Pros and Cons: Diamonds Are Forever

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Comments

  • blame_thatcherblame_thatcher Posts: 199MI6 Agent
    IcePak wrote:
    The moon buggy sequence
    - Little Nelly was bad enough in YOLT and this is even worse.
    The Little Nellie sequence is excellent.
  • IcePakIcePak Perth, Western AustraliaPosts: 177MI6 Agent
    I'm not a fan of it. Bond feels like a character-less action-hero put in place to show off the gadgetry of Little Nelly. Apart from locating Blofeld's volcano, it serves little story relevance. While the idea of Little Nelly was cool, the execution of the sequence was poor - it feels like a product placement to me.
    1. CR 2. OHMSS 3. GE 4. TLD 5. OP 6. FRwL 7. FYEO
    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
  • CmdrAtticusCmdrAtticus United StatesPosts: 1,102MI6 Agent
    IcePak wrote:
    I'm not a fan of it. Bond feels like a character-less action-hero put in place to show off the gadgetry of Little Nelly. Apart from locating Blofeld's volcano, it serves little story relevance. While the idea of Little Nelly was cool, the execution of the sequence was poor - it feels like a product placement to me.

    As a critic once noted, another reason the sequence makes no sense is had Bond not flown around the area of the volcano, Blofeld's aerial guards would not have been alerted and Blofeld would have still thought his base's location was still unknown - at least until Bond and Kissy were caught snooping about later. It's another case of sacrificing logic for spectacle in this film.
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,616MI6 Agent
    IcePak wrote:
    I'm not a fan of it. Bond feels like a character-less action-hero put in place to show off the gadgetry of Little Nelly. Apart from locating Blofeld's volcano, it serves little story relevance. While the idea of Little Nelly was cool, the execution of the sequence was poor - it feels like a product placement to me.

    As a critic once noted, another reason the sequence makes no sense is had Bond not flown around the area of the volcano, Blofeld's aerial guards would not have been alerted and Blofeld would have still thought his base's location was still unknown - at least until Bond and Kissy were caught snooping about later. It's another case of sacrificing logic for spectacle in this film.

    But if Bond had not flown around the area of the volcano, how would Bond have found the suspicious volcano? I still don't see how it sacrifices logic.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • CmdrAtticusCmdrAtticus United StatesPosts: 1,102MI6 Agent
    There are probably many ways the location could have been revealed. A simple one is from an informant. Also, how is that there are ama divers and villages within close enough range of the volcano that know one in the area would have not seen a rocket blasting out of a volcano and returning? I live in Florida and we can see the fire of a launch vehicle from fifty miles away.
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    There are probably many ways the location could have been revealed. A simple one is from an informant. Also, how is that there are ama divers and villages within close enough range of the volcano that know one in the area would have not seen a rocket blasting out of a volcano and returning? I live in Florida and we can see the fire of a launch vehicle from fifty miles away.

    Indeed, sadly plausibility is not one of YOLT's strengths! :D
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    We all know the cons of DAF, and it is a pretty **** Bond film overall, but at the right time, it's pretty darn enjoyable and funny.

    DAD is bad too, but DAF isn't infuriatingly embarrassing.
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    Pros:

    -The space laser looks cool.
    -Some passable action sequences.
    -Las Vegas.
    -The elevator fight.

    Cons:

    -Jill St. John doesn't do it for me, I find her performance unappealing.
    -Plenty O'Toole is excess baggage, a good thing she's not in the movie for long.
    -I don't like Grey's Blofeld. Where Pleasence was menacing, Grey strikes me as a cartoon when it comes to his Blofeld.
    -My least fave Connery performance. His delivery just doesn't do it for me.

    Overall, I'm not a fan of DAF, and give it a 6/10.
    "Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
    New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
    1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
    Bond actors to be re-ranked later
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    We all know the cons of DAF, and it is a pretty **** Bond film overall, but at the right time, it's pretty darn enjoyable and funny.

    DAD is bad too, but DAF isn't infuriatingly embarrassing.

    I'd rather sit through DAD than DAF any day, even if DAD's plot is ripped off DAF.
    "Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
    New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
    1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
    Bond actors to be re-ranked later
  • am747am747 Posts: 720MI6 Agent
    Recently, I re-visited Diamonds Are Forever (got it as a part of Sean Connery Vol 2 BD)

    Pros:
    * Strong 1st half
    * Background score
    * Lana Wood provides some humor esp. getting thrown in that pool
    * The two assassins are interesting ("If at first you don't succeed, try try again")

    Cons:
    * Things seem to go downhill once Bond reconnects with Jill St. John in US (though the Hotel climb is an exception)
    * Jill St. John - what is she doing in the Bond film ?:)
    * US locations
    * Blofeld dressed up as a lady :s

    Sean Connery set up the stage nicely for Moore. The movie definitely would have been a big hit in the 70s and gathered a following, however it hasn't aged well like the other Sean Connery films
  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    We all know the cons of DAF, and it is a pretty **** Bond film overall, but at the right time, it's pretty darn enjoyable and funny.

