Pure perfection
bigzilcho
Toronto, ONPosts: 245MI6 Agent
Fellow Bond-fan Dan Same uses this expression in his signature describing the first exchange between Bond and Pussy Galore.
I can't think of a better expression that captures the joy of certain moments in the series. Where everyting is just...right in the Bond universe.
With your indulgence, here are some moments (and there are plenty to choose from) that make me believe 007 is the coolest character in the pop-culture universe.
DN- Maurice Binder's gunbarrel.The definition of excitement and danger. Pavlov was right. You play the gunbarrel sequence in front of a Bond-fan and a primitive adrenaline rush is unleashed automatically. 100% guaranteed.
FRWL- Bond fires a flare gun and, for a second, it feels like he's blown up the world!
"There's a saying in England: where there's smoke, there's fire."
Cool in 1963. Cool to the end of time.
GF- Bond awakens groggily, turns on the light and sees..the golden girl.
From beginning to end, this famous scene is absolutely perfect in mood, tone, design and, especially, Big Sean's performance.
There has never been a more breath-taking moment in the series. It is justifiably immortal.
The moment when Bond sneers "She's covered in paint. Gold paint." dissolves seamlessly into M's office, where M says: "Gold? All over?"
That, fellow movie-fans, is whats called great storytelling.
TB- "Strange as it may seem...I've grown accustomed to your face."
In a dance of death with the greatest henchwoman of the series, Bond takes the time to appreciate the finer things in life.
YOLT- In one of the most sensational fights in the series, Bond picks up a couch and uses it as a battering ram.
Without doubt, question or deliberation one of the absolutely coolest, most fantastic bits of action in movie history!
OHMSS- The intro of a new Bond.
The cigarette, the lighter, the sunglasses, the silhouette of...someone familiar...but somehow different.
A terrific intro by Peter Hunt, playing up the mystery, teasing us with hints and signs that this is the same character, but a new beginning.
Second only to DN as the best 007 intro ever.
DAF- Bond. Two Blofelds. One White Cat. A kick. A shot. One Blofeld dead. Another white cat appears.
"Right idea, Mr. Bond."
"But wrong pussy."
Just an out-and-out magnificent moment in Bond history.Give Guy Hamilton a pat on the back for giving us one of the great Bond-Blofeld signature moments.
LALD- Bond and Solitaire get in a New Orleans cab and realize its being driven by a New York cabbie, who greets Bond like a long-lost buddy. ("Well, hello there, Jim. Relaaax...Mr. Big wants to see you.")
A glorious bit of Bondian switcheroo with the happiest henchman in Bond history.
Bonus points for his farewell to Bond:"Today's your lucky day, Jim. You're going skydiving."
Absolutely priceless.
TMWTGG- Bond fixes his tie in front of a store window tv-screen, looks down and sees a smiling Nick-Nack. The begginning of a sequence that would make Hitchcock proud. Style, suspense and a touch of the bizarre,its a shame there is more danger in Bond walking across the street than in the funhouse duel at the end.
TSWLM- "You're not trying to take advantage of me, are you, Commander?"
"The thought never crossed my mind."
Roger at his absolute finest.One of those "who-me" expressions that has the expert comic timing of Cary Grant. Moments like this uniquely marked his stamp as 007. And, in his own way, unchallenged to this day in one department
No one, and I mean no one, could get a bigger laugh than Roger with that line.
I saw TSWLM twice in 1977 , and both times, the audience was in hysterics when Roger blinks innocently.
MR- I've said it before, I'll say it again. The sequence in the Rio alleyway between Bond and Jaws is from beginning to end, as good as the Bond movies get. 'Nuff said.
END OF PART ONE.
I'll complete the list later, but I would like to hear your comments.
Bond-fans are Bond-fans because of Bond. And buried deep within 21 movies are those moments and scenes that make us absently whistle the Bond tune while we're dressing or brushing our teeth.
Its the image or mood that clicks in your head and you think: thats what Bond is all about.
"When do you sleep, 007?"
"Never on the firm's time, sir."
I can't think of a better expression that captures the joy of certain moments in the series. Where everyting is just...right in the Bond universe.
With your indulgence, here are some moments (and there are plenty to choose from) that make me believe 007 is the coolest character in the pop-culture universe.
DN- Maurice Binder's gunbarrel.The definition of excitement and danger. Pavlov was right. You play the gunbarrel sequence in front of a Bond-fan and a primitive adrenaline rush is unleashed automatically. 100% guaranteed.
FRWL- Bond fires a flare gun and, for a second, it feels like he's blown up the world!
"There's a saying in England: where there's smoke, there's fire."
Cool in 1963. Cool to the end of time.
GF- Bond awakens groggily, turns on the light and sees..the golden girl.
From beginning to end, this famous scene is absolutely perfect in mood, tone, design and, especially, Big Sean's performance.
There has never been a more breath-taking moment in the series. It is justifiably immortal.
The moment when Bond sneers "She's covered in paint. Gold paint." dissolves seamlessly into M's office, where M says: "Gold? All over?"
That, fellow movie-fans, is whats called great storytelling.
TB- "Strange as it may seem...I've grown accustomed to your face."
In a dance of death with the greatest henchwoman of the series, Bond takes the time to appreciate the finer things in life.
YOLT- In one of the most sensational fights in the series, Bond picks up a couch and uses it as a battering ram.
Without doubt, question or deliberation one of the absolutely coolest, most fantastic bits of action in movie history!
OHMSS- The intro of a new Bond.
The cigarette, the lighter, the sunglasses, the silhouette of...someone familiar...but somehow different.
A terrific intro by Peter Hunt, playing up the mystery, teasing us with hints and signs that this is the same character, but a new beginning.
Second only to DN as the best 007 intro ever.
DAF- Bond. Two Blofelds. One White Cat. A kick. A shot. One Blofeld dead. Another white cat appears.
"Right idea, Mr. Bond."
"But wrong pussy."
Just an out-and-out magnificent moment in Bond history.Give Guy Hamilton a pat on the back for giving us one of the great Bond-Blofeld signature moments.
LALD- Bond and Solitaire get in a New Orleans cab and realize its being driven by a New York cabbie, who greets Bond like a long-lost buddy. ("Well, hello there, Jim. Relaaax...Mr. Big wants to see you.")
A glorious bit of Bondian switcheroo with the happiest henchman in Bond history.
Bonus points for his farewell to Bond:"Today's your lucky day, Jim. You're going skydiving."
Absolutely priceless.
TMWTGG- Bond fixes his tie in front of a store window tv-screen, looks down and sees a smiling Nick-Nack. The begginning of a sequence that would make Hitchcock proud. Style, suspense and a touch of the bizarre,its a shame there is more danger in Bond walking across the street than in the funhouse duel at the end.
TSWLM- "You're not trying to take advantage of me, are you, Commander?"
"The thought never crossed my mind."
Roger at his absolute finest.One of those "who-me" expressions that has the expert comic timing of Cary Grant. Moments like this uniquely marked his stamp as 007. And, in his own way, unchallenged to this day in one department
No one, and I mean no one, could get a bigger laugh than Roger with that line.
I saw TSWLM twice in 1977 , and both times, the audience was in hysterics when Roger blinks innocently.
MR- I've said it before, I'll say it again. The sequence in the Rio alleyway between Bond and Jaws is from beginning to end, as good as the Bond movies get. 'Nuff said.
END OF PART ONE.
I'll complete the list later, but I would like to hear your comments.
Bond-fans are Bond-fans because of Bond. And buried deep within 21 movies are those moments and scenes that make us absently whistle the Bond tune while we're dressing or brushing our teeth.
Its the image or mood that clicks in your head and you think: thats what Bond is all about.
"When do you sleep, 007?"
"Never on the firm's time, sir."
Comments
[Happy Belated Birthday, BTW, in case you missed the Birthday thread a few days ago! -{ ]
I agree with virtually everything you've said above. Thankfully, the moments of Pure PerfectionTM* in the Bonds greatly outnumber their antithesis in the vast majority of Bond entries---regardless of the lead actor wearing the tux!
There are so many in each film; I'll merely add one to your list for each entry in your PART ONE...
DN: The moment when Bond drives up to the British Embassy in Jamaica, with the dead heavy in the back seat, and says to the doorman: "See that he doesn't get away."
FRWL: Orient Express. Bond and Grant. 'Nuff said.
GF: Bond kicks Goldfinger's ass at crooked golf.
TB: Bond's revenge on Lippe: "I'll tell the chef."
YOLT: Little Nellie and John Barry's music. No apologies; I Love It.
OHMSS: The final scene.
DAF: Bond mountaineering outside the Whyte House; changed the life of this particular 9 year-old moviegoer...
LALD: Bond and the gators...then the boat chase. Again...no apologies offered.
TMWTGG: Bond kicks the hotshot karate student in the face, mid-bow.
TSWLM: Best PTS stunt in franchise history.
MR: Bond in the centrifuge.
* Copyright Dan Same
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
DN - the introduction of Dr No. "One million dollars Mr Bond". After 3/4 of building up he is just standing in the doorway. Magic moment
FRWL - the interplay between 007 and Tania on the speedboat. He way he points out their position on the map and her arguing "We are ligher, we can go faster..". The feeling that they are both in it together.
GF - At Fort Knox on the gantry 007 is strapped to a nuclear bomb and sent down in an elevator. The "Goodbye Mr Bond" from Goldfinger doesnt sound cliched or overused. It sounds sinisterly genuine. Goldfinger is sending him to his death.
TB - 007 has escaped the seacave and is winched up by helicopter. The helicopter heads into the distance and blends beautifully with SPECTRE's seachariot coming out of the blue gloom. Along with John Barrys music its wonderfully atmospheric.
YOLT - the sumo meeting. It was a hot day in Tokyo going by all those fans in the audience. But the whole thing is sooo Japanese.
OHMSS - "See the hammer of the anvil rings, see the poet of beguilement rings.." Classical poetry in a 007 flick? The only woman in the universe who could pull it off is Dame Diana. And she is wonderful in her scenes. Really getting her tongue around the dialogue.
DAF - One of the great 007 meetings is Amsterdam and Tiffany ("T. Case. Definitely distinctive"). The whole changing of outfits and wigs keeps the scene fresh
LALD - the PTS sacrifice with the guy being bitten by a mamba. His slumping of head was real as he fainted in real life and the reveal into the titles with the zing of George Martins music
TMWTGG - Arrival on Scaramangas island. The seaplane swooping over Pha Nga Bay pretending to be Communist China. John Barrys music combined with the visuals is just so exotic.
TSWLM - The tension kicks by as USS Wayne tries to escape the burning Liparus supertanker. The bow doors are shut and they have to blast their way through. Shane Rimmer giving angles and coordinates to fire is very exciting. As is the visual of the two torpedoes streaming towards the doors.
MR - The Mayan pyramid. I dont know what a Mayan pyramid was doing so far south in Brazil but Ken Adams' "Great Chamber" with Mayan statues and lithographs, tropical blooms and an anaconda pool was terrific. Perhaps as Christopher Wood suggested a long lost Mayan tribe did find its way to the Amazon?
Thanks. -{
Here are mine:
DN-The introduction of Bond. The music, the line, Connery's look and attitude; I've said it before and I'll say it again. This, gentlmen (and ladies), was IMO the single most important scene in the history of the Bond films. Putting aside the fact that it introduced Bond, it arguably more than any other established his character; and it was also a scene that simply oozes cool!
FRWL-Obviously I could go for the train scene, but how about the last scene with Klebb? SHe comes in dressed as a maid, surprises Bond, and for a moment, it appears that she could kill him. Until that is Tatiana turns traitor. Wai Lin and Jinx take note; Tatiana was a tough and intelligent Bond girl was never once appeared to be the 'female Bond.'
GF-There's a reason for my sig. The moment in which Bond wakes up, sees a beautiful woman in front of him, and they introduce themselves is a scene that is so delightful, so wonderful that I sometimes put in my GF DVD just to watch that scene.
TB-The PTS. Bond sets out to 'murder' a man dressed as a woman and then escapes using a jetpack.
YOLT-Rather than opt for the fight scene at the start, I will go for the moment we meet Helga Brandt. A beautiful woman :x, it is quite disappointing when she departs from the film eventually at the behest of Blofeld.
OHMSS-The first skiing scene, beginning with the first notes of the music and ending with Bond reaching the ground. One of the most exciting Bond scenes ever, this was IMO the premier action scene in OHMSS.
DAF-The final scene with Wint + Kidd. Inspired by the Bond-Grant confrontation in FRWL, this was almost as good and (save for the squeal) was IMO one of the best-acted and most exciting Bond scenes of all time. {[]
LALD-The alligator scene beginning with a glimse of the sign ('tresspassors will be eaten'
TMWTGG-Bond stting down to have lunch with Scaramanga. Master-assassin meets with master-spy. Yes, the dual at the end wasn't wonderful but the foreplay was superb.
TSWLM-The PTS that ends with Bond skiing off a mountain and pulling a Union jack flag. Brilliant!
MR-The scene in Rio in which Jaws grabs the woman. Alot of people (including mself) talk about how MR was pretty silly, but the first half was extremely intense and it has some truly scary moments such as this one. This scene is yet another reason why Jaws IMO was such a legendary henchman.
1) Credit Sequence: Different, wonderfully 2D, No naked bimbos (not that I have anything against bimbos, many of them are lovely people.) "Based on the novel by Ian Fleming" and DC walking up to the camera and giving everybody the "in your face stare". The way they blacked out DC's face at the end in a homage to "layer Cake".
2) The Ocean Club parking lot and reservation, "It's a spur of the moment thing" - Beautiful receptionist!
3) The briefing with M while Solange's body is bagged. I liked M's not reaction, Villiers cookie toss. The indifferent "ouch!" when the tracking chip is injected into Bond's arm.
4) First meeting with Vesper. "Has it occured to you that if you lose our Goverment will be directly funding terrorism?", "Oh, there is a plan?" I think that the best one on one conversation in any film Iv'e seen in a long time.
5) Lunch with Mathis - It's nice to see a personable, seasoned agent who is not playeed as Inspector Clouseau.
6) The elevator ride to LeChiffre's room, Vesper's look when Bond pulls the Walther out of the envelope ... "You're not in Kansas anymore."
