The new gun barrel

jbfreak · November 2006

What are your thoughts on the new gun barrel sequence? I am kind of a fan of the traditional sequence but I think that CR's gun barrel was much better than DAD's. The part that made this gun barrel so good was the story line that lead up to the gun barrel.

Also, what are your thoughts on the intro music video? The only thing I have to say is WHERE DID THE GIRLS GO???

highhopes · November 2006

I thought it was a skillfull way of re-introducing an old James Bond standby and linking the new with the past. I don't get why some people are so put off by it.

RogueAgent · November 2006

I just want to see those white dots dance across the screen and see Craig pull off his version of the pose in the CR follow-up; it should remain one of the mainstays for this franchise regardless of how newfangled this Bond reboot is going to be.

I wasn't put off with this new approach too much because I'm under the impression it was an inauguration of sorts after 4 long years...but let's get back to some tradition I hope.

Golrush007 · November 2006

I quite liked the concept used in Casino Royale, but the execution of it wasn't as good as I had hoped. The gunbarrel image didn't look as good as the traditional one. The one used in the teaser trailer was better in my opinion. The whole gunbarrel sequence was a bit of a blink and you'll miss it thing. It went by a bit quickly I thought.

Of course, its a bit of a nit-picky thing, and Casino Royale was a great film so why complain?

TonyDP · November 2006

As a one time way of introducing Craig, I was fine with it; it did fit into the context of the PTS. However, I thought the actual look of the gunbarrel and the blood was pretty weak compared to previous versions.

Going forward, as Rogue said, I'd like to see a return to a more traditional introduction with the white dots and the iris effect into the gunbarrel. It's an iconic trademark and I'd hate to see it abandoned permanently.

Andy A 007 · November 2006

I thought it was a fantastic way of doing the gunbarrel for what is supposed to be Bond's first adventure. When I first saw the new design of the actual look of the gunbarrel on BECOMING BOND I didn't like it much, but its growing on me. The way Kleinman did the blood in CR was very cool looking.

As for the lack of girls in the titles sequence, I didn't miss them all that much. If you think about it in the sense that its the beginning, and he doesn't become the Bond that we know until the end of the film, the girls in the TS just wouldn't be appropriate. The fighting men in suits along with the card graphics was perfect for the tone of the film, IMO.

Professor Dent · November 2006

I think it worked well in the context of this movie. The 3-D look on the oozing blood that made it appear to be pouring over top of the screen was interesting.

But, with that being said, there is nothing like sitting in a crowded theater & watching the white dots move across the screen while the James Bond theme is playing. I hope the next movie gets back to the traditional gunbarrel we are used to.

Joe

Moore Not Less · November 2006

Golrush007 wrote:

I quite liked the concept used in Casino Royale, but the execution of it wasn't as good as I had hoped. The gunbarrel image didn't look as good as the traditional one. The one used in the teaser trailer was better in my opinion. The whole gunbarrel sequence was a bit of a blink and you'll miss it thing. It went by a bit quickly I thought.

Of course, its a bit of a nit-picky thing, and Casino Royale was a great film so why complain?

Totally agree. I could not have put it any better myself, Golrush.

Hammerfist · November 2006

I loved it this time. It was pretty well done in the end, and simply made sense going down to it. (Spoiler ahead? Kinda...) James Bond had never killed before the PTS and it would make sense that that as that was his first kill, his first Gunbarrel sequence. Just like we never hear the Bond theme fully or hear him say the phrase until the end. The theme slowly builds up as Bond builds up more and more of his signature character. Another few notes are added on, and then another, until in the end, he finally becomes James Bond and the theme blares forth.

I think next time they'll do it like usual. Certinaly hope they do.

PS- Though I do agree the barrel itself was not 100% as good as it could've been quality-wise.

FightingIrish · November 2006

Considering the context of the film, I liked it. And they pulled it off better than I expected.

As for the titles, I absolutely loved it. I thought it was a nice break from the usual silhouettes of naked women writhing around to an overwrought ballad. The rotoscoping and graphics were brilliant. A very retro Saul Bass-feel to them.

I applaud the producers and Daniel Kleinman for doing something unexpected here, and I think they have a winner here. Among my favorite title sequences in the series. And no, I don't miss the girls this time around. Some of the TS's with the women were rather cringe-inducing and forced. I'm glad they went this way this time around.

Overall, CR was excellent. One of my favorite Bond films. And Craig is second only to Connery.

Barry Nelson · November 2006

I didn't care for the gun barrel, I prefer the classic white dots. I also didn't care for the titles, I thought they were boring and uninspired.

Lyle Dark-008 · November 2006

I agree.

Mr Martini · November 2006

Biggest surprise, the line Craig says during the torture scene, you know, the line about scratching

Biggest disapointment, the title song. I think it was too hard of music for this movie. I would of prefered a slower, better written version of YNMN. It would of fit the slower tone of the movie.

