^ good write up and agree with your Connery observations. I've always maintained that Japan is the best location in the entire series, I struggle to enjoy the 2nd half of YOLT and find the movie a bit boring to be honest.
I like your rankings, great variation and awesome to see MR and QoS so high up.
superadoRegent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
I watched FRWL over the weekend, fulfilling a desire I had to enjoy this movie, which believe it or not I’ve harbored for around 2 months. Normally, weekend evenings are spent catching up on whichever movies were theatrically released in the preceding months, but I got to enjoy watching FRWL after everyone else was asleep. I started with the John Cork documentary, “Inside FRWL” I think it was called and it was a good thing because I fell asleep midway of that and I got my second wind in time for the main feature!
FRWL was the very first Bond movie I watched, which was via an ABC TV broadcast in 1973 or 74 when I was around 6 or 7. From my teens, esp. after I began reading the books, it remained in my top 3 favorites along with OHMSS and YOLT. Surely you folks can relate that as a Bond nut, I’ve watched FRWL countless of times, but now as a middle-aged man I’ve realized that I can enjoy each new viewing like sampling a vintage wine (not that I’m a connoisseur).
This kind of viewing requires intentionality on my part, which meant that with much discipline I kept my cell phone and reading glasses untouched at arm’s length, lol. It sometimes literally felt that I was watching certain scenes for the first time, taking in the lush colors and interesting visuals in the sets used like the exteriors of Rosa Klebb’s office, the long shots of Istanbul and the evocative nighttime of clouds and moon during the Orient Express sequences.
Armed with the various behind-the-scenes tid-bits one picks up from various Bond books, one gets to appreciate the whats and whys that went into the production, like how Peter Hunt’s editing not only afforded us the best action scenes of the series, but how it greatly improved the pacing and sequencing of the film’s segments.
Also noteworthy is the absence of certain Bond “dream team” members that were assembled in DN, like Maurice Binder, Ken Adams, Bob Simmons in the capacity of stunt coordinator (though he supposedly did some stunts), which in turn allowed others to rise up to the challenge and contribute their own unique stamp on Bond history, such as Robert Brownjohn’s projected titles, accented with the FRWL theme with what sounds like a Wurlitzer organ!
Since YOLT was featured on the current issue of Cinema Retro magazine, that’s next on my list!
"...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
I watched FRWL over the weekend, fulfilling a desire I had to enjoy this movie, which believe it or not I’ve harbored for around 2 months. Normally, weekend evenings are spent catching up on whichever movies were theatrically released in the preceding months, but I got to enjoy watching FRWL after everyone else was asleep. I started with the John Cork documentary, “Inside FRWL” I think it was called and it was a good thing because I fell asleep midway of that and I got my second wind in time for the main feature!
FRWL was the very first Bond movie I watched, which was via an ABC TV broadcast in 1973 or 74 when I was around 6 or 7. From my teens, esp. after I began reading the books, it remained in my top 3 favorites along with OHMSS and YOLT. Surely you folks can relate that as a Bond nut, I’ve watched FRWL countless of times, but now as a middle-aged man I’ve realized that I can enjoy each new viewing like sampling a vintage wine (not that I’m a connoisseur).
This kind of viewing requires intentionality on my part, which meant that with much discipline I kept my cell phone and reading glasses untouched at arm’s length, lol. It sometimes literally felt that I was watching certain scenes for the first time, taking in the lush colors and interesting visuals in the sets used like the exteriors of Rosa Klebb’s office, the long shots of Istanbul and the evocative nighttime of clouds and moon during the Orient Express sequences.
Armed with the various behind-the-scenes tid-bits one picks up from various Bond books, one gets to appreciate the whats and whys that went into the production, like how Peter Hunt’s editing not only afforded us the best action scenes of the series, but how it greatly improved the pacing and sequencing of the film’s segments.
Also noteworthy is the absence of certain Bond “dream team” members that were assembled in DN, like Maurice Binder, Ken Adams, Bob Simmons in the capacity of stunt coordinator (though he supposedly did some stunts), which in turn allowed others to rise up to the challenge and contribute their own unique stamp on Bond history, such as Robert Brownjohn’s projected titles, accented with the FRWL theme with what sounds like a Wurlitzer organ!
Since YOLT was featured on the current issue of Cinema Retro magazine, that’s next on my list!
