Every James Bond film roughly follows the identical tried-and-true components: a cold-open motion set piece to reintroduce 007 to moviegoers, a fantastically animated title sequence set to a theme track by a recent pop sensation, a megalomaniacal villain begins a daft plan, Bond is distributed to place a cease to it, and he falls in love with an interchangeable Bond lady alongside the way in which.
The opening motion scene is all the time one of the enjoyable parts of a Bond film and provides an early signal to viewers as to which sort of Bond film it’s: an excellent one, a not-so-good one, a darkish one, a foolish one, and many others. The finest Bond film openings have stood the check of time.
Updated on October twenty fourth, 2021 by Colin McCormick: No Time to Die carries on the custom of beginning the newest Bond journey off with a bang. Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007 options one of many longest opening sequences within the franchise full of some nice motion moments. But in a sequence that has gone on this lengthy, there are lots extra superb openers to think about that ship the sort of thrills and pleasure Bond followers count on to kick off the film.
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Though Bond has encountered lots of memorable villains over the course of his films, Blofeld is 007’s most iconic villain. The two confronted off many instances, however For Your Eyes Only appeared prepared to maneuver on from the character and took him out within the opening scene.
The sequence addresses the demise of Tracy Bond by the hands of Blofeld earlier than the mastermind makes an attempt to kill 007 with a remote-controlled helicopter. Bond is ready to take management of it and use it to choose Blofeld up earlier than dropping him down a chimney. It is a bit foolish however filling off the principle adversary within the first scene is memorable.
Moonraker (1979)
The opening sequences of the Bond films usually both arrange the villain’s plan or function Bond in the midst of a mission. Moonraker manages to perform each in its terrific pre-credit sequence.
It begins with an area shuttle being transported through airplane just for the shuttle to be hijacked, blowing the plan within the course of. The film then cuts to Bond assist hostage by villains on a aircraft resulting in an exhilarating skydiving motion scene. To make it even higher, the opening additionally sees the return of Jaws, among the finest Bond henchmen.
No Time To Die (2021)
As No Time to Die stands because the longest Bond film so far, it is smart that it additionally options one in every of the longest openings in the Bond series. The sequence covers lots of materials, starting with the unsettling flashback to Madeline’s childhood encounter with a masked man.
The scene then catches up with Bond and Madeline having fun with their life collectively just for the previous to return again to hang-out them. There are some nice stunt sequences, bringing again the gadget-filled automobile, whereas additionally beginning the film off on an emotional observe.
The Living Daylights (1987)
After Roger Moore stepped down as Bond after his lengthy tenure, it was Timothy Dalton’s flip to take up the function. Though Dalton’s Bond is unfairly missed by some, he acquired a memorable opening that performed on having a brand new face as Bond.
The scene encompasses a coaching train as brokers try and infiltrate a base just for villains with actual weapons to start choosing off the brokers. Each of the brokers seems like they might be the subsequent Bond solely to be killed. This finally builds to Dalton showing and exhibiting off his extra brooding tackle the character as he takes out the villains.
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
Pierce Brosnan’s Bond films all the time appeared to embrace the wild model of 90s motion films and Tomorrow Never Dies suits that invoice. It is an exhilarating opening scene wherein Bond screens an enormous arms deal and simply can not help however become involved.
While the explosions and gun combating are enjoyable, the perfect side of the sequence is when Bond steals a fighter jet and engages in a dogfight whereas battling a villain seated behind him within the cockpit. It ends spectacularly as Bond ejects the person instantly into the enemy jet.
From Russia With Love (1963)
The longstanding custom of pre-title motion scenes within the Bond franchise started with the sequence’ second entry, From Russia with Love, which opens with a lean three-minute sequence wherein a mysterious murderer stalks Bond.
After all these years, Robert Shaw’s portrayal of Bond’s would-be killer Red Grant nonetheless stands among the many most memorable henchmen within the 007 saga.
