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Comments
I love her.
She actually kind of nicely offsets Adams more demure and understated performance.
Ekland, I'm guessing was told to play the character for comic effect by Hamilton.
Hamilton is kind of like that with his Bond girls. He's a camp guy. Rosie Carver, Tiffany Case, Plenty O'Toole all had a bit of the Goodnight in them too. And how could we forget Dink.
Goodnight though really pulled the ditz together and maxed it out. :P
The thing that annoys me about her character in the film is that she and the writers think her clumsy ineptitude is hilarious. Weren't Bond girls best when they were BELIEVABLE?
True there have been a fair share of bikini-clad babes in Bond (Jill Masterson, Paula) but they were always best kept in smaller parts.
A few sparse observations: Defense Minister Mishkin's facial hair is awesome. The set where Ourumov (in a wonderfully slimy performance by Gottfried John) is classic Bond, as are some of the names. It had its weaknesses (some major), but the Brosnan era did try to get back to Fleming-style names. Xenia Onatopp, Elektra King, Tan-Sun Moon all fit in well, even if they're not as good as the Fleming originals. Natalya does quite a bit of screaming, but doesn't get the same reputation for it as Stacy Sutton or Christmas Jones, probably because she's an actual character who gets actual development. The movie is a bit pun-heavy, but it's more than manageable here, while it would really damage TND and TWINE and help kill DAD. Fortunately, Brosnan is otherwise admirable and the movie's supporting cast is simply one of the best in the whole series. Combine that with a strong script balancing Bondian fun with actual questions about his character and his role in the post-Cold War world, and you have a top 5 entry in the series.
The Brosnan Era
I think TND is probably Brosnan's best effort; it has none of the drawbacks that GE (90's hair, outdated tech, Boris), TWINE (Apted's direction, Richards) and DAD had, plus it probably has Brosnan's best performance to boot; he looked like a deer in the headlights for some of GE, while in TWINE he may have overacted somewhat, and in DAD the crappiness of that movie undermined his good work. The best thing about TND it is general lack of pretentiousness about it. TND tries, and succeeds quite admirably, apart from the final third, to be an old school, classic Bond picture, with an updated plot, reworked from You Only Live Twice and Spy, but giving it a more modern twist to keep it relevant, and the 90's attributes of sleekness, explosiveness, hi-tech and pacy.
Yes, Ekland was a bit much, but the character I found had a charm. I think it worked, just this once, until along came Tanya Roberts..... and we did it all over again sort of.
But Roberts Sutton was a different archetype -- the not terribly believable, educated, academic pin-up girl. Only in Bond world.
Roberts' Stacey was somewhat inspired by Lois Chiles' Holly Goodhead, and later fully realized with Denise Richards as Christmas. :D
Skyfall
Moonraker
This is one of those Bond films that I used to love, a lot. But over the years has dropped down my ranking. However I must say on this viewing, I did enjoy it a lot more than usual. It's still goofy, and still over the top. But maybe not quite as much as I recalled. The PTS is yet another memorable one. The hijacking of the shuttle is tense and exciting, and even Bond being seemingly stranded on a crashing plane is fine. The fight with the parachute wearing pilot is also fine, as is the hugely impressive stunt of a parachute less Bond being pushed out of the aircraft. But why incorporate Jaws into the scene? It's what gives MR its biggest fault. It always goes that little bit to far.
To be fair there are some great scenes in MR, Bonds ordeal being trapped in the centrifuge being a highlight for me. Even though Bond has to use a gadget to save himself, it's a great scene, full of tension. Roger Moore is very good here, and although some fans find him to light and overly humorous, in this scene he plays it straight.
Another standout scene later in the film is when Corrine's betrayal of Drax is exposed, and she is hunted through a wood by Drax's bloodthirsty hounds. It's very eerie and a haunting sequence. The villain of the piece Hugo Drax as played by Michael Lonsdale is in my opinion one of the best Bond villains. His monotone voice gives him a creepy vibe, and his laid back mannerisms make him I think un-predictable. The Bond girl in Holly Goodhead is just another variation on the Anya role from Spy. A Bond girl who is more Bonds equal. In this case a CIA operative who also an astronaut!
Lois Chiles is fine in the role. She's quite likable and easy on the eye. A slight improvement on Barbra Bach, though not much.
As much as I like the character in TSWLM, I feel the return of Jaws is a mistake. After the PTS, he reappears in Rio after Drax first henchmen has been killed by Jaws. He threatens Bond and his aid in Rio, Manuela during a carnival. I must confess I love the scene where Bond and Jaws smile at one another across the street. But the way Jaws is carried off by the group of people as he attempts to confront Bond is utterly stupid. Another scene involves Bond and Jaws fighting atop a cable car. An impressive location, fantastic stunt work, and wonderfully shot. However Bond and Holly using a chain to escape as Jaws follows in a cable car trying to run them down is another instance of going to far.