Enjoyed reading this - knowing about the background makes the viewings more interesting. I'm currently doing a Seinfeld marathon with my finance and retelling some of the behind the scenes stuff to her (whether or not she finds it interesting).
I also do the same extended build up before re-watching to ensure best mood!
What can I say? It's a decent-good bond movie with quite a number of flaws, mainly to do with pacing, the plot not being overly exciting and some things that don't make too much sense. I didn't find Denise Richards as bad as people make her out to be, but she's not good either. The performances from Pierce Brosnan and supporting cast are great, R.I.P Desmond. I enjoyed the film to want to re-watch it again, it's just good. The locations are rather average and the ski sequence felt like it was slammed in for the sole purpose of seeing Bond on skis again, something we hadn't seen since A View To A Kill, 14 years prior. I definitely enjoy this film more than Tomorrow Never Dies, so my opinion after these years hasn't really changed. I would still rank it in the lower half, as many Connery and Moore films along with both Dalton films and Goldeneye are better than this in my opinion. I would also rank every Daniel Craig movie higher, with the exception of Quantum Of Solace, obviously. Decent Bond flick, but definitely near the bottom of my rankings - but still a decent film. 6/10.
Current rewatch rankings:
OHMSS>FRWL>YOLT>DN>TB>GF>LALD>DAF
I was out there walking my rat and I seem to have lost my way on this forum.
Hello, from me and isn't that an...interesting ranking, as it stands now. How did YOLT get on top of GF while your lower ranking clearly has it a lot lower.
Do you change your mind so often so as to have such a staggering difference in rankings or is it in accord to your current mood and changing tastes after rewatching them recently?
Current rewatch rankings:
OHMSS>FRWL>YOLT>DN>TB>GF>LALD>DAF
I was out there walking my rat and I seem to have lost my way on this forum.
Hello, from me and isn't that an...interesting ranking, as it stands now. How did YOLT get on top of GF while your lower ranking clearly has it a lot lower.
Do you change your mind so often so as to have such a staggering difference in rankings or is it in accord to your current mood and changing tastes after rewatching them recently?
Hey there.
The ranking my sig was my opinion prior to doing the rewatch of the series that I'm currently undertaking with my wife. To your point, I'll delete my sig and update it with the final ranking that I have once I'm done with the series.
I've always had problems with this one, mainly due to the fact that the only reason why the plot goes where it does is because Bond makes a lot of stupid decisions. I like my Bond to be competent in his job so that you could believe that he could save the world. What does he do?
- He goes into Harlem without doing any sort of planning. He doesn't adjust his attitude or change his clothing...he just goes, and it's utterly ridiculous that he could be expected to be successful in his endeavor. At least he's dressed sharply (probably one of Moore's best suits, to be honest).
- Apparently his whole point of flying into Kananga's complex on the island is to bed Solitaire. Really? You're going to go to all of that risk just to find and bed her? I mean, she IS gorgeous, but that's apparently the plan. Granted, he does do a recon the next day and figures out what Kananga is up to, but would you really risk detection by infiltrating Kananga's house and tipping off security?
- He also gets captured way too easily. When he's in the room where Kananga quizes Bond on whether or not he touched Solitaire, Bond is way too casual and allows himself to be locked into his chair too easily.
There are other nitpicks to be had, but essentially this film's Bond is not the pro that we expect. Bond is allowed to make mistakes but he's not allowed to be inept and get by on pure luck.
The humor works for the most part although the JW Pepper stuff goes too far.
Most of the action sequences work, but the boat chase is a standout. It goes on a tad too long but the stunts that are in there still thrill to this day.
Kananga's death is not good. Never has been. It's ridiculous and kinda sends the viewer out on a bad note. At least, it does to me.
LALD manages to maintain enough level of oddity to keep the film intriguing. Plus Moore plays the Tom Mankiewicz-Bond perfectly - he's very funny and keeps that sail-on-through attitude going.
But I agree with you that the film has issues and isn't very Bondian in approach or style. Hence, my lower ranking too.
Goldfinger on UK TV yesterday. Still very much a game of two halves. First half is superb, iconic, stylish and everything people say about it. Second act very weak. Once Bond gets to the Ranch it sags and drags. Ending is poor. Shame as it starts so well. Love Connery's clothes, but the rug is a distraction.
Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
I watched TLD, and it's still a top Bond film for me. A recent discussion here showed that some people did not understand the plot, the motivations behind the villains or the balance of power between the villains. Some things I didn't care about before now I noticed because people on this forum mentioned they didn't notice. After watching it yet another time, I noticed that EVERYTHING is explained. Because so much is going on in this film, the explanations are necessary. Still, those explanations can also go over people's heads if they're not paying close attention because there is just so much plot to take in. We're let into some details of Koskov and Whitaker's plan before Bond knows, but then we still learn more as Bond uncovers more.
TLD is my second favourite Bond film, behind FYEO. Feels like James Bond as written in the books, serious movie with a more harder tone in the cold war setting, the last of it's kind in a bond film. Timothy Dalton is in my opinion the best James Bond there ever was, but I'm sure that he would fail on suaveness and an entertainment factor, heck even my wife wasn't too fond of him preferring Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan. Just shows she prefers a light heart touch with the films, which while I like, I prefer the gritty serious films.
Big fan of TLD here as well. I don't care for the finale with General Whitaker very much (it comes off as fairly childish), but everything else is really solid and very entertaining. Dalton's debut film is almost a home run.
Same gripe as you.
Even Necros had a more impressive death, even if he got the boot was dubbed.
Big fan of TLD here as well. I don't care for the finale with General Whitaker very much (it comes off as fairly childish), but everything else is really solid and very entertaining. Dalton's debut film is almost a home run.
Same gripe as you.
Even Necros had a more impressive death, even if he got the boot was dubbed.
Whitaker has one of the worst villain deaths, but Necros has one of the best. I also love how we don't see Koskov's fate is not in the hands of Bond, but we know that Pushkin has something good in store for him.
thanks Gymkata , I was worried we weren't going to get a Golden Gun review from you! keep'em coming
I'm not sure Goodnight's job was ever supposed to be field agent. In the book she's Bond's personal secretary, transferred to a diplomatic position in Jamaica when Bond is presumed dead. When Bond arrives on a mission in Jamaica she volunteers to help him (mostly doing research). I was assuming her career path and motivation was basically the same in the film, she knows him and is volunteering to help even though this isn't her normal job. Difference of course is that she is competent in the book.
jeepers Gymkata you seem like a literate guy! they're quick reads and I'm sure you'll enjoy them.
but yes one danger is, like me, you might start confusing the two versions of the stories ... things that are true in the books I assume to be true in the films unless explicitly explained otherwise, yet I know within the self-contained universe of the film those things aren't true at all.
all I remember of Moore and Ecklands first meeting in the film is that Moore reflexively rolls his eyes and says her name in an already annoyed tone of voice. I'm not sure we are ever told her job description, but we are told she is a silly comedy relief character who can be relied on to do klutzy things and complicate the plot through her stereotypically dumb blonde incompetence.
He follows leads, makes plans, and executes (usually successfully) those plans based upon his training. Things don't just 'happen' to him in the film. He's a driving force for all of the action, just as he should be.
I really like what you're saying, but in this case I would say it's actually Goodnight who is the driving force for the action. She is responsible for making Bond fly to the island by getting herself locked in the boot. She also blows up the island by knocking the worker into the vat, and even nearly kills Bond by activating the solar beam with her butt. 8-)
The solex plot is a bit rubbish but it's there to add the MI6 reason to be involved at all based on the energy crisis at the time - otherwise it's just Bond running around Thailand looking for a nut who's sent a bullet.
Licence To Kill. I was heavily disappointed with it this time around, feeling cold, that this is not James Bond (something I've never felt before while watching this 8-) ), drab locations and cheap value, forgettable bond girls, forgettable soundtrack, no British Secret Service appearances of MI6 and a bad ending. The good points, Dalton's performance, Robert Davi as Sanchez (one of the best villains) and good henchmen. It was also good to see Felix Leiter return to Bond, but this is now my least favourite Bond film of the 80's - yes worse than AVTAK because at least that was a bond movie.
Comparisons between AVTAK and LTK
* Timothy Dalton does a WAY better performance in LTK than Roger Moore does in AVTAK.
* Carey Lowell is a better actor than Tanya Roberts, but Roberts is hotter in the beauty contest
* AVTAK has better action scenes - no I'm not kidding when I really think about it
* Sanchez and Zorin are awesome villains and two of my favourites in the series, but I think Zorin is more memorable in positive ways
* AVTAK has better locations AND score
* Both have stupid moments in them that don't make sense, LTK wins on this front having less of these scenes
* AVTAK has a better finale on the Golden Gate Bridge (possibly Moore's best final) whereas LTK goes on a bit too long
* Grace Jones is more memorable than Talisa Soto
* Much to the annoyance of many, I liked AVTAK's plot more than LTK. A revenge story is awesome, but like QOS and DAF, it didn't work too well because it left me feeling cold and MI6 hardly appear in LTK
* AVTAK is a bond movie. LTK feels too dark and lacks charm and emotional depth of a bond movie
This is a sad day.
-{
Don't worry, rejoice . I saw it again recently and loved it, but what's funny is that it's a lot easier to pin point things you don't like about something you love, well for me at least. I think that's what happened earlier, but even after seeing all the bond films that's the one I want to go back to re-watch the most because it's so entertaining, it's so bond with Dalton's superb portrayal and it's well made (besides locations and lack of MI6 appearances). Check my signature bond rankings
Don't worry, rejoice . I saw it again recently and loved it, but what's funny is that it's a lot easier to pin point things you don't like about something you love, well for me at least. I think that's what happened earlier, but even after seeing all the bond films that's the one I want to go back to re-watch the most because it's so entertaining, it's so bond with Dalton's superb portrayal and it's well made (besides locations and lack of MI6 appearances). Check my signature bond rankings
Cry wolf much mate? You've gone from hating it to loving it again within a week with diatribes in about 8 different threads!
Licence To Kill. I was heavily disappointed with it this time around, feeling cold, that this is not James Bond (something I've never felt before while watching this 8-) ), drab locations and cheap value, forgettable bond girls, forgettable soundtrack, no British Secret Service appearances of MI6 and a bad ending. The good points, Dalton's performance, Robert Davi as Sanchez (one of the best villains) and good henchmen. It was also good to see Felix Leiter return to Bond, but this is now my least favourite Bond film of the 80's - yes worse than AVTAK because at least that was a bond movie.
Comparisons between AVTAK and LTK
* Timothy Dalton does a WAY better performance in LTK than Roger Moore does in AVTAK.
* Carey Lowell is a better actor than Tanya Roberts, but Roberts is hotter in the beauty contest
* AVTAK has better action scenes - no I'm not kidding when I really think about it
* Sanchez and Zorin are awesome villains and two of my favourites in the series, but I think Zorin is more memorable in positive ways
* AVTAK has better locations AND score
* Both have stupid moments in them that don't make sense, LTK wins on this front having less of these scenes
* AVTAK has a better finale on the Golden Gate Bridge (possibly Moore's best final) whereas LTK goes on a bit too long
* Grace Jones is more memorable than Talisa Soto
* Much to the annoyance of many, I liked AVTAK's plot more than LTK. A revenge story is awesome, but like QOS and DAF, it didn't work too well because it left me feeling cold and MI6 hardly appear in LTK
* AVTAK is a bond movie. LTK feels too dark and lacks charm and emotional depth of a bond movie
This is a sad day.
-{
Don't worry, rejoice . I saw it again recently and loved it, but what's funny is that it's a lot easier to pin point things you don't like about something you love, well for me at least. I think that's what happened earlier, but even after seeing all the bond films that's the one I want to go back to re-watch the most because it's so entertaining, it's so bond with Dalton's superb portrayal and it's well made (besides locations and lack of MI6 appearances). Check my signature bond rankings
Don't worry, rejoice . I saw it again recently and loved it, but what's funny is that it's a lot easier to pin point things you don't like about something you love, well for me at least. I think that's what happened earlier, but even after seeing all the bond films that's the one I want to go back to re-watch the most because it's so entertaining, it's so bond with Dalton's superb portrayal and it's well made (besides locations and lack of MI6 appearances). Check my signature bond rankings
Cry wolf much mate? You've gone from hating it to loving it again within a week with diatribes in about 8 different threads!
Next time perhaps I won't listen so much!! )
LOL what a rollercoaster of emotions.
My current 10 favorite:
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
I have a weird relationship with this movie. I loved it when I saw it theatrically back in 1979 (seriously, this thing absolutely killed in my theater) but subsequent viewings on television were not kind to it. I ended up buying into the whole 'MOONRAKER is the worst Bond movie' way of thinking for a long time. About 10 years ago I watched it again after a long break and it totally worked for me. It's worked for me ever since and last night's viewing only solidified my feeling that it's one of the very best of the Bond films.
