Tell us all about your BONDATHON

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  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 41,011
    Had a blast with this previous Bondathon, adding in lots of movies/clips/scenes I've never included before, and yes, always a bit of a letdown once you finally hit the end. Capping it off with a double feature, and then I'll probably do a new Bondathon soon so I can get another ranking down.
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    Damn, my Bondathon came to a crashing halt because of CR 67! I've been avoiding watching it for weeks now. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to include the non-Eon entries. Well, I'm determined to see it through. I'll get back on track soon.
  • Posts: 1,631
    Casino Royale '67 isn't that bad of a film if you just take it for what it is. There are some enjoyable moments, and some poor ones as well, and while it's a very uneven affair, it's not the disaster that I was expecting when I sat down to watch it several years ago. In other words, it wouldn't finish last if it were included in a ranking of all the Bond films.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 41,011
    Overall, I really enjoy CR '67, it took me by surprise when I saw it. The cast, the sets, the comedy, it's all good in my book.
  • edited May 2016 Posts: 1,631
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    Overall, I really enjoy CR '67, it took me by surprise when I saw it. The cast, the sets, the comedy, it's all good in my book.

    Incidentally, it was the film that got me into the books. Every time my dad would take me to Blockbuster back in my youth, I'd try to get him to rent one of the Bond films. Each time I told him I wanted to get Casino Royale he'd say something to the effect that it was horrible and to find something else. Saw the novel later on in the library and decided to see if the book was as bad as the movie was said to be.

  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 41,011
    What a Bondathon it was, had a complete blast the whole time. You ever get your hands on that, do let me know.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    edited May 2016 Posts: 9,020
    CR67 It features Peter Sellers, that's reason enough to love it !!
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    What a grand Bondathon. Glad that both of you enjoyed yourselves.

    Well, with all of the love for CR 67 here, I guess I better get off the schneid, man up, and get this thing done.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,169
    Amazing Bondathon @Birdleson and @Creasy47. You've really gone all in on that one.
    I however will only be tackling EON Bond films. Whilst I enjoy NSNA and CR'67 (no where near as bad as it's made out to be.) They're just not part of my Bondathon. CR'54 is one that I don't really enjoy so much. Other than Peter Lorre, it's got nothing to keep me interested.
    Anyway, two films down. Moving onto TND.

    2016 Bondathon

    Rankings so far...

    1.The Spy Who Loved Me
    2. You Only Live Twice


    I really enjoyed YOLT this time. One that has steadily increased in my ranking. Connery looked less bored this time, and there were little bits that reminded me of Connery Bond of old. Such as going and looking out the window when Aki dies. I thought it was a nice little touch.
    Anyway, onto the next one.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 41,011
    Once I start my second ranking and really get going, I can easily see YOLT being Top 10, along with a few others I never would've expected.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    I always feel like TND is a great follow up to TSWLM as both movies have similarities like the end-game on a ship, the foreign spy Bond girl and an OTT henchman.
  • MooseWithFleasMooseWithFleas Philadelphia
    Posts: 3,370
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Today @Craesy47 and I completed the greatest, most comprehensive Bond-A-Thon either of us have ever undertaken; it was a coast-to-coast affair, which began on March 25 (give or take a day).

    Here is what we included:

