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I can appreciate the criticism that the film gets, but I can never understand why it comes out last on Rotten Tomatoes (36%!). I mean, really? Have they actually seen Die Another Day?
Well, that's the Sun for you!
It's a fine Bond movie, but I fear that it's somewhat overrated around these parts. The film has its strengths, to be sure: the series is at its most realistic since From Russia With Love, and Dalton is at his best as a hard-edged secret agent searching Bratislava for Kara, when he tells Saunders (the entire Saunders mini-arc is well done) about how he'd welcome being fired, and when he holds a gun to Poushkin, ready to shoot. The PTS is also very well done, and I am unduly fond of the car chase through the mountains. Necros' two fights, against the unnamed MI6 member and Bond, were both among the better ones in the series. The romance between Bond and Kara is also one of the sweetest, most believable in the series, and might just be the best not to end tragically.
The films weaknesses come in many shapes and sizes: First of all, the villains (except for Necros) are some of the worst in the series. Koskov is a jokey, hammy buffoon, and Whitaker is just a mess. Even the name is awful. How did we ever get from Dr. Julius No to Brad Whitaker? The plot is also far too complicated; even the more serious Bonds like FRWL, FYEO, and CR were relatively intuitive. Dalton's also less-suited to the comedy bits that were left over from Moore, his "Bond, James Bond" here is horribly misused, and his angry expression after Saunders' death is almost laughable. Finally, it makes no sense to have Gogol be so accepting of the Muhajideen, considering they are quite literally at war, but that's the price of having Gogol in it.
All in all, it retains its place right in the middle of the series at #12 of 23.
Its got a good solid film but not quite the masterpiece some fans say.
@Benny, apologies! I was thinking that you loved the film when I got toward the end of it, and had I not just done one of my longer lists, I would've done it for OP. Didn't figure anyone but one or two people read that, anyway. I plan on doing a Bondathon again very soon, so I'll make sure I do the ones I've yet to do. I just want to watch the rest now and pay attention.
I watched TLD (terrific PTS, one of my favorites) and LTK tonight. TLD wasn't as great as I recalled, but it has a lot of moments and high points, and it's still very good. LTK is as fantastic as it has always been. One superb Bond film.
Now I'm on to one called 'Goldeneye.' I guess this one is alright...
;-)
Sorry , but I'm a bit confused here, @Creasy. Is TLD not as great as you recalled, or is it as fantastic as it always has been? And how do you feel about LTK, anyway? :-O
The PTS of TLD is a mini-masterpiece and the whole Prague sequence is fantastic. One of the pinnacles of Bond movie making.
There are elements of the film that have not aged particularly well (Tim's wardrobe mainly!), but overall a very enjoyable movie. In my top five.
On a side note, tried to watch GE the other day and had to turn it off after 5 mins.
This goes for all the 70s films except TSWLM.
It's funny, I used to absolutely hate OP- when I first bought it on DVD about four years ago and watched it, I was not a fan. I found it to be boring and cheesy, what with the Tarzan yell, the gorilla suit, the clown suit, etc. However, as of about probably two years ago or so, I've completely changed my opinion. It's one of the best Bond movies! I always have trouble following some elements of the plot, such as the Fabrege egg and Kamal's involvement with Orlov's plan, but nonetheless, it is an extremely compelling and interesting plot that is filled with terrific Soviet intrigue and espionage. And how about that backstory to Octopussy herself with Major Dexter Smythe? It's little things like that which go a long way for Bond movies. I honestly cannot fathom why I ever found OP to be boring, because frankly, it is one of the most action-packed Bond adventures out there! There's really not a single action sequence in the movie that I dislike, except perhaps some of the more corny portions of the Indian taxi chase. Even so, it's not enough to ruin the scene for me. Another thing OP has in its favor, which might go unnoticed more often than not, is some truly colorful characters- Kamal, Gobinda, General Orlov, Octopussy, Mishka and Grishka, Magda- that all contribute in some way to making the movie quite memorable. And Roger's performance? Absolutely spot on! I don't think I'd ever noticed it before. I never thought he did poorly in OP, but his performance hit a new high with me on this viewing. The cinematography for the Indian locations also found new favor with me this time, and probably because I just picked up the Ultimate Edition DVD the other day, so it was quite a vast improvement over my old Special 007 Edition. The only element of OP that I'm never too sure on is the soundtrack. It's by no means awful, but I can't put it far past mediocre. I suppose it's just the fact that nothing particularly stands out, but I will say this- having just watched TSWLM the other day, I appreciate OP's soundtrack being at least fitting to the movie!
