Bond movie ranking (Simple list, no details)

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  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited February 2016 Posts: 23,883
    After just watching SP again:

    1. FRWL
    2. TB
    3. CR
    4. TSWLM
    5. DN
    6. SF
    7. OP
    8. OHMSS
    9. GE
    10. LTK
    11. LALD
    12. FYEO
    13. TLD
    14. TMWTGG (yes, I know - I rank it higher than most here)
    15. QoS
    16. GF (yes, I know - I'm one of the few who doesn't think too highly of it)
    17. SP (it can drop below TND easily but will likely stay above all the rest)
    18. TND
    19. DAF
    20. YOLT
    21. MR
    22. AVTAK
    23. DAD
    24. TWINE
  • Posts: 2,402
    24: Diamonds Are Forever
    23: Die Another Day
    22: The Man With the Golden Gun
    21: Moonraker
    20: A View to a Kill
    19: Tomorrow Never Dies
    18: Quantum of Solace
    17: Goldfinger
    16: You Only Live Twice
    15: Live and Let Die
    14: For Your Eyes Only
    13: Thunderball
    12: Dr. No
    11: The World is Not Enough
    10: Octopussy
    9: SPECTRE
    8: From Russia With Love
    7: GoldenEye
    6: Skyfall
    5: The Spy Who Loved Me
    4: Licence to Kill
    3: On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    2: The Living Daylights
    1: Casino Royale
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    edited February 2016 Posts: 5,131
    1. FRWL
    2. CR
    3. OHMSS
    4. DN
    5. TB
    6. GF
    7. LTK
    8. TLD
    9. LALD
    10. SF
    11. SP
    12. FYEO
    13. TSWLM
    14. QoS
    15. YOLT
    16. NSNA - Connery and Fleming story.
    17. GE
    18. OP
    19. DAF
    20. TMWTGG
    21. AVTAK
    22. TND
    23. MR
    24. TWINE
    25. DAD


  • ForYourEyesOnlyForYourEyesOnly In the untained cradle of the heavens
    Posts: 1,984
    My lists are constantly changing, but this is my current one:

    1. CR
    2. FRWL
    3. TSWLM
    4. SF
    5. GE
    6. OHMSS
    7. GF
    8. OP
    9. TB
    10. DN
    11. FYEO
    12. LTK
    13. YOLT
    14. TLD
    15. LALD
    16. TND
    17. SP
    18. QoS
    19. TWINE
    20. DAF
    21. AVTAK
    22. TMWTGG
    23. MR
    24. DAD
  • wow @ForYourEyesOnly, that is a great list, only things I would do would be to put TLD a few places up and SF and TB a few places down.
  • ForYourEyesOnlyForYourEyesOnly In the untained cradle of the heavens
    edited February 2016 Posts: 1,984
    wow @ForYourEyesOnly, that is a great list, only things I would do would be to put TLD a few places up and SF and TB a few places down.

    Thanks. I like TLD, as I don't have quite as many problems with it as some others (I like the theme song very much, for instance). However, I do share their complaints of the loss of steam once it hits Afghanistan, though my biggest complaint is still the lack of character development and menace regarding the villains. I rank LTK higher just because it's slightly more in tune with what Dalton would've wanted (but the excessive grit also detracts from the atmosphere of Bond). I kind of feel sorry for Dalton, since he never got a film that meshed completely with how he wanted to play Bond.

    For TB and SF, recent rewatches has reminded how great the aesthetics are in each. Craig and Connery are also fantastic in each, both physically and just acting in general. The score is very powerful in TB, with an ominous version of the Bond theme that I used to hate but have come to be more accepting of. The visuals are obviously impressive in both. SF's score isn't on the same level as TB's, but the villain is certainly better (the supporting cast as a whole is, and is probably the best out of any Bond movie).
  • wow @ForYourEyesOnly, that is a great list, only things I would do would be to put TLD a few places up and SF and TB a few places down.