    -CLIMAX!: CASINO ROYALE (1954) - always great, this was Creasy's first time.
    -DR. NO (1962)
    -FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963)
    -A clip taken from the finale of an episode of THE SAINT, entitled LUELLA, starring Roger Moore, in which Simon Templar is mistaken for James Bond. This also stars David Hedison (1964). We actually watched this one far later in our run, as I had forgotten about it.
    -MAINLY MILLICENT (1964) - Roger Moore makes a guest appearance as James Bond in a skit on this television show, it's included as an extra on the LALD Blu Ray; funny and the only time Moore's Bond mentions S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
    -GOLDFINGER (1964)
    -THUNDERBALL (1965)
    -CASINO ROYALE (1967)
    - again a first for Creasy, we both enjoyed it quite a bit.
    -YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967)
    -ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (1969)
    -DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971)
    -LIVE AND LET DIE (1973)
    -THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1974)
    -THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977)
    -MOONRAKER (1979)
    -FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (1981)
    -THE RETURN OF THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.: THE FIFTEEN YEARS LATER AFFAIR (1983)
    - though we both own the entire film on DVD, we just watched the scene in Vegas with George Lazenby's cameo as "JB".
    -OCTOPUSSY (1983)
    -NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (1983)
    -A VIEW TO A KILL (1985)
    -THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (1987)
    -ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS: DIAMONDS AREN'T FOREVER (1989)
    - again we get Lazenby taking an unofficial turn as James Bond. He's a tad more serious in this one. We actually watched it a few films later as I, once again, forgot about it.
    -LICENCE TO KILL (1989)
    -Timothy Dalton's Commercial for LARK cigarettes (1989).
    -We had to break from format here to re-watch GF, in honor of Guy Hamilton.
    -GOLDENEYE (1995)
    -TOMORROW NEVER DIES (1997)
    -THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (1999)
    -DIE ANOTHER DAY (2002)
    -THE MATADOR (2005)
    - a film that Creasy and I both love and that I have long included in my Bond-A-Thons. I see this as what became of Brosnan's Bond, as we'll as Pierce's "F You!" to EON.
    -CASINO ROYALE (2006)
    -At this point we watched all of the Screen Tests and Deleted Scenes included as extras on all Blu Rays (even that snippet of Sam Neil and Fiona Fullerton from INSIDE TLD).
    -QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008)
    -HAPPY & GLORIOUS (2012)
    - as I have stated elsewhere, I consider this canon, Creasy has been noncommittal on the subject.
    -SKYFALL (2012)
    -SPECTRE (2015)

    -Today we concluded with a double-encore: OHMSS, followed by YOLT.

    It has been a great adventure.

    Well done gentlemen! A very solid marathon indeed. Do you both know each other and watched together or watched in parallel remotely, communicating on the forums? Any fatigue set in over the course of your marathon?

    Also, the only other thing I can think of adding to your very large list is OK Connery/ Operation Kid Brother. The mystery science theater version offers some quite hilarious commentary to get you through it :)
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,585
    Well done gentlemen. Like Benny I can never stray away from the Eon series. I have only ever watched the other non-Eon Bond films once apiece out of curiosity.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,169
    NicNac wrote: »
    Well done gentlemen. Like Benny I can never stray away from the Eon series. I have only ever watched the other non-Eon Bond films once apiece out of curiosity.

    "One thing you better understand about me Amigo.Loyalty is more important to me than non EON Bond movies. Now go get the troll."

    Speaking of Bond movies, finished the third film in my Bondathon and have moved onto the fourth.
    Never need an excuse to watch a Bond film, but watching them out of sync is a great way of going through them I'm finding.

    Rankings thus far.

    1. The Spy Who Loved Me
    2. You Only Live Twice
    3. Tomorrow Never Dies
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    edited May 2016 Posts: 5,080
    NicNac wrote: »
    Well done gentlemen. Like Benny I can never stray away from the Eon series. I have only ever watched the other non-Eon Bond films once apiece out of curiosity.

    Yes, that's my position, too. Watched NSNA once, I don't think I could sit through that bore again. Although I do revisit CR'67 sometimes for the laughs.
  • Posts: 4,325
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Today @Creasy47 and I completed the greatest, most comprehensive Bond-A-Thon either of us have ever undertaken; it was a coast-to-coast affair, which began on March 25 (give or take a day).

    Here is what we included:

    -CLIMAX!: CASINO ROYALE (1954) - always great, this was Creasy's first time.
    -DR. NO (1962)
    -FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963)
    -A clip taken from the finale of an episode of THE SAINT, entitled LUELLA, starring Roger Moore, in which Simon Templar is mistaken for James Bond. This also stars David Hedison (1964). We actually watched this one far later in our run, as I had forgotten about it.
    -MAINLY MILLICENT (1964) - Roger Moore makes a guest appearance as James Bond in a skit on this television show, it's included as an extra on the LALD Blu Ray; funny and the only time Moore's Bond mentions S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
    -GOLDFINGER (1964)
    -THUNDERBALL (1965)
    -CASINO ROYALE (1967)
    - again a first for Creasy, we both enjoyed it quite a bit.
    -YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967)
    -ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (1969)
    -DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971)
    -LIVE AND LET DIE (1973)
    -THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1974)
    -THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977)
    -MOONRAKER (1979)
    -FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (1981)
    -THE RETURN OF THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.: THE FIFTEEN YEARS LATER AFFAIR (1983)
    - though we both own the entire film on DVD, we just watched the scene in Vegas with George Lazenby's cameo as "JB".
    -OCTOPUSSY (1983)
    -NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (1983)
    -A VIEW TO A KILL (1985)
    -THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (1987)
    -ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS: DIAMONDS AREN'T FOREVER (1989)
    - again we get Lazenby taking an unofficial turn as James Bond. He's a tad more serious in this one. We actually watched it a few films later as I, once again, forgot about it.
    -LICENCE TO KILL (1989)
    -Timothy Dalton's Commercial for LARK cigarettes (1989).
    -We had to break from format here to re-watch GF, in honor of Guy Hamilton.
    -GOLDENEYE (1995)
    -TOMORROW NEVER DIES (1997)
    -THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (1999)
    -DIE ANOTHER DAY (2002)
    -THE MATADOR (2005)
    - a film that Creasy and I both love and that I have long included in my Bond-A-Thons. I see this as what became of Brosnan's Bond, as we'll as Pierce's "F You!" to EON.
    -CASINO ROYALE (2006)
    -At this point we watched all of the Screen Tests and Deleted Scenes included as extras on all Blu Rays (even that snippet of Sam Neil and Fiona Fullerton from INSIDE TLD).
    -QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008)
    -HAPPY & GLORIOUS (2012)
    - as I have stated elsewhere, I consider this canon, Creasy has been noncommittal on the subject.
    -SKYFALL (2012)
    -SPECTRE (2015)

    -Today we concluded with a double-encore: OHMSS, followed by YOLT.

    It has been a great adventure.

    What about James Bond Jr?!
  • Posts: 3,336
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Today @Creasy47 and I completed the greatest, most comprehensive Bond-A-Thon either of us have ever undertaken; it was a coast-to-coast affair, which began on March 25 (give or take a day).

    Here is what we included:

    -CLIMAX!: CASINO ROYALE (1954) - always great, this was Creasy's first time.
    -DR. NO (1962)
    -FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963)
    -A clip taken from the finale of an episode of THE SAINT, entitled LUELLA, starring Roger Moore, in which Simon Templar is mistaken for James Bond. This also stars David Hedison (1964). We actually watched this one far later in our run, as I had forgotten about it.
    -MAINLY MILLICENT (1964) - Roger Moore makes a guest appearance as James Bond in a skit on this television show, it's included as an extra on the LALD Blu Ray; funny and the only time Moore's Bond mentions S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
    -GOLDFINGER (1964)
    -THUNDERBALL (1965)
    -CASINO ROYALE (1967)
    - again a first for Creasy, we both enjoyed it quite a bit.
    -YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967)
    -ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (1969)
    -DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971)
    -LIVE AND LET DIE (1973)
    -THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1974)
    -THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977)
    -MOONRAKER (1979)
    -FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (1981)
    -THE RETURN OF THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.: THE FIFTEEN YEARS LATER AFFAIR (1983)
    - though we both own the entire film on DVD, we just watched the scene in Vegas with George Lazenby's cameo as "JB".
    -OCTOPUSSY (1983)
    -NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (1983)
    -A VIEW TO A KILL (1985)
    -THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (1987)
    -ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS: DIAMONDS AREN'T FOREVER (1989)
    - again we get Lazenby taking an unofficial turn as James Bond. He's a tad more serious in this one. We actually watched it a few films later as I, once again, forgot about it.
    -LICENCE TO KILL (1989)
    -Timothy Dalton's Commercial for LARK cigarettes (1989).
    -We had to break from format here to re-watch GF, in honor of Guy Hamilton.
    -GOLDENEYE (1995)
    -TOMORROW NEVER DIES (1997)
    -THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (1999)
    -DIE ANOTHER DAY (2002)
    -THE MATADOR (2005)
    - a film that Creasy and I both love and that I have long included in my Bond-A-Thons. I see this as what became of Brosnan's Bond, as we'll as Pierce's "F You!" to EON.
    -CASINO ROYALE (2006)
    -At this point we watched all of the Screen Tests and Deleted Scenes included as extras on all Blu Rays (even that snippet of Sam Neil and Fiona Fullerton from INSIDE TLD).
    -QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008)
    -HAPPY & GLORIOUS (2012)
    - as I have stated elsewhere, I consider this canon, Creasy has been noncommittal on the subject.
    -SKYFALL (2012)
    -SPECTRE (2015)

    -Today we concluded with a double-encore: OHMSS, followed by YOLT.

