It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
:))
Moonraker is a fun romp that know's it's silly and over the top. And it has a wonderful score by John Barry. ;)
;)
But it´s my opinion. Yesterday I saw a guy on here who had DAD as his favourite movie. I almost fell out of my chair, but you have to respect each and every person´s choice. The movies are so stylisticly different from each other, so everyone has their own favourite. :)
Diamonds Are Forever
I must say that not watching OHMSS (or any of the 60's films for that matter) directly before this one did help me to appreciate it more but I still had some issues with it. I know that we all give Connery grief over his appearance here and it's completely justified but I still had fun with him this time around. It's a far cry from his early performances but he does convince me that he is a grizzled veteran and I like the cynicism that he brings with him to the role. His delivery of the lines is as sparkling as any diamond and he still can land a convincing punch. That elevator fight is just as fantastic as ever. His making out with himself before said elevator fight is just as peculiar as ever.
The whole movie has a bit of a cheap feel to it. Perhaps that's why it's perfect that we travel to Vegas this time around. There's a seedy, almost dirty feel that permeates the air and would make any Vegas prostitute feel right at home. Speaking of Las Vegas, I was just there in the past week and it's amazing how much has changed since 1971. This version is almost unrecognizable to me. The moon buggy chase and car chase through downtown are both hampered by poor editing in my opinion. Hamilton and company seemed to be off their game here. Is this really the same man who directed GF? The special effects are lackluster. The explosions in particular were not done well at all. There were a couple of times when the fake blood looked extremely fake. I gave them a pass in DN but by this time around I feel they could have done better.
What can we say of Charles Gray's Blofeld? I appreciate the effort of his bon vivant portrayal of the character but it's still my least favorite of the three. The lack of explanation of what happened to him at the end was very disappointing. This was supposed to be the epic showdown! The penultimate moment if you will. The whole oil rig finale was quite underwhelming to be honest. Jill St. John's Tiffany Case had started off as a somewhat clever criminal entrepreneur but slowly devolved into a bimbo whose "cheeks" became more prominent than her brains. Perhaps the woman who was magically transformed into a gorilla was some sort of foreshadowing for her? She had enough charm to her to prevent me from hating her character and I wasn't complaining when she was almost wearing those nice little "next to nothings".
Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd were probably the highlight of the film for me. Well, Bruce Glover was great anyway. Putter Smith comes across as a bit of a doofus. These two characters are some the series' most memorable for sure. I'll never forget the first time I watched them send Bond off to a fiery farewell. Shady Tree's final solution is still as irritating now as it was then. He's just too silly to interrupt such a serious and tension filled moment. Perhaps not as jarring as Blofled in drag but the whole film is just a circus (circus) of the bizarre. Sometimes to it's benefit and sometimes to it's detriment. I still don't know what to make of Jimmy Dean. I like him I guess? In the end, perhaps it's wise to follow the golden rule. Whatever happens in Diamonds Are Forever stays in Diamonds Are Forever.
Well, I have officially wrapped up my Spring/Summer 2014 Bondathon! It's been a super fun run for the last 4 months or so! I'm excited to flesh out my Bond movie rankings after going through all 23! I never intentionally planned on having Goldfinger as my Bondathon finale, but it just ended up that way, ironically. My views on GF didn't entirely change, although I did find myself enjoying it a bit more than I usually do, which was very nice. I still despise Auric Goldfinger and Pussy Galore though- that will never change! They're simply annoying and obnoxious. One thing I picked up on this time around that I never really paid attention to before is that Connery is fantastic in GF. The third time really is the charm- he's definitely in his element, ready to play the role of 007 and have a little fun at the same time. I still find the soundtrack to be iffy- the more brassy sections are phenomenal, but the orchestral stuff gets on my nerves at times. As for location work, it's mediocre, at best. Miami is fantastic, but Switzerland and Kentucky are rather dull and under-used. Once again, I find the entire middle section of the movie, starting after the golf game and ending at the barn scene with Galore, incredibly slow moving and snooze-worthy. The only bright spot there is Bond's late-night stealth work at Auric Enterprises and the ensuing car chase and laser table scene. Also, like usual, I find the post-Fort Knox finale to be way too rushed and incomplete. I would have been perfectly fine with the credits rolling after Bond flies away on the President's jet, leaving Goldfinger on the loose and his whereabouts a mystery. It would have been better than the lame final battle and Goldfinger's corny death. All things considered, it's still not a favorite of mine by any means, and will never be a Top Ten contender, but it's better than the bottom of the barrel, so that's progress!
Bondathon Spring/Summer 2014 Rankings
1. GoldenEye
2. From Russia with Love
3. License to Kill
4. For Your Eyes Only
5. A View to a Kill
6. SkyFall
7. Tomorrow Never Dies
8. Octopussy
9. Diamonds Are Forever
10. The Man with the Golden Gun
11. The World is not Enough
12. Casino Royale
13. Quantum of Solace
14. The Spy Who Loved Me
15. Dr. No
16. Thunderball
17. You Only Live Twice
18. The Living Daylights
19. Live and Let Die
20. Goldfinger
21. Die Another Day
22. Moonraker
23. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
It's weird how the rankings vary from person to person, isn't it?
