Bond Movies for Men only?

edited December 2011 in Bond Movies Posts: 2,341
a few years back I was at the eye doctors and saw an article in a Men's Health magazine. it listed the top 100 movies for men. It had films like "The Dirty Dozen" "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly" "Terminator" to name a few. Only one Bond film made the list:
DR NO
The article went on to say that this was before the Bond movies devolved into 'family" entertainment. That being said, my questions would be:
What other Bond films would you add to such a list?
And which movie could be listed as [ugh] family entertainment?
IMO I would list as "Men's Movies"; LTK CR DN FRWL
Family entertainment; All films from the Roger Moore era, YOLT, DAF, TLD, TWINE,
The other films could fall in between
Your comments, thoughts, and feelings?
«13

Comments

  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    Hmm. Interesting; especially as I am female and a lifelong Bond fan.
    Well, I'd say more strongly for men (I am so guessing here): CR, TB, LTK, FRWL, DN, GE, TSWLM, and OHMSS. Plopping the rest of Bond as "family" entertainment.
    Not sure I like that moniker though.
  • tqbtqb
    Posts: 1,022
    Hmm. Interesting; especially as I am female and a lifelong Bond fan.
    Well, I'd say more strongly for men (I am so guessing here): CR, TB, LTK, FRWL, DN, GE, TSWLM, and OHMSS. Plopping the rest of Bond as "family" entertainment.
    Not sure I like that moniker though.
    so as a female do you think those more strongly for men are indeed more for men?

  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    edited December 2011 Posts: 28,694
    Bond movies are open to both genders, just check it out:
    http://www.mi6community.com/index.php?p=/discussion/1253/are-there-any-women-here-on-mi6/p9#Item_242

    As for manly men Bond films, I'd wager that all the Connery sans YOLT and DAF, OHMSS, TLD, LTK, and CR and QoS would be listed.
  • Posts: 2,341
    Hmm. Interesting; especially as I am female and a lifelong Bond fan.
    Well, I'd say more strongly for men (I am so guessing here): CR, TB, LTK, FRWL, DN, GE, TSWLM, and OHMSS. Plopping the rest of Bond as "family" entertainment.
    Not sure I like that moniker though.

    In all fairness I must agree with other writers that Bond movies are great "date movies". I saw the early ones with my school chums but as I matured I have taken a date to most of the later ones. The first one I actually saw with a date was TSWLM. I would gladly take a date to any Bond film today.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited December 2011 Posts: 12,480
    Yes, I think Bond movies are great date movies, for sure! I personally think that all Bond movies are for men and women - with this thread, I put a little thought into "gee, do guys want more gritty action?" etc. So I am unclear;I think they are enjoyable to both men and women without seeming too bland as "family entertainment" may make it sound. I know several women who love Bond movies; I think I have met only a couple who did not at least like them.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    The saying "men want to be him, and women want him in their bed" is a good way of summing up Bond.
  • Posts: 4,619
    I wouldn't consider CR a "Bond Movie for Men only". I noticed that a lot of women love CR more than any other Bond film due to the relationship between Bond and Vesper.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,718
    Bond movies should be more orientated to the male audience. The last 2 films are too female-orientated for me.
  • Posts: 1,492
    There do seem to be a couple of Bond films which women tend to like more.

    Casino Royale, obviously as it is basically a tragic love story and Vesper is such a relateable character.

    And funnily enough, The Living Daylights. The romance of the whole Vienna part with Bond and Kara is appealing.
  • Agent007391Agent007391 Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start
    Posts: 7,854
    Bond movies should be more orientated to the male audience.

    As 99% of all action movies are.
    The last 2 films are too female-orientated for me.

    A good portion of this comes from the fact that in Fleming's Casino Royale, Bond fell in love with Vesper, and in order to make a faithful film, this had to be brought in. Quantum just kept it because it was a direct sequel.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,718
    The last 2 films are too female-orientated for me.

    A good portion of this comes from the fact that in Fleming's Casino Royale, Bond fell in love with Vesper, and in order to make a faithful film, this had to be brought in. Quantum just kept it because it was a direct sequel.

    I meant stuff like the appalling 'Bond coming out of the water' scene in CR... The silly walk, the OTT close-ups, the OTT music... It completly destroyed the Bond character. dare I say this scene was borderline homoerotic, which is totally contrary to what Bond should be. I am tired of the over-emphasis on Craig's body during the last 2 films. When Bond was shirtless in the previous 20 films, he was just shirtless, no need to rub it in our faces with close-ups of his body. I hope in a future edition of CR the beach scene in the Bahamas and the beach scene with Vesper will be removed from the film.