7) Shower scene, At this point Bond does have a soul and a conscience. EG does a great job of portraying someone dealing with the recurring nightmare of the stairwell fight.
8) Mr. Mendel's visit to the Clinic, "You didn't bring any chocolates?" Vespers reaction to the money transfer.
9) Bond drags the dead Vesper onto the roof of the collapsed building. His reactions, the tastful cutaway to a long shot at his breakdown. Someone pointed out the irony that Bond is unable to revive Vesper, as she did for him - not to mention saving his life!Ouch!
So is there a scene I didn't like, It was John Ford that said a "A good movie has three good scenes and no bad ones." CR'06 is over qualified in my book.
BTW:
10) The "Goldfinger" PTS and credits is the absolute perfect condensation of James Bond.
11) I have always loved the briefing in FRWL, both the one Bond recieves and Blofeld's review of "the plan" with Kronsteen and Klebb.
12) The FRWL PTS.
14) The FRWL ending with Matt Monroe's vocal, it survives even the dated process shots of Venice.
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
Your summation of FRWL: "Orient Express. Bond and Grant. Nuff said." is as close to perfect as you can get.
And how about a tip of the hat to ActonSteve and Dan Same for great stuff.
Dan, "pure perfection" is a high standard to reach, but I believe you will agree with me that that the series achieves it so many times in every film (both in major and minor ways) that we have become slightly spoiled.
We expect and demand excellence from Bond. Every time. Period. In the world of movies, the Bond brand stands for a hand-crafted quality that is unique in today's disposable world.
Bond-fans demand top-of-the-line craftmanship in every film because, in the end, each film must stand the test of time and the scrutiny of millions of present (and future) fans.
And that's not easy. (DAD anyone?) But here's the thing: at least EON shoots for excellence every single time. I love the Bond series not just for the entertainment value but for what it ultimately represents: a pride in tradition, longevity and consistency. (Unheard of in the movie industry!)
And the end result of these guiding principles are moments, images and moods (and, yes, even a whole movie or two) that are as perfctly formed as a diamond.
Pure perfection in Bond?
To quote M: "The list is endless!"
PART TWO
FYEO- Bond driving the clunkiest car in the series, puts on the brakes suddenly, protects Melina with his arm and swerves!
The resulting smash-up of the bad-guys is one of those stand-up-and cheer moments. Arguably the best car chase in the series, this also has one of Roger's greatest deliveries: "Love a drive in the country. Don't you?"
I've said it before: making a woman laugh...on a first date...during a car chase...is the height of Bondian coolness. (Bachelors take note).
OP- In Fleming's universe, world domination is considered an honorable profession for gentleman. Cheating at games, however, is... just not done, old boy.
The backgammon scene is superb, from beginning to end, but a special tip of the hat must go to the moment when Bond brings out the Faberge egg and the temperature in the room suddenly drops. (Gobinda's double-take , especially, is priceless).
"Double sixes. Fancy that." (Cool...thy name is Bond).
AVTAK-Lets face it (and it will kill the AVTAK haters to admit this) but that fight atop the Golden Gate bridge is a sensational bit of action cinema, and as good as any fight between Bond and the main villain in the series.
In fact, it might actually be the best! (when you consider there are only a handful of proper encounters) Hold on. The fight with Largo in TB is still the kingpin of main villian fights.
What else? The bobsled case in OHMSS still rocks. The Kananga and Scaramanga fights should be epic, iconic battles...but alas! (Guy Hamilton, I wish you could go back in time and give us the same attention to these two fights as you gave to the one in Fort Knox. And how about giving us something more in that Baron Samedi fight. One of the greatest henchmen of all time gets disposed of...with one punch?!?!? Are you kidding me? After three superb build-ups, Hamilton leaves us with ashes. And don't get me started on how he bungles the end of DAF! Shocking!)
Then what? Let's see...the fight with Whittaker in TLD is short but sweet. Bond vs. Sanchez in LTK would be the all-time champ if it finished off with a hand-to hand.
Oh, yes, of course...Bond vs.006. How could I forget? Best. Main Villian Fight. Ever. Period.
Once again, a tip of the hat to Bond vs. Zorin. Too bad John Glen did not make the rest of the film as electrifying as this scene.
TLD- 007. A dead comrade. A bouncing balloon. Nuff said.
"Yes. I got the message."
No one, not Sean, not Craig, in the history of the series has EVER captured the ferocity that Dalton displays in this scene. Already iconic, the balloon scene, I predict, will become (along with Bond kicking Locque's car in FYEO) the key signature image of 007 in the 1980's.
Timothy Dalton is already aware of the fact that there are enough Bond-fans out there who will properly place his 007 in context. Quibble all you want, Dalton-doubters, Tim was the only Bond who dared you to dislike him and for that alone, he is the Bond THAT HAD TO FOLLOW Roger.
Dalton was the reboot in 1987. And, in his own way, brought the edge back to Bond. Dalton is an absolute KEY link in the chain of the series. Never for a second doubt that.
LTK- Bond meets Sanchez. And for a split second, Bond's reflection laughs back at him.
Along with Scaramanga, Sanchez is Bond's finest Bond-like villian. Robert Davi's performance, believe me, will one day reach the same level of appreciation as Robert Shaw's. A superb villian.
(Trivia note: Davi played 007 in screen-testing the ladies and, according to John Glen, was actually quite good as Bond! Coincidence? I think not).
GE- "Why can't you be a good boy and die?"
"You first. You...second. UP!!!"
An absolutely cracker-jack confrontation scene.
TND- Bond: I doubt she'll remember me.
M: Remind her.
That, fellow Bond-fans, is not only one of Judi Dench's greatest lines, it captures an essential component of the Bond-M relationship: M, from 1962 onwards, has never condoned Bond's brazen lifestyle. But...when it comes to business, M has no qualms in using Bond's success with women to get the job done.
(In FRWL, Bond, with a knowing smile, wonders if he will reach Tania's expectatations of him. M, cold-as-ice, whispers: "Just see that you do.")
TWINE- A running Bond fires his gun and the bullet smashes off the glass. Behind it, smiles Renard.
As the lift goes up, his downward finger points to a ticking bomb.
A terrific confrontation with Renard ends with one of the all-time cool villian exits.
DAD- I've said it before. Bond, looking like a bum, walking into the hotel as if he owns the joint, is not only of THE great moments in the series, it absolutely defines the character of 007. One of Pierce's signature scenes.
CR- So many!
Bond wears the tux for the first time and checks himself out in the mirror. A great GREAT moment for the history of Bond and superbly handled. Bonus points for that wonderful silent exchange between Bond and Vesper when she catches him admiring himself.
Craig handles it perfcectly, resuming his admiration..and why not? He's James Bond.
Always remember, that vanity has always been (as Fiona Volpe could testify) a key element in Bond's nature.
Well, that does it for now. It was so much fun I will probably do another run through the series.
I will leave with this:
(Bond)is tough, ruthless, a compulsive killer, and savage with the women he loves - and leaves. But everybody seems to like the guy.
---Sean Connery
"I'm beginning to like you, Mr. Bond."
"Mmm...call me James."
This man speaks the truth. One wrong move and you have AVTAK, ten wrong moves and you have DAD. Makes you appreciate what craftsman Harry and Cubby were in their day.
What I like about Tim is that he is happy to have played it his way, bugger the naysayers, and is still proud of it today.
Heres mine and the Brozza munchkins arent going to like it.
FYEO - a Madrid hotel room. The aftermath of the car chase. "Olympic has a flight at eleven" For the first time we see the steely determination of Melina Havelock to catch her parents killers. Moore and Bouquet have good material "Before setting out on revenge" and back in 1981 this scene more then any other convinced me that this Bond was going to be different.
OP - The arrival in India. A helicopter flies above the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort before settling in Udaipurs lake (geographiclly impossible unless 007 wanted to go sightseeing before arriving in Udaipur) set to John Barrys stirring music.
AVTAK - I've always had a liking for the showjumping at Chantilly. Particularly when "Inferno" goes ga ga and sprints through the French woods. Once again Barry's music ups the ante.
TLD - Soo many good scenes. I'm gonna settle on Pushkins cornering in Tangiers. 007 with a silencer against the head of the KGB. The dialogue spoken by these old thesps is brillint - "One of our agents is dead! Congratulations! We had nothing to do with it!". Both Dalton and Rhys Davies are superb in this scene.
LTK - a much underrated film but I love the meeting at Sanchezs' villa (overlooking Acapulco bay) where Dalton first sows the seeds of suspicion ("just one man?") and that ivory covered villa is so Bondian.
GE - [lets out sigh] the Brosnan years. Well, I suppose statue park meeting was very atmospheric.
TND - [struggles to think] The dialogue between Paris and Bond is sharp ("What did I say? How about I'll be right back?)
TWINE - [Oh lordy, this is getting harder] the jump from the helicopter to the ski slope with Electra is very "old school" with Arnolds music being very Barryesque.
DAD - [Oh christ, what do I say?] The entrance to Cuba was quite good. Er, thats it.
CR - so many. The poker game, the crane chase, the stairwell fight, the torture sequence, the final scene....I'm gonna settle for the poisonning by Valenka. You can hear the panic back in London "Press the bloody button Bond!" and 007s first words when he come around to Vesper "Are you al'right?"
Paul Haggis should be given a knighthood.
Dr. No
-"That's a Smith & Wesson, and you've had your six."
