Bond Pre-credit Sequences

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Bond Pre-credit Sequences

The Bond film series have a short pre-credit sequence at the beginning of each film that is used to introduce the characters and keeper the viewer watching, to keep them interested in the film. More importantly the pre-credit sequence communicates the type of film genre to the viewer, and similarities between each film’s sequences allows the film makers to ‘brand’ or  ‘tag’ each film so viewers can see at once it is a Bond film they are watching, and hopefully keep watching.

        Over the years the production techniques, as well as the actors, have changed. Technology has moved on a great deal and with every Bond film there is a high expectation to see new and exciting technology, and people aren’t disappointed.

        ‘Goldfinger’ released in 1964, was considered to have very modern, even futuristic surroundings when the public first saw it. But when compared to today’s effects it is very unrealistic. The only real special effects in ‘Goldfinger’ are an explosion, which is fairly realistic but only lasts about 3 seconds and only the fire is seen: not the actual building being destroyed, and an electrocution effect which extremely unrealistic because tee water turned red for some reason!

        ‘Goldfinger’ has little stunt work in it, only a fight, which suggests a small budget, ands another thing pointing to a low budget is the lack of extras.  

        When put in comparison with ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’, 1997, it is easy to see how technology has developed over the years, and how budgets have increased due the extra profit being made with each film. In this film, back projection is used to apply the image of Bond skiing on to the background image of a large mountain slope. The effect would, once again be very modern at its time but is crude when compared with how sophisticated it is today.

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        Other technology in the film includes a ticker tape watch and a music box communicator. Both of these have also lost their futuristic value and are seen simply as novelty gimmicks of Bond rather than possible items of the future. More extras are used in this film, indicating a rise in budget, as well as the amount of stunts done in the ski scene.

        1997 sees even more technological development with ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’, in which the pre’-credit sequence is action packed and full of weapons technology, it being at an arms bazaar. The MI5 office is shown in this ...

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