Best Bond director?

Dutchfinger · August 2013

Who would you say was the best (or perhaps your favorite) director the Bond franchise ever saw?
You could say Terence Young is of course the one that started it all, from what I've learned he gave Sean Connery his whole suave, smooth and sophisticated way of dressing, walking and talking.

However, I would say Martin Campbell is one of the best, he directed two brilliant Bond movies, and he arguably saved the franchise twice! I also feel Sam Mendes is one of the best, I was quite amazed by Skyfall and am very pleased to hear he's returning for Bond 24.

Who would you say?

superado · August 2013

I think naming Terence Young would be too easy though I'd be the first to say that he deserves all the credit due to him. However, my vote would be Peter Hunt. He was a perfectionist and excelled in the technical aspect; he was also passionate about the source material while at the same time treating the cinematic version of James Bond and his world as something sacred. The result I believe was not just a superior Bond film of an extremely high caliber but also a labor of love, which is evident. When Hunt was given OHMSS after many years in other roles, he was like a kid in a candy store. I don't know if that same quality can be found in the films of the other Bond directors, when compared even to Young, Hamilton, Gilbert or even Glen who I'm sure felt "ownership" considering the number of Bonds he directed and his longer years with EON.

Strangeways · August 2013

Wow. Great thread (at last) there have been some awful ones over the summer.

My vote goes to Martin Campbell, who IMHO also saved the series twice, so totally agree with Dutchfinger.

Going back to the early years of Bond, I would agree with superado that Peter Hunt was fantastic, and almost became the best director the series never had!

Finally I have to say John Glen was totally over rated and should have moved aside after the dreadful Octopussy. He is a director who almost wrecked the series! Why oh why did the producers allow him to direct so many?

Charmed & Dangerous · August 2013

I'm with Superado. Hunt's direction in OHMSS, given the technical difficulties involved, introducing a new Bond following Connery's departure, and bringing the film back in line with Fleming while still giving audiences the spectacle they had become increasingly accustomed too, was a massive undertaking. But Hunt did a superb job and created one of the very best films in the series. So Hunt gets my vote.

Higgins · August 2013

I agree with Superado. Hunt's overboarding motivation can be seen in every bit of the film - I wonder how a director's cut from OHMSS would look like.

I hope that I'll see that in my lifetime 8-)

Thunderpussy · August 2013

I agree with all those who've mentioned Peter Hunt and I also think
Martin Campbell did a great job.

Napoleon Plural · August 2013

Terence Young only did three, did a fine job with 2 and a half of them, I'd say. TB is mixed bag but has some definitive Bond moments.

I do love Lewis Gilbert's contributions, real guitly pleasures that do what they set out to do.

I know Hunt gets the plaudits, but just can't get on with a Bond movie that never makes me laugh, at least not intentionally. It's kind of heavy going too imo and I fancy none of the gals in it save the Portuguese type who says 'There are a lot of things one does not know about Mister Bond. It would be interesting to go to night school' - bet ol' George had her knickers round her ankles before the day was out!

Guy Hamilton too, but let down by TMWTGG really.

I should like Campbell but to me he's a great second unit director. His action is good, but the other scenes jar. I don't think they've gone with a director that suits my tastes in a looooooooong time.

welshboy78 · August 2013

Young,
Campbell,
Hunt,

Maybe the worst director might bring better debate {:)

BIG TAM · August 2013

I'd put Peter Hunt top too. I think he handled the different elements of OHMSS extremely well.

I'd also give noble mentions to Terence young (for FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE), Guy Hamilton (for GOLDFINGER), Lewis Gilbert (for THE SPY WHO LOVED ME) & Sam Mendes, all of whom made classy films.

John Glen is a curiosity. He made too many & his less showy style makes the '80s films look a little basic for me. But when he put his mind to it & stopped obsessing with slapstick he could turn in a decent image. His problem was inconsistency.

Martin Campbell also deserves a great deal of credit as has been noted.

The rest perhaps were unable to put any sort of personal stamp on the material given. This is especially true of Michael Apted, who'd made some interesting films prior to THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH.

Dutchfinger · August 2013

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Guy Hamilton too, but let down by TMWTGG really.

I personally think Diamonds are Forever was a much bigger let down than TMWTGG, Goldfinger was his only masterpiece I think.

BIG TAM wrote:

John Glen is a curiosity. He made too many & his less showy style makes the '80s films look a little basic for me. But when he put his mind to it & stopped obsessing with slapstick he could turn in a decent image. His problem was inconsistency.

This is definitely true, however, another problem why the 80'ies movies looked more basic than the movies before could have had something to do with the fact that there were no more Ken Adam filmsets. There was just less eye candy!

Brosnan_fan · August 2013

As most of my teen years were in the 1980's, I would say John Glen. True, he helmed more Bond films than anyone else, but he scored in almost every single outing (the abysmal AVTAK being the exception).

chrisisall · August 2013

Dutchfinger wrote:

Who would you say was the best (or perhaps your favorite) director the Bond franchise ever saw?

My favourite was John Glen; I loved his workman simplicity and I think it worked for Bond movies more than most would realize or admit. The 'best' is between Young & Hunt IMO.

Blackleiter · August 2013

My vote goes to Campbell, with Mendes a close second. Honorable mention to Young.

chrisisall · August 2013

Blackleiter wrote:

My vote goes to Campbell, with Mendes a close second. Honorable mention to Young.

I love Campbell, but his direction is so 'superhero' IMO. My favourite movie from him is Legend Of Zorro, the best Batman film ever made.

)
And Mendes is undeniably excellent, but he lacks exactly what Campbell has a touch too much of for my tastes, that wild quality.
Don't get me wrong, both rock, but IMHO Bond works best with less sophisticated or flashy directors (Young/Hunt/Glen).
But that's just me, I conjure. -{

Blackleiter · August 2013

chrisisall wrote:

Blackleiter wrote:

My vote goes to Campbell, with Mendes a close second. Honorable mention to Young.

I love Campbell, but his direction is so 'superhero' IMO. My favourite movie from him is Legend Of Zorro, the best Batman film ever made. )
And Mendes is undeniably excellent, but he lacks exactly what Campbell has a touch too much of for my tastes, that wild quality.
Don't get me wrong, both rock, but IMHO Bond works best with less sophisticated or flashy directors (Young/Hunt/Glen).
But that's just me, I conjure. -{

I understand what you're saying, but I really don't get the "superhero" vibe from Campbell's outings, especially CR. Quite the contrary, actually, especially when compared to Hamilton's films for example. But for me, all of the Bond directors have done a decent job, except perhaps Lee Tamahori.

chrisisall · August 2013

Blackleiter wrote:

I understand what you're saying, but I really don't get the "superhero" vibe from Campbell's outings, especially CR.

I guess the unstoppable bit in the parkour chase scene registers like that a bit for me, and the heart-stop thing.

)

But for me, all of the Bond directors have done a decent job, except perhaps Lee Tamahori.

Agreed. B-)

MooseWithFleas · August 2013

Terence Young and Martin Campbell have been the most important to the series in my opinion. I absolutely adore Young's style and it is what made Bond rise to prominence. Campbell arguably saved the series twice. In a time where another Bond flop could have killed the series, he directed two of the best Bond films of the series.

Lewis might be my favorite because the over the top spectacle is my kind of style.

Glen has a fun style and left his mark on the 80's. While I don't think he can be considered the best, his era holds a special place for me.

Hunt is a good choice for best, though if we are including people who only directed one Bond, then Mendes might be the best in my books. Obviously Bond 24 will go along way to clarifying this, but Skyfall so technically amazing for me. Of course, a Bond production is largely the sum of its parts. No one person can be credited for a film being amazing.

Best Bond director?

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