The film starts off as a pretty serious, straightforward Bond film. Most of the first act could have come from TSWLM in terms of content and tone. Slowly, the film starts to get ridiculous. It's a gradual thing for the most part (except for the gondola scene, which I'll get to later), with the silliness and insanity slowly escalating until you must utterly embrace the ridiculous or turn the film off. If you got for it and embrace the ridiculous, you should have a big smile on your face for the entire third act.
I think that a lot of credit must be given to director Lewis Gilbert for pulling this off, because getting a tone like this right is very, very hard to accomplish. It helps that Moore plays it absolutely straight (apart from his usual quips) and never lets on that he's in a farce, but everything surrounding him is well thought out in terms of its effect on the audience. Apart from the gondola sequence, it's all gradual and never jarring.
The secret weapon of the film is Michael Lonsdale's performance as Drax, though. His bored, arrogant, detached line delivery provides the perfect counterpoint to the insanity that's going on around him. It's not just playing it straight, it's playing it as if everything around him is utterly and completely normal. If you dial in on his character and how he reacts to every situation, you get balanced out. It's a performance of pure genius and a credit to both the actor and the director for getting that character exactly right, because a manic villain would have absolutely killed the movie.
Dr. Goodhead (I still can't believe that they went with that name) is adequate. She's fairly wooden in her performance, and I think that flatness helps to balance the insanity as well.
Jaws is fine. They faced tremendous pressure from fans to soften him up and make him a good guy, so he gets to have fun in terms of escalating the absurdity of his character. It's obvious that Kiel is having fun and that's kinda infectious. Side note: one of my favorite things in the movie is when Drax calls up HENCHMEN R US to get a replacement. 'Oh, he's available? I'll take him.' The fact that there's a henchman temporary service is genius.
The one mistake is the Gondola scene. It's too much ridiculousness, too soon. The scene itself is extraneous (it really serves no purpose in the film other than to do another action sequence) and should have been cut just for pacing purposes, but the whole thing is out of place in terms of tone. The double-taking pigeon is especially awful.
That scene aside, the film is a blast. I just love it. Add in the fact that John Barry is back doing one of his best scores and it's a real treat. I even like the theme song and rate it as the second best of the Shirley Bassey numers (with GF being the best).
Current rewatch rankings:
OHMSS>FRWL>TSWLM>YOLT>MR>DN>TB>TMWTGG>GF>LALD>DAF
What did your wife think of MR? You should require her to keep a ranking as well haha.
Moonraker speaks for itself. It doesn’t need any defense or revisionist film critism to explain why it’s an amazing movie. The only thing is you have to get over that strong bias that it’s “the worst Bond film” and give it a fair chance.
The soundtrack and title song are honestly my favorite in the whole series. Infact I just ordered the CD on amazon even though it’s not the complete version.
Calling the henchmen hotline is a good example of the dry humor in the film. Same with Jaws setting off the metal detector at the airport. Or the smoker giving up smoking after seeing the coffin float under the bridge. It’s a very funny film without going too far into cringeworthy broad comedy like in OP.
“You missed Mr. Bond” “Did I? As you said such good sport.” To me, that is classic dry humor only found in Bond films and one of the main reasons I am such a fan. It doesn’t get any better than Moonraker for perfect entertainment value.
My current 10 favorite:
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Skyfall on a blu ray copy (with both director's and production crew's commentaries). I appreciate Silva more as a villain now and one of his highlights was in the courthouse; when M escapes and Bond's crew have gunned down two of his mercs, in a tantrum he randomly guns down a innocent bystander. )
'Alright guard, begin the unnecessarily slow moving dipping mechanism...'
Don't worry, rejoice . I saw it again recently and loved it, but what's funny is that it's a lot easier to pin point things you don't like about something you love, well for me at least. I think that's what happened earlier, but even after seeing all the bond films that's the one I want to go back to re-watch the most because it's so entertaining, it's so bond with Dalton's superb portrayal and it's well made (besides locations and lack of MI6 appearances). Check my signature bond rankings
Cry wolf much mate? You've gone from hating it to loving it again within a week with diatribes in about 8 different threads!
Next time perhaps I won't listen so much!! )
Funny, but I never said I hated it... I was just not as impressed and felt slightly disappointed on that viewing.
The idea that she'd be instantly attracted to a 50 year old man and make a play for him reeks of a thought process that I don't want to contemplate.
Too late. I'm already contemplating. It feels like they were holding two opposing ideas of thought at the same time. On one hand they acknowledge Bond is too old for her, but on the other they still seem to think Bond is irresistible to all women.
A similar strand of bizarre logic is found in Octopussy where Moneypenny is acknowledged as getting older, whereas Bond is still portrayed as dashing to the younger secretary. It's pretty obvious to any viewer that Roger is aging just like Lois Maxwell is aging. Infact they were both born in 1927!
My current 10 favorite:
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
I have TLD on right now, still love it but for the past several years I haven't been able to watch it without thinking of that Youtube video that edited it to make the movie look like a softcore porno about Bond and Saunders.
I think the whole Bibi thing is that she's naively attracted to older men who would be funders of her dreams as an athlete. Hence her relationship with Kristatos.
I do agree it's poorly conceived and has little use to be honest - but I don't find it as bad as others.
Comments
I like your rankings, great variation and awesome to see MR and QoS so high up.
"Better make that two."
FRWL was the very first Bond movie I watched, which was via an ABC TV broadcast in 1973 or 74 when I was around 6 or 7. From my teens, esp. after I began reading the books, it remained in my top 3 favorites along with OHMSS and YOLT. Surely you folks can relate that as a Bond nut, I’ve watched FRWL countless of times, but now as a middle-aged man I’ve realized that I can enjoy each new viewing like sampling a vintage wine (not that I’m a connoisseur).
This kind of viewing requires intentionality on my part, which meant that with much discipline I kept my cell phone and reading glasses untouched at arm’s length, lol. It sometimes literally felt that I was watching certain scenes for the first time, taking in the lush colors and interesting visuals in the sets used like the exteriors of Rosa Klebb’s office, the long shots of Istanbul and the evocative nighttime of clouds and moon during the Orient Express sequences.
Armed with the various behind-the-scenes tid-bits one picks up from various Bond books, one gets to appreciate the whats and whys that went into the production, like how Peter Hunt’s editing not only afforded us the best action scenes of the series, but how it greatly improved the pacing and sequencing of the film’s segments.
Also noteworthy is the absence of certain Bond “dream team” members that were assembled in DN, like Maurice Binder, Ken Adams, Bob Simmons in the capacity of stunt coordinator (though he supposedly did some stunts), which in turn allowed others to rise up to the challenge and contribute their own unique stamp on Bond history, such as Robert Brownjohn’s projected titles, accented with the FRWL theme with what sounds like a Wurlitzer organ!
Since YOLT was featured on the current issue of Cinema Retro magazine, that’s next on my list!
I would actually have to agree with that. A few people still suggest that the second half is superior given the volcano, but even then I can’t see it.
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Lazenby 5. Craig 6. Brosnan
Enjoyed reading this - knowing about the background makes the viewings more interesting. I'm currently doing a Seinfeld marathon with my finance and retelling some of the behind the scenes stuff to her (whether or not she finds it interesting).
I also do the same extended build up before re-watching to ensure best mood!
"Better make that two."
What can I say? It's a decent-good bond movie with quite a number of flaws, mainly to do with pacing, the plot not being overly exciting and some things that don't make too much sense. I didn't find Denise Richards as bad as people make her out to be, but she's not good either. The performances from Pierce Brosnan and supporting cast are great, R.I.P Desmond. I enjoyed the film to want to re-watch it again, it's just good. The locations are rather average and the ski sequence felt like it was slammed in for the sole purpose of seeing Bond on skis again, something we hadn't seen since A View To A Kill, 14 years prior. I definitely enjoy this film more than Tomorrow Never Dies, so my opinion after these years hasn't really changed. I would still rank it in the lower half, as many Connery and Moore films along with both Dalton films and Goldeneye are better than this in my opinion. I would also rank every Daniel Craig movie higher, with the exception of Quantum Of Solace, obviously. Decent Bond flick, but definitely near the bottom of my rankings - but still a decent film. 6/10.
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Lazenby 5. Craig 6. Brosnan
Do tell?
"Better make that two."
Hello, from me and isn't that an...interesting ranking, as it stands now. How did YOLT get on top of GF while your lower ranking clearly has it a lot lower.
Do you change your mind so often so as to have such a staggering difference in rankings or is it in accord to your current mood and changing tastes after rewatching them recently?
Good luck!
LALD manages to maintain enough level of oddity to keep the film intriguing. Plus Moore plays the Tom Mankiewicz-Bond perfectly - he's very funny and keeps that sail-on-through attitude going.
But I agree with you that the film has issues and isn't very Bondian in approach or style. Hence, my lower ranking too.
"Better make that two."
"Please be so kind as to enter the password of your choice. 6 letters or more."
"How many letters is Lick Me Frenchie?"
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Lazenby 5. Craig 6. Brosnan
Even Necros had a more impressive death, even if he got the boot was dubbed.
Whitaker has one of the worst villain deaths, but Necros has one of the best. I also love how we don't see Koskov's fate is not in the hands of Bond, but we know that Pushkin has something good in store for him.
I'm not sure Goodnight's job was ever supposed to be field agent. In the book she's Bond's personal secretary, transferred to a diplomatic position in Jamaica when Bond is presumed dead. When Bond arrives on a mission in Jamaica she volunteers to help him (mostly doing research). I was assuming her career path and motivation was basically the same in the film, she knows him and is volunteering to help even though this isn't her normal job. Difference of course is that she is competent in the book.
but yes one danger is, like me, you might start confusing the two versions of the stories ... things that are true in the books I assume to be true in the films unless explicitly explained otherwise, yet I know within the self-contained universe of the film those things aren't true at all.
all I remember of Moore and Ecklands first meeting in the film is that Moore reflexively rolls his eyes and says her name in an already annoyed tone of voice. I'm not sure we are ever told her job description, but we are told she is a silly comedy relief character who can be relied on to do klutzy things and complicate the plot through her stereotypically dumb blonde incompetence.
When Roger toughens up, Connery gets the credit. When Connery makes a campy Bond film like DAF, Roger gets the blame.
I really like what you're saying, but in this case I would say it's actually Goodnight who is the driving force for the action. She is responsible for making Bond fly to the island by getting herself locked in the boot. She also blows up the island by knocking the worker into the vat, and even nearly kills Bond by activating the solar beam with her butt. 8-)
It bothers me that he knows so little about his own solar operation. But yes, quite an effective killing machine.
I wish the solex plot would have been dropped and Scaramanga's threat was real.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
"Better make that two."
Don't worry, rejoice
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Lazenby 5. Craig 6. Brosnan
Cry wolf much mate? You've gone from hating it to loving it again within a week with diatribes in about 8 different threads!
Next time perhaps I won't listen so much!!
"Better make that two."
-{
LOL what a rollercoaster of emotions.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
What did your wife think of MR? You should require her to keep a ranking as well haha.
Moonraker speaks for itself. It doesn’t need any defense or revisionist film critism to explain why it’s an amazing movie. The only thing is you have to get over that strong bias that it’s “the worst Bond film” and give it a fair chance.
The soundtrack and title song are honestly my favorite in the whole series. Infact I just ordered the CD on amazon even though it’s not the complete version.
Calling the henchmen hotline is a good example of the dry humor in the film. Same with Jaws setting off the metal detector at the airport. Or the smoker giving up smoking after seeing the coffin float under the bridge. It’s a very funny film without going too far into cringeworthy broad comedy like in OP.
“You missed Mr. Bond” “Did I? As you said such good sport.” To me, that is classic dry humor only found in Bond films and one of the main reasons I am such a fan. It doesn’t get any better than Moonraker for perfect entertainment value.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Funny, but I never said I hated it... I was just not as impressed and felt slightly disappointed on that viewing.
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Lazenby 5. Craig 6. Brosnan
A little too easy if you ask me.
Too late. I'm already contemplating. It feels like they were holding two opposing ideas of thought at the same time. On one hand they acknowledge Bond is too old for her, but on the other they still seem to think Bond is irresistible to all women.
A similar strand of bizarre logic is found in Octopussy where Moneypenny is acknowledged as getting older, whereas Bond is still portrayed as dashing to the younger secretary. It's pretty obvious to any viewer that Roger is aging just like Lois Maxwell is aging. Infact they were both born in 1927!
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
I do agree it's poorly conceived and has little use to be honest - but I don't find it as bad as others.
"Better make that two."
Half your luck!