Agreed, but that's what makes this forum so great. A few of your top ten would definitely make the ending of my list, if I made one.
7/7/14
DR. NO, (1962)
I've never been Dr. No's biggest fan, and my latest viewing confirms this. I suppose it is because it does not deliver what I expect from a Bond film, which is pure, fun entertainment that is an enjoyable two hours to spend time with.
Instead, it sometimes feels that Dr. No is a bit of a chore to get through, as it's pace is sluggish (even for the shortest film in the series) and there seems to be not much going on. When I view this film, I dismiss that this is the first film in the series and try to evaluate and critique it as with any other film in the series, just as I do with SKYFALL being the film released on Bond's 50th anniversary.
But what you can't deny with this film is it's lasting legacy; it starts to form the template for the films that follow (but not fully realised until GOLDFINGER) and it does display some beautiful filmmaking, most notably from Terence Young and Ken Adams.
Perhaps my favourite aspect of the film is Joseph Wiseman's titular character Dr. No, who plays him with subtle quietness that is threatening, and his calm composure and lack of human expression in his face and eyes make him a fantastic Bond villain and still one of my favourites to this day. He has some great dialogue and his dinner with Honey and Bond is one of the best moments in the film. His metal hands is the beginning of the Bond villain deformity/scar tradition that makes each Bond villain iconic. I'm still not sure what he shouts when Bond is sabotaging the nuclear reactor (I think it's something along the lines of "Damn you fools, he is running wild!" or something to that effect, but nevertheless, it is rather quite funny).
Honey Ryder makes for a good Bond girl, but I can't help but feel that she just sort of tags along with no specific role to play. But Ursula Andress is gorgeous in that bikini, and her emergence from the sea is beautiful on Blu Ray. One thing that I noticed is that she is shocked and even upset when Bond kills the goon looking for them in the stream, even though she admitted that she put a black widow spider in a mans bed and even took pleasure out of it (and rightfully so). This quite a contrast in character , but only a minor quibble I have.
One thing that irks me about this film is the lapses in logic it displays throughout and the use of jump cuts in some scenes that takes me out of the film. The scene with the tarantula is perhaps the biggest culprit. The fact no tarantula is fatal to a human makes this scene completely redundant. The car chase is the first in a Bond film, and also my least favourite. The Bond films are no stranger when it comes to using rear projection, but it is perhaps at its worst in this car chase as it takes all the excitement out of it. Some say it is part of Dr. No's charm, but I fail to see that charm when it drains a scene of any tension or excitement it may contain. Also, I fail to fathom any reason as to why the hearse spontaneously explodes when it "falls" down that very shallow hill. I mean, it is not exactly the rock of Gibraltar. And what exactly does Dr. No intend to happen to Honey when she is taken away? To drown? At the rate that the chamber is filling up with water, she won't be dead until From Russia With Love. There are so many faceless characters in this film that get way too much screen time, such as the Commissioner who shows Bond around Strangway's villa. This isn't the case with other Bond films, where relatively minor characters are much more interesting to watch, even memorable (such as in THUNDERBALL, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER and A VIEW TO A KILL).
The cinematography in this film is undeniably beautiful. The Crab Key beach looks as heavenly as ever on Blu Ray, and the scene where the door opens in the middle of the night to reveal Dr. No's shadow is a stand out scene in the series in terms of cinematography. Ken Adams' sets are spectacular, and they just get better after this film. The man was truly a genius. You can certainly tell where Dr. No's $1 million budget went, and boy did they use it wisely!
Sean Connery certainly is James Bond in this film. I can't really say anything new that hasn't already been discussed many times before, except that sometimes he does seem a little moody in this film? One instance is when he is laying in bed in Miss Taro's bungalow after a little loving, and he says "I'm hungry, let's go out for dinner" and the little discussion about where to eat that follows. I don't know, but it just feels a little uncharacteristic. There is also that scene in Pussfella's bar where Bond enquires rather abruptly why they can't go to Crab Key. Woh, keep your hair on! Apart from those, I can't fault Connery's performance.
One of my favourite aspects of the Bond films is it's score, but I must say that Dr. No's score is quite poor. It is really loud in places, which forces me to turn the volume down, and there seems to be random placement of noises in some scenes. However, I really like "Underneath the Mango Tree" and "Jump Up", both of which suit the Caribbean setting perfectly.
Dr. No is not a film I would choose to watch outside of a Bondathon, as almost all Bond films that follow offer so much more and are a breeze to get through. It is not the Bond film for me, although I can see why people like it.
Ditto.
What struck me though was how silent the theatre suddenly got during Bond's dinner with DN. A palpable air of tension permeates that entire scene, from Bond and Honey's arrival in the lair to DN's ending of the dinner.
The scene works as the long anticipated big reveal, coupled with audience knowledge that the civility between the two antagonists is a sham and merely a prelude for the violence that is sure to come.
Wiseman's portrayal of DN exudes FuManchu like menace.
Sylvia Trench, Honey Ryder, Dr. No, Puss Feller, Quarrel, Jamaica setting with some truly suspenseful and Bondian sequences. I even like the score. Terence Young, Ken Adam, and Sean Connery at their best. Ken Adam really makes the most of the budget.
2014 Bondathon
1. From Russia With Love
2. Dr No
Or OP or TMWTGG.
So we start with Doctor No. Now I've not always held this first film in high regard, but watching it on blu-ray in HD, wow!
It's a stunning film with an amazing debut from the then unknown Sean Connery. Connery owns this movie. Full of confidence and charisma. Whilst this film is dated and lacks the formula approach that the latter films would inherit, it is simple and well made.
It's beautifully shot and has a very good supporting cast. It never tries to be anything other than what it is. A spy thriller.
A wonderful entry into the world of James Bond, and a film that has gone leaps and bounds up my own ranking.
Highlight - The cold blooded killing of Professor Dent
Lowpoint - The rear projection and editing during the car chase.
Bondathon ranking.
1. Doctor No
Watching this in HD gave me flashbacks to 1987, when I first saw the film on the big screen. How great is that? I'll just say once more that you really should invest in the blu rays if you haven't done so already. So how does it hold up after 27 (how is that even possible?) years? Pretty darn well. There is always a certain excitement in the air when a new Bond arrives on the scene. The PTS does not disappoint in this regard, as Dalton's big reveal is arguably the best in the series. Of course it's not as cool as "Bond, James Bond" but I really enjoy the buildup to Daltonation, if you will. It would seem that John Glen was rejuvenated by Dalton's presence as this is a much better effort than his last time out.
Timothy Dalton continues to grow on me but he's still somewhat of a mixed bag in this film. While he lacks the screen presence of Connery and Moore, he makes up for it with perhaps the most earnest approach to the role that we have ever seen. He struggles with the one liners as they absolutely do not suit him at all but he is not devoid of humor. He sometimes lacks the "cool" factor that other Bond actors had/have but there is a sincerity behind his eyes and an air of mystery that surrounds him. It's easy to understand why the general public never took to him and also why he commands a very passionate and loyal fan base that has become something of a cult following throughout the years. The girlfriend continues to not like him but I made her tell me one positive thing about him and she responded with, "He's tough." So there's that at least.
After the impressive action scenes I think the film's biggest selling point is the chemistry between Dalton and d'Abo. I really buy into this romance. Somewhere along the line I can remember reading in an article that d'Abo was actually shocked at the time that she was chosen for the role because she didn't look like the standard Bond girl. Well, kudos to the team for choosing her. The two of them really have an ebb and flow that collectively weaves into the central nervous system of the film. They sometimes come off as a couple of lovestruck nerds. I say that in a complimentary fashion of course.
The "sniper" sequence in Czechoslovakia is my favorite part of the film and Dalton's tenure for that matter. When he's holding that rifle he just looks like a boss. More appropriately, he convinces me that he is a cold blooded killer with just that look in his eyes. Also, Saunders is perhaps the most interesting minor character in any Bond film. It's fascinating to watch the whole thing unfold. They really are a couple of a**holes to each other early on but are able to develop a deeper understanding and even a mutual respect as time goes on. For that matter, why doesn't Necros kill Bond with the glass sliding door? I know we can pinpoint this to every Bond film but I'm just saying. That's the end of your problems right there.
Besides the aforementioned Necros, I agree with the general perception that the villains are lackluster here. If Bond and General Pushkin have no fear of Whitaker then why should we? While I really enjoy Jeroen Krabbé's performance as Koskov, I just can't buy him being a Russian General. He just doesn't have the gravitas for that. I certainly had fun with him though. Yes, you can have fun in a Dalton flick, it really is allowed. My one major gripe from the whole thing comes in Bond's final confrontation with Whitaker. He wastes all of his bullets shooting at Whitaker's bulletproof shield! Are you kidding me Bond? He could have ended him easily if he just aimed a little lower. Oh well.
John Barry's final Bond score does not disappoint. He continued to experiment with the 80's sound here and I find it to be a rousing success. I challenge you to tell me otherwise. The fight on the net on the edge of the plane is absolutely amazing and makes me nostalgic for the days of actual stunts being performed by real people. Knowing that it's real leaves me on the edge of my seat far more than any CGI produced modicum. I am nostalgic, yes, but I really like this one my friends. Thanks for listening to the ramblings of a madman, your fellow Bond brother in arms, Mr. pachazo.
Current Ranking:
1. From Russia with Love
2. Dr No
This is one difficult film to like.
Since I saw it back in '87 it has always remained in my top five Bonds. I am so looking forward to getting to this film during my own blu-ray Bondathon.
Final note, love the expression...Daltonation. Great stuff. ^:)^