The Golrush James Bond Marathon

Golrush007

I am kicking off an epic James Bond marathon in just under 12 hours. A friend and I are setting out on the adventure of watching all 22 Bond films. We are trying to be sensible and allowing for some sleep in-between the action. We are screening from 8AM - 12PM for the next three days. I have turned the lounge into James Bond Land with posters and books. We've also invited lots of friends to join us anytime they like, so hopefully we'll have a nice turnout. I am also recording the event for posterity and if the video turns out nicely I'll share it via Youtube. I will be asking each viewer for a rating out of 10 on each film and see what sort of ranking we come up with. I am the only die-hard fan taking part, the others are more casual fans and some total newbies. It will be interesting to see what their taste in Bond films is like.

Wish me luck, as the challenge is daunting but I hope it will be enjoyable and rewarding. Now to get some sleep and start out fresh tomorrow!

Barry Nelson

Good luck to you Golrush, sounds like fun. A previous AJB member, Iexpectu2die (hasn't been heard from in awhile), tried the same thing and posted it on YouTube. He tried to do the marathon without stopping for sleep and the results were predictable. See links below.

Hope your marathon turns out a little better. Looking forward to seeing your YouTube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVz5cBtbNwE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVfmMRABCAo

Golrush007

I remember his video very well...That was what first gave me the idea of doing it! Anyway, we start in an hour with Dr. No!

007DAN

I've wanted to do that for years but just don't have the time. I've even contemplated on taking time off work to do it but with my wife at home with two young children I'd not get to far in to a film let alone a marathon before I'd get called away to help clear up a broken dish of something. I do have a cunning plan though, I'm turning my children into Bond fans and in a few years when they are old enough I am going to suggest a marathon!

Good luck, Boys. I wish I was there.

thesecretagent

I was out of action after a motorbike crash about six years back and watched at least three a day in generic order. I was done in by the end of it and didn't watch another Bond from then until the release of Casino Royale... Beware...

Thunderpussy

Good luck for the Marathon ( or should we say snickers, now?) )

Golrush007

We're watching OHMSS now. So far it has been going well, still enjoying the films.

Thunderpussy

Have you any games planed like, Take a drink every time Bond has one or Take a drink every time "Bond" is said. -{

Lexi

Enjoy -{

Why not try having a martini every time Bond has one

(I always make myself several Vespers when Bond orders one in Casino Royale ) )

Golrush007

We are half way through Licence To Kill and still going strong. I have enjoyed the experience very much so far. I must say that Dalton is a bit of a relief after persevering through the Moore era. Going to get some rest before continuing with the Brosnan films.

Golrush007

The marathon is complete - It was a great experience. Everyone who watched a film was asked to give it a score out of ten and give a short review which I filmed. I will be making a little documentary compiling peoples comments, and probably cut in some footage from the films illustrating their remarks. I have worked out the average score of each film and created a ranking from the event:

1 From Russia With Love 9.33
2 Casino Royale 9.25
Goldeneye 9.25
4 Quantum of Solace 8.83
5 Goldfinger 8.67
6 Dr. No 8
On Her Majesty's Secret Servic8
8 The Living Daylights 7.7
9 The Spy Who Loved Me 7.5
10 The World is Not Enough 7.33
11 Tomorrow Never Dies 7.25
12 For Your Eyes Only 7.17
13 Licence To Kill 7
Moonraker 7
Thunderball 7
16 Live And Let Die 6.88
You Only Live Twice 6.88
18 Octopussy 6.8
19 A View to a Kill 6.66
20 Die Another Day 6.33
Diamonds Are Forever 6.33
22 The Man With The Golden Gun 5.5

The Bond Experience

VIDEO!!!! PICTURES!!! (Please)

Barry Nelson

Congratulations Golrush, seems like it was quite the event. I am curious what the ages of the marathon viewers were, because QOS being the 4th highest rated film seems really odd to me. Each to their own, but QOS better than GF, can't be.

Looking forward to the video.

Golrush007

The viewers' ages ranged between about 22 and 28.

The event was most enjoyable - The only slight disappointment was that the turnout was less than we anticipated. Still, a great time was had by all who did make it. There were two of us who did the entire marathon, and then about six others who joined us at various stages. Many more people had said they were coming, but didn't make it for one reason or another. On average we had three or four people per film.

I will edit the video as and when I can - I am busy making a documentary at the moment about a projectionist in a local arthouse cinema which is taking lots of my time. Hopefully in a couple of weeks it will be ready but no promises!

Golrush007

The video of the James Bond marathon is done! I hope you find it enjoyable - I have tried to make it as entertaining as possible. I think also the range of responses to some of the films are quite interesting, and some of the opinions are quite incredible. Especially my mate Joseph - who did the entire marathon with me - he rates DAD as possibly the best Bond film!!

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGgIbOmuNyM

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ldp4gtZ85g

Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx67NKdvr40


By the way - in case you were wondering which person is me - I was the third person to review Dr. No...

Barry Nelson

Golrush, I watched your marathon videos that you posted, excellent job. My favorite part was when your female friend commented after OHMSS that she didn't like how Bond spends two weeks on holiday with Tracy and then sleeps with two other women while at the chateu, one of your male friends then says "that was awesome" and she then hits him with a pillow.

Your videos also show how fans of Bond like different styles of Bond films, some prefer the more light hearted entertaining films and others the more serious films. Looked like everyone had a good time, thanks for posting.

Golrush007

Thanks for the feedback, and glad you enjoyed it. As I'm sure you can imagine, the incident at the end of OHMSS was only one of many like that which occurred over the 3 days, obviously most of the them weren't while the camera was rolling. It was great fun, and for me the real joy was getting a chance to talk Bond with my friends which is a rare thing indeed. Obviously I've been talking Bond with people over the web for years, but finding a context in which to have a good conversation about Bond with your friends is rare. This was one time where I could do nothing but 'Bond' with my friends for three days which was great - almost made it feel like the marathon was too short! And as you say, the differing tastes of people is quite an eye opener. As you said earlier in the thread, there are some unusual anomalies, like QOS being higher rated than GF. It makes an interesting thought to ponder what makes people enjoy love certain films that we 'fans' tend to rate poorly.

007DAN

Golrush007, your marathon has proved what i believe to be absolute fact . I think QoS is the 2nd greatest Bond film. Despite what everyone else says about it, I think it is awesome.

Thunderpussy

I agree 007DAN.
If I where to rate the Bonds then QOS would be second, ( you know where I'm going with this .. )
as I think It's a Second rate Movie )

Golrush007

QOS does seem to be a divisive film. I found it very interesting that of the 3 people who watched QOS in the marathon, 2 rated it as their favourite Bond film. No wonder it managed to beat GF in the marathon ranking.

Thunderpussy

It certainly is a divisive Film, I wonder how History will judge it. Will it be hailed in twenty or so years as the Film that changed the whole formula for Bond leading to a new "Golden age" for the series. Or an Oddity, a blip that will keep fans chewing over the pieces for years to come.

chrisno1

Hmm, very interesting.
Lots of opinions. I wouldn't agree with it all, but that's life. Nice to see movies like Moonraker getting their due.
I like your friend's comment about Octopussy, that it has "lots of pretty girls in it to make your pistol stick up."

Golrush007

chrisno1 wrote:

Hmm, very interesting.
Lots of opinions. I wouldn't agree with it all, but that's life. Nice to see movies like Moonraker getting their due.
I like your friend's comment about Octopussy, that it has "lots of pretty girls in it to make your pistol stick up."

Yes, that was brilliant. Especially knowing the guy - it was quite out of character and unexpected so that made it even funnier for us.