Unanimous Opinions on Bond Films

2

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  • Posts: 4,813
    I would venture a guess and say that Sean Connery is not at the bottom of anyone's ranking. Would you agree?
  • Posts: 498
    The only unanamous opinions I can think of are Desmond Llewellyn & John Barry. I can't ever recall anyone saying anything negative about either.

    There are a few opinions which come close (Connery, Craig, GF, the DB5), but with just my feelings alone towards each one, alone, makes them not loved by everyone.

    Hmm... As much as we like him, Craig can't be put in that list

    Desmond Llewellyn is a definite , I am surprised Ben Whishaw is not getting flacked by Llewellyn fans.
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    Skyfail wrote:
    Desmond Llewellyn is a definite , I am surprised Ben Whishaw is not getting flacked by Llewellyn fans.

    That is an interesting point. I think it helps that Ben is not Desmond's immediate successor to the role and is not trying to imitate his style in any way.
  • Posts: 498
    Yeah , I'd say so .
    Did John Cleese get the boot for replacing Desmond , wasn't a huge fan at the time, So I can't recall quite right.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,355
    I would venture a guess and say that Sean Connery is not at the bottom of anyone's ranking. Would you agree?

    One member on the old forums had Connery at the bottom would you believe it, along with his films.
  • X3MSonicXX3MSonicX https://www.behance.net/gallery/86760163/Fa-Posteres-de-007-No-Time-To-Die
    Posts: 2,635
    Something that I always say, Connery was the first and obviously he IS the best Bond. He created the standard for all of the other films and actors, which followed up trying to make different Bonds. There's no way he can be the worst Bond.
  • How about "Roger Deakins did a terrific job with the cinematography on Skyfall" or "Martin Campbell saved the Bond franchise twice."
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,161
    MaidenDeth wrote:
    How about "Roger Deakins did a terrific job with the cinematography on Skyfall" or "Martin Campbell saved the Bond franchise twice."

    I for one fully agree with that. I think Campbell did a marvellous job with both films. I also think he revitalised the series twice and - not to be forgotten - both times the follow-up film was a complete let-down. So yes, I herald the man as a hero.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    Skyfail wrote:
    Hmm... As much as we like him, Craig can't be put in that list

    Oh I don't, far from it. But I see an awful lot of praise given to Craig, he's almost unanamously loved.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    edited March 2013 Posts: 6,277
    The only unanamous opinions I can think of are Desmond Llewellyn & John Barry. I can't ever recall anyone saying anything negative about either.

    There are a few opinions which come close (Connery, Craig, GF, the DB5), but with just my feelings alone towards each one, alone, makes them not loved by everyone.

    The theme and Binder's gunbarrel? Diana Rigg's performance? The Live and Let Die song? At least one of Bassey's songs? Surely nearly everyone likes those?
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    Yep. I think there are only a few; look at the earlier posts. Probably 5 or less can be unanimously agreed by fans. Just my guess.
  • Posts: 7,653
    MaidenDeth wrote:
    "Martin Campbell saved the Bond franchise twice."

    Saved is a rather dramatic choice of words, I am of the believe that GE was bound to become a hit the world was waiting for a next 007 outing, and after DAD there was nothing to save really as the franchise was in a very healthy condition and bound to be reformed as had happened before. Martin Campbell was the good choice at the moment with his mostly action direction.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,277
    SaintMark wrote:
    MaidenDeth wrote:
    "Martin Campbell saved the Bond franchise twice."

    Saved is a rather dramatic choice of words, I am of the believe that GE was bound to become a hit the world was waiting for a next 007 outing, and after DAD there was nothing to save really as the franchise was in a very healthy condition and bound to be reformed as had happened before. Martin Campbell was the good choice at the moment with his mostly action direction.

    Bull. Campbell took dramatic risks in casting and tone with CR, and it paid off.
  • Posts: 7,653
    echo wrote:
    SaintMark wrote:
    MaidenDeth wrote:
    "Martin Campbell saved the Bond franchise twice."

    Saved is a rather dramatic choice of words, I am of the believe that GE was bound to become a hit the world was waiting for a next 007 outing, and after DAD there was nothing to save really as the franchise was in a very healthy condition and bound to be reformed as had happened before. Martin Campbell was the good choice at the moment with his mostly action direction.

    Bull. Campbell took dramatic risks in casting and tone with CR, and it paid off.

    Bull yourself, I stated that MC did not SAVE the franchise twice or even once.

