tendency to become rather groggy and predictable. Really both Peter Lamont and Maurice Bonder should have gone in the ‘80’s.

    The octopus is slightly confusing. However, once you understand that it’s Spectre’s insignia, I’m not sure how much further explanation is truly required. Like the Immulanti with their ‘eye in the pyramid’ sign; it doesn’t need explanation; it’s merely there insignia. Plus there is something oily and menacing about the octopus as a beast. It does work; especially in the credit when Monica Bellucci’s name come up in the titles.

    The truth is that Kleinman’s back was up against the wall with SP; the title of the film and it’s themes of ‘the dead are alive’ would suggest a more sinister song and title sequence. However, Smith’s contribution wasn’t quite a comfortable fit for the film (even though I do like the song).
  • Perhaps it changed to an octopus in Thunderbball because of the heavily undersea themed parts of the plot?
  • zebrafishzebrafish <°)))< in Octopussy's garden in the shade
    Posts: 4,341
    I can not support the criticism. I enjoyed the SP title sequence and think it had stuff we had not seen before. Kleinman's doing extremely well and I think he still has a couple of ideas in him. The last time the titles were not produced by Kleinman, they were boring and felt like a rushed and uninspired job. Kleinman's age is not the problem, expectations are. With GE, CR and SF he has provided outstanding visuals, that's 3 out of 7, and the others weren't exactly ugly either. Kleinman has been free to stick to Binder's formula or not in the past, and both with and without girls' silhouettes, he delivers excellent work.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    edited December 2015 Posts: 28,694
    I personally love the SP opening titles. On first watch I found some of it disarming and rather uncomfortable with all the tentacles wrapping around figures and objects in the sequence, but on reflection it's a great visual metaphor for the control and power that both SPECTRE and Blofeld have; their tentacles are wrapped around everyone and everything. The dominating gold colors contrast ever so beautifully with the crisp monochromatic sequences, and the themes of tentacles, eyes, surveillance, death and ghosts are all there and work beautifully together. I find it extremely effective in not only being beautiful to look at but also capable of eliciting a sense of paranoia, discomfort and mystery. A winner, I say, and though I like the SF opening titles as well, I feel SP's beats it by far. I can't wait to see it in Blu-ray quality over and over.

    Looking back at all the past title designs, none grab me as much as Kleinman's. He has a really strong visual eye, and though I love Binder too, I feel he really fizzled out long before LTK and just produced the same old gun imagery with female silhouettes ad nauseam. His early titles in the Connery era are my favorites, and maybe that is because at that point the imagery didn't feel so overused and stale.

    I hope Kleinman still does the opening titles for many years to come. He really utilizes the technology of our time to create striking sequences that are unlike any I've seen in Bond.

    I even enjoyed the opening titles for QoS, despite it being sans-Kleinman. All in all, Dan's Bond films have produced some of my favorite opening titles in the series, right up there with Sean's films.
  • I've been wondering if those in the sequence from the past (Silva, Vesper, Le Chiffre) are really the actors themselves or just standins/lookalikes. Only Judi's M is for sure.
  • TokolosheTokoloshe Under your bed
    Posts: 2,667
    dire399 wrote: »
    I've been wondering if those in the sequence from the past (Silva, Vesper, Le Chiffre) are really the actors themselves or just standins/lookalikes. Only Judi's M is for sure.


    100% the real actors.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    dire399 wrote: »
    I've been wondering if those in the sequence from the past (Silva, Vesper, Le Chiffre) are really the actors themselves or just standins/lookalikes. Only Judi's M is for sure.

    I was wondering the opposite. It's pretty clear it's the real actors in the shattering glass part of the titles, but with M we only get an impression of Judi's face in clouds or smoke, so I think that's the one that's likely done with CGI. No stand-ins or lookalikes at all though, that I am certain of.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,304
    dire399 wrote: »
    I've been wondering if those in the sequence from the past (Silva, Vesper, Le Chiffre) are really the actors themselves or just standins/lookalikes. Only Judi's M is for sure.

    No one could ever stand in for Eva Green.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    echo wrote: »
    dire399 wrote: »
    I've been wondering if those in the sequence from the past (Silva, Vesper, Le Chiffre) are really the actors themselves or just standins/lookalikes. Only Judi's M is for sure.

