What do you think of Moore's Bond films?

JimmyBond0129 · February 2009

I think most of Roger Moore's Bond films stunk except for The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only.

Railer 505 · February 2009

They were mostly good actually though I felt by his last couple films (Octopussy and AVTAK) he was getting too old. Moonraker was quite good in the pre-title and especially the finale in space but the rest of it was kind of mediocre.

heartbroken_mr_drax · February 2009

Probably my least favourite Moore film is LALD, I just hate it.

Otherwise I would say that TSWLM and FYEO are his best, and shows he doesnt just have to be lighthearted.

I find OP a good Bond, consistantly fun to watch, and all out a great flick. AVTAK is alright, MWTGG is funny, and MR is pretty damn cool and a special Bond.

Interestingly and sorry to the SC fanataics, I rate Moores Bonds higher than Sean Connerys.

Sweepy the Cat · February 2009

heartbroken_mr_drax wrote:

Probably my least favourite Moore film is LALD, I just hate it.

Otherwise I would say that TSWLM and FYEO are his best, and shows he doesnt just have to be lighthearted.

I find OP a good Bond, consistantly fun to watch, and all out a great flick. AVTAK is alright, MWTGG is funny, and MR is pretty damn cool and a special Bond.

Interestingly and sorry to the SC fanataics, I rate Moores Bonds higher than Sean Connerys.

So you basically like all of RM's except for LALD

Brosnan_fan · February 2009

Moore was Bond when I was born, and TSWLM was the first Bond I saw in the cinema.

In general, I like the majority of his Bonds - LALD, OP, TSWLM, FYEO and even the much-panned MR. TMWTGG, I felt, was mediocre at best, and the less said about AVTAK the better.

TonyDP · February 2009

I like the majority of Roger Moore's films and he was definitely a good fit for the character given the changing attitudes during the 70s and 80s.

LALD and TMWTGG are both fun entries in my book and Roger has more of an edge to him, even roughing up the girls when necessary. TSWLM is my favorite Bond movie and the quintessential formula film. Roger is in top form and strikes a perfect balance between toughness and humor. MR has its share lapses into the absurd but you really can't blame Roger. He starts to get a bit long in the tooth by FYEO and OP yet still manages to put on a good show. AVTAK is the only real misfire for me as he's clearly too old to be a believable action hero and the story presented does him no favors.

By the time Moore had arrived on the Bond scene, the attitudes and conventions of the Connery films simply didn't fit the times anymore. Audiences seemed to want escapist fare with a lighter tone and more spectacle. The role of the Bond girl also took a fundamental shift, parading out a seemingly never-ending line of "equals" for Bond to have to deal with. No matter how far out the situations got in his movies, Roger Moore almost always provided the necessary star power and a solid anchor for the action - qualities that other actors of the time would have been hard-pressed to emulate successfully. He shepherded the character thru some turbulent times when the definition of the cinematic action hero was very much in flux and all Bond fans should be in his debt for that.

Barry Nelson · February 2009

Tony is 100% correct, Moore's Bond films were appropriate for the era in which they were filmed. Audiences wanted more light hearted fair and Moore's Bond delivered. I have always felt his films are unfairly criticized for being too light weight and not more serious. The fact that all his films did relatively well at the box office tells you audiences enjoyed the film. TSWLM is the best and I have always enjoyed TMWTGG, I realize I am in the minority there, but I thought the movie was fun with a good villian and beautiful female co-stars. Yes, he was too old for AVTAK, but don't blame him, blame the producers. One last point on Roger, he never went through the motions playing Bond, he always delivered a good performance and always promoted the films as well as anyone.

Loeffelholz · February 2009

Roger Moore's James Bond films were incredibly popular, and thus very successful at the box office. He had some excellent and classic moments in the role.

It can be legitimately argued that he saved the James Bond film franchise from extinction. He is a world-class humanitarian, a true gentlemen, has a remarkable sense of humour, and was---by all accounts---a joy to work with on set. In my mother's opinion

, he was the most handsome of all actors ever to wear the tux :007)

For these things, and mo(o)re, I salute him -{ ...and drink to his long life and good health.*

* _{He was, in addition, my least favourite Bond actor...which changes none of the above.}

heartbroken_mr_drax · February 2009

Sweepy the Cat wrote:

heartbroken_mr_drax wrote:

Probably my least favourite Moore film is LALD, I just hate it.

