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Comments
That's because it isn't Connery in DN, FRWL and GF, but rather stuntman Bob Simmons.
Easy. He looks so cool going into the crouch like that.
I agree. Laz's is very good. The music, the way the dots spell the producers names(not seen since DN and never done again) The sides resemble the light in a spectrum. Interesing effect. Even the red shroud erasing Bond was unique.
Both of Dalton's are quite good. I even liked the different opening music when the dots march across the screen in LTK.
I hate Brosnan's. I liked the music for GE but I did not like the music for his next two. DAD went back to the traditional music but Brosnan's stiff turn, the CGI bullet really stank.
I agree that QoS is very very bad. Craig is moving too goddamn fast and like someone said earlier it seemed rushed like the rest of the stinking film.
Moore's using two hands to steady the gun seemed just flakey. It grew on me I guess it was unique.
Connery looks a million miles away and his pose is awkward.
Simmons is slow and kinda creepy looking but I have no problem with it.
The beginning of the trailer for the collected box blu-ray set also cut some of them together in a fun way.
Anyway, ranking them:
1. Pierce Brosnan
Yes, it's blunt, direct, and the least dramatic, not to mention the repetitive (and not even good) music in some of his gunbarrels. But it being direct is a good thing - and Brosnan pulls it off perfectly. He doesn't go for a classic or overdramatic pose. He just does it smoothly and professionally, and he has the most class throughout the entire gunbarrel. I also loved this CGI gunbarrel, and it was definitely a definitive sequence for me when I saw GoldenEye (my first ever Bond movie).
2. Daniel Craig (Skyfall)
His best that I've seen. He walks with confidence and class (if a bit more deliberately than Brosnan), and he turns and shoots professionally and directly. He ends up with a classy and iconic pose, and the music during the gunbarrel sequence is great too.
3. Timothy Dalton
Sort of like Brosnan, but his stance is a bit strange and it looks less professional. Still, it's smooth, classy, and this time backed by good music. However, I've always felt the gunbarrel design should've been changed somewhat by the time Dalton came to the franchise.
4. Roger Moore (1st)
I prefer this one over his second, slightly. Both the LALD and TMWTGG gunbarrels involve great music, but Roger's execution is a bit strange. I like his classy walk, but it seems rather deliberate, as if he's walking to the centre just so he can shoot. His shot is the fastest, I believe, but that's because he only turns partially to shoot. I've always liked his final stance, which I can agree is flakey but it's different and just has a likable feel to it. What I don't like is the way he fires as he brings the gun up and grabs his arm, which causes the gun to jerk to the side and make him look like he's missed.
5. Daniel Craig (Casino Royale)
Can't say much since it's not a traditional gunbarrel, but it's a nice, innovative take on the sequence. Unfortunately I despise both the gunbarrel design and the blood that comes down.
6. Roger Moore (2nd)
It's kind of funny how Moore was the fastest shot in his first one, but obviously the slowest in his next take, probably because he was the oldest person to film a gunbarrel sequence. Roger's walk is still slightly deliberate, but it's smoother and classier, and I like his final stance as well. He just shoots slowly and the bell bottoms are pretty funny. He also had some pretty repetitive Barry-music in these gunbarrels, with only a couple of exceptions.
7. George Lazenby
Too many editing flaws, in my opinion, and its just too slow in my opinion (the only gunbarrel I excuse from that is Dr No, since it was the first and introductory one). I do like Lazenby's swagger, which is smooth and slow without appearing too deliberate. I like his unique kneeling pose and the foreshadowing of his marriage, and I appreciate the luminescent effect with the gunbarrel. Too bad there was that ridiculous treadmill, and I hated the way the blood erased everything as it came down. Bond's still image in the gunbarrel, with the blood washing over the image completely, is a central part of the sequence, IMO. Still, this one gets credit for building up a tense and almost haunting atmosphere with the music.
8. Bob Simmons
Definitely a classic and iconic pose (helped by the music), but just a sloppily executed scene. I mean, he walks so slowly and deliberately (with no class at all) that it's obvious he's just going to the middle for the sake of turning and shooting. The jump shot is pretty ridiculous, too. I also didn't like how FRWL and GF had ridiculously similar themes playing in the background despite how early on in the franchise it was (originality, please). Dr No was suspenseful and I can stand it being slow since it was the first one ever and just an introduction. However, those strange whirring noises at the start and the poor editing of the music is a definite minus.