    No one could ever stand in for Eva Green.

    There's also this.
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    edited December 2015 Posts: 10,591
    dire399 wrote: »
    I've been wondering if those in the sequence from the past (Silva, Vesper, Le Chiffre) are really the actors themselves or just standins/lookalikes. Only Judi's M is for sure.

    I was wondering the opposite. It's pretty clear it's the real actors in the shattering glass part of the titles, but with M we only get an impression of Judi's face in clouds or smoke, so I think that's the one that's likely done with CGI. No stand-ins or lookalikes at all though, that I am certain of.
    It's possible that they asked Judi to pose for the title sequence during the time she filmed her other scene for Spectre.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    jake24 wrote: »
    dire399 wrote: »
    I've been wondering if those in the sequence from the past (Silva, Vesper, Le Chiffre) are really the actors themselves or just standins/lookalikes. Only Judi's M is for sure.

    I was wondering the opposite. It's pretty clear it's the real actors in the shattering glass part of the titles, but with M we only get an impression of Judi's face in clouds or smoke, so I think that's the one that's likely done with CGI. No stand-ins or lookalikes at all though, that I am certain of.
    It's possible that they asked Judi to pose for the title sequence during the time she filmed her other scene for Spectre.

    Yes, that was something else I was wondering.
  • Posts: 92
    Surely they are just clips/images from the original movies?
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    dandan wrote: »
    Surely they are just clips/images from the original movies?

    Of course they are.
  • dandan wrote: »
    Surely they are just clips/images from the original movies?

    I can recall Silva's evil grin and Vesper's drowning, just not Silva sitting on a spinning chair. And I don't think the studios will bother pay the actors for just seconds of reshoot.
  • Posts: 92
    My comment was not a question.
    It seems clearly obvious that they will be existing footage.
  • GettlerGettler USA
    Posts: 326
    Silva wasn't in a spinning chair, it was during he reunion with M when he shifts around in his seat asking her "Are you surprised?"
  • Gettler wrote: »
    Silva wasn't in a spinning chair, it was during he reunion with M when he shifts around in his seat asking her "Are you surprised?"

    Thanks Gettler. And I think Judi's part was on her car on her way meeting Mallory.
  • dominicgreenedominicgreene The Eternal QOS Defender
    Posts: 1,756
    Judi's footage was obviously CGI masked with a "bad quality" video look. Same with the opening.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    Same goes with the old photos used of Le Chiffre, Greene, Patrice, etc. throughout the film, including the picture of Silva (which, to me, seemed obviously taken from the SF scene where he is imprisoned, making me wonder how Blofeld could've had a picture like that of him at all.)
  • royale65royale65 Caustic misanthrope reporting for duty.
    Posts: 4,423
    Same as how he's got a camera up in space to film the rockets in YOLT. ;)
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    Same goes with the old photos used of Le Chiffre, Greene, Patrice, etc. throughout the film, including the picture of Silva (which, to me, seemed obviously taken from the SF scene where he is imprisoned, making me wonder how Blofeld could've had a picture like that of him at all.)

    Well, I surmised that all those pictures were MI6 owned as they were on Q's laptop. What we saw were photos captured by MI6 or collected for their files that Q pulled to give Bond an idea of SPECTRE's structure. That's how I took it anyway.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    @0BradyM0Bondfanatic7, I figured that much, but I meant that the shot of Silva is obviously a still from SF, not something that anyone would have a picture of.
  • All the shots used were screencapyures from the previous Craig films. These are the shots they used in the opening titles:

    casino-royale-movie-screencaps.com-13085.jpg
    casino-royale-movie-screencaps.com-15961.jpg
    skyfall-movie-screencaps.com-9729.jpg
    skyfall-movie-screencaps.com-2253.jpg

    Also it was kinda strange to see a picture of such a minor character as Patrice on Q's laptop.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    @Pierce2Daniel, Patrice and Marco Sciarra are very comparable - both are SPECTRE assassins - so it was understandable seeing him in SP.
  • WalecsWalecs On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    Posts: 3,157
    EON must really hate Quantum of Solace.
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