My god it has been literally years since I posted a comment....but!
I've got to say your discussion has been interesting. I have always had a soft spot for Roger Moore and usuaaly get a bit irritated at casual dismissal of him. He was undoubtedly successful for the longest period.
I always say you must consider the relative time the films were released. For example I could say that I don't really find Charlie Chaplin very funny, but of course in his day he was hilarious to the audiences of the time and it is unfair to judge him by later standards.
I was glad to see someone mention "Smoky and the Bandit" being a contemporary of Moore's 007. Also the great Clint Eastwood was making such rich character studies as "Every which way but loose" at the time so I think it's worth remembering that Moore, great light comedian that he was, simply reflected the trend in family/action films of the 70's.
I don't think it's fair to blame him for what one might see as a poor Bond movie, especially given the collabarative nature of making Bond movies.
Another point I'd make is that the traditional "event" type feel to a Bond movie, big stunts etc, are almost exclusively in Moore's films, even though to the man in the street those sort of things are part of what makes "classic" JB.
I would never say he's the best, I don't have a favourite Bond actor and that's fine as it works both ways!
Cheers everybody, glad to be back.
well welcome back!
i would have enjoyed experiencing these 'event' screenings of Moore's Bond.
How big of a deal WERE these films back then? when i think of 'event' now, i guess i think of the Dark Knight movies and...well...that's about it.
Moore was nothing like Flemings Bond, however Moore is my favourite Bond by far. Most of his films in my opinion were great. The producers should go back to the formula of old, rather than this reboot craig yukiness.
Moore was nothing like Flemings Bond, however Moore is my favourite Bond by far. Most of his films in my opinion were great. The producers should go back to the formula of old, rather than this reboot craig yukiness.
Just saw Man with the Golden Gun. I had not seen that one in maybe 6 years and i had a blast watching it.
I don't care what anyone says, that's a great movie.
DAF was slick, and TSWLM was epically entertaining (and a BETTER version of YOLT), but MWTGG was the best 70's Bond movie IMO.
Back in the eighties, I came to dislike all of Moore's films. I prayed to the altar of NSNA for being an antidote to 'Moore foolishness.'
Today I realize that I'd much rather see a goofy but fast moving Octopussy then a 'serious' but BORING Never Say Never Again anytime.
Entertainment value has changed its meaning for me since I became really really old (I can't even do a split to within a foot of the floor easily any more); make me laugh or make me cry- just don't make me wanna check my E-mail.
Well NSNA isn't that serious, it's got Rowan Atkinson and a bloke who dies courtesy of a urine sample.
Golden Gun is alright in some ways, guess you have to be in the mood. Strangways on this board told me he liked it a lot more after going out to Phuket, I can see that might be the case.
It's got trash appeal, have it on a double bill with The Stud. )
I always say you must consider the relative time the films were released. For example I could say that I don't really find Charlie Chaplin very funny, but of course in his day he was hilarious to the audiences of the time and it is unfair to judge him by later standards.
I was glad to see someone mention "Smoky and the Bandit" being a contemporary of Moore's 007. Also the great Clint Eastwood was making such rich character studies as "Every which way but loose" at the time so I think it's worth remembering that Moore, great light comedian that he was, simply reflected the trend in family/action films of the 70's.
My feelings exactly and one reason why I won't bad mouth Moore and his Bonds. There were some ridiculous stunts and characters in his movies ( Dolly in Moonraker and J W Pepper) but on the whole just reflected the times and what was popular then. I was introduced to Bond courtesy of RM and loved those movies then.
Pierce Brosnan
Daniel Craig
Roger Moore
Timothy Dalton
Sean Connery
George Lazenby
Goldfinger is a great movie, but I just really don't care for the rest of his films. Roger Moore I like three of his movies, Live and Let Die, Golden Gun, I do not see how some sites rated this one of the worst, and A View to A Kill. I liked Moonraker, Spy and the others, but I haven't seen them enough to really get a sense of how to feel about them. Dalton's I like both really well. But of the two I like License to Kill more. Pierce Brosnan I like all four films. GoldenEye the most though. If I were to rank his it would be GE, World, DaD, TND. Craig, both films but Casino is better.
1, GE 2, CR 3, SF 4, TWINE 5, Spectre 6, TMWTGG 7, DAD 8, LALD 9, AVTAK 10, LTK 11, Octopussy 12, Moonraker 13, TLD 14, GF 15, QOS 16, Tomorrow 17, FYEO 18. TSWLM Not seen much: Dr. No, Russia, Thunderball, Twice, Majesty.
1: Brosnan 2: Craig 3: Moore 4: Dalton 5: Connery and 6: Lazenby
A View to a Kill is a good movie, one of his best, the only problem is Moore stayed on too long to play the role. But I don't think Dalton would have done the role in this particular movie as well as what Moore did.
Why is Golden Gun so hated? The only thing I hated about it was JW Pepper and I can get over that. The story was great. the villain was outstanding.
As for On Her Majesty's Secret Service. much like the most of Moore's, I haven't seen it enough to make a good choice.
1, GE 2, CR 3, SF 4, TWINE 5, Spectre 6, TMWTGG 7, DAD 8, LALD 9, AVTAK 10, LTK 11, Octopussy 12, Moonraker 13, TLD 14, GF 15, QOS 16, Tomorrow 17, FYEO 18. TSWLM Not seen much: Dr. No, Russia, Thunderball, Twice, Majesty.
1: Brosnan 2: Craig 3: Moore 4: Dalton 5: Connery and 6: Lazenby
Pierce Brosnan
Daniel Craig
Roger Moore
Timothy Dalton
Sean Connery
George Lazenby
Goldfinger is a great movie, but I just really don't care for the rest of his films. Roger Moore I like three of his movies, Live and Let Die, Golden Gun, I do not see how some sites rated this one of the worst, and A View to A Kill. I liked Moonraker, Spy and the others, but I haven't seen them enough to really get a sense of how to feel about them. Dalton's I like both really well. But of the two I like License to Kill more. Pierce Brosnan I like all four films. GoldenEye the most though. If I were to rank his it would be GE, World, DaD, TND. Craig, both films but Casino is better.
I like the more action oriented movies and Connery just doesn't have that.
Really ! Are you sure? What Connery evidently did not have was quite the number of obvious stunt doubles doing his running, jumping, and fighting for him. Whatever one says about him his physicality in the role, particularly in terms of action was superb. Craig is very good, as was Lazenby, but Connery had that extra something else in terms of action.
O'h no, I just realised (too late) that you were not serious, and it was a trap to lure the Conneryists :007)
Actually, yes I am serious. I like Connery, I do, but there's just something I don't like about his movies beyond Goldfinger. Even though it started it, i found Dr. No boring. From Russia with Love didn't entertain me beyond the fight on the train. I don't remember enough about Thunderball and Twice to guess. I only have a few of the movies. All others I've seen on TV WAY back in 1999 when TBS did that 15 days of 007 marathon, I want the collections but can't afford them.
1, GE 2, CR 3, SF 4, TWINE 5, Spectre 6, TMWTGG 7, DAD 8, LALD 9, AVTAK 10, LTK 11, Octopussy 12, Moonraker 13, TLD 14, GF 15, QOS 16, Tomorrow 17, FYEO 18. TSWLM Not seen much: Dr. No, Russia, Thunderball, Twice, Majesty.
1: Brosnan 2: Craig 3: Moore 4: Dalton 5: Connery and 6: Lazenby
Actually, yes I am serious. I like Connery, I do, but there's just something I don't like about his movies beyond Goldfinger. Even though it started it, i found Dr. No boring. From Russia with Love didn't entertain me beyond the fight on the train. I don't remember enough about Thunderball and Twice to guess. I only have a few of the movies. All others I've seen on TV WAY back in 1999 when TBS did that 15 days of 007 marathon, I want the collections but can't afford them.
When you get the chance have another look. Although a Connery fan I'm not a fanatic and acknowledge that his last couple of official entries were more or less 'dialled in' however even at his worst and in NASA he still was still compelling when in action.
Just watched Octopussy for the first time in two decades- and my review is that it was solid, fast moving fun. As the goofy Moore films go, this wasn't too bad at all. Spy Who Loved Me & Man With The Golden Gun are still his best IMO, but this was definitely entertaining. Way better than Connery's Never Say Never Again released the same year. In point of fact, if Connery hadn't been the star of NSNA, it would have tanked big time. It was a pretty bad movie, in retrospect.
The reasons TMWTGG is fairly low on my list are (and this is just my opinion):
-Although it has some of the most beautiful locations in any Bond movie, it feels a bit cheap. Maybe it is because it Ken Adam wasn't the production designer (although my 2 favorite Bond movies, both from the '60's, didn't have Ken Adam as production designer). It looks more like a Persuaders episode than a Bond film.
-The plot has quite a few holes in it. Why does Hipp abandon Bond by driving away while just a minute before he came to the rescue with his nieces when 007 was escaping the Ninja school? Just so we can have another boat chase with an appearance of J.W. Pepper? But it was summed up best by Ian Wilson and Adham Fisher in their podcast. Andrea is the one who sends the bullet to MI6 so Bond would come to kill Scaramanga. But Andrea was living with Scaramanga and could have killed him herself with ease. Just go to the kitchen when he is asleep grab a knife and "knife him to death".
-Unlike some other films this one feels really dated. Maybe it's the clothing, maybe it's the energy crisis plot.
But TMWTGG has great moments too, just like any other Bond film. The astro spiral jump is one of the best stunts ever, this was done for real! Amazing! But unfortunately the whistle and J.W. kill all the suspense. Lee is one of the greatest villains ever, amazing screen presence. He really made the most of the part he got.
Andrea is the one who sends the bullet to MI6 so Bond would come to kill Scaramanga. But Andrea was living with Scaramanga and could have killed him herself with ease. Just go to the kitchen when he is asleep grab a knife and "knife him to death".
Oh, I severely doubt that. Scaramanga was a professional assassin- heavy sleep is not the rule here. A movement of air, the wisp of a scent, one sound of a barely audible footstep and that would have been her end. She knew this.
A Roger Moore slagging and I didn't know about it! The essential problem with the Moore Films (in addition to Rog) was the bizarre idea to continue the Sixties Camp Spy Genre (that only lasted from 1965-67 in the first place) through the Seventies and into the Eighties.
It's all well calling it a problem and a bizarre idea but audiences lapped it up and they all made a shed load of money. Something about the Moore films kept audiences coming back. Indeed, each Moore up until FYEO film made more at the box-office than it's predecessor.
1- On Her Majesty's Secret Service 2- Casino Royale 3- Licence To Kill 4- Goldeneye 5- From Russia With Love
Something about the Moore films kept audiences coming back. Indeed, each Moore up until FYEO film made more at the box-office than it's predecessor.
That's easy- Moore is LIKEABLE. We liked him as the Saint, and we liked him as Bond. Every Bond he was in was good escapist entertainment. Not every one was good BOND. But then that's not unique to Moore either.
I just upgraded my TSWLM SE for the newer Digital frame-by-frame cleanup DVD, and MAN what a difference. AND, being the second time seeing it since 1977 had me going even more than a few weeks ago when I saw it for the first time since 1977. The problem was that in 1977 this little movie called Star Wars came out, and every other movie I saw that year, I was thinking "I should have just seen SW again...!" So over the years I just never got back to it until now. Man that is a good movie. -{
I grew up with Moore's Bond and he's long been my favorite actor in the role, presided over some great movies and does an admirable job with both comedic and serious moments in even the weakest of his entries.
Comments
well welcome back!
i would have enjoyed experiencing these 'event' screenings of Moore's Bond.
How big of a deal WERE these films back then? when i think of 'event' now, i guess i think of the Dark Knight movies and...well...that's about it.
DAF was slick, and TSWLM was epically entertaining (and a BETTER version of YOLT), but MWTGG was the best 70's Bond movie IMO.
Back in the eighties, I came to dislike all of Moore's films. I prayed to the altar of NSNA for being an antidote to 'Moore foolishness.'