    Thanks. I like TLD, as I don't have quite as many problems with it as some others (I like the theme song very much, for instance). However, I do share their complaints of the loss of steam once it hits Afghanistan, though my biggest complaint is still the lack of character development and menace regarding the villains. I rank LTK higher just because it's slightly more in tune with what Dalton would've wanted (but the excessive grit also detracts from the atmosphere of Bond). I kind of feel sorry for Dalton, since he never got a film that meshed completely with how he wanted to play Bond.

    Yes, the villains of TLD have no real menace at all (but Necros makes up for it) and their exits are anticlimactic. They are at least somewhat amusing. I don't necessarily agree that TLD 'runs out of steam' - at least not seriously - once it hits Afghanistan (even though everyone says that on this forum). Some other films 'run out of steam' in a much worse way than TLD.

    With how Dalton was never able to play Bond how he really wanted, I blame that mostly on John Glen and people's expectations for Bond at the time. It just wasn't going to happen, sadly...
  • ForYourEyesOnlyForYourEyesOnly In the untained cradle of the heavens
    Posts: 1,984

    Yes, the villains of TLD have no real menace at all (but Necros makes up for it) and their exits are anticlimactic. They are at least somewhat amusing. I don't necessarily agree that TLD 'runs out of steam' - at least not seriously - once it hits Afghanistan (even though everyone says that on this forum). Some other films 'run out of steam' in a much worse way than TLD.

    With how Dalton was never able to play Bond how he really wanted, I blame that mostly on John Glen and people's expectations for Bond at the time. It just wasn't going to happen, sadly...

    1. That is true, but I don't have TLD as one of the worst films, I have it near the middle. If you question any Bond film being above it on my list, I should be able to provide a solid reason(s) for why. Of course, that's something anybody should be able to do with their lists.

    2. Yes, Glen was much more fit for directing Moore's films than Dalton's, who really could've benefited from Martin Campbell.
  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 3,198


    2. Yes, Glen was much more fit for directing Moore's films than Dalton's, who really could've benefited from Martin Campbell.

    I don't know why people always complain about Glen's direction. I think the direction is solid in any of his films. For me whether a direction is goog or bad mostly depends on the pace of the film. And I think it is very good in the TLD and all other JG Bond films. I personally find that the Lewis Gilbert and Guy Hamilton Bond films alway drag a little bit. Think of the boat chase in LALD. As cool as it is, it is simply too long. Also the battle on Liparus in TSWLM goes on for too long and most of the sequences before the climax in YOLT suffer from a too slow pace.

    Apart from that, I think that Dalton is just perfect in TLD. He is very serious and a bit rough but still has a human and humorous side. On the contrary, I find his character too much driven by revenge in LTK so that he becomes a bit one-dimensional for me in that film.
  • @GBF
    Well I see entirely what you are saying about pace and direction and I do think that generally Glen's films are well-paced (AVTAK is slow and boring in its first half though, and some people think that TLD goes flat in Afghanistan, though I have no idea what they are talking about). And I do see what you are saying about action scenes going on too long. But that is observable in Glen films as well. The AVTAK slaughter scene probably goes on too long, and it is completely mindless anyway. LTK's tanker chase also goes on waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long.

    I agree about everything said about Dalton in TLD and LTK. His failings in LTK aren't serious, but he is at his best in TLD.
  • Here's my current list after re-watching Spectre. SP isn't likely to move, but I can see the movies from YOLT-QoS shifting

