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I remember being crushingly disappointed with this when i saw it in the cinema at Christmas 1983. Octopussy released earlier that year beat it hands down, (and still does!)
I rarely watch it now, but i have to say i enjoyed viewing it this time, maybe because it looks great on blu-ray, and it seemed pacier than i remember!
No gunbarrel or Bond music at the start does jar (Why didn't messrs Forster and Mendes learn from this?) but the opening training exercise is entertaining, though why they put the titles and that awful theme over is a mystery. (Writers Clement and LeFrenais were baffled!)
Connery was instrumental in the casting, some decisions were good, some awful (Hello Rowan Atkinson!). Edward Fox as M was a bit of a caricature, but he does have one great moment. When trying to figure how Petachi got the Presidents eye identity for to arm the stolen bombs, 007 suggests a false eye could have been used, "Oh do come along Bond....!"
Alec McKeown is amusing as Q (or Algernon to give him his screen name! Algernon??) and this is a nicely written scene between him and Bond. Though its just impossible to see anyone else in Q's part except Desmond! The actress playing Moneypenny, who's name escapes me (for good reason!) is just awful! Kim Basingers Domino is also rather weak, and i much prefer Claudine Auger from TB!
The villain casting is much better! Klaus Maria Brandeur is a fine actor, and has good moments, though he just doesn't have enough menace, maybe its down to his Dad dancing or whistling, not quite the same as torture with ice and cigars!! The marvellous Max Von Sydow is wasted as Blofeld, you cant help feeling he would have had more impact with more scenes (I think they shot extra scenes, but cut them out!) Barbara Carrera is much better. Wonderfully sexy, but barking mad, she owns all her scenes (Famke janssens Onatopp is a pale imitation!) and her costumes are wonderful. The moment when she dances down the stairs, having being given another chance to kill Bond sums her up!
The action is pretty poor throughout NSNA! The motorcycle chase tries to emulate the Moore Bonds, but is just not thrilling enough! The fight with Pat Roach sanitised, as instead of containing it in one area, which would have made it intense, they have Roach chase Bond all over the place for the sake of some silly gags!
The horse set piece in North Africa also suffers, and Michael Legrands dire score doesn't help! (They should have viewed Connerys 'The Wind and the Lion' film to see how to make action with horses exciting, particularly the opening scene!). Underwater action is always hard to make exciting, and NSNA is no exception. And it was a big mistake to have the final confrontation between Bond and Largo underwater! The epilogue with Connery and Basinger is ok, but unfortunitely Mr. Bean turns up again! And the wink to camera by Connery is unnecessary!
Speaking of Connery, he's the best thing in it! To quote a reviewer at the time, "Whether wearing a variety of brown or grey wigs, bedding a lot of pink and dusky maidens, this monarch of mayhem steps easily back into his kingdom!"
A mention too for Bernie Caseys excellent Felix Leiter, (though the jet pack homage fails, it looks like Bond and Leiter are riding on hotel luggage trolleys! )and Douglas Slocomes stylish cinematography of great locations is a treat!
Overall, though i enjoyed this viewing, it wont become a habit. i feel it was a missed opportunity, and it feels like it was made by people who never saw a Bond movie before!!
There's no way any other Bond actor could've pulled this one off the way Moore does. This one does spectacle and story both very well. The humor isn't cringe-inducing. Jaws is one of the best henchmen in the series. Barbara Bach is pleasant to look at but she's hit-or-miss mostly. I like Stromberg for the same reason I like Drax...he's soft spoken but dangerous with absolutely no remorse. If you look at the other big-budget spectacle Bond films, I think there's a solid case to say it's the best of the bunch. I had this ranked as Moore's best film, just ahead of Octopussy. We will have to see where it ends up when I'm finally done with this marathon.
1. From Russia With Love
2. GoldenEye
3. The Spy Who Loved Me
Agreed with every word. I like both the 1983 entries too, I'd rate them both 7 out of 10 and they sit around spot 13-16 in my rankings.
Loved Brandauer and Carrerra. The jazzy Legrand score works for me too.
Still TB is vastly superior.
I'm enjoying this film more and more. Daniel Craig gives a powerhouse performance as Bond, Eva Green is stunning and perfect as Vesper, Mikkelsen is very much sinister and intriguing as Le Chiffre, Giannini as Mathis is extremely likeable, and Wright is cool as ice as Leiter. David Arnold delivers a killer soundtrack with a fantastic theme song. The PTS is one of the best - very short, perfect introduction for Craig, brutal fight and the gun barrel still send shivers down my spine, almost 10 years since I first saw it. The action scenes in this film are off the charts - that parkour chase is a top 3 action sequence of the last 10 years (in any film, not just Bond), the Obanno fight is brilliant, and I very much enjoy the extended Miami airport sequence. It is incredible how lush and gorgeous CR still looks, I dare say when it'll be OHMSS' current agr (47 years) it'll still look fresh, modern and kids in the 2050's will think the budget was a billion dollars (that's what I thought OHMSS costed the first time I saw it).
This film is slowly but surely catching GE as my favorite Brosnan film. Brosnan is a legend in this film, very suave and utterly badass. Arnold gives a stunning soundtrack, very Barry-like, but a modern take on it. This is the most action packed film in the series - hardly 8 minutes between each action scene. The PTS is fantastic - Brosnan wreking a lot of havoc while MI6 looks in awe. I really like the Hamburg break in/break out with the utter cool cue from Arnold as Brosnan snoops around Gupta's office. The car chase is great, and so is the bike chase - just pure mindless fun. The Q scene is one of my favorites, and I am always very happy to see Jack Wade again. Carver is a cool villain, Pryce hams it up and is a pleasure to watch. This really is my go-to film when I want 2 hours of non-stop action with a very awesome lead character & actor.
Agree @Mathis1
Jack Wade is on par with JW Pepper for annoyance factor.
There's too much action in TND. And the endless gunfire/explosions in the Stealth ship climax get really tedious.
So delightfully eighties. I love it.
Where do I begin.. I feel this film keeps going up in my list each rewatch the PTS is amazing and the plot is really quite compelling. Sure the Moore esque jokes of sit and tarzan roaring are quite silly on a Moonraker level and the song is god awful but outside of that the film is a strong intense thriller that really was quite good. and is it me or does Louis Jordan really love saying octopussy...
1. Quantum of Solace
2. Licence to Kill
3. From Russia with love
4. For Your Eyes Only
5. On her Majesties Secret Service
6. Octopussy
7. Live and let die
8. Skyfall
9. Goldeneye
10. Spectre
11. Dr. No
12. Thunderball
13. The Spy Who Loved Me
14. Goldfinger
15. You only live twice
16. The man with the golden gun
17. Diamonds are forever
18. Moonraker
19. James Brolin's Octopussy (before people think I am nuts Brolin does a better job then Nelson or Niven and the few scenes we have comprise of a great fight and excellent one liner a great reenactment of From Russia with love's scene and a half way decent scene from the then new movie Octopussy that gives a bit more info on Kahmel khan)
20. Casino Royale 1954
21. Casino Royale 1967
Where do I begin.. I feel this film keeps going up in my list each rewatch the PTS is amazing and the plot is really quite compelling. Sure the Moore esque jokes of sit and tarzan roaring are quite silly on a Moonraker level and the song is god awful but outside of that the film is a stong intense thriller that really was quite good. and is it me or does
1. Quantum of Solace
2. Licence to Kill
3. From Russia with love
4. For Your Eyes Only
5. On her Majesties Secret Service
6. Octopussy
7. Live and let die
8. Skyfall
9. Goldeneye
10. Spectre
11. Dr. No
12. Thunderball
13. The Spy Who Loved Me
14. Goldfinger
15. You only live twice
16. The man with the golden gun
17. Diamonds are forever
18. Moonraker
19. James Brolin's Octopussy (before people think I am nuts Brolin does a better job then Nelson or Niven and the few scenes we have comprise of a great fight and excellent one liner a great reenactment of From Russia with love's scene and a half way decent scene from the then new movie Octopussy that gives a bit more info on Kahmel khan)
20. Casino Royale 1954
21. Casino Royale 1967
Was only planning to watch a couple of scenes and ended up watching the whole damn thing!
I still get chills watching Daniel Craig absolutely take the role by the scruff of the neck and create a human, flesh and blood Bond.
His scenes with Eva Green have such a great chemistry and she has the acting chops to keep up with him.
Sophisticated humour, no silly gimmicks, just a really cracking take on Fleming's novel.
Can't see any Bond film touching it for many years to come.
I meant keep up with him as he was the lead actor, but it's some of the best acting of the series from all concerned.
This movie is testament to the fact that no bad Bond films exist.
Even if it is nowhere near the top in my ranking it is such fun to watch.
Moore is Moore is Moore is fun all the way.
Lee makes this special and I dare to say (again) he may be the best villain in the series. So iconic.
Britt Ekland is just lovable in her dumbness. Mary Goodnight is a favourite of mine.
Also Lulu's song is one of my favourite themes. It's so catchy and what great lyrics.
TMWTGG is unique in many ways. No Bond was like that before and none will ever be like it. Scaramanga's island and fun house has so much atmosphere. Just compare it to the total failure of Silva's island.
In the 70's they still knew how to actually build a set and not do it with CGI.
The problem is there are so many Bond films that are even better in my book. So it will never really go up considerably in my ranking. But it is a guilty pleasure for sure to watch it.
Definitely one of those I will watch the most in the foreseeable future. DAF, QOS being the others.
That being said, View will always hold a special place in my heart, as it was my first Bond cinematic experience. The City Hall sequence is still great, and not just the escape from the fire, but Bond's interactions with Zorin as well. Bond and Tibbett working undercover together is always a delight, and even though Moore had better chemistry with Macnee, Tanya Roberts is very easy on the eyes.
This is one where I definitely have to be in the right mood for, and tonight wasn't the night. I think this might drop a spot or two in the old rankings. I think it just needed more.. more power!
Exactly, even DAD has that amazing sword fight, that funny Cuban ally and a great car chase.
Mind you, Just thinking of that, Rog is the only Bond to start and finish his Bond career naked with a lady! You go Rog!
The Brossa era would certainly be my least favourite or watched films. But I don't believe that should stop me viewing them at all, and there are tiny nuggets to be found among the dross! (Brossa, am afraid, not one of them!)
GE scores high with a lot of forum members, but for the life of me, I don't know why. Its a mediocre, middling entry! The film meanders from one scene to the next, with no real oomph to it. The much heralded Pts and the tank chase are average affairs, the latter particularly low key, and its played for laughs too much for my liking!
Cast wise, well I should have been praising at the time the decision to hire an Irishman, being one myself, but I never rated Brosnan as a TV actor, let alone taking on my favourite screen character! What can be said that hasn't been already. Bland, boring wooden, the tics and mannerisms replacing a proper performance. The pivotal "sexist, misogynist dinosaur" scene with Judi Dench falls flat, as Brossa just sits there stone faced, as M insults him! Were they even in the same room together?
Worse was Sean Beans Alec Trevelyan. Bean is an actor I really like, but he adapts a bizarre accent that makes him sound like he's understudying Noel Coward, and he's saddled with some terrible dialogue! Gottfried Johns Ouromov starts out as a quite threatening bad guy, but later turns into a hip flask swigging buffoon. Speaking of Buffoons Joe Don Bakers Wade character a real pain! Famke Janssens Onatopp is just a cut price Fatima Blush! Also Alan Cummings Boris is another irritating part (and they missed a trick by not calling him by his real name, imagine the lame gags Brossa could of had, "Are you Cumming!") Better is Robbie Coltranes Zulkovsky, a solid actor and he has some of the better lines in the film, e.g. his speech about the Cossacks and the walther PPK! Best of all is Izabella Scorupcos Natalya. Gorgeous, sexy, warm and engaging, she pretty much steals the show! (Though she does have one terrible scene, the one on the beach with ol' Brossa, should have been edited out imho!)
Kudos too for Daniel Kleinmans titles sequence, he's probably the best thing to come out of the Brossa era!
The plot is nothing to write home about, and it plods along to its lame satellite dish running around finale! Writer/actor Mark Gatiss made the acute observation that GE was a "design by committee" Bond movie! They give him the Aston, the Roger Moore one liners etc, and its all so bland and meh! A word too, but not a good one, for Eric Serras score. What were they thinking? After all these years, the relaunch of Bond, a pivotal part, the score, and they choose Serra?
Gustav Graves poll to find the top ten films, I have a suspicion GE will score highly, but I am at a loss as to why! I think its viewed through rose tinted glasses, because people were so relieved to see Bond back on the screen and it evokes fond memories of this. But its not a great film at all, its 23 in my list and it doesn't deserve any higher. its not DAD bad, but its not much better!
I don't know how can anyone hate on this film. It's Bond from start to finish... save it for the pigeon scene as well as Dolly's presence.
It's been a while since I have watched both Dalton Bond films back to back.
What a great ride. Probably the best two consecutive Bond movies besides FRWL-GF.
Timothy DALTON RULEZ™
He is determined, relentless, kicks ass and dangerous when mad. And always convincing. Something his successors leave to be desired on many occasions.
Both movies together feature what must be the greatest ensemble casts in the franchise.
Not one character is a miss.
While LTK is dark, brutal and gritty, it is also full of wonderful humour, incredible stunt work, also by Dalton himself and great action. Q's scenes are just priceless, Carey Lowell is perfect and Robert Davi is the most believable villain of them all.
TLD is the perfect first Bond movie for a new actor. An achievement that has since been repeated with GoldenEye and Casino Royale.
Timothy Dalton commands the screen in every scene he's in. His acting is impeccable and he is by far, by far the only Bond that came near Fleming's vision.
Had MGM not been in trouble after LTK, Dalton would have become the third actor after Connery and Moore to become a beloved icon for generations.
As it is, his legacy was cut short but at least his two movies are very popular and have many fans.
TLD has been my No 1 Bond from 1987 to 1995 and since then No 2 up to 2015.
LTK moves in and out of my Top 10, always somewhere between 8th and 11th rank.
I always loved and adored Roger Moore, I'm a Brosnan fanboy and I have the deepest respect for Sean Connery, I'm always speechless watching Lazenby in the perfect Bond movie and Daniel Craig managed to be the only actor getting three movies into my Top 10.
But Timothy DALTON RULEZ™ all the way. No one comes close and I can only hope BB will cast the 007th Bond with Dalton as the blueprint for the perfect cinematic Bond.