For me these three films are like the plunging line on a chart: DAF--bad; LALD--worse; TMWTGG--rock bottom.
As far as a 3 movie arc goes. I would have to agree with Hardyboy's summation. Diamonds are Bland, Live and Let Bore,
The man with the Pretty Peashooter. Yeeccchh!! {[]
However why LALD gets all this hate is beyond me. Moore's performance, the crocodile scene, Kananga, Tee Hee, Solitaire, the locations, the dialogue, the theme song. Surely LALD is one of the coolest of all Bonds. :v
"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
However why LALD gets all this hate is beyond me. Moore's performance, the crocodile scene, Kananga, Tee Hee, Solitaire, the locations, the dialogue, the theme song. Surely LALD is one of the coolest of all Bonds. :v
That's an easy one. Moore's lighthearted performance, Kananga popping like a balloon, Tee Hee with his cheesy mechanical arm, airport scene with the bug-eyed old lady, JW Pepper (much better than in the next film) over long boat chase, the watch with the unknown until it was necessary to show superpowers. There are things the film does well, but it's easy to pick apart if one was so inclined
I used to love LALD, but not so much the last time. Suppose it didn't help that I put it on after Thunderball. The jarring shift in quality is much more obvious.
The highlights are the croc-step and motorboat chicken - gasoline in the face. I always get a little chill when Bond reaches over and punches the other boat into reverse. It's like, get down with your bad self, 007.
The Man With the Golden Gun
The Spy Who Loved Me
Moonraker - this one makes me mad mostly because they took a great story in the novel and raped it into a bad Star Wars ripoff.
TND (uninspired, like a clone, or a man at work going through the motions)
TWINE (actually a good film but way too drawn out and sleep inducing)
DAD (painful)
Once again Alex my good man, I couldn't put it better.
Of the oft quoted 'least favourites' I have some very guilty pleasures that make them very entertaining, despite their obvious weaknesses. The sleazy and outlandish feel of DAF, the blaxploitation feel of LALD, the complete cheesiness of TMWTGG, the spectale of MR and the fact that AVTAK makes me smile, even if for all the wrong reasons. The above three, however, are my least reached for DVDs. In fact, last week on a wet weeknight I randomly selected TND to watch, and couldn't get past the PTS before I thought "Nope, not in the mood for this at all."
Do you really hate it or is it simply that it's wedged between TMWTGG and MR?
"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
Of the oft quoted 'least favourites' I have some very guilty pleasures that make them very entertaining, despite their obvious weaknesses. The sleazy and outlandish feel of DAF, the blaxploitation feel of LALD, the complete cheesiness of TMWTGG, the spectale of MR and the fact that AVTAK makes me smile, even if for all the wrong reasons. The above three, however, are my least reached for DVDs. In fact, last week on a wet weeknight I randomly selected TND to watch, and couldn't get past the PTS before I thought "Nope, not in the mood for this at all."
The only Bond film which I can't get any pleasures from, guilty or not, is QOS. I still can't bear to rewatch it. It may be that I need to wait some time before revisiting it, but certainly, I have no hesitating in selecting it as my all-time least favourite Bond film.
"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
Of the oft quoted 'least favourites' I have some very guilty pleasures that make them very entertaining, despite their obvious weaknesses. The sleazy and outlandish feel of DAF, the blaxploitation feel of LALD, the complete cheesiness of TMWTGG, the spectale of MR and the fact that AVTAK makes me smile, even if for all the wrong reasons. The above three, however, are my least reached for DVDs. In fact, last week on a wet weeknight I randomly selected TND to watch, and couldn't get past the PTS before I thought "Nope, not in the mood for this at all."
Couldn't agree more with your sentiments, M5, in regards to the much maligned RM entries.
I can watch those and derive an unfeigned amount of pleasure, regardless of their, oh-so obvious lighter moments. I think it's important and conductive to seperate classic interpretations of Fleming's work with letting your hair down, and enjoying a colorful, over the top, and at times, cheesy, Cubby, Barry, Moore production. For me the flaws are compensated by the fun factor.
As a fan of both styles, it's good to have a selection. I know exactly what I'm getting here and it's nothing but bygone era goodness with a heckuva of a nice guy playing 007. No self delusions of their "status" dog my perspective.
(At least they don't preach to you about your testicles) (TND)
For me these three films are like the plunging line on a chart: DAF--bad; LALD--worse; TMWTGG--rock bottom.
As far as a 3 movie arc goes. I would have to agree with Hardyboy's summation. Diamonds are Bland, Live and Let Bore,
The man with the Pretty Peashooter. Yeeccchh!! {[]
Well, it's good to see that it's Diamonds are Bland, Live and Let Bore and The Man with the Pretty Peashooter that you hate, and not Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die or The Man with the Golden Gun.
"Oh look! Parachutes for the both of us! Whoops, not anymore!"
"You see Mr Bond. You can't kill my dreams. But my dreams can kill you!"
"Time to face destiny."
-Gaustav Graves in Die Another Day-
Well, it's good to see that it's Diamonds are Bland, Live and Let Bore and The Man with the Pretty Peashooter that you hate, and not Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die or The Man with the Golden Gun.
8-) I am not sure, if I should laugh or cry after having to read this....
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
you should laugh, because I was saying it in humor and not in bad taste.
"Oh look! Parachutes for the both of us! Whoops, not anymore!"
"You see Mr Bond. You can't kill my dreams. But my dreams can kill you!"
"Time to face destiny."
-Gaustav Graves in Die Another Day-
In my humble opinion: Octopussy, A View To A Kill, The Living Daylights
Octopussy: Bond dressed as a clown.
A View To A Kill: 57-year old Roger Moore seducing Grace Jones... eww!
The Living Daylights: Messy plot and Dalton is not exactly my choice for Bond.
"Being dead doesn't mean one still can't be helpful…"
Octopussy: Bond dressed as a clown.
A View To A Kill: 57-year old Roger Moore seducing Grace Jones... eww!
The Living Daylights: Messy plot and Dalton is not exactly my choice for Bond.
Octopussy: Definitely agree with you there; the clown scene was over-the-top and unneccessary. At the same time, I don't think it was enough to ruin the entire movie. Everything else -- from the pre-credits to the train chase to the plane skirmish -- was some of Bond at it's best (even if it wasn't the best Bond).
A View To A Kill: Also agree. I find it difficult to defend A View To A Kill wholeheartedly. Everything I like about it, i.e. Chris Walken as Max Zorin, the Duran Duran theme song, and the final struggle atop the Golden Gate Bridge, is over-shadowed by lousier stuff. Still, I think Diamonds Are Forever is a lot worse.
The Living Daylights: I would call it "good", but not much more than that. After seeing Quantum of Solace about three times, I'm beginning to see parallels; both movies have entertaining stunt sequences, but fall flat in trying to maintain a storyline and keep our interest in the villians. And Dalton -- for me, as well -- didn't work. Much too serious.
But I agree overall that this was perhaps the weakest three-film-streak in the series. Let's hope something like this doesn't happen again anytime soon!
"The secret agent. The man who was only a silhouette..." -- Ian Fleming, Moonraker
1) The Spy Who Loved Me 2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service 3) GoldenEye 4) Casino Royale 5) Goldfinger
TND is one of my least favourite bond films as I find it dull and the plot is kind of ridiculous. Elliot Carver is the worst ever main villain IMO.
TWINE is a little better (Elektra King being one of my favourite villains), but it's still a very low tier bond film for me.
DAD = Worst of the entire series
Agreed but for Tomorrow Never Dies. I think it's a solid follow-up to GoldenEye, even if it's not quite as good. Having a multi-billionaire media baron was sort of refreshing (and I also like Jonathan Pryce as an actor). For me, it was the big raid on the stealth ship that ruined it. I have no problem with big raids in Bond movies (see Goldfinger, The Spy Who Loved Me), but that one was overbearingly monotonous.
"The secret agent. The man who was only a silhouette..." -- Ian Fleming, Moonraker
1) The Spy Who Loved Me 2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service 3) GoldenEye 4) Casino Royale 5) Goldfinger
I intially thought my answer to this was DAF, LALD and TMWTGG. However, I realised that the 3 least watched DVDs in my collection are TND, TWINE and DAD.
I really don't think Guy Hamilton was a great director (his 70s Bonds have a laziness to them) but there is just something about the old Bond films which gets you watching them. Fat and disinterested as he is in DAF, Connery is a class act. Moore's performance in LALD isn't too bad and I have always felt it was such a shame that his tenure as Bond wasn't kicked off by a Terence Young or Peter Hunt style director who could have steered him away from the lightness. Moore worked with Hunt on a couple of films in the 70s and Hunt actually drew strong performances from him.
TND was a let down after the promise of GE, TWINE was just dull and DAD an absolute travesty. Since Dalton took over the franchise has appeared unable to sustain the momentum after introducing a new actor.
Since Dalton took over the franchise has appeared unable to sustain the momentum after introducing a new actor.
Not part of the thread, but I thoroughly agree on that point! There is no sustainable quality from each of the subsequent 007s following Connery. Sad, but true IMO
This is interesting as I think about them...every time I watch Moonraker I think about how bad it is...but I still enjoy wathching it...I am going to go with the ones I just don't like to watch..
LTK, AVTAK, OHMSS
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,924Chief of Staff
This is interesting as I think about them...every time I watch Moonraker I think about how bad it is...but I still enjoy wathching it...I am going to go with the ones I just don't like to watch..
LTK, AVTAK, OHMSS
The films are supposed to follow on from each other Paperbill - not random picks.
Comments
As far as a 3 movie arc goes. I would have to agree with Hardyboy's summation. Diamonds are Bland, Live and Let Bore,
The man with the Pretty Peashooter. Yeeccchh!! {[]
The highlights are the croc-step and motorboat chicken - gasoline in the face. I always get a little chill when Bond reaches over and punches the other boat into reverse. It's like, get down with your bad self, 007.
The Spy Who Loved Me
Moonraker - this one makes me mad mostly because they took a great story in the novel and raped it into a bad Star Wars ripoff.
Of the oft quoted 'least favourites' I have some very guilty pleasures that make them very entertaining, despite their obvious weaknesses. The sleazy and outlandish feel of DAF, the blaxploitation feel of LALD, the complete cheesiness of TMWTGG, the spectale of MR and the fact that AVTAK makes me smile, even if for all the wrong reasons. The above three, however, are my least reached for DVDs. In fact, last week on a wet weeknight I randomly selected TND to watch, and couldn't get past the PTS before I thought "Nope, not in the mood for this at all."
I can watch those and derive an unfeigned amount of pleasure, regardless of their, oh-so obvious lighter moments. I think it's important and conductive to seperate classic interpretations of Fleming's work with letting your hair down, and enjoying a colorful, over the top, and at times, cheesy, Cubby, Barry, Moore production. For me the flaws are compensated by the fun factor.
As a fan of both styles, it's good to have a selection. I know exactly what I'm getting here and it's nothing but bygone era goodness with a heckuva of a nice guy playing 007. No self delusions of their "status" dog my perspective.
(At least they don't preach to you about your testicles) (TND)
From The Producers
Well, it's good to see that it's Diamonds are Bland, Live and Let Bore and The Man with the Pretty Peashooter that you hate, and not Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die or The Man with the Golden Gun.
"You see Mr Bond. You can't kill my dreams. But my dreams can kill you!"
"Time to face destiny."
-Gaustav Graves in Die Another Day-
8-) I am not sure, if I should laugh or cry after having to read this....
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
"You see Mr Bond. You can't kill my dreams. But my dreams can kill you!"
"Time to face destiny."
-Gaustav Graves in Die Another Day-
Then I have to cry ......
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Are you going to ask this question in every thread you post in
None of them are in my top 14 Bond films. They're still good but the weakest three straight.
Octopussy: Bond dressed as a clown.
A View To A Kill: 57-year old Roger Moore seducing Grace Jones... eww!
The Living Daylights: Messy plot and Dalton is not exactly my choice for Bond.
Octopussy: Definitely agree with you there; the clown scene was over-the-top and unneccessary. At the same time, I don't think it was enough to ruin the entire movie. Everything else -- from the pre-credits to the train chase to the plane skirmish -- was some of Bond at it's best (even if it wasn't the best Bond).
A View To A Kill: Also agree. I find it difficult to defend A View To A Kill wholeheartedly. Everything I like about it, i.e. Chris Walken as Max Zorin, the Duran Duran theme song, and the final struggle atop the Golden Gate Bridge, is over-shadowed by lousier stuff. Still, I think Diamonds Are Forever is a lot worse.
The Living Daylights: I would call it "good", but not much more than that. After seeing Quantum of Solace about three times, I'm beginning to see parallels; both movies have entertaining stunt sequences, but fall flat in trying to maintain a storyline and keep our interest in the villians. And Dalton -- for me, as well -- didn't work. Much too serious.
But I agree overall that this was perhaps the weakest three-film-streak in the series. Let's hope something like this doesn't happen again anytime soon!
1) The Spy Who Loved Me 2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service 3) GoldenEye 4) Casino Royale 5) Goldfinger
TND is one of my least favourite bond films as I find it dull and the plot is kind of ridiculous. Elliot Carver is the worst ever main villain IMO.
TWINE is a little better (Elektra King being one of my favourite villains), but it's still a very low tier bond film for me.
DAD = Worst of the entire series
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
Agreed but for Tomorrow Never Dies. I think it's a solid follow-up to GoldenEye, even if it's not quite as good. Having a multi-billionaire media baron was sort of refreshing (and I also like Jonathan Pryce as an actor). For me, it was the big raid on the stealth ship that ruined it. I have no problem with big raids in Bond movies (see Goldfinger, The Spy Who Loved Me), but that one was overbearingly monotonous.
1) The Spy Who Loved Me 2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service 3) GoldenEye 4) Casino Royale 5) Goldfinger
I really don't think Guy Hamilton was a great director (his 70s Bonds have a laziness to them) but there is just something about the old Bond films which gets you watching them. Fat and disinterested as he is in DAF, Connery is a class act. Moore's performance in LALD isn't too bad and I have always felt it was such a shame that his tenure as Bond wasn't kicked off by a Terence Young or Peter Hunt style director who could have steered him away from the lightness. Moore worked with Hunt on a couple of films in the 70s and Hunt actually drew strong performances from him.
TND was a let down after the promise of GE, TWINE was just dull and DAD an absolute travesty. Since Dalton took over the franchise has appeared unable to sustain the momentum after introducing a new actor.
Do not like it
The topic is 'worst three-movie period - not singular.
I hope you haven't just come here to peddle your wares !!
Not part of the thread, but I thoroughly agree on that point! There is no sustainable quality from each of the subsequent 007s following Connery. Sad, but true IMO
LTK, AVTAK, OHMSS
The films are supposed to follow on from each other Paperbill - not random picks.