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YOLT vs. DAF

chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
edited October 2014 in Bond Movies Posts: 17,800
Both Connery, both OTT (noticeably smaller budget on DAF though), both with Charles Gray, both with crazy/jumpy Blofeld cats, both with curious organizational economics...
Which is your favourite?
I think I like YOLT more for the definite 60's vibe & the sheer destructive stuff, but DAF has so many really funny lines & an awesome coda that I can't be sure.
Thoughts?
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Comments

  • ThighsOfXeniaThighsOfXenia
    Posts: 1,596
    I have them cheek by jowl on my list and they're interchangeable based on my mood. YOLT is more 60's (a positive), has better sets, is grander, etc.

    DAF has a better tone, a better Connery, is more interesting, and the dialogue is absolute fire.

    Pretty much tied for me. They're not all that similar. It's hard to pick. I'll go with DAF just so it has some votes as I assume, on these boards at least, YOLT is generally preferred.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,800
    I personally find YOLT to be a more enjoyable adventure, yet DAF is just so much mindless fun that I can't easily choose between them- it's like choosing between fish & chips and pizza! :))
  • TripAcesTripAces Universal Exports
    Posts: 4,585
    DAF is a guilty pleasure, for sure.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,351
    I enjoy YOLT better. It's my third favorite Connery Bond film. DAF is somewhat dull and Boring to me, much like Goldfinger. They rank lower.

    1. FRWL
    2. TB
    3. YOLT
    4. DN
    5. GF
    6. DAF
  • ThighsOfXeniaThighsOfXenia
    edited October 2014 Posts: 1,596
    TripAces wrote: »
    DAF is a guilty pleasure, for sure.

    Nothing guilty about it in my opinion. It's a damn good film. Dark, witty comedy of the absurd mixed with excellent tension and a swaggering aloof performance from Mr. Connery.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,800
    ThighsOfXenia wrote: »
    Nothing guilty about it in my opinion. It's a damn good film. Dark, witty comedy of the absurd mixed with excellent tension and a swaggering aloof performance from Mr. Connery.

    Ah yep! :)>-
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    DAF has far better henchmen, but other than that I prefer YOLT when it comes to almost everything else. (They both have stellar theme songs.)
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER. Better villains, score, Connery (love his deadpan deliveries of his lines), Girls and humour (easily the funniest film in the series). Nonetheless, it is still in the lower half of my ranking along with YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE.

  • dragonskydragonsky
    Posts: 2,491
    DAF. I like the movie. I like the cheesyness of the movie much much more than I like any other cheesy-ness in the series.

    I don't see why people hate DAF (actually I can kinda see but that's not the point), as it is really enjoyable movie for me.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    edited October 2014 Posts: 17,800
    I just watched DAF, and oh my, YOLT is SO much better in almost every way save the funny dialogue. :)>-
  • Dr_StrangewaysDr_Strangeways
    Posts: 23
    DAF feels too much like a comedy without action for me, so ill have to go with YOLT when it comes to excitement, despite the fact that DAF is hilarious as what it is.
  • 007RogerMoore007RogerMoore
    Posts: 1,082
    YOLT. Easily. IMO one of the better Bond movies. It drags a little bit with the japanese wedding and all, But the climax in the volcano is probably my favorite in the series (LALD is up there also) and thus drags the movie up in the top half.

    DAF on the other hand, while entertaining (I become happy even by thinking about it) and a movie I like, is too lightweight and goofy for being a serious contender to YOLT. It has some weird scenes I'm not too fond of (the circus, Bambi & Thumper) and is to americanised. Add to that the not very handsome locations and you got a movie near the bottom of my list. But don't get me wrong, I like DAF and have given it a thumbs up on Rotten Tomatoes.
  • MartinAstonMartinAston
    Posts: 238
    You Only Live Twice is the more superior movie IMHO.

    It is believed that Diamonds Are Forever was only ever intended to be part of a dream sequence between OHMSS and Live and Let Die, the dream ending when Bond wakes up.
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    Easy

    YOLT epitomises Bond more than any other single movie in the franchise.

    Every parody and piss-take in movie and TV history owes a debt of gratitude to YOLT.

    Ask anyone on the street to define James Bond films and the likelihood is their initial thoughts will include a bald headed, crack faced Donald Pleasence and cat, a hollowed out volcano, a funny little helicopter, ninjas tumbling down ropes, man eating piranhas, rockets eating other rockets and so on and so forth.

    This film is the moment early Bond and 70s Bond met in the middle and probably represents the series better than any other individual film.

    John Barry's music - beautiful.
    Connery - magnetic.

    And the sight of Bond being pursued across the rooftops by a bunch of Blofeld's goons, with Bond dispatching them one after the other, is one of the series most breath-taking, exciting and funny moments.

    It's a big, stupid, mad piece of film making and without it the series would be all the poorer.

    DAF?
    A bizarre, disjointed, lazy film. Sometimes I enjoy it, sometimes I don't. But it never reaches the epic proportions of YOLT.
  • MartinAstonMartinAston
    edited January 2015 Posts: 238
    NicNac wrote: »

    John Barry's music - beautiful.


    And the sight of Bond being pursued across the rooftops by a bunch of Blofeld's goons, with Bond dispatching them one after the other, is one of the series most breath-taking, exciting and funny moments.
    I have to say, I really agree with that comment the way the camera pans out as Bond takes out the "goons" is a brilliant piece of theatre. And combined with Barry's musical accompaniment, I had never thought of it before but yes, one of the best scenes ever. And another great scene, Little Nellie? That is somewhere in the mix for iconic scenes.

    That said, for me, Goldfinger is the ultimate Bond film.
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    Yes Goldfinger has most of the iconic moments that aren't in YOLT.

    Outside of these two films you have Ursula Andress emerging from the sea, the character of Jaws and arguably Craig in his speedos that would make the top 10 moments everyone remembers (non-Bond fans that is).
  • MartinAstonMartinAston
    Posts: 238
    NicNac wrote: »
    Yes Goldfinger has most of the iconic moments that aren't in YOLT.

    Outside of these two films you have Ursula Andress emerging from the sea, the character of Jaws and arguably Craig in his speedos that would make the top 10 moments everyone remembers (non-Bond fans that is).

    Agreed! See thread I have just started!
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,800
    NicNac wrote: »
    YOLT epitomises Bond more than any other single movie in the franchise.
    Just finished watching it last night in fact. And I agree with you sir!
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    Posts: 4,399
    MartinAston wrote: »
    It is believed that Diamonds Are Forever was only ever intended to be part of a dream sequence between OHMSS and Live and Let Die, the dream ending when Bond wakes up.

    can you prove that?... or is that just your opinion?
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,551
    Once I read Diamonds are Forever, getting through the movie version was a bit of a slog so I'd have to say I prefer YOLT. Given some of the defense DAF is getting here though... I may have to go give it another watch!
  • MartinAstonMartinAston
    Posts: 238
    HASEROT wrote: »
    MartinAston wrote: »
    It is believed that Diamonds Are Forever was only ever intended to be part of a dream sequence between OHMSS and Live and Let Die, the dream ending when Bond wakes up.

    can you prove that?... or is that just your opinion?

    Yes
  • Ottofuse8Ottofuse8
    Posts: 832
    No comparison, yolt is one of the best in the series, daf is amoung the worst, which is quite unfortunate because I love the first act, and there were so many good ideas that were wasted in it.
  • doubleohdaddoubleohdad
    Posts: 1,146
    YOLT is a big bowl of fun, and BAF is just the beginning of a long run of silly Bond films in the 70's.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited January 2015 Posts: 23,883
    I haven't watched either in some time, but I recall that YOLT did not impress so much the last time I saw it. While it definitely has some of the series' most iconic scenes, and retains the classic 60's flavour, it was, for me, messed up by the Japanese fisherman bit about 2/3 in when it really slows down. I remember really liking everything up to the part when Brandt ditches Bond in the plane. From then on it fell apart for me (including the ninja training site etc.). I'll have to watch it again and see what I think now. I loved Osato and Brandt though.

    DAF has an outstanding score (too good for the film IMO) but I really don't have much positive to say about it. As mentioned, I've not watched it for a while, and whenever I do I'm disappointed, primarily by the use of the US as a location. It comes across like a 70's tv show (Starsky and Hutch or Chips or Charlies Angels or Vegas) because of this to me. I realize they had a smaller budget, but they should have filmed it somewhere else. The tacky 70's flavour also hurts it. Blofeld & Tiffany Case weren't too memorable either. The best bit I remember was Bond breaking into Willard Whyte's top floor hangout. I'll see what I think when I watch it again.

    So YOLT takes the win here, but that's not saying much.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,800
    bondjames wrote: »
    I haven't watched either in some time....I'll have to watch it again and see what I think now.
    Please, watch it again. You might find much more fun to be had than last time. I had poor memories of DN & FRWL, and upon more recent viewings found them to be two of my favourites. Just to say that time & different eras can change one's perspective a bit...
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited January 2015 Posts: 23,883
    chrisisall wrote: »
    Please, watch it again. You might find much more fun to be had than last time. I had poor memories of DN & FRWL, and upon more recent viewings found them to be two of my favourites. Just to say that time & different eras can change one's perspective a bit...

    You're absolutely right. I remember having some sound problems with a crappy sound bar (since exchanged for a much better speaker system) I had bought when I last watched YOLT, and I have never seen DAF on my big screen tv (it's been that long). So I'm long overdue for a rewatch. With my new system, I'm sure I'll enjoy them both more now. Will report back soon with an update.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    edited January 2015 Posts: 17,800
    One other thing I have to say, ten years ago I watched YOLT & *HATED* when Aki died. Then Bond seemed to want to shag Kissy soon after. This pissed me off, and I swore off the film.
    I have since made peace with the idea that Bond survives by staying with life, not death. As much as he liked Aki, she was gone. Kissy was there, and alive. I dropped my nonsensical romantic/heroic notions & now I appreciate that Bond is (in YOLT) a survivor. He exists for NOW.
    Presently it's one of my favourite Connery films, along side DN & FRWL.

    DAF however, is merely nostalgic & humerous eye candy with a great Barry score...
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited January 2015 Posts: 23,883
    Well I watched both over the weekend and came away with some surprising revisions to my long held view. Interestingly, it is DAF that has improved in my estimation. YOLT has not fallen, but it did not improve either. More below:

    I thought Connery was actually better in DAF than he was in YOLT. He seemed bored in YOLT (particularly in the Ninja camp). He was more sprightly and assured in DAF, although his appearance was terrible. They should have shaved the thick burns (realizing that this particular look was going to date the film) and they should have at least dyed his hair. No doubt he should have lost weight too. However, he really did seem more with it in DAF....like he was glad to be back. His lines were also much better in DAF (there was more of the slightly crude humour that only he could deliver so effortlessly).

    I actually enjoyed DAF more overall as well, only because it seemed more balanced throughout. YOLT is far superior in the beginning to about 2/3 in until the ninja training camp, when it falls flat due to pacing IMO....around the time Connery goes Japanese. DAF just moves along somewhat with a consistent pace throughout. DAF also seems much more modern to me (there is too much green screen in YOLT) although YOLT has that great 60's vibe and clothing, and its plot is far more ambitious. DAF is a much smaller scale production but moves along much faster and is the better for it.....I don't think it's bloated in the slightest.

    I marginally preferred Helga Brandt, Osato & Hans to Bambi/Thumper (although I really liked these two) & Wint & Kidd (and I only recently realized why Barry used that climbing saxophone whenever they are on screen - genius!). I preferred Aki/Kissy to Tiffany Case but actually liked Charles Grey's Blofeld more than the arguably more iconic Donald Pleasance's (although they are both pretty naff in my estimation).

    I marginally prefer DAF's score to YOLT's but it's very close between these two. Both classics. I can't really choose between the title tracks. They are quite different but great, depending on one's mood.

    DAF is mainly let down by the US setting which really robs it of a lot of the Bondian class together with the less classic 70's fashions IMO. If only they had filmed it somewhere else the movie would have really gone up in my ranking. Oh well.

    The win goes to DAF (surprisingly) due to more balanced pacing and a more engaged but less visually appealing Connery. No doubt YOLT is much more iconic, but I just preferred DAF this time around. Wonders never cease!
  • ThomasCrown76ThomasCrown76 Augusta, ks
    Posts: 757
    You only live twice is the better of them. Connery looks much better. The score is way better. Fight at Kobe docks is a classic. The Nancy Sinatra song is one of the best. The cinematography is breathtaking.
    Diamonds just is ehhhh.
  • doubleohdaddoubleohdad
    Posts: 1,146
    ThomasCrown76 wrote: »
    You only live twice is the better of them. Connery looks much better. The score is way better. Fight at Kobe docks is a classic. The Nancy Sinatra song is one of the best. The cinematography is breathtaking.
    Diamonds just is ehhhh.

    I second the motion!
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