Over-Dramatic James Bond Openings Live On in Blood Stone

[John Funk]

Over-Dramatic James Bond Openings Live On in Blood Stone

The future of the James Bond movie franchise may be in doubt, but one of its signature elements - a flashy and over-the-top theme song - will live on in the upcoming James Bond: Blood Stone videogame.


The James Bond movies are best known for sexy women, cool cars (and car chases), thrilling fights and nifty gadgetry. They're also well-known for having over-the-top full-length theme songs over the opening credits, like the classic crooning of Shirley Bassey for Goldfinger [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPiUMNrO2LI].

However, with the future of the James Bond films [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/100107-James-Bond-Finally-Meets-Defeat] may be no future at all. Still, there's a bright spot for Bond fans and people who like overblown theme songs over their opening credits: People are still making James Bond videogames, and they need theme songs.

The above video you see is the opening credits to Bizarre Creations' Blood Stone, a James Bond title scheduled to hit shelves in the last part of the year. The song is "I'll Take It All" by English vocalist Joss Stone [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joss_Stone], who also lends her likeness to the game as the Bond Girl du jour.

Honestly? I think the song itself is a great Bond intro that may be the best we've heard since Tina Turner's epic theme tune [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGPBFvDz_HM] to GoldenEye. The video, though? I find it personally underwhelming - and think they could do a lot better with the song they've been given - but that's just me, personally.

Maybe the upcoming GoldenEye 007 remake [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/101669-Original-GoldenEye-Dev-Calls-Remake-Flattering] might warrant a cool theme song of its own.

(Joystiq [http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/watch-the-james-bond-007-blood-stone-opening-credits/])

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[thenumberthirteen]

Quite good. Not the best Bond opening (I really like Casino Royale). My favourite Bond song is this opening to Quantum of Solace which was, sadly, never used.

<youtube=h6CoNUE5Zho>

 

[Ren3004]

You know, I agree about the video. The cars look bad and the silhouettes beating eaach other up and breaking into diamonds just remind me too much of the Casino Royale intro.

And the music is okay enough, I guess.

 

[Cabisco]

Quite good. Not the best Bond opening (I really like Casino Royale). My favourite Bond song is this opening to Quantum of Solace which was, sadly, never used.

<youtube=h6CoNUE5Zho>

I know what you mean, they really missed something great with that.

At first I thought it all looked rather good, but then I started thinking that the diamonds didn't actually look all that good, over used to hell.

 

[Loonerinoes]

More like James Bond: Blood from a Stone amirrrrrrrrrrite? /end inappropriate sarcasm

But yeah, it definately borrowed heavily from Casion Royale in the visual department. Song is pretty good I think, but again...'You know my name' stands as my favourite of all times, regardless of the movie being perhaps a bit too modern for the oldschool loyalists.

 

[oranger]

It sounds great, and the vid had its moments...but yeah, less car, more flash-bang-mint!

 

[darthzew]

I have some hopes for this one, though they may be misplaced. In my opinion, there was only one good Bond game and that was Everything or Nothing. It had all the actors, including hollywood actors that weren't even necessary to get the job done, and the gameplay was tight and very Bond-like. It was the ultimate Bond experience. If this is anything like that, I want it.

Just a side-note: Goldeneye is a fantastic game, but it doesn't have as many Bond elements to make as complete of a Bond package. That's not a dis, Goldeneye is one of the greatest shooters of all time.

 

[Don't Poke My Bobcat]

I think the game might be about Diamonds.

Also Joss Stone, Blood Stone. Conspiracy?

 

[Jared]

Always love the james Bond Themes, they always have this...epicness about them. I love this!

 

[ImprovizoR]

Too many people in that opening. It should be just Bond and those 2 girls and then some effects. One car maybe and that's it. What was all that Splinter Cell crap and helicopters? Completely ruins the mood of the opening.

Also that hand-to-hand combat reminds me too much of MGS3 main menu.

 

[Jonny49]

I love the song but the video...not so much. The cars and the helicopters really badly clash with the background.