Today I realize that I'd much rather see a goofy but fast moving Octopussy then a 'serious' but BORING Never Say Never Again anytime.
Entertainment value has changed its meaning for me since I became really really old (I can't even do a split to within a foot of the floor easily any more); make me laugh or make me cry- just don't make me wanna check my E-mail.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Golden Gun is alright in some ways, guess you have to be in the mood. Strangways on this board told me he liked it a lot more after going out to Phuket, I can see that might be the case.
It's got trash appeal, have it on a double bill with The Stud.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
My feelings exactly and one reason why I won't bad mouth Moore and his Bonds. There were some ridiculous stunts and characters in his movies ( Dolly in Moonraker and J W Pepper) but on the whole just reflected the times and what was popular then. I was introduced to Bond courtesy of RM and loved those movies then.
Pierce Brosnan
Daniel Craig
Roger Moore
Timothy Dalton
Sean Connery
George Lazenby
Goldfinger is a great movie, but I just really don't care for the rest of his films. Roger Moore I like three of his movies, Live and Let Die, Golden Gun, I do not see how some sites rated this one of the worst, and A View to A Kill. I liked Moonraker, Spy and the others, but I haven't seen them enough to really get a sense of how to feel about them. Dalton's I like both really well. But of the two I like License to Kill more. Pierce Brosnan I like all four films. GoldenEye the most though. If I were to rank his it would be GE, World, DaD, TND. Craig, both films but Casino is better.
1: Brosnan 2: Craig 3: Moore 4: Dalton 5: Connery and 6: Lazenby
Not seen OHMSS?
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Why is Golden Gun so hated? The only thing I hated about it was JW Pepper and I can get over that. The story was great. the villain was outstanding.
As for On Her Majesty's Secret Service. much like the most of Moore's, I haven't seen it enough to make a good choice.
1: Brosnan 2: Craig 3: Moore 4: Dalton 5: Connery and 6: Lazenby
1: Brosnan 2: Craig 3: Moore 4: Dalton 5: Connery and 6: Lazenby
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Really ! Are you sure? What Connery evidently did not have was quite the number of obvious stunt doubles doing his running, jumping, and fighting for him. Whatever one says about him his physicality in the role, particularly in terms of action was superb. Craig is very good, as was Lazenby, but Connery had that extra something else in terms of action.
O'h no, I just realised (too late) that you were not serious, and it was a trap to lure the Conneryists :007)
1: Brosnan 2: Craig 3: Moore 4: Dalton 5: Connery and 6: Lazenby
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
When you get the chance have another look. Although a Connery fan I'm not a fanatic and acknowledge that his last couple of official entries were more or less 'dialled in' however even at his worst and in NASA he still was still compelling when in action.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
1: Brosnan 2: Craig 3: Moore 4: Dalton 5: Connery and 6: Lazenby
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
-Although it has some of the most beautiful locations in any Bond movie, it feels a bit cheap. Maybe it is because it Ken Adam wasn't the production designer (although my 2 favorite Bond movies, both from the '60's, didn't have Ken Adam as production designer). It looks more like a Persuaders episode than a Bond film.
-The plot has quite a few holes in it. Why does Hipp abandon Bond by driving away while just a minute before he came to the rescue with his nieces when 007 was escaping the Ninja school? Just so we can have another boat chase with an appearance of J.W. Pepper? But it was summed up best by Ian Wilson and Adham Fisher in their podcast. Andrea is the one who sends the bullet to MI6 so Bond would come to kill Scaramanga. But Andrea was living with Scaramanga and could have killed him herself with ease. Just go to the kitchen when he is asleep grab a knife and "knife him to death".
-Unlike some other films this one feels really dated. Maybe it's the clothing, maybe it's the energy crisis plot.
But TMWTGG has great moments too, just like any other Bond film. The astro spiral jump is one of the best stunts ever, this was done for real! Amazing! But unfortunately the whistle and J.W. kill all the suspense. Lee is one of the greatest villains ever, amazing screen presence. He really made the most of the part he got.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS