BOND POLLS 2016: The Top 10 JAMES BOND-007 Film Ranking Contest (Results: winner!, on page 60)

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  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    @Peter
    it's not frustrating in the least, it's puzzling the most, back in 2006 everybody was relieved Craig worked as Bond but it was the movie itself that resonated with the audience.
    At least from where I'm standing.

    The successor of Craig will not have a more difficult job than Dalton or Brosnan had. Craig did nothing "special" to the franchise other than be another good Bond actor.
    To put him on this high pedestal is a bit amusing. Were it not for the insane success of SF there wouldn't even be anything at all for the history books except that his first was the best by far. He is no different than Brosnan in that regard.

    Anyway, I know he is a Saint around here, so I will be a good boy and just shut up.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited October 2016 Posts: 23,883
    DC has done a bang up job and deserves a lot of credit. His performances in CR & QoS in particular were phenomenal. I'd say he actually carried the latter film.

    However, there's no question that he had a superb supporting cast firing on all cylinders in CR, most notably Mads, Giancarlo & of course the legendary Eva. When one has such talent to spar with, one's performance will be helped. Even Brosnan looked excellent opposite his magnificent & super charismatic supporting cast in GE.

    Having said that, good though DC has been, I don't believe he is irreplaceable. Not by a long shot. I was a Bond fan long before Daniel Craig came along, and I will be one long after he leaves the role, whenever that may be. His films have been good, but I've seen better from this franchise, and I'm sure I'll see better going forward as well.

    The Bond films reflect the talent, character & personality of their lead actor to a large extent.

    ----
    The Connery era was macho and strong in an alpha male manner.

    The Moore era was jovial, light hearted and suave.

    The Dalton era was serious and lower key. Interesting but a bit dour & theatre like.

    The Brosnan era was good box office, but increasingly tv generic, pedestrian and American.

    The Craig era has been moody and deep, but lavish and extravagant as well.
    ----

    The direction EON, MGM and Sony (or whoever) chooses to go next should determine who they cast next. Whoever they go with will reflect the tone of the Bond films for the next decade or so.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    @bondjames, I've been a 007 fan since the age of four when THUNDERBALL was playing on TV and my father let me stay up and watch. I'm now forty three.

    Even though I grew up in the Moore era (and did, and still do, enjoy them), my father certainly educated these early years, and I was resigned to the fact that, although I could enjoy whoever plays James Bond, there would, in my eyes, only be one real Bond, James Bond. Sean Connery was king in my eyes.

    That changed in '06.

    And now I, for the first time, am concerned with who will replace Craig. He had done what all the other 007s could never come close to: relieving Sir Sean of his throne.

    I understand that this is all my opinion, but thought I'd take the time, @Bond, to explain I've been a fan for a long time, I've seen the changing of the guard, and I've enjoyed what the others have brought to the role.

    But none of these actors were game-changers for me. Dalton could have been, but for me, unfortunately, I loathed his melodrama theatrics and his lack of charisma. He had the right idea intellectually, and could be stunning in certain scenes. He just failed at consistent execution.

    I'm sure BB will find a suitable actor. I just wonder, having seen how long it took to get something interesting after Connery left, am I in for another long wait to see someone as fresh as DC has been.

    My fingers are crossed, but, the names bandied about so far have left my gut in knots. I'm not asking for another DC (because there is no other, as is the case with Connery and Moore), but Hiddles leaves me cold, Turner bores me and seems to have the charisma of an okay TV star; I know nothing of Jaime Bell except the little I have seen of him ("little" being the operative word)...
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    edited October 2016 Posts: 9,020
    The good thing in having the "short blond" guy as a Bond actor (I don't mean this disrespectfully) is that now it's clear anybody can play the part.

    I don't agree with it though as Connery and Dalton for me personally are the blueprint of how it should be done. And since knowing the novels only DALTON comes close to Fleming's vision in my opinion.

    All 6 actors have brought something unique to the role. Ranking them is a difficult, controversial and maybe useless as ranking the films.

    Being a Dalton/Brosnan generation guy, I want someone like Aidan Turner to replace Craig who looks the part. It's not that difficult playing Bond. Acting talent is relative and only Connery (imho) is truly a great actor of the 6.

    So I don't worry at all about actor No 007. I just wish it will not be someone like Jamie Bell.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited October 2016 Posts: 23,883
    @peter, it's great that you've been a life long Bond fan and have seen the changeovers from actor to actor.

