Tell us all about your BONDATHON

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  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    Thanks, guys. They're fun to write!
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    Nearly at the end. The penultimate film in my 2016 Bondathon is GoldenEye. Complete with twinkly exchange between Bond and Natalia.

    Viewing Order

    Dr No 1962 ( "Are you looking for shells?" "No. I'm just looking" )

    You Only Live Twice 1967 ( "He wouldn't touch that horrible woman, would you?" "Heaven forbid")

    Octopussy 1983 ("Moneypenny, you become more beautiful every day" "I'm over here" "But of course you are")

    The World Is Not Enough 1999 ( "I've got to get it back, or someone's gonna have my ass" "First things first")

    Moonraker 1979 ("Can you think of a reason why we can't go for a drink after?" "Not immediately, but I'm sure I shall")

    For Your Eyes Only 1981 ( "He thinks I'm still a virgin" " Yes well, get your clothes on..and I'll buy you an ice-cream")

    The Living Daylights 1987 ("We're free" "Kara, we're in a Russian airbase in the middle of Afghanistan" "Well, at least we're together")

    Goldfinger 1964 ("My name is Pussy Galore" "I must be dreaming")

    Licence To Kill 1989 ( "Felix is still in the study and we've got to cut the cake" "I'll do anything for a woman with a knife")

    Live And Let Die 1973 ("Is there time for lesson number 3?" "Absolsutely darling, there's no sense going off half cocked")

    The Man With The Golden Gun 1974 ("I approve" "You do?" " Oh not the wine; the frock! Tight in all the right places and not too many buttons" )

    Spectre 2015 ("You shouldn't stare like that" "Well, you shouldn't look like that")

    Tomorrow Never Dies 1997 ("Every now and then, you get to work with a decadent agent of a corrupt Western power" "And they say Communists don't know how to have fun")

    From Russia With Love 1963 ("Will you make love to me when we are back in England?" "Day and night..now go on about the mechanism")

    Quantum Of Solace 2008 ("Bond, if you could possibly avoid killing every possible lead it would be greatly appreciated" "Yes ma'am..I'll do my best" )

    Thunderball 1965 ("Haven't you had enough exercise for one evening?" "Mm, funny you should say that")

    A View To A Kill 1985 ( "Quiche Des Cabinet" "Sounds interesting. What is it?" "An omelette")

    Skyfall (2012) ( "Can you kill him?" "Yes!" "Will you?" "Someone usually dies")

    Die Another Day (2002) ("You'd better stay here and keep up the charade of being lovers" "Alright. I must say I admire your restraint. You were here a full two hours before anything blew up")

    On Her Majesty's Secret Service 1969 ( "Suppose I were to kill you for a thrill?" "I can think of something more sociable to do")

    Diamonds Are Forever 1971 ( "What can I bring you back from Holland?" "A diamond...in a ring?" "Would you settle for a tulip?" "YES" )

    The Spy Who Loved Me 1977 ("You're not taking advantage of me, are you?" "Why the thought never crossed my mind" )

    GoldenEye 1995 ("Do you destroy every vehicle you get in?" "Standard operating procedure")


    It all comes to a sad end with Casino Royale this weekend. What the hell do I do with the next 6 months?
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    With heavy heart and a small degree of relief the Bondathon has ended. And I think I can safely say that there won't be another in my house until Bond 25 is in sight.

    As always I am unable to rank the films ( I can't rank my children either) so viewing order is the best I can offer.

    Viewing Order

    Dr No 1962 ( "Are you looking for shells?" "No. I'm just looking" )

    You Only Live Twice 1967 ( "He wouldn't touch that horrible woman, would you?" "Heaven forbid")

    Octopussy 1983 ("Moneypenny, you become more beautiful every day" "I'm over here" "But of course you are")

    The World Is Not Enough 1999 ( "I've got to get it back, or someone's gonna have my ass" "First things first")

    Moonraker 1979 ("Can you think of a reason why we can't go for a drink after?" "Not immediately, but I'm sure I shall")

    For Your Eyes Only 1981 ( "He thinks I'm still a virgin" " Yes well, get your clothes on..and I'll buy you an ice-cream")

    The Living Daylights 1987 ("We're free" "Kara, we're in a Russian airbase in the middle of Afghanistan" "Well, at least we're together")

