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What is one Bond film generally not well-regarded but you genuinely can't understand why?
Junglist_1985
Los Angeles
Not one you really enjoy knowing there are real flaws.
Rather, one you just can't understand why it's ranked so low...
Rather, one you just can't understand why it's ranked so low...
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I’m still split on SP myself personally. Out of the entire Craig era, it’s the one film that adheres most to the ‘formula’, which I quite like. But it’s also dragged down for me quite a bit because of all the revelations. I’ll say that NTTD helped me appreciate elements of SP a bit more, but I think that’s more a testament to NTTD imo.
I was one of the early birds that saw SP. I had no idea how other people would feel about the film. It was an instant winner for me; my immediate response to the film was "so much better than SF." Then other reviews started coming in. A week later, I was in shock.
I really enjoyed the film upon its release too. In fact I can remember sharing my excitement and sharing my thoughts on the forum back in 2015 when it came out. I think it was subsequent viewings for me as well taking into consideration the opinions and criticisms surrounding the film that have led me to reconsider in recent years, which is something I don’t really like to do, but in the case of SP I found them incredibly hard to ignore and get past. I think I had SP as being the worst Bond movie in EON’s series at one point, but I’ve walked back on that opinion quite a bit. It doesn’t quite reach the lows of DAF, AVTAK, DAD, and QOS for me, but it sits slightly above those 4 movies.
I’ll say that I think SP is the better ending to Craig’s era than NTTD, but that’s just my personal opinion.
Sure, it's outlandish and overt sci fi, but:
- Moore's performance was great in it, much better than the previous one (more balanced, he showed vulnerability, the transition from being smarmy to accepting women as his partner, if the Bond of TSWLM was in FYEO, I doubt he would treat the women there with respect, but since MR, there's Holly Goodhead who made Bond learned his lesson, he became more respectful of women in the later films after this).
- A Great Bond villain in Hugo Drax, more fleshed out personality, threatening and menacing, and had great banter with Bond.
- A truly Bond's equal in Holly Goodhead, she showed Bond how to respect women, she's no damsel in distress, she helped Bond in his mission, independent, intelligent and tough, she's one of the more convincing female agents in the series, sadly, she gets overshadowed by how much hate the film gets and her punny name.
- It showed Bond's vulnerability in the Centrifuge scene and in the dark alley in Rio when he saved Manuela, and how concern he was when he met Holly Goodhead in Drax's base ("Thank God you're safe"), and he did a lot of detective and spying things in this, add to that is how many times I've felt that Bond was in danger, something that I didn't felt in the previous one (because mostly he's in control most of the time).
- Beautiful cinematography, locations and score.
Other than that, I’d say TND. I think it’s getting a bit of a reevaluation now, but in the past it’s not necessarily been regarded as one of the strongest Bond films. It’s an awful lot of fun though. One of my go to Bond films, especially when introducing people to Bond movies.
I’ll attest to TND. I used to think it was one of the more “generic” Bond films, but then I came to the realization that “generic” could also be used to describe a lot of other Bond films that I love and adore. As a result, TND has really shot itself up in my rankings these past few years with each viewing. I think Carver’s plot is a big reason why it works for me now.
More Bondian and more Fleming than many EON's efforts.
More fun than YOLT, less silly than DAF (and Octopussy!). The tone was right.
Glad I'm not alone, @Mathis1 !
I am with you on this. In terms of mood, it may be my favourite Craig.
Anyway, I was thinking at first of Spectre, but I recognize the film's flaws while still very much enjoying it. So I'd say For Your Eyes Only. There are only one or two things about it I'm not crazy about, but overall, it's a thoroughly good watch.
With you here. Thunderball is my second favorite Bond film. I didn't think to say that one because I would have thought that it was beloved enough. But I suppose I forgot that a number of people here really don't like it. I have no idea why, I think it's an absolute blast. The best of Connery.
Some other entries I’m always a bit confused about why they tend to end up so low on lists are TMWTGG and OP. While definitely flawed, I think they are overall very solid.
I always wonder: does that fosterbrother twist, that slide whistle sound or that clown disguise really erase everything else that’s great in that particular film?
You can say the same thing about DAF but people don't forgive Connery.
Despite its obvious shortcomings, it's one of the better paced films in the series and for my money, far superior to its Moore clones, TSWLM and MR.
Aurally and visually, it's chef's kiss. It's not supposed to be a serious espionnage or personnal vendetta affair, just fun, pure escapism... and in that regard it delivers in spades.
Honestly, I’d say it’s more impactful than the idea that Bond and Blofeld briefly knew each other as children.
I agree concerning the clown suits. I think the gorilla suit and the Tarzan yell aren’t great though. I still consider OP a superb spy adventure however, despite these minor gripes.
It always amuses me that Moore thinks kicking Loque off the side in FYEO is his darkest moment as Bond, yet in OP he shoots a russian soldier point blank in the forehead.