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Yes, but he talks like Draco. How odd.
I was sold on Spectre in the first few minutes - the GB opening and Craig's swagger as he navigated the rooftops.
Continuing on with my Fleming inspired Bondathon -
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Trivia – According to the fabulous tome, “Some Kind of Hero”, in the draft screenplays when Majesty's was meant to star Connery, Blofeld was the twin brother to Goldfinger. That's even worse than the foster brother angle in SP! I knew that they were planning on using the twin brother in DAF. Scary how close we got. Also in Maibaum's drafts Connery drove an underwater car.
As opposed to the whizz, bang wallop of most Bond films, where by the filmmakers are eager to get you onto the next set piece, Majesty's takes the time to really tell a story. Which lends it feeling more filmic. And what a story; probably Fleming's best.
Worse Bit – The decision to dub Lazenby's voice in the middle Piz Gloria segments.
Best Bit – The dynamic between Bond and Tracy.
Royale's Ranking
From Russia With Love – 10/10
On Her Majesty's Secret Service – 9.5
Casino Royale – 9.5
Dr. No – 9.5
Licence to Kill – 9
The Living Daylights - 9
The Spy Who Loved Me - 9
Goldfinger – 9
Octopussy - 8.75
Thunderball – 8.75
Tomorrow Never Dies – 8.75
For Your Eyes Only – 8.75
Spectre – 8.5
Quantum of Solace – 8.5
GoldenEye – 8.5
Live and Let Die – 7.5
A View To A Kill - 7
Moonraker - 7
Diamonds Are Forever - 7
Die Another Day - 7
1. CR
2. LALD
3. MR
4. DAD
5. DAF
6. FRWL
7. DN
8. GF
9. AVTAK
10. LTK
11. QoS
12. GE
13. FYEO
14. TLD
15. SP
16. OP
17. TB
18. Spy
19. TND
20. OHMSS
21. YOLT
22. TMWTGG
23. TWINE
24. SF
A quote from "Some Kind of Hero" re. Frobe, from one of Maibaum's draft screenplays for Majesty's -
"At one point, Blofeld would have been revealed to be Goldfinger's twin brother, with Gert Frobe to play the part."
That was sourced from Charles Helfenstein's "The Making of OHMSS"
It was later recycled for yet another draft to DAF, until Cubby had a dream in which Howard Hughes turned out to be an impostor - hence Blofeld/Whyte.
I knew the draft screenplays to Majesty's were quite gadget laden affairs, but if it was produced between '64 and '68, it would have been awful. Shudder No wonder Connery wanted to be released from his Bond contract, if those were the ideas floating around.
This film takes a long time to get started, the first half an hour or so is a little hit and miss (the PTS is horrible, total camp nonsense). However once Bond gets to Nassau its pretty much smooth sailing. Besides the odd nitpick, I really have no negatives from that point on.
Besides its epic feeling, this film probably has the most instances of Bond sleuthing around, trying to remain hidden, than any other. There isn't really a whole lot of action until the finale, which is absolutely fantastic. This film reminds me of OHMSS how it builds slowly and then unravels in an epic blowout at the end.
I love the TY films (DN is my favourite Bond film), but TB has always been a bit of a dark horse. Well no longer. On this rewatch I found myself loving the mix of Bond working against the clock with the more OTTness of Goldfinger added in. This film is still my least favourite TY film, but overall I have managed to make it into my TOP 5:
1. Dr No
2. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
3. From Russia With Love
4. Casino Royale
5. Thunderball
Hurray for TB! <:-P \:D/
You Only Live Twice
An epic conclusion to the Sean Connery saga, or an overblown speculator mess? This is the decision that has plagued me since seeing YOLT for the first time. And it still does. This time, however, I'm going to plump for the former. I paid particular attention to Connery's performance, after I slated him in the “Rank the Bond performances” thread. Although Connery was rather good, compare this picture with Dr. No for example. By this time, I think, Connery was so comfortable in the role of Bond, that he doesn't need to try. And anyway, the script does not allow Connery to act much, apart from the Aki's death scene. A lesson in economy of drama. Regardless, I can't hate this film because of the twin geniuses of Adam and Barry.
Worse Bit – The non-threatening role of Blofeld.
Best Bit – The fight atop the Kobe docks. It thrilled me as a nipper, still thrills me today. Superb.
Royale's Ranking
From Russia With Love – 10/10
On Her Majesty's Secret Service – 9.5
Casino Royale – 9.5
Dr. No – 9.5
Licence to Kill – 9
The Living Daylights - 9
The Spy Who Loved Me - 9
Goldfinger – 9
Octopussy - 8.75
Thunderball – 8.75
Tomorrow Never Dies – 8.75
For Your Eyes Only – 8.75
Spectre – 8.5
Quantum of Solace – 8.5
You Only Live Twice – 8.5
GoldenEye – 8.5
Live and Let Die – 7.5
A View To A Kill - 7
Moonraker - 7
Diamonds Are Forever - 7
Die Another Day - 7
1. CR
2. LALD
3. MR
4. DAD
5. DAF
6. FRWL
7. DN
8. GF
9. AVTAK
10. LTK
11. QoS
12. GE
13. FYEO
14. TLD
15. SP
16. OP
17. TB
18. Spy
19. TND
20. OHMSS
21. YOLT
22. TMWTGG
23. TWINE
24. SF
That's my top five currently, with change in order. The underwater TB finale is awesome on BD, the music also just builds and builds. Love that film.
Glad to hear it! :)
This is another one that has been rising in rankings over the last year or so. I have quite a bit of history with this film, so I try and be brief. When I was young I used to watch this film constantly, it was my favourite for years. Then once CR came out I gradually started to see the Brosnan era in a different light and GE took a big hit. Eventually I thought it was nothing more than 'nineties action movie: the movie' with no real Bond flavour to it. With the Craig era all but behind us, once again my opinion has changed somewhat. I watched this film for the first time in a long time about a year ago and was pleasantly surprise by how much more than a simple action movie it was. You can definitely see the beginnings of Bond being explored as a character in this film, and there is a pervasive sense of intrigue throughout the first half, culminating in that beautifully shot sequence where 006 reveals himself. Each time I watch this film it grows on me a little more, and while when I was younger I like Bond gadgets, the jokes, the action etc. I now appreciate it for the brilliant job it does balancing character and story. Martin Campbell really is a genius. None of the action in GE feels like unnecessary filler, everything is used to it's fullest potential. Campbell is an expert at finding that perfect mix of camp and seriousness, and rides that line consistently from start to finish. Directors that can do that are exceedingly rare. Most either go too serious/dry and risk getting bogged down in drama, or they go too campy and make it hard for us too be to stay engaged with the characters. Campbell has this down to a science. Every scene is pitch perfect. Not only that but the story is actually very compelling. There is a lot of really intelligent craftsmanship in this film that simply doesn't exist in a lot of other Bond films, especially the Brosnan ones. I really hope Campbell gets a last hurrah with B25. He's 2/2 so far!
1. Dr No
2. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
3. From Russia With Love
4. Casino Royale
5. Thunderball
6. GoldenEye
7. Goldfinger (this one is falling fast!)
8. Live And Let Die
9. SPECTRE
10. The Living Daylights
Yarp, only three more to go. I doubt if my top eight will change much, but one never knows.
I was meant to say in my YOLT "review", hooray for Kissy, after TheWiz just mentioned this on another thread. First she climbed the volcano with Bond, then ran down it, then swam back to the island to fetch Tiger and his ninjas and went back up the bloody volcano. Bravo Kissy, bravo!
drive her home. Luckily I had my little Samsung "Bond filled" tablet so as I waited I
watched ...... Spectre, Goldeneye and Most of Diamonds are Forever. :)
:))
Coca Cola would have asked their money back otherwise.
I may come off as ignorant here but I am yet to understand why people call SF's storyline weak. It is highly illogical in some places but I wouldn't say it has a weak storyline, that's different. If you asked the public (not a good source, I admit) they'd probably say SF had a strong plot for a Bond film.
QOS, now there's the weakest storyline, surely.
I felt like a Bond film tonight, and in continued honour of Guy Hamilton, I decided to watch DAF.
As always recently, I had a blast. I couldn't stand it when younger. These days, I always have fun with it. Love the dialogue, the humour & wit. Connery, despite his porky appearance & bad toupee, is in fine form here. This is the first time I've watched a Connery Bond film in a while, and it's obvious to me that even in arguably his worst performance as 007, he is way ahead of most of the actors who've played this role. It's all just so easy for him.
Barry's score is fantastic, and gives the film some gravitas & heft even in its more ridiculous moments.
I've always liked Gray's Blofeld, even in drag. He's certainly more fun than the most recent incarnation, and has some great lines. Jill St. John looks great in a bikini, and on blu ray there is certainly much more of her to see, particularly in her negligee in Netherlands. Everyone seems to be having a good time and the film is light hearted & buoyant.
I noticed a scene that seems to have been mirrored in the SP pretitles for the first time. When Bond goes out of the hotel window to climb to Whyte's penthouse, Tiffany asks him "Where are you going? " which is exactly what Stephanie Sigman's character says in SP.
Good catch. I knew there was something vaguely familiar about it.
The bastards.
First film up was , The Spy Who Loved Me.
One of my all time favourite Bond films. Easily one of Sir Rog best entries. Nice locations, wonderful sets and cinematography. Jaws is still a threatening and good villain. Stromberg, though a non-physical threat, is a decent villain all the same. Blofeldesque in his methods of dispatching those who go against him, or those who displease him. Anya isn't quite as bad as I remember. All in all a great start to get me up and running.
Followed Spy with a film that has often languished around the bottom / middle of my ranking. You Only Live Twice.
With this viewing, I absolutely loved it. Wonderful cinematography, locations and of course set design. Barry's soundtrack is one of my favourites. Even Connery doesn't appear as bored as I had recalled. There are moments of old Connery Bond, before the glitz and gadgets took over. I wonder if this had been made before TB when Connery was at the height of super cool, if this would've been one of the best Bond films.
Either way, so many iconic scenes. Love Aki and would've preferred her to be the only love interest. Tiger is one of the best allies in the series. Right up there with Kerim, Draco and Columbo. Donald Pleasance is a fine Blofeld. Extra credit for continuing scenes even though his white cat is often freaking out due to gunfire or explosions.
A real turnaround for me. I can see this film easily rising up the ranking's.
Finally for now, I watched Tomorrow Never Dies.
This has pretty much been my most enjoyed of the Brosnan Bonds. All out action, and a more confident Pierce in the lead role. It's pretty story light, with one set piece leading into another. But what story there is is okay. Pretty weak though. Stealth boats, starting wars for media ratings...really. Okay I'll go along for the ride. But don't let me think too much about it afterwards. D'oh!
Pierce as I said is fine. Johnathan Pryce is a good pantomime villain. Not super memorable, but fine here. Gotz Otto is a redo of Grant. Not sold on Wai Lyn. Especially for her to turn into the love interest at the end. Seems almost out of character. No chemistry beforehand really.
Still can't stand that stupid Dr.Kaufman scene. I really dislike that scene.
All in all, an entertaining 2 hours. Maybe not quite as good as I thought. We'll see how it fairs as the Bondathon goes on.
This appears to be one of those movies that's locked in a cycle of letting me down and then pleasantly surprising. The plot is still a mess, with an utterly needless personal connection between Bond and Blofeld, a nonsensical reveal, a half-formed ripoff of The Winter Soldier, except now renamed Nine Eyes, and an incoherent finale to top it all off.
But for the first ninety minutes or so, the movie is pretty darned entertaining. I don't quite have the connection with the PTS some do: by any objective criteria it's very good and certainly in the top half of all Bond teasers, but it just doesn't quite connect with me. WOTW is a big ball of nothing, akin to Dalton's themes, but like them it's thoroughly inoffensive. The sequences in Rome and the Swiss Alps are a ton of fun, from the delightfully weird Spectre meeting, to Bond meeting Mr. White, to Bond chasing after Madeline and Hinx in a plane. The fight scene on the train is also the best since Bond and Trevelyan's brawl in GoldenEye (fitting that both are essentially Bond/Grant tributes).
The relationship between Bond and Swann is done well enough in the beginning, although I think they could have gone into more detail about their connection in the mad world of espionage (perhaps they could cut all the "Bond goes rogue" and Nine Eyes nonsense instead). They're simply mad if they expect us to buy Swann as the equivalent of Vesper, but then nothing after the torture sequence makes a bit of sense.
The jokes in the movie were hit and miss. The couch gag and the old Italian man made me roll my eyes, but Bond's banter with Moneypenny, him telling the security guard to stay, and his chat with the mouse made me laugh. All in all, it would have ended up right around TLD and TND in my rankings (around number 12 or 13), but the awful third act, Nine Eyes nonsense, and terrible Bond/Blofeld connection drag it all the way down to 16, sandwiched between TB/QoS and OP/TWINE/LALD.
For me, TLD ends once Bond is drugged by Kara.