What Bond Film Do You Defend The Most?
MooseWithFleas
Philadelphia, PAPosts: 754MI6 Agent
Do you have a Bond film that many of your friends give you flack about liking?
For me it's Moonraker. Double-Taking Pigeon be damned, I love this movie and you can't convince me otherwise! It's too visually impressive, with incredible stunts, the return of JAWS, Moore at the top of his game during his Bond run, and a very underrated villain to be considered so low like it is on many's lists.
So what film do you defend the most?
For me it's Moonraker. Double-Taking Pigeon be damned, I love this movie and you can't convince me otherwise! It's too visually impressive, with incredible stunts, the return of JAWS, Moore at the top of his game during his Bond run, and a very underrated villain to be considered so low like it is on many's lists.
So what film do you defend the most?
Comments
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I seem to wind up defending TND & QOS quite a bit as well... X-(
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I guess its easy for me to embrace these films because I am a bona fide Sci Fi fan. Ok, both films push the envelope of what Bond can do, but we are no talking Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Bond takes time to relax and be fun and these films (along with YOLT) do so on a big scale. Though admittedly, I didn't get that with DAD when it was released. Plus Sir Sean, Sir Roger and Mr Brosnan give damned good performances.
I suppose the wow factor of Spectre's volcano, Drax's space station and space shuttle fleet, and Graves Ice space add to this too. I could not believe the Ice Palace miniature when I saw it in front of me in London. Visual spectacle that does match the best of Star Trek or Star Wars in the detail and creativity, and done with miniatures too. One thing Trek and SWars has lacked is physicality. Even with a lot of CGI, Bond has not forgotten the physicality of miniatures and its set pieces.
I think the other thing is as QoS and Skyfall have proved, there is no such thing as a perfect or stand alone Bond film. All of them have strengths and weaknesses, and the series has subtle evolution from Dr No to SF. Only NSNA and CR-67 break that pattern because they broke the rules, prob in part because they were in competition with the official series . One tried to be a good parody, but is mearly insane. the other suffered a weak budget that shows, twee characters dated tech, fashion ideas and graphics and (sorry Sir Sean) a Bond starting to slow down.
I can enjoy QoS now, but it is still tough going. Chris, why do you have to defend TND? What do folk say about it?
I think TND is one of the best Bond movies ever. Brosnan owns the role, David Arnold goes all out to show that he's the right choice to succeed John Barry, and Jonathan Pryce chews the scenery as well as any Bond villain before or after. Sure, there are a few flaws but no Bond film is free from them. Some wonderful dialogue ("What does Bond think he's doing?" "His job."), memorable characters (Dr Kaufman, in one scene alone), breathtaking stunts- it's all there.
(I do admit to looking at this film through rose-coloured glasses. When it was released I was going through a very tough time both professionally and personally, and TND gave me two hours of bliss. Still, I haven't changed my mind later- though I do think that TWINE and CR are better.)
Villains, Score, Location, Suspense, etc.
1. GoldenEye 2. Goldfinger 3. Skyfall 4. OHMSS 5. TWINE
Moonraker - Along with AVTAK, this marvelous film seems to be ranked at the bottom of many 007 fans lists. Go figure!
Never Say Never Again- I've always really enjoyed this film. Doesn't deserve all the criticism.
Brosnan era (post Goldeneye) TND and TWINE are among the best Bond films ever and even DAD has its moments.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Interesting perspectives as some seem to defend the Actor from a bad movie, while others are defending the movie at its roots.
In another year or two I will look back on this and find myself defending Octopussy. Use to be possibly my least favorite Bond. It's gone up a couple spots in recent viewings!
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Here here! -{
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
In the case of the Dalton movies: Yes!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
No, you mean: The Dalton movies were Tha Bomb! (I feel so 1994 right now)
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
The Dalton movies are amongst my very favourites as is OHMSS. I was talking about defending them to non-Bondaholics :007)
Hopefully you don't even bother to respond to criticisms to folks who haven't even seen OHMSS!
Put it this way: while they weren't worth my time, they were most certainly worth a chuckle and an eyeroll!
True that!
Same here; DAF was one of the first Bond films I ever saw so it holds a sentimental place for me and I'm always defending it to the purists. But beyond that, it is also a great example of the Bond "formula": outlandish plot, cool stunts, beautiful girls, exotic locations, over the top henchmen, etc. Even though Connery was visibly older, he moved thru the film effortlessly and his delivery was perfect. Just a fun movie all around, which is what I always looked for first in a Bond film.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
An unpopular Bond film I thoroughly enjoy but know better than to try and defend is the 1967 Casino Royale. I know what I like, but can see why people would hate it.