  • Artemis81Artemis81 In Christmas Land
    edited December 2011 Posts: 543
    Funny, I never considered the Bond movies as family entertainment. Well, I certainly wouldn't pick any of the films to watch with my family. :P As for "Men Movies", most the ones @4EverBonded and @0Brady mentioned sound about right. I also agree that Bond movies can be for both men and women.
    I wouldn't consider CR a "Bond Movie for Men only". I noticed that a lot of women love CR more than any other Bond film due to the relationship between Bond and Vesper.
    That's very interesting. I did love CR and I do love a good love story, but I also enjoyed the action as well.

  • SandySandy Somewhere in Europe
    Posts: 4,012
    Bond films are for both genders, for sure. I am a women and I enjoy Bond films as much as (or even more than most) men.
    The saying "men want to be him, and women want him in their bed" is a good way of summing up Bond.
    Exactly!
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,355
    I've never thought this, though have never met a woman that likes Bond, so maybe I'm in deniel I thought, until I read this thread! ;)
  • Posts: 2,341
    The last 2 films are too female-orientated for me.

    A good portion of this comes from the fact that in Fleming's Casino Royale, Bond fell in love with Vesper, and in order to make a faithful film, this had to be brought in. Quantum just kept it because it was a direct sequel.


    I meant stuff like the appalling 'Bond coming out of the water' scene in CR... The silly walk, the OTT close-ups, the OTT music... It completly destroyed the Bond character. dare I say this scene was borderline homoerotic, which is totally contrary to what Bond should be. I am tired of the over-emphasis on Craig's body during the last 2 films. When Bond was shirtless in the previous 20 films, he was just shirtless, no need to rub it in our faces with close-ups of his body. I hope in a future edition of CR the beach scene in the Bahamas and the beach scene with Vesper will be removed from the film.

    DaltonCraig007 you're killing me LOL. Maybe the scenes with him coming out of the water have something to do with the fact that Bond is appealing to men and women. Or maybe the fact that the producer (Babs) is a woman (?) I do recall that when Craig got the part and everyone was whinning about his looks, Babs came to the rescue by saying, "Daniel Criag is very sexy"...or words to that effect.

    Also recall the main titles of CR no more nude women in shadow but those men fighting and shots of Craig...maybe Babs was driving the ship and making a blow for equality among the sexes.

    We all work out at the gym and we can look at a man who is "cut" and we admire his physique that but doesn't make us gay. Talk about men wanting to be Bond. Lots of us guys would love to have DC's physique.

  • Agent007391Agent007391 Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start
    Posts: 7,854
    The last 2 films are too female-orientated for me.

    A good portion of this comes from the fact that in Fleming's Casino Royale, Bond fell in love with Vesper, and in order to make a faithful film, this had to be brought in. Quantum just kept it because it was a direct sequel.

    I meant stuff like the appalling 'Bond coming out of the water' scene in CR... The silly walk, the OTT close-ups, the OTT music... It completly destroyed the Bond character. dare I say this scene was borderline homoerotic, which is totally contrary to what Bond should be. I am tired of the over-emphasis on Craig's body during the last 2 films. When Bond was shirtless in the previous 20 films, he was just shirtless, no need to rub it in our faces with close-ups of his body. I hope in a future edition of CR the beach scene in the Bahamas and the beach scene with Vesper will be removed from the film.

    Well, that part can be a little annoying. Especially when your cousin has an immense crush on Daniel Craig, even though she'll never leave Kansas...
  • I always thought the Bond movies were made primarily for men. It does seem though that the newer ones try to go a little overboard with the "strong female" sterotype, probably to appeal to more women.

    I know a lot of other females that like Bond, but like me, they got into the fandom because of male family members. It seems doubtful that women would be drawn into the series on their own.

    (Funny though, the Kara/Bond romance and the Vesper/Bond romance were two of my least favorite parts of those movies. Then again, my taste in films has always been rather tomboyish. :P )
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    jackdagger wrote:
    I always thought the Bond movies were made primarily for men. It does seem though that the newer ones try to go a little overboard with the "strong female" sterotype, probably to appeal to more women.

    I know a lot of other females that like Bond, but like me, they got into the fandom because of male family members. It seems doubtful that women would be drawn into the series on their own.

    (Funny though, the Kara/Bond romance and the Vesper/Bond romance were two of my least favorite parts of those movies. Then again, my taste in films has always been rather tomboyish. :P )

    Maybe I am in the minority, but I got into Bond thru the novels and it was a sole plunge. I'm an only child; parents didn't go to Bond films. I was always a tomboy maybe that's part of it. And I've always had guy friends. It's nice growing up having Bond in your life, even as a female. It's a fun, adventurous, exciting, exotic, thrilling, and sexy world is Bond.
  • edited January 2012 Posts: 638
    The last 2 films are too female-orientated for me.

    A good portion of this comes from the fact that in Fleming's Casino Royale, Bond fell in love with Vesper, and in order to make a faithful film, this had to be brought in. Quantum just kept it because it was a direct sequel.

