Fringe Bond opinions.
Lazenby
The upper reaches of the AmazoPosts: 606MI6 Agent
I don't know if this has been done before, but I can't be arsed to search through 111 pages of threads to find out. Mods forgive me if it has...
One of the great things about this board is that one gets to see, in gory detail, how no two people seem to agree on everything-- the diversity of opinions expressed here is pretty immense. That said, there seem to be a few truisms that most people tend to agree on. You never find, for example, people who classify FRWL as the worst, or even a sub-par Bond movie, just as you never see AVTAK listed as the best (oh wait...
). Each of us, I'm sure, have opinions that are considered by many to be fringe or unorthodox. Here are a few of mine:
1) Moonraker, despite some lame elements that can be easily overlooked, is a great Bond movie (outer space scene included)-- and is overall more enjoyable than TSWLM.
2) Each actor should be limited to about 4 films.
3) Lazenby was a great Bond who should have done at least 4 movies.
4) Moore should have done LALD, TSWLM, MR and OP as is and in that order and turned the reigns over to someone like Dalton around 1980 or so.
Those are a few-- I may think of more if this thread catches on. What are some of yours?
One of the great things about this board is that one gets to see, in gory detail, how no two people seem to agree on everything-- the diversity of opinions expressed here is pretty immense. That said, there seem to be a few truisms that most people tend to agree on. You never find, for example, people who classify FRWL as the worst, or even a sub-par Bond movie, just as you never see AVTAK listed as the best (oh wait...
). Each of us, I'm sure, have opinions that are considered by many to be fringe or unorthodox. Here are a few of mine:1) Moonraker, despite some lame elements that can be easily overlooked, is a great Bond movie (outer space scene included)-- and is overall more enjoyable than TSWLM.
2) Each actor should be limited to about 4 films.
3) Lazenby was a great Bond who should have done at least 4 movies.
4) Moore should have done LALD, TSWLM, MR and OP as is and in that order and turned the reigns over to someone like Dalton around 1980 or so.
Those are a few-- I may think of more if this thread catches on. What are some of yours?
Comments
Eccentric Bond Opinions
As this thread has been inactive for quite some time, and considering we've been given another Bond film since it was started (CR), perhaps your thread can remain open Laz.
As for my own opinions, I appear to be one of the few that holds the Roger Moore Era in the highest regard and does not consider Daniel Craig and CR to be "all that and a bag of potato chips."
-Roger Moore
Here are my unorthodox opinions:
1) I would like to see more discussion of the original novels, as I feel that is where the "real" oo7 can best be found. Seems too many fans haven't bothered to read the original Fleming's.
2) It would have been nice if some actors made more Bonds and some alot less, but that seems to much along the lines of "What if Hitler had an A-bomb" and there isn't much to be learned by that.
3) Like many others, I think old Lazenby did a fine job in OHMSS, but he also showed all of us how a little "ego" can go a long way - he is a shining example of how to squander a once in a life opportunity. Where was Dame Judy with the "take your ego out of the equation" philosophy when George was about.
4) Along with FRWL, Casino Royale is about as good a film as EON has ever made. All the oo7 reference could be removed and you still would have a great film, with charecter development and acting not seen in any previous effort. Due in large part to the producers using Fleming's work as a solid base.
5) If they don't use Fleming's material in the script of the next film I haven't alot of hope for the outcome.
6) All of the above opinions are the result of much cogitation, and therefore subject to change without notice!
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
1 - The obvious one, that AVTAK is the best
2 - That Roger Moore is the best Bond
3 - That the Connery films are really not that great
4 - That FRWL and GF are severely overrated and are actually not that great
5 - That TB is one of the worst Bond movies ever made
6 - That YOLT is the best Connery movie, and by far too
7 - That LALD is one of the best
8 - That Moore looked roughly the same in AVTAK than what he did in OP
9 - That Kamal Khan actually looks a bit like Moore
10 - That Jaws is annoying and overrated
Naturally, people will disagree with these opinions heavily :v
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
While I don't doubt that George had a huge ego, I don't think it's entirely fair to say that this was what kept him from a longer Bond career. He was offered a 7 picture deal but turned it down because his agent convinced him that the character of Bond was out of sync with the times. That said, it's interesting to note that Lazenby is currently the wealthiest of any of the actors who have ever played Bond.
Add OHMSS to that list and I am right on board with you here.
5) If they don't use Fleming's material in the script of the next film I haven't alot of hope for the outcome.
6) All of the above opinions are the result of much cogitation, and therefore subject to change without notice![/quote]
I'll put OHMSS on the top three list.
I glad George was able to get it together, and is now well off. Does he really have more $$$$ than SC? If so I'd love to invest with him. And don't let SC hear about the $$$ either, he may start a lawsuit!
Your signature line almost scared me, but I remembered it was from a Moore Bond.
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
Good stuff.
Yup. His career in real estate was a lot more successful than his acting career. I know you aren't into the whole "what if..." thing, but man, can you imagine a Peter Hunt directed Diamonds are Forever with Lazenby as Bond? It makes my heart ache just thinking about it.
That line could have only come from a Moore Bond.
I agree completely---he was too old in both of them! {[]
My personal fringe opinion: I think NSNA was quite a bit of fun---a fitting swan song for Sean Connery---and superior to the other Bond film that summer, due largely to the lack of a Union Jack hot air balloon piloted by a septuagenarian...
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Even though I decried the rampant "what if" speculation in alot of threads "I still have imagination" and a Hunt Directed DAF, would have been something to see!
We are at a similiar point in time right now, maybe the fates will make up for the lack of a second Lazenby, and give us a really great Bond 22.
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
I agree about NSNA, just watched it the other night, other than a horrible soundtrack, and a tendancy to play for comedy (Mr.Bean & Urine tossing) its a d**n fine film. Barbara Carrera was certainly very original as Fatima, and the Onatopp charecter in Goldeye is a shameless rip off of her performance.
There seems to me to be too many fans that dismiss the '67 Casino Royale and NSNA as something less than the EON flicks. I think they should be considered in the same canon - Why should EON have a monopoly, after all they came along AFTER the Feldman and McClory purchased their options!
If NSNA is not a "real" Bond, then Thunderball should be tossed into the same heap!
How's that for "fringe"
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
Oh I hate TB with a passion and prefer NSNA by eons (no pun intended but funny how that worked out). But I quote Loeff as saying that Connery looked way older in NSNA than Moore did ever.
Perhaps, but the Connery of NSNA still looked a lot fitter than the Moore of even LALD. Moore was a lummox (albeit a highly entertaining one).
Quote away, my eager young apprentice...but never have I said that that Connery looked 'way older in NSNA than Moore did ever'...nice try, though
The thing that makes NSNA work, for me, is that the plot makes it clear that Connery's Bond has been out of the field for quite some time---'teaching, not doing'---so it at least allows for the 'advanced age' factor. And I do think that Connery (at 53!) looks more fit and engaged than he did in DAF, more than a decade earlier.
I've always thought it was particularly merciful (and not simple happenstance) that Eon's Bond wasn't seen without a shirt---full torso!---between TMWTGG and LTK :V
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Oh, please. That's complete hyperbole. While Moore was not as fit as Connery (or Lazenby) how can you call him a lummox?
I didn't say you said that, I'm saying it because you love to talk about Moore's age and I'm pointing out that Connery in NSNA looked older than Moore did, and he wasn't exactly in the best shape then either. Moore's no lummox either Lazenby.
1)CR is overrated, and is not a great Bond film in the slightest. Although I do think it's good, the last really good Bond IMO was TWINE, and I think that GE was alot better than CR, among the two Campbell-directed films.
2)A Bond film does not have to be Flemming-like in order to be good.
3)Roger Moore was not tongue in cheek and did not wink to the audience.
4)Roger Moore was also quite tough and could be extremely ruthless.
5)The Bond films are not camp.
6)There is Bondian continuity.
7)Connery was brilliant in DAF.
8)'All Time High' and FYEO were among the best Bond theme songs of all time.
9)The first half of DAD, including and especially Bond's getting captured, was horrible.
10)I don't think that the 70's Bonds were cartoonish at all, and I consider the 70's, in fact, to be the silver age of Bond films. TSWLM is IMO the last absolute Bond masterpiece.
The thing is...if I didn't say it, you can hardly 'quote' me
Connery was, unashamedly, sans shirt (full torso visible!
This argument is older than...well... :v I'll just save my keystrokes.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
1)The cinematic Pussy Galore was a lesbian. (Am I really the only person who thinks that?
2)I am overjoyed that Lazenby did not do DAF as I think (physicality and his handling of the final scene aside) he was terrible.
3)I think that Craig is not a particularly great Bond, and nor do I think he is a particularly great actor.
4)I think that Denise Richards was pretty darn good (especially in the looks department.
5)I think that Eva Green looks (how does JFF put it?
1) Of course PG was a "lesbian" but it was 1964 and behavior like that could only be implied.
2) Lazenby in DAF, WHO CARES!!! The final effort was a waste of film with SC walking through to get a paycheck and a plot as goofy as Moonraker and DAD.
3) Please see "CraigNotBond.com"
4) Denise Richards looked like a high school kid and acted about as well. Her eyebrows rivaled SC's.
5) Eva Green a vampire? OK!! Maybe in an old school Bela Lugosi kinda way, but she looks better in a evening gown than Bela did. Besides, she can fly by my window anytime!
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
I don't agree. I quite liked DAF, plus I think that Connery was brilliant in it. I consider Connery's performance in DAF to have been the sixth best Bond performance of all time (after the first four Connery performances and Brosnan's in TWINE.)
Right. You're saying that if I don't consider Craig to be the Messiah, I must go to that website. I hope you're not completely serious as I would like to believe that you accept that not everyone loves Craig. I certainly don't.
Well, I disagree. I think she's very good looking.
I think she's completely unattractive and one of the worst Bond girls of all time. I also think she's a terrible actress. (Although I don't think that Richards is the best looking Bond girl of all time, Green IMO makes her look like an absolute Goddess.)
I would never, ever suggest that you not post here!! I know not everyone is a fan of DC's and that's way ok by me. Even though I really like his Bond, he is not in the SC/GL/PB mold that so many folks prefer. But that is precisely why I like him.
I guess I am a little tired of SC. He has always been a "good actor" but in the past few years he just gets my goat especially since he lives in Bahamas, but acts like the King of Scotland! SC was once the man of the hour -but that time is long gone.
Denise vs Eva, well that's okay - to each his own - just don't say a couple like RM and Grace Jones is tops!!!
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
The FYEO PTS is one of the most entertaining.
Mary Goodnight, Stacey Sutton, and Bibi were all a-okay with me.
Max Zorin was a mediocre villain at best.
All 12 Roger Moore films are highly entertaining fun romps, made the old fashioned way. (Real car wrecks and stunts)
GE is not the best Bond ever made.
Dalton's clothes, hairstyle, attitude and demeanor in TLD are AWESOME!
I also love the FYEO PTS.
Is it genreally regarded as weak by the masses then?
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
This last opinion is hardly "fringe" ....merely the unvarnished truth!
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
(a tad sleepy at this moment, there's an on-going marathon on Encore entitled 007 in 07. FRWL is just ending. DN is next.
I've been up for 12 hours and six Bond films. But it was a rainy saturday night and I couldn't resist. :v
Goodnight all! ;%
I don't mind it either. I think at the time there was the cyclical backlash against the "silliness" of TSWLM and (especially) MR and the filmmakers responded with the more grounded FYEO. The PTS, while entertaining, is really out of sync with the tone of the rest of the film and since the people who typically enjoy that movie a lot are the Bond purist types (a la Raymond Benson) it's not surprising that its opening sequence is often reviled as the weakest part of the film.