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When it came to the worst, while they didn't remember all the names, the majority chose OHMSS. Why? They didn't really go in to but I believe that, because Lazenby only did that one movie, it's easy to dismiss it as a good Bond. Not to the community here, but to casual viewers. This is something I have come across before and I generally believe that OHMSS is one of, if not THE, most underrated Bond movie of all.
Myself? Well I love it and it is always near the top of my rankings.
Licence to Kill: this is Fleming's Bond. It gets appreciated here and there, some critics dare put it near the bottom however. Sean Bean in Boromir modus would say: "FOOL!" I'd say it's the best Bond film ever. There, I've said it.
The World Is Not Enough: I know Denise Richards is unbelievable as a bloody scientist, she would be unbelievable as any sort of person with half a brain. That being said, TWINE features a great story with the Broz in top form in his most challenging turn as Bond. Sophie Marceau is right up there with Fiona and Xenia as the franchise's most evil femme fatales, but her character is more fascinating. As a bonus, Zukovsky makes a welcome return too.
Maybe I could put in You Only Live Twice or Octopussy too. Some people seem to dislike them a lot, while they are fun Cold War Bond films with beautifully shot locations, incredible sets and magnificent soundtracks.
As far as overrated goes, there are some candidates here but I'll just name one that I find particularly overrated: For Your Eyes Only. This film has the reputation of being serious while it isn't serious in the slightest, unless we confuse seriousness with dullness. Unengaging plot, forgettable villain, irritating Bibi, give us a kiss and stainless steel. It's not all bad, but it's definitely nowhere near the top 10 for me.
The way Bond is written and the performance from Dalton definitely = Fleming. The film as a whole is a bit more hit and miss in that regard, I feel.
Moonraker: Pure spectacle. Gorgeous. Barry's music is ethereal. Moore is a force to be reckoned with in terms of sheer screen presence. Every penny of the movie is on the screen. They don't make 'em like this anymore.
Octopussy: Far more Fleming here than some thing. The fact that "Fleming purists" often dislike it perplexes me. Sure, there's the Moore humor, but I think this is Moore's most Fleming performance (along with FYEO and maybe TMWTGG). Great action, great locations, has a great exotic feel and flair.
A View to a Kill: So weird on almost every level. I love it.
Die Another Day: Not as bad as you think. Visually interesting. Paced like a bullet. Full of energy.
My issues with LTK are the more slack production values. E.g. Bond not as suavely dressed and driving around in crap American hire cars. But that is still like some of the novels. Mixing the humour of say Q with the more gritty tone was a bit odd though.
Nevertheless, it's true that the novel Bond would drive American hire cars too and complain about them to himself (which I always loved). You can't do that in a film of course.
I actually never had a problem with the humor in LTK. I didn't think it detracted from the tone at all (rather, it fits right in, like the humor in CR, which, on a recent viewing is more plentiful than I had remembered).
My problems with it are that I just don't think it's a great Bond movie. Dalton is excellent, don't get me wrong, and he's what makes it a really good movie. The action is really good too. I just think that it's really Americanized, evocative of, say, Miami Vice and Die Hard, and Kamen's score does nothing to help matters.
Then there's the issue of it looking like it was made for TV. It lacks that "EON polish" that makes most Bond movies look as expensive as they are. The cinematography is not good.
Fair play he was chouffered around in Ithmus city. BUT I was referring to the car he has when he drives to Felix's.
Yes, considerably.
True, i always thought a re-edit on QOS would benefit the film greatly. Sad that Forster and his editors acted liked deranged baboons in the editing booth!
Mind you, it was also the studio and producers fault for not allowing any time, to correct the film.
To the masses, they just see the film as the one Lazenby did, and as he only made one Bond film, they assume film was a failure.
It doesn't help that ITV in the UK, usually shows OHMSS on its own, and not in a Bond season of films.
True, although recently they have been showing a Bond movie each Sunday afternoon for the last few weeks, in chronological order. OHMSS was shown last week with DAF this.
However, as you say, most people (not those on here) see it as the one that "wotsisname" did. A shame as I think it's a gem of movie.
The Man With The Golden Gun- Quirky, fun, IMO Hamilton's best of his last three.
But the biggest under-rated Bond?
Licence To Kill. But it has a solid fan base here you say? Sure, but IMHO it should be as highly regarded as FRWL!!!! A stripped down tight small Bond with a final Maibaum story & big characterization. Glen outdid himself.
\m/
Wow, the humor in CR and LTK is world's apart. Pam randomly grabbing one of Q's gadgets and immediately trying to snap a photo (and for some reason the picture has a skeleton?); Q disguising himself as a street sweeper and throwing his radio into the bushes; the entire character of Paster Joe, etc. It's pretty much lifted straight from the Moore era and felt very tonally inconsistent.
And I also agree that the LTK humor is just poorly brought in from Roger's films and detracted from the serious atmosphere (the excessive bloodiness in an attempt to become more of a "Fleming" film wasn't successful to begin with). That and the disjointedness of the film are LTK's greatest weaknesses, IMO.
If I'm being honest I think even Timothy Dalton himself would strongly disagree with you.
This would been very good
Even the corrupt president for life gets a happy ending with the woman who was so recently telling us in an Oscar-worthy moment "I love James SO much". If anything he should have been killed along with Sanchez.
One of the things I just realized I appreciate a lot about the Craig films is that they've hired women who can actually act. None of the Bond girls in this era have been completely embarrassing like we got every few films for quite awhile.
I also agree that the DC era has benefited from far superior actresses. Some have not lived up to their potential in my view, but at least we haven't had the humiliations of the past.
Most underrated by the general audience: I'd say DN
Most underrated by the media/critics: OHMSS
Most underrated by fans: FYEO