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Last Bond Movie You Watched

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  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 3,197
    I am certainly controvercial here but I never really minded that DAF is not the big revenge focused Bond film after OHMSS. I read it here very often that this is the biggest problem of DAF. I personally also don't know why revenge should be the dominant emotion after "the wife's death". Lazemby's reaction is perfect in the end of OHMSS, mainly because he is not directly chasing Blofeld's car but because he is just emotionally shattered after Tracy's death. Why should Bond even be such an uncontrolled and revenge driven character?
    I mean how many allies die throughout the films: Bond's reaction is very different. In the earlier films, he just seems unaffected by it whereas especially in the Glen films he seem to care more about them and is emotionally affected by it. However only in LTK and QOS he behaves as a totally revenge driven man who completely loses the focus of his mission.
    Personally, I prefered a different take on DAF showing that Bond - like in Skyfall - has some personal problems and M not being clear wheather Bond is actually still ready for the next mission. Then throughout the film there might be another encounter with Blofeld where Bond finally manages to kill him and find its revenge but I would not have wanted this to be the main focus of the film.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    edited August 2016 Posts: 15,705
    @bondjames I am going to give DAF a rewatch very soon. In fact, I may give it a go tonight, paired with LALD.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,345
    I just pretend DAF is a sequel to YOLT and a prequel to OHMSS and it flows much better for me honestly.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited August 2016 Posts: 23,883
    Murdock wrote: »
    I just pretend DAF is a sequel to YOLT and a prequel to OHMSS and it flows much better for me honestly.
    That's a great way to look at it @Murdock, and in a way, I subconsciously do that as well. I always see OHMSS as an alternate universe Bond film to be honest. Like something made in a different timeline and by a different studio even. It's a bit of a standalone, what with Lazenby and all, even if there are forced tie backs to other films. I'm sure I'll do the same with the Craig era once it's done as well (since I see it as 'the reboot' era).

    @DaltonCraig007, I'd like to watch DAF again soon as well. It's one of my least watched Bond films since I neglected it for so many years before finally learning to appreciate its many fine qualities, not least the fabulous score, great lines and effortless Connery.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,345
    Thanks @bondjames, I wrote a big theory on the idea, a couple years ago about it. Since DAF establishes that Blofeld uses decoys, I thought it would be interesting to think that the man Bond met in the Volcano was just another one of Blofeld's underlings and Henderson was a double agent who faked his death to continue his work as a Spectre agent. When Bond finds Henderson alive, he just assumes he's the real Blofeld. So by the time OHMSS comes around, all Bond has is a name so when he meet's Telly's Blofeld, he's finally meeting the real Blofeld. A bit complicated to explain but that's my reasoning behind it and how I see things in my personal canon.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited August 2016 Posts: 23,883
    It's an interesting theory @Murdock, and is also a plausible explanation for Charles Gray's reappearance in DAF.

    It also explains the underwhelming impact of Pleasance's 'Blofeld', which is more palatable if one considers him just another minion as you suggest rather than the real head honcho, who continues to remain unseen until finally revealing himself in OHMSS.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,345
    Indeed. @bondjames, A few other bits of evidence that rather helps my theory is that in OHMSS Blofeld's neck is in a brace, yet gone in DAF then back in FYEO. If you subscribe to my theory then It makes more sense that OHMSS should come after DAF instead of before it. I know a lot aren't big into continuity when it comes to Bond, but I do like to try to tie things together. Plus, I think it's better to watch every actor's run smoothly instead of pulling a Connery to Lazenby back to Connery. It's jarring. But hey, that's just a theory A BOND THEORY! :P
  • royale65royale65 Caustic misanthrope reporting for duty.
    Posts: 4,423
    It's a nice thought @Birdleson. Though I do feel sorry for Marc. I kinda liked him in DAF - he didn't deserve to die, man!
  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 3,197
    And I wonder wheather Hendersoon was actually one of the earlier Blofeld clones in YOLT. OK this is a bit far fetched...
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    edited August 2016 Posts: 15,705
    I just did a double bill I know @Creasy47 and @bondjames will approve of:

    LALD and TSWLM.