    I can see that the Craig era has left a deep positive imprint on you, and it will probably be difficult to fully embrace the next actor in the role as a result, no matter who they cast - at least initially.

    I hope that Babs and the EON crew will do Bond justice and cast someone interesting and charismatic in the role. Someone who can embody the best of Bondian attributes and still be successful in continuing to grow the fandom of this beloved series, like Craig has done.

    I have faith that when the changeover does eventually come, they will do us proud.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    @bondjason, playing Bond's not hard? I beg to differ.

    As has so often been noted, more men have walked the moon than played this part. I love OHMSS (definitely in my top three or four), but GL was kind of goofy in the role, and, if he did stay on, I think the series would have been sunk.

    RM, for all his faults in light-hearted fair, had tons of charm and charisma, and used that to eventually save the franchise (his first couple left the franchise on shaky ground).

    I don't believe just "looking the part" cuts it.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    Lazenby would have sunk the series...ouch...

    can't agree with that, I even think OHMSS wouldn't have worked that well with Connery.

    @peter

    sure, only looking the part doesn't cut it, but it is an important part.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    @bondjames, fully agree it will be very difficult for me, whomever it may be. But I do admire your confident optimism-- that's refreshing to hear (most of these posts have turned into slings and arrows at BB or DC or SP, instead of embracing and enjoying what we do have!)
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    It is obvious many here, notably the very young folks, will have a hard time waving Craig goodbye.
    Some older folks never warmed to Brosnan and Craig brought them back "something" whatever that may be.

    So yes, Craig will be difficult to replace for some.

    But the history has shown that Bond can survive and even be successful no matter who plays the part.
    Even when the BO was the lowest (LTK) it still did make a healthy profit.

    So relax, if someone gets announced you can't imagine being Bond (let's just say for the fun of it Aidan Turner) wait and go and see the movie.
    In 2005 half the world, well all the world really screamed in pain after Craig got announced. After CR most of the people were relieved and many even loved Craig from the get go.

    It'll happen again. Chances are, depending on who's next, it'll be a home run from the beginning as it was with Brosnan.

    But then it could be Jamie Bell.......aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrggggghhhhhhh......... :))
  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    edited October 2016 Posts: 3,996
    The good thing in having the "short blond" guy as a Bond actor (I don't mean this disrespectfully) is that now it's clear anybody can play the part.

    I don't agree with it though as Connery and Dalton for me personally are the blueprint of how it should be done. And since knowing the novels only DALTON comes close to Fleming's vision in my opinion.

    All 6 actors have brought something unique to the role. Ranking them is a difficult, controversial and maybe useless as ranking the films.

    Being a Dalton/Brosnan generation guy, I want someone like Aidan Turner to replace Craig who looks the part. It's not that difficult playing Bond. Acting talent is relative and only Connery (imho) is truly a great actor of the 6.

    So I don't worry at all about actor No 007. I just wish it will not be someone like Jamie Bell.

    Six actors have played this part over a 50 year period, but you think any old so and so can breeze in and play the part? ok....

    People like Connery and Craig are actors of such calibre they certainly make it look easy. Though i guarantee you none of the actors find it easy playing the Bond role.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    Lazenby would have sunk the series...ouch...

    can't agree with that, I even think OHMSS wouldn't have worked that well with Connery.

    @peter

    sure, only looking the part doesn't cut it, but it is an important part.

    @bondjason, I say that loving GL in OHMSS. That was a very special film and worked. I just don't know how you start to tailor-make the films after, to an actor who really wasn't an actor. OHMSS worked because of the story and the leaders behind the scenes (namely Hunt and crew); but after that, what would a GL era look like? I can't even guess.



  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    peter wrote: »
    Lazenby would have sunk the series...ouch...

    can't agree with that, I even think OHMSS wouldn't have worked that well with Connery.

    @peter

    sure, only looking the part doesn't cut it, but it is an important part.

    @bondjason, I say that loving GL in OHMSS. That was a very special film and worked. I just don't know how you start to tailor-make the films after, to an actor who really wasn't an actor. OHMSS worked because of the story and the leaders behind the scenes (namely Hunt and crew); but after that, what would a GL era look like? I can't even guess.



    It is my believe that if Lazenby had stayed on the following movie would have been a unprecedented gritty brutal revenge story with Bond single-handedly bringing Blofeld down.
    It probably would have written movie history beyond the Bond franchise.
  • Posts: 19,339
    peter wrote: »
    Lazenby would have sunk the series...ouch...

    can't agree with that, I even think OHMSS wouldn't have worked that well with Connery.

    @peter

    sure, only looking the part doesn't cut it, but it is an important part.

    @bondjason, I say that loving GL in OHMSS. That was a very special film and worked. I just don't know how you start to tailor-make the films after, to an actor who really wasn't an actor. OHMSS worked because of the story and the leaders behind the scenes (namely Hunt and crew); but after that, what would a GL era look like? I can't even guess.



    It is my believe that if Lazenby had stayed on the following movie would have been a unprecedented gritty brutal revenge story with Bond single-handedly bringing Blofeld down.
    It probably would have written movie history beyond the Bond franchise.

    Agree 100% ..why Lazenby never hunted down that agent and beat the shit out of him i will never know !!

  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    peter wrote: »
    Lazenby would have sunk the series...ouch...

    can't agree with that, I even think OHMSS wouldn't have worked that well with Connery.

    @peter

    sure, only looking the part doesn't cut it, but it is an important part.

    @bondjason, I say that loving GL in OHMSS. That was a very special film and worked. I just don't know how you start to tailor-make the films after, to an actor who really wasn't an actor. OHMSS worked because of the story and the leaders behind the scenes (namely Hunt and crew); but after that, what would a GL era look like? I can't even guess.



    It is my believe that if Lazenby had stayed on the following movie would have been a unprecedented gritty brutal revenge story with Bond single-handedly bringing Blofeld down.
    It probably would have written movie history beyond the Bond franchise.

    @bondjason: sure, but how to tailor-make something for the GL era. For example: Sean was alpha male, but suave and dark ("I think he got the point"), and this was evident in his films... The opposite, Moore, who was charming and deft in comedy, and, after a shaky start, they embraced this about his James Bond and it was used to great effect for his films.
    But GL truly did feel like the "kite dancing in the wind"; Hunter would tell him where to stand and how to re/act (through assistants, since it sounded like Hunt had no time for his star and his behaviour on set), but GL exuded nothing natural (except for throwing fists).
    Apart from the obvious revenge angle/story, I have no idea what the GL era would look like to what or how they would tailor make to his strengths since he seemed like such a blank canvas (as an actor).
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    What I've learned on this page is that not only is Bond an easy role to play, but Sean is the only good actor who has taken him on out of the 6.

    All right, I'm checking out for a while. Too much loopiness in here for me.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    Being a Dalton/Brosnan generation guy, I want someone like Aidan Turner to replace Craig who looks the part. It's not that difficult playing Bond. Acting talent is relative and only Connery (imho) is truly a great actor of the 6.

    So I don't worry at all about actor No 007. I just wish it will not be someone like Jamie Bell.

    I know that Turners name has become something of a punchline around here, but I have been convinced that he should be the next Bond since And Then There Were None.
  • edited October 2016 Posts: 11,119
    Guys? If you don't mind I will post the final results tomorrow, because I want to write a short but proper analysis about it as well. On top of that I need to write an article about it as well.

    And since I am going to see two Dutch buddies in a bit for some great Mexican dinner at this Dia de los Muertos, I simply don't have enough time tonight :-).

    I advise you all to watch TB in the fourth week of @Creasy47 's Bondathon instead. And -if you can- do it in sync! Try to 'sync-watch' the film during this Halloween weekend :-). Makes it extra more fun.
  • w2bond wrote: »
    I don't think that there were any bad one-liners in the Dalton era, because they cut the quota of them.

    Not bad[/u], just severely misplaced. Lines suited for Moore rather than Dalton ("Salt Corrosion" - a good line, just not suiting Dalton)


    It's true that I never bought that line and found it odd. Not sure if it was Dalton's delivery or just that it's weird as a one-liner. I don't think it would have been funny if Moore delivered it either.
  • Posts: 7,407
    Gustav_Graves, can we have a time when you are going to show the final 2?
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Scroll up two posts.
  • edited June 2017 Posts: 11,119
    Ladies and gentlemen....here are the winner and runner-up of this year's Ranking Contest!:

    Start Countdown: The ruthless BOTTOM 5:
    #26 placed Bond Film, 000 POINTS --> "CASINO ROYALE" (1967, non-EON film)
    #25 placed Bond Film, 006 POINTS --> "NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN" (1983, non-EON film)
    #24 placed Bond Film, 025 POINTS --> "DIE ANOTHER DAY" (2002)
    #23 placed Bond Film, 049 POINTS --> "THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN" (1974)
    #22 placed Bond Film, 049 POINTS --> "A VIEW TO A KILL" (1985)


    Start of TOP 21, the really average ones:
    #21 placed Bond Film, 060 POINTS --> "DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER" (1971)
    #20 placed Bond Film, 080 POINTS --> "TOMORROW NEVER DIES" (1997)
    #19 placed Bond Film, 095 POINTS --> "MOONRAKER" (1979)
    #18 placed Bond Film, 109 POINTS --> "YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE" (1967)
    #17 placed Bond Film, 135 POINTS --> "THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH" (1999)
    #16 placed Bond Film, 146 POINTS --> "LIVE AND LET DIE" (1973)[/color]

    Start of TOP 15, the OK ones:
    #15 placed Bond Film, 157 POINTS --> "QUANTUM OF SOLACE" (2008)
    #14 placed Bond Film, 196 POINTS --> "OCTOPUSSY" (1983)
    #13 placed Bond Film, 211 POINTS --> "FOR YOUR EYES ONLY" (1981)
    #12 placed Bond Film, 217 POINTS --> "SPECTRE" (2015)
    #11 placed Bond Film, 275 POINTS --> "LICENCE TO KILL" (1989)[/color]

    Start of TOP 10, the good ones:
    #10 placed Bond Film, 304 POINTS --> "THUNDERBALL" (1965)
    #09 placed Bond Film, 345 POINTS --> "THE SPY WHO LOVED ME" (1977)
    #08 placed Bond Film, 350 POINTS --> "GOLDENEYE" (1995)
    #07 placed Bond Film, 372 POINTS --> "DOCTOR NO" (1962)
    #06 placed Bond Film, 408 POINTS --> "THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS" (1987)


    Start of the TOP 5, the true cinematic Bond-masterpieces!:
    419 POINTS, 5th PLACE --> The James Bond Film "SKYFALL" (2012)
    562 POINTS, 4th PLACE --> The James Bond Film "GOLDFINGER" (1964)
    738 POINTS, BRONZE MEDAL --> The James Bond Film "FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE" (1963)
    782 POINTS, SILVER MEDAL ---> The James Bond Film "ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE" (1963)
    866 POINTS, GOLD MEDAL ----> The James Bond Film "CASINO ROYALE" (2006)


    Here's the full points breakdown:
    ulwawkg.jpg

    And here an color graph overview of the total times each film got awarded points from an individual voter, including the total times a film got awarded 8, 10 and 12-pointers:
    ZmQFks7.jpg

    Lastly, here's the full comparison between this contest and @w2bond 's general Bond Ranking Topic:
    9ZFz7lR.jpg

    And another comparison with a similar contest I executed last year on the IMDB James Bond forum (full of movie fans, who aren't necessarily Bond fans):
    ut63pzT.jpg

    And what do movie critics, newspapers and entertainment outlets say?:
    Ie8Koq9.jpg

    Some key findings:
    ►► No matter if you're a die-hard MI6-forummember or a more generic movie nerd, "CASINO ROYALE" seems to be quite unbeatable. Even the 'classics' like "FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE", "GOLDFINGER" and "ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE" seems to struggle against the 2006 masterpiece.
    ►► Overall, both movie critics and MI6-forummembers see "SPECTRE" as an above average Bond film, that, for now, keeps beating "QUANTUM OF SOLACE". It's now also a fierce competitor of the Moore films "FOR YOUR EYES ONLY" and "OCTOPUSSY".
    ►► "THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS" and "SKYFALL" in essence are sharing 5th place, especially when compared to @w2bond 's rankings. Still, "SKYFALL" manages to win from other classics like "DOCTOR NO", "THE SPY WHO LOVED ME" and "THUNDERBALL".
    ►► We love Sir Roger Moore. It's still the greatest living Bond ambassador. Yet, even his best films, like "FOR YOUR EYES ONLY" and "THE SPY WHO LOVED ME", struggle to get close to the TOP 5 of Best Bond Films.
    ►► Brosnan's best film "GOLDENEYE" is no match for Craig's two best films "CASINO ROYALE" and "SKYFALL".
    ►► Yet Brosnan's 3rd outing as James Bond in "THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH" gets some new love in this contest. It managed to win from "TOMORROW NEVER DIES" and "DIE ANOTHER DAY".
    ►► Are Connery's best films slowly becoming a bit 'too old' for some people? Especially for the youngest Bond fans? Hence no Connery film is in the TOP 2?

