Thunderball is a terrific watch - almost like all of the essential Bond elements in one movie. Watched it on BluRay and I have to say the image quality was excellent.
GF. I love this movie it has the best villain and the best henchman. Connery is simply superb. Q has his first real interaction with Bond which would become one of the staple ingredients of the series. Barry's score is wonderful as they all were up to DAF. I like the way Bond enjoys his women, the casual way he uses the treacherous Bonita in the PTS, the slapping of Dink's bum as he shoo's her away to talk business (presumably the arrangement would be to meet up later but of course this never happens), the quick way in that he seduces a bored Jill into bed and the masterful way he coerces the thinly disguised lesbian Pussy into changing sides to defeat Goldfinger. Women's Lib must actually fume about this film. There are so many iconic scenes, the laser beam, the ejector seat, the games room and of course the Oddjob fight amongst many others. I enjoy the little things that the early films had like the knowledge of brandy and Bond being visually frustrated at not being able to race with Tilly.
I first saw this aged 8 in 1964 upon release and I still remember the hushed cinema during the laser beam sequence and a sigh of relief as it was switched off. It is Hitchcockian in tension and a lot of the early Bond's had this sort of tension in the 60's.
I will never tire of watching GF.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
I just gave Casino Royale another chance, and I still think quite low of it. The interior scenes look like a soap opera. The romance plays out like a soap opera. Much of dialogue is either soap-opera like or it reminds me of the works of the many amateur playwrights I have seen. The film is horribly paced and flows poorly from one moment to the next. The product placement is terribly obvious, such as a car park filled almost exclusively with brands that Ford owned. People complain about Dalton being unable to deliver the classic Bond quips, but Craig does it so much worse in this film. I find his delivery of almost every line a struggle. There are a few fantastic lines between the rubbish, but he ruins them. He's great at moving through the action scenes, but when it comes to acting human he can't do it. He's just a thug. I just can't stand his pain face. And I can't believe a Bond who looks like a middle-aged man yet acts like a teenager.
But I was reminded of the good. The Bahamas and Venice scenes were looking a lot better to me than I remembered. David Arnold's music is brilliant throughout and gives the romantic scenes emotion and gives the action scenes movement, all while recalling John Barry and a little Michael Kamen. I think it's Arnold's best work. As much as I love hearing the Bond theme throughout Brosnan's films, Arnold gives this film a Bond feel without falling back on the Bond theme. The music gives this film soul, in contrast to how Thomas Newman's music sucks the soul out of his Bond films.
Okay enough with the sound on low while you're doing other stuff. Surprisingly similar to OHMSS, in that a grouchy M comes close to firing Bond and then sends him off on his todd to track down a villain shrouded in mystery, pretty much on his own time. Bond has to adopt a fake identity to do this (I'm stretching this a bit now). Guy Hamilton does leisure Bond more enjoyably than Hunt.
That said, because in both cases the villains don't know Bond is on to them, there has to be a lot of spurious fight scenes to create a bit of action.
I think Lee's M is in this film more than any other. He's in Dr No or YOLT the least.
Oh, and similarities abound, such as the Bond girl getting up close to the villain's car and getting shoved in and abducted, as with DAF and what the cat dragged in.
Girlfriend insisted on watching more Bond and who am I to argue:
This week we watched:
Live and Let Die - She requested this one because of Jane Seymour and the voodoo themes.
Overall, it held up pretty well but interest waned during the overlong boat chase.
You Only Live Twice - She thought this one was pretty funny with the space ships and turning Bond Japanese.
Moonraker- She was very stressed during the centrifuge scene.
Octopussy- She liked the circus, twins, India, the auction, the trains, all the Octopussy girls and outfits, the raid on the palace. Pretty much everything about this film was a home run. Even the tarzan yell was cool. She announced it surpassed Dr. No as her new favorite Bond film.
She also mentioned how it was surprisingly stressful,esp the race to disarm the bomb, considering we all know well ahead of time that Bond is going to save the day. Whereas some of the other Bond films felt like a cakewalk, Octopussy really pushed 007 to his limits.
The title is a little embarrassing like if you want to recommend it to a friend or something.
(Even if the actual Octopussy backstory isn’t dirty at all. Still it’s a weird nickname to give your daughter IMO)
My current 10 favorite:
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Just watched Goldfinger on Blu-ray, and I noticed the missing scene from the film hiding in plain sight in the film if that makes sense......surely a future "directors cut" of the film could include it, so many years after the event. My first Bond film or maybe second Bond film I saw at the pictures circa 1966, as it was a Goldfinger/Thunderball double feature.
Just watched Goldfinger on Blu-ray, and I noticed the missing scene from the film hiding in plain sight......surely a "directors cut" of the film could include it.
This one, glimpsed in the titles, where Bond walks by a Royal Mail van being worked on in Q Branch and talks to the technicians before we join the scene as released?
Yes, it'd be great to see that properly and other scenes (eg Felix organising the Fort Knox cover up) included, but Eon have always been dead set against this.
Just watched Goldfinger on Blu-ray, and I noticed the missing scene from the film hiding in plain sight......surely a "directors cut" of the film could include it.
This one, glimpsed in the titles, where Bond walks by a Royal Mail van being worked on in Q Branch and talks to the technicians before we join the scene as released?
Yes, it'd be great to see that properly and other scenes (eg Felix organising the Fort Knox cover up) included, but Eon have always been dead set against this.
I've watched the film dozens and dozens of times, and have never noticed that scene before tonight. In the film you can see the Royal Mail van as Q is guiding Bond to the Aston Martin
Watched a couple more with the girlfriend. Once you get on a 007 kick, it’s hard to stop and watch any other “normal” movie. Lately we have been using Amazon prime video. Also, I’d highly recommend watching Bond with subtitles. I’ve picked up on quite a few little bits of dialog that I never knew before. We have now seen 14 Bond films this month!
- FRWL: She really liked Sean in this one and thought the poison-tipped shoe was a great weapon.
Agreed red wind with fish was an obviously poor choice. Overall, didn’t like it quite as much as the other Connery films we’ve seen.
- TMWTGG: She really loved this one, which kinda surprised me. The Thailand locations were a big hit. She liked Roger in this one as well as Scaramanga’s lair, Goodnite and her cute outfits, Nick Nack, and the karate twins. She also likes it when the villain tries to recruit or has some interest Bond such as the dinner scene in Dr No. Overall, way better than Live and Let Die and in her top 3 behind Octopussy and Dr. No.
My current 10 favorite:
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Just tried to watch Moonraker. Didn't make it past cable car. I can honestly not think of a good thing to say about it except the Cinematography, even the score is lackluster and a career low for Barry. I thought I'd try again as soon many here find it enjoyable fun.
Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
Most seem to hold Moonraker's score as one of the best. I watched both showings of
Moonraker on ITV 4 ) Although ALL opions are valid, Only a select few of us Love
all the Bond films.
In fact, I've stopped reading the Little Niggles thread, as it actually makes me angry.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Most seem to hold Moonraker's score as one of the best. I watched both showings of
Moonraker on ITV 4 ) Although ALL opions are valid, Only a select few of us Love
all the Bond films.
In fact, I've stopped reading the Little Niggles thread, as it actually makes me angry.
Not that select I'm afraid. Agree re Niggles thread. I think all Bond films require a little latitude in as much as they are not Documentaries.
Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
Just tried to watch Moonraker. Didn't make it past cable car. I can honestly not think of a good thing to say about it except the Cinematography, even the score is lackluster and a career low for Barry. I thought I'd try again as soon many here find it enjoyable fun.
This is my next re-watch. I think it has one of Barry’s best scores of all time, which I thought most people agreed on!
I just watched it again. The score does not disappoint. I've watched the movie more than any other Bond movie (over a dozen times), and each time I watch it still holds up so well. But I don't think it feels like a Bond film. By the end I feel like I'm watching any other late 1970s sci-fi film, but this one has does the sets, costumes and effects better than anything other than Star Wars.
Comments
It certainly is, so enjoyable and entertaining.
"Better make that two."
I agree, TB's a great watch.
I think that going to see a Bond film is a civic-minded duty. It's something that everyone gets jazzed about!
I first saw this aged 8 in 1964 upon release and I still remember the hushed cinema during the laser beam sequence and a sigh of relief as it was switched off. It is Hitchcockian in tension and a lot of the early Bond's had this sort of tension in the 60's.
I will never tire of watching GF.
Amaze-ng, you're at your element, gentlemen. You beat me.
Goes to show that N-one can use some clarity in their insights. That's life, I guess.
But I was reminded of the good. The Bahamas and Venice scenes were looking a lot better to me than I remembered. David Arnold's music is brilliant throughout and gives the romantic scenes emotion and gives the action scenes movement, all while recalling John Barry and a little Michael Kamen. I think it's Arnold's best work. As much as I love hearing the Bond theme throughout Brosnan's films, Arnold gives this film a Bond feel without falling back on the Bond theme. The music gives this film soul, in contrast to how Thomas Newman's music sucks the soul out of his Bond films.
Okay enough with the sound on low while you're doing other stuff. Surprisingly similar to OHMSS, in that a grouchy M comes close to firing Bond and then sends him off on his todd to track down a villain shrouded in mystery, pretty much on his own time. Bond has to adopt a fake identity to do this (I'm stretching this a bit now). Guy Hamilton does leisure Bond more enjoyably than Hunt.
That said, because in both cases the villains don't know Bond is on to them, there has to be a lot of spurious fight scenes to create a bit of action.
I think Lee's M is in this film more than any other. He's in Dr No or YOLT the least.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Roger Moore 1927-2017
This week we watched:
Live and Let Die - She requested this one because of Jane Seymour and the voodoo themes.
Overall, it held up pretty well but interest waned during the overlong boat chase.
You Only Live Twice - She thought this one was pretty funny with the space ships and turning Bond Japanese.
Moonraker- She was very stressed during the centrifuge scene.
Octopussy- She liked the circus, twins, India, the auction, the trains, all the Octopussy girls and outfits, the raid on the palace. Pretty much everything about this film was a home run. Even the tarzan yell was cool. She announced it surpassed Dr. No as her new favorite Bond film.
She also mentioned how it was surprisingly stressful,esp the race to disarm the bomb, considering we all know well ahead of time that Bond is going to save the day. Whereas some of the other Bond films felt like a cakewalk, Octopussy really pushed 007 to his limits.
The title is a little embarrassing like if you want to recommend it to a friend or something.
(Even if the actual Octopussy backstory isn’t dirty at all. Still it’s a weird nickname to give your daughter IMO)
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
"Do you expect me to talk? "No Mister Bond I expect you to die"
This one, glimpsed in the titles, where Bond walks by a Royal Mail van being worked on in Q Branch and talks to the technicians before we join the scene as released?
Yes, it'd be great to see that properly and other scenes (eg Felix organising the Fort Knox cover up) included, but Eon have always been dead set against this.
I've watched the film dozens and dozens of times, and have never noticed that scene before tonight. In the film you can see the Royal Mail van as Q is guiding Bond to the Aston Martin
"Do you expect me to talk? "No Mister Bond I expect you to die"
(Dozens and dozens of times? Wait till you're my age...
- FRWL: She really liked Sean in this one and thought the poison-tipped shoe was a great weapon.
Agreed red wind with fish was an obviously poor choice. Overall, didn’t like it quite as much as the other Connery films we’ve seen.
- TMWTGG: She really loved this one, which kinda surprised me. The Thailand locations were a big hit. She liked Roger in this one as well as Scaramanga’s lair, Goodnite and her cute outfits, Nick Nack, and the karate twins. She also likes it when the villain tries to recruit or has some interest Bond such as the dinner scene in Dr No. Overall, way better than Live and Let Die and in her top 3 behind Octopussy and Dr. No.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Oh yes, obviously.
Moonraker on ITV 4
all the Bond films.
In fact, I've stopped reading the Little Niggles thread, as it actually makes me angry.
Not that select I'm afraid. Agree re Niggles thread. I think all Bond films require a little latitude in as much as they are not Documentaries.
Indeed. And it's no more than that.
Tom Cruise
But you do love every single Bond film, so I think you have the right to be Cruise.
Although I don't do my own stunts ...... But I do
Other peoples.
This is my next re-watch. I think it has one of Barry’s best scores of all time, which I thought most people agreed on!