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Help me become a James Bond fan

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My favorite part of DAF is when Bond and the girl have to switch out like a DAT cassette tape or some shit because one of them has important data and the other has a song, I think. But the girl fucks up and puts the tape the villains need that does whatever they need it to do and Bond's response is basically "Good job, you moron."

Other than that scene, horrible movie.
 
RE Moore, be sure to watch The Spy Who Loved Me & For Your Eyes Only, regardless of what many here say about his tenure as Bond.

In general, though, my advice would be to watch ALL of them with a few exceptions. Simply:
  • Don't watch any of the few Bond productions prior to Connery in Dr. No
  • Skip Never Say Never Again - it stars an old Connery years after he left the role, too old, and is an "unofficial" remake of Thunderball.
  • Skip Octopussy & A View to a Kill - Moore is just too old, and it's sort of sad.
  • Skip Die Another Day - it's terrible.

All the others have redeeming things to offer, and many are fantastic films.


This is a great guide. Better to know which ones to skip (or see later), since most are worth watching. I'd skip Diamonds are Forever too, it's the worst Connery one. I kinda liked Never Say Never Again but it's not canon and it is an inferior remake.
 
My favorite part of DAF is when Bond and the girl have to switch out like a DAT cassette tape or some shit because one of them has important data and the other has a song, I think. But the girl fucks up and puts the tape the villains need that does whatever they need it to do and Bond's response is basically "Good job, you moron."

Other than that scene, horrible movie.

There are also the unintentionally hillarious scenes where Bond shakes down random women on the beach for Blofelts location and when Bond switches the two wheels that the mustang is driving on by leaning over.

I actually liked Mr. Wint and Mr. Kid, excellent bond villains if you omit the final scene.
 
Also, if you go by cast, On Her Majesty's Secret Service should get be assumed to be great on the account of Telly Savalas and Diana Rigg.
OOOOH SHIT, I SAID DIANA RIGG, THAT'S THE SECRET WORD, SO HERE'S A PICTURE OF HER FROM THE AVENGERS -
sIjgQq4.jpg

Because why not.
Watch the movies. All 23. In order. Read all Fleming's books. You are now a Bond fan.

Damn straight. Not for everybody, but do it, man!

My friend and I tried watching all of them from the beginning. After the Connery films, we couldn't bear to go further. As much as people love Connery, his movies might be some of the worst in the series.


But, I guess you have to let yourself fall into the insanity and cornballery of it all.

The last two Connerys are pretty bad. The first 4 are great though, IMHO.

I'm one of those people who likes the original Casino Royale with Peter Sellers.

Me too, for what it is. It also has one of the best songs to come out of a Bond movie-- The Look of Love.

1 film per Bond:

From Russia With Love
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
For Your Eyes Only
The Living Daylights
GoldenEye
Casino Royale

Greap list. I'd probably suggest Goldfinger over FRWL though, as FRWL can be a bit dry and Goldfinger is more fun.

You Only Live Twice is incredibly iconic, but it's not only where the Austin Powers tropes come from (and thus can be a bit hard to take seriously for new viewers), it's also not on par with the first three.

Diamonds are Forever is fucking atrocious and I don't know how Sean looked older in it than he did in Never Say Never Again.

Plenty O'Toole can't even redeem that movie.

No, because they're awful, especially Diamonds Are Forever.

DAF is the worst Bond movie. Worse than Moonraker, worse than Die Another Day. What a mess.

YOLT is fun to see as the source of Bond cliches, and also has the best villain lair, hands down. Also a great theme song. Pity the story couldn't be better. I blame Roald Dahl, apparently he wasn't a Bond fan despite being a frind of Flemming's.
 
RE Moore, be sure to watch The Spy Who Loved Me & For Your Eyes Only, regardless of what many here say about his tenure as Bond.

In general, though, my advice would be to watch ALL of them with a few exceptions. Simply:
  • Don't watch any of the few Bond productions prior to Connery in Dr. No
  • Skip Never Say Never Again - it stars an old Connery years after he left the role, too old, and is an "unofficial" remake of Thunderball.
  • Skip Octopussy & A View to a Kill - Moore is just too old, and it's sort of sad.
  • Skip Die Another Day - it's terrible.

All the others have redeeming things to offer, and many are fantastic films.

I agree with the exception of A View to a Kill - great music. Christopher Walken alone makes it worth a watch.
 
i'd start by trying and watch one by every bond, i'll suggest some that will give you a good flavour of each bond as well as capturing a range of different bond experiences. then you can move based on what you like.

connery - goldfinger is kinda the quintessential bond film. good campy fun, great pacing, entertaining villain, good humour, excellent finale. i'd also reccomend from russia with love as a more grounded espionage story, rooted in fleming's books which gives connery more to work with.
lazenby - ohmss (obviously). i think watching this is good as not only is it great fun, every ski scene with the theme blasting is wonderful, but it shows a different romantic side to bond and lazenby plays that airy, charming side very well.
moore - the spy who loved me. the moore era was defined by ramping up the goofiness, the gadgetry and campy one liners. this one isn't my favourite but it's the best of the classic silly moore approach with its underwater car, jaws and is generally well paced and entertaining.
dalton - the living daylights. while dalton's bond is regularly praised for being darker and more interesting as a character than just an archetype, this is still a very fun bond film. loads of great set pieces, tons of locations, an amazing aircraft scene that probably inspired uncharted 3. it could be a moore film, yet dalton's performance lends it a very different tone.
brosnan - goldeneye. brosnan is a move away from the darker dalton, more to the sort of handsome, suave iconic feel yet this film has some interesting characterization thanks to the relationship between him and alec trevelyan, his old friend and partner who turns bad. the rest of the film is fairly standard, though with good action, but sean bean really elevates it.
craig - casino royale. redefined bond for the modern era, combining brilliant action bombast, tragic love and tense thriller elements into a great bond film. craig's bond is very physical, brutal and kinda darkly funny and ties the whole big film all together with his presence.
 
  • Skip Die Another Day - it's terrible.

All the others have redeeming things to offer, and many are fantastic films.

As a tease, I'd at the very least watch the opening scene of Die Another Day, and when the song begins just skip straight to Casino Royale. It's the only semblance of a competent and interesting Bond movie in there.
 
I never was into James Bond until I saw Casino Royale (2006). I've seen all the Craig movies. I think he's great. He's probably my favorite Bond. I respect Sean Connery but I just can't watch them from that far back. But I do want to see the one he made in the 80s. Roger Moore is just terrible. I caught bits and pieces of some of his Bond films and just ugh. I finally saw GoldenEye recently. Not bad. I want to see License to Kill.
 
I remember the name now. "You only live twice"

James Bond goes to Japan. The silliness in this is simply perfect, I love it.

I don't want to spoil it, but what James Bond does to his image is hilarious.

It also has a hot redhead and a beautiful Japanese lady.

Also it has that bald guy with a cat which the Austin Power movies were obviously inspired by.

Cool trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odWNj7i-q1A

No 'You Only Live Twice' or 'Diamonds are Forever' love GAF?

No, because they're awful, especially Diamonds Are Forever.

But "You Only Live Twice" is "Awfully good", for me the awfulness is what makes it so entertaining. :)
 
Probably not the "right" way

But I always recommend watching them all.

So many films that I find some resonate with people more than me, and others I love, people find to be a slog.

IF I had to give a list

Dr. No
From Russia with Love
Goldfinger
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Live and Let Die
For Your Eyes Only
The Spy Who Loved me
The Living Daylights
License to Kill
Goldeneye
Casino Royale
Skyfall
 
Figured I would bump the thread up, just noticed that a good portion of the Bond films are on Netflix.

Don't remember ever seeing them on there prior. Only on premium channels.
 
They come and go on Netflix.

Yeah they are currently set to go off Netflix Sept 3 again. They were up for about 2 months this time. It is weird.

Seen all the Bond films. The only ones I can't watch are:

Live and Let Die
Die Another Day

All the others are good if you don't mind the cheese.

Favorites are:
Thunderball, Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Moonraker (super cheesy fun), Octopussy, Skyfall, Living Daylights (most beautiful Bond girl)
 
My wife and I are in the process of watching the whole series. We're up to Dalton's movies now. They are fun movies that feature gorgeous locales and people, but it's amazing how much times have changed. No does not mean no to Bond.

If you don't want to do the whole set, I'd suggest these as a sampling:

Dr. No
Goldfinger
Diamonds are Forever (Jill St. John hnnng)
Live and Let Die or Moonraker
A View to a Kill (IMO, this is the start of modern Bond movies)
The Living Daylights
GoldenEye (still the GOAT)
Casino Royale

Then go back and fill in the gaps.
 
Naaah. There's not much "ridiculous and terrible" in From Russia With Love, for example.

Although I agree (I think I said as much earlier) that being a Bond fan means you're going to need to build up a tolerance to crap entertainment. Because there's a LOT of it over those 50 years of movies :)

But I wouldn't suggest people dive into the bottom of the port-a-john on first contact, either.
 
is AAAAAALLLLMMMOOST perfect, but he put "For Your Eyes Only" in there instead of "The Spy Who Loved Me" which is better made, better paced, has a better Roger Moore performance, and has one of the best Bond themes ever made. Definitely has one of the best pre-title sequences.

The Spy Who Loved Me still sucks, I'd only put For Your Eyes Only over it simply for the better stuntwork.

I think there was another reason too but that's the only one I can remember
 
A view to a Kill is terrible when taken seriously, but is very entertaining. It's pretty campy but still delivers.

Diamond are Forever is just annoying and boring (like Moonraker).
 
How the hell can you say For Your Eyes Only has better stunts when The Spy Who Loved Me opens with possibly the BEST stunt in the entire series?

(The car loop-de-loop is 2nd)

Spy Who Loved Me is easily better than For Your Eyes Only. Better pacing, less bullshit. Also, no weird gross subplot about Bond maybe possibly boning a high-school gymnast at the age of seventy-sofa or however old he was when he made it.
 
The Spy Who Loved Me still sucks, I'd only put For Your Eyes Only over it simply for the better stuntwork.

I think there was another reason too but that's the only one I can remember

For Your Eyes Only has one of the more realistic Bond plots as well. No World-Destroying devices or anything, just an missing encrypting console.

It always seemed (to me) that Roger Moore slipped pretty comfortably into a more serious Bond and might have been much better overall of the producers hadn't gone all campy in the 70s.

EDIT: Bond is pushing said teenager away the entire time. He knows he's too old for her. At the time, he was in his early 50s (he didn't age well).
 
EDIT: Bond is pushing said teenager away the entire time. He knows he's too old for her.

Yeah, but it's still pretty fuckin uncomfortable :)

I wouldn't say For Your Eyes Only has a "realistic" plot. It's toned down from shit like Moonraker, but it's still pretty fantastical.

My biggest problem with For Your Eyes Only is how sluggish and lazy it is. The first hour is just deadly dull. And then it remembers that it's a Bond movie with about 40 minutes to go.

It is one of Moore's better performances - but I still think he turned in a better one in Spy Who Loved Me.

Better plot
Better acting
Better pacing
Better theme
Better Bond girl
Better stunts
Better cinematography

It's not even a question.
 
Start from Dr. No, and work your way from there. Skip Lazenby's movie and Never Say Never Again.
Only skype Never Say Never again, that is the only bond movie I can not stand at all.
[*]Skip Octopussy & A View to a Kill - Moore is just too old, and it's sort of sad.
[*]Skip Die Another Day - it's terrible.
[/LIST]
Now AP I love you man but Octopussy & A View to a Kill are AWESOME MOVIES :O and have to be watched.
But yes Die A D is terrible I agree with that.
 
My wife and I are in the process of watching the whole series. We're up to Dalton's movies now. They are fun movies that feature gorgeous locales and people, but it's amazing how much times have changed. No does not mean no to Bond.

.

This is something that bothers me going back to the older ones

But I think it makes me really uncomfortable in Thunderball. Pretty sure he rapes the worker in the spa.
 
I bought the full blu-ray set for $129 on Amazon a little while back. The next one up for me is Moonraker. I'm pretty easy when it comes to these sorts of movies, so I've enjoyed most, but From Russia With Love is my favorite so far. I'm also in the camp who would recommend OHMSS.
 
Awesome thread! I've been meaning to get into the classics for a while now. Only familiar with brosnan and craig entries.
 
I haven't seen Spy Who Loved Me in a while, so I won't compare (but I remeber it being a really good one), but when I say FYEO has one of the more realistic Bond plots, I really can't think of many that are more realistic. Even ones like Casino Royale still have plots to bomb airlines, and FRWL involves a sercret terrorist organization attempting to play the Soviets off the Brits.
 
This is something that bothers me going back to the older ones

But I think it makes me really uncomfortable in Thunderball. Pretty sure he rapes the worker in the spa.

He pretty much forces himself on Pussy Galore in Goldfinger.

I haven't seen Spy Who Loved Me in a while, so I won't compare (but I remeber it being a really good one), but when I say FYEO has one of the more realistic Bond plots, I really can't think of many that are more realistic. Even ones like Casino Royale still have plots to bomb airlines, and FRWL involves a sercret terrorist organization attempting to play the Soviets off the Brits.

You're correct in that the thing Bond is getting/protecting is pretty real-world. It's the lengths he goes to get/protect it that make it less "realistic" I guess.

Basically - apologies for the splitting of hairs I'm doing. I get what you're saying, and I'm probably protesting too much :)

(Spy Who Loved Me is still better, though)
 
Diamond are Forever is just annoying and boring (like Moonraker).

Moonraker is awesome. It has the two best stunts of the entire Bond franchise. The opening out of the plane bit and the cable car scene. Those were back in the days before CGI. Also lots of Jaws. The ending is terrible wannabe Star Wars but Moonraker is anything but boring.

Diamonds are Forever is boring and will hurt your brain because it makes no sense. The gay villains were interesting but they were random and I am not sure how they even mattered in the plot.
 
Love some of the convos this thread has spawned. Im gonna watch a few of the recommendations this weekend, cant wait.

Yeah they are currently set to go off Netflix Sept 3 again. They were up for about 2 months this time. It is weird.
Great, guess they're gonna vanish from amazon then too. Guess i better get cracking
 
Love some of the convos this thread has spawned. Im gonna watch a few of the recommendations this weekend, cant wait.


Great, guess they're gonna vanish from amazon then too. Guess i better get cracking

Let us know when you watch them. I can't remember the first time I saw some of the Bond movies so it'll be cool to hear somebody else's reactions.
 
Lies! Licence to Kill is one of the best Bond films.

I don't know about one of the best - but people who say it's a noticeable drop in quality from Living Daylights? I disagree with those people.

I really like Licence to Kill. Felt like watching a new Fleming novel. Not many Bond movies feel that way.
 
I couldn't think of a better title but basically I'd like to get into the Bond franchise.

I've never seen a single Bond film, just never cared to. But I just finished watching Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007 (because I love documentaries) and thought a lot of the movies shown looked fun so I figured...why not? Better late than never.

So BondGAF, give me a list of your "Must Watch" Bond films. I'll probably watch them all if I like what I'm recommended, but I just wanna hear what's considered the best of the best.

Start with the first two films they are considered classics and still hold up decently mainly because Sean Connery is a cool dude. Here is my recommended order. You won't be disappointed:

Dr. No
From Russia With Love
The Living Daylights
Goldeneye
Casino Royale

If you still want to see more I recommend:

Quantum of Solace
Sky fall
Tomorrow never dies
The world is not enough
Thunderball
You only live twice
On her majesty secret service
License to Kill
Diamonds are forever

I can't in good conscience recommend any of the Roger Moore movies. They are extremely cringe worthy and boring and in some cases offensive.
 
Don't watch OHMSS its a silly out of continuity film where the script makes jokes about the real bond films and at one point James Bond wears a skirt and gets felt up by girls who are under the influence of MK Ultra
 
Watch them all and decide for yourself. That being said, the 10 best are (in order of release):

Dr. No
From Russia with Love
Goldfinger
Thunderball
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
For Your Eyes Only
The Spy Who Loved Me
The Living Daylights
Goldeneye
Casino Royale

Also pretty good:

Licence to Kill
Skyfall


The rest are all kind of iffy, but if you like Bond after all of those^ you will probably still enjoy them. There are definitely some "guilty pleasure" type of feelings from most of the ones I didn't list.

The only one you should avoid at all costs is Die Another Day.
 
Sean Connery: Goldfinger and Thunderball are both really good. Both set the standard for most later movies would be, Bond foiling the plot of some criminal genius.

Dr. No is kind of boring, and From Russia With Love is different than all the other movies, more like a serious spy drama with the Russians, not supervillains.

Avoid You Only Live Twice, it's terrible. Diamonds are Forever isn't that great, either, I only like it because it has a chase scene involving my car (I have a Mustang like that).

Never Say Never is a remake of Thunderball. Basically just a cash in as Sony had the rights to that novel

Roger Moore: Most of this movies are somewhat more comic than Sean Connery's, a reflection of both the time (camp was in) and his being known as The Saint (TV show), starring a Robin Hood-ish sort of criminal thief.

For Your Eyes Only is very good, though a little meandering. Probably the most serious Moore movie, though despite the name, Octopussy is mostly pretty serious.

The Spy Who Loved Me is pretty good. Moonraker almost entirely rips off the plot of it (only in space, not underwater, and with a CIA agent instead of Russian. It even brings Jaws back)

A View to a Kill is somewhat underrated, but not as good as it should have been, given the cast.

While both have their moments, Live & Let Die and Man with the Golden Gun are safely skipped.
 
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