Overall though, this movie was awesome. I'm trying to get someone to go with me next time, but it looks like I'll be going alone again.

down2000 · November 2006

One word...awful!

scottmu65 · November 2006

Personally, i liked the run-up to the gunbarrel, but didnt like the look of the gunbarrel etc as im used to seeing the originals, but the second time i saw CR i loved it, i think its far better looking than the older ones, and that blood was so cool, as for the music/credits, i loved that aswell, the card graphics was amaxing, didnt notice the girls were gone to be honest!

emtiem · November 2006

I've no problem with it- I wonder if it it's actually clear what it is, though? I think the whole idea was to show us what this funny iris thing is, but apart from the blokey raising his gun I'm not sure there's much explanation is there? Still, after the GoldenEye credits and TND teaser trailer, I think most people probably know what it's supposed to be.

Agent Wade · November 2006

How does one reinforce the norms of such an old franchise while at the same time keeping it new? It goes into Fleming’s description of what it takes for Bond to become 007. He needs two kills to his name. And so instead of starting the movie with the usual (and expected) gun barrel sequence, we instead get to see a black and white noir-ish scene interlaced with grainy black and white footage of a brutal conflict in a lavatory. We understand that these are to be Bond’s first two kills. In a clever work of editing, we get to see the second kill before the first. Why? Because the first one ends with the view through a gun barrel of Bond standing against a white wall, he turns to face his opponent and fires one shot straight ahead. Crimson blood pours down the screen, and then we are treated to the opening titles.

Elation comes in so many forms, but none so much as being gratified so much by something that has kept you bated for four years. The gun barrel is a mere sequence that hardly lasts more than 15 seconds at the most. Casino Royale’s decision to make the audience work for it is one of the best decisions that I could ever hope for.

The title sequence by Daniel Kleinman features psychedelic representations of silhouetted spies running amok amid lethal playing card and casino motifs. All is loosely matched to subtle a rock theme by Chris Cornell entitled “You Know My Name.” It’s a song that has the capacity to grow on someone after each listening, and it has. The titles also sustain and depart from the established norm. They contain silhouettes, which have become unanimous with the style of Maurice Binder. However a lack of any representation of the female form is seen, which lends it to more reminiscent of the opening title for Dr. No while also looking somewhat like the titles for Licence to Kill. The silhouettes are of Bond and several nameless assailants in various forms of combat while at the same time being pitted at the mercy of lethal playing card accents. We are also treated to a teaser image of the Bond girl when a gun sight crosses over a queen’s face revealing Eva Green who plays Vesper Llynd. The titles conclude with a slowly on-walking silhouette that transforms into Daniel Craig. And while considering the development of story during the titles, it lends itself to Die Another Day too strangely enough in that Bond's status upgrade to 007 is confirmed.

A repeat viewing lent me to consider that the way things started out in this film were the very best that they could be. That is merely my opinion, but I am incredibly thankful for how it came about. Yet having said that, I hope they never ever do it again. CR is the only Bond film that should permit allowance to this kind of departure. When Bond 22 starts, I better see those white tracer dots again.

emtiem · November 2006

One thing that impressed me about the titles was the amount of stunt work that went into them- usually all they have to do is get some girls to jig around but those fights and falls must've taken quite a bit of work.

Agent Wade · November 2006

I was watching the titles pirated on Youtube, and I noticed something that I hadn't the first two times.

When the gunsight passes over the queen's face to reveal Vesper, you see that it's the queen of hearts. But when the image lifts upward, you see that the other side is the queen of spades. Interesting little nod to the flaw in her character.

General_Ourumov · November 2006

I don't even remember much about the gunbarrel except that it led on directly from the sequence in the bathroom. Apart from the rather ridiculously fake-looking raspberry-sauce type blood which trickled down the screen, I had no real complaints with it.

As for the titles sequence, I don't think the girls are that essential - I thought it was fantastic; very stylistic, classy and original for a Bond film. "You Know My Name" was the icing on the cake; great theme.

delliott101 · November 2006

With all the hate I heard about the titles and song before I saw CR, I was surprised at how much I liked both. The titles are very retro, yet modern. It reminded me of something from the '60's and the title song was awesome.

The gunbarrel... for this film only it works... BUT I hope that they go back to tradition with Bond 22 and all that follow. There's nothing like going to a Bond film and seeing that sequence and knowing you are going of on another adventure with 007. Oh, and no CGI bullets like DAD had!

Virgil · November 2006

While I think it worked reasonably well in this context, I would love to see it come back to the traditional look and style for the next one. It´s the only thing that shouldn´t be tinkered with, IMO.
By the way. Anyone realised that the falling blood wipes DC in the gunbarrel, whereas normally Bond can be seen through it? The only time it happened before was in OHMSS.

carver97 · November 2006

Something I noticed was that the gunbarrel didn't sway left to right after Bond fires.

Theres probably some kind of reason behind this, but its just something I noticed.

Johnny Danger · November 2006

I wasn't crazy about the CR gun barrel sequence, nor did it particularly bother me to see them finally giving it more than just a subtle twist for a change. I'd like to see them do a completely different one in every film, but I'd hate for them to do away with it completely.

The new gun barrel

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