    GE with Pierce Brosnan would have had to be very bad in order to fail as a new 007 outing. And CR did not save the franchise from anything. Had there been a 5th Brosnan outing in between it would undoubtely have been a toned down affair like (OHMSS & FYEO) and would have done well at the BO as well. It would have made the redirection a lot less spectacular I expect.

    And Craigs casting might have gotten a lot of attention, I wonder how earlier castings would have gone had internet been around.

    Using the word saving smacks of dramatic OTT response nad is utterly besides the truth.

  • CR and Craig's hire IMHO saved the franchise period after DAD. Another one of those would have meant the end for me and many others until EON changed actor and direction.

    Unlike Sir Roger, Brosnan hadn't shown the chops to handle a toned down affair. He was stuck in a rut and the last two films showed he had nothing left or TWINE would have been a lot better.
  • edited March 2013 Posts: 12,837
    GE saved the franchise because if it wasn't a hit and if Brosnan wasn't popular then it could've meant the end of the series, due to the legal issues.

    CR didn't save the franchise because the franchise was in no danger of ending. The series was in the best shape finanically since the 70s (at the time), and the series has a habit of making a down to earth movie after the really OTT flicks.

    Even if you don't like Brosnan you can't say CR saved the franchise. Maybe it made you more of a fan and reignited your intrest but there was no evidence of the franchise itself ending.
  • I fail to see how DAD's box office versus it's overwhelmingly negative critical and fan response equals fans wanted more of the same. CR had better box office than all of the Brosnan films because most people liked the change once they saw it and word of mouth spread. That's how I see it anyway :)
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    I fail to see how DAD's box office versus it's overwhelmingly negative critical and fan response equals fans wanted more of the same. CR had better box office than all of the Brosnan films because most people liked the change once they saw it and word of mouth spread. That's how I see it anyway :)

    I have to agree with @thelivingroyale. DAD was only reviled retrospectively. At the time it had nowhere near the level of critical scorn it has nowadays. Similar to MR. It wasn't a critical behemoth but there was no way on earth the series was going to end, I remember the day Brosnan was dropped very well. A lot of people were waiting on a fifth entry. That's not to say it would have reached the heights of CR, Royale was a welcome change, but most of the general public didn't know that's what they wanted until they were given it. A fifth Brosnan would have been by no means a financial failure.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,161
    Even if you don't like Brosnan you can't say CR saved the franchise. Maybe it made you more of a fan and reignited your intrest but there was no evidence of the franchise itself ending.

    Correct. However it is IMO fair to assume that DAD barely got away with it because it had been three years since TWINE and it was a one-off. Five more minutes, so to speak, and it would have overstayed its welcome. While Batman Forever made a lot of money, its sequel - with more of the same - turned out a near franchise killer. The radical changes that were imposed on the formula helped the Batman franchise to endure. Batman Begins, in that sense, effectively saved it from certain self-destruction. So too, I believe, DAD could have spawned a franchise-killing follow-up film, though I do admit that they might have chosen a different path altogether even if neither the Casino Royale book nor Craig had been at their disposal. But then perhaps I would be here now calling that particular film the saviour of the franchise. Either way, it is my firm belief that whatever came after DAD had to be a game changer for clearly that was were cinema in general was going. A DAD2 project might have gained unfavourable results at the BO and it's no stretch to see disappointing financial results put the Bond series in the deep freeze once more for those are the times we live in.

  • echoecho 007 in New York
    edited March 2013 Posts: 6,277
    Consider that CR reignited critical acclaim for the series at a level not seen since by the series the '60s, if ever. At the time there was talk of a Best Actor nod for Craig. And that success eventually attracted Mendes, Bardem, Adele, and oh, two Oscars...again, for the first time since the '60s.

    To say that Campbell's direction of CR was a game changer, rejuvenating the series, is an understatement. Bond became culturally cool on a wide scale again (not just to us fanboys/girls), and for that, Campbell is largely to thank. In my book, he is welcome to come back and direct another anytime.
  • Posts: 5,634
    The Bond fan community is home to a lot of strong opinions, one's least favorite film is often another's most treasured. One's favorite Bond Girl is often hated and despised by others. Thats the beauty of the Bond franchise though.

    But what are some opinions on Bond films that you feel are, for the most part, unanimously agreed on by most James Bond fans? Although I've been a Bond fan for many years, I'm still new to the boards so I could be wrong on some of these but here are some opinions that I feel I never hear disagreements over or casting choices/character portrayals that are never spoken bad about.