    Absolutely stellar 4 hours with Sir Roger Moore. He is a god amongst men. Both films contain 2 of my favorite non-Barry soundtracks (love that funky score for LALD). Solitaire one of the most sexyful Bond girls, the action is top notch (the boat chase, the ski chase, the Lotus chase, the battle onboard the Liparus). Moore is just the king of cool, and that 10 seconds moment when he is standing in the shadows in Cairo with that ominous cue from Hamlish is one of my favorite moment from the entire 24 films. It's crazy how rewatchable Moore's outings are. Just 2 hours of pure entertainment.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited August 2016 Posts: 23,883
    @DaltonCraig007, excellent choices my friend.
    DaltonCraig007 wrote: »
    Both films contain 2 of my favorite non-Barry soundtracks (love that funky score for LALD).
    I agree. Truly great work by both Martin and Hamlisch.
    DaltonCraig007 wrote: »
    Moore is just the king of cool, and that 10 seconds moment when he is standing in the shadows in Cairo with that ominous cue from Hamlish is one of my favorite moment from the entire 24 films.
    I've always loved that moment too, since I first saw the film many years back. Spine chillingly suspenseful, and made even more so by the morning Muslim prayer which precedes it. The Karnak temple sequence, & the Jaws Aziz Fekesh pyramids & Max Kalba phone booth kill sequences are also top notch in the suspense dept.
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    It's moments like those that made me realise that TSWLM is my favourite Bond film.
  • Comte_de_BleuchampComte_de_Bleuchamp
    Posts: 382
    Yeah except it's marred by moments of silliness that would thereafter plague the Moore era.
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    I know, right? I get embarrassed just thinking about them.
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    Comte_de_Bleuchamp wrote: »
    Yeah except it's marred by moments of silliness that would thereafter plague the Moore era.

    You've made me see the light.
  • Comte_de_BleuchampComte_de_Bleuchamp
    Posts: 382
    Look chaps, it's great you love TSWLM. I just didn't like some of the goofy stuff like how Jaws was played for laughs. I just meant I like the film but it was marred by the stuff like that.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited August 2016 Posts: 23,883
    I've heard this before, but apart from the stone dropping on foot, Jaws isn't all that goofy in this film, if at all. He's still as menacing to me now as he was when I first watched the film.

    The way he was portrayed in MR is a different story entirely.

    TSWLM suffers in some circles as a result of the similarities in premise to MR and due to Jaws being in both. However, I find the film to be tonally quite different, and that's apparent on a back to back viewing. Yin and yang.
  • GBFGBF
    edited August 2016 Posts: 3,197
    TSWLM is a mixed bag for me, even though I am a big fan of Roger. He is indeed great in that film. I also like Jaws overall performance and I am OK with Stromberg, Anya and the rest of the characters. The plot reminds me very much of YOLT. YOLT has a weaker cast but honestly I think that its story is tighter and has the better locations and film sets. I also think it was good that YOLT takes place in Japan most of the time whereas TSWLM has some country hopping and traveling that I am not so kean on. (Why would someone travel from Egypt to Sardinia - which is an island - by train?) I also prefer the final climax of YOLT. In fact, it is one of the few big battles that I really like whereas the Lisparus battle just goes on a bit too long for my taste and is overall less exciting.

    So overall I belong to the small minority who actually prefer YOLT over TSWLM, even though I like Roger a litlle bit more than Sean :-)
  • royale65royale65 Caustic misanthrope reporting for duty.
    Posts: 4,423
    Comte_de_Bleuchamp wrote: »
    Yeah except it's marred by moments of silliness that would thereafter plague the Moore era.

    It's not only "thereafter" - the era of the comedy Bond started with DAF.

    But I agree with you up to a point. The campy "NBDIB" that ends the film, or the silly cue as Bond and Anya are driving through the desert and the moment when the henchman's car crash through the roof and subsequent look form that guy.

    Yet despite all of this, Spy is a top ten Bond film for me.

  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    bondjames wrote: »
    GE

    I last watched this in early May, but discussion of Martin Campbell on various threads and the importance of competent direction for the next Bond film compelled me to revisit it tonight.

    It was an outstanding experience, as it always is. I just love this film, and I believe it gets better with age. Sure, some scenes are a little dated, but the performances by the supporting cast, the sheer flair inherent in the film and the Bondian style more than make up for that. It has a campiness to it (performances & dialogue) that I enjoy. Also, the colours and scenes pop nicely on blu ray. In particular, the Severnaya interior scenes when Orumov and Xenia steal the Goldeneye are still crisp.

    Brosnan stood out for me this time, and in a positive way. After watching Dalton's debut in TLD yesterday, I have to say that I much prefer Brosnan in GE (controversial opinion perhaps..). He is super cool in this film, and while he does overdo the acting in a self conscious way in some scenes (particularly at MI6 with Q & especially with MP), there is no denying he makes a stylish Bond here. Calm, collected, dapper and unflappable, in contrast to Dalton's slightly more animated & harried approach. There is very little hint of 'Brosnanisms' or the legendary 'pain face'. I expected it when Trevelyn was ostensibly killed in the pretitles, but instead Brosnan shows his distress in a very restrained Bondian fashion. The only time it makes an appearance is when he's being squeezed to death by Xenia, and that's quite understandable given the circumstances. Campbell did a fine job keeping Brosnan in check here, and I wish he had played Bond like this during the rest of his tenure. If he had, he might have easily rivaled Moore as my #2 Bond actor, rather than sitting ignominiously at the bottom of the pile (5 or 6 depending on my mood) as he does now.

