Now I realise that these are, like most of the challenges on this list, a very personal thing. I’m picking a favourite of mine from each Bond (except Lazenby as there was only one). Not all them can be found online, so only a few are represented here visually.
Sean Connery
Both of these films have cracking opening sequences. Thunderball, despite being overlong, has the great fight after the funeral, the ‘rocket man’ outfit and the return of the Aston with all the gadgets. What’s not to love?
Then, of course, there is
Roger Moore
For Your Eyes Only has an opening sequence that I love for almost all of it, then drops the ball in the last 30 seconds. I adore the scenes at Tracy’s grave and the wonderful, knowing look he gives the headstone as he leaves, almost as if he’s speaking to her (watch it and you’ll see what I mean) and almost everything in the helicopter is really well done. I’m probably one of the few people who really likes Bill Conti’s score for this film and the pre-title sequence is no exception. The only downside is when he drops Blofeld down the chimney. I know it was EON giving the finger to Kevin McClory but given the rest of the film, it seems a little out of place in hindsight.
And then there is this one. I know the parachute is a bit corny but the ski-chase is excellent and the music always gives me a buzz too.
Timothy Dalton
I’ve always loved the opening to The Living Daylights. I like the way it starts off the whole Smiert Spionem plotline, Dalton looks hard as nails and John Barry’s final score for the series is brilliant.
Pierce Brosnan
I saw Goldeneye on the opening night in a cinema packed with Bond fans. The future of the franchise was riding on this film and the opening sequence was a blinder. The final shots where Bond manages to pull the plane up from a fatal nose-dive was ludicrous but brilliant and received a standing ovation from the audience – mostly for it’s cheek I think.
My other favourite is The World is Not Enough. The boat chase is superb and having it on the Thames gave it an extra frisson. I love the Remington Steele adjusting of the tie underwater and the spectacular (and painful) roll down the Millennium Dome. The added bonus is David Arnold’s wonderful score -one of his best Brosnan moments, in my opinion.
Daniel Craig
I love both Craig movies and have never understood the fan bile against Quantum of Solace. The pre-title sequence’s frantic energy gets me every time and when the Alfa Romeo goes off the cliff it’s shot in a beautifully unusual way. David Arnold turns in his best Bond score and it finishes on a freeze frame. Love it.
Casino Royale‘s pre-titles are, I think, perfect. Possibly the best ever…?
Well, first off, I have to agree with your comments about Quantum of Solace, I don’t know what everyone else was watching, I really don’t.
As for this mission…
The pre-title sequences to The World is Not Enough, The Living Daylights and Live and Let Die are some of my favourites, particularly Live and Let Die; it’s the only Bond film where Bond doesn’t appear at all, in any form, until after the opening credits but it doesn’t matter because the funeral procession in Harlem is brilliant and it ends with that wonderfully dark voodoo sequence.