As much as I'm really not a fan of Bond venturing into space, I do find myself getting caught up in the over the top story, and on this occasion I could forgive the film makers for going a step beyond what Bond should and shouldn't do. The model work is still to this day exceptionally good. It's impossible to tell, without knowing. The scenes in space are well executed and making for a thrilling climax. Though to have Jaws turn good as a big no no. As is his falling in love. Richard Kiel is wonderful in the role. A truly legendary villain of the Bond series. But his character gets more and more cartoonish. He lost all of his menace a long time back, and it's a sad waste. He is however always good to watch. I must say, for the most part the cast of MR is pretty good. Roger Moore although not bringing a lot new to the role is still looking good, and never appears bored. Lois Chiles is fine and has a few good lines, but Drax is my favourite character here. I wish he could've been used in a different Bond film.
The locations are spectacular, but there's a little to much globetrotting, sometimes it's a little unclear why the location has shifted. But it is a visually entertaining film.
I think as with all the previous films, the transfer to blu-ray has brought out a lot of the wonderful colour and locales. It's not the best Bond film by far, but it is never dull. Better than I remembered.
Benny's Blu-Ray Bondathon ranking:
1. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
2. From Russia With Love
3. The Spy Who Loved Me
4. Goldfinger
5. Thunderball
6. Doctor No
7. Live And Let Die
8. You Only Live Twice
9. Moonraker
10.The Man With The Golden Gun
11. Diamonds Are Forever.
Hardly. It had the perfect amount. It's what the new films need.
I love MR. It has some elements I don't like but it had a great budget and it showed. The score is one of Barry's best and the locations are stunning. Beautiful cinematography. Beautiful women EVERYWHERE. Moore at perhaps his most confident and smooth.
I'll never understand all the hate. Certainly not a top tier Bond film but I think I have it around 12 or 13 right now. I'll always defend it.
Needless to say I didn't watch MR for sometime, until my completist nature, "forced" me to buy the entire VHS Bond collection. Since then, I've loved MR each time I seen it.
Sure, it has it's problems, but the contributions from the likes of Moore, Lonsdale, Barry, Gilbert, Meddings, Tournier and Adam more than make up for them.
Alongside Casino Royale and Thunderball I'd say it's perhaps the best Bond of them all.
For Your Eyes Only
Whenever I do one of these Bondathons I usually have a film in the series that surprises me more than I recall. Or appreciate more than I did. I think of all the films I've viewed thus far FYEO is that film for me at present. It's a much better film than I'd ever really given it credit. I've always placed it as a middle of the road film, but on my most recent viewing, I've appreciated it for the brilliant film that it is. Last ranking of FYEO, I had it ranked #12. I can see this is going to change.
The PTS can be ignored for the unwise choice of bringing back Blofeld, who isn't Blofeld, though we all know it is. The helicopter stunts are very well done, and it is a nice touch in rare continuity to have Bond visit the grave of Tracy. Roger Moore is also noticeably older than the last time we saw him, playing a more mature Bond, but also for a Roger Moore Bond film, he does play it very straight. Which is not only great to see, but shows what a good actor Moore is. A welcome change.
The film itself is a very good spy thriller, with a simple but engaging story, courtesy of Richard Maibaum and producer Michael G Wilson. All of the elements are well put together bringing Melina the main Bond girl into the story to avenge her parents murder after their involvement with tracking a missing decoding device that has been lost, and is eagerly hunted by both the British and Russians. Again even for an 80's Bond film, and still a time when the cold war was very much active, the film makers choose not to portray the Russians as the real villains. They're involved, but only in the shadows as it were. Unlike the previous two films, we're not pitched against a megalomaniac who intends to destroy the world. Kristatos, the villain of the piece is merely a man who wants to find the missing ATAC device and sell it to the Russians. Very similar in plot to SPECTRE's scheme in FRWL. FYEO also has a lot less gadgets for Bond to use, letting him use his wits to escape dangerous situations. The film also makes great use of the locations. Most of the film taking place in Cortina, Italy, Corfu and the Greek Islands. The sunny locales, coupled with the ski scenes in Cortina make a good contrast, as well as some well staged underwater sequences as Bond and Melina track the ATAC to a sunken ship. The keel hauling sequence that follows is an outstanding scene, taken straight out the novel LALD. It's beautifully filmed and as dangerous to perform as it looks. It's probably my favourite scene in the film.
The final assault on the monastery that Kristatos uses as his hideout is another great scene with Bond leading the attack climbing the cliff to reach the mountain top hideout. Stuntman Rick Sylvester doubling Roger Moore, performing an impressive fall from the top as he is kicked off by a villain who proceeds to knock out the pitons holding Bond's rope to the rock face. Again, Bond uses his ingenuity here, rather than a handy gadget to escape death, and it's one of the reasons, I find FYEO to be so enjoyable. Another major plus is the excellent cast.
Roger Moore plays Bond this time as a more mature man. Reflecting Moore's own age. He appears more avuncular and less likely to hop into bed with any female that gets in his way. Wisely the film makers decided not to have Bond and Melina become romantically involved until the very end of the film. After all, Melina is motivated to avenge her parents. Carole Bouquet is excellent in the role of Melina, not only very beautiful but a good actress who brings much to the role. Julian Glover is charming and evil enough as Kristatos to do the villainous role justice. Possibly one of the more un-memorable villains, though to be fair, he does nothing wrong in the role. Topol who plays Columbo, Bonds ally in the film is excellent. Evoking memories of Kerim Bey in FRWL. A hugely likable man, who brings warmth to the role. Earlier in the film we the audience are led to believe Columbo is the villain and Kristatos the ally. Until it is revealed Columbo is being set up. The rest of the characters are well cast, although the removal of Bibi, the young ice skating protégé of Kristatos who has eyes for OO7 would not hinder the film. It's possibly the only weak link. But nothing that would ruin the film.
After MR, which was a massive over the top romp, it's nice to see Bond in an adventure that is more grounded in reality. The use of the locations is great, there is some very real tension throughout the film. It's refreshing to see. As is Bond's killing of Locque, a murderous henchman, who Bond eliminates by kicking the car Locque is in, and has crashed perched atop a cliff face. In a very un-Roger Moore like manner, Bond kicks the car, dislodging it from the precarious position, causing it to fall, taking Locque to his demise far below. It's a very Bondian scene, and though brutal, nothing to far.
The blu-ray transfer brought out the wonderful colours of Greece and the underwater settings, along with the snow scenes in Italy. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and would love to see this style of well written story, with well used locales in future Bond films.
A major improvement on the over the top Bond films of the 70's, (At least MR anyway)with John Glen taking the directors job for the first of five outings. His style is perfect for the 80's Bonds and although some find him to take silliness a little to far, and his directing to be bland, I find his films to be some of the best of the series. Akin to Terence Young and Peter Hunt. His films certainly have a good pace and contain imaginative scenes, and well staged stunt work.
Benny's Blu-Ray Bondathon ranking:
1. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
2. From Russia With Love
3. The Spy Who Loved Me
4. For Your Eyes Only
5. Goldfinger
6. Thunderball
7. Doctor No
8. Live And Let Die
9. You Only Live Twice
10. Moonraker
11.The Man With The Golden Gun
12. Diamonds Are Forever.
FYEO could almost rank above Spy, though it is hard to knock it off third spot.
Still a major improvement on my last ranking.
It's Moore's, FRWL.
Damn it, I want to watch it now!
Good stuff, though I can see why some don't like it - it is a leisurely film isn't it. Take away the great theme song, voodoo theme, the novelty of Moore's debut and the amazing speedboat chase and you have a duff Bond film, you have The Man With The Golden Gun in fact...
Whisper has an awful demise doesn't he? If you think about it... trapped in that metal casing (what is it exactly?) It's Pit and the Pendulum stuff for him.
I do like Yaphet Kotto's delivery of his lines. 'Ah, Mister Bond, I didn't have you down as a sore loser...'
Solitaire has a very silly voice.
Moore can be a pain in the ass in this, his delivery is all a bit stiff Englishman, in fact Hugh Grant playing Bond in the late 90s may well not as been as stereotyped as this. There are times, as with Lazenby in OHMSS, when I can only imagine Connery saying the lines.
If this was the BluRay version, Wings' title song sounded a lot better.
After he reveals himself as Mr Big he's a hardass 'gangsta', then in the cave he's all 'Ah Mr Bond! So glad you could join us! Have a drink!'
It was as if someone told him halfway through filming to be more like classic Bond villains and it always stood out
The script does miss a whole subtext at the end, that Bond is showing up with Solitaire having banged her thoroughly and her passing over Mr Big in favour of him, that said, we are not sure Mr Big ever wanted sexual relations with her, just her fortune telling ability, so maybe there is no cause for sexual jealousy on his part.
Come to think of it, most of the Bond villains have no sexual other half do they? It's as if they need Bond to complete them in some way. Oh, save for Largo. And Scaramanga. And Zorin. But you know what I mean.
It's quite a lengthy watch but I think I'll check it out as soon as I've got some time.
1. From Russia With Love
2. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
3. The Spy Who Loved Me
4. Dr No
5. Thunderball
6. You Only Live Twice
7. Live And Let Die
8. Goldfinger
9. The Man With The Golden Gun
10. Diamonds Are Forever
23. A View to a Kill
22. Moonraker
21. Die Another Day
20. Diamonds Are Forever
19. Octopussy
18. Tomorrow Never Dies
17. The Man with the Golden Gun
16. You Only Live Twice
15. The Living Daylights
14. The World is Not Enough
13. Quantum of Solace
12. Thunderball
11. Live and Let Die
10. From Russia with Love
9. For Your Eyes Only
8. Licence to Kill
7. Dr. No
6. The Spy Who Loved Me
5. GoldenEye
4. Goldfinger
3. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
2. Skyfall
1. Casino Royale