9. Sean Connery
The music is decent in these ones, and the walk is fine, but the shooting pose is just so feminine and flakey for Connery (who is pretty much renowned for his masculinity and misogyny as Bond). That's not even mentioning how he almost trips over. Also, why did they have to make it black/white in his later ones? Just curious, I actually prefer the B/W edition over the colour one used in Thunderball (which was also badly edited, IMO).
10. Daniel Craig (QoS)
This one just sucked. It had none of the defining factors of a gunbarrel sequence, so frankly it shouldn't have been done at all. He walks way too fast, his pose isn't great, and the way the gunbarrel swaps out to the title is pretty lame. There's really no redeeming qualities here whatsoever.
The SPECTRE gunbarrel I'd refrain from detailing until after I've seen the film, but I've seen the sequence already and it looks to be between 6 and 9 in my opinion.
2 Simmons
3 Connery
4 Craig no.2
5 Craig no.1
6 Craig no.4
7 Moore no.2
8 Moore no.1
9 Brosnan
10 Dalton
11 Craig no.3
2. Timothy Dalton -great walk turn and fire. I prefer theTLD, as to date this is the final time we really get the gunbarrel presented in full tradition. That said, I do love LTK's , and will gladly take it over anything that has come since.
3. Sean Connery - I love the hat, pose, and Barry's various arrangements, though TB sounds the most dynamic to me. One thing to point out, seeing the Maurice Binder films on 35mm in the cinema is a different experience to digital or Blu-ray. Certainly he would tweak the image occasionally, but home video enhances those changes more so. The biggest difference is the look of the blood on film. In 35 mm, Binder's blood was a deep red, thick, vibrant hue in ALL the films. The DVD's particularly tend to make the blood a bit orange/red at times.
4. Roger Moore 2- I used to prefer his first version, but this one is I instantly think of when Roger's GB comes to mind.
5. George Lazenby -The kneel, the blood, the music and the producers credit make this one a GB to be reckoned with.
6. Roger Moore 1 - LALD has one of my favorite renditions of the Bond theme here. Roger looks great as well.
7. Pierce Brosnan - Solid pose, and confident walk. This is a truncated version of the famous scene, sped up as to not allow the orchestra to really present the Bond theme in all it's gunbarrel glory. DAD tries, but only gets in one guitar melody cue before the circle opens. The overall look keeps to tradition and respects Maurice Binder's legacy while updating it for the 90's. The blood on the GE home video, DVD and Blu-ray releases has been considerably brightened. In the cinema, GE's was much darker red.
8. Daniel Craig 4- Nice to see this back at the beginning with an attempt to replicate Binder's design. A bit flat looking and last minute, I will say, I like the innovation of the lights dimming after the gun is fired, but loathe the image freezing afterwards and fading out. The Blood is a beautiful hue, closer in spirit to Binder.
9. Daniel Craig 1 -I almost don't count this one as it's intended to be different. Yet it still homages Maurice Binder, particularly DR NO There's no dots or walk. I love the black and white, Craig's pose and outfit. I might have liked it more had the design been more traditional, though. Perhaps closer to the SF poster version? The overall affect is too fast for me. A blink and you'll miss it gunbarrel.
10. Daniel Craig 2 - I was furious when I read on the forums before it's US release that the GB had been placed at the end. Incredibly lame excuse: Bond is now Bond and his arc had come full circle. What a load of bull, I thought. Ugh. I look back and sometimes hate the pretentious 2000's decade. The design looks last minute and more like a spoof gunbarrel. Craig even looks rushed. I will say, I do appreciate David Arnold giving it a traditional gunbarrel Bond theme, even though it too sounds a bit last minute.
11. Daniel Craig 3- After all the 50th anniversary buildup, the beautiful renditions of the GB image on the posters we get, IMO the worst excuse for a GB. Not only is placing it at the end (YET AGAIN) like waiting until after New Years to put up your Christmas tree, this is an outright insult to Binder IMO. I felt as though someone had spray painted graffiti on Binder's tombstone and soiled his grave. In addition, I don't like that section of the Bond theme played over the dots. The blood plops down rather than oozes and Craig's performances is weakened by the overall impact. It's a shame, as he does a beautiful walk, turn and fire.
And the fact that OHMSS starts after that always helps ;)
Yes, very nice order.
I love the gunbarrel for Casino, I remember the first time I saw it in the cinema and everyone was blown away. Craig was perfect for this style and it really gave a breath of fresh air to the sequence.
Hopefully they've filmed a brilliant and definitive classic gunbarrel for Craig's Bond in NTTD
I really think his is the best. Confident walk, full of swagger, and a great final pose. It may appear stiff but he's looking straight at you.
2. Craig (CR)
My favourite pose of all the Bond actors. Like Brosnan, he's looking straight at you but less stiff. Had this been incorporated into a traditional gun barrel I'd probably rank it the best in the series. Excellent for a one-off.
3. Craig (SPECTRE)
Great walk on and I don't even mind the swinging gun. His final pose just isn't quite as strong as CR but I'm glad he nailed the pace in this one. Even though they shot a new one for NTTD I would have been fine with them reusing this. I even like how the lighting changes. A nice little modernization. Too bad it didn't open into the film and instead faded into that pretentious text.
4. Dalton
Excellent walk on. His swagger just oozes confidence. Decent shooting pose. I'm a fan.
5. Moore (1977-1985)
Good walk and good final pose, if a bit too moderately paced.
6. Craig (Skyfall)
Much better than the abomination of QOS but I think he would go on to perfect it with SPECTRE.
7. Moore (1973-1974)
His pose in his later gun barrel is better but I do like the walk in this one.
8. Connery
Despite his iconic portrayal, I've never cared for his gun barrel. His walk is fine but that wobbly final pose isn't as good as those that followed.
9. Lazenby
I don't mind the knee drop but the editing of this one ruins would could have been a cool one-off in the series. I guess it still is a "one-off" in that respect, but the editing always bothered me. I do like that it erases Bond. Cool little difference.
10. Craig (POS)
No, that's not a typo in brackets. Enough said. Okay, kidding aside, this is weak all around. Too fast, the pose isn't great, and I hate how it fades into the title of the film. It also should have been at the beginning but I digress.
11. Simmons
Perhaps it's a little unfair to pick on the first of its kind, but it truly is the weakest in my eyes. Awkward walk on and the bunny hop. Iconic concept, but it would be bettered by all that followed.
I think that's all of them. As far as gun barrel design goes, I'd rank Kleinman's Brosnan era one as the best. It's the cleanest modernization of the Binder one. CR and SPECTRE are the only Craig designs I like.
Music? Probably Diamonds (I like the jazzy feel of the guitar riff in this version), FYEO (a nice triumphant return to firm after the more mellow string arrangements Barry used post-Connery), and DAD (forget the bullet, Arnold's gun barrel cue is awesome - too bad it didn't get the extra repeat of the guitar line).
1. Thunderball
2. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
3. The World Is Not Enough
4. Die Another Day
5. Spectre
If I had to pick my favourite it would be Die Another Day, followed closely by OHMSS.
I think I like all of these sequences at least to some extent, except maybe the bottom two.
1. GoldenEye
2. Licence to Kill
3. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
4. You Only Live Twice
5. The Living Daylights
6. Thunderball
7. Octopussy
8. From Russia with Love
9. Goldfinger
10. Die Another Day
11. The Man with the Golden Gun
12. Moonraker
13. Tomorrow Never Dies
14. The World Is Not Enough
15. Quantum of Solace
16. Live and Let Die
17. Spectre
18. A View to a Kill
19. Diamonds Are Forever
20. Casino Royale
21. Dr. No
22. For Your Eyes Only
23. The Spy Who Loved Me
24. Skyfall
I love The Connery Wobble.
Your #1 is great, but from there it just falls apart for me haha. Die Another Day is above Tomorrow Never Dies (IMO a quantitative improvement from GoldenEye as it makes it more classic with the original theme), Spectre, and Casino Royale?? Crazy!
I tried practicing Brosnan's walk in the mirror. And it looked really stupid when I did it. lol
Yeah same haha, he's got a good stride on him Brosnan. The Goldeneye gunbarrell is fantastic