    Scorupco is just incredible and I couldn't take my eyes off her tonight. From the opening scene with Boris to the final clinch with Brosnan just prior to Serra's travesty of a song, she's mesmerizing. She's an excellent actress. I love her character's spark & initiative too. Such a step up from whiny Kara & Pam from the Dalton period. Famke is another standout. She brings Xenia Onatopp to life. Her beauty and cinematic charisma is also apparent from that first now iconic experience in the Ferrari in Monaco. Speaking of that chase, I wonder how much it cost? Surely less than the one in SP, and yet it's far more thrilling and scenic, even today. Gottfried John and Sean Bean own their scenes, and are pitch perfect. I believe Bean was one of the younger adversaries in a Bond film at the time, and his relative youth makes for a more appealing conflict.

    I think the finale is one of the best, if not the best since the great Ken Adam left the series. The Janus HQ is stylish and Bondian, and the conflict between 006/007 develops nicely to an excellent, visceral fight atop the satellite. I'd say it's the best one since FRWL (although since topped by the CR stairwell encounter).

    Special mention must go to Eric Serra. I know he gets slammed here, but I really enjoy his score for the film. It fits like a glove, and has a modern, industrial sound which I find fresh even today. I also like the 'chanting' which underpins the Russian scenes and even enjoy the often denigrated 'Ladies First'.

    Anyway, this was a great viewing experience. Such a shame that it all went downhill from here, after such a promising start. Martin Campbell, thank you sir for one of my best cinematic experiences, and a film that keeps on giving.

    My previous comments from when I watched it in May are below for anyone who's interested.

    http://www.mi6community.com/index.php?p=/discussion/comment/590304/#Comment_590304

    Great review and it echoes the fondness I have for this particular outing. In Campbell we trust. I might just have to put this on tonight after I get through Return Of The King (EE).
  • Comte_de_BleuchampComte_de_Bleuchamp
    Posts: 382
    GBF wrote: »
    TSWLM is a mixed bag for me, even though I am a big fan of Roger. He is indeed great in that film. I also like Jaws overall performance and I am OK with Stromberg, Anya and the rest of the characters. The plot reminds me very much of YOLT. YOLT has a weaker cast but honestly I think that its story is tighter and has the better locations and film sets. I also think it was good that YOLT takes place in Japan most of the time whereas TSWLM has some country hopping and traveling that I am not so kean on. (Why would someone travel from Egypt to Sardinia - which is an island - by train?) I also prefer the final climax of YOLT. In fact, it is one of the few big battles that I really like whereas the Lisparus battle just goes on a bit too long for my taste and is overall less exciting.

    So overall I belong to the small minority who actually prefer YOLT over TSWLM, even though I like Roger a litlle bit more than Sean :-)

    Yes I prefer YOLT as well.

    DAF is quite camp at times but there's no overt winks to the audience that this isn't a serious spy adventure, as there were in nearly every Moore. I think Moore basically refused to play the character so they had to change the intention of the films. I'm not a complete Moore basher & he had several fine moments. Perhaps my favourite is the MR grouse shooting scene because his line delivery is perfection. It's makes it more frustrating that he wanted to fool around a lot of the time & even didn't like kicking Loque's car off the cliff! In real life he seems a very nice gentle man but he should have realised he was an actor.
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    Live And Let Die - Rolling right along with Moore's debut, it never fails to entertain. A somewhat bizarre entry, what with the blaxploitation and voodoo elements, that you're either going to go with or not. This film just screams 70's! I appreciate it's unique nature in this regard, but can see how others might be put off by it.

    Moore is very smooth here, but there's also an air of unpredictability to him. What a great cast of characters, with Clifton James easily giving the standout performance of the bunch. Just kidding. After the success of GF, Hamilton really upped the ante with the comedy/camp elements in DAF and LALD, didn't he?

    My only real complaint is that the boat chase stretches on for a bit too long. Q's absence is also a little disappointing, but it's such a treat to see M and Moneypenny visiting Bond's home unannounced. I don't see this leaving my top ten anytime soon.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,153
    I'm born and raised in New Orleans where several scenes were filmed; I remember fishing the waters where the boat chase was filmed.

    In a bit of Bond trivia, years later Martin Campbell would film a great deal of the Green Lantern at the same lakefront airport where Bond commandeered the plane.

    This is also the first Bond film that I saw, at the age of 10, in a theater, so it does hold a special place with me.
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    That must have been exciting to see Bond in your hometown for your first cinema experience!
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,153
    Oh yes exciting and cool, and even at the age of 10 I knew what I liked about Jane Seymour.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    GoldenEyes Are Forever

    Watching GE and DAF back to back (within two days) was a great experience.