    1. Goldfinger
    2. From Russia With Love
    3. Casino Royale
    4. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    5. GoldenEye
    6. Skyfall
    7. The Spy Who Loved Me
    8. Dr. No
    9. Licence to Kill
    10. For Your Eyes Only
    11. You Only Live Twice
    12. The Living Daylights
    13. Tomorrow Never Dies
    14. Thunderball
    15. Quantum of Solace
    16. Spectre
    17. Octopussy
    18. The World is not Enough
    19. Live and Let Die
    20. Diamonds are Forever
    21. A View to a Kill
    22. Die Another Day
    23. The Man with the Golden Gun
    24. Moonraker
  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 3,198
    @GBF
    Well I see entirely what you are saying about pace and direction and I do think that generally Glen's films are well-paced (AVTAK is slow and boring in its first half though, and some people think that TLD goes flat in Afghanistan, though I have no idea what they are talking about). And I do see what you are saying about action scenes going on too long. But that is observable in Glen films as well. The AVTAK slaughter scene probably goes on too long, and it is completely mindless anyway. LTK's tanker chase also goes on waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long.

    I agree about everything said about Dalton in TLD and LTK. His failings in LTK aren't serious, but he is at his best in TLD.

    Well, your certainly right with the tanker chase. The mine massacre, it is a matter of taste. But I denfinately see why people don't like it.

    Another issue that I like in JG films is suspense. I mean even though some of the films (the early three) are a little campy at times they have some of the most suspensefull moments in Bond history. Octopussy is full of such sequences (009 being haunted, the sequneces in the Monsoon Palace, the whole bomb sequence). The same aplies to the Living Daylights (especially in the first half). FYEO is also very sunspensefull (the underwater scenes, parts of the ski chase or the climbing scens). And even AVTAK has plenty of suspense in it (Death of Tibbet in the car wash, burning elevator, Bond in the car underwater, the bomb..). All these sequences are very wel directed because they are really thrilling without any action or any special effects. I don't really find such kind of suspensefull moments so often in the other Bond films.
  • I never thought about that, Glen does have a unique way with suspense that I never thought about. But I will except AVTAK, I think the only suspenseful sequence was Tibbet's death and I suppose you knew it was coming once May Day disappeared.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,829
    It's been a while- here's my new list:
    Top Ten Gold
    1. TLD
    2. LTK
    3. TND
    4. QOS
    5. DN
    6. GF
    7. GE
    8. SP
    9. FRWL
    10. TB
    The Rest
    11. TMWTGG
    12. TWINE
    13. YOLT
    14. CR
    15. OHMSS
    16. OP
    17. FYEO
    18. LALD
    19. DAD
    20. DAF
    21. TSWLM
    22. SF
    23. AVTAK
    24. MR


  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    edited February 2016 Posts: 45,489
    DN in the top five is all right with me.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,829
    DN in the top five is all right with me.
    I feel it's SO underrated. I freak every time I see it!
    :-bd
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,829
    Birdleson wrote: »
    5. DN perfect
    AGREEMENT!!!

    \m/
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    Posts: 10,592
    Birdleson wrote: »
    chrisisall wrote: »
    Birdleson wrote: »
    5. DN perfect
    AGREEMENT!!!

    \m/

    I actually have it at 6, but close enough.
    DN is way too low on my ranking. It's a fantastic film.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    edited February 2016 Posts: 17,829
    Explanations...
    Birdleson wrote: »

    1. TLD too many flaws, way too high I love Dalton
    3. TND oy Brosnan is great in this, and Michelle Yeoh is a BIG bonus for me
    8. SP you're confused with your numbering Craig totally sells it
    9. FRWL low Yeah, I know, but anything in my top ten is awesome IMHO
    14. CR far too low I'd have it much higher up if the melodramatic demise of Vesper was more delicately handled off screen as in the book
    15. OHMSS far too low Agreed. I just personally don't like Lazenby's Bond all that much
    18. LALD far too low The Kananga balloon death just knocks it down is all
    21. TSWLM far, far too low It's a glorious comic book Bond, I grant you. But I hate Jaws, and Stromberg should have been Blofeld
    22. SF far too low Just too much 'Wait- WTF?' for me. I don't hate it- I just don't feel like watching it very often



  • ForYourEyesOnlyForYourEyesOnly In the untained cradle of the heavens
    edited February 2016 Posts: 1,984
    Stromberg is basically a dressed-up Blofeld, who wasn't accessible during the Moore years due to legal disputes. But because of that, I don't hold it against the Bond producers (and certainly not the film) for not making Stromberg Blofeld.
  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 3,198
    I never thought about that, Glen does have a unique way with suspense that I never thought about. But I will except AVTAK, I think the only suspenseful sequence was Tibbet's death and I suppose you knew it was coming once May Day disappeared.

    I think that also Barry is to be mentioned in this context. I like his suspensefull tunes. With regard to AVTAK: I find that the film has a somewhat darker atmosphere with some suspensefull moments. Not as suspensefull as Octopussy but still there are some (car wash, stables, diving, horse track and Bond riding through the forest spotting the Rolls Royce..) But one cold certainly debate about this selection.

  • w2bondw2bond is indeed a very rare breed
    Posts: 2,252
    GBF wrote: »
    I never thought about that, Glen does have a unique way with suspense that I never thought about. But I will except AVTAK, I think the only suspenseful sequence was Tibbet's death and I suppose you knew it was coming once May Day disappeared.

    I think that also Barry is to be mentioned in this context. I like his suspensefull tunes. With regard to AVTAK: I find that the film has a somewhat darker atmosphere with some suspensefull moments. Not as suspensefull as Octopussy but still there are some (car wash, stables, diving, horse track and Bond riding through the forest spotting the Rolls Royce..) But one cold certainly debate about this selection.

    And he's why i hold the middle three Glen films in higher regards, despite where they sit in my rankings
  • Posts: 12,522
    Current ranking:

    1. Casino Royale
    2. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    3. Goldfinger
    4. GoldenEye
    5. Skyfall
    6. Dr. No
    7. The Spy Who Loved Me
    8. Licence to Kill
    9. From Russia with Love
    10. Spectre
    11. Thunderball
    12. For Your Eyes Only
    13. Live and Let Die
    14. Quantum of Solace
    15. The Living Daylights
    16. The World Is Not Enough
    17. You Only Live Twice
    18. Tomorrow Never Dies
    19. The Man with the Golden Gun
    20. Octopussy
    21. Diamonds Are Forever
    22. Die Another Day
    23. A View to a Kill
    24. Moonraker

    Most likely change in the next Bond-a-thon is OP moving up; TMWTGG is dangerously close to the bottom five. Otherwise, for the moment, any other changes would be a little surprising.

  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Excellent top three there.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,829
    FoxRox wrote: »
    15. The Living Daylights

    Was it the salt corrosion?
  • Posts: 7,616
    Glancing through lists, it still amazes me why GE features so high in many! Was it that fans were so starved of 007 to return to the screen that they overlooked how poor it is. The weak script with some terrible lines, Brossas wooden acting, Beans irritating accent, the atrocious score, the middling action, and that godawful song at the end, to name a few!
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    That is also what puzzles me the most.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,829
    Martin Campbell directed CR, so Brosnan's first gets a pass. ;))

    But for MY part, I am a Brosnan defender of the realm. ;)
  • Posts: 7,616
    I noticed! However Campbell had much stronger material to work with on CR, which meant he upped his game considerably!
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited February 2016 Posts: 23,883
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    Glancing through lists, it still amazes me why GE features so high in many! Was it that fans were so starved of 007 to return to the screen that they overlooked how poor it is. The weak script with some terrible lines, Brossas wooden acting, Beans irritating accent, the atrocious score, the middling action, and that godawful song at the end, to name a few!
    I agree with everything you say about GE. It is overrated objectively speaking. Certainly no classic.

    However it is firmly in my top ten on account of one thing - which SP imho does not have. That is 'charisma'. It is an extremely charismatic film, like OP and some of the others. It may be OTT (which imho, Bond should be) but the characters are memorable and pop. TND as an example is a far more polished production, but doesn't have that charisma to me.
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