My Late-Nite Personal View On The Bond Movies Rant

chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
in The James Bond Films
I've just gone through a mini-marathon, and after all is said & done, I must say the the majority of the Bond movies are simple mass entertainment.
IMHO, the 'best' Bond movies are DN, FRWL, TB, TLD, and LTK.
All the rest are in the 'fun' category for me.
Connery's later movies turned into 60's Batman Bond. Lazenby was the deer-in-the-headlights Bond, Moore was the Saint Bond,
Brosnan was the 'Remington Steele' Bond, and Dan's movies, as serious as they are, are 21st Century CGI-filled Bourne derivative Bond.

Now, I love Bond movies, most all of them, but I felt the need to be all controversial here.

*ducks*

:))
Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
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Comments

  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    If they're just "simple mass entertainment" then why do we keep watching them over and over and over ? :D
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Give the audience what they want :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Charmed & DangerousCharmed & Dangerous Posts: 7,358MI6 Agent
    chrisisall wrote:
    IMHO, the 'best' Bond movies are DN, FRWL, TB, TLD, and LTK.
    All the rest are in the 'fun' category for me.

    Interesting as I always though DN and TB are heavily in the 'fun' category too, while Skyfall and QoS are more serious entries like FRWL.

    Surely they are all pretty much mass entertainment though? The producers seem to have taken every effort to ensure the grittiest of films, like FRWL, into something everyone can enjoy: outrageous plot, stunning locations, great action, witty one- liners... -{
    "How was your lamb?" "Skewered. One sympathises."
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    +1, Even the Godfather was made to make lots of money. :))
    It's gritty but highly entertaining as well. So simply because
    Something is made for a mass audience, doesn't make it a
    Bad thing. :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • PeppermillPeppermill DelftPosts: 2,860MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    +1, Even the Godfather was made to make lots of money. :))
    It's gritty but highly entertaining as well. So simply because
    Something is made for a mass audience, doesn't make it a
    Bad thing. :D

    +1 take Coca Cola for instance! :D
    1. Ohmss 2. Frwl 3. Op 4. Tswlm 5. Tld 6. Ge 7. Yolt 8. Lald 9. Cr 10. Ltk 11. Dn 12. Gf 13. Qos 14. Mr 15. Tmwtgg 16. Fyeo 17. Twine 18. Sf 19. Tb 20 Tnd 21. Spectre 22 Daf 23. Avtak 24. Dad
  • Thunderbird 2Thunderbird 2 East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,817MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    +1, Even the Godfather was made to make lots of money. :))
    It's gritty but highly entertaining as well. So simply because
    Something is made for a mass audience, doesn't make it a
    Bad thing. :D

    + Thunderbird Too!

    Art doesn't stay the same, it ebs and flows. It has to in order to survive. The changing naturenof the Bond films reflects this. Thats why its the longest running successful film series when others have puttered to a halt. Each 007 actor brings something different, as do the writers, directors and everyone else. Or else YOLT would have been the last one.
    This is Thunderbird 2, how can I be of assistance?
  • DEFIANT 74205DEFIANT 74205 Perth, AustraliaPosts: 1,881MI6 Agent
    chrisisall wrote:
    I've just gone through a mini-marathon, and after all is said & done, I must say the the majority of the Bond movies are simple mass entertainment.
    IMHO, the 'best' Bond movies are DN, FRWL, TB, TLD, and LTK.
    All the rest are in the 'fun' category for me.

    I'd add On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Casino Royale to that list. Other than that, I completely agree with you. If we are to judge Bond films not by how entertaining they were, but how faithful to the Fleming Bond concept and how "Bondian" it is (which is how I rate Bond films too), then those are the best.
    "Watch the birdie, you bastard!"
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    Charmed & Dangerous wrote:
    chrisisall wrote:
    IMHO, the 'best' Bond movies are DN, FRWL, TB, TLD, and LTK.
    All the rest are in the 'fun' category for me.

    Interesting as I always though DN and TB are heavily in the 'fun' category too, while Skyfall and QoS are more serious entries like FRWL.

    Surely they are all pretty much mass entertainment though? The producers seem to have taken every effort to ensure the grittiest of films, like FRWL, into something everyone can enjoy: outrageous plot, stunning locations, great action, witty one- liners... -{

    +1
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    I notice that you haven't mentioned Dalton :v
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    AlphaOmegaSin wrote:
    I notice that you haven't mentioned Dalton :v
    No, because Dalton ( like early Connery) was perfect.
    :v
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Also if you say Dalton's name five times, Bondtoys appears ! :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    But not when he is on a Globe Trotting Adventure :))
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :)) Reminds me I must watch the Poseidon adventure tonight. :D :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Brosnan_fanBrosnan_fan Sydney, AustraliaPosts: 521MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    Also if you say Dalton's name five times, Bondtoys appears ! :))

    Timothy Dalton, Timothy Dalton, Timothy Dalton, Timothy Dalton, Timothy Dalton...



    HELLO??
    "Well, he certainly left with his tails between his legs."
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    You should be safe enough He's off exploring :)) But I wouldn't tempt fate ! :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,757Chief of Staff
    Indeed !

    He was in Southampton yesterday :o
    YNWA 97
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,868Chief of Staff
    I know, he asked if I'd like to meet him there (since Ayrshire and Southampton are so close :D ) but I had to decline. My Walther PPK was away for repair anyway.
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,334MI6 Agent
    There is a name for action movies that don't entertain the masses - flopps!
    Also, the Bond movies have a history, personalities and charm that many/most other action movies (and also series) lack. Ask people what kind of man James Bond is and you get all sorts of answers, but everyone has something to say. Ask people about Ethan Hunt and few can really describe the history, personality and character traits of the hero of the Mission Impossible series. Many won't even recognize the name!
  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,320MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    I know, he asked if I'd like to meet him there (since Ayrshire and Southampton are so close :D ) but I had to decline. My Walther PPK was away for repair anyway.

    Wonder what weird watch he has picked up on his travels this time :)
    Instagram - bondclothes007
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I always thought Ethan Hunt was rhyming slang. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Number24 wrote:
    Ask people what kind of man James Bond is and you get all sorts of answers, but everyone has something to say. Ask people about Ethan Hunt and few can really describe the history, personality and character traits of the hero of the Mission Impossible series. Many won't even recognize the name!
    Very good point. -{
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    Funny because the Character of Ethan Hunt was absent in the TV Series -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I don't think Tom wanted to play an established character.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Gassy ManGassy Man USAPosts: 2,972MI6 Agent
    I don't disagree that the Bond films are entertainments. What is problematic, to me, is that at one time they represented the pinnacle of entertainments. No popcorn spy film of the 1960s -- and almost no action films in general -- are as good as the 60s Bonds in terms of everything from acting to costumes to production design. They were simply the best.

    Compare that to the later Bonds, which are almost all formulaic and derivative. Even Casino Royale, a film I dearly love, had to wait until Batman Begins inspired the whole reboot/prequel thing.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :)) I take your point. Compare any action film from
    the 60s, they all seem very slow compared to Bond.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Gassy Man wrote:
    Compare that to the later Bonds, which are almost all formulaic and derivative.
    Which goes to my original post in that DN, FRWL, TB, and, okay, OHMSS, TLD & LTK are the best.
    CR is great too, I just get a distinctly diluted feel from it in terms of 'Bond'. Similar to FYEO. I love the flick, but it's just not pure 'Bond' to me...
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • Gassy ManGassy Man USAPosts: 2,972MI6 Agent
    To me, Casino Royale is the closest thing to a 1960s Bond we've had in more than 30 years. It's more character driven, reliant on Bond's mettle as a man rather than as an icon, and thoughtful with the dialogue and character motivations and interactions. It may not quite be the Bond formula -- though I really don't think it strays that far from it -- but it is definitely a Bond movie. It's so good in this regard that the action sequences are what seem anomalous to me . . . they are almost too "modern" for the rest of the movie, though I enjoy them. I do wish they'd spent a little more time on the romance, the only real flaw I see in the movie.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    After OHMSS it's my favourite, probably because Bond is so human
    In it. -{
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,467MI6 Agent
    I see what Chrisisall is saying. After GF, most of the Bond films, while enjoyed as standalones, were influenced by outside factors, eg TB we have to bring in Kev McClory and rush it out to capitalise on our success, YOLT, we have to make it bigger than the other spy movies, OHMSS - we have to pare things back and so on, they are responding to the Bond circus and while often enjoyable, it is hard to be objective and say, well, I'd like this off its own bat and not because of previous more enjoyable entries. Not sure I wouldn't put OHMSS in that category despite its good intentions, if it weren't for the other Bonds, would any of us really rate it? But it works both ways, as a kid some of my contemporaries just loved their first Bond, TMWTGG, shown at a local scout hut.
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I agree Bond has and I'm sure still does, reflect the cinematic themes
    Popular at the time. The Blaxploitation movies and Martial arts films,
    Gave us LALD & TMWTGG, the SiFi phase = Moonraker. Even the
    Success of the Bourne series led to the style of QOS. Although they
    All still kept the elements that, for me at least . keep it a Bond film. :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
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