From Russia With Love is the best James Bond film. Not a total surprise, it would be strange if it were far from anyone's top 3.
But you list it as #9!
)
After weeks of stiff competition, we have our winner at last!
A special congratulations to our top 3! FRWL, OHMSS, and GF rightly belong in any Bond fan's top 10!
Good game guys. It's been fun! {[]
"My acting range? Left eyebrow raised, right eyebrow raised..."
-Roger Moore
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
Quite a lot of fun, indeed.
I'll defer to our man Laz to give the final ranking, as determined by his game...
I'd quibble with a placement here or there, but overall...it's interesting, IMRO, how things played out.
Long Live James Bond!
:007)
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
LazenbyThe upper reaches of the AmazoPosts: 606MI6 Agent
edited May 2007
Final Ranking
01)From Russia With Love
02)On Her Majesty's Secret Service
03)Goldfinger
04)Thunderball
05)Casino Royale
06)The Living Daylights
07)The Spy Who Loved Me
08)Dr. No
09)You Only Live Twice
10)Goldeneye
11)The World is Not Enough
12)Live and Let Die
13)For Your Eyes Only
14)Octopussy
15)Diamonds are Forever
16)Moonraker
17)Tomorrow Never Dies
18)The Man With the Golden Gun
19)License to Kill
20)Never Say Never Again
21)Die Another Day
22)A View to a Kill
Good work everyone! It was a lot of fun. All things said, given the diversity of opinion around here, this is a damn good list. Interesting note: All six actors and all 5 decades are represented in the top 10. IMHO the next game should be the actors, but I will defer to the MOD's discretion and some other player's privilege to decide that. (Edit: Personally I'm glad we played this straight the whole way through, without altering the rules or voting patterns.) {[] :007)
If the mods permit it, how about a definitive Best Bond Theme next?
How about one on the actors?
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
Used to think so myself, I have come to blame it for the "downfall" of the series and it gets more and more ridicules every time I watch it. That being said I still have it as #4 on my list, due to Connery's second best performance, also the oddjob fight is awesome.
From Russia With Love is the best James Bond film. Not a total surprise, it would be strange if it were far from anyone's top 3.
But you list it as #9!
)
Hhm, it may be time for me to revise that list...
Harry Palmer Somewhere in the past ...Posts: 325MI6 Agent
Thanks for a great game, guys!
Can't complain about FRWL winning, seeing as its first on my list. OHMSS, worthy runner-up. TLD an honourable 6th (probably because of the nostalgia effect that gave DN and TB a headstart). All in all not bad, we've shown some decent taste.
Used to think so myself, I have come to blame it for the "downfall" of the series and it gets more and more ridicules every time I watch it. That being said I still have it as #4 on my list, due to Connery's second best performance, also the oddjob fight is awesome.
Firstly, let me state that I consider OHMSS to be the sixt best Bond film of all time, after the first four films and TSWLM. I think that OHMSS is a brilliant film however I think that it is flawed in regards to Lazenby's performance and the script.
Let me just respond to two of your points:
In regards to GF, I consider it to be the greatest Bond film (and the greatest film that just happens to be a Bond film) as I consider it to feature the best of everything; for example, IMO it features the greatest ever Bond performance. It is not as realistic as FRWL, but ridiculous? Well, I guess that comes down to ones personal view. I don't think it's ridiculous as I think that it was so convincing that elements which were not necessarily that realistic came across as realistic IMO.
Finally, alot of people talk about how GF led to the downfall of the Bond films. I don't agree with that for two reasons: since GF, there has been LALD, TSWLM, FYEO, OP, GE and TWINE (all terrific films IMO.) Also, for the films that perhaps weren't so bad, the answer generally lies in the script, performance and other factors which GF surely isn't responsible for. Yes, I know, some people would say that GF is to blame because the series became more fantastical as a result. However I disagree as I don't believe that being fantastical is automatically a bad thing. Sometimes it fails (DAD), other times it succeeds (TSWLM.) Similarly, sometimes a more realistic approach is appropiate (FYEO), other times it fails (LTK.) What I'm saying is that, love or hate GF, I don't believe it led to the 'downfall' of the series, if in fact there even was a downfall (*which I'm not convinced about.)
*If there was a downfall, IMO it occured from 1985-1989.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
GF may have sown the seeds, but if there was a downfall it was due to OHMSS. It was perceived as a failure by United Artists. Thus the tone of the following films was deliberately lighter and more humourous.
GF may have sown the seeds, but if there was a downfall it was due to OHMSS. It was perceived as a failure by United Artists. Thus the tone of the following films was deliberately lighter and more humourous.
A valid point. I think UA/Eon felt as if the fans punished them, box office-wise, for taking the more literary-faithful (read: tragic ending) route with OHMSS---despite the rear-view mirror of history being far more complimentary---and they over-corrected in the decade that followed, IMRO.
