Everything is bad about this movie except Sir Christopher Lee. This had potential, but unfortunately they rushed it.
Even the Soundtrack and Locations?
Both are my favourite Parts of the Film.
The soundtrack was ehhh, but I believe John Barry barely had time to work on it ? And the locations were okay, but I did like scaramanga's playhouse
It was certainly John Barry's weakest score and theme of his 12 Bond films. It's still a serviceable score, but it's weak considering the greatness of his other scores.
Totally agree with Matt S, it's Barry's weakest Bond work.
Yes, DMC, Barry had to do a rush job here, and didn't much care for it himself.
And yes, AOS, I like it too.
I've personally always liked the Soundtrack. But each to there own {[]
I still like it too, just not as much as all of Barry's other Bond scores. But it's significant for introducing Barry's new approach to the James Bond theme that he would use through his four Moore films and the gun barrel in The Living Daylights.
Good idea, and an improvement over some elements of the novel.
Roger Moore is fine as Bond.
Christopher Lee and Herve Villechaize are excellent as the villains.
The film has the last vestiges of a 1960s production.
Some stunts are quite engaging, though by now, the Bond films are becoming over-reliant on them.
The seaplane and island are intriguing.
The Queen Elizabeth set and concept were interesting.
Cons:
Maud Adams is too dry; Britt Ekland is too kooky.
Southeast Asia, rather than looking exotic, seems dirty and unappealing.
The main plot has no momentum.
Though Bond and Scaramanga interact much more than Bond and Trevelyan in Goldeneye, the effect of two great assassins fighting one another still seems sketchy.
One guard/technician at Scaramanga's lair makes sense storywise but is underwhelming for a film.
J.W. Pepper's appearance is superfluous. His racism, while part of the character, too often seems celebrated.
While the melody of Lulu's title song is great, and John Barry uses it well throughout, the lyrics are juvenile.
The karate school sequence is amusing, but the film overall seems too jokey.
The bland cinematography and sense of "emptiness" in so many scenes, while typical for the 1970s, makes the film seem dour.
The climax seems tedious given the build up to its inevitability.
This Bond isn't psychedelic enough to be as freaky and transgressive as it wants.
Just want to mention possibly my favourite M quote delivered by the brilliant Bernard Lee - "Jealous husbands! Outraged chefs! Humiliated tailors! The list is endless". I love that scene in this film.
Just want to mention possibly my favourite M quote delivered by the brilliant Bernard Lee - "Jealous husbands! Outraged chefs! Humiliated tailors! The list is endless". I love that scene in this film.
Just want to mention possibly my favourite M quote delivered by the brilliant Bernard Lee - "Jealous husbands! Outraged chefs! Humiliated tailors! The list is endless". I love that scene in this film.
Just want to mention possibly my favourite M quote delivered by the brilliant Bernard Lee - "Jealous husbands! Outraged chefs! Humiliated tailors! The list is endless". I love that scene in this film.
That's probably my favourite line of Lee's M.
Me too, and not just because it mentions tailors.
Totally agree. I have always loved those scenes between Bernard Lee and Connery/Lazenby/Moore with Bond getting his mission briefing before jetting off to some far away country. They are always beautifully played and well written and part of why the Bond films are so special. But the husbands/chefs/tailors line tops the lot for me. -{
Totally agree. I have always loved those scenes between Bernard Lee and Connery/Lazenby/Moore with Bond getting his mission briefing before jetting off to some far away country. They are always beautifully played and well written and part of why the Bond films are so special. But the husbands/chefs/tailors line tops the lot for me. -{
No M has been able to compare to Bernard Lee, though I'm hoping Mallory will come close. I especially liked Bernard Lee's M's relationship with Moore's Bond. They had a slightly more amicable relationship than the other Bonds. I know Bernard Lee and Moore had worked together before Bond, so knowing each other better in real life might have accounted for that. Bond has enough enemies to fight; he doesn't need to fight M too.
Just want to mention possibly my favourite M quote delivered by the brilliant Bernard Lee - "Jealous husbands! Outraged chefs! Humiliated tailors! The list is endless". I love that scene in this film.
It is a classic Bernard Lee M Line -{
Alongside 'I'm tempted to test that Theory out right now!'
1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
To me, the penny whistle playing over the car flip perfectly sums up the movie - it borders on awesome but constantly defeats itself with silliness. If only they'd showed some restraint in the goofiness department and taken the proceedings a *little* more seriously, we could have had a true classic Bond film instead of just a mid-level one.
I've always found it extremely entertaining, though!
There are the serious Moments like when Bond and Scaramanga are eating Dinner, when Bond threatens to shoot Lazars Bits off, etc..
I agree, AOS - but I just don't think there are enough of those serious moments. Or, rather, there are just too many silly moments that outweigh the serious ones. The tone is all off.
Pros:
Moore looks great here.
Britt looks great too.
Barry is back.
Lee defines awesome.
Beautiful scenery.
Small Bond- no world domination/destruction plot.
M is hilarious in this.
Nice explosions/end bit with Nic Nack.
Barry is back.
Nice & bizarre.
Cons:
Obviously, slide whistle.
Seeing JW again is too wild a coincidence.
Final duel 'lacks punch' a little.
To sum it up: It's a more consistent film than LALD, not as OTT as TSWLM or MR, and Moore looked the right age unlike the last three of his tenure.
Comments
It was certainly John Barry's weakest score and theme of his 12 Bond films. It's still a serviceable score, but it's weak considering the greatness of his other scores.
Yes, DMC, Barry had to do a rush job here, and didn't much care for it himself.
And yes, AOS, I like it too.
I still like it too, just not as much as all of Barry's other Bond scores. But it's significant for introducing Barry's new approach to the James Bond theme that he would use through his four Moore films and the gun barrel in The Living Daylights.
Good idea, and an improvement over some elements of the novel.
Roger Moore is fine as Bond.
Christopher Lee and Herve Villechaize are excellent as the villains.
The film has the last vestiges of a 1960s production.
Some stunts are quite engaging, though by now, the Bond films are becoming over-reliant on them.
The seaplane and island are intriguing.
The Queen Elizabeth set and concept were interesting.
Cons:
Maud Adams is too dry; Britt Ekland is too kooky.
Southeast Asia, rather than looking exotic, seems dirty and unappealing.
The main plot has no momentum.
Though Bond and Scaramanga interact much more than Bond and Trevelyan in Goldeneye, the effect of two great assassins fighting one another still seems sketchy.
One guard/technician at Scaramanga's lair makes sense storywise but is underwhelming for a film.
J.W. Pepper's appearance is superfluous. His racism, while part of the character, too often seems celebrated.
While the melody of Lulu's title song is great, and John Barry uses it well throughout, the lyrics are juvenile.
The karate school sequence is amusing, but the film overall seems too jokey.
The bland cinematography and sense of "emptiness" in so many scenes, while typical for the 1970s, makes the film seem dour.
The climax seems tedious given the build up to its inevitability.
This Bond isn't psychedelic enough to be as freaky and transgressive as it wants.
I know some Americans who have vacationed there.
Actually I can see him in a bar in the Patpong
I meant as in someone who probably rarely leaves the Area where they live.
redneck xenophobic police officers though? lol
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
His wife must have convinced him.
That's probably my favourite line of Lee's M.
On closer inspection she was definitely NOT a ladyboy!
Me too, and not just because it mentions tailors.
Totally agree. I have always loved those scenes between Bernard Lee and Connery/Lazenby/Moore with Bond getting his mission briefing before jetting off to some far away country. They are always beautifully played and well written and part of why the Bond films are so special. But the husbands/chefs/tailors line tops the lot for me. -{
No M has been able to compare to Bernard Lee, though I'm hoping Mallory will come close. I especially liked Bernard Lee's M's relationship with Moore's Bond. They had a slightly more amicable relationship than the other Bonds. I know Bernard Lee and Moore had worked together before Bond, so knowing each other better in real life might have accounted for that. Bond has enough enemies to fight; he doesn't need to fight M too.
It is a classic Bernard Lee M Line -{
Alongside 'I'm tempted to test that Theory out right now!'
-Zorin
-May Day
-Golden Gate fight
-horse racing fight
-Eiffel jump
-soundtrack (the 80s GF , a major triumph)
vs
-Scaramanga
-his island
-flying car is nice
JW Pepper returning wasn't needed , not a big Nick Nack fan but at least he's better than Pepper.
As far as the martial arts scenes , sure they could've been violent but then the movie would be in "R" territory and not appropiate for young 'uns.
AVTAK wins this one imo.
I've always found it extremely entertaining, though!
I agree, AOS - but I just don't think there are enough of those serious moments. Or, rather, there are just too many silly moments that outweigh the serious ones. The tone is all off.
Con - Mary Goodnight
Christopher Lee is excellent in the film.
I enjoy watching TMWTGG until the first appearance of Mary Goodnight. Probably my least favourite Bond girl.
To non-americans it can be nice to see the US locations , sure they're not as beautiful like 60s Bonds but less gaudy than DAF.
I think Florida looked its best in LTK -{
Moore looks great here.
Britt looks great too.
Barry is back.
Lee defines awesome.
Beautiful scenery.
Small Bond- no world domination/destruction plot.
M is hilarious in this.
Nice explosions/end bit with Nic Nack.
Barry is back.
Nice & bizarre.
Cons:
Obviously, slide whistle.
Seeing JW again is too wild a coincidence.
Final duel 'lacks punch' a little.
To sum it up: It's a more consistent film than LALD, not as OTT as TSWLM or MR, and Moore looked the right age unlike the last three of his tenure.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS