10 Best Pre-Credit Sequences In James Bond Movies
3. The Spy Who Loved Me
Even after all these years, there has never been a stunt quite so daring, quite so innovative and so spectacular as what is delivered here. The impossible stunt occurs at the end of the sequence, with Bond attempting to ski away from an assortment of Russian agents. After taking out one of the agents on the way, agent 007 appears to have run out of mountain space to ski on.
We are then treated to a long shot of Bond skiing calmly off the top of the mountain before free falling for what feels like an eternity. With hearts in mouths, the audience watches until a parachute is pulled, revealing the Union Jack, a hilariously campy moment that just works.
The remainder of this scene isn't bad either, with some strong establishment of character motivations and key plot threads, including Russian spy XXX's warranted animosity towards Bond and the threat of two missing submarines containing nuclear missiles. The humour is also great, with Moore delivering a hilarious one liner when his traitorous lover states that she needs him. "So does England!" It's a great, fun line from a great, fun scene.