Which anniversary film did it best?

MilleniumForce

There have been five anniversary films (The Spy Who Loved Me (15th) The Living Daylights (25th) Tomorrow Never Dies (35th) Die Another Day (40th) Skyfall (50th)). But which one celebrated the Bond series best?

The Spy Who Loved Me:
The producers clearly tried to go all out with this one, and the Lotus is a modern DB5. The sets are definitely referencing YOLT in their scale here.

The Loving Daylights:
The biggest reference is the car; its an update of the DB5, even having updated versions of the gadgets.

Tomorrow Never Dies:
Again, the car is gadget filled, and the ending on the stealth boat is a nice update of the Liparus scenes in TSWLM.

Die Another Day:
This one went to far with the references. There are a couple of nice ones; the Aston Martin, the Ice Palace being loosely based off of Atlantis, the Union Jack parachute; but then there are ones that totally take you out of the film, like why Q branch had Klebb's shoe.

Skyfall:
Another good one, bringing back the DB5 and having a tone similar to FRWL or DN.

AlphaOmegaSin

I'd say Either TSWLM, TLD or SF

Matt S

I've only felt like Die Another Day and Skyfall were anniversary films. TSWLM is the best film of those, but neither the Lotus nor the giant set makes me think of the previous Bonds. I didn't get the impression that TSWLM was drawing elements from previous Bonds purely as a 15 year celebration. I think they were just trying to go all out to get the audience back.

Thunderpussy

I agree, only DAD & SF feel like an anniversary event, so of those two
I'd vote for Skyfall.

broadshoulder

Die another day is the pits

I don't see the others as anniversary adventures

Firemass

MilleniumForce wrote:

The Loving Daylights:

) :x

Firemass

Matt S wrote:

I've only felt like Die Another Day and Skyfall were anniversary films. TSWLM is the best film of those, but neither the Lotus nor the giant set makes me think of the previous Bonds. I didn't get the impression that TSWLM was drawing elements from previous Bonds purely as a 15 year celebration. I think they were just trying to go all out to get the audience back.

+1

(Although, DAD is much more obviously an anniversary film than Skyfall)

Absolutely_Cart

Both SF and DAD were anni films. Just in different ways.

Spoff

TLD...By far...Although I would say that TLD did not really feel like an "anniversary film".

Brosnan_fan

I would agree with the others that TSWLM, TLD and TND weren't really "Anniversary films" as such (anymore than YOLT was), as EON never really produced them in such a manner.

So yeah, the only 2 proper Anniversary Films were DAD (a rather poor one) and SF (a great one).

Matt S

How about the 25th anniversary film Happy Anniversary 007, starring Roger Moore?

AlphaOmegaSin

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y57-k1j-dpc

The whole 25th Anniversary Documentary.

Matt S

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y57-k1j-dpc

The whole 25th Anniversary Documentary.

That's not what I was talking about. Happy Anniversary 007 has Roger Moore playing himself as James Bond in various scenes talking about James Bond the character. I believe it's a special feature on the TLD DVD. It's on YouTube as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM3q5vag0j8

AlphaOmegaSin

Oh, the Happy Anniversary Documentary? I got confused there

Absolutely_Cart

basically every film that comes out in an year that's a 7 or a 2.

Matt S

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

Oh, the Happy Anniversary Documentary? I got confused there

I did give the title, Happy Anniversary 007. It's not a documentary. It's a more like a clip show with added bits by Moore acting like Bond.

DR NO-ah

I remember being quite upset with the lack of anniversaryness in Skyfall but over all I think it was better than Die Another Day in terms of celebrating the series. We were given an insight in to Bond's past and ended the film with a return to the classic M office with a new Moneypenny/Q in tow. Can't say I have ever thought of The Spy Who Loved Me, The Living Daylights and Tomorrow Never Dies as anniversary films.

chrisisall

DAD was the perfect anniversary film! Lots of references & pop & bang & pastiche & WOW. A good Bond movie lurked in there under all that... )

AlphaOmegaSin

One of my favourite Scenes in the whole of DAD, is seeing Q's Lab full of various Gadgets from previous Outings

chrisisall

The alligator sub... )

Bondage007

I agree, there's only been two anniversary films. In SF the Macallan 50 is enough. And the "50 years" after the gunbarrel.

Matt S

Bondage007 wrote:

And the "50 years" after the gunbarrel.

That was the worst!

Thunderpussy

I think given that no other series of films have lasted so long, the
Producers can be understandably proud of their " intellectual property "
And I'm sure were happy to. Add the "50 years" title. :x I know I'm
Proud that they have managed to steer the franchise through many
" troubles" and yet still. Keep the films vibrant, contemporary and
Successful. I feel that if they had have incorporated many of fans ideas
The series would have died on its arse years ago.
Well done to them, long may they guide the series, and they are right to be
Proud of their achievements. {[]

Bondage007

Matt S wrote:

Bondage007 wrote:

And the "50 years" after the gunbarrel.

That was the worst!

Why? It's a subtle celebration of 1962-2012 without ruining the film with references.

My only gripe is that the GB is at the end, and the GB itself, but I'm not going to open that can of worms.

Matt S

Bondage007 wrote:

Matt S wrote:

Bondage007 wrote:

And the "50 years" after the gunbarrel.

That was the worst!

Why? It's a subtle celebration of 1962-2012 without ruining the film with references.

My only gripe is that the GB is at the end, and the GB itself, but I'm not going to open that can of worms.

I have that problem too, and it makes the gunbarrel even less important by tacking on the 50th Anniversary to the end.

Thunderpussy

I guess some feel 50 years ain't worth celebrating.

Matt S

Thunderpussy wrote:

I guess some feel 50 years ain't worth celebrating.

It's not about the anniversary. I simply hated the way it was done, attached to an already disappointing gunbarrel. I didn't think it needed to be announced at the end of the film. It could have been more subtle and not shouted out like that.

MilleniumForce

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

One of my favourite Scenes in the whole of DAD, is seeing Q's Lab full of various Gadgets from previous Outings

And the was right were the references should have stopped. Would have made that scene special.