The World Is Not Enough (1999)
After British oil tycoon Sir Robert King is killed by an explosion in MI6’s headquarters within the opening sequence of The World is Not Enough, Bond chases the murderer throughout the River Thames on a speedboat that’s been loaded with devices by Q.
The chase ends on the Millennium Dome, the place Bond provides the murderer safety in alternate for her cooperation, however she refuses and kills herself by blowing up a scorching air balloon.
Thunderball (1965)
Following a funeral for the late Bond villain, Colonel Jacques Bouvar, within the opening scene of Thunderball, Bond arrives at a rustic house the place he reveals that Bouvar’s widow is definitely the baddie himself in disguise.
These sorts of surprises seize the spirit of the Bond franchise, and to high all of it off, 007 flees the scene on a delightfully absurd jetpack.
Spectre (2015)
On the entire, Spectre was woefully disappointing. It was a bloated, disjointed film that butchered the material of the Bond franchise in its makes an attempt to latch onto the recent new cinematic universe pattern.
But it did have a spectacular opening sequence, which noticed Bond finishing up an unauthorized mission in Mexico City in the course of the Day of the Dead celebrations. The scene includes a crumbling constructing and a helicopter spinning uncontrolled above crowds of individuals.
The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)
There aren’t many nice opening sequences from Bond films that don’t function Bond himself, however The Man with the Golden Gun is form of the exception to the rule. Instead of opening with 007 on a mission, The Man with the Golden Gun opens with elusive murderer Scaramanga coaching to kill 007.
The scene culminates in a duel between Scaramanga and his coach that fantastically foreshadows the climactic duel between Scaramanga and Bond.
Goldfinger (1964)
It checks out that Goldfinger would have one of many best opening motion sequences within the Bond franchise, as a result of it’s arguably the perfect Bond film of all, or no less than probably the most excellent instance of the familiar formula of the Bond series. The pre-title motion scene encapsulates what makes Bond films so enjoyable.
Sean Connery’s 007 emerges from the ocean with a duck on his head and vegetation explosives in a drug laboratory, then removes his wetsuit to disclose a never-more-suave white tuxedo.
Casino Royale (2006)
The first large set-piece in Casino Royale — Daniel Craig’s first outing as Bond and arguably nonetheless his finest — is the parkour chase, however that doesn’t seem till a number of scenes into the film.
The opening sequence is an origin story for Bond, detailing how he got here to be licensed to kill and given Double O standing by MI6, with black-and-white cinematography and intense combat choreography to determine the refreshingly gritty tone of the film.
Skyfall (2012)
Bond practically dies within the opening scene of Skyfall. In truth, going by real-life physics, he ought to truly die within the scene. A motorbike chase takes 007 onto the roof of a transferring practice, the place he fights a nasty man whereas Moneypenny tries to get a transparent shot from afar with a sniper rifle.
When she pulls the set off, the spherical she fires hits Bond, sending him hurtling towards the water under and permitting the baddie to get away in a merciless accident.
GoldenEye (1995)
The opening motion scene of GoldenEye launched Pierce Brosnan’s Bond to the world with a flashback set within the mid-‘80s. 007 infiltrates a Soviet chemical weapons facility together with his associate 006, who seemingly will get killed in the course of the mission however truly seems to be the unhealthy man.
The crowning achievement on this sequence is the bungee leap off the Contra Dam, which is taken into account in some circles to be the best film stunt ever carried out.
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Easily probably the most superior opening set-piece in Bond historical past is that of The Spy Who Loved Me, wherein Roger Moore’s 007 is engaged in a chase on skis by Soviet spies on the high of an Austrian mountain.
In one of the breathtaking stunts ever placed on movie, Bond skis off the highest of a big, icy cliff and freefalls for a number of hundred toes earlier than deploying his iconic Union Jack parachute.
About The Author
15 Best James Bond Opening Action Scenes
Source: Panapanahon News
0 Comments