Roger's my second favorite Bond and it's very sad that's he's no longer with us. Last year I made this edit to the PTS of For Your Eyes Only using music from John Barry. I'd like to share it here to honor Sir Rog's memory. Thank you for the seven films you starred in. Nobody does it better.
I noticed on Amazon all 7 of Roger Moore's films now have a 4.5 out of 5 star rating. If you're like me and have been browsing Bond movies on Amazon for a while, you would know this has not always been the case.
LALD had either 3.5 or 4 stars.
TMWTGG always had 3.5 stars.
TSWLM always had a solid 4.5 stars.
MR always had 3.5 stars.
FYEO had either 4 or 4.5 stars
OP always had 4 stars
AVTAK always had 3.5 stars
My current 10 favorite:
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
I noticed on Amazon all 7 of Roger Moore's films now have a 4.5 out of 5 star rating. If you're like me and have been browsing Bond movies on Amazon for a while, you would know this has not always been the case.
LALD had either 3.5 or 4 stars.
TMWTGG always had 3.5 stars.
TSWLM always had a solid 4.5 stars.
MR always had 3.5 stars.
FYEO had either 4 or 4.5 stars
OP always had 4 stars
AVTAK always had 3.5 stars
After his passing, many people must've realised what a terrific Bond he was.
Sad, really.
My tribute to him having almost 10k views may just be evidence of that.
RIP Roger.
Last night I watched Escape to Athena. I had to buy it new from Amazon cuz I couldn't find any place to rent it. Anyway, Roger Moore plays a likable German Nazi camp commander in Greece. He has some good lines and good action scenes. Definitely worth watching, especially to see him as a Nazi.
I tried to guess what year it was made based on Roger's looks and I predicted 1978, but it was actually 1979 Moonraker era.
I'd rank this one as being better than North Sea Hijak and Seawolves.
My current 10 favorite:
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
So, I've decided to get many of the remaining JB movies that I haven't bothered with before. Part of this is I'm wanting to get DVDs for movies that I once had on VHS and never upgraded; there's a lot of Connery's later films that I haven't seen in a while. I remembered liking DAF, but I'm curious to see if it will hold up.
The major thing, though, is all the Roger Moore movies I've abstained from. I've watched them if they've been randomly available (rental from a video store, back when those existed, or watching them when they've been on the cable channel...sometimes). I think TMWTGG put me off of Moore very solidly. I've seen large chunks of TSWLM, enough to know just about the whole film, without having seen it the whole way through, beginning to end; and those chunks have gradually started to grow on me, and I think I can see what other people see in the movie. The only thing that I can think of that takes me out of the movie is a musical cue from Lawrence of Arabia, and the villain's sea habitat seems odd; but the rest seems very well conceived.
I've been struck by an impression of how Roger Moore is perceived in real life, that intrigues me. It reminds me of how much more I respected the Doctor Who stories of the Third Doctor, the more I learned about John Pertwee's life. And there are too moments of Moore performance that have grabbed my attention. One is in LaLD when Bond says, "Darling, three men and a girl have been killed in the last few days." It's delivered with such earnest compassion; these aren't just thrown-away lives in this Bond's eyes. And then, in a later movie, even though I've lamented the concept, Moore's Bond dresses in a clown costume. Yet each time I see it reinforces the sense of urgency, Bond is desperate to prevent the lose of life that will result if the bomb goes off. He doesn't give a toss about tuxedo dignity, he will do whatever he has to do; and again that earnest concern as he pleads with Octopussy to believe in him and help him save lives.
This is my long winded way of saying that I am looking foward to delving into a re-evaluation of Moore's contribution to the Bond legacy. Except for the Tarzan yell, that's just...no.
Interested in what you think of Moonraker and A View To A Kill.
While I loved the Roger Bond films, they were in another level when I found out about Sir Roger's life and what a true gent he was in every sense of the word.
Desert Kris, definitely watch all the films properly and make up your own mind about them
Moore especially seems to be a victim of prejudice, presuming because his films were "funny" they're not so good - in fact, some of them are definitive and both Brosnan and even Craig have tried to replicate things Moore did perfectly
but I see from your analysis of Octopussy that you are indeed fairminded, and got what is so good about that Circus scene, why the clown suit in fact makes it so suspenseful ... one Moore moment in particular that gets picked on by people who haven't actually watched it
one thing that may help is to remember Moore was in the role so long, he lasted through three distinct approaches to the concept (three different directors). You mention Doctor Who, it was sort of the same thing for Tom Baker.
also, once you are done, it may help to watch a couple episodes of The Saint. I think he played that character a bit more straight. But then as Bond he isn't always being funny, sometimes he is being very serious indeed. Which is what is so great about that Circus scene.
give us your impressions as you (re)watch the films.
Interested in what you think of Moonraker and A View To A Kill.
While I loved the Roger Bond films, they were in another level when I found out about Sir Roger's life and what a true gent he was in every sense of the word.
I will definitely check back and weigh in. I try and look for the good it things that most people will write off as bad, and I try to constructively critique stuff that doesn't click with me without slagging off on it. I have definitely been guilty of random nerd rage moments, to be fair.
I'm optimistic about A View to a Kill, I remember being ok with most of it. I ran across some posts that point out that Bond goes through character growth in Moonraker, so that's something I'll be happy to keep an eye out for as I'm watching through it.
Desert Kris, definitely watch all the films properly and make up your own mind about them
Moore especially seems to be a victim of prejudice, presuming because his films were "funny" they're not so good - in fact, some of them are definitive and both Brosnan and even Craig have tried to replicate things Moore did perfectly
but I see from your analysis of Octopussy that you are indeed fairminded, and got what is so good about that Circus scene, why the clown suit in fact makes it so suspenseful ... one Moore moment in particular that gets picked on by people who haven't actually watched it
one thing that may help is to remember Moore was in the role so long, he lasted through three distinct approaches to the concept (three different directors). You mention Doctor Who, it was sort of the same thing for Tom Baker.
also, once you are done, it may help to watch a couple episodes of The Saint. I think he played that character a bit more straight. But then as Bond he isn't always being funny, sometimes he is being very serious indeed. Which is what is so great about that Circus scene.
give us your impressions as you (re)watch the films.
I've always had LALD and FYEO as part of my collection of JB movies, and it's clear and I've been open to Moore's interpretation of Bond. Those moments I've cited upthread, as examples of how seriously he takes things in his performance, even while dressed in a clown suit are intriguing to me. It seems like he has something of a sense of composure even surrounded by some stuff that is regarded as silly, without demeaning the silliness for film fans who like those moments. I have a lot of respect for stuff like his behind-the-scenes push back against a cold kill in FYEO, even as I will feel that his Bond benefits from moments like that; there's a nice sense of "we can disagree, in a gentlemanly fashion".
Your comment about how there's prejudice against the Moore era of Bond is the kind of thing that I'm looking to remedy, as I've certainly fallen into that trap and dismissed his films out of hand, even though I've thought he was perfectly fine in LALD and FYEO.
I think one factor that helps is the sense that JB as a whole (books, movies, comics) can offer stories with different emphasis. I've sampled the original Fleming books with the intention to keep going, and that's so different from what I think of as Bond, but I enjoyed being able to broaden my perspective of what a JB story can be. Watching the PTS of OP suggested a perspective that would have come more easily when I was younger; the whole thing with his mini-plane escape screamed to me that this was JB as a superhero spy. Like Batman, he has a gadget for every occasion, and that can be just good fun, for the sake of letting go and having fun with it.
I love Roger Moore. I can't pick favorites with the Bond actors.
Each of them had qualities that are unique.
Roger definitely is special though. He is a definite version of Bond, a variation that is his own character.
I wouldn't limit it to say he's the funny Bond. But I can certainly see where that's coming from. With TSWLM, the witty and often naughty one-liners were established and Moore Bond in the 80s was bordering silly at many times.
Ranking the Moore Bonds in an order isn't that difficult for me. TSWLM clearly is his best for me.
I don't have a problem with Moore aging. It's natural to age over the course of over a decade. Daniel Craig doesn't exactly look fresh in SF or SP and that's only even his third and fourth pictures.
Roger Moore even in one of the weakest films of the series, AVTAK, is still himself and you can't help but love and adore him.
"It's always a pleasure to welcome someone with a mutual interest."
You sir have fantastic taste -{ Roger Moore was a childhood hero of mine. I have enjoyed him in
Everything I've seen him in. I enjoy AVTAK and think it's from Watching Roger, that helped to
Mould my own sense of humour.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
You sir have fantastic taste -{ Roger Moore was a childhood hero of mine. I have enjoyed him in
Everything I've seen him in. I enjoy AVTAK and think it's from Watching Roger, that helped to
Mould my own sense of humour.
Even with seeing most of the films of Moore only once, I already have incorporated much of the one-liners into my daily conversation!! Imagine that. It's so easy to the ears and so memorable, but then I have a very good memory.
I don't even have to look up most of the quotes when I'm posting some of them.
"It's always a pleasure to welcome someone with a mutual interest."
Moore gave us the least Fleming-like portrayal of Bond in the series and yet in doing so gave us an original and unique interpretation of the character. That was a very brave thing to do given how uncertain the series' future was when he took on the role. His natural warm personality shone through in the role, giving his portrayal a wonderful charm. As per the example of the clown suit in Octopussy mentioned above, his version of Bond was someone who would do anything to get the job done, pomp be damned. And you can't deny that all of his films are fun and filled with adventure.
Some of the stories about how wonderful a person he was after he recently passed away really show what a great person he was.
He's certainly got his fans for the portrayal that you describe. Plus his films were very popular in the US which was the goal to continue following SC's immense popularity.
As much as I tend to bash Moore's long time as Bond, I will admit that I tend to watch his films the most since college has me pretty busy on weekdays. 3 of his movies have actually gotten in my top 10, which is more than any other actor, which are:
Live And Let Die
The Spy Who Loved Me
For Your Eyes Only
Pretty strange, considering I grew up on Dalton and Brosnan. My dad grew up watching The Saint, and his first Bond film ever was Octopussy, and I do love Moore's other works too, I miss him greatly.
Movie: From Russia With Love | Novel: On Her Majesty's Secret Service | Actor: Sean Connery | Girl: Melina Havelock | Car: Aston Martin V8
Hello. Tonight I watched moonraker. I have not finished watching this film. It is the First James Bond film I have turned off before the end. I ask this in all seriousness, Is it a joke film like the old casino royale? I have never seen a James Bond film like this except for the casino royale. I thought it too terrible to continue to watch and saw it up to the part where the man comes out of the ambulance into the sign. I could not watch any more!
Please, was this indeed supposed to be a spoof film or was it a serious James Bond film?
I am not direspecting Roger Moore as he was the same as other films I have seen but the film was not like any other James Bond and in my opinion the worst I have seen.
At the time it was released, Moonraker was intended to build upon the success of its predecessor The Spy Who Loved Me, which it is very similar to in many respects, and tie in to the sci-fi craze started by Star Wars. It has a deliberately light tone which borders on parody, and opinions have always been mixed on its artistic success.
What isn't in doubt is the fact that it was an enormous financial success and appealed to global audiences in a huge way.
Hello. Tonight I watched moonraker. I have not finished watching this film. It is the First James Bond film I have turned off before the end. I ask this in all seriosness, Is it a joke film like the old casino royale? I have never seen a James Bond film like this exept for the casino royale. I thought it too terrible to continue to watch and saw it up to the part where the man comes out of the ambulance into the sign. I could not watch any more!
Please, was this indeed supposed to be a spuf film or was it a serios James Bond film?
I am not direspecting Roger More as he was the same as other films I have seen but the film was not like any other James Bond and in my opinion the worst I have seen.
Moonraker was certainly meant to be a humourous film. I find it to be a very unusual Bond film, but as it is one I grew up with, this has a more traditional Bond feel to me than any of Craig's Bond films.
My main gripe is that there is so little Fleming content in it- there is a little, but IMHO not enough. Of course, this would be corrected with the next fim.
Ironically, it was the last film to be billed with Fleming's credit preceding the title, rather than "James Bond 007".
just thought about it recently. Are Craig wearing any blazers at all in his Bond films? I know Mr Moore almost wore it more than his suits.
Craig wears no navy blazers with metal buttons like Moore did (as well as Connery, Lazenby and Brosnan). Craig wears one linen/wool/silk jacket in Spectre, which is not a blazer in the traditional sense like Moore's were. All of the other Bonds except Brosnan wore non-blazer jackets, like Connery's, Lazenby's and Moore's hacking jackets. The jacket that Craig wears in Spectre is closest to the tan jacket that Moore wears at the crocodile farm in Live and Let Die.
just thought about it recently. Are Craig wearing any blazers at all in his Bond films? I know Mr Moore almost wore it more than his suits.
Craig wears no navy blazers with metal buttons like Moore did (as well as Connery, Lazenby and Brosnan). Craig wears one linen/wool/silk jacket in Spectre, which is not a blazer in the traditional sense like Moore's were. All of the other Bonds except Brosnan wore non-blazer jackets, like Connery's, Lazenby's and Moore's hacking jackets. The jacket that Craig wears in Spectre is closest to the tan jacket that Moore wears at the crocodile farm in Live and Let Die.
You mean the brown one he wears in the desert? okay so except that one wich you said is not a traditional blazer, he doesn't wear any blazers or navy blazers in his Bond films, do you think its a coincidence or is it because it is not the best look for Craig. (or hes not loving it like Moore maybe did) Because the navy blazer isn`t old fasion? i think its timeless.
just thought about it recently. Are Craig wearing any blazers at all in his Bond films? I know Mr Moore almost wore it more than his suits.
Craig wears no navy blazers with metal buttons like Moore did (as well as Connery, Lazenby and Brosnan). Craig wears one linen/wool/silk jacket in Spectre, which is not a blazer in the traditional sense like Moore's were. All of the other Bonds except Brosnan wore non-blazer jackets, like Connery's, Lazenby's and Moore's hacking jackets. The jacket that Craig wears in Spectre is closest to the tan jacket that Moore wears at the crocodile farm in Live and Let Die.
You mean the brown one he wears in the desert? okay so except that one wich you said is not a traditional blazer, he doesn't wear any blazers or navy blazers in his Bond films, do you think its a coincidence or is it because it is not the best look for Craig. (or hes not loving it like Moore maybe did) Because the navy blazer isn`t old fasion? i think its timeless.
Yes, I'm talking about the brown jacket in the desert. It's the only non-suit jacket Craig wears, and the first one since GoldenEye. Craig doesn't wear any blazers because they are considered old-fashioned. If he were to wear a blazer, it probably would not have metal buttons (and then is it a a blazer?).
its still a blazer without metal buttons? isn't it? i guess maybe we're more used to see cardigans, leather jackets and suits on Craig. But i don't feel the blazers are so old fashion in 2018?
Comments
"Wasted. Is that a good thing?"
"Not from where I'm standing."
"Moneypenny being overly efficient."
"Unless you're a pheasant."
"I love a drive in the country. Don't you?"
"I could come in for a night cap….Some other time, perhaps…... l don't suppose you'd care for a nightcap?"
"Don't bother, Stacey. He's a psychopath."
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
That is my favourite of the lesser-known Moore quotes because it could be applied to virtually every villain in the series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8w1IFCCJTM
"You forgot the first rule of Mass Media Elliot! Give the people what they want!!!"
"I never miss..."
"Time to face gravity!"
A classic Roger moment.
LALD had either 3.5 or 4 stars.
TMWTGG always had 3.5 stars.
TSWLM always had a solid 4.5 stars.
MR always had 3.5 stars.
FYEO had either 4 or 4.5 stars
OP always had 4 stars
AVTAK always had 3.5 stars
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Sad, really.
My tribute to him having almost 10k views may just be evidence of that.
RIP Roger.
I tried to guess what year it was made based on Roger's looks and I predicted 1978, but it was actually 1979 Moonraker era.
I'd rank this one as being better than North Sea Hijak and Seawolves.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
The major thing, though, is all the Roger Moore movies I've abstained from. I've watched them if they've been randomly available (rental from a video store, back when those existed, or watching them when they've been on the cable channel...sometimes). I think TMWTGG put me off of Moore very solidly. I've seen large chunks of TSWLM, enough to know just about the whole film, without having seen it the whole way through, beginning to end; and those chunks have gradually started to grow on me, and I think I can see what other people see in the movie. The only thing that I can think of that takes me out of the movie is a musical cue from Lawrence of Arabia, and the villain's sea habitat seems odd; but the rest seems very well conceived.
I've been struck by an impression of how Roger Moore is perceived in real life, that intrigues me. It reminds me of how much more I respected the Doctor Who stories of the Third Doctor, the more I learned about John Pertwee's life. And there are too moments of Moore performance that have grabbed my attention. One is in LaLD when Bond says, "Darling, three men and a girl have been killed in the last few days." It's delivered with such earnest compassion; these aren't just thrown-away lives in this Bond's eyes. And then, in a later movie, even though I've lamented the concept, Moore's Bond dresses in a clown costume. Yet each time I see it reinforces the sense of urgency, Bond is desperate to prevent the lose of life that will result if the bomb goes off. He doesn't give a toss about tuxedo dignity, he will do whatever he has to do; and again that earnest concern as he pleads with Octopussy to believe in him and help him save lives.
This is my long winded way of saying that I am looking foward to delving into a re-evaluation of Moore's contribution to the Bond legacy. Except for the Tarzan yell, that's just...no.
While I loved the Roger Bond films, they were in another level when I found out about Sir Roger's life and what a true gent he was in every sense of the word.
Moore especially seems to be a victim of prejudice, presuming because his films were "funny" they're not so good - in fact, some of them are definitive and both Brosnan and even Craig have tried to replicate things Moore did perfectly
but I see from your analysis of Octopussy that you are indeed fairminded, and got what is so good about that Circus scene, why the clown suit in fact makes it so suspenseful ... one Moore moment in particular that gets picked on by people who haven't actually watched it
one thing that may help is to remember Moore was in the role so long, he lasted through three distinct approaches to the concept (three different directors). You mention Doctor Who, it was sort of the same thing for Tom Baker.
also, once you are done, it may help to watch a couple episodes of The Saint. I think he played that character a bit more straight. But then as Bond he isn't always being funny, sometimes he is being very serious indeed. Which is what is so great about that Circus scene.
give us your impressions as you (re)watch the films.
I will definitely check back and weigh in. I try and look for the good it things that most people will write off as bad, and I try to constructively critique stuff that doesn't click with me without slagging off on it. I have definitely been guilty of random nerd rage moments, to be fair.
I'm optimistic about A View to a Kill, I remember being ok with most of it. I ran across some posts that point out that Bond goes through character growth in Moonraker, so that's something I'll be happy to keep an eye out for as I'm watching through it.
I've always had LALD and FYEO as part of my collection of JB movies, and it's clear and I've been open to Moore's interpretation of Bond. Those moments I've cited upthread, as examples of how seriously he takes things in his performance, even while dressed in a clown suit are intriguing to me. It seems like he has something of a sense of composure even surrounded by some stuff that is regarded as silly, without demeaning the silliness for film fans who like those moments. I have a lot of respect for stuff like his behind-the-scenes push back against a cold kill in FYEO, even as I will feel that his Bond benefits from moments like that; there's a nice sense of "we can disagree, in a gentlemanly fashion".
Your comment about how there's prejudice against the Moore era of Bond is the kind of thing that I'm looking to remedy, as I've certainly fallen into that trap and dismissed his films out of hand, even though I've thought he was perfectly fine in LALD and FYEO.
I think one factor that helps is the sense that JB as a whole (books, movies, comics) can offer stories with different emphasis. I've sampled the original Fleming books with the intention to keep going, and that's so different from what I think of as Bond, but I enjoyed being able to broaden my perspective of what a JB story can be. Watching the PTS of OP suggested a perspective that would have come more easily when I was younger; the whole thing with his mini-plane escape screamed to me that this was JB as a superhero spy. Like Batman, he has a gadget for every occasion, and that can be just good fun, for the sake of letting go and having fun with it.
Each of them had qualities that are unique.
Roger definitely is special though. He is a definite version of Bond, a variation that is his own character.
I wouldn't limit it to say he's the funny Bond. But I can certainly see where that's coming from. With TSWLM, the witty and often naughty one-liners were established and Moore Bond in the 80s was bordering silly at many times.
Ranking the Moore Bonds in an order isn't that difficult for me. TSWLM clearly is his best for me.
1. TSWLM
2. TMWTGG
3. MR
4. LALD
5. FYEO
6. OP
7. AVTAK
I don't have a problem with Moore aging. It's natural to age over the course of over a decade. Daniel Craig doesn't exactly look fresh in SF or SP and that's only even his third and fourth pictures.
Roger Moore even in one of the weakest films of the series, AVTAK, is still himself and you can't help but love and adore him.
Everything I've seen him in. I enjoy AVTAK and think it's from Watching Roger, that helped to
Mould my own sense of humour.
Even with seeing most of the films of Moore only once, I already have incorporated much of the one-liners into my daily conversation!! Imagine that. It's so easy to the ears and so memorable, but then I have a very good memory.
I don't even have to look up most of the quotes when I'm posting some of them.
Some of the stories about how wonderful a person he was after he recently passed away really show what a great person he was.
8. TMwtGG 9. AVtaK 10. TSWLM 11. SF 12. LtK 13. TND 14. YOLT
15. NTtD 16. MR 17. LaLD 18. GF 19. SP 20. DN 21. TB
22. TWiNE 23. DAD 24. QoS 25. DaF
"Better make that two."
Live And Let Die
The Spy Who Loved Me
For Your Eyes Only
Pretty strange, considering I grew up on Dalton and Brosnan. My dad grew up watching The Saint, and his first Bond film ever was Octopussy, and I do love Moore's other works too, I miss him greatly.
Please, was this indeed supposed to be a spoof film or was it a serious James Bond film?
I am not direspecting Roger Moore as he was the same as other films I have seen but the film was not like any other James Bond and in my opinion the worst I have seen.
What isn't in doubt is the fact that it was an enormous financial success and appealed to global audiences in a huge way.
Moonraker was certainly meant to be a humourous film. I find it to be a very unusual Bond film, but as it is one I grew up with, this has a more traditional Bond feel to me than any of Craig's Bond films.
Ironically, it was the last film to be billed with Fleming's credit preceding the title, rather than "James Bond 007".
Roger on Dame Edna
Craig wears no navy blazers with metal buttons like Moore did (as well as Connery, Lazenby and Brosnan). Craig wears one linen/wool/silk jacket in Spectre, which is not a blazer in the traditional sense like Moore's were. All of the other Bonds except Brosnan wore non-blazer jackets, like Connery's, Lazenby's and Moore's hacking jackets. The jacket that Craig wears in Spectre is closest to the tan jacket that Moore wears at the crocodile farm in Live and Let Die.
You mean the brown one he wears in the desert? okay so except that one wich you said is not a traditional blazer, he doesn't wear any blazers or navy blazers in his Bond films, do you think its a coincidence or is it because it is not the best look for Craig. (or hes not loving it like Moore maybe did) Because the navy blazer isn`t old fasion? i think its timeless.
Yes, I'm talking about the brown jacket in the desert. It's the only non-suit jacket Craig wears, and the first one since GoldenEye. Craig doesn't wear any blazers because they are considered old-fashioned. If he were to wear a blazer, it probably would not have metal buttons (and then is it a a blazer?).