Should I watch them in order, finishing out Connery? Or should I mix it up and do one movie from each actor.
Also, I'm wondering whether I should go for the acclaimed films (like Goldeneye) first or chance on a few (like Die Another Day) spread them out to give myself something to look forward to. To be fair, I was expecting a grueling punishment while watching Quantum of Solace but I enjoyed it.
I agree with what everyone is suggesting, watch everything in sequence. However, since you've already gone against sequence and watched the Craig movies and if you are time crunched by your schedule, I'd suggest the following samplers, The Spy Who Loved Me for Moore, The Living Daylights for Dalton and Goldeneye for Brosnan. I recommend these because I find with the debut movies, you get the most sincere interpretation from the actors with the exception of TSWLM (not being Moore's debut), which is his quintessential performance as Bond, IMO.
I don't remember if you've mentioned watching On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but IMO, that film epitomizes the Bond character more than any other because it's the perfect marriage (in more ways than one!) between the books and film series and if you are one to celebrate Christmas, it is perfect viewing for this time of the year.
"...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
I'm going to finish up Connery and Lazenby first. Then, I'll decide whether I want to go in order from there.
Great opportunity to watch the films with a fresh set of eyes and without the baggage of decades of opinions that will prejudice your viewing experience. Although, it's probably too late if you're already reading posts on AJB.
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 *think* that was meant to say that it made heaps compared to most moderately budgeted films of that era.
It turned a tidy profit, as all Bonds do, but undeniably got its hat handed to it by the likes of 'Batman' and other tentpole pictures that summer...there's a reason Bond films have all been Autumn releases since then...!
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Not exactly, at least not in the U.S. I recall that summer, and it seemed to have gotten as much advanced buzz as its predecessor. I recall quite a bit in magazines, and there were TV commercials and movie trailers.
What Licence to Kill did not get, though, was good word of mouth. While The Living Daylights had not sparked the way the producers had hoped, the buzz about it was generally good, even if the public wasn't quickly warming up to Timothy Dalton as Bond. Licence to Kill, on the other hand, did not get much more than so-so word of mouth. I was in college at the time, and it was not the go-to movie of the summer.
More than a few things hurt Licence to Kill. For starters, it seemed too much like a Miami Vice episode. That TV series was winding down, having used up much of its initial appeal and lost its way, and audiences were weary of the whole drug kingpin thing. The Bond film seemed a Johnny-come-lately.
Those of us who'd seen it weren't all that impressed. I found the film strange -- campy in parts like a Moore film and over-the-top violent in others. It was the 80s, and a lot of entertainment was hokey and uneven like that, but the combination -- complete with Dalton's unerring seriousness -- made this film seem especially a mish-mash. There were scenes I really liked, such as Bond's assassination attempt on Sanchez and his resulting interrogation scene, but they were offset by the whole Wayne Newton character and three Bond women who weren't all that appealing -- the generally insufferable Priscilla Barnes, who'd underwhelmed on Three's Company; the generally talentless Taliso Soto, who was vapid and listless; and the generally Amazonian Carey Lowell, who seemed so intent on being a member of NOW that it was hard to believe she and Bond could work together at all.
Steven Spielberg had already made better Bond films with Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and his Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was light years ahead of Licence to Kill in this regard, too.
But probably the biggest problem for the Bond series was the VCR. By the late 80s, people could just watch an older, superior Bond film and not even have to bother to go to the theater. And they knew that within a few months, the film would be available on cable or video. So, if it wasn't all that great, why bother?
There's no doubt that Brosnan, who was already familar to American audiences from Remington Steele, reinvigorated the franchise after Dalton's departure, but even he couldn't overcome the weaker scripts and paint-by-numbers approach to the character. That's why, in part, Daniel Craig knocked it out of the park and put Bond back in the spotlight. It took a few decades, but he returned Bond to the public eye in a way people hadn't seen since Connery's days.
A pretty much spot-on analysis of the situation back then - without the tinted glasses of a Timboy -{
Let me add that this "summer competition" stuff never convinced me.
Yes, there were strong competitors but obviously only LTK was cannibalized by the competitors - which went very well on the B.O - every single one of them.
So there was a good reason why LTK performed like it did - competition is hardly one of them. There have been times when a new 007 movie blew the competition out of the window!
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
There's no doubt that Brosnan, who was already familar to American audiences from Remington Steele, reinvigorated the franchise after Dalton's departure, but even he couldn't overcome the weaker scripts and paint-by-numbers approach to the character.
I was with you up 'till here. It seemed like you were commenting on popularity/public perception, and suddenly you gloss over the fact that ALL of Brosnan's films hit it out of the park in that area in favour of commenting on script originality...? ?:)
After watching LTK in the cinema I though Bond was dead !
I liked Dalton but the film was a shock to the system after the
Moore years. For whatever reasons When Pierce Brosnan came
along the films did indeed seem reborn. I can remember leaving
The cinema this time thinking Bond was back. Although I do agree
He ended up with little to work with, some weak scripts. although
I do think he is undeserving of some of the more vicious attacks he
Seems to get.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Although you are right at least we had J Gardner's Books. But the gap
Between LTK and GE , seemed very, very long. In fact although there
Was no announcement, I thought they had indeed stopped making
The Bond films. so hearing that GE was in production was brilliant
News. {[]
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
After watching LTK in the cinema I though Bond was dead !
I liked Dalton but the film was a shock to the system after the
Moore years. For whatever reasons When Pierce Brosnan came
along the films did indeed seem reborn. I can remember leaving
The cinema this time thinking Bond was back. Although I do agree
He ended up with little to work with, some weak scripts. although
I do think he is undeserving of some of the more vicious attacks he
Seems to get.
I never thought Bond was dead. I've always liked Timothy Dalton and LTK. Undoubtedly, a switch from Roger Moore to Pierce Brosnan would have been more palatable for the general public, and LTK would likely have been better received. For me, Dalton was the right man at the wrong time.
I agree that Brosnan generally did not have a lot to work with. I also agree that he gets some undeserved and unnecessary criticism, but that also applies to the other actors (with the possible exception of Sean Connery). Doesn't justify it though.
Moore Not Less 4371 posts (2002 - 2007) Moore Than (2012 - 2016)
I agree with " The right man at the wrong time" {[] I'm a Dalton fan
And LTK is now my third favourite Bond film. Connery doesn't take
Any flak for Bond but everyone after him, gets it in the neck from
Their detractors. Which is a little unfair, I do think every actor who
Has played Bond has given 100%. -{
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Comments
The why start here - do you expect everyone to agree with your every bon mots?
Difference of opinion and freedom to express such are a reasonable expectation, no?
Thats actually true. Bonds never competed against the others. Like this Bourne business - it rose above it...
I agree with what everyone is suggesting, watch everything in sequence. However, since you've already gone against sequence and watched the Craig movies and if you are time crunched by your schedule, I'd suggest the following samplers, The Spy Who Loved Me for Moore, The Living Daylights for Dalton and Goldeneye for Brosnan. I recommend these because I find with the debut movies, you get the most sincere interpretation from the actors with the exception of TSWLM (not being Moore's debut), which is his quintessential performance as Bond, IMO.
I don't remember if you've mentioned watching On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but IMO, that film epitomizes the Bond character more than any other because it's the perfect marriage (in more ways than one!) between the books and film series and if you are one to celebrate Christmas, it is perfect viewing for this time of the year.
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
Here's all you need to know - I'm very old and Connery IS Bond!
no, he's old - plain and simple
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I'll take it!
Great opportunity to watch the films with a fresh set of eyes and without the baggage of decades of opinions that will prejudice your viewing experience. Although, it's probably too late if you're already reading posts on AJB.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Hey!!!! Who says I'm plain!
No , it didn't.......it made average at best biz.
Next people are gonna claim TMWTGG was a b.o hit , too
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
It turned a tidy profit, as all Bonds do, but undeniably got its hat handed to it by the likes of 'Batman' and other tentpole pictures that summer...there's a reason Bond films have all been Autumn releases since then...!
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
What Licence to Kill did not get, though, was good word of mouth. While The Living Daylights had not sparked the way the producers had hoped, the buzz about it was generally good, even if the public wasn't quickly warming up to Timothy Dalton as Bond. Licence to Kill, on the other hand, did not get much more than so-so word of mouth. I was in college at the time, and it was not the go-to movie of the summer.
More than a few things hurt Licence to Kill. For starters, it seemed too much like a Miami Vice episode. That TV series was winding down, having used up much of its initial appeal and lost its way, and audiences were weary of the whole drug kingpin thing. The Bond film seemed a Johnny-come-lately.
Those of us who'd seen it weren't all that impressed. I found the film strange -- campy in parts like a Moore film and over-the-top violent in others. It was the 80s, and a lot of entertainment was hokey and uneven like that, but the combination -- complete with Dalton's unerring seriousness -- made this film seem especially a mish-mash. There were scenes I really liked, such as Bond's assassination attempt on Sanchez and his resulting interrogation scene, but they were offset by the whole Wayne Newton character and three Bond women who weren't all that appealing -- the generally insufferable Priscilla Barnes, who'd underwhelmed on Three's Company; the generally talentless Taliso Soto, who was vapid and listless; and the generally Amazonian Carey Lowell, who seemed so intent on being a member of NOW that it was hard to believe she and Bond could work together at all.
Steven Spielberg had already made better Bond films with Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and his Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was light years ahead of Licence to Kill in this regard, too.
But probably the biggest problem for the Bond series was the VCR. By the late 80s, people could just watch an older, superior Bond film and not even have to bother to go to the theater. And they knew that within a few months, the film would be available on cable or video. So, if it wasn't all that great, why bother?
There's no doubt that Brosnan, who was already familar to American audiences from Remington Steele, reinvigorated the franchise after Dalton's departure, but even he couldn't overcome the weaker scripts and paint-by-numbers approach to the character. That's why, in part, Daniel Craig knocked it out of the park and put Bond back in the spotlight. It took a few decades, but he returned Bond to the public eye in a way people hadn't seen since Connery's days.
A pretty much spot-on analysis of the situation back then - without the tinted glasses of a Timboy -{
Let me add that this "summer competition" stuff never convinced me.
Yes, there were strong competitors but obviously only LTK was cannibalized by the competitors - which went very well on the B.O - every single one of them.
So there was a good reason why LTK performed like it did - competition is hardly one of them. There have been times when a new 007 movie blew the competition out of the window!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I liked Dalton but the film was a shock to the system after the
Moore years. For whatever reasons When Pierce Brosnan came
along the films did indeed seem reborn. I can remember leaving
The cinema this time thinking Bond was back. Although I do agree
He ended up with little to work with, some weak scripts.
I do think he is undeserving of some of the more vicious attacks he
Seems to get.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FtWAC5HJsKs
Between LTK and GE , seemed very, very long. In fact although there
Was no announcement, I thought they had indeed stopped making
The Bond films.
News. {[]
I never thought Bond was dead. I've always liked Timothy Dalton and LTK. Undoubtedly, a switch from Roger Moore to Pierce Brosnan would have been more palatable for the general public, and LTK would likely have been better received. For me, Dalton was the right man at the wrong time.
I agree that Brosnan generally did not have a lot to work with. I also agree that he gets some undeserved and unnecessary criticism, but that also applies to the other actors (with the possible exception of Sean Connery). Doesn't justify it though.
And LTK is now my third favourite Bond film. Connery doesn't take
Any flak for Bond but everyone after him, gets it in the neck from
Their detractors. Which is a little unfair, I do think every actor who
Has played Bond has given 100%. -{