    DAD is bad too, but DAF isn't infuriatingly embarrassing.

    I'd rather sit through DAD than DAF any day, even if DAD's plot is ripped off DAF.

    DAD is so unoriginal it rips off DAF plot with nobs on. Actually it rips off GE's plot which also rips off the DAF plot - which happened seven years earlier


    But that is the least of their problems....
    1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
  • HatThrowingHenchmanHatThrowingHenchman Russia With LovePosts: 1,834MI6 Agent
    We all know the cons of DAF, and it is a pretty **** Bond film overall, but at the right time, it's pretty darn enjoyable and funny.

    DAD is bad too, but DAF isn't infuriatingly embarrassing.

    I'd rather sit through DAD than DAF any day, even if DAD's plot is ripped off DAF.

    DAD is so unoriginal it rips off DAF plot with nobs on. Actually it rips off GE's plot which also rips off the DAF plot - which happened seven years earlier


    But that is the least of their problems....

    now don't you start...
    "You see Mr.Bond, you can't kill my dreams...but my dreams can kill you.Time to face destiny" - "Time to face gravity"
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    Yeah, DAD is unoriginal, but I can entertain myself watching it.

    DAF feels like a painful chore to me.

    GE does have a space weapon (like DAF does) but I prefer it by miles and miles over DAF.
    "Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
    New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
    1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
    Bond actors to be re-ranked later
  • hehadlotsofgutshehadlotsofguts Durham England Posts: 2,112MI6 Agent
    Pros

    Wint and Kidd are entertaining henchmen.

    The humour. "Baja?!"

    Willard Whyte is an entertaining ally.

    The Dutch locations

    Connery's Dutch accent is hilarious. ( shame he doesn't do a Geordie one when impersonating Peter Franks.)

    Cons

    The production values are poor. The explosions look really fake

    Tiffany Case's personality is inconsistant. She starts off as independant and resourceful when checking Bond's fingerprints, but then turns into a ditz when she is captured by Blofeld.

    Charles Gray isn't threatening as Blofeld. He isn't really believeable as Blofeld for me.

    whilst i like the humour in the film, some of the dialogue i don't like. "Hi Earnst! Is Superman giving you any trouble?"
    Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"

    " I don't listen to hip hop!"
  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    edited October 2015
    Yeah, DAD is unoriginal, but I can entertain myself watching it.

    DAF feels like a painful chore to me.

    GE does have a space weapon (like DAF does) but I prefer it by miles and miles over DAF.

    3 films with the same plot??
    1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    edited October 2015
    Plot isn't the only factor I'm taking into consideration broadshoulder.

    As a Bond fan, you know that a Bond film's plot is but a fraction of it.

    You have to account for BGs, BVs, henchmen, and action sequences.

    And the guy playing Bond.

    Among other stuff I may have missed.

    Besides, GE's plot isn't exactly the same as DAF's.

    DAF's plot: Blofeld uses a space laser to hold the world's military powers for ransom. All he wants is money.

    GE's plot: Trevelyan wants revenge because his parents were betrayed by Britain (being delivered to the Soviets after having defected), and wants to get it by causing a financial meltdown with the Goldeneye (or GoldenEye) satellite.

    DAD's plot: Apparently, Graves has got something against the West and, if I'm not mistaken, wants to use his 2nd sun to unify the Koreas.
    "Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
    New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
    1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
    Bond actors to be re-ranked later
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    Objectively, DAF may be better than any Brosnan Era movie, but who cares about objectivity?
    "Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
    New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
    1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
    Bond actors to be re-ranked later
  • hehadlotsofgutshehadlotsofguts Durham England Posts: 2,112MI6 Agent
    I think that the soundtrack to DAF isn't one of John Barry's best. I enjoy a few cues, such as Wint and Kidd's theme and the cue where the laser zaps its targets.
    Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"

    " I don't listen to hip hop!"
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    Yeah, not a fan of the score, too much of a jokey tone for me, makes the film feel all the more like a forced comedy, as far as I'm concerned.
    "Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
    New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
    1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
    Bond actors to be re-ranked later
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,616MI6 Agent
    I think that the soundtrack to DAF isn't one of John Barry's best. I enjoy a few cues, such as Wint and Kidd's theme and the cue where the laser zaps its targets.

    "007 and Counting" is one of the best tracks from all Bond scores. It shows how a piece of music can perfectly fit what's happening on screen but still be a meaningful piece of music outside of the context of the film. That piece alone makes the score brilliant. The main theme is fantastic and is used to great effect for the romantic scenes. "Circus, Circus" is a unique piece amongst the Bond scores. "Moon Buggy Ride" perfectly fits the scene and has a classic Bond sound mixed with playfulness. It has Connery's best gunbarrel music. And there's a new take on "007". DAF has one of the most diverse scores, yet everything fits perfectly together. And it probably is one of the best Bond scores for a standalone listen, though all of Barry's scores work well in this regard.
    Yeah, not a fan of the score, too much of a jokey tone for me, makes the film feel all the more like a forced comedy, as far as I'm concerned.

    Listen to it on its own and it doesn't sound jokey. TMWTGG's score does.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    To me TMWTGG's score has a more epic feel to it, but yeah, opinions.

    Interesting suggestion though, to hear DAF's score on its own.
    "Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
    New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
    1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
    Bond actors to be re-ranked later
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    Yeah, not a fan of the score, too much of a jokey tone for me, makes the film feel all the more like a forced comedy, as far as I'm concerned.

    I agree. While the DAF soundtrack does sound good. I've got no fondness for it, it is jokey and too light in tone. Title song is epic though.

    TMWTGG soundtrack is FANTASTIC.
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,616MI6 Agent
    Yeah, not a fan of the score, too much of a jokey tone for me, makes the film feel all the more like a forced comedy, as far as I'm concerned.

    I agree. While the DAF soundtrack does sound good. I've got no fondness for it, it is jokey and too light in tone. Title song is epic though.

    TMWTGG soundtrack is FANTASTIC.

    I'm confused that you don't like the DAF score because you think it's light, but not the TMWTGG score ?:) That one is by far the lightest and jokiest with the title theme, Nick Nack's theme, the funhouse music and the slide whistle. Even the Solex motif is rather light. I don't think anything in DAF is this light.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    Nick Nack's theme, the funhouse music and the slide whistle.

    There are certainly some light elements to TMWTGG's score - but obviously The Funhouse track has to be light because it has to work in context with the pictures. Return to The Funhouse is some pretty incredbile work, and the ending of it is extremely tense and deep.

    The Goodnight Theme is beautiful and rich, and there are some pretty awesome elements to the score like the music when Bond is flying to the island and Scaramanga receives the call from the radar guys. Great stuff.

    The slide whistle IMO isn't part of the soundtrack, it's a sound-effect.
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,616MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    Nick Nack's theme, the funhouse music and the slide whistle.

    There are certainly some light elements to TMWTGG's score - but obviously The Funhouse track has to be light because it has to work in context with the pictures. Return to The Funhouse is some pretty incredbile work, and the ending of it is extremely tense and deep.

    The Goodnight Theme is beautiful and rich, and there are some pretty awesome elements to the score like the music when Bond is flying to the island and Scaramanga receives the call from the radar guys. Great stuff.

    The slide whistle IMO isn't part of the soundtrack, it's a sound-effect.

    John Barry put the slide whistle in, so it counts as part of the score.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    Grey is easily my least fave of the on-screen Blofelds in the franchise.

    I just find him too unappealing as a villain. I like campy Bond films, but I think Bond villains themselves shouldn't be clownish in the way Grey's Blofeld is. I just can't take him seriously at all, perhaps due to the fact that he's a clownish villain.
    "Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
    New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
    1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
    Bond actors to be re-ranked later
  • OddjoblofeldraxorinOddjoblofeldraxorin CaliforniaPosts: 195MI6 Agent
    Pros
    1. I love campy lighthearted Connery. I think the birth of the Roger Moore type bond was with Guy Hamilton. I feel like the Bond in Goldfinger and Diamond was very similar to Roger Moore's Bond.
    2. Kidd and Wint
    3. Bambi an Thumper

    Cons
    1. Some of the editing: The car on it's side thing, the moonbuggy wheel rolling around behind a nice crash stunt, Plenty's death is confusing without knowing about the story on the deleted scenes.
    2. Blowfeld's demise was hilarious but a little anticlimactic.
  • am747am747 Posts: 720MI6 Agent
    2. Blowfeld's demise was hilarious but a little anticlimactic.

    He did not die though. He re-appeared in FYEO :))
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    I think the birth of the Roger Moore type bond was with Guy Hamilton. I feel like the Bond in Goldfinger and Diamond was very similar to Roger Moore's Bond.

    Well, Hamilton was one of the campier Bond directors overall.

    (Speaking subjectively) I feel that in DAF, they kinda tried to pull off a campy BF, but it was executed better in L&LD.
    "Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
    New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
    1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
    Bond actors to be re-ranked later
  • am747am747 Posts: 720MI6 Agent
    "exceptionally fine shot"

    "anti-pollution inspection"
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