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Anyways: THUNDERBALL
Always been one of my favorite Bond films but lately I think it might just be my favorite. It's weird, for the longest time GOLDENEYE was my favorite but ever since then it has just sort of flip flopped around depending on my mood or whatever I saw last. I think more often than not now though that top spot belongs to THUNDERBALL. I love it immensely. I won't really go on too long since I have two movies to cover but I'll just bullet point my favorite aspects:
- Sean Connery. As I've mentioned before I love his performance which feels like a mix of the magnetism and charisma from GOLDFINGER with the Fleming lethality and danger from the first two films. Here he is at his most virile which makes it perfect because...
- The ladies. Fiona Volpe is Bond's sexual antithesis (if you will). She is pure magnetic dangerous sexuality and easily one of the best characters in all 24 films. Easily. Paluzzi gives a splendid performance and matches Bond's virility and charisma in every scene they share, making for truly remarkable viewing. Also not to be out done is Domino who I consider to be one of the series most underrated Bond girls. There are lots of little subtleties and nuances to her character. She becomes the classic Fleming wounded Bond girl and on top of it all she's absolutely gorgeous (as all the ladies in the film are). Also worth mentioning: Patricia Fearing is one of my favorite "minor" Bond girls. I just like her spunky attitude.
- The cinematography / atmosphere / music. I think this might be my favorite John Barry score simply because of how effective it is at building atmosphere. It is so evocative and atmospheric and matches the grandeur and underwater vibe the film has. The cinematography is lush, earthy, and above all vibrant, matching the colorful film perfectly. The setting of Nassau is my favorite James Bond location and becomes a character in and of itself. It's exotic and beautiful much like the film itself.
Other things worth mentioning - I love the underwater action, I love the witty and sharp dialogue, I love Young's classy and slick direction, I love Largo. Etc. I love everything about the movie really. Epic as hell without feeling overblown.
OCTOPUSSY
- My favorite Roger Moore performance I think. He nails both the levity and the Fleming here perfectly and gets to show off more nuances to the character than usual.
- Sure, no one likes the Tarzan yell or the "boo" bit or the "sssssit!" bit. I can get over that. It's a total of 25 seconds or so and doesn't hamper my experience. Also worth noting: I really legitimately LOVE the "hiss off" line. Classic. Hilarious. And in the middle of a tense sequence an expertly timed comedic moment.
- It features probably the best written girls of the Moore era, an era I think struggled in that department more than once. Both Magda and Octopussy are really great characters, brought to life with really great performances (Octopussy is my favorite Moore Bond Girl). She's also old enough to be with Moore's aging Bond believably.
- I love the locations here. I love the mix from the exotic and escapist India to the dangerous and lethal Germany. I like the shift in tone as well. It's deliberate and effective.
- John Barry nails it again with a score that is once again extremely evocative.
So yeah, pretty well tied with SKYFALL. In a week I may switch them around again.
Updated Rankings:
1. THUNDERBALL
2. DR. NO
3. OCTOPUSSY
4. SKYFALL
5. LIVE AND LET DIE
6. A VIEW TO A KILL
7. DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
8. YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
9. MOONRAKER
10. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
11. TOMORROW NEVER DIES
12. LICENCE TO KILL
13. THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
14. DIE ANOTHER DAY
15. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
16. NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN
17. QUANTUM OF SOLACE
18. THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
\m/
@chrisisall - Honestly it's the least of the evils of that scene. The Tarzan and dad-man-walking bits are more cringeworthy, but it's still not the film's most shining moment.
Also, everyone jokes about the clown scene but I think people who have really watched the movie understand just how intense that scene is. There's a real sense of urgency from the fight on the train to the defuse of the bomb. Never bothered me.
1. On her majesty’s secret service
2. From russia with love
3. Goldfinger
4. Thunderball
5. Dr No
6. Live and let die
7. The man with the golden gun
8. You only live twice
9. Diamonds are forever
Sorry I'm rather late to the party. Just wanted to say thanks for your reviews @Birdleson, and just a quick comment of the above paragraphs;
I've always had a problem with this, breaking into M's flat. I assume this Bond was in the military? Well one does not get far in the military (or other aspects of ones life thinking about it), breaking into your boss's house. I suppose he could be leaving her a trail via her laptop. But it still grinds my gears.
When I saw CR ending for the first time, I was really stoked. Bond has completed his journey, from arrogant rookie agent, to the composed, sophisticated agent, that we know and love.
Therefore, I was expecting QoS's Bond to be fully formed. But he wasn't. Instead we got Bond learning what it's like to be Bond.
I was about to write up my latest viewing of AVTAK, but @Benny has already said my thoughts, verbatim!
Keep up the good work gentlemen!
Thankfully, I survived :D
I just read your post, so Cheers!
I was drinking while watching it :))
I was drinking while reading your reply. :))
Awesome opening for the Brosnan era. This is clearly the highlight of the series.
This deserves another :))
TND is the best Brosnan Bond, in my opinion, definitely stronger than GE. I so enjoy Brosnan in this one. And I rank the film itself close to GE. TND has some better moments and also some weaker moments. GE is the better film all around, though, and Natalya is part of that. She was excellently played by Isabella Scorupco. TND just has some wonderful, gritter scenes (Dr. Kaufman) and I really enjoy Pierce with Michelle Yeoh. It's the Brosnan film I watch the most.
I watched TND and TSWLM recently. :) I never tire of either of those. TSWLM is a gem. I like Bach just fine in it, including her acting. She is not a major actress, no; but that wasn't called for. I personally find her to be understated but not wooden. I think there is nothing about TSWLM that irritates me. It is just a pure fun ride with Bond, and a breath of fresh air after TMWTGG. I think Roger came fully into his own portrayal at last with TSWLM.
Next up for me is FYEO, another favorite and I think Roger's very best portrayal of Bond.
Skål! (however, it's spelled; I tried to look it up ...)
OK, back to my fav. Norwegian beer picture (don't know if this is good beer, but I so love the packaging!)
Agreed, the other Brosnan Bond films have their moments, but none of them collectively rise to the level of GE.
SOme of the stunt work in that film just flat-out stinks.
GE just towers over the other Bros films, to me.
Martin Campbell proved how good he was in CR after GE, and makes the other directors of the Bros era look amateurish, in my opinion.