    Casting Choices

    1 - Judi Dench as M

    2 - Eva Green as Vesper

    3 - Diana Rigg as Tracy di Vicenzo

    4 - Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny

    5 - Desmond Llewelyn as Q

    General Opinions

    1 - The PTS of Diamonds are Forever is an unsatisfying followup to the end of On Her Majesty's Secret Service

    2 - Shirley Bassey did great things for the franchise

    3 - Everyone loves the James Bond theme

    4 - Honey Ryder is one of the most beautiful Bond Girls

    What are some other opinions that are unanimously agreed on? And if I'm wrong on some of the ones I mentioned, please let me know.


    Bernard Lee was the best M

    Connery was the best Bond (although not my favorite)

    Lois Maxwell was the best Moneypenny

    From Russia With Love is the best Bond movie (once again, although not my favorite, but as true to the Bond character as you will find)

    Desmond Llewelyn was the best Q

    Ursula Andress was the best Bond girl

    Jane Seymour was the best looking Bond girl

    The World is not Enough has the biggest and best pre credits sequence

    Charles Gray was the worst Blofeld, Donald Pleasance was the best

    George Lazenby should of made at least one more appearance

    Roger Moore, Connery and Brosnan did one Bond release too many in the end

    Paul McCartney and Wings provided the best theme intro

    The James Bond gun barrel should always be at the start of the movie

    James Bond should ideally be played by a British actor
  • Posts: 33
    Perhaps the correct choice of word to use for Cambell's effect on the franchise is reinvigorated, particularly so in the case of CR. Craig's first outing was a particularly stylish enterprise, I can't remember when I've seen a more original casting. Now if anyone saved the franchise it was Brosnan, he was Roger for the 90's. Although Dalton had a good grip on character MGM blinked/panicked - "we need somebody the people/the Americans will 'recognise' somebody from TV like the Saint!
  • Posts: 5,634
    You could well be right with Brosnan being a 90's Roger Moore, as I invariably spent more time sniggering and rolling of eyes whenever he was on screen as Bond, although to be fair to the Irishman, it wasn't always like that, as he did, every now and again, give a decent representation of the Bond character, as with Moore himself
  • edited March 2013 Posts: 1,817
    Let me try these "Bond universals":
    - Fleming is the best Bond author.
    - Connery is one of the best Bond (even if he isn't everybody's favorite).
    - Desmond Llewelyn and Lois Maxwell established the most emblematic portrayals of their characters.
    - John Barry is one of the best composers of the franchise.
  • Posts: 12,837
    If they'd done another DAD it would've meant the end of the franchise but I'm sure they would've made a more down to earth film anyway, even without Craig or the CR rights.
    I fail to see how DAD's box office versus it's overwhelmingly negative critical and fan response equals fans wanted more of the same.

    It wasn't panned until years later. I remember it doing alright reviews wise after it was released. More of the same would've killed the franchise but like I said, I think they'd change the direction no matter what.
  • edited March 2013 Posts: 498
    Skyfail wrote:
    Hmm... As much as we like him, Craig can't be put in that list

    Oh I don't, far from it. But I see an awful lot of praise given to Craig, he's almost unanamously loved.

    Exactly, I know a lot of seniors ,
    who don't like Craig, Including my father ,They grew up loving Moore and Connery and this is a step in a wrong direction from their perspective.

    But EON got what they wanted, they wanted to appeal to a more modern younger fan base , I wouldn't have attached myself to the franchise, had Daniel Craig not steped into the role.

    So @MajorDSmyther, Don't count yourself out, there are many fans such as you who are not too happy with Craig , but they don't spend their time on such board because they must have given up on the franchise. That's why its hard to hear from their point of view.
  • Aziz_FekkeshAziz_Fekkesh Royale-les-Eaux
    Posts: 403
    Ok, I got one: Connery, Lazenby, and Craig were the best fighters in the series.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    0013 wrote:
    - Fleming is the best Bond author.

    Controversial.

    I think the legions of Benson and Faulkes fans out there would take issue with that!
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    0013 wrote:
    - Fleming is the best Bond author.

    Controversial.

    I think the legions of Benson and Faulkes fans out there would take issue with that!

    Considering that without Fleming those blokes wouldn't have a thing to write about anyway (about the character of Bond, I mean), it is easy to see that he is the greatest. He crafted the character, started the foundations of the films and more that would all be gone if he never existed, and then none of this would exist and we wouldn't be here right now discussing his character that originated in his mind and his mind only.
  • Posts: 1
    While this is the first time i have read other people opinions on the Internet, from my experiences with friends and stuff like that, Goldeneye is ALWAYS mentioned amongst peoples favourites, it is also my personal favourite. I haven't been on forums about Bond before though so i could be wrong.
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