Topic: Bond...James Bond?

[shemps#1]

My better half has gotten me into James Bond and I was wondering if there are other Bond fans here. If so, what's your favorite/least favorite Bond movie and your favorite/least favorite actor to play 007?

[Dunrobin]

I can't really say that I am a huge James Bond fan; I'd be hard pressed to rattle off all the film titles without looking them up, for example, and I don't have any of them on DVD or tape - but I've always enjoyed the movies and watch them occasionally when they are on.  I've always preferred Sean Connery, probably because that's who I grew up with.  I can remember watching From Russia With Love at the drive-in with my parents.  I used to say that Roger Moore was my "least favorite" Bond, because his films were the most campy, but actually I think Timothy Dalton is my least favorite. 

Favorite film:  Goldfinger, 1964 (I remember laughing my 9 year old ass off over "Pussy Galore"!  Plus, I did my Army basic training at Fort Knox in the early 70's and actually lived in those wooden barracks that you see in the movie.)

Least favorite:  License to Kill, 1989  (Dalton's Bond just came off as kind of weak in this one.)
 

[Curly4444]

I'm a fan of the older ones(Sean Connery, Roger Moore). The old one had charm and pizazz. My favs. are Goldfinger, Moonraker, and live and let die.


I actually liked Dalton somewhat, couldn't stand Pierce Brosnan. My worst Bond guy was that George Lazenby.

[metaldams]

That's unusual, the girl getting the guy into Bond.  Usually it's the other way around.

Not really much a fan, though.  It's not that I have a strong dislike either, I'm just kind of....eh.

[BeAStooge]

My better half has gotten me into James Bond and I was wondering if there are other Bond fans here. If so, what's your favorite/least favorite Bond movie and your favorite/least favorite actor to play 007?

A fan of the series, with THUNDERBALL being my first, in a theatre back in 1965. ABC network had broadcast rights to the films from circa 1970 thru the early 1980s; that's where I caught the earlier Connerys.

Sean Connery is my favorite Bond actor. Yet I tend to pass on his last couple films. As much criticism as Roger Moore's era receives, the generally disliked sci-fi and camp humor elements that dominated in the '70s were introduced during the Connery era, YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967) and DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971), respectively.

George Lazenby never quite fit the character, however, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (1969) is a satisfying story-driven film, second to Connery's FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963).

I also like Moore... but that's due more to the nostalgia of growing up on his films, and less to do with his take on the character; the theatrical experience of his debut LIVE AND LET DIE (1972) with Paul McCartney's opening theme music is a great memory. Christopher Lee was wasted in the bland THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1974). The overly camp MOONRAKER (1979) is unwatchable.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (1981) is my favorite of the Bond films. The producers jettisoned the big-budget sets and contrivances, and most of the jokes, and went for a straight spy/suspense/action-adventure story. A welcome change, and the film moves along great, making it easy to overlook that Moore was becoming too old for the role.

I thoroughly enjoyed both of Timothy Dalton's films. Pierce Brosnan's GOLDENEYE (1995) is one of the best; and while I like the rest of his films (due a lot to Judi Densch as M), the films began spending too much screentime on explosion-laden, soundtrack-ramped stunt and chase scenes.

With Daniel Craig, the series feels like an entirely different franchise. It took the no-nonsense, brutal aspects of the character seen in the first 3 films, but eliminated the sly humor that Connery gave him. CASINO ROYALE (2006) did a great job portraying this. But I was very disappointed by QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008), especially the latter's film editing style which relied too much on quick cuts and closeups, and fewer establishing shots and shorter camera movements... kinda gave me a headache trying to keep pace.

Implications of MGM's collapse will most likely keep the Broccoli family's EON Productions tied up in legal redtape for a few years, until they can re-partner with a new studio, and it sounds like 2014 will be the earliest we can expect a new film.

[metaldams]

Christopher Lee was wasted in the bland THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1974).

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.  I'm actually a big Christopher Lee fan and wanted to see this Bond film because of him.

Speaking of which, Alice Cooper did a song called THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN in '74 which blows away the actual song used in the movie, in my opinion.  I'll see if I can find a youtube clip tonight so you can make up your own minds.

[xraffle]

I'm a Bond fan. Connery is the best, no question about it. Roger Moore was ok, but not nearly as good as Connery. Pierce Brosnan was very good. Daniel Craig, well I don't know. Let's just say that I'm having a hard time adjusting to the blond James Bond. I just don't feel like I'm watching a James Bond film when I'm watching his movies. I mean, his acting is good and the movies are good. But something is missing and it's hard to figure out what it is.

[Curly4444]

The overly camp MOONRAKER (1979) is unwatchable.

I guess im a sci-Fi/ camp lovin freak, because i loved Moonraker. Its one of my fav bond films. The campy-ness justs adds to the escapism and enjoyment of the film for me. When i watch a bond film i'm not lookin for realism, just to escape and be entertained. Though that doesn't mean i dislike the ones that didn't have this. When you think about it all the bond films were a little campy, its just these films over did it a tad.

That might explain why i didn't really care for Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig, guess they weren't enough Sci-Fi/campy for me. I guess its that i grew up with this style and loved it. I'm a big sci-fi nut, so Moonraker just struck a cord with me.

[StoogeGirl]

With Daniel Craig, the series feels like an entirely different franchise. It took the no-nonsense, brutal aspects of the character seen in the first 3 films, but eliminated the sly humor that Connery gave him. CASINO ROYALE (2006) did a great job portraying this. But I was very disappointed by QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008), especially the latter's film editing style which relied too much on quick cuts and closeups, and fewer establishing shots and shorter camera movements... kinda gave me a headache trying to keep pace.

It's good to know that I wasn't the only one disappointed in the way they shot Quantum of Solace. Too quick. Too choppy. I'm still not sure what that movie was about, and my husband and I have the DVD. 

My husband is more of the Bond fan than I am. But I'll willingly sit down and watch the movies. I prefer Sean Connery or Daniel Craig. Have never really cared much for Pierce Brosnan's films (although I liked him in Dante's Peak). Don't really know too much about the other Bonds. Honestly, my favorite Bond movie at this point is probably Casino Royale.

[Dunrobin]

Just got home after a very trying day, started checking the guide on DISH and noticed that The Man With the Golden Gun starts at 7:50 PM on Encore Action (EACTN) channel, and For Your Eyes Only is starting at 7:10 PM on Encore West (ENCRW.)   Interesting coincidence.

[BeAStooge]

Christopher Lee was wasted in the bland THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1974).

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.  I'm actually a big Christopher Lee fan and wanted to see this Bond film because of him.

Back in 1993, at the A&C Convention in Clifton NJ, I had an [unplanned] opportunity to have breakfast with guest Marc Lawrence, and we wound up talking one-on-one for over an hour. A little about his A&C movies (HOLD THAT GHOST, HIT THE ICE, IN THE FOREIGN LEGION), a lot about his notable career in Hollywood (KEY LARGO, numerous more, supporting some of the biggest names in Hollywood history), blacklisted by McCarthy and moving to Europe for the '50s and '60s, back to Hollywood in the early '70s for more work (MARATHON MAN, FOUL PLAY), etc., but naturally we talked about his Bond films too (DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN).

He had a sizable role in GOLDEN GUN (Marc was the gunman in the pre-credit sequence), but his stories were mostly about his time in Thailand. He was supposed to be there for a few weeks, but monsoon season completely screwed up the filming schedule, and he wound up spending 6 months there... all at United Artists' and Cubby Broccoli's expense. Other than the rain, he said it was the best 6-month, free vacation he ever had. Marc also spoke highly of Sean Connery while working on DIAMONDS, although the time on location in Vegas for his scene ("I thought there was a pool down there") only lasted a few days.

Unfortunately, the opportunity wasn't planned. It wasn't until afterwards that I regretted not having a tape recorder with me.

After the convention, many attendees complained that Marc was moody... but it was because everyone [naturally] wanted to talk about Abbott & Costello ("Oh, Charlie!"). From my experience, if he was asked about working with Bogart, Robinson, Olivier, Hope, etc., even his opinions of McCarthy and Nixon, the man came to life with all kinds of stories.

[xraffle]

If you're looking to become a James Bond fan, do not start by watching "The Man With the Golden Gun." That's a really bad one. I would start with "Dr. No" or "Goldfinger."

[shemps#1]

The first two Bond films I saw the two newest ones with Daniel Craig and I loved them both. This whetted my appetite so I went and found Goldfinger, which so far is my favorite Bond film. If there is such a thing as a perfect Bond movie, Goldfinger is it. Then out of of sheer curiosity as to why he was Bond in only one film I watched On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and while Lazenby just didn't quite have the acting chops I found the movie itself very enjoyable due to a stellar supporting cast and great action. Then I saw Tomorrow Never Dies, which popped up on local TV, with Pierce Brosnan. I thought it was good but not great. Next I saw Thunderball, which I enjoyed almost as much as Goldfinger.

The old lady decided to play a low down trick on me when it came to her least favorite Bond, Roger Moore, and insisted I watch Moonraker for my first Moore film. With its absurd "Space Hitler" plot, this is so far my least favorite Bond film and almost scared me away from the Roger Moore movies entirely. That's not to say that I found the movie to be completely void of entertainment, but it isn't what a Bond film should be in my eyes. I ran back into Sean Connery's embrace with Dr. No and From Russia With Love. I was thrilled with both, but much like the Stooges with Woman Haters I think maybe the Bond franchise was getting its feet set with Dr. No so it falls short of the three movies that follow it.

I was a bit timid when I went for my first Timothy Dalton Bond, The Living Daylights, but was pleasantly surprised. Having yet to see Licence To Kill I think he gets a bum rap from a lot of people as "James Bland". Finally I decided to give Roger Moore another try and watch The Spy Who Loved Me, which while somewhat campy is a hell of a lot better than Moonraker was.

[BeAStooge]

Track down a copy of CASINO ROYALE (1967), specifically the 2002 DVD release (orange case; not 2007's 40th anniversary edition in the white case).

A bonus feature is "Casino Royale," a live 1954 episode of CBS' CLIMAX! anthology series. Barry Nelson as CIA agent Jimmy Bond, Peter Lorre as LeChiffre and Gene "Giff Me Dat Fillum" Roth as henchman Basil.


(I recommend a couple drinks, or what-have-you's, before watching the 1967 farce with David Niven and Peter Sellers as James Bond, Woody Allen as nephew Jimmy Bond, Orson Welles as LeChiffre, Ursula Andress as Vesper, John Huston as M, and guest shots by William Holden, Charles Boyer, George Raft, Deborah Kerr, Jacqueline Bisset and Peter O'Toole.)

[xraffle]

Moore wasn't a bad Bond, but his movies weren't all that great. I would say his best ones are "Live and Let Die" and "For Your Eyes Only." "The Spy Who Loved Me" was acceptable. I would rank it in third place. But all the other Moore films were pretty bad, in my opinion.

[Curly4444]

Moore wasn't a bad Bond, but his movies weren't all that great. I would say his best ones are "Live and Let Die" and "For Your Eyes Only." "The Spy Who Loved Me" was acceptable. I would rank it in third place. But all the other Moore films were pretty bad, in my opinion.

I think its what you grow up with. When i was a kid, Roger Moore was all i knew as bond, and I really liked him. So of course i liked all his films. Still do today. Now if i grew up watching Connery, id probably think some of his film sucked. Probably because id be comparing everything to Sean Connery. Hell, maybe people who grew up with Pierce think Sean Connery and Roger Moore both suck?

[shemps#1]

I'm going to reserve my opinion on Moore until I at least watch a couple more of his films: I still find it hard to get over how "Ed Wood" bad Moonraker was though.

[Justin T]

Moore wasn't a bad Bond, but his movies weren't all that great. I would say his best ones are "Live and Let Die" and "For Your Eyes Only." "The Spy Who Loved Me" was acceptable. I would rank it in third place. But all the other Moore films were pretty bad, in my opinion.

I have to agree with Xraffle here, Moore isnt bad. He just amped up the humor more than Connery did. "Live and Let Die", "The Spy Who Loved Me" and
"For Your Eyes Only" are my favorite 3 with Moore.

I've been a fan of the Bond movies since I was a kid. Everything about him appealed to me. He got to kick ass, save the world, and lots of
beautiful women wanted to be with him. Plus the gadgets he got to play with were neat too.

I love Connery alot, "Goldfinger" and "From Russian With Love" are my favorites of his. I like "Dr. No", "Thunderball" and "You Only Live Twice"
"Diamonds Are Forever" is my least favorite. That movie is a mess

I thought Lazenby did a decent job in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", its such a great Bond movie. Diana Rigg as Tracy was awesome.
One of my favorites in the series.

Since I already named my favorite Moore's, I can safetly say he also starred in some of my least favorite Bond movies with "Moonraker" being #1.
Its so ridiculous and over the top, plus having Jaws do a face turn was stupid. I also don't care for "Man With The Golden Gun" much either.
I hate how they wasted Christopher Lee in that. "Octopussy" and "View To a Kill" are ok but not that great. I do like Christopher Walken's
perfomance as Zorn in View to a Kill. The problem with Moore is he played Bond too long, he got too old and they should have switched to
a new actor after For Your Eyes Only.

Dalton's two Bond movies are decent, I like "The Living Daylights" and I used to really like "Licence To Kill" but it's gone down in value to me
the last few years. Dalton was decent but he's not a favorite of mine. I think fans are too hard on him.

I was excited when Pierce Brosnan took over and I wasn't dissapointed, at first. I really love "Goldeneye", a great start for him and one of my favorites. "Tomorrow Never Dies" was good too. Sadly, his last two "The World Is Not Enough" and "Die Another Day" did not impress me much at all.
I did enjoy Judi Dench coming in to play M and I'm glad she is still doing the role.

When Daniel Craig came in, I wasn't that excited. But that all changed after I watched "Casino Royale". It was awesome and I totally got behind him
as Bond. I thought it was a good idea to do the reboot, I thought it really helped and I like the more serious tone. I was dissapointed with "Quantum of Solace"
It wasn't bad, it was just ok. It was definatly a step down from Casino. I agree with BeAStooge about how the movie was edited, def one of the things that stuck out for me too.

The thing with MGM pisses me off, because its put the next Bond movie on hold. I hope the thing gets settled soon so they can get back on track.

[xraffle]

I'm going to reserve my opinion on Moore until I at least watch a couple more of his films: I still find it hard to get over how "Ed Wood" bad Moonraker was though.

You're in for another disappointment when you watch "A View To A Kill."

[Curly4444]

You guys are way too picky, all the older bonds were good.


@xraffle

What you got something against Christopher Walken and Duran Duran??

[shemps#1]

You're in for another disappointment when you watch "A View To A Kill."

It's funny you mention that. I just finished watching "A View To A Kill" and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Granted it was a bit uneasy watching 57 year old Roger Moore showering with a young Tonya Roberts, but I thought Grace Jones was great as May Day and Christopher Walken was convincing as a psychopathic product of a Nazi experiment. Not one of the best Bond films by any means but certainly topped my expectations for it (which were low, granted). I also watched "You Only Live Twice" for the first time, and while the whole idea of Sean Connery "turning Japanese" was asinine the rest of the movie (including Donald Pleasence as Blofeld) was able to make up for the faux pas and on the whole YOLT was very good.

[shemps#1]

I have to agree with Xraffle here, Moore isnt bad. He just amped up the humor more than Connery did. "Live and Let Die", "The Spy Who Loved Me" and
"For Your Eyes Only" are my favorite 3 with Moore.

I've been a fan of the Bond movies since I was a kid. Everything about him appealed to me. He got to kick ass, save the world, and lots of
beautiful women wanted to be with him. Plus the gadgets he got to play with were neat too.

I love Connery alot, "Goldfinger" and "From Russian With Love" are my favorites of his. I like "Dr. No", "Thunderball" and "You Only Live Twice"
"Diamonds Are Forever" is my least favorite. That movie is a mess

I thought Lazenby did a decent job in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", its such a great Bond movie. Diana Rigg as Tracy was awesome.
One of my favorites in the series.

Since I already named my favorite Moore's, I can safetly say he also starred in some of my least favorite Bond movies with "Moonraker" being #1.
Its so ridiculous and over the top, plus having Jaws do a face turn was stupid. I also don't care for "Man With The Golden Gun" much either.
I hate how they wasted Christopher Lee in that. "Octopussy" and "View To a Kill" are ok but not that great. I do like Christopher Walken's
perfomance as Zorn in View to a Kill. The problem with Moore is he played Bond too long, he got too old and they should have switched to
a new actor after For Your Eyes Only.

Dalton's two Bond movies are decent, I like "The Living Daylights" and I used to really like "Licence To Kill" but it's gone down in value to me
the last few years. Dalton was decent but he's not a favorite of mine. I think fans are too hard on him.

I was excited when Pierce Brosnan took over and I wasn't dissapointed, at first. I really love "Goldeneye", a great start for him and one of my favorites. "Tomorrow Never Dies" was good too. Sadly, his last two "The World Is Not Enough" and "Die Another Day" did not impress me much at all.
I did enjoy Judi Dench coming in to play M and I'm glad she is still doing the role.

When Daniel Craig came in, I wasn't that excited. But that all changed after I watched "Casino Royale". It was awesome and I totally got behind him
as Bond. I thought it was a good idea to do the reboot, I thought it really helped and I like the more serious tone. I was dissapointed with "Quantum of Solace"
It wasn't bad, it was just ok. It was definatly a step down from Casino. I agree with BeAStooge about how the movie was edited, def one of the things that stuck out for me too.

The thing with MGM pisses me off, because its put the next Bond movie on hold. I hope the thing gets settled soon so they can get back on track.

I wish I had seen this reply before posting my previous one because you summed up my feelings on "A View To A Kill" (well except for Grace Jones). As far as Moore goes I still have yet to see "The Man With The Golden Gun", "Live And Let Die" and "Octopussy" (I figure I'll watch Octopussy and the unofficial Connery Bond "Never Say Never Again" back-to-back since they were made around the same time). I thought "For Your Eyes Only" was OK-to-Good but did not blow me away.

[Justin T]

I wish I had seen this reply before posting my previous one because you summed up my feelings on "A View To A Kill" (well except for Grace Jones). As far as Moore goes I still have yet to see "The Man With The Golden Gun", "Live And Let Die" and "Octopussy" (I figure I'll watch Octopussy and the unofficial Connery Bond "Never Say Never Again" back-to-back since they were made around the same time). I thought "For Your Eyes Only" was OK-to-Good but did not blow me away.

Thanks Shemps, and I did neglect Grace Jones when I talked about A View To A Kill. I liked her as May Day too. You really nailed it when talking about
the shower scene with Moore and Toyna Roberts. I wonder if View to A Kill would have been better if it was Dalton's first Bond movie.

[Curly4444]

Granted it was a bit uneasy watching 57 year old Roger Moore showering with a young Tonya Roberts

Thanks Shemps, and I did neglect Grace Jones when I talked about A View To A Kill. I liked her as May Day too. You really nailed it when talking about
the shower scene with Moore and Toyna Roberts. I wonder if View to A Kill would have been better if it was Dalton's first Bond movie.

Here the real problem, you two actually saw Moore in that Shower scene.  I didn't  even notice him, my eyes were otherwise occupied.

[BeAStooge]

I still have yet to see "The Man With The Golden Gun", "Live And Let Die"

Watch LIVE AND LET DIE first.  The two films have a running gag...

LIVE introduces a character for comedy relief, and delivers laughs with him. GOLDEN GUN picks up the character, and runs the gag into the ground.