Otherwise I would say that TSWLM and FYEO are his best, and shows he doesnt just have to be lighthearted.

I find OP a good Bond, consistantly fun to watch, and all out a great flick. AVTAK is alright, MWTGG is funny, and MR is pretty damn cool and a special Bond.

Interestingly and sorry to the SC fanataics, I rate Moores Bonds higher than Sean Connerys.

So you basically like all of RM's except for LALD

Yes, but as I described I find some better than others. Is that alright?

Mailfist · February 2009

Of all the actors RM is the one I would most like to go for a pint with but unfortunately he is my least favourite Bond. The movies during the RM ear had the potential to be so much better but in a lot of cases were spoiled by the stupid humour. Not RMs fault - blame the producers.

LALD - enjoyable movie but let down for me by the non-event way in which RM was introduced and the stupid way in which Kananga was killed. Also totally wasted the New Orleans locations.

TMWTGG - had the potential to be a great movie. Could have been the 'duel of titans' promised by Scaramanga, but turned out to be a damp squib. Spoiled by:

- Christopher Lee not being allowed to play Scaramanga more villainous.
- Mary Goodnight being protrayed as a blond bimbo rahter than a compotent member of MI6
- The return of J W Pepper
- The cringeworthy fight with Nic Nac at the end.

TSWLM - one of my favourite Bond movies. OTT Bond at its best.

MR - Worst Bond movie ever made.

FYEO - Another one of my favourite Bond movies because it cleverly uses two Fleming short stories and seemlessly works them into the film story line. RM allowed to be more Bondian when he kills Loque, even if he didn't want to be. Spoiled a bit by the opening and closing sequence - the dire 'I'll buy you a deli in stainless steel' line, and Margaret and Dennis Thatcher.

OP - could have been a great tense cold war thriller if again not for the stupid humour.

AVTAK - Rog too old, plot by numbers and Grace Jones totally thrown away as a great henchperson.

I agree that the movies probably needed to lighten up for the 70s but they just didn't seem to know where to stop in some places.

Sweepy the Cat · February 2009

Mailfist wrote:

LALD - enjoyable movie but let down for me by the non-event way in which RM was introduced and the stupid way in which Kananga was killed. Also totally wasted the New Orleans locations.

RM was intoduced doing what he does best, in bed with an Italian bird.

Mailfist wrote:

TMWTGG - had the potential to be a great movie. Could have been the 'duel of titans' promised by Scaramanga, but turned out to be a damp squib. Spoiled by:

- Christopher Lee not being allowed to play Scaramanga more villainous.
- Mary Goodnight being protrayed as a blond bimbo rahter than a compotent member of MI6
- The return of J W Pepper
- The cringeworthy fight with Nic Nac at the end.

I thought Christopher was a classic Bond villain. Especially in the 'dinner' scene. So what if Goodnight was a dumb blonde, we don't want a load of Junx's & Wai Lin's now do we? Sherriff JW Pepper was a funny character IMO and I don't know what people have against him. Also, the fight with Nic Nac at the end was hilarious.

Mailfist wrote:

TSWLM - one of my favourite Bond movies. OTT Bond at its best.

Probably in my top 10 but overrated IMO.

Mailfist wrote:

MR - Worst Bond movie ever made.

You mean DAD right

Mailfist wrote:

FYEO - Another one of my favourite Bond movies because it cleverly uses two Fleming short stories and seemlessly works them into the film story line. RM allowed to be more Bondian when he kills Loque, even if he didn't want to be. Spoiled a bit by the opening and closing sequence - the dire 'I'll buy you a deli in stainless steel' line, and Margaret and Dennis Thatcher.

I agree with you there.

Mailfist wrote:

OP - could have been a great tense cold war thriller if again not for the stupid humour.

Ditto.

Mailfist wrote:

AVTAK - Rog too old, plot by numbers and Grace Jones totally thrown away as a great henchperson.

A henchperson, very PC

As much as RM souldn't have gone to bed with her, she played a very interesting villain. Once again I agree with you about RM's age (Actually he was probably too old for FYEO & OP)

Napoleon Plural · February 2009

Aside from Sean's golden three - the first three films - are his movies so different to Moore's?

DAF/LALD - similar in tone, if anything LALD you can take more seriously.
TMWTGG/NSNA - both pretty poor
YOLT/TSWLM - similar films, but the pts and song are better on Moore's. Not much in it.
TB/MR/FYEO - oh I dunno!

I suppose I am saying that's it's a myth that the Connery films were always a different beast to the Moore movies.

Dan Same · February 2009

TonyDP wrote:

I like the majority of Roger Moore's films and he was definitely a good fit for the character given the changing attitudes during the 70s and 80s.

LALD and TMWTGG are both fun entries in my book and Roger has more of an edge to him, even roughing up the girls when necessary. TSWLM is my favorite Bond movie and the quintessential formula film. Roger is in top form and strikes a perfect balance between toughness and humor. MR has its share lapses into the absurd but you really can't blame Roger. He starts to get a bit long in the tooth by FYEO and OP yet still manages to put on a good show. AVTAK is the only real misfire for me as he's clearly too old to be a believable action hero and the story presented does him no favors.

By the time Moore had arrived on the Bond scene, the attitudes and conventions of the Connery films simply didn't fit the times anymore. Audiences seemed to want escapist fare with a lighter tone and more spectacle. The role of the Bond girl also took a fundamental shift, parading out a seemingly never-ending line of "equals" for Bond to have to deal with. No matter how far out the situations got in his movies, Roger Moore almost always provided the necessary star power and a solid anchor for the action - qualities that other actors of the time would have been hard-pressed to emulate successfully. He shepherded the character thru some turbulent times when the definition of the cinematic action hero was very much in flux and all Bond fans should be in his debt for that.

Barry Nelson wrote:

Tony is 100% correct, Moore's Bond films were appropriate for the era in which they were filmed. Audiences wanted more light hearted fair and Moore's Bond delivered. I have always felt his films are unfairly criticized for being too light weight and not more serious. The fact that all his films did relatively well at the box office tells you audiences enjoyed the film. TSWLM is the best and I have always enjoyed TMWTGG, I realize I am in the minority there, but I thought the movie was fun with a good villian and beautiful female co-stars. Yes, he was too old for AVTAK, but don't blame him, blame the producers. One last point on Roger, he never went through the motions playing Bond, he always delivered a good performance and always promoted the films as well as anyone.

I agree with both Tony and Barry completely. {[] I just wanted to quote them as I don't think I could have said it better myself.

Dan Same · February 2009

Mailfist wrote:

FYEO -....RM allowed to be more Bondian when he kills Loque, even if he didn't want to be.

He was only more Bondian in this scene if one accepts the premise that ruthlessness is the only determination of a Bond being Bondian.

That said, I actually think that Moore was an extremely ruthless Bond who was responsible for arguably the most ruthless killing of all; that of Sandor in TSWLM. Everybody singles out the killing of Dent, but Dent arguably posed a greater threat to Bond than Sandor, and the dropping of Sandor off the top of a building (or letting him go) strikes me as a much more vicious killing than simply shooting someone.

Thunderpussy · February 2009

I grew up watching Roger Moore, and as a teen loved him as Bond, His weakest film was TMWTGG
and i think he stayed a little too long in the role.
but he kept the series going.
They say you should never meet your heros but i think you would not be disapointed if you met Roger Moore,

Mailfist · February 2009

Sweepy the Cat wrote:

Mailfist wrote:

LALD - enjoyable movie but let down for me by the non-event way in which RM was introduced and the stupid way in which Kananga was killed. Also totally wasted the New Orleans locations.

RM was intoduced doing what he does best, in bed with an Italian bird.

Can't argue with that. I can think of worse ways to start the day than waking up next to Madeleine Smith. Just thought it was a bit of a lacklustre introduction for a new Bond compared to the other actors. Also never realy bought M coming to see Bond rather than the other way round.

Mailfist wrote:

TMWTGG - had the potential to be a great movie. Could have been the 'duel of titans' promised by Scaramanga, but turned out to be a damp squib. Spoiled by:

- Christopher Lee not being allowed to play Scaramanga more villainous.
- Mary Goodnight being protrayed as a blond bimbo rahter than a compotent member of MI6
- The return of J W Pepper
- The cringeworthy fight with Nic Nac at the end.

I thought Christopher was a classic Bond villain. Especially in the 'dinner' scene. So what if Goodnight was a dumb blonde, we don't want a load of Junx's & Wai Lin's now do we? Sherriff JW Pepper was a funny character IMO and I don't know what people have against him. Also, the fight with Nic Nac at the end was hilarious.

I realy like CL as a villian just thought that he was not allowed to exude enough menace. When Bond fought Oddjob you knew he was going to win, but there was a real potential threat. There was none with Scaramanga.

J W Pepper was a one trick pony - worked in Louisiana but not in Bangkok.

I didn't mean that Mary Goodnight should be a 00 equivilant, but she should not have been someone with an IQ that barely reached double figures, and who stuck her arse on any button which said do not push. She was more of a threat to Bond's safety than Scaramanga.

I found the fight with Nic Nac embarassing.

Mailfist wrote:

TSWLM - one of my favourite Bond movies. OTT Bond at its best.

Probably in my top 10 but overrated IMO.

Mailfist wrote:

MR - Worst Bond movie ever made.

You mean DAD right

Not a major fan of DAD either but it is Citizen Kane compared to MR IMO.

Mailfist wrote:

FYEO - Another one of my favourite Bond movies because it cleverly uses two Fleming short stories and seemlessly works them into the film story line. RM allowed to be more Bondian when he kills Loque, even if he didn't want to be. Spoiled a bit by the opening and closing sequence - the dire 'I'll buy you a deli in stainless steel' line, and Margaret and Dennis Thatcher.

I agree with you there.

Mailfist wrote:

OP - could have been a great tense cold war thriller if again not for the stupid humour.

Ditto.

Mailfist wrote:

AVTAK - Rog too old, plot by numbers and Grace Jones totally thrown away as a great henchperson.

A henchperson, very PC As much as RM souldn't have gone to bed with her, she played a very interesting villain. Once again I agree with you about RM's age (Actually he was probably too old for FYEO & OP)

Think you are right. He got away with it in FYEO, just about got away with it in OP but was definitely Bus Pass Bond in AVTAK. I would like to have seen Dalton take over for FYEO - would have suited his style.

Alex · February 2009

Everybody's discussing Moore lately. He's the "least favorite Bond," yet his name rakes up the most topics. Hmmm ....

You fellas are hooked and don't even know it

)

No apologetic closet fan here. He's my second favorite :007)

Loeffelholz · February 2009

Well, he and his films have certainly garnered more 'defence threads' than any others!

jorgem · February 2009

Roger Moore is the most promiscuous Bond ever. He's more a playboy Bond than Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan.

Roger Moore's Bond 'banged' every woman in every film. He had sex in space (MR), in the bedroom, in the escape pod (TSWLM), and in the shower (AVTAK).

The "Oh, James!" quote is heard in almost every Bond film.

chrisno1 · February 2009

I am not a big fan of Roger Moore, however he certainly sustained the franchise well from 1973 - 1981, but over stayed his welcome for OP and AVTAK.

My main issue with his films is the constant feeling of missed potential; they all look nice, have great locations, great characters (in general), great ideas (in the main), good stars, good effects and stunts, but with the exception of TSWLM and FYEO, none of them deliver the goods in the same way that Connery's 1960's films do.

There is always something wrong, be it the music, the script, the acting, the directing, etc etc

That said I always felt Moore's playboy attitude was in line with Fleming's ideas on Bond and I don't miss the "ruthless" aspects of Connery. I also feel Moore had the potential to play a darker Bond, and when he does he's very effective. He also handles some of the intimate scenes well and his lighter comic touch was a breath of air which matched his fresher surroundings.

While I have major doubts over 4 of his outings, I am in complete agreement with those who enjoy TSWLM and FYEO, which are great examples of 007. For sentimental reasons, I am very fond of MR, although I recognise it's flaws. For me, it's probably the most fun of all the Bond films, but I appreciate it doesn't do the series much justice to Bond as a whole.

In comparison to TD and PB, I do feel Moore has a significant edge: he accepts the silliness of everything that's going on around him and doesn't take it too seriously. Daniel Craig... learn your lesson quickly!

Mailfist · February 2009

chrisno1 wrote:

I am not a big fan of Roger Moore, however he certainly sustained the franchise well from 1973 - 1981, but over stayed his welcome for OP and AVTAK.

My main issue with his films is the constant feeling of missed potential; they all look nice, have great locations, great characters (in general), great ideas (in the main), good stars, good effects and stunts, but with the exception
of TSWLM and FYEO, none of them deliver the goods in the same way that Connery's 1960's films do.

There is always something wrong, be it the music, the script, the acting, the directing, etc etc

Couldn't have put it better myself. TMWTGG, MR, OP nad AVTAK all had the potential to be great Bond movies, but they were spoiled by the slapstick humour replacing the dry humour of the SC era, and the producers not knowing when to stop with the excesses.

Grishenkojr · February 2009

I like Roger Moore...more or less. His films are often amongst my favourite and least favourite Bond films.

Good:
TSWLM
LALD
VTAK (yes, I really like this one...controversial as it may be)

Not as good (but still enjoyable):
OP
MR
FYEO (Again, controversial choice.)

Tobias · March 2009

I liked Roger as James Bond i prefered him to Tim Dalton.Dalton is a good actor but made the role too serious

dr. evan-gelist · July 2009

moore is the sugardaddy bond.....

thesecretagent · July 2009

They were alright. Completely of their time. Don't forget, popular films of the time were Smokey and the Bandit and The Cannonball Run! So Moore's visual gags were entirely within the parameters of the acceptable!
I'm not a fan of Moonraker, but I'll certainly watch the others and enjoy most of what I watch. The trouble is that by the time Moore was halfway through his tenure, he was simply too old to be James Bond. And by the time AVTAK came along, he was being judged too harshly for simply hanging on too long.

j.blades · July 2009

i just saw fyeo last night and i must say what a fun movie. also people always slam him for the clothes he wore, but it wasnt his fault it was the time frame that hiis movies cameout, remeber bond is always in the present. all in all really witty, and very cultured bond, which is really an aspect which was never played before to an extent.

spy009 · August 2009

I think they were fine for its time,the worse AVTAK,but looking back there were to many silly things used in the movies,Moonraker was'nt bad until they went into space then it became Buck Rogers..

Mr. Arlington Beech · August 2009

i feel that Moore was the bond at the very absolute height of the slapstick stupid of the series. Case in point - The man with teh golden gun

J.W. pepper

and not only that, they brought him back for TMWTGG

also, awesome, AWESOME car barrel roll jump that was completely ruined by a slide whistle.

Mary Goodhead is completely unbelievable as an MI6 agent. she's just a bimbo.

and dont' forget

IMAGE REMOVED. Sorry, but we're not allowed to host EON-owned images on this site. HB

of course that's octopussy, but whatever

that being said, i still love all of these

walther p99 · August 2009

Moore is my least favorite Bond and with the exception of one scene in FYEO, i cant see him as James Bond, hes just way to silly and frail to be the worlds most badass secret agent.

Infernorhythm · August 2009

Moore suffered from some bad scripts more than anything. Yes he played Bond more as a consummate English playboy and not so much the hard edged assassin of the novels, but it worked when done right. He had some really good moments where he dropped the comedy and took a darker edge (FYEO definitely, one of the better Bond films). I feel if he had had a better director and stronger scripts he could have been one of the best.

hegottheboot · August 2009

"Unless the Bottoms up is a strip club and Scaramanga is performing there tonight."
I grew up with RM as 007 (LALD was my first Bond). His take on the character was a more refined look at how this man would cope with his job. TSWLM is the best "bond as a superman" RM did. Yet here and in MR his Bond takes on a worldly sense.
It is really OP and AVTAK that killed RM's name to fans. Yes he was getting old, but the main problem was the scripts that he was having to work from.
LALD-more realistic Bond, fitting for the times (1973). With bits of humor thrown in. 9/10
TMWTGG-harder portrayal, the humor is more witty and overall a step up. "I am now precisely aiming at your groin. So speak now or forever hold your peace." 7/10
TSWLM-loss of hard edge allows for more aware character especially contending with xxx. best scenes:Cairo especially with Sandor. 10/10
MR-Same as TSWLM but with more humor and expertise. Surrounding plot makes him seem cartoonish, but once past that it is a good performance. 7/10
FYEO-last great RM Bond, looks older and wiser plays everything with an edge of knowing. 8/10
OP-silly to the point of insanity. Moore becomes a pastiche of his past performances, because he had to follow the insane script. 3/10
AVTAK-Bond and Zorin should have had more confrontation and the banter with RM and Patrick Macnee is priceless. With that said the budget cuts severely hurt this film and it may have been time to hand over the reigns. Not beyond terrible, but lacks any sort of real spark (at least DAF has some, but I still rank it at the bottom.). Pretty much a guilty pleasure. 2/10

What do you think of Moore's Bond films?

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