Most Polarizing Bond Films

24

Comments

  • DieAnotherDayDieAnotherDay Glasgow, ScotlandPosts: 460MI6 Agent
    This GoldenEye bashing will just not do! It's my favourite Bond film and I thought it was one which was generally viewed as "quite good" or more but clearly some hate it with a vengeance so it much be pretty polarising.
    I do agree that it's probably the most cartoony Brosnan Bond film in a way though haha especially with Xenia and Boris. It seems like all of Brosnans films are cinematic video games :D :))
    ....and the best he ever managed was a sermon on the mount.
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,616MI6 Agent
    This GoldenEye bashing will just not do! It's my favourite Bond film and I thought it was one which was generally viewed as "quite good" or more but clearly some hate it with a vengeance so it much be pretty polarising.
    I do agree that it's probably the most cartoony Brosnan Bond film in a way though haha especially with Xenia and Boris. It seems like all of Brosnans films are cinematic video games :D :))

    I don't hate it as much as I used to, but being like a video game is a huge problem. That's why it worked so well as a video game. But I didn't like it before or after the video game. It has a terrible script, terrible soundtrack and terrible direction.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • am747am747 Posts: 720MI6 Agent
    This GoldenEye bashing will just not do! It's my favourite Bond film and I thought it was one which was generally viewed as "quite good" or more but clearly some hate it with a vengeance so it much be pretty polarising.
    I do agree that it's probably the most cartoony Brosnan Bond film in a way though haha especially with Xenia and Boris. It seems like all of Brosnans films are cinematic video games :D :))

    What's good about Bond films is that each film as its champion(s) :)

    I only have one Bond video game - QoS. For some reason, I haven't played it apart from trying it out .... I have seen some screen shots of GE game. I don't know if it is different version but it appears as if the game-makers have not forgotten the film's toilet scenes:

    The-toilet-kill.jpg


    :))
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,616MI6 Agent
    am747 wrote:
    This GoldenEye bashing will just not do! It's my favourite Bond film and I thought it was one which was generally viewed as "quite good" or more but clearly some hate it with a vengeance so it much be pretty polarising.
    I do agree that it's probably the most cartoony Brosnan Bond film in a way though haha especially with Xenia and Boris. It seems like all of Brosnans films are cinematic video games :D :))

    What's good about Bond films is that each film as its champion(s) :)

    I only have one Bond video game - QoS. For some reason, I haven't played it apart from trying it out .... I have seen some screen shots of GE game. I don't know if it is different version but it appears as if the game-makers have not forgotten the film's toilet scenes:

    The-toilet-kill.jpg


    :))

    They didn't forget anything from the film in the game. That's how well the film worked as a game. They added a few extra levels to the game that expanded on things in the film. The film is like a video game turned into a film, and that's the problem.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    edited November 2015
    am747 wrote:
    The point is, just because there are people here that love FYEO doesn't mean that almost everyone does.

    On another note, TMWTGG does get it's share of hate, while also having it's defenders.

    You and me can put whatever we want in our ranking .... But for reviews that can be referenced (like you did for someone on youtube), it is criminal to keep FYEO in the bottom 4th .... As I said, FYEO is one of the Bond films that can be used as a reference as it hardly has any weaknesses. So if a film has something more special it can be ranked higher. And if a film has something missing, it can be placed lower :)

    To illustrate, let's compare FYEO with T1 (Terminator). If there is a T2, it can be ranked higher than T1. If it is T3 or T4, it would almost definitely be ranked lower. All of Brosnan films (and some of Craig flims and so on) are like T3 or T4. So if such "referencable" reviewers have FYEO in the bottom 4th, you can almost give a zero to their ranking

    While I can understand the logic here, I personally don't like to see Bond films that way.

    With the Terminator films, it's easy to make comparisons because it's pretty much near-indisputable that the first 2 are the best ones. I've yet to find someone (that I recall, anyway) who thinks any of the post-T2 films is better than any of the first 2. The argument only heats up when it comes to picking between T1 and T2 for the title of fave Terminator film.

    With Bond films, the formula has been experimented with on multiple occassions, to the point that we have a series so diverse in nature that no Bond fan has the exact same favorites as another (as far as I can tell, anyway). We can agree on one thing though: the wide variety in the series. But whether or not one likes a Bond film more than another, and whether or not it is better than another, are two entirely different things.
    "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
    Matt S wrote:

    They didn't forget anything from the film in the game. That's how well the film worked as a game. They added a few extra levels to the game that expanded on things in the film. The film is like a video game turned into a film, and that's the problem.

    Appears as if the PS and Xbox lovers are likely to connect more with GE .... and they probably would not rank solid films such as OHMSS, FYEO, etc. that high :)
  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    am747 wrote:

    Xenia Onatopp is a pure cartoon character. That scene where she bonks the guy to death....uuurrgghhh

    I thought he was gonna have a stroke...

    Onatopp is probably the worst Bond girl :))


    Its between her and Jinx. But I think she might edge it....

    And the first five minutes ie the Aston, dinner jacket, tuxedo are pureBond cliche

    One fans cliche is another's homage don't cha know
    Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
  • am747am747 Posts: 720MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    I don't hate it as much as I used to, but being like a video game is a huge problem. That's why it worked so well as a video game. But I didn't like it before or after the video game. It has a terrible script, terrible soundtrack and terrible direction.

    The more I think about the film, the more bad (relative to other Bond films) it appears. For e.g. in the PTS, 006 is speaking in Russian (presumably) and holding a gun to 007 at first, and then they meet as associates .... It would appear that 006 thought it was a great time to play a prank on 007 :))
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    I'm having trouble understanding how this became a "let's bash GE" thread... :s
    "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

    While I can understand the logic here, I personally don't like to see Bond films that way.

    With the Terminator films, it's easy to make comparisons because it's pretty much near-indisputable that the first 2 are the best ones. I've yet to find someone (that I recall, anyway) who thinks any of the post-T2 films is better than any of the first 2. The argument only heats up when it comes to picking between T1 and T2 for the title of fave Terminator film.

    With Bond films, the formula has been experimented with on multiple occassions, to the point that we have a series so diverse in nature that no Bond fan has the exact same favorites as another (as far as I can tell, anyway). We can agree on one thing though: the wide variety in the series. But whether or not one likes a Bond film more than another, and whether or not it is better than another, are two entirely different things.

    I agree with the gist of your post. But there are some films that cannot be ranked too low or too high esp. in an "all time" list

    Say you are ranking all time great Ferraris, then there would a few cars that will be among the top. The newer cars would arguably be well made with improved specs, but in an AT ranking, they would not automatically be at the top

    Similarly for Bond films, there are some films that a well informed enthusiast is expected to have in the Top 10-15. If not, the list could appear as random or like a personal grocery list :))
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,927Chief of Staff
    Higgins wrote:
    Must be QoS - hands down.

    There is only one person in the world who likes it and enjoys it - no surprise - he's a Scot :p

    He especially loves the theme tune -{
    YNWA 97
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    Sir Miles wrote:
    Higgins wrote:
    Must be QoS - hands down.

    There is only one person in the world who likes it and enjoys it - no surprise - he's a Scot :p

    He especially loves the theme tune -{

    I love QoS as well, I rate it higher than CR.
    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
    Sir Miles wrote:
    Higgins wrote:
    Must be QoS - hands down.

    There is only one person in the world who likes it and enjoys it - no surprise - he's a Scot :p

    He especially loves the theme tune -{

    I love QoS as well, I rate it higher than CR.

    I also rank QoS higher than CR. {[]
    "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
    Sir Miles wrote:

    He especially loves the theme tune -{

    I love QoS as well, I rate it higher than CR.

    I also rank QoS higher than CR. {[]

    As do I, but I don't think highly of either.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 SwitzerlandPosts: 870MI6 Agent
    Having a blast reading the stuff about GoldenEye, hilarious.

    GoldenEye is one of the few Bond movies that clearly is generally loved. So it is about the opposite of a polarizing movie.

    As I understand it, polarizing means a large group of people like a movie and a large group of people dislike it.

    I guess nowadays Thunderball could be called polarizing. I read a lot about it being hard to sit through, boring, too lengthy in parts etc. But then many people still have Thunderball in their Top 5.

    Live And Let Die seems to be polarizing too. In many lists that one appears in the bottom 3. But a great lot of people rank it in the lower Top 10 or somewhere between 10 and 13.
    You can love Sheriff Pepper or find him the worst.

    Moonraker clearly is polarizing as well. The space fight might even be the most polarizing sequence of the franchise.

    Skyfall, although universally insanely successful at the cinema, seems to divide people as well nowadays. Almost astonishing how many rank it near the top while many have it outside the Top 10 or even in the lower half of the rankings. It gets criticised the most (in my experience) maybe because it takes itself almost too seriously and plot holes (that all Bond movies have) are not that easily forgiven.

    There might be others like LTK or FYEO that could be called polarizing, but probably not to the extend as the ones I mentioned above.

    Having said all this, my believe is, that Bond movies in general are not really polarizing as such.
    I mean, Justin Bieber, that is polarizing people! :)) He obviously has a great lot of avid fans. But he is hated as much.
    Dalton Rulez™
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    Yes, SF is an interesting case. Some are big fans of it, and others don't care much for it.
    "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
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    I'v
    Calvin Dyson, a Moore fan, had it ranked lowest of the Moore films in his 2012 ranking video. If I recall correctly, he had it at #19.

    Oh for fucks sake! Why should I pay attention to Calvin Dyson where he spends his time glaring at DAD and in the final reel says "I cant give a bad mark for a Brosnan film" and gives it a good mark. He's as biased as hell..

    Why shall I give Calvin bloody Dyson credence? He doesn't write for the Guardian or something. No, he's a two bit nobody with a camera and a dodgy dinner jackjet


    Saying that you can't give a bad mark for a Brosnan film is not biased. It is being objective!
  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    Jag wrote:
    I'v
    Calvin Dyson, a Moore fan, had it ranked lowest of the Moore films in his 2012 ranking video. If I recall correctly, he had it at #19.

    Oh for fucks sake! Why should I pay attention to Calvin Dyson where he spends his time glaring at DAD and in the final reel says "I cant give a bad mark for a Brosnan film" and gives it a good mark. He's as biased as hell..

    Why shall I give Calvin bloody Dyson credence? He doesn't write for the Guardian or something. No, he's a two bit nobody with a camera and a dodgy dinner jackjet


    Saying that you can't give a bad mark for a Brosnan film is not biased. It is being objective!

    Dont panic we'll be starting on TWINE next....
    1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    Jag wrote:
    I'v
    Calvin Dyson, a Moore fan, had it ranked lowest of the Moore films in his 2012 ranking video. If I recall correctly, he had it at #19.

    Oh for fucks sake! Why should I pay attention to Calvin Dyson where he spends his time glaring at DAD and in the final reel says "I cant give a bad mark for a Brosnan film" and gives it a good mark. He's as biased as hell..

    Why shall I give Calvin bloody Dyson credence? He doesn't write for the Guardian or something. No, he's a two bit nobody with a camera and a dodgy dinner jackjet


    Saying that you can't give a bad mark for a Brosnan film is not biased. It is being objective!

    Nice :))
    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
  • am747am747 Posts: 720MI6 Agent
    edited December 2015
    Jag wrote:

    Saying that you can't give a bad mark for a Brosnan film is not biased. It is being objective!

    Dont panic we'll be starting on TWINE next....

    TWINE is another one of those that you could switch off after the PTS (or may be after the theme song) .... If you had to be generous, may be till Bond drives to Azerbaijan (must say the background score was nice in that sequence) and introduces himself to Electra .... Switching off at the point would save you the trouble of watching that ski fight sequence, Jones (and her "radiations levels are low") Renard, the submarine fight, etc. :)) .... In b/w all these, it does have a few watchable sequences though such as Bond in casino, Electra's torture machine, etc. but they are probably not that good to make you want to sit through the bad sequences for them :)

    However, TND is fun. It is a sit back and enjoy film in the mold of MR -{
  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    am747 wrote:
    Jag wrote:

    Saying that you can't give a bad mark for a Brosnan film is not biased. It is being objective!

    Dont panic we'll be starting on TWINE next....

    TWINE is another one of those that you could switch off after the PTS (or may be after the theme song) .... If you had to be generous, may be till Bond drives to Azerbaijan (must say the background score was nice in that sequence) and introduces himself to Electra .... Switching off at the point would save you the trouble of watching that ski fight sequence, Jones (and her "radiations levels are low") Renard, the submarine fight, etc. :)) .... In b/w all these, it does have a few watchable sequences though such as Bond in casino, Electra's torture machine, etc. but they are probably not that good to make you want to sit through the bad sequences for them :)

    However, TND is fun. It is a sit back and enjoy film in the mold of MR -{

    I agree that you could switch off at the PTS..
    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
    Oh brother...

    Why, oh why, did I start this thread? :#
    "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
    edited December 2015
    May be we can use this to list "switch off' points in various films. Not listed = No switch off point .... This is assuming that you have watched the films multiple times already

    * DAF - After Plenty gets thrown in to the pool (carry on if you are a Jill St. John fan)
    * AVTAK - After Zorin says "to a kill" in the Zep at the sight of the Golden Gate Bridge (and then may be you could watch the Golden Gate sequence at the end)
    * GE - At Natalya's introduction as depending up on the mood, the tank chase later on can appear dated too
    * TWINE - After the PTS or the theme song
    * DAD - Once Bond says to Mr. Kill - "a name to kill for" (or something like that)
    * QoS - Actually start from when Bond lands in Austria unless you absolutely love the PTS and Haiti sequences (and its camera work and editing)


    :))
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    am747 wrote:
    May be we can use this to list "switch off' points in various films. Not listed = No switch off point .... This is assuming that you have watched the films multiple times already

    * DAF - After Plenty gets thrown in to the pool (carry on if you are a Jill St. John fan)
    * AVTAK - After Zorin says "to a kill" in the Zep at the sight of the Golden Gate Bridge (and then may be you could watch the Golden Gate sequence at the end)
    * GE - At Natalya's introduction as depending up on the mood, the tank chase later on can appear dated too
    * TWINE - After the PTS or the theme song
    * DAD - Once Bond says to Mr. Kill - "a name to kill for" (or something like that)
    * QoS - Actually start from when Bond lands in Austria unless you absolutely love the PTS and Haiti sequences (and its camera work and editing)


    :))

    X-( Don't agree at all. While we may like some films less than others, I'd never start one and turn it off!
    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."
  • am747am747 Posts: 720MI6 Agent
      Don't agree at all. While we may like some films less than others, I'd never start one and turn it off!

    That's a giant step taken for mankind, Mr. Drax :D
  • The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man EnglandPosts: 434MI6 Agent
    AVTAK springs to mind. There are at least a couple of members who put it as their number one Bond film whereas some fans have it as their least favourite Moore Bond film.
    MR divides opinion, some seeing it as over the top nonsense, others think it is over the top fun.
    All the Brosnan films are polarizing. Some love them, some erm don't.
    I love all these different opinions though, makes being a Bond fan even more interesting. -{
    1.ohmss 2.cr 3.frwl 4.ltk 5.gf 6.tswlm 7.sf 8.op 9.tld 10.dn 11.lald 12.tb 13.fyeo 14.ge 15.mr 16.yolt 17.tnd 18.avtak 19.sp 20.twine 21.qos 22.tmwtgg 23.daf 24.dad
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    edited December 2015
    am747 wrote:
    May be we can use this to list "switch off' points in various films. Not listed = No switch off point .... This is assuming that you have watched the films multiple times already

    * DAF - After Plenty gets thrown in to the pool (carry on if you are a Jill St. John fan)
    * AVTAK - After Zorin says "to a kill" in the Zep at the sight of the Golden Gate Bridge (and then may be you could watch the Golden Gate sequence at the end)
    * GE - At Natalya's introduction as depending up on the mood, the tank chase later on can appear dated too
    * TWINE - After the PTS or the theme song
    * DAD - Once Bond says to Mr. Kill - "a name to kill for" (or something like that)
    * QoS - Actually start from when Bond lands in Austria unless you absolutely love the PTS and Haiti sequences (and its camera work and editing)


    :))

    X-( Don't agree at all. While we may like some films less than others, I'd never start one and turn it off!

    I'm with hmd here. :007)
    I love all these different opinions though, makes being a Bond fan even more interesting. -{

    Expressing different opinions is great, but derailing a thread isn't.

    This thread was intended to discuss patterns regarding the tastes of fans, not to bash particular films.

    Having said this, it seems we have gotten back on track.

    If a film is to be criticized, I think it should be done in another thread, not this one.


    Unless, of course, you guys want everyone here to start praising or criticizing any Bond film. If the Brosnan films can be criticized here, then it has to be allowed for all other Bond films (except maybe SP, due to it's novelty). Justice has to be upheld.
    "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
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    Here are some that I think are quite polarizing:

    -TND: Loved by some as an action fest, hated by some as a film severely lacking in story.
    -MR: Some consider it a fun romp, others an excess of sillyness.
    -TB: Some find it exciting, others find it dull.
    -LtK: Probably not as polarizing as the ones above, but still controversial. Some love the violence and dark feel in it, while others feel uncomfortable with it.
    -FYEO: Some love it for being a less campy and more simplistic Moore film, while others feel the film doesn't suit Moore very well. Interestingly, it seems to be embraced more by people who aren't fans of Moore's Bond than by those who are.

    You have a good grasp on polarizing opinions. Interesting point about FYEO.

    Here's my vote on your list of films:

    TND: Love
    MR: Amazing
    TB: Tedious
    LtK: Too violent, but I still like it.
    FYEO: Least favorite Moore.
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • am747am747 Posts: 720MI6 Agent

    X-( Don't agree at all. While we may like some films less than others, I'd never start one and turn it off!

    I'm with hmd here. :007)

    Both of you have TWINE in top 10 and GE in top 12 so if you could sit through those, it is not surprising that you could sit through any 007 film :p

    Lesser mortals are not such blessed :(
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    am747 wrote:
    Both of you have TWINE in top 10 and GE in top 12 so if you could sit through those, it is not surprising that you could sit through any 007 film :p

    Lesser mortals are not such blessed :(
    I have GE & TWINE pretty high up myself, and mortals don't get much lesser than I.
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
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