But Eon enjoyed a great deal of success along the 'lighter tone' road, so who's to say it was wrong? For many fans, this is the Bond-style of choice, and it's hard to argue with $$$$.
OHMSS---coming, as it did, on the heels of the groundbreakingly-OTT (at the time) YOLT---can be framed as an over-correction in its own right...but personally, I'm always interested in seeing them try the more 'literary' route.
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
GF may have sown the seeds, but if there was a downfall it was due to OHMSS. It was perceived as a failure by United Artists. Thus the tone of the following films was deliberately lighter and more humourous.
A valid point. I think UA/Eon felt as if the fans punished them, box office-wise, for taking the more literary-faithful (read: tragic ending) route with OHMSS---despite the rear-view mirror of history being far more complimentary---and they over-corrected in the decade that followed, IMRO.
But Eon enjoyed a great deal of success along the 'lighter tone' road, so who's to say it was wrong? For many fans, this is the Bond-style of choice, and it's hard to argue with $$$$.
OHMSS---coming, as it did, on the heels of the groundbreakingly-OTT (at the time) YOLT---can be framed as an over-correction in its own right...but personally, I'm always interested in seeing them try the more 'literary' route.
The reason why OHMSS failed was because it did not star Sean Connery. It had nothing to do with how faithful and tragic the film was. They did'nt take to Lazenby and then he quit before it was released.
The reason why OHMSS failed was because it did not star Sean Connery. It had nothing to do with how faithful and tragic the film was. They did'nt take to Lazenby and then he quit before it was released.
I disagree that OHMSS' relative box office disappointment was completely unrelated to the jarringly different tone (and final scene) of the piece, given the franchise's direction up to that point.
Obviously the Connery Factor is undeniable; however, I've always thought that the simple fact of Connery's absence was the catalyst for the OHMSS we ultimately got. If Connery hadn't been completely burnt out on the role, if he'd been 'up to it,' the irony is that we'd probably have gotten something quite different---and it most likely would have made quite a lot more money---but it might not have been as good a picture.*
* Merely my own personal theory, and of course we'll never know. I'd certainly have enjoyed seeing Connery tackle that last scene...
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
If Connery hadn't been completely burnt out on the role, if he'd been 'up to it,' the irony is that we'd probably have gotten something quite different---and it most likely would have made quite a lot more money---but it might not have been as good a picture.*
* Merely my own personal theory, and of course we'll never know. I'd certainly have enjoyed seeing Connery tackle that last scene...
I have no doubt that Connery, if he wanted to, could have done OHMSS, and could have done it better than Lazenby. As much as I love OHMSS, it will never be higher than sixth on my list mainly due to the casting of Lazenby (as well as some script problems.) I loved Lazenby's physicality and his handling of the final scene, but other than that, I thought he was terrible. I really wish that Connery had done OHMSS, and if he had, it could have been IMO one of the three or four best Bond films ever made. Plus, if Connery had done it, we wouldn't have that dreadful 'that never happened to the other fella' line. )
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
I have no doubt that Connery, if he wanted to, could have done OHMSS, and could have done it better than Lazenby. As much as I love OHMSS, it will never be higher than sixth on my list mainly due to the casting of Lazenby (as well as some script problems.) I loved Lazenby's physicality and his handling of the final scene, but other than that, I thought he was terrible. I really wish that Connery had done OHMSS, and if he had, it could have been IMO one of the three or four best Bond films ever made. Plus, if Connery had done it, we wouldn't have that dreadful 'that never happened to the other fella' line. )
Well, that's from someone, who has 5 Connery movies on top of his list.
I tend more to the opinion from Loeffelholz. In OHMSS, there is the missing Connery factor, without a doubt.
But the general audience has been used to 007 to be an invincible character and the end of OHMSS is pretty shocking for the ones, who are not so familiar with 007.
If Connery would have done it, the end of the movie would have destroyed a lot from his hero legacy IMHO.
You as a Connery fan may have enjoyed his performance, maybe more of the hardcore 007 fans, but I doubt, that OHMSS would have been a much better movie with Connery, bearing in mind, the $ would have been higher with an established Connery.
Additionally, I think, that the more lighter version of 007 from the Moore area has been much better compatible with the 70s lifestyle. The war has long been over and 007 had to be more than pure suspense, so, to me, it has been the correct choice, even the 2 latest Moore films have been too silly for my taste, not to forget the space finale from Moonraker.
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
The reason why OHMSS failed was because it did not star Sean Connery. It had nothing to do with how faithful and tragic the film was. They did'nt take to Lazenby and then he quit before it was released.
I disagree that OHMSS' relative box office disappointment was completely unrelated to the jarringly different tone (and final scene) of the piece, given the franchise's direction up to that point.
Obviously the Connery Factor is undeniable; however, I've always thought that the simple fact of Connery's absence was the catalyst for the OHMSS we ultimately got. If Connery hadn't been completely burnt out on the role, if he'd been 'up to it,' the irony is that we'd probably have gotten something quite different---and it most likely would have made quite a lot more money---but it might not have been as good a picture.*
* Merely my own personal theory, and of course we'll never know. I'd certainly have enjoyed seeing Connery tackle that last scene...
I'm not so sure OHMSS would have needed to be significantly different with Sean Connery as Bond. Watching OHMSS as we know it, I can perfectly imagine him as Bond. There are those who believe he could not have handled the emotional aspects well, but I disagree. Provided he was sufficiently motivated Connery would surely have been much more convincing than George Lazenby, with the exception of the action scenes.
And if the resultant box office was considerably higher (which you would expect with Connery) then the tone of the following films may not have been as light and humourous as was the case in reality.
01)From Russia With Love
02)On Her Majesty's Secret Service
03)Goldfinger
04)Thunderball
05)Casino Royale
06)The Living Daylights
07)The Spy Who Loved Me
08)Dr. No
09)You Only Live Twice
10)Goldeneye
11)The World is Not Enough
12)Live and Let Die
13)For Your Eyes Only
14)Octopussy
15)Diamonds are Forever
16)Moonraker
17)Tomorrow Never Dies
18)The Man With the Golden Gun
19)License to Kill
20)Never Say Never Again
21)Die Another Day
22)A View to a Kill
Is it fair to say this is the current consensus of the rankings from best Bond film to worst on ajb007.co.uk?
I'm glad to see MR(the most underrated Bond film IMHO) rank as high as 16 for all the abuse it gets. And of course, I love the fact that TLD is the highest ranked Bond film made between 1970 and 2005.
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
I'm not so sure OHMSS would have needed to be significantly different with Sean Connery as Bond. Watching OHMSS as we know it, I can perfectly imagine him as Bond. There are those who believe he could not have handled the emotional aspects well, but I disagree. Provided he was sufficiently motivated Connery would surely have been much more convincing than George Lazenby, with the exception of the action scenes.
And if the resultant box office was considerably higher (which you would expect with Connery) then the tone of the following films may not have been as light and humourous as was the case in reality.
I can't disagree, but I think a correction of some sort, post-YOLT, was inevitable regardless of who played the part. Perhaps the same script, delivered by a reinvigorated Connery, would have been just the ticket. I've always just imagined that, with Connery aboard, Eon would have been less motivated to 'push the envelope,' as they ultimately did with Lazenby.
If Connery had done that final scene in OHMSS, it's a sure bet his DAF would have been quite different...I still like the notion of Blofeld's Japanese 'Garden of Death' being atop his hotel suite in Las Vegas...
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Comments
2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service [1] -1 = [0] ELIMINATED!
FRWL wins! {[]:D
2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service [1]-1=[0]
Deserved Winner
GAME OVER
Well, that's it!
From Russia With Love is the best James Bond film. Not a total surprise, it would be strange if it were far from anyone's top 3. Roll the drums...
Well done All
But you list it as #9!
After weeks of stiff competition, we have our winner at last!
A special congratulations to our top 3! FRWL, OHMSS, and GF rightly belong in any Bond fan's top 10!
Good game guys. It's been fun! {[]
-Roger Moore
I'll defer to our man Laz to give the final ranking, as determined by his game...
I'd quibble with a placement here or there, but overall...it's interesting, IMRO, how things played out.
Long Live James Bond!
:007)
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
01)From Russia With Love
02)On Her Majesty's Secret Service
03)Goldfinger
04)Thunderball
05)Casino Royale
06)The Living Daylights
07)The Spy Who Loved Me
08)Dr. No
09)You Only Live Twice
10)Goldeneye
11)The World is Not Enough
12)Live and Let Die
13)For Your Eyes Only
14)Octopussy
15)Diamonds are Forever
16)Moonraker
17)Tomorrow Never Dies
18)The Man With the Golden Gun
19)License to Kill
20)Never Say Never Again
21)Die Another Day
22)A View to a Kill
Good work everyone! It was a lot of fun. All things said, given the diversity of opinion around here, this is a damn good list. Interesting note: All six actors and all 5 decades are represented in the top 10. IMHO the next game should be the actors, but I will defer to the MOD's discretion and some other player's privilege to decide that. (Edit: Personally I'm glad we played this straight the whole way through, without altering the rules or voting patterns.) {[] :007)
IMO, a lot of the order would be changed if everyone voted my way. Still, to each their own.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Great game BTW. {[]
But OHMSS is 3rd.
Hhm, it may be time for me to revise that list...
Can't complain about FRWL winning, seeing as its first on my list. OHMSS, worthy runner-up. TLD an honourable 6th (probably because of the nostalgia effect that gave DN and TB a headstart). All in all not bad, we've shown some decent taste.
