#1) For Your Eyes Only
Perhaps a surprising choice, but this has everything- a great twist, a great villain, a great Bond Girl, and a truly magnificent soundtrack which every Bond fan should own.
Perhaps a surprising choice, but this has everything- a great twist, a great villain, a great Bond Girl, and a truly magnificent soundtrack which every Bond fan should own.
#2) Casino Royale
An almost perfect return to form, marred only by an overly-drawn out last half hour. The opening sequence is probably the most exciting in Bond’s history- it’s the only time I’ve heard applause in a movie theater during the opening credits. Also a great opening theme, though terribly underrated at the time.
An almost perfect return to form, marred only by an overly-drawn out last half hour. The opening sequence is probably the most exciting in Bond’s history- it’s the only time I’ve heard applause in a movie theater during the opening credits. Also a great opening theme, though terribly underrated at the time.
#3) From Russia With Love
If there is a template for a Bond film, this is it. A magnificent Cold War thriller, with a great cast of relatively three-dimensional villains. Plus (IMO) the most beautiful Bond girl of all.
If there is a template for a Bond film, this is it. A magnificent Cold War thriller, with a great cast of relatively three-dimensional villains. Plus (IMO) the most beautiful Bond girl of all.
#4) You Only Live Twice
Yes, it’s extremely cartoonish, and the “turning Japanese” thing is extremely dubious. But think what this film does have- the best incarnation of Blofeld, one of the greatest film sets ever created (Ken Adam’s volcano lair), one of the best Bond girls (Aki), the fabulous Toyota 2000 GT convertible, a screenplay by Roald Dahl, and a brilliant soundtrack.
Yes, it’s extremely cartoonish, and the “turning Japanese” thing is extremely dubious. But think what this film does have- the best incarnation of Blofeld, one of the greatest film sets ever created (Ken Adam’s volcano lair), one of the best Bond girls (Aki), the fabulous Toyota 2000 GT convertible, a screenplay by Roald Dahl, and a brilliant soundtrack.
#5) License to Kill
An almost flawless entry in the series. Dalton is for me the best Bond by some margin, and the writing, plot and characters are all top notch. The only minor quibble is that this doesn’t really feel like a Bond movie. It’s more like an action movie. A very good action movie. But Bond should be more than that.
An almost flawless entry in the series. Dalton is for me the best Bond by some margin, and the writing, plot and characters are all top notch. The only minor quibble is that this doesn’t really feel like a Bond movie. It’s more like an action movie. A very good action movie. But Bond should be more than that.
#6) Goldfinger
Perhaps a lower showing than might be expected here. All the Bond elements are here- superb characters, particularly Goldfinger himself, who has my favorite line in all the Bond movies- “EXCEPT CRIME!”
Perhaps a lower showing than might be expected here. All the Bond elements are here- superb characters, particularly Goldfinger himself, who has my favorite line in all the Bond movies- “EXCEPT CRIME!”
Only
problem is, somebody pointed out to me that Bond fails to accomplish
anything at all in this movie. All the good things that happen are
either accidental or instigated by other people. Bond’s only real
contribution is humping Pussy Galore. After realizing that, it’s not
nearly as entertaining.
#7) Live and Let Die
Terribly racist overtones in retrospect, but if you overlook that as I did as a small boy, it’s a very entertaining thriller. Another great soundtrack as well
Terribly racist overtones in retrospect, but if you overlook that as I did as a small boy, it’s a very entertaining thriller. Another great soundtrack as well
#8) A View To A Kill
Yes, Bond looked more like he should be sitting in front of the TV shouting racist epithets at game shows than saving the world, but if you overlook Moore’s geriatric appearance this is a strong entry. I often judge a film by the bad guy, and Christopher Walken’s Zorin is probably my favorite of all the Bond villains.
Yes, Bond looked more like he should be sitting in front of the TV shouting racist epithets at game shows than saving the world, but if you overlook Moore’s geriatric appearance this is a strong entry. I often judge a film by the bad guy, and Christopher Walken’s Zorin is probably my favorite of all the Bond villains.
#9) Diamonds Are Forever
I know this movie is objectively awful, but it has so many great moments in it I tend to forget that. Unfortunately it has to be marked down because of Tiffany Case’s almost instant transformation from sassy smuggler to Goodnight-style imbecile in the blink of an eye.
I know this movie is objectively awful, but it has so many great moments in it I tend to forget that. Unfortunately it has to be marked down because of Tiffany Case’s almost instant transformation from sassy smuggler to Goodnight-style imbecile in the blink of an eye.
#10) Skyfall
Craig is one of my favorite Bonds, but this film unfortunately carries on the tradition of the Brosnan Bond’s in turning the movies into the “M Show”. Judi Dench is marvellous, but the problem is that if you hire such a wonderful actress, you have to use her. But M for me should be a relatively minor bureaucrat who occasionally shouts at Bond, not the basis for the entire plot.
Craig is one of my favorite Bonds, but this film unfortunately carries on the tradition of the Brosnan Bond’s in turning the movies into the “M Show”. Judi Dench is marvellous, but the problem is that if you hire such a wonderful actress, you have to use her. But M for me should be a relatively minor bureaucrat who occasionally shouts at Bond, not the basis for the entire plot.
#11) Dr. No
The one that started it all. So many classic scenes, but just a touch ordinary by the standards of what was to come. Dr. No was sinister, but not terrifying. A classic soundtrack though, even without the Bond Theme itself.
The one that started it all. So many classic scenes, but just a touch ordinary by the standards of what was to come. Dr. No was sinister, but not terrifying. A classic soundtrack though, even without the Bond Theme itself.
#12) The Living Daylights
A great Bond in a rather mediocre movie. Joe Don Baker is just not particularly thrilling as the bad guy, and Maryam d’Abo doesn’t really have much going for her. Would merit a lower score, but, well, Dalton.
A great Bond in a rather mediocre movie. Joe Don Baker is just not particularly thrilling as the bad guy, and Maryam d’Abo doesn’t really have much going for her. Would merit a lower score, but, well, Dalton.
#13) The Spy Who Loved Me
A superb film, with great baddies in Jaws and Stromberg, and another fabulous set from Ken Adam. Sadly ruined for me by the inexplicable casting of Barbara Bach, who has all the charm and acting ability of a two-by-four.
A superb film, with great baddies in Jaws and Stromberg, and another fabulous set from Ken Adam. Sadly ruined for me by the inexplicable casting of Barbara Bach, who has all the charm and acting ability of a two-by-four.
#14) Octopussy
Another entertaining Roger Moore romp. Nothing really terrible about it, but nothing much stands out either. Louis Jourdan and Stephen Berkoff keep it from a lower placing.
Another entertaining Roger Moore romp. Nothing really terrible about it, but nothing much stands out either. Louis Jourdan and Stephen Berkoff keep it from a lower placing.
#15) Moonraker
Actually not a bad movie in some respects. Drax isn’t the greatest baddie, but apart from the silliness of the space fight at the end, it has some great setpieces. And realistically, is the space fight that much sillier than many other Bond scenes? Also marked down slightly (and unfairly) for Corinne Durfort being mauled by dogs, since that traumatized me a bit as a child.
Actually not a bad movie in some respects. Drax isn’t the greatest baddie, but apart from the silliness of the space fight at the end, it has some great setpieces. And realistically, is the space fight that much sillier than many other Bond scenes? Also marked down slightly (and unfairly) for Corinne Durfort being mauled by dogs, since that traumatized me a bit as a child.
#16) Goldeneye
A good effort considering how weak Brosnan was as Bond. With a better protagonist this would have been a top ten effort.
A good effort considering how weak Brosnan was as Bond. With a better protagonist this would have been a top ten effort.
#17) Spectre
Seems like a decent effort, but I haven’t watched it enough to form a strong opinion. The fact that I can’t remember a huge amount about it at the time of writing probably speaks volumes. I do remember the death of Mr White being rather unsatisfying after the cliffhanger of Casino Royale.
Seems like a decent effort, but I haven’t watched it enough to form a strong opinion. The fact that I can’t remember a huge amount about it at the time of writing probably speaks volumes. I do remember the death of Mr White being rather unsatisfying after the cliffhanger of Casino Royale.
#18) Quantum Of Solace
Not a bad film, but a ridiculously complex plot that took me several goes to fully understand. Fundamentally it’s too short- with a longer running time there would have been more time to figure out what on earth was going on.
Not a bad film, but a ridiculously complex plot that took me several goes to fully understand. Fundamentally it’s too short- with a longer running time there would have been more time to figure out what on earth was going on.
#19) The Man With The Golden GUn
A quite good Bond film. But that’s about it. Goodnight is portrayed as a bumbling idiot whose only purpose is to screw everything up so Bond can have a tougher time defeating the not-very-terrifying baddies. Christopher Lee is good though; they just should have gotten rid of Goodnight and made him scarier.
A quite good Bond film. But that’s about it. Goodnight is portrayed as a bumbling idiot whose only purpose is to screw everything up so Bond can have a tougher time defeating the not-very-terrifying baddies. Christopher Lee is good though; they just should have gotten rid of Goodnight and made him scarier.
#20) Thunderball
A mix of extremely exciting and extremely boring sequences. Underwater fights just aren’t that thrilling to watch unfortunately.
A mix of extremely exciting and extremely boring sequences. Underwater fights just aren’t that thrilling to watch unfortunately.
#21) On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Yes, I know this makes me an imposter in the world of the Bond aficionado, but I never got why this was so highly rated. Lazenby doesn’t do it for me. Great theme tune though.
Yes, I know this makes me an imposter in the world of the Bond aficionado, but I never got why this was so highly rated. Lazenby doesn’t do it for me. Great theme tune though.
#22) The World Is Not Enough
Some good parts to this movie, but still hamstrung by the fact that Brosnan is simply a poor Bond. The most important thing about Bond is that the seven-year-old boy that lives inside us all must, deep down, want to be Bond. Nobody wants to be Brosnan’s Bond- he just isn’t cool.
Some good parts to this movie, but still hamstrung by the fact that Brosnan is simply a poor Bond. The most important thing about Bond is that the seven-year-old boy that lives inside us all must, deep down, want to be Bond. Nobody wants to be Brosnan’s Bond- he just isn’t cool.
#23) Tomorrow Never Dies
A vaguely interesting idea ruined by a completely un-sinister villain. Not sure whether this was meant to be some sort of satirical jab at Rupert Murdoch, but whatever it was it didn’t work.
A vaguely interesting idea ruined by a completely un-sinister villain. Not sure whether this was meant to be some sort of satirical jab at Rupert Murdoch, but whatever it was it didn’t work.
#24) Die Another Day
Total rubbish- there are lacklustre Bond films, but this is the only actively awful one
Total rubbish- there are lacklustre Bond films, but this is the only actively awful one
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