TSWLM vs MR

DevilMayCare007

Both great Bond adventures. I wish I could have been born to see these at the movie theater. If I had to pick I would choose TSWLM bc its more grounded.

Thunderpussy

I was lucky enough, both big films, really packed in the public. {[]
For me, it would also be TSWLM {[] fantastic Bond film. -{

DEFIANT 74205

Not a fan of either film as I find The Spy Who Loved Me to be massively overrated and Moonraker to be rather on the silly side, but I would say that The Spy Who Loved Me is considerably better.

In both cases, the novels of the same title bears little to no resemblance to the film and are much, much better than their cinematic namesakes.

DevilMayCare007

I haven't read TSWLM yet but I heard it was Fleming's weakest?

Thunderpussy

I think many would say so, and in fact Fleming never wanted it filmed
Only the title to be used.

Moore Than

The Spy Who Loved Me may not have the best villain (for example) but it combines all the Bond elements better than any other, IMO. Great action, visuals, sets, a terrific score from Marvin Hamlisch, and arguably Roger Moore's best performance as Bond. Fabulous entertainment.

Moonraker has the better villain, and also great visuals, sets, and some great action, plus one of John Barry's greatest scores. However, it is let down somewhat by silly OTT humour, Jaws falling in love, and the laser battle in space. Very enjoyable for the most part.

The Spy Who Loved Me gets my vote.

Virgil37

TSWLM can be credited with renewing the franchise when it badly needed it (same as GE and CR did later).

However, since first impressions are lasting, I had much more fun watching MR than I did watching TSWLM. Yes, it has silly comedy, but so does TSWLM. The pace of MR is much better. The villain Hugo Drax played by Michael Lonsdale is way better than the boring Curt Jurgens. What does Stromberg say as good as this?:

DRAX:Frederick Gray! What a surprise. And in distinguished company, all wearing gas masks. You must excuse me, gentlemen, not being English, I sometimes find your sense of humor rather difficult to follow!

Thunderpussy

" Down Memory lane time !" )

I can't explain the impact on the young 13 yr old Thunders on seeing TSWLM !
I can only think it must be like a young kid watching Transformers, or Avengers
For the first time.
We didn't have much on the telly back in 1977. ) so seeing TSWLE made a
Big impression, although I also enjoy Moonraker. {[]

Higgins

DevilMayCare007 wrote:

I haven't read TSWLM yet but I heard it was Fleming's weakest?

I quite enjoyed reading TSWLM

AlphaOmegaSin

DevilMayCare007 wrote:

I haven't read TSWLM yet but I heard it was Fleming's weakest?

It was an Experiment, that Fleming later regretted. It's not a bad Novel, but it's rather different.

Thunderpussy

Not much action,it that's what you're after but the last third of the book
Is brilliant.

Charmed & Dangerous

Fleming was such a brilliant writer that even his laundry list would gave been incredible: fast paced, full of brand names, sex sadism and snobbery (well maybe not the sadism ) ). So even the experimental TSWLM is great reading. However Moonraker beats it IMO.

Of the films, TSWLM wins for me- it just walked the line of credibility while Moonraker's slapstick moments weakened it. Not to mention that there are no moments in Moonraker which compare with scene when the Lotus Esprit dives off the pier into the sea ("Can you swim?") - magnificent. :007)

Blackleiter

DEFIANT 74205 wrote:

Not a fan of either film as I find The Spy Who Loved Me to be massively overrated and Moonraker to be rather on the silly side, but I would say that The Spy Who Loved Me is considerably better.

In both cases, the novels of the same title bears little to no resemblance to the film and are much, much better than their cinematic namesakes.

I agree on all counts. -{

broadshoulder

Saw "Spy" for my eigth Birthday. So it can do no wrong.

I enjoyed MR for the spectacle but there were a couple of scenes just wern't funny. Even for this 8 year old..

King Kamal

TSWLM is Bond at his finest no doubt, possibly one of the most obvious examples of actor, script, villains, locations and action meshing together so effectively. It changed the direction of the series (for the better away from the bizzare TMWTGG) and is iconic for a very good reason.

MR I really didn't like on first viewing but second time around I enjoyed it much more. Admittedly its flawed, Jaws was turned into a joke, the early French chateau scenes aren't especially interesting, the gondola sprouting into a hovercraft was a step too far and the back projection during the lift and boat scenes is poor. That said it is spectacular and equally important FUN which is enjoyable every now and again to have such variety over the 23 films.

Cant really justify putting MR ahead of TSWLM but it certainly not a dead fish by any stretch.

MilleniumForce

I like both, but I've just seen Moonraker more. So I'm going to go for Moonraker, but both are very enjoyable.