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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?
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Ask the Audience
Comments
By Sir Critic
November 12, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
Sandy: I think the thing to consider here is that “Casino Royale” was meant to wipe the slate clean and start over. If you’ll recall, the very first James Bond film, “Dr. No,” didn’t have Q either, even though the character was in the books. I don’t have a problem with Q’s absence so far, but if they go too long without bringing him back, that will be a mistake. For the record , the original Q, Desmond Llewelyn, died after “The World is Not Enough.” As for the series’ brutality, that’s actually pretty close to how Ian Fleming created Bond. Your mileage may vary.By Sandy
November 11, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
I found the latest James Bond Film…. Brutal….there were scenes that were copycats from the previous James Bond Films.. they have lost the sense of adventure and humour found in the earlier films…what a shame… Where was Q?By Sir Critic
November 11, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
This just goes to show what a wide variance there is on opinion on the Bond movies. I think “You Only Live Twice” was the first weak entry, but I will also defend “Licence to Kill” and even “Die Another Day,” though both are flawed. I have a soft spot for “Moonraker” because it was the first Bond movie I saw, but it doesn’t hold up - except for that opening parachute jump, which is one of the best teasers.By Mike
November 10, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this
My 5 all time favorites- Hard to argue with ‘Goldfinger’ and ‘Casino Royale’ and ‘From Russia with Love’, but I would add ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ -Roger Moore at his very best, and the classic villian Jaws. Plus the nuclear submaranies. I would also add ‘Goldeneye’to the list. Pierce Brosnan was able to combine Connery’s sauve secret agent, with Roger Moore’s witty quips and charm. That was before he got screwed by god-awful writing. That brings me to my least favorite ‘Die Another Day’ I seriously thought the franchise mgiht be dead when I saw this one in 2002… An invisible car, Ice palace, and space laser? Seriously? Moonraker was more plausable…By Rich
November 10, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this
My personal favorite Bond movie: From Russia with Love. Least favorite: Moonraker. Almost unwatchable.By Maddog
November 10, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
My Top 6 Bond Movies: From Russia with Love Casino Royale Gold Finger The Spy Who Loved Me Live and Let Die You Only Die Twice The 5 Worst: A View to A Kill Moonraker A License to Kill Die Another Day Diamonds are ForeverBy Sir Critic
November 10, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
ME: You would be referring to “Never Say Never Again,” which was not an “official” Bond film because it was made by a different production company that had the rights to “Thunderball,” which “Never Say Never” reworked. That’s why it didn’t have the usual gang. It’s no great shakes, but I think largely because of Connery, it works. It’s a masterpiece compared to “A View to a Kill.”By ME
November 10, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Of the older flicks with Connery I like From Russia with Love. But my recent fav is Casino Royal. It has class, great action and acting to boot! The worst - I can’t remember the name, but it’s the one Connery came back for that has no one we recognize in the cast. It sucks!