Last Bond Movie You Watched

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  • Posts: 1,596
    I'll agree with that.
  • JohnHammond73JohnHammond73 Lancashire, UK
    Posts: 4,151
    On Her Majesty's Secret Service as part of my Bondathon. This is still one of my top 5. A great movie. Lazenby does a good job I think and its a shame we didn't see him again, especially after that ending. On bluray the movie looks stunning.

    A couple of things I'm not overjoyed with - breaking the fourth wall and the nods to Connerys movies (janitor whistling Goldfinger and when 007 empties he drawer after "resigning"), I feel they undermine Lazenby's Bond somewhat.

    However, love this entry in the series.
  • Posts: 463
    I've always said about A View To A Kill that Moore probably just showed up on set and did his thing. By this point, the man played Bond so effortlessly and cool.
  • Posts: 11,189
    They all "showed up and did their thing" in AVTAK. That's part of the problem in that it just seems a bit too standard.
  • Posts: 4,762
    The Spy Who Loved Me

    I needed a re-watch of TSWLM after having mixed-to-low feelings about it the last time around. Truthfully, I've never felt overly against or with TSWLM since it was one of the last Bond movies I ever watched for the first time and therefore not having much sentimental value to me. That has helped me to view it more objectively over the years, but occasionally I tend to look at it too objectively and miss the charm. TSWLM is actually a very entertaining Bond movie, and while I have known that for a long time, I must have overlooked the power of that entertainment. The plot couldn't be more thrilling: two nuclear submarines go missing, one from the Russians and one from the British. In the Cold War world, both nations send their best operatives out to locate the missing subs, leading to a bizarre, reclusive billionaire and his underwater fanaticism. The plot is especially intriguing in the first half with all of the microfilm tracking, and despite the "mad billionaire wants to nuke the world" plot in the second half, the movie handles it in a way that isn't terribly corny or out of this world.

    As for other elements, TSWLM offers some very scenic locations and a few solid characters, like Max Kalba, Jaws and Naomi. Stromberg is chilling and classic in his own way, though sometimes dull and uninspiring. Anya is just plain awful. Roger Moore is on fire in his third outing as our hero, as many fans have taken notice before. Some of those uncharacteristic, rougher edges from TMWTGG have been smoothed out, and the lame buffoonery of MR hasn't set in, thankfully. Thus, the perfect balance is struck. As for the score, ol' Marvin gives it his best whirl and doesn't do too bad, frankly. Some tracks are pretty tough to swallow and feel incredibly out of place (i.e. some of the music during the Lotus vs. Naomi's helicopter chase and the journey by boat to Atlantis), but for the most part, it's very Bond-worthy. In the action department, I have no qualms- the action set pieces are well executed and appropriate to their place in the plot progression.

    Overall, TSWLM certainly gets a raise in my rankings. I look forward to possibly seeing it rise even further as time goes on.

    Bondathon 2014/2015

    1. From Russia with Love
    2. Tomorrow Never Dies
    3. License to Kill
    4. A View to a Kill
    5. Live and Let Die
    6. The Spy Who Loved Me
    7. The World is not Enough
    8. Dr. No
    9. Diamonds Are Forever
    10. For Your Eyes Only
    11. The Man with the Golden Gun
    12. Thunderball
    13. The Living Daylights
    14. Goldfinger
    15. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    16. Moonraker
    17. You Only Live Twice
  • Posts: 1,596
    CrzChris4 wrote: »
    I've always said about A View To A Kill that Moore probably just showed up on set and did his thing. By this point, the man played Bond so effortlessly and cool.

    I honestly think his performances with John Glen are all fantastic. Moore isn't exactly known for being a real Fleming Bond, but when people say that they're really just talking about TSWLM and MR.

    His Hamilton and Glen performances have a lot of Fleming in them. His age and that facelift probably make AVTAK arguably his weakest, but I've always defended it as another charismatic, confident, and commanding performance from ole Roger.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,723
    Once I get used to Moore's appearance in AVTAK (in comparison to OP), I agree with @ThighsOfXenia that Sir Rog gives a fantastic performance in his last film. He certainly delivers his usual tricks, and I must say I never tire of watching him acting like a legend, even at almost 60 years of age.
  • Last_Rat_StandingLast_Rat_Standing Long Neck Ice Cold Beer Never Broke My Heart
    Posts: 4,602
    I watched AVTAK the other night. I have always enjoyed it up until Bond arrives in San Francisco, then the pace doesn't slow down, it comes to a crashing halt.
  • Started the grand Bondathon in anticipation of Spectre with Dr. No today.

