James Bond movies: From great to not-so-great!

[wolfie]

Worst Bond Songs in no order.

View to a Kill
Living Daylights
Goldeneye
Tommorrow Never Dies
World is not Enough
Die Another Day
Casino Royale
Quantum of Solace.

[Vortigern99]

James Bond is pure bunk (but I love it) --- trying to make him real and gritty is like putting perfume on a pig.

Well, I'm probably not going to change anyone's mind about this -- we all like what we like, and that's that -- but just so you know, Bond as originally created by Fleming was real and gritty, based in the author's own experiences and observations as a British Naval officer. The first two Connery films reflect this real-world take on the character; it wasn't until the third movie (Goldfinger) that the spirit of spectacular action one-upsmanship and super-heroic feats began to take hold of the franchise.

Now, don't get me wrong -- I love the spectacular action one-upsmanship and super-heroic feats! It's part of what attracts me to the series. But to suggest that any attempt to make the character more realistic must automatically fail, because he's inherently unreal or exaggerated or fantastical, is false, and shows a lack of understanding about the origins of the character.

[wolfie]

Each Bond has had his own take on the role and the films content has had a lot to do with when they were made. The cynical 70's really show up in the Moore films where everything was done as a joke and not to be taken seriously.

There is nothing wrong with the new Bond image and Casino Royale was a fantastic film. Quantum of Solace was an awful film which used exactly the same image so maybe the image is not that important in making the film good.

[Vortigern99]

Wow, I thought QoS was awesome. The drawbacks are that it feels like a direct sequel to CR, which is the first time in the series this has been done, and that it lacks some of the cliches we've come to depend on from the series, such as "Bond, James Bond", "shaken not stirred", Q, etc. Other than that, taken for what it is -- an electrifying action thriller -- QoS delivers the goods.

[csstuba]

Top 5 movies:
1. From Russia With Love
2. Casino Royale
3. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
4. For Your Eyes Only
5. Dr. No

Connery
Craig
Lazenby
Moore
Brosnan

[Mikey]

A thought ...

As long as it's been established that "James Bond" is a title rather then a specific person's name, I wonder if it's possible to do a "SIX BONDS" movie starring all the actors who played Bond in the past --- considering they're all still alive at the moment.

[kingdom warrior]

Wow, I thought QoS was awesome. The drawbacks are that it feels like a direct sequel to CR, which is the first time in the series this has been done, and that it lacks some of the cliches we've come to depend on from the series, such as "Bond, James Bond", "shaken not stirred", Q, etc. Other than that, taken for what it is -- an electrifying action thriller -- QoS delivers the goods.

I thought Quantum was awesome also....Not the greatest story but it delivered on action and was a solid sequel.

It didn't bother me with the cliches not being there. I understand this Bond is slightly different and leaning more towards the books. Q was not used a lot in the books. That was more for the movies. Plus the whole shaken not stirred line I always associate that with Connery's Bond.

[kingdom warrior]

A thought ...

As long as it's been established that "James Bond" is a title rather then a specific person's name, I wonder if it's possible to do a "SIX BONDS" movie starring all the actors who played Bond in the past --- considering they're all still alive at the moment.

As a Comedy I can see it happening. the only thing Connery has retired from acting.

[Mikey]

As a Comedy I can see it happening. the only thing Connery has retired from acting.

It doesn't have to be a comedy

The premise could be someone is killing all the retired Bonds one at a time working his way up to the current Bond.

[kingdom warrior]

It doesn't have to be a comedy

The premise could be someone is killing all the retired Bonds one at a time working his way up to the current Bond.

I don't see that happening then. The current producers aren't going to do that. Plus The new Bond is aimed at getting a younger Adult audience. Who want their action stars a bit more brutal.

[Mikey]

The new Bond is aimed at getting a younger Adult audience. Who want their action stars a bit more brutal.

That's the problem with movie and TV these days.

Today's movie and TV viewing public is so desensitized, everything that comes out must outdo the last one in violence and cool computer effects.
Forget about the story or if it even has one.

[kingdom warrior]

The new Bond is aimed at getting a younger Adult audience. Who want their action stars a bit more brutal.

That's the problem with movie and TV these days.

Today's movie and TV viewing public is so desensitized, everything that comes out must outdo the last one in violence and cool computer effects.
Forget about the story or if it even has one.

So true. Last year I noticed it even more. I mean B-movies are the worst culprits of this type of movie making but i started seeing it more and more in mainstream releases. The worse recent movie to do this was "Shoot em up" an hour plus of just shooting and killing with no story. The Same with the recent Punisher movie.

[Mikey]

The biggest problem is the viewing public themselves ..

They just keep eating it up and loving it.

The producers figure, if they want crap --- we'll make them crap ... They're happy and we save money

[Vortigern99]

Last night my Bond-fan friend and I watched Quantum of Solace in the theater, he for the first time, me for the second. We both loved it!

I don't understand the criticism against it, especially that it doesn't "feel" like a 007 film. The plot is a clever, updated pastiche of several previous outings: The girl Bond sleeps with who winds up dead, the girl seeking revenge who won't sleep with Bond until the very end, the criminal mastermind collecting money via a deceptive meeting with investors, the attempt on M's life, the "solo Bond takes on the bad guys by himself" subplot. And the actions scenes are INCREDIBLE, with 99% of them looking "in-camera"/live on-set as opposed to cheesy CGI stuff.

What's missing are the "Bond, James Bond" line (which he said in Casino Royale) the "shaken not stirred" line (replaced by a different drink in both CR and here), and Q dispensing implausible techno-gadgetry (replaced here by plausible gadgetry without the nostalgic Q introduction). But given that the bullet-through-the-scope vignette was saved for the very end of QoS, I have a feeling these cliches will return/make their "first" appearance for Bond 23.

[wolfie]

I really must watch this film again on your recomendation.

I certainly do not think it is anywhere near as good as Casino Royale but perhaps it is better than i gave it credit for.