Let me just respond to two of your points:
In regards to GF, I consider it to be the greatest Bond film (and the greatest film that just happens to be a Bond film) as I consider it to feature the best of everything; for example, IMO it features the greatest ever Bond performance. It is not as realistic as FRWL, but ridiculous? Well, I guess that comes down to ones personal view. I don't think it's ridiculous as I think that it was so convincing that elements which were not necessarily that realistic came across as realistic IMO.
Finally, alot of people talk about how GF led to the downfall of the Bond films. I don't agree with that for two reasons: since GF, there has been LALD, TSWLM, FYEO, OP, GE and TWINE (all terrific films IMO.) Also, for the films that perhaps weren't so bad, the answer generally lies in the script, performance and other factors which GF surely isn't responsible for. Yes, I know, some people would say that GF is to blame because the series became more fantastical as a result. However I disagree as I don't believe that being fantastical is automatically a bad thing. Sometimes it fails (DAD), other times it succeeds (TSWLM.) Similarly, sometimes a more realistic approach is appropiate (FYEO), other times it fails (LTK.) What I'm saying is that, love or hate GF, I don't believe it led to the 'downfall' of the series, if in fact there even was a downfall (*which I'm not convinced about.)
*If there was a downfall, IMO it occured from 1985-1989.
A valid point. I think UA/Eon felt as if the fans punished them, box office-wise, for taking the more literary-faithful (read: tragic ending) route with OHMSS---despite the rear-view mirror of history being far more complimentary---and they over-corrected in the decade that followed, IMRO.
But Eon enjoyed a great deal of success along the 'lighter tone' road, so who's to say it was wrong? For many fans, this is the Bond-style of choice, and it's hard to argue with $$$$.
OHMSS---coming, as it did, on the heels of the groundbreakingly-OTT (at the time) YOLT---can be framed as an over-correction in its own right...but personally, I'm always interested in seeing them try the more 'literary' route.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I disagree that OHMSS' relative box office disappointment was completely unrelated to the jarringly different tone (and final scene) of the piece, given the franchise's direction up to that point.
Obviously the Connery Factor is undeniable; however, I've always thought that the simple fact of Connery's absence was the catalyst for the OHMSS we ultimately got. If Connery hadn't been completely burnt out on the role, if he'd been 'up to it,' the irony is that we'd probably have gotten something quite different---and it most likely would have made quite a lot more money---but it might not have been as good a picture.*
* Merely my own personal theory, and of course we'll never know. I'd certainly have enjoyed seeing Connery tackle that last scene...
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Well, that's from someone, who has 5 Connery movies on top of his list.
I tend more to the opinion from Loeffelholz. In OHMSS, there is the missing Connery factor, without a doubt.
But the general audience has been used to 007 to be an invincible character and the end of OHMSS is pretty shocking for the ones, who are not so familiar with 007.
If Connery would have done it, the end of the movie would have destroyed a lot from his hero legacy IMHO.
You as a Connery fan may have enjoyed his performance, maybe more of the hardcore 007 fans, but I doubt, that OHMSS would have been a much better movie with Connery, bearing in mind, the $ would have been higher with an established Connery.
Additionally, I think, that the more lighter version of 007 from the Moore area has been much better compatible with the 70s lifestyle. The war has long been over and 007 had to be more than pure suspense, so, to me, it has been the correct choice, even the 2 latest Moore films have been too silly for my taste, not to forget the space finale from Moonraker.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I'm not so sure OHMSS would have needed to be significantly different with Sean Connery as Bond. Watching OHMSS as we know it, I can perfectly imagine him as Bond. There are those who believe he could not have handled the emotional aspects well, but I disagree. Provided he was sufficiently motivated Connery would surely have been much more convincing than George Lazenby, with the exception of the action scenes.
And if the resultant box office was considerably higher (which you would expect with Connery) then the tone of the following films may not have been as light and humourous as was the case in reality.
Is it fair to say this is the current consensus of the rankings from best Bond film to worst on ajb007.co.uk?
I'm glad to see MR(the most underrated Bond film IMHO) rank as high as 16 for all the abuse it gets. And of course, I love the fact that TLD is the highest ranked Bond film made between 1970 and 2005.
I can't disagree, but I think a correction of some sort, post-YOLT, was inevitable regardless of who played the part. Perhaps the same script, delivered by a reinvigorated Connery, would have been just the ticket. I've always just imagined that, with Connery aboard, Eon would have been less motivated to 'push the envelope,' as they ultimately did with Lazenby.
If Connery had done that final scene in OHMSS, it's a sure bet his DAF would have been quite different...I still like the notion of Blofeld's Japanese 'Garden of Death' being atop his hotel suite in Las Vegas...
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM