The unloved Bond films
Thunderpussy
Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
Thought I'd start something for all the unloved Bond films.Those sad movies resting at the bottom of our favorites list.are they all that bad or can we find something positive in them after several viewings.
I'll start with Diamonds are Forever.Not one of my favorites but I've seen it many times and think I've found IMHO the good points that keep me watching.
1, PTS, Bond using a bikini top as a weapon, I think thats cool.
2, The theme song, a Classic
3,the Score, Barry was asked to lighten the mood and he did but kept the atmosphere a great soundtrack.
4, Wint & Kidd,Bizarre killers and very Fleming.
5, The Script, a truly witty and adult script. afew of my favorite scenes,
When Bond is asked if he prefers blonds to brunettes he says
"SO LONG AS THE COLLARS AND CUFFS MATCH"
For years I was too inocent to understand the joke.
Plenty oToole being told she was named after her father,
Bond laying the odds at the craps table ,then saying he'd played it once before.
These are some of the reasons I still watch DAF. I hope others will come up with some positive reasons these unloved films can still be enjoyed. Someone must enjoy TMWTGG or AVTAK etc.so lets heare about it,Please give these unwanted movies a home.
I'll start with Diamonds are Forever.Not one of my favorites but I've seen it many times and think I've found IMHO the good points that keep me watching.
1, PTS, Bond using a bikini top as a weapon, I think thats cool.
2, The theme song, a Classic
3,the Score, Barry was asked to lighten the mood and he did but kept the atmosphere a great soundtrack.
4, Wint & Kidd,Bizarre killers and very Fleming.
5, The Script, a truly witty and adult script. afew of my favorite scenes,
When Bond is asked if he prefers blonds to brunettes he says
"SO LONG AS THE COLLARS AND CUFFS MATCH"
For years I was too inocent to understand the joke.
Plenty oToole being told she was named after her father,
Bond laying the odds at the craps table ,then saying he'd played it once before.
These are some of the reasons I still watch DAF. I hope others will come up with some positive reasons these unloved films can still be enjoyed. Someone must enjoy TMWTGG or AVTAK etc.so lets heare about it,Please give these unwanted movies a home.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Comments
I like it for some of the same reasons, that you have mentioned for DAF (which imho is really crap..)
1. John Barry's score
2. Christopher Lee, a brilliant villain
3. The exotic scenes in Thailand , especially James Bond Island
4. The girls! I am not talking about Goodnights intelligence, I am talking about her looks!
5. One of my favourite lines: "A water pistol?" after Roger Bonds smile in the face when watching Andrea in the shower!
6. The Golden Gun itself
7. JW Pepper, I simply love this guy!
Regarding AVTAK, I can find these highlights, but it ranks very low on my list, only followed by DAF:
1. PTS as long as 007 is on skis
2. The unzipping of the overall in the titles
3. Barry's score - especially "wine with Stacy"
4. Jenny Flex
5. Jenny Flex
6. Jenny Flex
and did I mention Jenny Flex?? :v
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
1. The surfing sequence in the PTS.... such a good idea,all gone to waste
2. The main title sequence.... moving the plot forward for a change
3. Theme song.... I really quite like it, suits the sequence well
4. The sexy Korean inquisitor.... wow, I'd love to be tortured by her !!!
5. Rosamunde Pike.... sexy, demure, cut glass accent, what an amazing Bond villianess
6. "The place needed redecorating anyway" ..... probably the funniest line in the film
7. Emilio Echivarria.... a real '60s throw back to when spies were spies, very Kerim Bey, Colombo, Draco
8. "A Field Guide To Bird's Of The West Indies"..... a nice little in-joke
9. The bits they used from the other 19 movies... a ni ce idea, far more enjoyable than what I actually see on screen
9. The end.... Thank God!
A pity the rest of the film was so bad.
I have to admit I quite like the first half of DAD,and I've a couple of friends into surfing who have told me that the PTS of DAD would of been very hard as it's almost impossable to get three surfers togethet like that.
Also Chrisno1 I liked the idea of the titles,For a long time now I've felt they should just put some of the credits over an early plot sceen.e.g Bond arriving at HQ or similar, and save the main title sequence for the end credits.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Is it on a par with the series' best? Absolutely not...but I'll take this one over the other so-called 'official Bond films' Eon was cranking out around this time!
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Ditto. For my money only FYEO and, possibly TLD, match NSNA in the '80s. It does get exceedingly bad press, but I much prefer it to OP which it competed with in 1983 and though it has faults, it also has many good points. Not so sure about Klaus Maria Brandeur, but Max Von Sydow is certainly a fine Blofeld and Barbara Carrera a shoe in for the maddest baddest wickedest Bond villianess. I'd buy tickets to see a show down between her and Lucianna Paluzzi. My favourite section is at the castle in Morocco, an excellent escape scene and a fantastic stunt around and off the castle walls.
Couldn't agree with you more. My fave bits of that film!
TMWTGG: Yes I totally agree with you! Christopher Lee is a great Bond villain, and I also love Sheriff J.W. Pepper!
AVTAK: Yes we got Jenny Flex, lol but what about everyone's (probably only mine) favorite not-main henchman Scarpine!
1. The PTS Boat chase. I love spotting London landmarks as it speeds along
2. Sophie Marceau. The best of the Brosnan women but that aitn saying muc
3. The arrival on skis at the top of the mountain
5. Robbie Coltrane
6. Qs departure
7 Davidov
8. The Scottish funeral scene
9 The scene with Judi Dench and David Calter (we read law at Oxford together)
10. The torture scene - cheesy but better then most of the movie.
What would the film be without Nick Nack-"If you kill him-all dis be mine!" "I may be small, but I never forget!"
There is a flying car.
The astro-spiral jump (without kazoo).
Christopher Lee.
Maud Adams dies. Let me repeat: she dies. the only one who broke the immortal rule: never do two.....
Love him or hate him, J.W. will you please stand up.
John Barry's score. (title song could have been much better..)
Tom Mankewicz.
And finally, Sir Roger being a badass. yes that's right. Simply for roughing up Maud-"He has three.." "Yes I know that, and it the most useless piece of information unless the Bottoms Up is a strip club and Scarmanga is performing there tonight." or the scene with Lazar and the "squeeze the butt" rifle.
DAF is utterly undefendable and INSANE! At least it has some charm and intellengence-albeit very little. It is a raunchy 1971 travelogue featuring "I'm bored out of my mind" Connery. It overall plays better than NSNA simply b/c it is part of the official series. Same thing with Octopussy. (oh dear god.) NSNA isn't a terrible film, but loses b/c it is not EON.
AVTAK's main problem was severe budget reduction. Great villain and song, terrible plot, plodding, aged 007, aged screenwriter, stumbling, and main girl repeatedly squeals like a stuck pig. BTW what happened to "From"?
1. I love the Swiss banker scene. One of my favorite acting moments in the Bond series is the glare that Brosnan turns toward the camera and gives once the banker has been shot and the mayhem starts going down. IMO, very Bondian.
2. I think the whole PTS is great, but maybe a little long. The whole scene with M and Sir Robert King is good, plus Q's "fishing boat" being used throughout the waterways of London. Spectacularly shot.
3. I like Bond going undercover as Davidov. I like his first showdown vs. Renard. I LOVE the way the explosion looks when Bond and Christmas Jones are climbing and jumping out of the underground shaft. If you pay attention to this scene, the cinematography of this explosion reminds me of the look of the earlier Bond films. I remember thinking this when I first saw it in theaters.
Another "unloved" film is AVTAK:
1. The first half is great. It really slows once he gets to San Francisco. I love everything at Zorin's estate. Like Bond's cover as St. John Smythe, Sir Godfrey Tibbett, the stable break-in and Bond being chased on horseback.
2. One of my favorite moments in the series is small, but I love the way the music amps up when Bond is using his special glasses to see inside Zorin's home. I think this whole scene is great.
3. I love Walken's bizarre behavior. His maniacal laugh, his disregard for others, and one of his best lines is one of the most bizarre (in writing and delivery) in the series: "I'm happiest....in the saddle."
Dr No is to become Student Negative
From Russia with Love, Becomes From Skeggy with All Kinds of Sexy
Goldfinger " Silverdigit
Thunderball " whisperedsphere
You Only Live Twice " You Only Live Once
OHMSS " Queenies Hidden Agent
or
Prince williams chinese whispers
Diamonds are Forever " Moissanite Last a Considerably Long time
Live & Let Die, " Live and Let's Let, out Bond flat while he's away.
The man with the golden Gun " The bloke with the big shinney Knife.
The spy who loved me, " The agent who had strong feelings of affection towards Me
Moonraker " Cloudtoucher
For your eyes Only " For your Eye Only ( Fairly obvious that one )
Bad news on the Pussy front sadly big cutbacks Here, No more Pussy Galore.
Octopussy Becomes Monopussy
A view to a Kill " Sight of a Maiming
The living daylights, " The off colour nigh torches
Licence to Kill, " Certificate to annoy
( Far east title, Me annoy you long time )
Goldeneye " Browneye
Tomorrow never Dies, " Yesterday never arrived
The world is not enough, " This will have to do
Die another Day, " Euthanasia Postponed
Casino Royale " Bingo! Galore
Quantum of Solace, " Small Comfort
Even Never say Never Again is to be renamed, Just say No
a good anti-drugs message yes ,But not movie connected.
And Bond 23 will not go untouched as, Property Of a Lady is to be changed to,
Repossessed Property of a Generic Female.
Jill St John
Jill St John
Jill St John
Jill St John
Jill St John
Jill St John
Did I mention Jill St John
I also loved the title song, barry's score and Wint & Kidd
I thought the close out scene with them was one of the best in the entire series
Oh yeah one more thing
JILL ST JOHN -{ -{ -{ -{ -{ -{ -{
Octopussy is one of my favouites, a quality Bond/action film. has so much going on & dangerous villains too. Somehow this film seems underated by many.
As stated above AVTAK and TWINE would be films to mention.
LTK is one of my favourites, a really good film. Dalton was great. - but again this film unliked by many.
Moonraker is also an enjoyable film, with some great tension and memorable scenes.
I too remember the excitement of a new Bond Release, Moonraker, I can remember at the time all my mates raving about it, it was a huge summer film. Mabey to some "Serious " Bond fans it's very lightweight, But it was of its time. And
just as Moore's Bonds where too camp, funny and lighthearted. I think Craigs Bonds are too serious,Dark. This is not a criticism of the Actors ,rather how the film makers point the direction of the series. Moores films are a product of the 70's /80's, simple popcorn have a good time movies. While the newer Bonds have a darker, far less humor, Because that's what seem to sell today.
I do hope from Bond 23 on they put a little humor back in, as I've said on another tread. For Craigs Bond a Darker drier Humor, as in the early Connery Films I think would work. -{
We need cameramen who hold their cams steady!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Well, guess it's time for my customary Moonraker defence (it's actually the only one of the "unloved" films that rates near the top of my list)....presented in easy-to-read bullet points, which are in no way cut-and-pasted from an earlier post of mine on this site. Not at all.
1) The Bond: Roger Moore. Moore stepped right out of Sean Connery's shadow in TSWLM with a confident, suave, and balanced portrayal. His performance here isn't quite as excellent, but it's very much in the same vein. One of his best scenes is when he emerges from his high-speed ride in the centrifuge. Bond simply looks completely defeated here, and much of the credit must go to Sir Roger.
2) The Girl: OK, Lois Chiles' acting style might not be to everyone's taste, but I thought she pulled off the 'ice cool' character of Dr. Goodhead fairly well. A worthy successor to XXX.
3) The Villain: Hugo Drax is my pick for the best villain of the movie franchise. Cultured, soft spoken and quietly menacing, Michel Lonsdale's performance is a superb example of low-key acting.
4) John Barry's soundtrack. Very definitely among his best - his instrumental version of Shirley Bassey's theme song is wonderfully fitting, and his work on the space scenes give the whole film a grand, luxuriant feel. Mr. Barry truly never will be replaced.
5) Corinne Dufour. Not only does she have some real chemistry with Bond, but she gets the best death scene of a secondary Bond girl ever. Ironic how a film with a reputation such as Moonraker's contains a scene involving a woman getting ripped to death by Dobermans. Is MR really a iron fist in a velvet glove? I think it might be.
6) Actual spywork! For all the gadgetry and technology, it's easy to forget that Bond really does act like a spy in this film. At Drax's chateau he breaks into the safe. In Venice he infiltrates Drax's lab - without the assistance of gadgetry - and then discovers the link (albeit accidentally) to Rio de Janeiro. Then, on Drax's space station, he takes a proactive role by turning Jaws against Drax, by using Drax's own ideology. Compare this with the supposedly more down-to-earth FYEO, where a Bond finds out the single most important piece of info in the entire movie from a...parrot. Yeah.
7) Ken Adam's sets. From Drax's chateau, to the poison gas lab in Venice, to Drax's launch site in the Mayan ruins, to the space station, it's all superb. Particarly the space station, which looks great even today.
8) Jaws. OK, here, he's clearly been downgraded a bit from TSWLM. And yes, Dolly should have been left on the cutting room floor where she belongs. But him changing sides at the end has always struck a chord with me - it shows a nice bit of character development and shows that Jaws, for all his dimwittedness, really isn't anyone's fool.
9) Irony. Not a reason to like the film in itself, but I thought I'd mention it anyway: MR may not be particularly faithful to the novel, but I always found it funny that while Drax was a Nazi officer in the book, in the film, he's essentially Hitler in space.
10) Tension. Say what you like about the ending shooting-down-the-globes sequence, but I always found this scenes to be bursting with tension...particularly when the laser gun malfunctions, meaning only Bond's aim stands between 100 million people and certain death.
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Lazenby 5. Craig 6. Brosnan
u need to learn how to use tabs.
James Bond- Licence To Kill
I'm not doing too bad this week Only been pulled up on a spelling a couple of times and now for my typing skills.
I hope,someday I'll be perfect too
Dont worry i get stick for being a Dalton fan........
James Bond- Licence To Kill