In which I watch Bond

[Gizmo]

So, things are slow around here, and I'm generally not much help, as I'm not very wordy and mostly lurk. But I have had 24 Bond films on my computer for a while, and have only seen 3 to 5 of them, mostly the newer ones. I'm transitioning, this weekend, to my 3 months of overnight shift, and therefore have much night to kill. Minus the 3 weeks I'm taking vacation, I'm going to try to watch the Bond films in order on the nights I'm off, ideally 1 a night. Then I'll write a couple sentences (yeah, that's my level of commitment/verbosity) about what I thought. Depending on how it goes, this could be 24 films commented on, sharing a single Bond; or this could be over by Casino Royale (the first).

[Gizmo]

1. Dr. No(Terence Young, 1962)
Bond: Sean Connery
Bond Girl: Ursula Andress

http://m.cdn.blog.hu/sm/smokingbarrels/image/Dr.-No-1962-4.jpg

A lot of iconic "Bond" moments right off the bat. I never realized this was the one with Ursula Andress' entrance. I thought that came later. No Bond gadgets, just a badass asskicker of an agent, who takes time to womanize along the way. I thought that overall this was fun. It started off with a bang, then dipped a bit in the middle, and picked back up in the end, when it reached a quick resolution. We barely met the big baddie before the climax, having to go with what we heard about him along the way more than anything. A decent start, and much to build on for the rest of them. 6.8/10

[Skitch]

Look forward to this! Ive been meaning to wrap up my Bond-a-thon for my reviews folder, maybe this will get me to. Its hard to watch em all in a stretch. LOT of garbage in there.

[Morris Schæffer]

Dr. No's already a masterpiece for me. I love it!

[Gizmo]

2. From Russia With Love(Terence Young, 1963)
Bond: Sean Connery
Bond Girl: Daniela Bianchi

https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/shrinknp_800_800/AAEAAQAAAAAAAANsAAAAJDc0YmMzND g0LTJiYjMtNGFmMS1iZDI0LTdmYjg2 ODRhOTVkMQ.jpg

Unlike Dr. No, the villians for this one were seen from the get-go. SPECTRE was introduced in a great way, setting the tone for that organization in the future. This film also moved better than the previous film, keeping the action and excitement up. I really don't know what Bond does to get these women, as he's abusive to them, and drops them as quickly as they fall for him. The Bond-isms weren't as good in this film, but I enjoyed it slightly better. 7.0/10

[Gizmo]

3. Goldfinger(Guy Hamilton, 1964)
Bond: Sean Connery
Bond Girl: Honor Blackman

http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article8435194.ece/binary/original/Goldfinger.jpg

This is the only classic Bond film I had seen before. With it comes the return of many iconic Bond moments, and possibly the two most "Bond" scenes, in the gold painted girl, and the lazor to the crotch scene with the "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die". It also marks a movement toward some campiness, leaving much reality behind in favor of action and adventure. Random explosions, Odd Job's magic hat, and the magic that is Bond's kiss to name a few. I really enjoy this one, as it starts off with some action, and never really lets up. 7.6/10

[Morris Schæffer]

I've always found Oddjob a rather sinister and creepy presence. Great henchman. Fantastic movie.

[Dukefrukem]

Yeh I need to do the same thing Gizmo is doing. I haven't watched a lot of the older bonds.

[MadMan]

I love the series. For me it didn't really become awesome until From Russia With Love.

[Morris Schæffer]

I love the series. For me it didn't really become awesome until From Russia With Love.

i was down with that shit right from the start. Big fan. I could watch Moonraker right now and enjoy the heck out of it, knowing, and agreeing, full well it's a lesser entry. But shit, john Barry, great set pieces, and Moore's eyebrows.

[MadMan]

I own all of the four Bond box sets on DVD that they came out with years ago. And I just finished my rewatch of all of them save for the Craig Bonds, which I've viewed multiple times. With the exception of QOS which I only saw once in theaters.

As for Moonraker it's a poor entry but not the worst Bond film.

[Gizmo]

4. Thunderball(Terence Young, 1965)
Bond: Sean Connery
Bond Girl: Claudine Auger

http://www.lassothemovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Thunderball-1965.jpg

An action movie that mostly takes place underwater. It's like Jaws 3-D, but with Bond. Jaws 3-D is my favorite of the Jaws (yeah, I said it). No, they're not the best produced, and oh so unrealistic, but I had so much fun watching this. Bond has more gadgets and more girls (I think he "gets with" 4 different ones in the course of the 2 hours of film). SPECTRE is back, and this time with nukes and ransom notes. The climax was a let down, and seemed to be sped up due to run time, where I wish they had cut something earlier instead and allowed the climax to have the time to play out a bit more. Still giving this one a 7.1/10.

[Gizmo]

5. Casino Royale(Hughes, Huston, McGrath, Parrish, Talmadge, 1957)
Bond: Peter Sellers
Bond Girl: Ursula Andress

http://www.asset1.net/tv/pictures/movie/casino-royale-1967/DI-Casino-Royale-1967-7-DI-to-L10.jpg

So I didn't know this was a spoof until I was looking up which of the two 1967 Bond films came first, and why 2 would be released the same year (though with '66 absent, it could have been a January/November type situation). But this is a spoof, but it has James Bond (multiples, in fact) and numerous sexy women and a silly spy plot. It was too long. 2 hours is a long time for a comedy, especially a spoof. There were a lot of fun moments, and overall it was pretty good. But there was a lot of dull time too. It played well as a Bond film, hitting numerous structures seen in the prior films. A lot of good talent in this production, but in the end it was off-base more than it was on. 5.6/10

[Morris Schæffer]

4. Thunderball(Terence Young, 1965)
Bond: Sean Connery
Bond Girl: Claudine Auger



An action movie that mostly takes place underwater. It's like Jaws 3-D, but with Bond. Jaws 3-D is my favorite of the Jaws (yeah, I said it). No, they're not the best produced, and oh so unrealistic, but I had so much fun watching this. Bond has more gadgets and more girls (I think he "gets with" 4 different ones in the course of the 2 hours of film). SPECTRE is back, and this time with nukes and ransom notes. The climax was a let down, and seemed to be sped up due to run time, where I wish they had cut something earlier instead and allowed the climax to have the time to play out a bit more. Still giving this one a 7.1/10.

If this is your way to get more people to check up on your thread, you've succeeded.:D

[MadMan]

I really like Thunderball. However Jaws 3 is baaaad.

[Gizmo]

6. You Only Live Twice(Lewis Gilbert, 1957)
Bond: Sean Connery
Bond Girl: Mie Hama

http://www.flickeringmyth.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/you-only-live-twice.jpg

It's been a while, but I've finally come around to the next installment. This one was surprisingly pretty solid for being a 5th installment, especially considering how campy Thunderball was. This was more straight forward and relatively realistic in it's over the topness. I liked the climax, even if it was predictable, and we've got a set-up for a showdown between Bond and Blofeld of SPECTRE. 6.9/10

[Grouchy]

You Only Live Twice is "relatively realistic"? The one where Connery successfully disguises himself as a Jap?

[Morris Schæffer]

Haha, true. That said, it's a lot of fun and engaging. Great set pieces, john barry doing some of his best work (capsule in space!!!!), fantastic locations, top title song and piranhas!

[Morris Schæffer]

Completely useless thing I learned today:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPBY6c5iuDg

The dude fighting Connery is Dwayne Johnson's grandfather.

[DFA1979]

Heh I forgot all about this thread. My favorite Bonds are:

1. License To Kill
2. Live and Let Die
3. Goldeneye
4. Thunderball
5. Skyfall

[Skitch]

Heh I forgot all about this thread. My favorite Bonds are:

1. License To Kill
2. Live and Let Die
3. Goldeneye
4. Thunderball
5. Skyfall

We share 3 out 5 same top 5.

My man.

[megladon8]

1.) From Russia With Love
2.) Licence to Kill
3.) Goldeneye
4.) The Spy Who Loved Me
5.) Skyfall

[megladon8]

IMO Die Another Day and You Only Live Twice are the two worst.

[DFA1979]

We share 3 out 5 same top 5.

My man.

High five but through the Internet cause we gotta social distance!

Good picks too, meg.

Die Another Day is the worst Bond ever. I thought You Only Live Twice was ok. DAD was the first Bond I saw in theaters haha.

[Skitch]

I think Tomorrow Never Dies is the worst of the Brosnans.

[DFA1979]

Eh that one is ok, too. Lots of ones in the series fall in the muddled middle.

[Morris Schæffer]

Goldfinger
Dr no
From Russia with love
Casino royale
The spy who loved me

HM: you only live twice, thunderball, Skyfall, license to Kill.

Worst: die another day, a view to a kill

Most have at least one memorable something. moonraker's 'flight into space' is one of the best things John Barry has ever done.

[Yxklyx]

4. Thunderball(Terence Young, 1965)
Bond: Sean Connery
Bond Girl: Claudine Auger

http://www.lassothemovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Thunderball-1965.jpg

An action movie that mostly takes place underwater. It's like Jaws 3-D, but with Bond. Jaws 3-D is my favorite of the Jaws (yeah, I said it). No, they're not the best produced, and oh so unrealistic, but I had so much fun watching this. Bond has more gadgets and more girls (I think he "gets with" 4 different ones in the course of the 2 hours of film). SPECTRE is back, and this time with nukes and ransom notes. The climax was a let down, and seemed to be sped up due to run time, where I wish they had cut something earlier instead and allowed the climax to have the time to play out a bit more. Still giving this one a 7.1/10.

My jaw drops whenever I think of what it took to film the climactic underwater battle.

[DFA1979]

My jaw drops whenever I think of what it took to film the climactic underwater battle.

Yeah those underwater scenes are spectacular.

[Skitch]

I think Tomorrow Never Dies is the worst of the Brosnans.

Correction: Die Another Day is the worst. You cut 40 minutes of that ice castle nonsense and theres maybe an interesting hr movie in there. Unfortunately that shit is so bad it makes the ludicrous newspaper selling business scheme of Tomorrow Never Dies less insane by 1%.

[StanleyK]

Dr. No (1962) - 5.5
From Russia with Love (1963) - 7
Goldfinger (1964) - 7
Thunderball (1965) - 5.5
You Only Live Once (1967) - 4
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) - 2.5
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) - 7
Live and Let Die (1973) - 5.5
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) - 2.5
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) - 5.5
Moonraker (1979) - 4
For Your Eyes Only (1981) - 7
Octopussy (1983) - 4
A View to a Kill (1985) - 4
The Living Daylights (1987) - 7
Licence to Kill (1989) - 7
GoldenEye (1995) - 5.5
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) - 4
The World Is Not Enough (1999) - 4
Die Another Day (2002) - 2.5
Casino Royale (2006) - 7
Quantum of Solace (2008) - 2.5
Skyfall (2012) - 7
Spectre (2015) - 5.5
No Time to Die (2021) - 5.5


Casino Royale (1967) - 1
Never Say Never Again (1983) - 5.5




Never was too keen on Bond, and indeed most of the movies are poor to okay at best, but after rewatching them I guess I can see the appeal. On a few occasions, everything clicks just right and you have a really smooth action picture.

[DFA1979]

Dr. No (1962) - 7.0
From Russia with Love (1963) - 10.0
Goldfinger (1964) - 9.0
Thunderball (1965) - 8.5
You Only Live Once (1967) - 6.5
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) - 9.5
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) - 8.0
Live and Let Die (1973) - 8.5
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) - 6.0
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) - 9.5
Moonraker (1979) - 5.5
For Your Eyes Only (1981) - 9.0
Octopussy (1983) - 6.5
A View to a Kill (1985) -7.5
The Living Daylights (1987) - 9.0
Licence to Kill (1989) - 9.0
GoldenEye (1995) - 9.5
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) - 7.0
The World Is Not Enough (1999) - 7.5
Die Another Day (2002) - 5.5
Casino Royale (2006) - 9.5
Quantum of Solace (2008) - 8.5
Skyfall (2012) - 9.5
Spectre (2015) - 9.0
No Time to Die (2021) - 9.0

Casino Royale (1967) - 5.0
Never Say Never Again (1983) - 7.5

Guess my ratings are inflated, I prefer the 100 system since it's better at separating movies a bit more. I'm a fan of the series, but they've only ever made one that I would consider to be Top 100 all time material, and even then I don't know if From Russia With Love cracks that list.

[MadMan]

Favorite Bond: Dalton, followed by Craig and Moore
Least Favorite: Lazenby, then Brosnan, I really like all of the Bonds, though.

Favorite Bond flick: License To Kill, Live and Let Die, Thunderball, Skyfall, The World is Not Enough, On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Favorite Bond villain: 006
Favorite Bond hench person: Jaws
Favorite Bond woman: Domino
Favorite Gadget: Too tough, the exploding pen, the countless times the cars have endless weapons, the watch, and of course the remote controlled car!

Favorite Car: Lotus, The Spy Who Loved Me
Favorite Villain Death Scene: Hugo Drax getting shot with a dart, then pushed out into space
Favorite Bond theme: Tough, Nobody Does It Better, Live and Let Die, Skyfall, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, A View To A Kill, The Living Daylights

Favorite M: Bernard Lee
Favorite Moneypenny: Hmm, tough, but still Lois Maxwell
Favorite Q: Desmond Llewelyn, of course
Favorite Villian Lair: Underwater sea fortress, The Spy Who Loved Me

[Skitch]

favorite bond film: goldeneye
favorite bond: dalton

[MadMan]

Oh I love Goldeneye, that one is pretty fantastic.

[Gizmo]

Wow, necro'd this one! I still am not any further in the chronological viewing, though I own the massive box set. I have seen most of the new ones, though.

[MadMan]

I didn't realize how old it was, honestly.