    The movie's greatest weakness remains its ponderous pace and comparative lack of action, but seeing actual detective work in a Bond movie is really a treat, rather than globetrotting and walking into the next step of the plot between action scenes. Connery is great in his first turn in the role, as is the supporting cast (Dent, Quarrel, Leiter, the good doctor). Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder is a bit of a weakness and doesn't contribute to the plot, but we can forgive that much given the influence she had on Bond girls generally.
  • ThomasCrown76ThomasCrown76 Augusta, ks
    Posts: 757
    The living daylights. Watched with the kids:)
  • Birdleson wrote: »
    @Soundofthesinners , I don't find the pace ponderous at all. And I'm not a fan of the action bloated Bond-films, either. Hate to keep disagreeing, but I find Honey to be the ultimate Bond Girl, both in film and literature. Glad your starting up a new Bond-A-Thon. I guess I'll begin tonight, as well.

    I quite enjoy the detective work, it just gets very slow. It's kind of a love-hate relationship. But in any event, disagreement is what keeps sites like these going, so it's welcome. My other reviews should be a fair bit longer too.

    Did your kids enjoy the movie, @ThomasCrown76?
  • ThomasCrown76ThomasCrown76 Augusta, ks
    Posts: 757
    Oh yeah. They're 4 and 7. They got a kick out of it. My son wanted to see dr no again today
  • edited June 2015 Posts: 4,762
    Die Another Day

    Ugh.

    You want to find redeeming qualities in it, and just as soon as one presents itself to you, something awful pops up to make you forget about it. This may be the most back-and-forth Bond movie of the entire series. It's a constant battle between "wow, that was neat!" and "yikes, I'm going to pretend that didn't happen." If any Bond movie is a headache to make up your mind about, it's DAD.

    Visually, DAD offers up its best. The location work is very impressive. I had read a while back on someone's review here of DAD that they thought Tamahori was a talented director in terms of pace, and I agree completely. Give DAD some credit for not being boring! I just wish that entertaining grip was supported by a believable set of characters and a more narrow approach. The characters, save for Miranda Frost, Raoul, Bond, and the MI6 crew, are indescribably lame, and the plot suffers from too much fantasy and not enough simplicity. Its understandable that the 40th anniversary may have called for an increase in spectacle, but my goodness, it's way excessive. Invisible car? Gene therapy? A suit that controls a space satellite death ray? It crosses that crucial border between unlikely and sheer absurdity. Thus, the foolish elements of the plot threaten to ruin an otherwise intriguing plot regarding a rogue North Korean colonel bent on reuniting his peninsula by force. Typical DAD- so close, and yet so far away.

    Still, like I said, DAD is a wishy-washy Bond adventure, and because of that, there is some enjoyment to be had. It will probably stay as a lower mid-ranger for a while.

    Bondathon 2014/2015 Rankings

    1. From Russia with Love
    2. Tomorrow Never Dies
    3. License to Kill
    4. A View to a Kill
    5. Live and Let Die
    6. The Spy Who Loved Me
    7. The World is not Enough
    8. Dr. No
    9. Diamonds Are Forever
    10. For Your Eyes Only
    11. The Man with the Golden Gun
    12. Thunderball
    13. The Living Daylights
    14. Goldfinger
    15. Die Another Day
    16. Moonraker
    17. You Only Live Twice
    18. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
  • Posts: 3,336
    @00Beast Why have you suddenly put OHMSS at the bottom =( ?
  • Posts: 7,653
    Casino Royale - totally brilliant and still Craigs best movie except for the dialogue about the finger and the bloody sinking house.
  • Posts: 4,762
    @00Beast Why have you suddenly put OHMSS at the bottom =( ?

    I realized that OHMSS, however much it may have fooled me during my last viewing, is actually a burden to watch. I cringe when I put it in the DVD Player and nearly fall to my knees in joy when the credits roll, hahaha. I'm not sure what happened on that last viewing to make me almost enjoy it. Nuts!
  • PrinceKamalKhanPrinceKamalKhan Monsoon Palace, Udaipur
    edited June 2015 Posts: 3,262
    For the first time I finally watched a James Bond film made prior to 1977 on a big screen: Goldfinger. It was a much more enjoyable experience than the last Bond film(Quantum of Solace) I saw at the same theater.

