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Monday, November 10, 2008
What’s your favorite/least favorite Bond movie?
The new James Bond movie Quantum of Solace comes out this weekend, and anticipation is so sky high, there are no other wide releases Friday. I love the idea of studios running from Bond just like they do for a mega series like Harry Potter. ‘Bout time.
So to capitalize on that anticipation, I have a really simple question for you: What are your most/least favorite Bond movies and why?
Here are my five favorites:
Goldfinger: Bond fans endlessly debate whether 007 functions better as a rough and gruff spy, or as a slick, easygoing operator. This film is the perfect synthesis of both sides, and it’s one of my 20 favorite movies of all time, even if Bond does crack on the Beatles.
From Russia With Love: The best example of the early, tougher Bond, with what is still the greatest hand-to-hand fight of all time: the brawl on the train.
Dr. No: Other Bond films may be technically better than this somewhat rough early effort, but when I factor in Connery’s “Bond -James Bond” and Ursula Andress’ unforgettable entrance, I can’t not put it near the top.
Casino Royale: Still the only Bond film to make my 10 best list. (I mean, of course, the most recent Bond film, not the stupid spoof from 1967.) See my original review here.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: I debated between this and either The Spy Who Loved Me or For Your Eyes Only to represent Roger Moore, but in the end, the action and the emotional pull of OHMSS give it the edge. Oh, and Diana Rigg too.
It may be a little tough to pick the best films, but it’s beyond easy to pick the absolute worst:
A View to a Kill: No. That is not James Bond that slips down ladders, trips over railroad tracks and surfs to a cheesy cover of “California Girls.” Bad. Wrong. Impostor.
Need to jog your memory on the films? Check out my recaps of the prior movies:
1962-67: Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice
1969-1979: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker
1981-89: For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, Never Say Never Again, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights, Licence to Kill
1995-2006: Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is not Enough, Die Another Day, Casino Royale
Which among these is the best/worst?
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