Anyway, three observations:
1. As has been noted elsewhere, this was highly influenced by this fan-made title sequence (http://youtu.be/oXOBHnWiinY), which Moffat saw and loved. I can well understand why. I'm not sure that I don't like the prototype better — the pocketwatch and Gallifreyan bits are nice adds — but it still works for me.
2. It also marks a clear shift from semi-somewhat-reality to symbolism and fantasy. Yes, clockwork gears and spirals of Roman numerals 1-12 are very apropos for a time traveler, but a far cry from the Modern Who original (pathways of energy through time, actually red-shifted or blue-shifted based on the direction). It's not a good thing or a bad thing, but it still strikes me as a thing.
3. On the other hand, the music was much more electronic, harkening back to the original series. That's surely meaningful as well.
So, overall, I like it. It's an interesting shift, bigger than the season-by-season (or doctor-by-doctor) evolutions we've seen before. I think it works well with the Doctor, and perhaps foreshadows some elements that Capaldi and Moffat are looking to bring to him. But I do miss the pocketwach.
I've always been a fan, I'm not sure why, of them having an image of The Doctor's face coming at us in the opening credits. From Baker's big smile to MacCoy's sly wink, I think it's a nice touch and liked how they did it here, as well. The eyes with the "cross brows"….
Yeah, that's a bit I'm glad they've brought back (the most recent Matt Smith theme had it, too).
Actually, the original Tom Baker theme wasn't all that smiling (http://youtu.be/hIgq2ClFlrQ); that's the one I always think of.
It was an interesting suggestion, btw, that the Doctor apparently has some influence over his regeneration — that he may have chosen the face he has. Which, given he half-recognizes it, actually creates a link back to Capaldi's previous appearance on the show in "The Fires of Pompeii." Which you can add to the mysteries being teed up for the series.
Huh….maybe I was thinking of the Colin Baker intro? They both had curly hair….yeah….that's the ticket…. ahem.
"It was an interesting suggestion, btw, that the Doctor apparently has some influence over his regeneration — that he may have chosen the face he has"
I liked that bit, as well.
I like the new title sequence quite a bit, but I think the new theme is a bit on the tinny side. It's not terrible, but I don't love it as much as some of the other past iterations.
+Les Jenkins Yeah, I confess I like the full orchestral version. But I'm okay with them shaking it up a bit now and again.
They've redecorated. … I don't like it.