    Goldfinger 1964 ("My name is Pussy Galore" "I must be dreaming")

    Licence To Kill 1989 ( "Felix is still in the study and we've got to cut the cake" "I'll do anything for a woman with a knife")

    Live And Let Die 1973 ("Is there time for lesson number 3?" "Absolsutely darling, there's no sense going off half cocked")

    The Man With The Golden Gun 1974 ("I approve" "You do?" " Oh not the wine; the frock! Tight in all the right places and not too many buttons" )

    Spectre 2015 ("You shouldn't stare like that" "Well, you shouldn't look like that")

    Tomorrow Never Dies 1997 ("Every now and then, you get to work with a decadent agent of a corrupt Western power" "And they say Communists don't know how to have fun")

    From Russia With Love 1963 ("Will you make love to me when we are back in England?" "Day and night..now go on about the mechanism")

    Quantum Of Solace 2008 ("Bond, if you could possibly avoid killing every possible lead it would be greatly appreciated" "Yes ma'am..I'll do my best" )

    Thunderball 1965 ("Haven't you had enough exercise for one evening?" "Mm, funny you should say that")

    A View To A Kill 1985 ( "Quiche Des Cabinet" "Sounds interesting. What is it?" "An omelette")

    Skyfall (2012) ( "Can you kill him?" "Yes!" "Will you?" "Someone usually dies")

    Die Another Day (2002) ("You'd better stay here and keep up the charade of being lovers" "Alright. I must say I admire your restraint. You were here a full two hours before anything blew up")

    On Her Majesty's Secret Service 1969 ( "Suppose I were to kill you for a thrill?" "I can think of something more sociable to do")

    Diamonds Are Forever 1971 ( "What can I bring you back from Holland?" "A diamond...in a ring?" "Would you settle for a tulip?" "YES" )

    The Spy Who Loved Me 1977 ("You're not taking advantage of me, are you?" "Why the thought never crossed my mind" )

    GoldenEye 1995 ("Do you destroy every vehicle you get in?" "Standard operating procedure")


    Casino Royale 2006 ("How was your lamb?" "Skewered! One sympathises.")
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,135
    As with @NicNac I too have now completed my Bondathon of generally random order.
    The final three films being, Spectre, Octopussy and Dr.No.
    Spectre is a film I enjoyed the first time I saw it. I enjoyed it a lot. And to be honest, I still do. I can see the faults, and the niggles people have with it. But as popcorn entertainment it will do me just fine. My biggest gripe with it is that it's too bloody long. Why do films nowadays have to be two and a half hours? Give me the standard two hour action/thriller of old and I'm happy as Larry.
    Hinx and Blofeld could've been utilised more. I love Lea Seydoux, and hope if Craig returns we get to see her character again. Craig seems very comfortable in the part now, though I'm wondering if this is his last. The end leaves it open either way. Certainly a film that I enjoy. But not the dire soundtrack. Deja vu indeed.
    Octopussy it's got the lot this film. Yes there's silly moments that make you cringe. A tarzan yell, dressed up as a gorilla, telling a tiger to "Siiiit!". But it also has some wonderful scenes. The Sotheby's Auction, the backgammon game, the face off with Orlov and a race to stop a bomb. I still love Octopussy and I always will. The action is well paced and performed for real (no cgi in '83) John Barry gives us a wonderful score, and it's an all out action adventure. I find it very hard to resist it's charm. Great villains, great Bond girls, great action, great score, great Bond. But how will it rank.
    Doctor No, the first of the series quite simply knocks it out of the park, and leaves it hard to compete with. Yes it's dated. But it's an amazing debut for James Bond on the silver screen. Sean Connery is so cool I'm surprised the screen didn't melt. Perfect casting. Simplistic story, but engaging and tense, directed with sophistication and class by Terence Young. It's a film like FRWL that I really find hard to fault. Wonderful film to start a 24 film and counting series. Had this film not of worked, one has to wonder if we'd still be enjoying these films 54 years later. I think not.
    And so that's it. Only thing left is to add these three films to my final ranking.

