Continuing with this week’s James Bond list, we will be giving our rankings of the series’ pre-titles sequences.
So what are your PTS rankings?
Here’s mine:
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TOMORROW NEVER DIES – I love the suspense and building tension of the PTS. Suddenly facing a near hopeless predicament with an inbound missile rapidly approaching that will destroy everything in the area, James Bond instantly assesses the situation and goes into action, quickly creating total chaos at the bazaar, which is so very much 007. I also love how those back at MI6 can only watch the action unfold from a single, motionless camera which only adds to their tension. Pierce Brosnan firing his machine gun from the cockpit is a great shot and his dispatching of the “backseat driver” and rival terrorist pilot is a really cool kill. Furthermore, David Arnold’s music underlaying the whole thing is fantastic. It’s a great PTS.
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GOLDENEYE – Two big stunts for the price of one (although only one was completely done for real). It’s a great setup for the new Bond (Brosnan) who, from the first shot, immediately becomes 007. I love the suspense built up as Bond hides behind the gas canister cart and maneuvers it over to the conveyor belt all to the sounds of one squeaky wheel–a really nice touch. Another totally Bondian escape up the conveyor belt.
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THE SPY WHO LOVED ME – No doubt a high one on most everybody’s list. Roger Moore’s intro is hilarious and the ensuing ski chase is very well done with a number of shots of iconic imagery. But, of course, the highlight is the end with 007 skiing off the mountain and deploying the Union Jack parachute. So good, so Bond. THE best stunt, not only of the whole series, but in all of film. Not to mention the outstanding Bond 77 tune from Marvin Hamlisch which perfectly covers all the action. The only reason this is not number one for me is because I like the totality of the PTS in the previous two films over TSWLM. But, again, you can’t beat TSWLM’s finish.
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MOONRAKER – Very similar to TSWLM. An intriguing start to the PTS capped by a really great stunt. A terrific idea to have Bond fall out of a plane without a parachute and escape, which is well performed and executed. The only negative is Jaws’ comic fall and highly improbable survival.
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THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS – Another great new 007 PTS. Timothy Dalton has arguably the best first introductory shot in the series, rivaled only by Sean Connery’s intro in Dr. No. He immediately proves his Bond will be different as he participates in a lot of the action–and it’s good, solid action. I love how he escapes from the falling jeep, which is foreshadowed earlier on when you see him repacking his chute. The James Bond Theme tune by John Barry is also excellent and I enjoy Bond’s “Better make that two” line.
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OCTOPUSSY – Another great example of how Bond can adjust on the fly when things go wrong. He initially fails in his mission to bomb the South American military complex, but he quickly manages to escape in that terrific Acrostar Bede jet, only to get a surface to air missile shot at him. But he takes that lemon and turns it into lemonade when he guides that same missile back to the military complex to destroy it–and it blows up spectacularly–with Bond neatly escaping out the back just in time.
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THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH – Another twofer, although the first part is not as big as the second part. Having said that, Brosnan’s escape from his predicament, is cool and he looks suitably all business in having quickly dispatched Lachaise’s men. And I love 007’s escape from the building–another great Bondian moment. The Thames chase is also well done, and who doesn’t like the Q Boat?
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SKYFALL – Nice motorcycle stunts and buildup of tension on the train. Again, another great Bondian moment (when doesn’t a PTS have one?) when 007 jumps from the backhoe scoop onto the train. Bond’s fight with Patrice is really good, and the tension is nicely built up with Moneypenny ready to shoot as the train quickly nears the tunnel. Only negative is that the fall is from so high making Bond’s survival highly unlikely.
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THUNDERBALL – The best of the “small scale” PTS’s. I love Bond punching the “widow”. It’s a nice touch and leads to one of the best fights of the series. Love the Bell Textron jetpack too. I just wish the stuntman hadn’t insisted on wearing a helmet, which doesn’t seem Bondian. Nevertheless, great stunt and PTS.
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GOLDFINGER – Great idea to have Bond slip out of his wetsuit sporting a tuxedo. Sean Connery is so totally Bond here and when he strolls into the cantina. A solid fight with Capungo as well. Well done all around.
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DIE ANOTHER DAY – Another entertaining PTS. A hovercraft chase is an interesting idea and the filmmakers do a great job with it. Another great Bondian escape from being initially captured. Really like how 007 dispatches all the North Korean soldiers in the smaller hovercrafts. I also enjoy his escape from Tan-Sun Moon’s out-of-control larger hovercraft and his ensuing “Saved by the bell” quip. It’s really good and has NOTHING to do with the American kids TV show of the '90s. Rather, it’s a phrase used in boxing where a boxer cannot be knocked and lose the fight if the ringing of the bell to end the round comes before the referee’s count of 10.
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QUANTUM OF SOLACE – This is a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, it has some great execution and ideas, and on the other the shaky cam and editing ruin those same execution and ideas. Every time I watch it, there’s a couple of shots I think the filmmakers should have included that would have looked great on screen such as Bond and the bad guys driving under the backhoe arm as they enter the construction site and it just never happens. The shaky cam and editing make it hard to really see what is going on and severely detract from the solid stunt work. Nevertheless, I can enjoy what I see enough and the end of the chase is excellent so all that elevates QOS to here but not enough to get it into the top 10.
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SPECTRE – Great continual one shot at the start of the PTS. Daniel Craig’s walk along the Mexico City rooftops to the tune of the James Bond Theme is excellent. I like how Bond slowly stalks rather than outright chases Marco Sciarra through the parade. A really good fight scene with Sciarra on the helicopter too. The only things that bother me is the horrible desaturation of Mexico City and the fact that during the helicopter fight so many bystanders in the crowd remain in place. If a helicopter was maneuvering that crazily and people fighting on board, I would think the crowd would scatter but they don’t here. I don’t know why it bothers me as much as it does, but every time I watch it, it takes me out of the scene a little bit.
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DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER – It may be a bit silly, but I still enjoy it. I like Bond kicking butt and taking names early on looking to get revenge on Ernst Stavro Blofeld killing his wife Tracy. I love how Bond helps Marie to get something off her chest. And I like the little fight with “Blofeld” and his goons at the end. It’s not the post-OHMSS meeting we were wanting, but, for what it is, I enjoy it. And hey, Connery’s back!
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CASINO ROYALE – Really solid, understated PTS. Like the idea of black and white for pre-007 Bond. It certainly adds texture and a sense of film noir. Good bits with Dryden and a really good fight with Fisher. But for some reason, it doesn’t quite grab me as much as it seems to for other people, Nevertheless, a good PTS.
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NO TIME TO DIE – Overly long, but it picks up with the appearance of Vesper’s grave. After that, it’s solid. And while I’m one who thinks the Aston Martin DB5 has been way overplayed in the Craig era, it’s really nice to see it in action, in a real chase again using its gadgets. And you cannot beat that overhead shot of Bond turning the DB5 in a 360, firing his machine guns, backed up by Hans Zimmer’s score with that testosterone-fueled Bond theme. Great stuff.
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FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Everything is well done except for that blasted “I’ll buy you a delicatessen–in stainless steel” line. Shudder. Arguably the worst line in the series. What were they thinking? Other than that, it’s a nice setup with Bond visiting Tracy’s grave and then having to escape the remote controlled helicopter. Great James Bond Theme is heard once Bond turns the tables. I’m of a mixed mind when it comes to dispatching Blofeld. I like the execution, but dropping him down the chimney does feel a little unceremonial. I always like to think Blofeld had some sort of parachute in his wheelchair and somehow escaped the fall.
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LICENCE TO KILL – Solidly done and sets up all the characters really well. And I like how Bond captures Franz Sanchez–again to another wonderful James Bond Theme tune, this time courtesy of Michael Kamen. But the PTS doesn’t grab me as much as some of the others, and I’m not sure why other than it’s maybe not “big” enough. Regardless, it’s part of my favorite Bond film.
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ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE – Another good setup for the new James Bond. George Lazenby shows off his 007 chops with a really good fight scene. I like his fourth wall breaking comment about “This never happened to the other fellow.” I wouldn’t want it in any other film, but under the circumstances with Connery being so iconic in the role, the producers needed something to assure audiences that it would be business as usual, and the line works. But never again. Interestingly, this is the only PTS where no one dies.
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A VIEW TO A KILL – It’s a decent effort, but nothing too special. Other than replacing that mystifying usage of “California Girls”, I’m not sure what could be done to make it better. But maybe, that song is what keeps the PTS from being good. I’ve never seen (or heard) of someone substituting another piece of Bond music for it, so I don’t know how much better it might make the PTS. Some good ideas in the chase (I like how Bond has to keep improvising to make his escape) but they’re ultimately negatively affected by the inappropriate Gidea Park tune.
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LIVE AND LET DIE – Nice set up with the three agents getting killed. I especially like the coffin scene. But ultimately, the PTS is held back by a lack of James Bond.
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FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE – The one that started it all when it comes to PTS’s. We can forever be grateful for that. It’s a nice setup and is well done. Very atmospheric and suspenseful. Bond looks odd, but we don’t know why till the end. It’s good, but it doesn’t really have 007, so it’s down here.
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THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN – Interesting premise in introducing us to the villain, but it feels a little gimmicky. Mainly, it just foreshadows the finale. And once again, no Bond means it’s lower down in the series. You’re just missing something vital without 007.
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YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE – This one does have Bond–for a little bit, but nothing too exciting. I like the spaceship swallowing up the space capsule and cutting off the astronaut’s lifeline, but it’s not enough to keep it from finishing in last place for me.