  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    Posts: 10,591
    All in all, a pretty great ranking with a deserving top spot.
  • Posts: 12,462
    Woohoo! My exact Top 2! Pretty happy with the list overall.
  • Major_BoothroydMajor_Boothroyd Republic of Isthmus
    Posts: 2,722
    Good list - I got eight of the top ten in my list. Top three but in different order. Would have preferred FRWL to get 1st or at least 2nd but I think CR is as near universally loved as you can get with Bond fans and casual viewers alike. It does things many of the other Bond films don't. It tries something new and nails the emotional journey better than OHMSS does for me.

    It's been a fun thread @Gustav_Graves
    Well done!


  • Posts: 3,336
    Exactly the same top 4 as me, in the same order aswell.
    It was fun while it lasted, thanks Gustav.
  • w2bondw2bond is indeed a very rare breed
    edited October 2016 Posts: 2,252
    Not unexpected but interesting nonetheless. General trends remain the same with slight fluctuations due to small sample size.

    I'll add my own observations
    - Goldfinger is by far the most popular with the general public and critics (non Bond fans)
    - OHMSS, TLD and OP are viewed less favorably by the general public
  • JohnHammond73JohnHammond73 Lancashire, UK
    Posts: 4,151
    I think I expected that, but have to say that is great to see OHMSS ranked so highly. I had an inkling the CR would finish top, as it seems to be more faithful to Fleming, however, I will have to take peoples words for that as I, rather ashamedly, haven't read much of the source material. So, congrats to CR but, also to all movies finishing as high as they did.
    w2bond wrote: »
    I'll add my own observations
    - Goldfinger is by far the most popular with the general public and critics (non Bond fans)
    - OHMSS, TLD and OP are viewed less favorably by the general public

    I completely agree with this. However, I will say that my 12 year old daughters favourite movie (and it's been like this since she was 10) is OHMSS. She has great taste does my daughter ;;) . But, yes, I completely agree with your comment.
  • w2bondw2bond is indeed a very rare breed
    Posts: 2,252
    I think I expected that, but have to say that is great to see OHMSS ranked so highly. I had an inkling the CR would finish top, as it seems to be more faithful to Fleming, however, I will have to take peoples words for that as I, rather ashamedly, haven't read much of the source material. So, congrats to CR but, also to all movies finishing as high as they did.
    w2bond wrote: »
    I'll add my own observations
    - Goldfinger is by far the most popular with the general public and critics (non Bond fans)
    - OHMSS, TLD and OP are viewed less favorably by the general public

    I completely agree with this. However, I will say that my 12 year old daughters favourite movie (and it's been like this since she was 10) is OHMSS. She has great taste does my daughter ;;) . But, yes, I completely agree with your comment.

    Inherited from her father no doubt :)


  • Posts: 7,407
    Well another surprise. But I've no problem with CR taking the top spot from OHMSS, great Bond movie! it seems that its the one unifying Bond movie which practically (I say practically, because no doubt, on here, someone will pop up and say they dislike it!!) everyone loves! OHMSS can still hold its head high, considering Laz isn't many (and I include myself!) peoples idea of best Bond, but the sheer quality of that film surpasses that! it will always be number one for me! But this is a bout CR, much deserving spot!
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    edited October 2016 Posts: 28,694
    Great show and great run, @Gustav_Graves.

    Though it was a great shock to see FRWL beat out of the 2nd spot, it, OHMSS and CR are more than worthy of being the top of the top.

    It's great to see a film like OHMSS that had a bad history review wise in the franchise rise to being such a big placer in fan rankings across many boards. It makes me wish Peter Hunt got the chance to direct more films in the series, after all the great work he put in to get there during his ground-breaking work with Young and his crew. In just one film he cemented himself in the top rung of Bond directors, and his time in the editing bay taught him the importance of pacing, sound design, framing of action and just what elements played best when juxtaposed against each other, especially in Bond films. He was the perfect person to direct a Bond film in a post-Young landscape, and it's a shame all we got was OHMSS under his tutelage, because his best work could have been yet to come.

    Just imagine Hunt returning to the director's seat for a revenge-styled Bond film starring Lazenby right after OHMSS hit. It makes me salivate just thinking of it.
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