-The opening casino scene, of course
-The entire dinner scene was awesome
From Russia With Love
-Bond's relationship with Kerim Bey-- you got more of a sense of genuine friendship between the two men in this one movie than you ever did between Bond and Leiter
-The whole scene on the train culminating in what is possibly the series' finest moment, ie., the fight between Bond and Grant
Goldfinger
-As someone else said, the whole scene with Jill Masterson, starting with that beautiful shot of her in her undies
-That interesting car of his
-The laser scene, culminating in "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!".
-The golf scene
Thunderball
-Domino!
-Connery's whole performance-- possibly the coolest thing ever ("Not that it matters, but that was under the pillow the whole time.")
-Fiona Volpe!
-The scene with Fiona starting when she says "Oh!" and culminating in her demise-- the part where they're dancing is very tense and well done, the shift in music when she gets shot was brilliantly handled
-I love the casino scene in this one "Your spectre against mine."...brilliant.
-This film just oozes uber-coolness and sexuality. Bond was in top form here, and was never quite so popular afterwerd.
You Only Live Twice
-The score
-The Kobe dock scene
-That volcano
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
-George Lazenby. Sorry everyone, but he was awesome and deserved a lot more than what he got. The man was a special forces martial arts instructor, a model, and utterly cool as hell-- his was one of the few Bonds (along with Connery and now Craig) that, to some degree still, make the 12-year-old in me want to actually /be/ Bond.
-The score-- possibly the series' best, and easily the most exciting and moving.
-The opening scene, Lazenby's intro, and the beach fight.
-Bond's first meeting with Draco was awesomely done-- starting with him being detained by Draco's men in his hotel lobby, through to that sudden and great fight outside the office, Olympe and on through Lazenby saying "you have connections not open to me...where is Earnst Stavro Blofeld?"...awesome.
-Bond breaking into Gumbold's office-- and getting absorbed in a Playboy mag haha
- "I assumed you'd reassign me sir."
-Bond arriving in Piz Gloria, the cinematography up the mountain, Bond getting settled in (and the music that accompanied it)-- were all stellar.
-Bond meeting the girls, seducing two of them, and hearing Blofeld's plot "your a picture yourself, and twice as lovely in the firelight".
-Bond's capture, the initial showdown with Blofeld..."I mean what I say, and I'll do what I claim".
-Savalas as Blofeld-- brilliant; easily my favorite of the Blofeld's. He was a perfect mix of toughness, sophistication and egotistical madness-- a great match for Lazenby's Bond.
-Bond's escape from Piz Gloria-- right up to where he slouches down, uncertain of the future, and she skates up and saves his ass.
-Bond's proposal to Tracy-- expertly and beautifully handled. It made me want to marry Lazenby too.
-The ski scene leading up to Tracy's capture
-Bond's request of Draco "I'd like to interest you in a demolition deal that will require certain aerial activity to install equipment"
-The assault on Piz Gloria-- including a timely use of the old-school Bond theme
-The final scene-- brilliantly handled by George.
As you can tell I think this movie was a masterpiece.
Casino Royale
-The pre-title sequence-- Craig strangling that guy in the bathroom was a very effective intro to his (awesome) Bond.
-Daniel Craig's Bond-- the first genuinely cool and tough Bond we've had since Lazenby, and a very welcome change.
-The fight scenes were very well done in this
-The whole tone of the film-- genuinely Bondian, something not really seen since the 60s.
That covers all my favorite Bonds...I may do some more later.
Gf - goldfinger relizes that hes been beat at his own game on the 18th hole.
TSWLM - Bond offs Sandor on the edge of the roof.
-{
All right, you flatterer, you ;%
FYEO - The moment, very early on, when Bond visits Tracy's grave.
OP - Bond slides down the bannister; shoots off the knob at the end B-)
AVTAK - MayDay's leap off the Eiffel Tower...
TLD - The moment we see, in the PTS, the words 'Smiert Spionam' on the tag clipped to the rope...
LTK - "He disagreed with something that ate him" B-)
GE - On the yacht, Bond 'snaps' the guy in the face with the towel...and then kicks his ass...
TND - Bond and Dr. Kaufmann.
TWINE - Bond shoots Electra - "I never miss" :v
DAD - Swordfight.
CR - Bond catches Mollaka's gun when thrown at him...and throws it back
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Here is my part two:
FYEO-The PTS, until it becomes silly. Imagine this. Secret agent extraordinaire James Bond visits the grave of his one true love. He gets a message to depart quickly on a helicopter and, suddenly, his life is in danger. Although the PTS eventually became silly, there was a moment when Bond's life was in danger in a way that it was rarely before. To this day it still terrifies me so I would select from the start of the PTS to the moment Bond takes control.
OP-The train sequence including in particular the scene in which Bond encounters a knife thrower. This entire sequence, however, is as thrilling as Bond can get and concludes IMO one of the most underrated Bond films of all time. It truly is a wonderful sequence.
AVTAK-The Golden Gate bridge fight. It's hard for me to be as enthusiastic as Big, however I will say this; even the worst of Bond is still pretty fun, and AVTAK is a perfect example of this.
TLD-There is one moment in this film that I do enjoy. That is the scene at the back of the plane in which Bond is fighting against a villain. Recently, BTW, I was out for dinner with a cousin and she mentioned that scene. It seems that it made a bit of an impact.
LTK-'You earned it, old buddy!' Bond has plenty of faults but one thing that he is not is dishonarble. Bond would never take a bribe and would never turn his back on justice for any reason. My feelings on Dalton are well known but I think this was a wonderful moment, and quite possibly Dalton's masterpiece. Plus, it was a pretty good death as well.
GE-Bond's introduction to Xenia. :x If you have to go, it might as well be at the hands of Xenia Onatopp.
I think that GE is a terrific film and I will forever be grateful to it for delivering us Pierce Brosnan (my second-favourite Bond) but IMO GE has introduced something else equally important; one of the absolute greatest villains, and the greatest villainess ever. I do not exaggerate. IMO Xenia Onatopp will go down as the single greatest villainess ever (ahead of Klebb, Volpe and Bunt) and among the very greatest villains ever. I think she's absolutely extraordinary.
TND-I'm going to cheat and choose two scenes back-to-back. They are the scene with Dr Kaufman followed by the car chase. Here's why. First we had a wonderful scene with Kaufman, a professional who enjoys his work, followed by one of the all-time great car chases. I am not a big fan of TND but these two scenes, and the way they are cnnected, are IMO among the greatest in the history of the Bond films.
TWINE-The first half of the PTS. Bond is in the office of a Swiss banker, cracks a few fine jokes, kills everyone and escapes, brushing off his jacket. The PTS should have ended here. A wonderful scene, that like the GF PTS, showcases much of what is so great about Bond.
DAD-Loeff has already mentioned the fencing scene, so I will mention one piece of dialogue; 'Say goodbye to him for us.' Brilliant. Nothing else needs to be said by either Bond or his Chinese counterpart, for both are fully aware of what Bond plans to do.
CR-The final scene. Bond shoots Mr White in the leg, we see a fully suited Bond and he says the sentence. {[] I am not a huge fan of CR, however both times that I saw it in the cinema, I left with a
Big, thanks for yet another wonderful post. I have to say that for many of the films, I could easily have chosen more than one scene/moment.
Re-reading this topic from way back makes me want to chip in another two cents.
DN- "Warn me?"
Dr.No is astonished that Dent believes Bond is a threat to the good doctor. Bond villian megalomania at its finest. This dome set is the first of Ken Adam's sets to proclaim that we have just entered a new and exciting world.
FRWL- Volumes have written in praise of the Bond-Grant fight (and rightly so) but how about a tip of the hat to the confrontation.
I maintain that Bond has NEVER been closer to death than the moment Grant backhands him viciously across the face("Don't make it tougher on yourself".)
Robert Shaw...you left us too soon in 1978.
GF- Bond ,dressed in all-black, infiltrates Auric Enterprises. Dodging in and out of the shadows, it is a perfect look for Bond on a mission. As far as I'm concerned. they should make a whole film with Bond on a mission wearing this outfit.
TB- Bond arrives late for the Operation Thunderball briefing. As Bond swaggers to his chair, M stands up:"Well, now that we're all here..."
Priceless comic moment which once again demonstrates that M is the only person in the Bond universe that 007 cannot charm his way around.
YOLT- Ninjas sliding down the ropes inside Ken Adam's volcano. One of the those electrifying moments of pure spectacle that the Bonds of recent years can't seem to match.
OHMSS- Bond,frozen, tired and on the run from Bunt and her goons turns suddenly and is greeted by the happiest polar bear in the world,and for one brief second, our favorite spy is...scared out of his wits!
DAF- The PTS is a mixed bag but there's no denying it ends perfectly with a very happy Bond killing Blofeld. "Welcome to hell, Blofeld." is followed by Blofeld's cat meowing which cuts into Maurice Binder's titles. That simple transition from 007 to the cat to the titles is a reminder that Bond films, at their height, are unmatched when it comes to style.
LALD- I am surprised that more has not been written about the marvelous scene where Kananga reveals himself to Bond. Well-played by everybody (especially Yaphet Kotto) the scene is tense for the simple reason that Bond might actually be tortured and killed for stealing another man's woman. In its own way, one of the most adult scenes in the series.
Bonus points for Kananga's scream of "YOU KNEW THAT!". Chilling.
TMWTGG- Perfection...with a catch.
The spiral jump is still a terrific stunt that has been burdened with the single worst sound effect in the history of the series. Without a doubt, this signature stunt would be more favorably remembered if it was properly scored. Check out the DVD documentary on Bond stuntmen to see the stunt perfectly accompanied by John Barry's music to realize how even our beloved Eon can royally screw-up...big-time.
TSWLM- "Where's Fakesh?"
"Pyramids!"
'Nuff said.
MR- In the Rio alleyway, Bond and Jaws greet each other with the friendlest of smiles, reserved only for old-time friends or enemies. Hilarious and chilling at the same time.
FYEO- "That's detente, comrade. You don't have it. I don't have it."
Geo-politics, as defined by 007. In 1981, only James Bond could make this gesture and make it resonate in the real world.
Make no mistake, as fictional characters go, Bond has had a little more influence on our culture than the Indys and Bournes of the world.
As THE symbol of the Cold Warrior...Bond was of interest to the Kremlin and the KGB in those days.I kid you not. As such, Bond became, as John Cork wrote in THE LEGACY, a mirror to the conflicts of the era.
OP- Roger's double-take as he slides down the bannister. Priceless.
AVTAK- Patrick Macnee as Tibbett. What a shame he was killed off. Old pro Macnee would have been perfect as a British Felix Leiter.
I'll finish the list later.
"World domination. Same old dream."
My 21 Cents worth, some of which have already been mentioned,
DN - "One million dollars" This scene really showed the scale of the first Bond film and Joseph Wiseman's wonderful off screen delivery sets his character almost in stone from the off.
FRWL - Bond Vs Grant, not the fight scene, but the dialouge before hand ending in the briefcase being opened...
G - Shirley Eaton, gold paint, 'nuff said.
TB - Fiona Volpe giving Bond a piece of her mind
YOLT - the obliette scene in the underground, Bond chases Aki, then disappears through a trap door; one of the sequences Roald Dahl retained from the novel.
OHMSS - where do I start? I think ultimately it has to be the escape from Piz Gloria ski chase; it's far and away the most exciting sequence in any Bond film
DAF - Bond climbing the Whyte House, not just suspenceful, but beautifully shot too.
LALD - Baron Samedi greeting Bond and Solitaire in a graveyard.
TMWTGG - Bond meets Lazaar and threatens him with a knocked off rifle.
TSWLM - the ski jump, all the better for no music (until the parachute opens, slighty spoils it)
MR - Bond and Holly walking and talking rings around each other in a Venice hotel room; so well written, funny, charming and sexy; wasn't Lois Chiles just gorgeous in 1979?
FYEO - Bond killing Locque
O - Bond walks around the Monsoon Palace at night
AVTAK - curiously only one thing stands out for me; there is a beautiful shot of Zorin's mansion in Chantilly (or wherever) took my breath away.
TLD - Bond meets Kara in Bratislava
LTK - Bond infiltrates the warehouse; very Fleming and lifted from LALD, for me the highlight of a film that went mostly downhill.
GE - M interviews Bond
TND - The silent fight with Carver's goons
TWINE - that scene in the oil pipeline, so much better than DAF!
DAD - Bond meets his contact in Cuba
CR - Bond finds Vesper in the shower
I guess if I tried I could find another 21. I dispensed with too many explanations.
2. TLD: The escape from Kara's flat with the help of a tram-car, a phone booth and a Cello case.
3. FRWL: The entire sequence on the Orient express (with Loeff's permission)
4. TLD: Showdown with Pushkin in his Tangier hotel-room
5. CR: The PTS complete with opening credits.
6. CR: Bond consoles a traumatized Vesper in the shower, and, bruised and battered after a bloody fight, undoes his tie (his most anti-Brosnan statement to-date).
7. TWINE Sophie Marceau's "Just one last screw"
8. FYEO: The climb up St. Cyrils
9. OHMSS: Bond slides, glides, hurls himself head-long into Piz gloria.
10. LTK: Q on the field, showing Bond his new alarm clock.
FRWL: The entire sequence on the Orient express
FRWL: M and Monneypenney listen in to Bond's interrogation of Tatiana
GF: Gilded Shirley Eaton, dead on the bed
TB: Bond and Fiona Volpe in the bath tub.
OHMSS: Bond storms Piz gloria.
DAF: Something about collar and cuff-links
TSWLM: The pyramids and the Egyptian dawn
TSWLM: Killing the bald helpful chap (Sandor, was it?)
MR: Corinne Dufour chased by wild dogs
FYEO: The climb up St. Cyrils
OP: Magda's elegant exit from Bond's hotel room
TLD: The PTS right up till the parachute
TLD: The escape from Kara's flat
TLD: The fight with Pushkin
LTK: Q showing Bond his new alarm clock.
GE: The low shot of Bond's feet and the silence before the bunjy jump.
TND: Carver's only well-delivered line--"pathetic!" (after making fun of Wai Lin's martial arts moves)
TWINE: Sophie Marceau's "Just one last screw", or, more spcifically, Sophie Marceau
TWINE: M's quip about shadows
DAD: Bond walks into his Hong Kong hotel dressed as Robinson Crusoe
CR: The PTS complete with opening credits.
CR: The shower scene