    Cinemark was showing it as part of the digital classic series. The film itself looked so nice, probably better than it did on its initial release back in 1964. I'm sure they probably used the Ultimate Edition DVD to screen it. There was a decent sized crowd in the theater including a grandfather with his grandson(I'm guessing he was about 10 years old).

    So now that I've finally seen a Sean Connery 1960s Bond film on the big screen. Now, I want to see the first 3 Panavision Bond films TB, YOLT and OHMSS on a big screen.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    For your eyes only.
    Haven't watched it in a while, and every time I watch it I like it more. I do think
    Roger gave his best performance as Bond in this.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,257
    @DrGorner, I agree. Though I prefer Rog more in MR, it stands to reason that FYEO provided him with better material. It gave him the chance to shine as an actor. His moments with the countess are delicious.
  • Posts: 1,596
    Moore is indeed fantastic there, as he is in all of Glen's films (as he is in all of his performances, really). There's a reason many cite FYEO as his shining moment, though.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    Given the sad news about Christopher Lee, Tonight I'll be watching
    TMWTGG.
  • Last_Rat_StandingLast_Rat_Standing Long Neck Ice Cold Beer Never Broke My Heart
    Posts: 4,602
    Rainy night in South Florida last night so I popped in AVTAK and conked out.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,220
    For the first time I finally watched a James Bond film made prior to 1977 on a big screen: Goldfinger. It was a much more enjoyable experience than the last Bond film(Quantum of Solace) I saw at the same theater.

    Cinemark was showing it as part of the digital classic series. The film itself looked so nice, probably better than it did on its initial release back in 1964. I'm sure they probably used the Ultimate Edition DVD to screen it. There was a decent sized crowd in the theater including a grandfather with his grandson(I'm guessing he was about 10 years old).

    So now that I've finally seen a Sean Connery 1960s Bond film on the big screen. Now, I want to see the first 3 Panavision Bond films TB, YOLT and OHMSS on a big screen.

    I caught GF as well. Looked better than DVD, I have to assume its the new 4K master that has recently been done. I hope to see other classic Bond films soon, as this is the only one I've seen in theaters that wasn't an upcoming Bond film (my first was DAD, and have seen every Bond film in theaters since). FRWL would be the next best, followed by OHMSS.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    edited June 2015 Posts: 15,723
    This weekend I will start a new Bondathon. Can you guys give me some ideas on what to focus on this time? Be it making lists of some particuliar occurences throughout the series, or general elements of every outing to analyse more closely? The last time I focused on the Bond actors' performances. I am all ears to any suggestions! :-c

    I'll post this in the Bondathon thread too.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,830
    OHMSS Blu Ray... man, this is even more heatbreaking in HD... :((
  • JohnHammond73JohnHammond73 Lancashire, UK
    Posts: 4,151
    Watched DAF last night as part of my Bondathon in the run up the Spectre. Camp, cheesey but still a fun romp.
  • Posts: 6,022
    Like many people here, I rewatched TMWTGG today as a tribute to Sir Christopher Lee. Not the finest in the series, unfortunately, but still enjoyable. And this time, I saw it on a big (42") flat screen HD TV.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Gerard wrote: »
    Like many people here, I rewatched TMWTGG today as a tribute to Sir Christopher Lee. Not the finest in the series, unfortunately, but still enjoyable. And this time, I saw it on a big (42") flat screen HD TV.

    It is not the finest, but has maybe the best bikini bum in the series.
  • Posts: 4,762
    Octopussy

    Surely one of the greatest Bond movies in the series.

    Everything fits together so well in OP. Plot, villains, dialogue, locations, Glen's direction, Roger's well-rounded performance- all fall perfectly into place to create a very balanced Bond movie. To put it plainly, save for not being able to finish the last 45 minutes until several days later due to work, I was able to sit through OP without ever feeling the need to break it up into segments. It's an attention-grabber from start to finish!

    Bondathon 2014/2015 Rankings

    1. From Russia with Love
    2. Tomorrow Never Dies
    3. License to Kill
    4. A View to a Kill
    5. Octopussy
    6. Live and Let Die
    7. The Spy Who Loved Me
    8. The World is not Enough
    9. Dr. No
    10. Diamonds Are Forever
    11. For Your Eyes Only
    12. The Man with the Golden Gun
    13. Thunderball
    14. The Living Daylights
    15. Goldfinger
    16. Die Another Day
    17. Moonraker
    18. You Only Live Twice
    19. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
  • JohnHammond73JohnHammond73 Lancashire, UK
    Posts: 4,151
    Live and Let Die - one of my favourites of Roger Moore.
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