James Bond movies; that fine line between Derek Flint & Jack Ryan...

chrisisall · November 2012

...or Austin Powers & George Smiley at the absolute extremes, but the Flint / Ryan parameters tighten my focus here a bit.

Bond needs to be played straight, no matter the absurdity surrounding him. But the absurdity must not be TOO absurd, lest we lose the ability to care what happens as we know that we're watching a cartoon, however, LACK of any absurdity would mean we are simply watching a generic thriller or run-of-the-mill espionage flick.
In my humble estimation, FRWL & QOS have been the ones hovering a little too close to 'realism', whereas MR & DAD were the ones flat out attempting to out-Flint Flint.

These are my picks for the Bond movies with the most successful balance on this cinematic high wire I've defined here:

Dr. No
Thunderball
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
The Living Daylights
Licence To Kill
Goldeneye

AND, I've not seen Skyfall yet, but from what I've heard, it would be included on my list.

Thoughts on this? Flames? Additions/subtractions?

NeverSayDie · November 2012

Nothing wrong with Austin Powers.
I am Austin Powers

www.Facebook.com/AustinPowersUKLookalike

Watch Skyfall perfect balance of humour and drama.

chrisisall · November 2012

NeverSayDie wrote:

Nothing wrong with Austin Powers.

Never said there was. Or Flint either, but Bond should not BE them IMO.

)

bailorg · November 2012

I think For Your Eyes Only also has that balance.

FWIW, I thought plot-wise Skyfall was rather on the absurd side of things.

chrisisall · November 2012

bailorg wrote:

I think For Your Eyes Only also has that balance.

Even with Bibi?

)

FWIW, I thought plot-wise Skyfall was rather on the absurd side of things.

Really? Would you say CR was closer to the balance?

bailorg · November 2012

chrisisall wrote:

bailorg wrote:

I think For Your Eyes Only also has that balance.

Even with Bibi? )

FWIW, I thought plot-wise Skyfall was rather on the absurd side of things.

Really? Would you say CR was closer to the balance?

My problem with Bibi isn't so much that she is too young, but that Moore was too old.

Yes, I think CR has a better balance. I'd almost argue that Skyfall belongs in that category of "you have to turn your brain off and try to sit back and enjoy it" type of movies.

Colonel Shatner · December 2012

The Spy Who Loved Me, Goldfinger, and You Only Live Twice are the best Bond movies in "Derek Flint" territory, while From Russia With Love, Licence to Kill, For Your Eyes Only, and Casino Royale are the best amongst the relatively grounded "Jack Ryan" style Bond movies. GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Octopussy, and Dr. No, on hindsight, have the best allround balance in grittiness and silliness.

Blackleiter · December 2012

Goldfinger has the perfect balance for me.

chrisisall · December 2012

Colonel Shatner wrote:

GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Octopussy, and Dr. No, on hindsight, have the best allround balance in grittiness and silliness.

Strange, I'd see DN as being fairly grounded with very little OTT to it.

Colonel Shatner · December 2012

First half of Dr. No is grounded and more like a detective story, but then it grows more weird and sci-fi when Bond goes deeper and deeper into the Crab Key island fortress (though without going completely barmy the wrong way in the second half like Die Another Die did).

osris · December 2012

chrisisall wrote:

...or Austin Powers & George Smiley at the absolute extremes, but the Flint / Ryan parameters tighten my focus here a bit.

Bond needs to be played straight, no matter the absurdity surrounding him. But the absurdity must not be TOO absurd, lest we lose the ability to care what happens as we know that we're watching a cartoon, however, LACK of any absurdity would mean we are simply watching a generic thriller or run-of-the-mill espionage flick.
In my humble estimation, FRWL & QOS have been the ones hovering a little too close to 'realism', whereas MR & DAD were the ones flat out attempting to out-Flint Flint.

These are my picks for the Bond movies with the most successful balance on this cinematic high wire I've defined here:

Dr. No
Thunderball
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
The Living Daylights
Licence To Kill
Goldeneye

AND, I've not seen Skyfall yet, but from what I've heard, it would be included on my list.

Thoughts on this? Flames? Additions/subtractions?

I agree with your take on those films.

James Bond movies; that fine line between Derek Flint & Jack Ryan...

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