    Final 2016 Bondathon ranking
    1. Dr.No
    2. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    3. From Russia With Love
    4. Octopussy
    5.The Living Daylights
    6. Casino Royale
    7. Goldfinger
    8. The Spy Who Loved Me
    9. Thunderball
    10. For Your Eyes Only
    11. GoldenEye
    12. Spectre
    13. Live And Let Die
    14. Licence To Kill
    15. You Only Live Twice
    16. Skyfall
    17. Diamonds Are Forever
    18. The Man With The Golden Gun
    19. Moonraker
    20. Die Another Day
    21. Tomorrow Never Dies
    22. A View To A Kill
    23. Quantum Of Solace
    24. The World Is Not Enough

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  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    I agree with your comments on these three Benny. Almost to the letter.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,135
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Some surprises.

    In what way @Birdleson ?
    DN...OP...GE.

    This time I was actually shocked at how much I liked and disliked some of these films. However I must state, there is not one film I despise or have trouble viewing. Like all the actors to play Bond, all of the films have something redeeming, something incredibly enjoyable and are always good for a rewatch.

  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    edited July 2016 Posts: 5,080
    DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

    I've always had a soft spot for DAF, being one of my earliest memories of Bond as a child. But it is only until recently that DAF has fast become one of my favourites, despite all the goofiness and comic elements. DAF boasts the best script in the series; from start to finish, the script is laden with cracking one liners and hilarious dialogue (including all of Blofeld's lines, "what a pity, such nice cheeks,too--if only they were brains"). I'm not ashamed to say it, but Gray's Blofeld is now tied with Savalas as my favourite depiction of onscreen Blofeld- the way he loses it when Bond is messing around with the crane never fails to make my laugh. Tiffany Case is one of my favourite Bond girls- I don't care how she turns into a ditz in the third act, because Bond's "bitch" line makes it worth it. But the pièce de résistance of DAF is its plethora of memorable minor characters; from Mrs Whistler, to Klaus Hergesheimer, from Shady Tree, to Sir Donald Munger.
    Other highlights include Barry's superb score, the set design and, controversially, Sean Connery. We all know he's in it for the money, but even when he's phoning it in, he's so damn entertaining. The reason why I think his performance works here rather than his performance in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE is because of his dead-pan delivery of his lines and his looking like he is having fun, whereas in YOLT he seems bored by it all. The only blotches on the canvas is the shoddy PTS (worst in the series) and the dodgy special effects when the satellite is blowing up the military facilities.

    On a side note, the Inside documentary for Diamonds is my favourite so far. So many interesting stories and tid bits in this one, and its great to see so many of the actors talk about some of my favourite characters in the series (Jimmy Dean, Trina Parks, Lana Woods etc.).

    MayDay's Summer 2016 Bondathon:-

    -Dr. No (1962)
    Inside Dr. No
    -From Russia with Love (1963)
    Inside From Russia with Love
    -Goldfinger (1964)
    The Making of Goldfinger
    -Thunderball (1965)
    The Making of Thunderball
    -You Only Live Twice (1967)
    Inside You Only Live Twice
    -On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
    Inside On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    -Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
    Inside Diamonds Are Forever

    Rank order-
    -ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
    -FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
    -GOLDFINGER
    -DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
    -THUNDERBALL
    -YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
    -DR. NO
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    Birdleson wrote: »
    I'm surprised how high SP is compared to SF and LALD.
    Isn't that what personal opinion is all about?

  • royale65royale65 Caustic misanthrope reporting for duty.
    Posts: 4,423
    Who can argue with your top three @Benny

    I salute both you and @NicNac on completing your Bond-a-thon!
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    LIVE AND LET DIE

    I love LIVE AND LET DIE pretty much for the same reasons I love DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER. It's such a quirky film, so different to what came before. This may be controversial, but I think Guy Hamilton is one of the best Bond directors.
    Solitaire is the most beautiful Bond girl in the series, and I love Seymour's portrayal of the character. The film also boasts one of the best trio of villains in the series (special mention for Holder's Baron Samedi), a fantastic one time score from George Martin (also, LIVE AND LET DIE ties with A VIEW TO A KILL as being my favourite opening credits song of the series) and a great portrayal of Bond by Moore (my favourite Bond actor). The voodoo/supernatural element is inspired and I really dig it; I also like the fact that writers kept it all ambiguous, too. I'm a fan of the comedy elements-- JW Pepper is hilarious, but my favourite comedy character in the film is actually Mrs Bell ("in intensive care, but she'll pull through!").
    Kananga's interrogation of Bond and the scene that comes after ("YOU KNEW THAT!") is one of my favourite scenes in the series. So well acted by all involved, and an underrrated scene if I may say so.
    LALD remains a favourite.

    The Inside documentary for LALD has surpassed the previous as my favourite so far, if only for the Ross Kananga crocodile stunt outtakes. I've seem them before, but not the full version and not in such high quality. What a legend.

    MayDay's Summer 2016 Bondathon:-

    -Dr. No (1962)

    Inside Dr. No
    -From Russia with Love (1963)
    Inside From Russia with Love
    -Goldfinger (1964)
    The Making of Goldfinger
    -Thunderball (1965)
    The Making of Thunderball
    -You Only Live Twice (1967)
    Inside You Only Live Twice
    -On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
    Inside On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    -Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
    Inside Diamonds Are Forever
    -Live and Let Die (1973)
    Inside Live and Let Die

    Rank order-
    -ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
    -FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
    -GOLDFINGER
    -DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
    -LIVE AND LET DIE
    -THUNDERBALL
    -YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
    -DR. NO
  • Posts: 3,336
    LIVE AND LET DIE

    Solitaire is the most beautiful Bond girl in the series

    Amen to that.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,135
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Yes, you'll probably be feeling withdraw about now.

    I'm almost tempted to watch them again in reverse ranked order.
    :-O
    But that would mean...I would have to be... 8-}
    royale65 wrote: »
    Who can argue with your top three @Benny

    I salute both you and @NicNac on completing your Bond-a-thon!

    The more I watch DN, the more I notice little nuances from characters. Especially Sean Connery, like offering M his lighter and M shaking his head and going to get more matches. It's a great story with a wonderful cast. Even more impressive considering the then limited budget. But overall, it's a film I look forward to watching again, every time the credits roll.

  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    Benny wrote: »
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Yes, you'll probably be feeling withdraw about now.

    I'm almost tempted to watch them again in reverse ranked order.
    :-O
    But that would mean...I would have to be... 8-}
    royale65 wrote: »
    Who can argue with your top three @Benny

    I salute both you and @NicNac on completing your Bond-a-thon!

    The more I watch DN, the more I notice little nuances from characters. Especially Sean Connery, like offering M his lighter and M shaking his head and going to get more matches. It's a great story with a wonderful cast. Even more impressive considering the then limited budget. But overall, it's a film I look forward to watching again, every time the credits roll.

    Yep. One of my favourite films of all time.
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    LIVE AND LET DIE

    Solitaire is the most beautiful Bond girl in the series

    Amen to that.

    No way. But tastes vary. I vote Lupe Lamora....exotic perfection.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    suavejmf wrote: »
    LIVE AND LET DIE

    Solitaire is the most beautiful Bond girl in the series

    Amen to that.

    No way. But tastes vary. I vote Lupe Lamora....exotic perfection.
    She's even better when you watch her on mute.
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    Ha ha ha. I've never had a problem with her acting. She's great in the whipping sequence. :D
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    Posts: 10,591
    Agreed on Solitaire. But Solange is without a doubt the sexiest Bond girl.
  • Posts: 3,336
    suavejmf wrote: »
    Ha ha ha. I've never had a problem with her acting. She's great in the whipping sequence. :D

    'I love james soooo much'

  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN

    THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN is a film of two halves. On one hand, you have a pretty solid film, complete with a fantastic villain in Lee's Scaramanga, another impeccable performance from Moore as Bond, beautiful locations and many classic scenes (mainly in the first half), such as Bond's interrogation of Lazar, the fight in Saida's room, Scaramanga killing Hai Fat, the car chase through Bangkok etc. However, on the other hand, the film does get a bit too silly for its own good (mainly the martial arts stuff, the elephant pushing Pepper waterway etc.). Although it's not enough to drag the film down to rock bottom in my rankings, it does prevent it from reaching the upper echelons and so remains static as middle of the pack entry. Like with all Hamilton entries, TMWTGG is always entertaining and I always have a good time with it.

    MayDay's Summer 2016 Bondathon:-

    -Dr. No (1962)
    Inside Dr. No
    -From Russia with Love (1963)
    Inside From Russia with Love
    -Goldfinger (1964)
    The Making of Goldfinger
    -Thunderball (1965)
    The Making of Thunderball
    -You Only Live Twice (1967)
    Inside You Only Live Twice
    -On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
    Inside On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    -Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
    Inside Diamonds Are Forever
    -Live and Let Die (1973)
    Inside Live and Let Die
    -The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
    Inside The Man with the Golden Gun

    Rank order-
    -ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
    -FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
    -GOLDFINGER
    -DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
    -LIVE AND LET DIE
    -THUNDERBALL
    -THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
    -YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
    -DR. NO
  • royale65royale65 Caustic misanthrope reporting for duty.
    Posts: 4,423
    Benny wrote: »
    royale65 wrote: »
    Who can argue with your top three @Benny

    I salute both you and @NicNac on completing your Bond-a-thon!

    The more I watch DN, the more I notice little nuances from characters. Especially Sean Connery, like offering M his lighter and M shaking his head and going to get more matches. It's a great story with a wonderful cast. Even more impressive considering the then limited budget. But overall, it's a film I look forward to watching again, every time the credits roll.

    Yes, that's always a scene that I enjoy. I think DN, FRWL and OHMSS are real stories, as opposed to the set piece formula that the series have been known for.
  • Posts: 270
    I just started a Roger Moore marathon today. I watched the first two.

    Live and Let Die - LALD has always been one of my favorite. In fact it has been in my top 5 for a long time. I continue to love this movie. It has everything I look for in a Bond movie. I have always preferred the more serious approach. Seymour is always so beautiful. Villain is great. Locations are perfect. The score is one of my favorites.

    The Man With The Golden Gun - TMWTGG for me is fun. I love the concept of Scaramanga. Again Roger is great. It's a good movie IMO. It has its moments of bad but overall more good than bad.

    These first 2 are great for my tastes. For me it always goes down from there till we get to FYEO.

    On to the next ones!
  • CASINOROYALECASINOROYALE Somewhere hot
    Posts: 1,003
    By age 12 I owned every Bond film on VHS. I am 22 now. Everything's digital lol. Tonight I plan on watching "Quantum Of Solace", I have some Bose Speakers. I'll have them set up in my bedroom and watch the movie HD on my phone.

    Quantum is so underrated!

    I love how exotic it is. The soundtrack is really different and unique.

    I have been re watching a lot of Craig's films lately.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    I think the score to QOS is one of Arnold's best. :)
  • ChriscoopChriscoop North Yorkshire
    Posts: 281
    Qos has many great aspects, its one of my most watched bonds, I also think it is aging well and getting better with time, I agree it has a great score, great wardrobe, some brilliant action sequences etc, I don't rank the bond films as I love them all for very different reasons. I'd always hoped bond 23 would follow on with bond going to Canada meeting up with corine, and the story based on Canadian intelligence's leaky seals.
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    I find QofS quite Flemingesque in the portrayal of Bond too. The opening sequence is brilliant too.
  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 3,197
    The main problem of QoS is not - as often mentioned - its camera work or the extremely short cuts but the poor villains. Craig is probably the toughest Bond and he needs at least one strong henchman or villain as an equally strong opponant. Otherwise you don't really feel that Bond is in danger and it becomes a bit boring. Something similar can be said about Spectre but at least that film had Hinx.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,968
    @GBF, Slate doesn't count in QoS?
  • Posts: 4,044
    I think they were aiming to portrait Greene as someone part way up the Quantum ladder, before Bond moved his way up to bigger bosses. It doesn't help that it's years later before we return to the rebranded Quantum.
  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 3,197
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    @GBF, Slate doesn't count in QoS?

    I didn't mean that there are no situations that could be dangerous for Bond in that film but neither of the main characters is any threat to Bond. So QoS is really the first film where I feel sorry for the villains and not for Bond who seems to be pysically superior throughout the whole film. Slate is of course a physically strong henchman but is a minor character who dies early and who is not memorable at all.

    Slate is also a good example of a general problem that I have with the Craig era, that the henchmen are often not really fully developed as characters. They often only exist for a single purpose (e.g. a fight with Bond), then die and disappear.

  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,968
    I'll take Bond simply kicking everyone's ass in QoS over Bond being inept and having his ass handed to him throughout most of SF.
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