Spring 2014 Bondathon Ranking
1. GoldenEye
2. License to Kill
3. A View to a Kill
4. SkyFall
5. Octopussy
6. Diamonds Are Forever
7. The Man with the Golden Gun
8. The Spy Who Loved Me
9. The World is not Enough
10. Dr. No
11. You Only Live Twice
12. Thunderball
13. The Living Daylights
14. Live and Let Die
15. Die Another Day
16. Moonraker
17. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
High points:
-Great pacing
-Brosnan's performance
-Elliot Carver
-Cinematography
-Soundtrack
-Action sequences
Low Points:
-Wai Lin and Paris Carver
-Little breathing room between action sequences
-Lame title song
More high points than low points; TND always stands as a favorite!
Spring 2014 Bondathon Ranking
1. GoldenEye
2. License to Kill
3. A View to a Kill
4. SkyFall
5. Tomorrow Never Dies
6. Octopussy
7. Diamonds Are Forever
8. The Man with the Golden Gun
9. The World is not Enough
10. The Spy Who Loved Me
11. Dr. No
12. You Only Live Twice
13. Thunderball
14. The Living Daylights
15. Live and Let Die
16. Die Another Day
17. Moonraker
18. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
@Getafix, turned GE off after five minutes because you couldn't handle how fantastic it was, right? R-right?...
:D
Some people don't like to be taken for a ride. ;)
It is my favorite (or definitely in my top 3) of the 007 films! I love everything in Thunderball! It is very exciting, and the pacing is either gradual or intense. I must say that Nassau is so exotic and lovely! Everything in this location is stunningly gorgeous!!! The Thunderball theme by Tom Jones is a classic! Sean Connery is the super confident 00 Agent in this adventure (Sean Connery is my favorite 007). The under water sequences look wonderful! Thunderball also feels like the most epic of the James Bond missions!
I immediately ordered LTK on BR...
Great to see another convert to OP. One of my personal favourites. Packed full of classic moments (and I'm not talking about the tarzan bit).
Hardly a classic, but far and away the best Brosnan entry IMO. Although that's not arguably setting the bar very high, it does have a couple of genuinely enjoyable moments. Brosnan seems more at ease in this one than GE, and the swift pace helps prevent it slipping into the coma-inducing tedium of TWINE.
The film has a strange mix of some pretty dark moments (Bond watching as Kamahl's men disposing of two bodies in a freezer) and some very silly ones (the tennis nods, the shot of Bond inside a crocodile).
Also, is it me or could the PTS easily have Leslie Nielsen in it?
No need to feel guilty about this one. The daft comedy bits in the first half seem to have convinced some fans that it's not worthy of serious consideration as a top notch Bond movie. But the second half more than makes up for any supposed failings at the start. (Although, I have to admit, I really enjoy a lot of the silliness).
Although I do find it very entertaining I don't think I'd quite call OP "top notch". Its #10 on my list at the moment. Stuff like the auction, Bond and OP, the train sequence, Bond frantically disarming the bomb and of course Kamahl Kahn give the film some class and make up for the silly bits.
Most of the films are flawed in some way. I'd only put two or three in the flawless category. By top notch I meant top ten. I also have it hovering around the bottom half of my top ten movies.
You raise some valid points, both for and against. But I still don't see how people rate LTK over TLD - I have watched both back to back (in both 'orders') and still find TLD far more satisfying & entertaining. LTK has a far better villain, but other than that...
TLD's Pre Title Sequence, the initial set up of the plot (sniper scene) and the safe house chapter are some of the series' absolute highlights i.m.o . It's only let down by the naff main adversarie(s) (Necros excluded).
LTK has always felt to me, a little overly serious for a Bond movie. It has some enjoyable sequences and I think still feels more like a Bond film than all the Brosnans, but it rings a slightly off key note for me, that in many ways heralds the loss of purpose and direction that was to characterise the following decade.
I have no doubt that the end of the cold war had something to do with this.