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Staying Awake: Which Bond Movies have the best pace?

00Beast00Beast
edited September 2011 in Bond Movies Posts: 4,762
In my opinion, this can either make or break a Bond movie. Some, like Goldfinger, just can't hold my attention without me yawning the whole time. Others, like GoldenEye or Tomorrow Never Dies, keep me fully alert and entertained because they keep moving and retain their core plot throughout. To me, GE, TND, OP, TSWLM, FYEO, and MR demonstrate this very well. What about you?
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Comments

  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    I don't know if it is the good pacing or the fact that I adore it so, but I can sit through CR any day. I love the plot. The great Craig-reebot, great fight/action choreography, great dialogue, acting, great Bond, great Vesper, and interesting web of settings and racing plot. The film keeps suspense at all times for me. The surprise of Vesper's betrayal, the hurt of her death. Great PTS and theme, and the film looks sooo good. Thrilling card sequence/s and cool Bond moments. Beating Dimitrios and getting the 64' Aston, killing Dimitrios at Body World, blowing up Carlos with a smile, ditching Solange, and having Le Chiffre die scratching his balls. I couldn't say enough good things about it. I agree with your GE and TND statements @00Beast. Though Brosnan is far from the best Bond, his Bond films are great popcorn flicks and at least there is enough action and explosions to keep us satisfied. Just ignore the plot going in and play the Brosnan-pain face-drinking game during all his films. Just don't drive after. ;-)
  • SJK91SJK91
    Posts: 1,310
    I actually think that Goldfinger moves along quite well...although I suppose I have a bias: it is number 2 on my Bond list ;-)
    To me, GE, TND, OP, TSWLM, FYEO, and MR demonstrate this very well.
    I don't know about Moonraker, @00Beast. The first half of the film is good and all, but once the cable car scene starts up, not only does the film get bad, but I get bored. The rest I can go along with, however.

    Also, I agree with Brady in that I could probably sit through Casino Royale any day, too!
  • DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
    Posts: 1,778
    Casino Royale wins for me. Other than that FRWL, GF, and LALD are other Bond films that I think move pretty quickly.
  • JWESTBROOKJWESTBROOK
    Posts: 5,745
    FRWL is the perfect thriller movie. Has a great pace, just not for an action movie. IMO my fav Bond.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,256
    When I feel somewhat tired, but not yet too tired to go to bed, yet I know I won't sit through two hours of film, I choose QOS.

    It's over before it has begun and it jumps from scene to scene, never lingering on a shot for more than a few seconds and forcing me not to blink (for it's a blink-and-miss film). So I drink a can of Red Bull, sit down with all the lights on (because when I’m tired, with the lights out I'd even fall asleep during porn) and watch the film. By the time my eyes have grown heavy as bricks, the films is over anyway and since I wouldn’t want to miss its final and arguably best scene, I will have stayed awake. Plus when my mind is trying to decide whether to sleep or not and my focus blurs, the QOS experience is strangely amusing. It has a latent dreamy quality and jumping from clearly awake to subconsciously snoozing off and back, said quality become obvious. I don’t know, it’s hard to explain, but I kind of prefer QOS when I’m hardly awake compared to when I’m jumping full of energy.
  • bondbat007bondbat007
    Posts: 1,407
    TLD and LTK always keep my full attention. Agree with everything said on CR. The majority of Thunderball moves well but once it's near the end with all the underwater stuff i find myself fast forwarding some things. The worst in my opinion are Dr. No (it's a great film but pacing is an issue), Moonraker, A View to a Kill (The pacing is as fast as Moore in action scenes), and Quantum of Solace (too fast pacing, but still entertaining)
  • shadowonthesunshadowonthesun Banned
    Posts: 1,894
    I don't think it's particularly well-paced, but I think TOMORROW NEVER DIES absolutely motors along - even though there's a few times when it should stop and pull itself together. It does this a little bit in the first half, but by the time Bond gets to Asia, all composure is lost as it hammers away: we go from HALO jump into SCUBA diving into the banner fall into motorcycle chase into helicopter jump into karate fight. And then there's only a brief intermission before the assault on the stealth boat and everything starts blowing up and getting shot. It's like the kid up the back of the class with ADD and you have to race through all the work to try and get it done before his attention span runs out.
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,584
    Despite my anti-Tim rants, I always felt that TLD was nicely paced and never dull.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,723
    MR, TLD, TMWTGG, GE.
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    I would say : DAF,TMWTGG,TND,DAD and QoS have the fastest pace to keep me awake.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,169
    Not a question that I've often pondered. But as it has been asked I'd say, GF, YOLT, TSWLM, MR, OP, TLD, GE, TND and DAD have the best pace.
    It's probably why OP is my favourite Bond film, as the pace means the film never gets boring or bogged down. To be fair I think most of the films in the series have a good pace. You could probably include FYEO on the above short list as well.
  • anotherbondgeekanotherbondgeek
    Posts: 423
    TSWLM always manaages to keep me awake, as does TMWTGG :)
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,723
    TND is a bit slow to start, but after the 20 minutes mark it's just flat-out fun. DAD also has a very good pace, I agree with benny and barryt.
  • CoH_GHOST_007CoH_GHOST_007
    Posts: 303
    QoS, GE, DAD, GF, DN, FRWL... (there the ones which i can Remember keeping me entertained throughout), although I love CR, it does slow down quite a bit after the start of the Casino scne.. (Although it remains my second favourite! ;D)
  • PrinceKamalKhanPrinceKamalKhan Monsoon Palace, Udaipur
    Posts: 3,262
    I don't think it's particularly well-paced, but I think TOMORROW NEVER DIES absolutely motors along - even though there's a few times when it should stop and pull itself together. It does this a little bit in the first half, but by the time Bond gets to Asia, all composure is lost as it hammers away: we go from HALO jump into SCUBA diving into the banner fall into motorcycle chase into helicopter jump into karate fight. And then there's only a brief intermission before the assault on the stealth boat and everything starts blowing up and getting shot. It's like the kid up the back of the class with ADD and you have to race through all the work to try and get it done before his attention span runs out.
    Agreed. TND is certainly the fastest paced Bond film. It's the perfect one for the ADHD viewer. After that, I would say MR. OHMSS and OP tend to move more slowly in their first halves but their second halves are among the fastest final hours in the series IMHO. I've also never understood the "TB is slow and dull" criticism. I think Terence Young kept things moving very well. TWINE and AVTAK are probably the slowest for me.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    @PrinceKamalKhan: I agree with you about OP and OHMSS. They're like the old snowball effect; the slowly roll through the first parts and then by the second half they're picking up speed, intensity, interest, and a thickened plot that refuses to go any slower until the end credits.
  • 007manny007manny
    Posts: 100
    id say the best moving ones are spy who loved me, you only live twive, four your eyes only, tomorow never dies, the world is not enough
  • j7wildj7wild Suspended
    Posts: 823
    DAD and TWINE and LALD puts me to night night

    OHMSS paces so well, I wish it was 30 min longer!!
  • Baltimore_007Baltimore_007
    Posts: 5,634
    It's good that others have thought Goldfinger to be somewhat Mundane and stretched out, once they get to the planned robbery of Fort Knox things become a little dour and take a while to pick up again, I can appreciate it's a favorite of many people but i've never been a big fan of this particular Bond caper

    back to Moonraker again and I'll say it again, for all the nonsense and absurdities that goes on it is an entertaining picture whereas you can seldom get bored from watching as there always seems to be something taking place no matter how stupid it may seem

    Man With A Golden Gun is another, gets berated my many but it is a fun way to spent 2 hours, this is in no small part to Christopher Lee

    Doctor No is another that keeps you busy, well worth the wait to see Andress coming out of the ocean, and it is where (Bond) it all started after all
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    @Baltimore_007: Finally, someone who agrees that Goldfinger is a complete bore! I always want to just skip forward to the Fort Knox raid, the only scenes worthy of watching after the DB5 chase around Auric Enterprises.
  • 007manny007manny
    Posts: 100
    goldfinger is not one of my faves, to me i dont see anything special bout it,its just an average movie to me
    i like moonraker and man w the golden gun for it takes a while to me to get going
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    goldfinger is not one of my faves, to me i dont see anything special bout it,its just an average movie to me
    i like moonraker and man w the golden gun for it takes a while to me to get going
    Yeah, I agree with you. I don't see why GF has been declared the "classic Bond movie". Personally, I find it very lackluster, dull, and boring.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    edited September 2011 Posts: 15,723
    Yeah, I agree with you. I don't see why GF has been declared the "classic Bond movie". Personally, I find it very lackluster, dull, and boring.

    If Connery ever was bored, it was in GF. Bond is held hostage for nearly half the film !

  • actonsteveactonsteve
    Posts: 1,492
    The last twenty minutes of Octopussy

    From the entry into East Germany the film moves like a rocket. Its all in the editing. Short scenes building up the tension until we reach the bomb and its unbearable.

    QoS and GF also move at speed
  • Baltimore_007Baltimore_007
    Posts: 5,634
    If Bond was in such a damn hurry to arrive at the Air Force base in (then) West Germany to stop a nuclear weapon going off it seems strange to dive into a caravan and take the time to put on an entire clown outfit (which must take some considerable effort), and then paint your face to an almost immaculate presentation, oh and I think there was a red nose too just for good measure.

    I can understand Moore was trying to evade security personnel but there's a bomb about to detonate.. :-?? , Did the filmmakers just stop the timer while Moore prepared himself?

    There must have been other options available or maybe I need a stiff drink
  • SharkBaitSharkBait
    Posts: 2,107
    From the most recent movies I'd say Quantum of Solace. It's over before you blink. Fast like a bullet. A bullet that was the symbol for this movie from the beginning of the car chase and the main titles.

    From the older movies, I'd say Goldfinger.
  • Master_DaharkMaster_Dahark
    Posts: 4,813
    My vote goes to Casino Royale- maybe it's because it's current, and it feels like 'real Bond' to me, but I can watch that movie start to finish any time


    Yeah, I agree with you. I don't see why GF has been declared the "classic Bond movie". Personally, I find it very lackluster, dull, and boring.
    I think the whole thing with Goldfinger is that it was the first one to have the 'Bond formula', you know? Gadget car, crazy villain, memorable henchmen, etc.
    It does drag in the middle, but I'd still rank it fairly high.
    take the time to put on an entire clown outfit (which must take some considerable effort), and then paint your face to an almost immaculate presentation, oh and I think there was a red nose too just for good measure.
    Oh well clowns put on their outfits instantly, just like the Lost Boys at the end of 'Hook', didn't you know that? ;-)
    But yeah the scene would have made much more sense if he was in mis-matched clothes and maybe a quick smear of whiteface (no lipstick). THAT I could almost believe. Almost, lol
  • Master_DaharkMaster_Dahark
    edited September 2011 Posts: 4,813
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  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    Just finished watching TSWLM, and I must say that this one has an outstanding pace! Never a dull moment! From the captured submarine to the escape from Atlantis, it is a roller coaster ride all the way!
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    @Baltimore_007: Finally, someone who agrees that Goldfinger is a complete bore! I always want to just skip forward to the Fort Knox raid, the only scenes worthy of watching after the DB5 chase around Auric Enterprises.
    Believe me you arn't the only one - GF sits right down at #18 on my list.
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