    GE is one of the perfect Bond movies. No doubt about that.
    Best ensemble cast of the series. Only rivalled by Casino Royale I would think.

    GE is pure fun and a new Bond that is already established by the end of the PTS.
    It has so many classic Bond treats:

    Bond on a train
    Bond on a plane (twice)
    Bond in a Bond car
    A fabulous villainous Bond girl
    A fabulous strong Bond girl
    A brilliant villain and side villain
    Great, great Bond side-kicks, Jack Wade and Zukovsky
    A truly great villain's lair that is very Ken Adam-esque.
    One of the best, if not the best chase sequences ever in St. Petersburg
    and much more

    DAF is certainly not perfect, nowhere near it, but it is together with QOS the one Bond movie with the highest re-watchability value, if for totally different reasons than QOS.

    The dialogue is priceless, every word of it.
    The score! A dream.
    Tiffany Case
    Even Plenty O'Toole can't hurt the movie, even if she tries.
    And the best hand-to-hand fight ever in a Bond movie. YES BETTER THAN THE TRAIN FIGHT IN FRWL.
    imho

    DAF has been at the bottom for a long time. But since a couple of years with the arrival of High Definition (2012) I have learned to love it and it has climbed up my ranking continuously.
    Someday it'll crash into my Top 10. It's not far away from it anymore.
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    The Man With The Golden Gun - Positively shocking. I think this viewing is the best experience I've ever had with the film. Not sure what's going on, maybe Hamilton's passing earlier this year, but I'm seeing his Bond movies in a whole new light. Yes, it still has issues, but I am finding more and more things to appreciate.

    Roger Moore never looked better as Bond than he does here. I am also starting to recognize this as one of his better performances in the role. He's still very confident and charming (when he wants/has to be) but there's also a mean streak and some vulnerability portrayed. It was a nice touch to see him with a bloody lip after the dressing room fight.

    The Barry score is also growing on me. Not that I ever disliked it. The Asian settings were enjoyable this time around as well. Hell, I even got a kick out of the fun house, which I've always found to be quite tacky. One can definitely feel the enthusiasm that Nick Nack exudes. It goes without saying how great Christopher Lee is as Scaramanga.

    This one will definitely be moving up a few spots in the old rankings. There's still some really frustrating parts that will keep it from going too high though. Still, as annoying as Sheriff Pepper was, I will admit that I did chuckle a time or two at some of his lines.
  • FoxRoxFoxRox
    Posts: 12,416
    pachazo wrote: »
    The Man With The Golden Gun - Positively shocking. I think this viewing is the best experience I've ever had with the film. Not sure what's going on, maybe Hamilton's passing earlier this year, but I'm seeing his Bond movies in a whole new light. Yes, it still has issues, but I am finding more and more things to appreciate.

    Roger Moore never looked better as Bond than he does here. I am also starting to recognize this as one of his better performances in the role. He's still very confident and charming (when he wants/has to be) but there's also a mean streak and some vulnerability portrayed. It was a nice touch to see him with a bloody lip after the dressing room fight.

    The Barry score is also growing on me. Not that I ever disliked it. The Asian settings were enjoyable this time around as well. Hell, I even got a kick out of the fun house, which I've always found to be quite tacky. One can definitely feel the enthusiasm that Nick Nack exudes. It goes without saying how great Christopher Lee is as Scaramanga.

    This one will definitely be moving up a few spots in the old rankings. There's still some really frustrating parts that will keep it from going too high though. Still, as annoying as Sheriff Pepper was, I will admit that I did chuckle a time or two at some of his lines.

    Unfortunately TMWTGG seems to slide lower in my opinion every time I watch it. Hoping that turns around at some point! I will agree of course Christopher Lee as Scaramanga is a big highlight; he makes the movie.
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    FoxRox wrote: »
    Unfortunately TMWTGG seems to slide lower in my opinion every time I watch it.
    Perhaps because of the slide whistle?
  • Gustav_GravesGustav_Graves
    Posts: 11,119
    pachazo wrote: »
    FoxRox wrote: »
    Unfortunately TMWTGG seems to slide lower in my opinion every time I watch it.
    Perhaps because of the slide whistle?

    Perhaps because it has some very blunt, Fleming-esque scenes as well:

    --> The magnificent sneek-in of Bond in Andrea's hotelroom at the Peninsula
    --> A very effective 'blunt' Roger Moore slapping Andrea in her face wonderfully
    --> A wonderful villain who uses his Golden Gun as an erotic device on Andrea
    --> Andrea herself, who is in many ways similar to the wonderful Severine (SF)
    --> Bond visiting Lazar in Macau and threatening to shoot his crotch
    --> Bond's visit to Scaramanga's island, the dinner scene (DN?), the cowboy duel

    TMWTGG has a lot to admire. It's just at times uneven....when suddenly NickNack or Sherrif J.W. Pepper show up.
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