What was the worst three-movie period for Bond?
Sweepy the Cat
Halifax, West Yorkshire, EnglaPosts: 986MI6 Agent
So the whole "worst Bond film, best Bond film" stuff has been done to death. But as I watched the Bond series in chronological order, I was curious to find out what people think was the "dark age" of the Bond films - a series of three movies (nice number, if I made it four I'm sure some cheeky monkeys would just list all the Brosnan films. ) where it looked like 007 would never return to true form. So, there's the question. Which three consecutive Bond films represent to you that most dissappointing period in Bond's history?
Comments
FYEO
Octopussy
View to a Kill
I consider "Carry On Spying" to be a better espionage thriller than any of them. Whilst Eighties Bond films were decidedly "hitty missy" the quality threshold was nevertheless higher than the decade which preceded it.
Otherwise, LTK, GE and TND would fit the bill.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
TWINE (actually a good film but way too drawn out and sleep inducing)
DAD (painful)
You've hit a goofy turn!
NSNA isn't an official Bond movie
Yes, I totally agree...which is a shame, as I really think Brozza could have been a better Bond...but I'm leaving that to Daniel...:x
I know...I know...a lot of forum members don't consider NSNA a REAL Bond movie. Well it's your topic so if NSNA doesn't count I will have to go with DAF, OHMSS, and YOLT.
I did love GE. Which meant I got all excited for TND. Which I still think is nothing more than a two hour BMW advert. TWINE was a slight improvement, but that's only because it's difficult to imagine anything worse than TND!
If QOS turns into another TND, you will hear my howls of outrage throughout the realm
Finally! Someone with taste and discretion! -{
Exactly! Brosnan was perfect in GE. Especially considering everything he had to go through to finally land the role in 95. I had such high hopes after GE, Brosnan wanted to make Bond more realistic, the movie studio had other ideas. It went down hill QUICK.
I'd have to say the late Moore films are my pick though, FYEO, OP, VTaK
That's my pick as well. FYEO wasn't bad (quite good at times, defective in some spots)...but Moore's last two are so bad (IMRO) that they would have weighed any great film down---simply by proximity
By the way...great thread, Sweepy! {[]
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Pierce was a great Bond. He and Craig are apples and oranges, no comparison in my book.
My three are : AVTAK (certainly not Roger's fault), TLD and LTK. Those 2 films not only had my least favorite Bond, Timothy Dalton, but they had a cheesy quality to them, a tinny 80's feel if you will. It's hard to describe, but I know it when I see it. Dalton's films have always seemed like TV movies to me, not the usual big Bond quality. Kind of a Big Bond (Bang) Theory I guess...maybe that's my Party affiliation Loeff.
Mmm...interesting :v I think perhaps you've coined a new term for our glossary, Mo. I'm going to ponder it
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
-Roger Moore
I know what Monique means about the Dalton movies, they're not quite hard enough. The finale of TLD when all the Russians and Afghans make up at the after concert party! 8-) They still retain a cutesy visual gag hangover from the Moore years which just doesn't work in this context.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
For me, a tie between DAF-TMWTGG and LTK-TND.
This was actually very hard to answer -- great thread, Sweeepy! {[]
Yes! Your point?
AVTAK was a return to what the series is all about- an over the top fun day at the movies. It had 2 great villains in Walken and Jones(even Lundgren, if I may be so bold), a great theme song, Tanya Roberts was hot, the stunts spectacular. Even Moore looked less weary in it. Overall, one of the best from an enjoyment perspective, as are all in my top 10. I don't approach the Bonds as if I'm watching Olivier doing Hamlet. That was never what they were intended to be.
Guy should never have had returned
Couldn't agree more. And just for balance, and to offset fans of The Jolly Roger, his first outing in LALD was a lot better than the lacklustre DAF where a paunchy Sean just dialled it in. Before drawing flak from Sean fans (of whom I'm one) DAF was an unworthy epitaph for his tenure (to say nothing of the even worse NSNA)
To what extent the actor playing Bond should carry the can is an interesting question in itself. These are massive productions, with a multitude of factors that influence the outcome. That said each actor has influenced the overall tone and shape of the films as the producers attempt to play to the lead actors strengths and capabilities, and mitigate their shortcomings. Lack of humour for Dalton, acting experience for Lazenby etc. Sometimes, as in the cases of Lazenby & Dalton this results in some fine Bond movies, but not in the particular trio that you mention, which are for me real series lowpoints.
There are Bond films which, for whatever reason, have disappointed me (YOLT and DAF from the Connery era, TMWTGG from the 70's Moore films, TND from the 90's Brosnan films and CR,) however the only Bond films which are IMO, relatively speaking, truly terrible are AVTAK, TLD, LTK and DAD. 1985-'89 was IMO the series' dark ages.
First, there was AVTAK, arguably the worst Bond film of all time, which was so bad that not even Roger Moore could save it (although to be fair, his age did play a minor part in the horror that was AVTAK.) I don't think it has any redeemin feautes whatsoever, except perhaps it didn't feature Dalton.
TLD was IMO the second worst Bond film of all time. Featuring, by far, my least favourite Bond, what made it so bad IMO was that it was so boring. While AVTAK was incredibly offensive (due to it hijacking GF's entire plot and destroying it), TLD has to be one of the dullest 'action thrillers' ever made. Add to that, arguably the single worst lead Bond performance of all time, as well as unmemorable villains, an unforgettable Bond Girl and a mess of a script, and I think that the makers of TLD should be forced to publicly apologise for it.
I don't hate LTK as much as I hate AVTAK and TLD (LTK is my fourth least favourite Bond film), but it does really depress me that a film with such a brilliant concept, and such a great villain, would be executed so poorly. The main culprits would surely be the screenwriters, but I also think that bringing back Dalton (who produced arguably the second worst lead Bond performance of all time) was a massive mistake. If Brosnan had starred in it, or a younger Connery or Moore, I think it could have been lot better. Especially if the screenplay had been improved.
BTW NP and the President of the Cinematic Bond Traditionalists have suggested that QOS, could if coupled with DAD and CR, constitute another dark age for the films. Truthfully, while I hated DAD (Brosnan aside), I didn't really dislike CR (although I wasn't particularly impressed with it), and I hope to at least enjoy QOS.
The Craig films may eventually be viewed as an unfortunate aberaton, :v, I don't believe however that they will ever equal the dark ages of 1985-'89.
Hey Maybe, I have no quibble with AVTAK. But as you can see it's a bete noir around here. I agree with you on your plus points. {[] It's a slick, unpretentious piece of work.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
DAF - Awful, just awful and I really like Connery
LALD - Possibly worse
TMWTGG - Liked this when I was about 10 but find it rather stupid now
+1