 

[Random Argument Man]

John... You know Goldeneye doesn't need a new theme song.

Anyway, I hope Blood on stones and Goldeneye can sastisfy my deep hunger for more Bond.

 

[FungiGamer]

Quite good. Not the best Bond opening (I really like Casino Royale). My favourite Bond song is this opening to Quantum of Solace which was, sadly, never used.

<youtube=h6CoNUE5Zho>

I know what you mean, they really missed something great with that.

At first I thought it all looked rather good, but then I started thinking that the diamonds didn't actually look all that good, over used to hell.

ANYTHING would've been a better theme song for Quantum of Solace, hell the sound of a cow being mutilated would've sounded better than that godforsaken tune they used

 

[FungiGamer]

More like James Bond: Blood from a Stone amirrrrrrrrrrite? /end inappropriate sarcasm

But yeah, it definately borrowed heavily from Casion Royale in the visual department. Song is pretty good I think, but again...'You know my name' stands as my favourite of all times, regardless of the movie being perhaps a bit too modern for the oldschool loyalists.

Ya, as a long time fan I HATED that movie but I gotta admit, the song was pretty good even though it didn't really seem like any of the older songs (although I still prefer Tina Turner's Goldeneye)

 

[Gildan Bladeborn]

I was all set to not listen to that until I read "Joss Stone"; now I am intrigued, as I quite liked what I've heard from her in the past.

 

[Chipperz]

Ahh I think Joss Stone is a great singer, and this is a great song, but I have a confession - I think a Bond theme tune is shit unless it actually references the title of the Bond... Thing it comes from. Live and Let Die, The Spy Who Loved Me, Goldeneye. These are great Bond songs. Take it All, from the game Blood Stone, is a great song, but not a great Bond song.

Also, I have to dig out my old Joss Stone albums and burn them onto my iPod. I'd forgotten just how great her voice is.

EDIT - Also, that video is shockingly bad. Why does all this stuff with Daniel Craig in it seem set to destroy James Bond's once cool image? The worst part is that Daniel Craig himself is actually pretty good...

EDt 2 - Also, I forgot my favourite Bond song - Tomorrow Never Dies. Brilliant song.

 

[josemlopes]

I still prefer the "Everything or Nothing" intro

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEXKzDc0J-g[/youtube]

If the video doesnt work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEXKzDc0J-g

 

[Del-Toro]

I always loved the James Bond openings. It's nice to see that they at least will live on.

 

[Tom Phoenix]

Ahh I think Joss Stone is a great singer, and this is a great song, but I have a confession - I think a Bond theme tune is shit unless it actually references the title of the Bond... Thing it comes from. Live and Let Die, The Spy Who Loved Me, Goldeneye. These are great Bond songs. Take it All, from the game Blood Stone, is a great song, but not a great Bond song.

Also, I have to dig out my old Joss Stone albums and burn them onto my iPod. I'd forgotten just how great her voice is.

EDIT - Also, that video is shockingly bad. Why does all this stuff with Daniel Craig in it seem set to destroy James Bond's once cool image? The worst part is that Daniel Craig himself is actually pretty good...

EDt 2 - Also, I forgot my favourite Bond song - Tomorrow Never Dies. Brilliant song.

I agree with you. Throughout the history of Bond movies, it has practically become a tradition for every Bond movie to have a theme that holds the same name. However, ever since Casino Royale, this has changed....I can't understand why.

Anyway, while I didn't watch the movie, my personal favourite Bond song is The Living Daylights by A-ha.


I am a big fan of 80's music and this is was another great contribution of that time period.

On topic, this trailer is very similar to the intro of Casino Royale. It's preety well done. Not exactly the greatest intro of all time, but certainly fitting for a Bond game.

It is interesting, really. Depending on the success of this video game and considering the situation at MGM, we could very well see Bond turn into a primarily video game franchise. But of course, that entirely depends on how Blood Stone works out. The fact that Everything or Nothing, the first original Bond video game, was highly regarded certainly is a good sign.

EDIT: Oh, I almost forgot. As always, Weird Al knows how to make a good Bond-like song: