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.
If 007 was the hard edged assassin in the 70s and 80s, I bet my pants, that the series would be dead! Long time ago!
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Asp9mmOver the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,535MI6 Agent
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.
If 007 was the hard edged assassin in the 70s and 80s, I bet my pants, that the series would be dead! Long time ago!
And quite obviously no-one is going to take you up on that bet, as no-one in their right mind would want your pants |)
And quite obviously no-one is going to take you up on that bet, as no-one in their right mind would want your pants |)
I know at least one UK gal, who would: Sam (I hope that she exists, DD had strong doubts )
Luckily the 'Sam' that would want your pants exists only in your mind and my nightmares And lets face it, both those Sams would not look twice at a man with a daft moustache like DD's )
.................................
Hugo DraxLeeds, United Kingdom.Posts: 210MI6 Agent
Roger Moore is my favourite James Bond. Perhaps I am biased, given that I grew up watching his films. I like his suaveness, his elegance, his wit. I think he did save the franchise in the 1970s and 1980s and I have always admired the way he stepped into the role and made it his own. He didn't even try to imitate Connery and he played to his strength for humour.
Many people think that he outstayed his welcome and that he should have retired after FYEO or OP. However, the same thing can be said of Connery in relation to DAF or NSNA. Personally, I enjoyed watching Moore in AVTAK, but even Moore himself recognises that he should have stepped down earlier. However, I still think he is convincing as 007 in AVTAK.
I do find it interesting that many people do not like Moore's interpretation of Bond, considering how immensely successful his films were at the box office.
yes his films were successful, but only because he portrayed bond the right way in the right era. dalton took over as bond in the opposite direction and thats why only the dalton fans (myself included) liked his bond style.
"You're in the wrong business... leave it to the professionals!"
James Bond- Licence To Kill
I won't try to argue about the popularity of the Roger Moore Bond films. There is no arguing with box office receipts. Certainly, some of them were entertaining in their way. TSWLM, FYEO and even OP and TMWTGG had their moments. There is difference between mildly amusing films like these and truly good filmmaking. I am not so fanatical to state that every Bond film should follow the novels precisely. What I object to is when the spirit and intent of the author's work is lost. My problem with the Moore films is that they, for the most part, lost touch with Fleming. Roger Moore's Bond was an entirely different animal than the character Ian Fleming created. Putting James Bond in outer space, giving him gadgets galore and having the action explode harmlessly around him while he stands by with a twinkle in his eye and a raised eyebrow just kills the experience. I never once believed Roger Moore's Bond was in any real danger. I never once was able to suspend my disbelief with him. I never believed that he could feel real pain or anger or had any real sense of what he was doing or trying to accomplish. Moore's 007 was on a world wide romp and occassionally he would pause to kill a badguy before getting back to having fun again. That is not the Bond Fleming created and it is not the character I want to see.
Supporters of Roger Moore will probably say "Fine. Don't watch him then." And I don't. Connery and Craig, Dalton and even Pierce Brosnan brought more to the role and made Bond a more believable human being than the character Roger Moore presented us with. As someone else has already pointed out, that is not Moore's fault. He had to work with the material he was given. That is certainly true. That doesn't make it easier to like the films.
Connery's Bond was gilt edged. Dalton's Bond was hard and distant. Pierce Brosnan brought a boyish Irish Blarney to the role and Craig's performance is that of a razor, sharp and dangerous. Moore is the Bond of the ridiculous. Ian Fleming meant for his character to be many things. I really don't believe he meant for Bond to be ridiculous. -{
Roger Moore's Bond Films will always have a special place in my heart. My very first Bond was TMWTGG and I watched most of his Bonds before all the others.
I won't try to argue about the popularity of the Roger Moore Bond films. There is no arguing with box office receipts. Certainly, some of them were entertaining in their way. TSWLM, FYEO and even OP and TMWTGG had their moments. There is difference between mildly amusing films like these and truly good filmmaking. I am not so fanatical to state that every Bond film should follow the novels precisely. What I object to is when the spirit and intent of the author's work is lost. My problem with the Moore films is that they, for the most part, lost touch with Fleming. Roger Moore's Bond was an entirely different animal than the character Ian Fleming created. Putting James Bond in outer space, giving him gadgets galore and having the action explode harmlessly around him while he stands by with a twinkle in his eye and a raised eyebrow just kills the experience. I never once believed Roger Moore's Bond was in any real danger. I never once was able to suspend my disbelief with him. I never believed that he could feel real pain or anger or had any real sense of what he was doing or trying to accomplish. Moore's 007 was on a world wide romp and occassionally he would pause to kill a badguy before getting back to having fun again. That is not the Bond Fleming created and it is not the character I want to see.
Supporters of Roger Moore will probably say "Fine. Don't watch him then." And I don't. Connery and Craig, Dalton and even Pierce Brosnan brought more to the role and made Bond a more believable human being than the character Roger Moore presented us with. As someone else has already pointed out, that is not Moore's fault. He had to work with the material he was given. That is certainly true. That doesn't make it easier to like the films.
Connery's Bond was gilt edged. Dalton's Bond was hard and distant. Pierce Brosnan brought a boyish Irish Blarney to the role and Craig's performance is that of a razor, sharp and dangerous. Moore is the Bond of the ridiculous. Ian Fleming meant for his character to be many things. I really don't believe he meant for Bond to be ridiculous. -{
I agree 101%.
"You're in the wrong business... leave it to the professionals!"
James Bond- Licence To Kill
IMO, I like Roger Moore but some of his films could've been better in terms of script. My favourite films of his in particular consist of LALD, TSWLM and FYEO, although MR and FAVTAK weren't bad either and I feel the latter is highly underrated.
After Connery and even Lazenby, I just never could see Moore as Bond. He's a good actor, and great with the quips and light comedy, but I found him to be awkward in the fight scenes and never really menancing. Perhaps he was the right actor for the more humorous and gadget-focused Bond films, but for me those films just didn't work. Still, as a Bond fan, I have all of Moore's films in my collection and I do still watch them from time to time because they do contain some enjoyable elements. But they are all at the bottom of my list when I rank the James Bond films.
Moore was the worst Bond of them all! You never really felt that he could fight his way out of a situation !! it was all about the humor, of course you have to blame that on the sign of the times ! the seventies!, if you go back and look at Moore's performances now and compare them to Lazenby's one film, Lazenby was a much better Bond! the problem is that anyone who followed Connery did'nt have a snowball's chance in hell with the film goer
Here's why I like Moore as Bond, and it's the reason others don't: he brought his own personality to the role and then some. That actually made Bond as a franchise weaker, because it meant when another actor took over, you'd be more likely to lose the following.
Since then, under Babs and Mikey, they've succeeded in making Bond more iconic: the catchphrase, the Aston Martin, the tux, the martini are in every movie. Now Bond is like Superman, Spider-Man, Batman - a highly successful brand that cannot die. That's a huge achievement in marketing terms. On the other hand, I don't really feel I know Bond so much since Moore left the role. Bond is more an iconic figure than a personality with an angle.
Moores films were FUN. To paraphrase Rodger Moore I believe he's said in the past something along the line of...he was having fun with the role and wanted the audience to join in. I think he succeeds in conveying this since of fun to the audience and his films are better for it. His films were right for the time in which they were made and are still enjoyable to rewatch today.
"A blunt instrument wielded by a Government department. Hard, ruthless, sardonic, fatalistic. He likes gambling, golf, fast motor cars. All his movements are relaxed and economical". Ian Fleming
I don't think the Moore films can really be regarded as a single entity, since they're exceptionally wide-ranging in terms of style and quality (more so than for any other James Bond actor). To my mind, his films included two of the very best in the series ("For Your Eyes Only" and "Octopussy") through to the worst Bond movie of all time ("Moonraker"). Similarly, his acting is variable: more so than any other Bond, Moore tends to act up or down to the quality of his scripts. When given emotion to portray (discomfort at entering the Harlem bar in "Live And Let Die", anger when attacking Andrea in "The Man With The Golden Gun", fear when exiting the centrifuge in "Moonraker", sadness when being called away from Tracy's grave in "For Your Eyes Only"), he's normally excellent. But when delivering bad puns and participating in ludicrous action scenes, he seems to switch to autopilot and give the role about 50% of his attention.
Further to Manxman's delicate post, I would have to agree that Moore often shows deft acting touches. In addition to those above you can add:
LALD - Bond seducing Solitaire
TMWTGG - Bond meets Lazaar, dinner with Scaramanga
TSWLM - Bond tells Anya he killed her lover
FYEO - Bond and Melina at Cortina
In addition it is worth pointing out that for all the faults of Moore's films there are whole swathes of excellent stuff, not liked by all, but worth remembering:
LALD - theme song, Jane Seymour, Bond in Harlem, Baron Samedi in the graveyard, the extended boat chase
TMWTGG - Christopher Lee, the midnight boat ride in Hong Kong, MI6's secret Far East nervecentre, the sumos in the garden
TSWLM - ski jump, Barbara Bach, Lotus Esprit, Jaws, death of Sandor, Egypt, photography, special effects, the Liparus set design, the wet bike, music score, theme song, witty script, Q, the scene at Q branch, Jaws appearing out of the wardrobe
MR - parachute stunt, theme song, Corrine Clery and a whole host of babes, costumes, music score, special effects (very good for the day) fight on the cable car (looks more impressive in the cinema than TV), fight with Chang
FYEO - music score, Locque, sensible script, chase on the beach, Kristatos and Bond taped over dinner, rock climb, the "detente" ending, the parrot, film editing, direction (one of the best and definately John Glen's best)
OP - opening acroset stunt, opening clown death scene, the auction, Bond climbing around the Monsoon Palace at night
AVTAK - theme song, Grace Jones (despite being wasted)
I love Moore. He's my third favourite Bond, and was the first Bond I ever experienced. In terms of his films, I think he made one absolute masterpiece; TSWLM, which IMO remains the last absolute masterpiece and was both the fifth best Bond film of all time, as well as the greatest ever non-Connery Bond film of all time. He also made three other great film (LALD, FYEO, OP), one film which, whilst flawed, was still really good (MR), one film which was okay (TMWTGG), and one travesty (AVTAK.) If he had retired after OP, I think his legacy would have been greater.
Oh, and in terms of performance, while he wasn't perfect (unlike Connery, well he was almost perfect ), I do think he was superb. He was funny, suave, cool, was capable of the smallest and most delicate touch (such as his interaction with many of his leading ladies), and he could be tough as nails. He was also responsible for IMO the most ruthless Bond killing of all; the killing of Sandor in TSWLM.
I have an 8-month old niece ( ), and I'm looking forward to introducing her to Bond when she's old enough. Whilst I will want to show her as many Bond films as possible, the two Bond films I will first show her are GF, and TSWLM.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
I get tired of these negative posts. There's been a lot recently, and many by the same author. I know you don't like Roger Moore, or most if not all of his films, but many people do, and it's always these obvious posts with a short statement like "I think (insert subject here) sucks..." that get page after page of posts. It's neither original, controversial or even well thought out. Simply playground style taunts. ENOUGH! Stop feeding this dribble and let's have some decent threads...
Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. If you enjoy crime, espionage, action and fast-moving thrillers follow this link:
I won't try to argue about the popularity of the Roger Moore Bond films. There is no arguing with box office receipts. Certainly, some of them were entertaining in their way. TSWLM, FYEO and even OP and TMWTGG had their moments. There is difference between mildly amusing films like these and truly good filmmaking. I am not so fanatical to state that every Bond film should follow the novels precisely. What I object to is when the spirit and intent of the author's work is lost. My problem with the Moore films is that they, for the most part, lost touch with Fleming. Roger Moore's Bond was an entirely different animal than the character Ian Fleming created. Putting James Bond in outer space, giving him gadgets galore and having the action explode harmlessly around him while he stands by with a twinkle in his eye and a raised eyebrow just kills the experience. I never once believed Roger Moore's Bond was in any real danger. I never once was able to suspend my disbelief with him. I never believed that he could feel real pain or anger or had any real sense of what he was doing or trying to accomplish. Moore's 007 was on a world wide romp and occassionally he would pause to kill a badguy before getting back to having fun again. That is not the Bond Fleming created and it is not the character I want to see.
Supporters of Roger Moore will probably say "Fine. Don't watch him then." And I don't. Connery and Craig, Dalton and even Pierce Brosnan brought more to the role and made Bond a more believable human being than the character Roger Moore presented us with. As someone else has already pointed out, that is not Moore's fault. He had to work with the material he was given. That is certainly true. That doesn't make it easier to like the films.
Connery's Bond was gilt edged. Dalton's Bond was hard and distant. Pierce Brosnan brought a boyish Irish Blarney to the role and Craig's performance is that of a razor, sharp and dangerous. Moore is the Bond of the ridiculous. Ian Fleming meant for his character to be many things. I really don't believe he meant for Bond to be ridiculous. -{
If he had retired after OP, I think his legacy would have been greater.
That's about spot on Dan ( IMO ) AVTAK was such a poor movie it would suck whether it had SC, PB, GL, RM, TD or DC, & it would drag down any of thier canons
hell maybe the pnly one who could have improved such a jokey piece of cinema was Niven c. 1967.....
If he had retired after OP, I think his legacy would have been greater.
One film earlier would have been better, OP is uneven, beyond silly.....FYEO while flawed would have at least left the man with a shred of dignity and the chance to go out on top. Although come to think of it MR might have been best, since that film summed up his Bond perfectly )
If he had retired after OP, I think his legacy would have been greater.
That's about spot on Dan ( IMO ) AVTAK was such a poor movie it would suck whether it had SC, PB, GL, RM, TD or DC, & it would drag down any of thier canons
hell maybe the pnly one who could have improved such a jokey piece of cinema was Niven c. 1967.....
{[] I completely agree. Although I do wonder whether or Brosnan could have improved it (as I do think that Moore was too old.)
If he had retired after OP, I think his legacy would have been greater.
One film earlier would have been better, OP is uneven, beyond silly.....FYEO while flawed would have at least left the man with a shred of dignity and the chance to go out on top. Although come to think of it MR might have been best, since that film summed up his Bond perfectly )
No, I loved OP. I think that OP serves as a test for whether or not one likes Moore; if one does, then one will probably love OP; those who don't like OP probably aren't big fans of Moore generally.
As I said, I love OP. I think it's thrilling, funny, has great dialogue, has a terrific Bond girl, has an impressive performance from Moore, has really good action scenes and is just a really fun film. It's my second favourite 80's Bond film (after FYEO), which frankly doesn't say alot as the 80's is my *least favourite Bondian decade (thanks to AVTAK, TLD and LTK), however I do love OP and I think it would have been a brilliant way for Moore to end his tenure.
*The 2000's are challenging the 80's for the title of my least favourite decade, partly due to DAD (and to a lesser extent) CR, but mainly due to QOS, my least favourite Bond film.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
To be honest, I can't be the only one here who wishes Sir Rog had stayed on for two more movies: TLD and LTK.
This would have had the benefit of him palling up with Q on the last one, making it more an old boy's adventure, like that heist film with Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster in the 1980s. Classy stuff, but you can only dream.
Think of all the jokes in TLD that got missed, all the stuff about that thing between Kara's legs that needs plucking...
To be honest, I can't be the only one here who wishes Sir Rog had stayed on for two more movies: TLD and LTK.
As much as I admire Sir Roger, I'm not sure if he would have been suitable for TLD and LTK. I think that Brosnan should have been hired for both films (as well as AVTAK), and I think they should have employed better screenwriters.
Think of all the jokes in TLD that got missed, all the stuff about that thing between Kara's legs that needs plucking...
) That gave me a real shock. )
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
Now picture the scene in LTK. A fleet of supertankers swanning down the Mexican roads as part of Sanchez's unstoppable drug deal. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a loose zimmer frame on wheels scuttles out in front of the first one; it swerves to avoid and tips up. Suddenly a multi-tanker pile up of catrastrophic proportions and a mammoth fireball ensues. Cut to the wrinkley Sir Rog puffing on a Cuban. "Now that's what I call a zimmer flame..." {[]
Now picture the scene in LTK. A fleet of supertankers swanning down the Mexican roads as part of Sanchez's unstoppable drug deal. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a loose zimmer frame on wheels scuttles out in front of the first one; it swerves to avoid and tips up. Suddenly a multi-tanker pile up of catrastrophic proportions and a mammoth fireball ensues. Cut to the wrinkley Sir Rog puffing on a Cuban. "Now that's what I call a zimmer flame..." {[]
I'm tearing up just thinking about it.
Napoleon, are you starting to dig your own grave????
Man, that was an old joke before it started....
I almost heard the tumble weeds a-coming....
Comments
If 007 was the hard edged assassin in the 70s and 80s, I bet my pants, that the series would be dead! Long time ago!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
And quite obviously no-one is going to take you up on that bet, as no-one in their right mind would want your pants
I know at least one UK gal, who would: Sam
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Luckily the 'Sam' that would want your pants exists only in your mind and my nightmares
Many people think that he outstayed his welcome and that he should have retired after FYEO or OP. However, the same thing can be said of Connery in relation to DAF or NSNA. Personally, I enjoyed watching Moore in AVTAK, but even Moore himself recognises that he should have stepped down earlier. However, I still think he is convincing as 007 in AVTAK.
I do find it interesting that many people do not like Moore's interpretation of Bond, considering how immensely successful his films were at the box office.
James Bond- Licence To Kill
Supporters of Roger Moore will probably say "Fine. Don't watch him then." And I don't. Connery and Craig, Dalton and even Pierce Brosnan brought more to the role and made Bond a more believable human being than the character Roger Moore presented us with. As someone else has already pointed out, that is not Moore's fault. He had to work with the material he was given. That is certainly true. That doesn't make it easier to like the films.
Connery's Bond was gilt edged. Dalton's Bond was hard and distant. Pierce Brosnan brought a boyish Irish Blarney to the role and Craig's performance is that of a razor, sharp and dangerous. Moore is the Bond of the ridiculous. Ian Fleming meant for his character to be many things. I really don't believe he meant for Bond to be ridiculous. -{
I especially love his encounters with Jaws.
I agree 101%.
James Bond- Licence To Kill
Since then, under Babs and Mikey, they've succeeded in making Bond more iconic: the catchphrase, the Aston Martin, the tux, the martini are in every movie. Now Bond is like Superman, Spider-Man, Batman - a highly successful brand that cannot die. That's a huge achievement in marketing terms. On the other hand, I don't really feel I know Bond so much since Moore left the role. Bond is more an iconic figure than a personality with an angle.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
The seventies and eighties might have been loud, dumb, ignorant and insensitive. But they were also awesome.
LALD - Bond seducing Solitaire
TMWTGG - Bond meets Lazaar, dinner with Scaramanga
TSWLM - Bond tells Anya he killed her lover
FYEO - Bond and Melina at Cortina
In addition it is worth pointing out that for all the faults of Moore's films there are whole swathes of excellent stuff, not liked by all, but worth remembering:
LALD - theme song, Jane Seymour, Bond in Harlem, Baron Samedi in the graveyard, the extended boat chase
TMWTGG - Christopher Lee, the midnight boat ride in Hong Kong, MI6's secret Far East nervecentre, the sumos in the garden
TSWLM - ski jump, Barbara Bach, Lotus Esprit, Jaws, death of Sandor, Egypt, photography, special effects, the Liparus set design, the wet bike, music score, theme song, witty script, Q, the scene at Q branch, Jaws appearing out of the wardrobe
MR - parachute stunt, theme song, Corrine Clery and a whole host of babes, costumes, music score, special effects (very good for the day) fight on the cable car (looks more impressive in the cinema than TV), fight with Chang
FYEO - music score, Locque, sensible script, chase on the beach, Kristatos and Bond taped over dinner, rock climb, the "detente" ending, the parrot, film editing, direction (one of the best and definately John Glen's best)
OP - opening acroset stunt, opening clown death scene, the auction, Bond climbing around the Monsoon Palace at night
AVTAK - theme song, Grace Jones (despite being wasted)
Oh, and in terms of performance, while he wasn't perfect (unlike Connery, well he was almost perfect
I have an 8-month old niece (
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
http://apbateman.com
That's about spot on Dan ( IMO ) AVTAK was such a poor movie it would suck whether it had SC, PB, GL, RM, TD or DC, & it would drag down any of thier canons
hell maybe the pnly one who could have improved such a jokey piece of cinema was Niven c. 1967.....
No, I loved OP.
As I said, I love OP. I think it's thrilling, funny, has great dialogue, has a terrific Bond girl, has an impressive performance from Moore, has really good action scenes and is just a really fun film. It's my second favourite 80's Bond film (after FYEO), which frankly doesn't say alot as the 80's is my *least favourite Bondian decade (thanks to AVTAK, TLD and LTK), however I do love OP and I think it would have been a brilliant way for Moore to end his tenure.
*The 2000's are challenging the 80's for the title of my least favourite decade, partly due to DAD (and to a lesser extent) CR, but mainly due to QOS, my least favourite Bond film.
This would have had the benefit of him palling up with Q on the last one, making it more an old boy's adventure, like that heist film with Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster in the 1980s. Classy stuff, but you can only dream.
Think of all the jokes in TLD that got missed, all the stuff about that thing between Kara's legs that needs plucking...
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Now picture the scene in LTK. A fleet of supertankers swanning down the Mexican roads as part of Sanchez's unstoppable drug deal. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a loose zimmer frame on wheels scuttles out in front of the first one; it swerves to avoid and tips up. Suddenly a multi-tanker pile up of catrastrophic proportions and a mammoth fireball ensues. Cut to the wrinkley Sir Rog puffing on a Cuban. "Now that's what I call a zimmer flame..." {[]
I'm tearing up just thinking about it.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Napoleon, are you starting to dig your own grave????
Man, that was an old joke before it started....
I almost heard the tumble weeds a-coming....