Favorite Funny Moments
bigzilcho
Toronto, ONPosts: 245MI6 Agent
A key ingredient to the the Bond series is its sense of humor.
Every Bond film has a number of comic moments that are near and dear to the the heart of every Bond fan.
I would like to point out some of my favorite moments that gives me a chuckle.
Any input is, of course, greatly appreciated, but this thread is for the Bond-fan that wants to share the joy of a treasured moment, not denigrate it.
In other words, cheap shots ("Its so bad, its funny.") are not welcome. I want to hear what scenes or lines put a genuine smile on a Bond-fan's face.
DN- "007, leave the Baretta." The first Bond/M scene instantly captures the father/son dynamic. 007, world's greatest spy, tries to fake out the old man. M handles Bond like he was a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar.
Check out Bond's silent appreciation at getting caught when he hands back the gun. Wonderful moment.
FRWL- "She should have kept her mouth shut." A classic scene of tension topped by a perfect one-liner. 'Nuff said.
GF- Bond following Goldfinger in Switzerland. A pretty girl in a convertible speeds by. Bond instanty starts to give chase but stops, realizing duty calls. "Discipline, 007, discipline." he wearily mumbles to himself.
The totality of Bond summed up in 5 seconds
TB- "Strange as it may seem..I've grown accustomed to your face." A perfectly delivered line by Connery as Bond compliments Fiona in their dance of death. Bonus comic points for Fiona's reaction.
YOLT- Bond chasing Aki stumbles down a floor opening to...land in a very comfortable chair. "Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond." The ablility of the series to alleviate a tense moment with a sudden comic touch is one its greatest achievements. Playing with audience expectations is something the Bond films did BETTER than anyone before 1962 (with the exception of Hitchcock perhaps).
OHMSS- Bond ("Its Hilly") at Piz Gloria, looking for some fun, is shocked to see the grotesque gargoyle face of Irma Bunt. A laugh tinged with shock, it is perfectly handled by Lazenby, as Bond looks for a second to start laughing himself before he gets knocked out.
DAF- "I have a brother."
"Small world."
LALD- A terrific comic touch when Bond and Solitaire are captured by the NewYork cabbie. ("Well, hello there Jim. Relaaaaaaax, Mr. Big wants to see you.") A gloriously funny moment for henchmen everywhere.
TMWTGG- Bond awakens to find himself a prisoner at a karate school. As he watches a match which ends with death, Bond is cared for by some lovely ladies. A new student appears and the ladies, with the loveliest of manners and smiles, beckon Bond to join the festivities.
TSWLM- Bond (and magnet) vs. Jaws. The moment where Bond fakes out Jaws to look up is one of those hilarious moments that must be put in the Comedy Hall-Of-Fame. Simply put, one of Roger's greatest moments and a comic touch that is absolutely Bondian
MR- The classic scene between Bond and Jaws in the Rio alleyway. From beginning to end, one of the great scenes in the series to combine menace and humor. Check out the marvelous moment when Bond and Jaws exchange the friendliest of smiles, one could swear they almost look glad to see each other. A fantastic scene.
FYEO- Some Bond-fans may grumble at this choice, but to a Canadian, Bond getting attacked by hockey players, is fun with a capital F. Extra points for the goal buzzer. And when 007 dispatches a thug with the Zamboni, for a second, Bond is an honorary Canuck.
OP- Gobinda crushes the loaded dice as he give Bond the death-stare. A tip of the henchman hat to Oddjob, to be sure, but check out Bond's reaction. Being threatened by henchmen is an hourly occurence for 007, so no sweat. Gobinda will soon be on the henchman menu that Bond has for breakfast.
AVTAK- Roger Moore and Patrick Magee. The producers wasted a golden opportunity in killing off Magee. If you needed a Britsh Felix Leiter, old John Steed was a perfect fit. A welcome comic foil for 007.
LTD- Bond and Kara on the run. Kara wants her cello. Bond says no. Cut to Bond waiting in the car like every husband in the world, waiting for his wife to finish shopping. Bond has saved the world, but he is no match for the whims of a damsel in distress.
LTK- Bond smashes the face of a Sanchez thug and tells the waitress: "He's had enough." Dalton humorless and without charm? I disagree. He's no Roger, of course, but the laughs are there if you look.
GE- "Sorry about the leg, Q. Skiing?"
KA-BOOOOOM!
"Hunting!"
After an absence of 6 years and a new Bond, there was not a Bond-fan in the world who wasn't laughing with glee at this moment. The smile on Q's face is absolutely priceless.
TND- There is a blink-and-you'll miss it moment of hilarity. Bond, looking sharp in a naval uniform meets old CIA friend Joe Don Baker, who is dressed like, shall we say, a beach bum. Check out Bond's disapproving reaction to Wade's attire. Hilarious.
It is one thing to save the world, but there is no point if one cannot be dressed like a gentleman in the process.
TWINE- "If I don't get those missiles back, someone will have my ass."
"First things first."
A moment and one-liner that Pierce hits out of the park.
DAD- John Cleese as Q. 'Nuff said.
When the Bond magic is working, that fine line between balance menace and humor, the audience feels the glee of a roller-coaster ride.
Its been said that the films contain a humour that is not found in the books, and that is true. The wink towards the audience has been there since 1962.
Terence Young infused Bond with a lighter-than-air sense of humor and succeeded gloriously. Since that first night in October 1962, when the audience laughed and cheered along to every bit of tom-foolery , Bond has set the standard for audience participation.
So here's to the movies greatest action hero, a man in a tuxedo who can save the world with a touch of brutality and a twinkle in his eye.
And lets not forget the comic timing of a master comedian.
"Its for my ice-skates."
"Lovely sport."
Every Bond film has a number of comic moments that are near and dear to the the heart of every Bond fan.
I would like to point out some of my favorite moments that gives me a chuckle.
Any input is, of course, greatly appreciated, but this thread is for the Bond-fan that wants to share the joy of a treasured moment, not denigrate it.
In other words, cheap shots ("Its so bad, its funny.") are not welcome. I want to hear what scenes or lines put a genuine smile on a Bond-fan's face.
DN- "007, leave the Baretta." The first Bond/M scene instantly captures the father/son dynamic. 007, world's greatest spy, tries to fake out the old man. M handles Bond like he was a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar.
Check out Bond's silent appreciation at getting caught when he hands back the gun. Wonderful moment.
FRWL- "She should have kept her mouth shut." A classic scene of tension topped by a perfect one-liner. 'Nuff said.
GF- Bond following Goldfinger in Switzerland. A pretty girl in a convertible speeds by. Bond instanty starts to give chase but stops, realizing duty calls. "Discipline, 007, discipline." he wearily mumbles to himself.
The totality of Bond summed up in 5 seconds
TB- "Strange as it may seem..I've grown accustomed to your face." A perfectly delivered line by Connery as Bond compliments Fiona in their dance of death. Bonus comic points for Fiona's reaction.
YOLT- Bond chasing Aki stumbles down a floor opening to...land in a very comfortable chair. "Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond." The ablility of the series to alleviate a tense moment with a sudden comic touch is one its greatest achievements. Playing with audience expectations is something the Bond films did BETTER than anyone before 1962 (with the exception of Hitchcock perhaps).
OHMSS- Bond ("Its Hilly") at Piz Gloria, looking for some fun, is shocked to see the grotesque gargoyle face of Irma Bunt. A laugh tinged with shock, it is perfectly handled by Lazenby, as Bond looks for a second to start laughing himself before he gets knocked out.
DAF- "I have a brother."
"Small world."
LALD- A terrific comic touch when Bond and Solitaire are captured by the NewYork cabbie. ("Well, hello there Jim. Relaaaaaaax, Mr. Big wants to see you.") A gloriously funny moment for henchmen everywhere.
TMWTGG- Bond awakens to find himself a prisoner at a karate school. As he watches a match which ends with death, Bond is cared for by some lovely ladies. A new student appears and the ladies, with the loveliest of manners and smiles, beckon Bond to join the festivities.
TSWLM- Bond (and magnet) vs. Jaws. The moment where Bond fakes out Jaws to look up is one of those hilarious moments that must be put in the Comedy Hall-Of-Fame. Simply put, one of Roger's greatest moments and a comic touch that is absolutely Bondian
MR- The classic scene between Bond and Jaws in the Rio alleyway. From beginning to end, one of the great scenes in the series to combine menace and humor. Check out the marvelous moment when Bond and Jaws exchange the friendliest of smiles, one could swear they almost look glad to see each other. A fantastic scene.
FYEO- Some Bond-fans may grumble at this choice, but to a Canadian, Bond getting attacked by hockey players, is fun with a capital F. Extra points for the goal buzzer. And when 007 dispatches a thug with the Zamboni, for a second, Bond is an honorary Canuck.
OP- Gobinda crushes the loaded dice as he give Bond the death-stare. A tip of the henchman hat to Oddjob, to be sure, but check out Bond's reaction. Being threatened by henchmen is an hourly occurence for 007, so no sweat. Gobinda will soon be on the henchman menu that Bond has for breakfast.
AVTAK- Roger Moore and Patrick Magee. The producers wasted a golden opportunity in killing off Magee. If you needed a Britsh Felix Leiter, old John Steed was a perfect fit. A welcome comic foil for 007.
LTD- Bond and Kara on the run. Kara wants her cello. Bond says no. Cut to Bond waiting in the car like every husband in the world, waiting for his wife to finish shopping. Bond has saved the world, but he is no match for the whims of a damsel in distress.
LTK- Bond smashes the face of a Sanchez thug and tells the waitress: "He's had enough." Dalton humorless and without charm? I disagree. He's no Roger, of course, but the laughs are there if you look.
GE- "Sorry about the leg, Q. Skiing?"
KA-BOOOOOM!
"Hunting!"
After an absence of 6 years and a new Bond, there was not a Bond-fan in the world who wasn't laughing with glee at this moment. The smile on Q's face is absolutely priceless.
TND- There is a blink-and-you'll miss it moment of hilarity. Bond, looking sharp in a naval uniform meets old CIA friend Joe Don Baker, who is dressed like, shall we say, a beach bum. Check out Bond's disapproving reaction to Wade's attire. Hilarious.
It is one thing to save the world, but there is no point if one cannot be dressed like a gentleman in the process.
TWINE- "If I don't get those missiles back, someone will have my ass."
"First things first."
A moment and one-liner that Pierce hits out of the park.
DAD- John Cleese as Q. 'Nuff said.
When the Bond magic is working, that fine line between balance menace and humor, the audience feels the glee of a roller-coaster ride.
Its been said that the films contain a humour that is not found in the books, and that is true. The wink towards the audience has been there since 1962.
Terence Young infused Bond with a lighter-than-air sense of humor and succeeded gloriously. Since that first night in October 1962, when the audience laughed and cheered along to every bit of tom-foolery , Bond has set the standard for audience participation.
So here's to the movies greatest action hero, a man in a tuxedo who can save the world with a touch of brutality and a twinkle in his eye.
And lets not forget the comic timing of a master comedian.
"Its for my ice-skates."
"Lovely sport."
Comments
also in OHMSS when Bond is with the goofy English girl and he drops his kilt and she exclaims "It's true!"
that always makes me laugh
i imagine Bond proudly standing there
gadget out
no underpants
classic!
and Bond's opponent does an elaborate martial arts display and then bows respectfully before the start of the match
Bond kicks him in the face
Q: It's the insurance damage waiver for your beautiful new car. Now, will you need collision coverage?
James Bond: Yes.
Q: Fire?
James Bond: Probably.
Q: Property destruction?
James Bond: Definitely.
Q: Personal Injury?
James Bond: I hope not, but accidents do happen.
Q: They frequently do with you.
James Bond: Well, that takes care of the normal wear-and-tear. Is there any other protection I need?
Q: Only from me 007, unless you bring that car back in pristine order.
AND
For Your Eyes Only-
Bond: Forgive me father, for I have sinned.
Q: That's putting it mildly, 007!
Two that I can remember now, there's tonnes more that I like though! One of the reasons I love the Bonds, is for the humour.
Kudos for making the list, and for pointing out Dalton has a sense of humour for the non believers. As you said, the funny moments are less, and even when they do come they are not as pronounced as Roger's but still there.
Bond's reply of, "All day and night", to Tanya's playful banter (admittedly a sexism of the past) is a pleasantly humorous adult moment.
then Tanya again interupts the interrogation by asking Bond: "Tell me the truth. Am I as exciting as all those western girls?"
Bond answers: "Oh, well once I was with M in Tokyo..."
M quickly fumbles for the Stop button and dismisses Moneypenny
"Can you think of a reason why we can't have dinner tonight?"
"Not immediately. But I'm sure I shall."
@merseytart
My absolute favorite was when Bond was inspecting a long sandwich only to have it taken away from him and being berated for touching Q's lunch.
When Bond & Kara sledge thru customs waving passports yelling 'Nothing to declare!'
When Kara declares them to be 'Free' and Bond points out they are in an air base in the middle of Afghanistan!
"I told you this stuff was good"
-- Victor Tourjansky, the "man with the bottle" who is surprised by what he sees of Bond in Italy in 3 consecutive films. My favorite is the blink-and-you'll-miss-it scene from FYEO.
-- The none-too-bright Las Vegas sheriff in DAF. "There goes that sunnuvabitchin' saboteur."
-- Speaking of sheriffs, I think Pepper is brilliant in LALD (hate him in TMWTGG), especially when he crows "that's my brother-in-law Billy Bob!" as black-as-night Adam comes roaring by in Billy Bob's boat. Also in LALD, the cabbie making the KKK joke, then flashing a toothy grin.
-- In GF, I love when Bond plays games with Mai Lee on the plane.
-- Roger Moore is brilliant in those scenes with Tibbett, berating him (on tape!) for the sorry state of his clothes.
-- Moore is also fabulous when waving the egg in front of Fanning's nose.
-- FInally, special kudos to Samantha Bond for the simulated sex scene in DAD -- with Cleese playing the straight man, no less! A sparkling moment in a film that has very few of them.
Thank god, I thought I was the only one that liked J W Pepper.
"I'm sure this ain't exactly your debut with this sort of thing" *spits*
"Just isn't your day...is it?" :007)
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Goldfinger- Bond's casual utterance of 'Shocking. Positively shocking' after electrocuting a henchman in the fight in the opening credits. Connery plays it perfectly.
Diamonds Are Forever- many highly amusing ones in this. I love the whole 'Klaus Hergescheimer, Section G' schtick, the faux German accent preamble from Connery prior to his bust up with Peter Franks, the wonderfully dry 'I got a brother'/'Small world', the dumb cop's cries of 'There goes that son of a bitchin' saboteur', 'Hi I'm Plenty.''But of course you are'...
Live and Let Die- again great comic moments. 'Whose funeral is it?' 'Yours', is wonderfully macabre, Bond's 'Quite revealing' when Kananga reveals the man behind the mask, his 'Absolutely. There's no sense in going off half cocked!' to Solitaire and the 'He always did have a high opinion of himself' after Kananga spontaneously combusts.
For Your Eyes Only- 'alright, keep your hair on' from Bond after tapping Blofeld's (or 'villain in wheelchair' as a book I own has it) bald head and the gloriously daft parrot/Prime Minister scenario at the end. 'A nose Q- not a banana' as Q bungles the identikit machine...
Octopussy- Roger Moore's wonderful facial expression as he is being held hostage in a van whilst his female counterpart flirts with the enemy in the accompanying van.
A View To A Kill- 'Hi- I'm Jenny Flex'/'Of course you are.'
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
They all are certainly funny but Jenny's moment takes the cake.
Not laugh out loud funny but a humorous scenario for sure. Like a well dressed mischevious child in a "timeout".
TIFFANY: Is he dead?
BOND: I sincerely hope so.
:007)
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
In the TSWLM when bond takes Anya form her shoulder, but she suddenly wakes up and he is caught in the action, hilarious!!
I love Bond movies!
"Who is your floor?"
Yes that made me laugh aswell,also when he did his cheeky smile to the airport attendent that was funny or maybe scary?
Bond and Felix are talking, and the
little door opens and Q walks in with
Bond saying "Oh no"
and Q "ahh 007"
One of the essential requirements in playing 007 is the ability to be charming and have a way with the quip. as well as handling deadly henchmen.
Make no mistake, this lighter than air charm in leading men is not as easy as it looks. IMO all five Bonds carry themselves with panache (including the moody Dalton).
Daniel Craig needs to convince on two fronts: 1- Toughness. A friend once told me that he thinks Bond should look like he should be able to kill a man with his bare hands. On looks alone, Craig seems like a very dangerous dude. Easily, the most rugged -looking Bond since Connery. Lets hope CR will confirm this.
2- The charm factor- This is the tricky X-factor in playing Bond. (Dalton, in playing Fleming's Bond, alienated some fans who enjoyed Roger's anything-for-fun tenure). I can easily believe Craig as a Bond who "can kill a man with his bare hands." But will Craig charm the ladies and deliver the quips with the effortlessness of Sean, Roger and Pierce? That is the question and, I believe, his biggest hurdle.
"As you said. Such good sport."
"Launder it."
And the exchange between Bond and Drax after Bond has shot the henchman in Moonraker is a personal favourite of mine:
Drax: "You missed, Mr. Bond."
Bond: "Did I?"
Magic.
Roger Moore has an incredible gift of being able to convey exactly the right thought with a mere glimpse or raised eyebrow. His acting and timing show a real talent which is too often overlooked or derided, and considered to "flippant" for Bond. The truth is IMO Moore was able to deliver lines that the other Bond actors (with the possible exception of Connery) simply could not pull off. For instance, I can imagine Moore delivering any of Brosnan or Dalton's lines, but not the other way around.
I love the look of nonchalance that Bond gives in TSWLM when Anya wakes to find that she had fallen asleep on Bond's shoulder in the back of Jaw's truck. Priceless!
I also love the expression on Connery's face in Goldfinger when Oddjob crushes the golfball in his bare hand. It's moments when we see Bond looking uncomfortable and unsure of himself that really makes the character come alive for me.
They all are certainly funny but Jenny's moment takes the cake.[/quote]
Could you please explain why that is supposed to be funny? I don't get it.
[Q fiddling in the Aston Martin with two assistants holding the roof of the car above him, Bond enters the lab]
Bond: Morning, Q.
Q: Ah, good morning 007! [Bangs his head on the roof as he lifts his head up]
Bond: Er, mind your head.