What Bond Film Do You Defend The Most?

MooseWithFleas

Do you have a Bond film that many of your friends give you flack about liking?

For me it's Moonraker. Double-Taking Pigeon be damned, I love this movie and you can't convince me otherwise! It's too visually impressive, with incredible stunts, the return of JAWS, Moore at the top of his game during his Bond run, and a very underrated villain to be considered so low like it is on many's lists.

So what film do you defend the most?

always shaken

Has to be DAD, its not Brozzers fault its a bad film he never wrote the script

Thunderpussy

Lately I've been defending Skyfall. )

Blackleiter

You Only Live Twice. But I usually only have to mount a defense against criticisms from those who are more than casual fans (Connery seems bored, the OTT plot featuring spacecraft, ninjas and a hollowed out volcano lair, Bond disguised as Japanese!). Casual fans, on the other hand, seem to enjoy YOLT for the entertaining adventure it is - an exotic location, nifty gadgets, attractive women, a neat Bond ally, and great climatic battle against the baddies. I'll defend it to the death! )

Higgins

TMWTGG and Moonraker!

chrisisall

Blackleiter wrote:

You Only Live Twice.

I've recently done my share of defending this excellent film, but I also have defended TMWTGG a good deal, not that it's remotely on par with YOLT, but it's also not the bottom of the Bond barrel either and hath its charms.
I seem to wind up defending TND & QOS quite a bit as well... X-(

Thunderbird 2

For me its Moonraker and for the last few Years Die Another Day too.

I guess its easy for me to embrace these films because I am a bona fide Sci Fi fan. Ok, both films push the envelope of what Bond can do, but we are no talking Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Bond takes time to relax and be fun and these films (along with YOLT) do so on a big scale. Though admittedly, I didn't get that with DAD when it was released. Plus Sir Sean, Sir Roger and Mr Brosnan give damned good performances.
I suppose the wow factor of Spectre's volcano, Drax's space station and space shuttle fleet, and Graves Ice space add to this too. I could not believe the Ice Palace miniature when I saw it in front of me in London. Visual spectacle that does match the best of Star Trek or Star Wars in the detail and creativity, and done with miniatures too. One thing Trek and SWars has lacked is physicality. Even with a lot of CGI, Bond has not forgotten the physicality of miniatures and its set pieces.

I think the other thing is as QoS and Skyfall have proved, there is no such thing as a perfect or stand alone Bond film. All of them have strengths and weaknesses, and the series has subtle evolution from Dr No to SF. Only NSNA and CR-67 break that pattern because they broke the rules, prob in part because they were in competition with the official series . One tried to be a good parody, but is mearly insane. the other suffered a weak budget that shows, twee characters dated tech, fashion ideas and graphics and (sorry Sir Sean) a Bond starting to slow down.

I can enjoy QoS now, but it is still tough going. Chris, why do you have to defend TND? What do folk say about it?

Barbel

My tuppence (two cents) worth-

I think TND is one of the best Bond movies ever. Brosnan owns the role, David Arnold goes all out to show that he's the right choice to succeed John Barry, and Jonathan Pryce chews the scenery as well as any Bond villain before or after. Sure, there are a few flaws but no Bond film is free from them. Some wonderful dialogue ("What does Bond think he's doing?" "His job."), memorable characters (Dr Kaufman, in one scene alone), breathtaking stunts- it's all there.

(I do admit to looking at this film through rose-coloured glasses. When it was released I was going through a very tough time both professionally and personally, and TND gave me two hours of bliss. Still, I haven't changed my mind later- though I do think that TWINE and CR are better.)

ZorinIndustries

A View To a Kill!

Villains, Score, Location, Suspense, etc.

Firemass

A View to a Kill- Expecting this Bond film to be the worst ever? Far from it!

Moonraker - Along with AVTAK, this marvelous film seems to be ranked at the bottom of many 007 fans lists. Go figure!

Never Say Never Again- I've always really enjoyed this film. Doesn't deserve all the criticism.

Brosnan era (post Goldeneye) TND and TWINE are among the best Bond films ever and even DAD has its moments.

Peppermill

To most non-Bond fans OHMSS seems to be a low point in the series. It is one of my favorites so I defend this one the most. I have the movie poster of OHMSS hanging at my office and it is a good conversation starter.

MooseWithFleas

I find myself defending OHMSS to the casual Bond fans as well.

Interesting perspectives as some seem to defend the Actor from a bad movie, while others are defending the movie at its roots.

In another year or two I will look back on this and find myself defending Octopussy. Use to be possibly my least favorite Bond. It's gone up a couple spots in recent viewings!

Loeffelholz

Has to be DAF...my first Bond experience at the cinema at age 9, so it's a sentimental favourite. I don't mind any of the things for which it is always condemned. I just like the film.

Blackleiter

Loeffelholz wrote:

Has to be DAF...my first Bond experience at the cinema at age 9, so it's a sentimental favourite. I don't mind any of the things for which it is always condemned. I just like the film.

Here here! -{

Jarvio

AVTAK and nothing even comes close. The other 'unpopular' bond films (DAF, TMWTGG, DAD etc) I do like, but I can kind of see the criticisms with them. AVTAK on the other hand is just tragically underrated.

zaphod

Both Dalton movies & OHMSS but only from people who don't know or care much about Bond, but the one thing that they do believe that they know is " but that guy was crap wasn't he?" & " those movies bombed didn't they?"

Higgins

I will watch AVTAK just for you defenders tonight

zaphod wrote:

" but that guy was crap wasn't he?" & " those movies bombed didn't they?"

In the case of the Dalton movies: Yes!

Peppermill

Bondtoys wrote:

I will watch AVTAK just for you defenders tonight

zaphod wrote:

" but that guy was crap wasn't he?" & " those movies bombed didn't they?"

In the case of the Dalton movies: Yes!

No, you mean: The Dalton movies were Tha Bomb! (I feel so 1994 right now)

Higgins

erm, no? :v

zaphod

Peppermill wrote:

Bondtoys wrote:

I will watch AVTAK just for you defenders tonight

zaphod wrote:

" but that guy was crap wasn't he?" & " those movies bombed didn't they?"

In the case of the Dalton movies: Yes!

No, you mean: The Dalton movies were Tha Bomb! (I feel so 1994 right now)

The Dalton movies are amongst my very favourites as is OHMSS. I was talking about defending them to non-Bondaholics :007)

Sherbrook

OHMSS -gets criticised mainly by non-afficionados of JB films based on Lazenby's limited tenure in the role

Dalkowski110

Defend here or defend outside the forum? If the former, probably OP or DAF. If the latter, OHMSS, hands-down, without question. I know at least two people that said it "sucked" (their word, not mine, and they didn't even know one another) without even SEEING the movie.

Blackleiter

Dalkowski110 wrote:

Defend here or defend outside the forum? If the former, probably OP or DAF. If the latter, OHMSS, hands-down, without question. I know at least two people that said it "sucked" (their word, not mine, and they didn't even know one another) without even SEEING the movie.

Hopefully you don't even bother to respond to criticisms to folks who haven't even seen OHMSS!

Kabraxal

QoS... TLD and LTK are generally well recieved by fans that know of them. Otherwise most people haven't simply seen them. QoS though has been battered ever since its release and it seems I am one of the few that puts it up near the top of the Bond films.

Rik

I always seem to have to defend Licence to Kill to people. Everyone seems to hate it but I still feel it's one of the series best.

Dalkowski110

Blackleiter wrote:

Dalkowski110 wrote:

Defend here or defend outside the forum? If the former, probably OP or DAF. If the latter, OHMSS, hands-down, without question. I know at least two people that said it "sucked" (their word, not mine, and they didn't even know one another) without even SEEING the movie.

Hopefully you don't even bother to respond to criticisms to folks who haven't even seen OHMSS!

Put it this way: while they weren't worth my time, they were most certainly worth a chuckle and an eyeroll!

Blackleiter

Dalkowski110 wrote:

Blackleiter wrote:

Dalkowski110 wrote:

Defend here or defend outside the forum? If the former, probably OP or DAF. If the latter, OHMSS, hands-down, without question. I know at least two people that said it "sucked" (their word, not mine, and they didn't even know one another) without even SEEING the movie.

Hopefully you don't even bother to respond to criticisms to folks who haven't even seen OHMSS!

Put it this way: while they weren't worth my time, they were most certainly worth a chuckle and an eyeroll!

True that! )

TonyDP

Loeffelholz wrote:

Has to be DAF...my first Bond experience at the cinema at age 9, so it's a sentimental favourite. I don't mind any of the things for which it is always condemned. I just like the film.

Same here; DAF was one of the first Bond films I ever saw so it holds a sentimental place for me and I'm always defending it to the purists. But beyond that, it is also a great example of the Bond "formula": outlandish plot, cool stunts, beautiful girls, exotic locations, over the top henchmen, etc. Even though Connery was visibly older, he moved thru the film effortlessly and his delivery was perfect. Just a fun movie all around, which is what I always looked for first in a Bond film.

chrisisall

TonyDP wrote:

Same here; DAF was one of the first Bond films I ever saw so it holds a sentimental place for me and I'm always defending it to the purists. But beyond that, it is also a great example of the Bond "formula": outlandish plot, cool stunts, beautiful girls, exotic locations, over the top henchmen, etc. Even though Connery was visibly older, he moved thru the film effortlessly and his delivery was perfect. Just a fun movie all around, which is what I always looked for first in a Bond film.

Same here! -{

Miken Ayers

LTK. Mostly because even if it is the darkest Bond film, it's by a foot and not a mile. That's why I think people remember it being more grim than it really is. I mean seriously, it has Q on the field with Bond. The same guy who's purpose was to give Bond a gadget then they bicker like a married couple in a sitcom.

An unpopular Bond film I thoroughly enjoy but know better than to try and defend is the 1967 Casino Royale. I know what I like, but can see why people would hate it.

Mr Magnusson

Well, obviously QoS. I do often feel alone liking that gem.