Ranking Every James Bond Opening Scene From Worst To Best
2. Skyfall
As I've noted many times throughout this article, the James Bond movies often begin right in the middle of the action. This technique has been used wonderfully throughout this series, but the most successfully use of it was in Skyfall.
Bond and Moneypenny are in Istanbul chasing Patrice, a mercenary that stole a hard drive containing details about all of Mi6's undercover agents. The scene begins on a somber but memorable note as M orders Bond to leave fellow agent Ronsan to die and pursue Patrice. The conflicting priorities of M and Bond at this moment adds effectively deepens both of these characters.
This fast-paced opening soon transitions into a motorcycle chase, and Roger Deakins' cinematography magnificently captures all of the action. The rooftop motorcycle ride is original and respectably directed, and unlike Sam Mendes' other Bond film Spectre, Skyfall's opening scene is thankfully devoid of distracting CGI.
The motorcycle chase leads to an even more impressive set-piece, the train. Bond follows Patrice on top of a train as Moneypenny drives alongside them. Patrice disconnects the train car 007 is standing on, and he catches up to the henchman with one of the most unique and memorable stunts in franchise history; he uses a construction cat to hook onto the train and then jumps from the cat to the train, fixing his suit as soon as he lands. It just doesn't get more Bond than.
Patrice and Jame continue to duke it out on top of the train until M makes a judgement call; she has Moneypenny shoot Patrice from a distance. Although hesitant, Moneypenny pulls the trigger, and accidentally shoots Bond. This unexpected ending is just one of the countless qualities of Skyfall's opening scene, and it sets up an incredible movie. The opening scene of Skyfall is astonishing, but there is one that's even better...