    It has been a great adventure.

    Did you forget about: Everything or Nothing (2012)?
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 41,011
    That would've been a nice addition for 2012, alongside the Olympics special. I didn't even think about it.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    edited May 2016 Posts: 41,011
    Birdleson wrote: »
    It is included in the last Blu Ray Boxed set. I have it.

    Which is a joke, considering that seems to be the only way to acquire a Region A copy of it. I bought all of the releases separately, so I lucked out on getting a copy.

    EDIT: Didn't take but a few days for me to start up another Bondathon. Going to do my second official Bond ranking this time around, and I will make one list for what I'm watching and in what order, and another list for ranking the official EON Bond movies. I was going to do my very first official reviews of the movies, but I'll save that for another reason to do another Bondathon (which will inevitably start as soon as this one ends, as sad as that is.)

    Thanks to @Birdleson for giving me tons of new things to watch during a Bondathon, and just like last time, I kicked things off with 'Casino Royale' (1954) on YouTube. It seems that some still haven't seen this, and a lot of those who have don't particularly care for it, but for our first televised look at the world of James Bond - performed live, on television in the mid-50's - I have to say I'm very impressed. Characters are changed up slightly, and perhaps some of the actors involved weren't the best choices for their given role, but I quite like it, and it all builds up to a pretty solid finale in that hotel room. Honorable mentions go to Lorre as Le Chiffre (in a few scenes, he isn't threatening in the slightest, but then in others, he comes across as rather creepy) and Michael Pate, who plays a wonderful (albeit British) Leiter.

    2016 (#3) Bondathon Viewing Order:

    1.) 'Casino Royale' (1954)

    Bond Ranking (#2):
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    edited May 2016 Posts: 5,131
    I've been watching all the films in order and last night I watched OHMSS. I will fight anyone who dares to tell me that they don't like On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Because they are wrong. It stands out as one of the best 007 films ever. Possibly even the best (it's my number 3). It has one of the best soundtracks. It is very close to Fleming's book. It has the best on screen Blofeld and performance of M. It has a perfect 'tone' and a great Director. It pushes the character into difficult new places. And that ending: that's not just a great James Bond ending, it's probably in the top 10 film endings of all time. Mr. Lazenby is no Connery, but he does a sterling job in his first role (better than anything Mr. Brosnan ever managed). Diamonds are Forever next and I know that that 'camp ride' is a big step in the wrong direction.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Your words are true.
  • ForYourEyesOnlyForYourEyesOnly In the untained cradle of the heavens
    Posts: 1,984
    Sometimes I wonder if the campier, more humurous path in the 70's really was a necessity, or just a choice of the producers because they were feeling down.

    I do appreciate the darker turn of the 80's, though. The 70's remains, up to and including now, the most jovial and light-hearted of the Bond adventures. Not saying that other eras haven't had their share of it, but it almost felt like Bond wasn't supposed to be taken with any sort of seriousness in the 70's. Sheer entertainment, nothing else.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Well, there is one thing that brings OHMSS down. St Bernard dogs were used for Alpine rescues up until 1955. Is Bond hallucinating or is that dog a ghost?

    Hm. Seems like the film is a complete failure after all.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,453
    Well, there is one thing that brings OHMSS down. St Bernard dogs were used for Alpine rescues up until 1955. Is Bond hallucinating or is that dog a ghost?

    Hm. Seems like the film is a complete failure after all.

    No, it was in them. It was in the dogs to do it.
  • Posts: 4,325
    Well, there is one thing that brings OHMSS down. St Bernard dogs were used for Alpine rescues up until 1955. Is Bond hallucinating or is that dog a ghost?

    Hm. Seems like the film is a complete failure after all.

    Your forgetting that one film ago Bond and Blofeld met - and Bond hopes to trick Blofeld by having all his words spoken by George Baker.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    And a pair of glasses. And a change of actor.
  • Posts: 4,325
    And a pair of glasses. And a change of actor.

    Oh no, you'll get OddjobsHat going again about the code theory!
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    OddjobShat was banned.
  • Posts: 4,325
    OddjobShat was banned.

    *sigh of relief*
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,453
    It was in them to do it.
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