    I meant stuff like the appalling 'Bond coming out of the water' scene in CR... The silly walk, the OTT close-ups, the OTT music... It completly destroyed the Bond character. dare I say this scene was borderline homoerotic, which is totally contrary to what Bond should be. I am tired of the over-emphasis on Craig's body during the last 2 films. When Bond was shirtless in the previous 20 films, he was just shirtless, no need to rub it in our faces with close-ups of his body. I hope in a future edition of CR the beach scene in the Bahamas and the beach scene with Vesper will be removed from the film.

    Apparently you missed the early Connery films. Connery spent more time with his shirt off in Thunderball than Craig did in CR & QoS combined. There were no more close ups of Craig shirtless than there were of Connery (BTW, Connery's shorts in TB were ALMOST as tight as Craig's in CR.).
  • Posts: 289
    but they were shorter!
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    edited January 2012 Posts: 15,718
    jaguar007 wrote:
    Apparently you missed the early Connery films. Connery spent more time with his shirt off in Thunderball than Craig did in CR & QoS combined. There were no more close ups of Craig shirtless than there were of Connery (BTW, Connery's shorts in TB were ALMOST as tight as Craig's in CR.).

    I don't remember shots like this in Connery's films...

    http://screenmusings.org/CasinoRoyale/pages/CR_0370.htm
    http://screenmusings.org/CasinoRoyale/pages/CR_0373.htm
  • Agent007391Agent007391 Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start
    Posts: 7,854
    Honestly, whether the movies are female oriented or not, what's wrong with showing off those abs you worked hard on? Besides, he's at the beach, what do you expect him to wear, a parka?
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    edited January 2012 Posts: 15,718
    Honestly, whether the movies are female oriented or not, what's wrong with showing off those abs you worked hard on? Besides, he's at the beach, what do you expect him to wear, a parka?

    No, but was there a need for Craig to do a silly walk, have OTT music and OTT close-ups of his body ? Honestly the beach scene seemed to be orientated at 75% to gay audience, 25% to female audience. The whole scene is apalling.
  • Agent007391Agent007391 Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start
    Posts: 7,854
    Honestly, whether the movies are female oriented or not, what's wrong with showing off those abs you worked hard on? Besides, he's at the beach, what do you expect him to wear, a parka?

    No, but was there a need for Craig to do a silly walk, have OTT music and OTT close-ups of his body ?

    So it was a "For Chicks' Eyes Only" shot in a primarily male movie, you don't even like the movie anyway, if you don't want to see the shot, press "skip" on the DVD remote.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,718

    So it was a "For Chicks' Eyes Only" shot in a primarily male movie

    Que ? CR was not a male movie. It was a chick flick. Male Bond films were from 1962-1989, slightly less in 1995-2002, and non-existent since 2006. CR butchered Fleming, butchered Bond and ignored the main audience which is the male audience.
  • Agent007391Agent007391 Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start
    Posts: 7,854
    I don't know. There was the one-shot, one-kill at the beginning, the action scene in the construction site/embassy after that, the Miami airport after that, any poker scene (I've met no chick that likes to watch poker), the Venice scene at the climax, Bond shooting Mr. White at the end...

    QoS had the PTS car chase, the chase through Sienna after Mitchel, the fight with Slate, the stuff at the docks, the shoot out at the opera, the cops-&-Mathis scene (when they find Mathis in the trunk), the plane scene, Bond taking out the MI6 guys in the elevator, Bond escaping the CIA tactical team, the entire Eco Hotel sequence and finally Bond giving Greene the motor oil.

    I've watched these movies with girls, and they hated each and every one of these scenes.
  • Posts: 297
    If anything I think it's good that the films try to attract a wider audience. Nothing wrong with chicks liking Craig's Bond in my book. But that's not new, girls alway liked Bond, only today they prefer their Bond a bit less flabby and funny than they used to. Who knows? That might change again. Doubt it though, we are just too much in love with youth and physical perfection.
  • Agent007391Agent007391 Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start
    Posts: 7,854
    Kennon wrote:
    If anything I think it's good that the films try to attract a wider audience. Nothing wrong with chicks liking Craig's Bond in my book. But that's not new, girls alway liked Bond, only today they prefer their Bond a bit less flabby and funny than they used to. Who knows? That might change again. Doubt it though, we are just too much in love with youth and physical perfection.

    Honestly, I agree with this. I don't think there's a damn thing wrong with chicks liking Bond.
  • Posts: 638
    CR butchered Fleming, butchered Bond and ignored the main audience which is the male audience.

    Sorry, but as much as I love Roger Moore, he butchered Fleming and Bond far more than CR did.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,718
    jaguar007 wrote:
    CR butchered Fleming, butchered Bond and ignored the main audience which is the male audience.

    Sorry, but as much as I love Roger Moore, he butchered Fleming and Bond far more than CR did.

    IMO his 2nd film, TMWTGG, was much closer to Fleming than CR could ever hope to be.

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