New thoughts on Connery's last four Bond movies...

245

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  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,183
    echo wrote: »
    Wasn't the Spangled Mob mentioned in GF? Or was it TMWTGG? I feel like they came up once more in the series.

    They were mentioned in DAF, GF and TMWTGG (if we're talking about the books, of course.)
  • Fire_and_Ice_ReturnsFire_and_Ice_Returns I am trying to get away from this mountan!
    Posts: 25,132
    My ranking...

    TB is in my top three Bond films, I love this film it oozes class and has the best Bond girl(s). Personally I think the underwater mayhem finale is phenomenal.

    DAF is just a lot of fun and I agree that the score is one of the best and has one of my all time favorite Bond tracks, Tiffany also shows a lot of cheek..

    YOLT is a mixed bag at times the film looks great and then is looks pretty rough, its an enjoyable escapade with ambition that has to be respected. Barry's beautiful score elevates every scene.

    NSNA again very mixed the movie looks cinematic in some scenes and in others it is shot poorly, its low on the list in fact I never rank it as a Bond film. I would still watch NSNA ahead of many other action films to be fair.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    edited November 17 Posts: 7,132
    Only watched NSNA recently but my ranking atm would be:

    1. TB : I know it's been deemed a bit slow-paced these days but for me it's an elegant Bond film that ooses atmosphere. Still a classic in my book.
    2. DAF : not so stylish, but in its own way it's highly entertaining with superb dialogue and great music. I'm also a Charles Gray defender.
    3. NSNA : so-so in several places but the villains are excellent and so is Felix. A few good action scenes too and Sean is more invested here than in YOLT.
    4. YOLT : epic, beautiful and also completely absurd. I'd say this one lacks the self-awareness of TSWLM and MR.
  • Posts: 1,993
    TB-A great follow up to GF. Sped up boat footage is its biggest flaw.
    YOLT-Excellent music. Weak script. (Stirred, not shaken; unforgivably lazy filmmaking.)
    DAF-Weak follow up to OHMSS. Stupid PTS. Gray & Dean? Seriously bad casting.
    NSNA-I wish EON would buy this film and add in the things that make Bond films.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,304
    Eon has bought NSNA!
  • DwayneDwayne New York City
    edited November 17 Posts: 2,847
    1. YOLT - Iconic. Great Score. Legendary set designs and the only intersection thus far between 2 of my 3 fandoms (Bond and Godzilla) in the form of Mie Hama and Akiko Wakabayashi.
    2. TB - While it never quite makes it into my top ten (#11 at present) - it is often my goto Connery film when I want to avoid the obvious.
    3. DAF * - witty, but Connery is showing his age, and the film looks a bit cheap - especially when compared to the films of the 1960s.
    4. NSNA (a tie) - Connery actually looks better here, but the lack of the standard EON Bond trademarks drags it down IMO.

    * I just finished watching 1955's THE BIG COMBO and the noir version of Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd (Lee Van Cleef's "Fante" and Earl Holliman's "Mingo")! :))
    * the-big-combo1.png

  • Fire_and_Ice_ReturnsFire_and_Ice_Returns I am trying to get away from this mountan!
    Posts: 25,132
    Dwayne wrote: »
    1. YOLT - Iconic. Great Score. Legendary set designs and the only intersection thus far between 2 of my 3 fandoms (Bond and Godzilla) in the form of Mie Hama and Akiko Wakabayashi.
    2. TB - While it never quite makes it into my top ten (#11 at present) - it is often my goto Connery film when I want to avoid the obvious.
    3. DAF * - witty, but Connery is showing his age, and the film looks a bit cheap - especially when compared to the films of the 1960s.
    4. NSNA (a tie) - Connery actually looks better here, but the lack of the standard EON Bond trademarks drags it down IMO.

    * I just finished watching 1955's THE BIG COMBO and the noir version of Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd (Lee Van Cleef's "Fante" and Earl Holliman's "Mingo")! :))
    * the-big-combo1.png

    @Dwayne I have to disagree with Sir Sean showing his age in DAF, Sir Sean was just not in very good shape. DAF does look cheap at times I agree, the script is pretty good which compensates to a point.
  • DwayneDwayne New York City
    Posts: 2,847
    You are absolutely correct @Fire_and_Ice_Returns. A poor choice of words on my part (which often happens when you're trying to do 5 things at once!). Still, DAF does feature one of Barry's best Bond scores and "007 and counting" is among my favorite all-time tracks.
  • Fire_and_Ice_ReturnsFire_and_Ice_Returns I am trying to get away from this mountan!
    edited November 17 Posts: 25,132
    Dwayne wrote: »
    You are absolutely correct @Fire_and_Ice_Returns. A poor choice of words on my part (which often happens when you're trying to do 5 things at once!). Still, DAF does feature one of Barry's best Bond scores and "007 and counting" is among my favorite all-time tracks.

    That is my favorite track I often listen to "007 and counting" on repeat, it is perfection from John Barry.

    Edited: I felt compelled to listen to DAF expanded score, so good.
  • Posts: 1,993
    echo wrote: »
    Eon has bought NSNA!

    As far as I can determine, MGM owns the property, not EON.

    If EON could get it hands on the film, then a little re-editing, a PTS, gun barrel opening and Barry style soundtrack could give this film new life and serve as tasty bit while we're waiting for the next Bond film. It's not as if films haven't been revisited years later and changed up a bit.
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,040
    CrabKey wrote: »
    echo wrote: »
    Eon has bought NSNA!

    As far as I can determine, MGM owns the property, not EON.

    If EON could get it hands on the film, then a little re-editing, a PTS, gun barrel opening and Barry style soundtrack could give this film new life and serve as tasty bit while we're waiting for the next Bond film. It's not as if films haven't been revisited years later and changed up a bit.

    Ah, a little re-editing...how I wish they did this to QOS...
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,800
    CrabKey wrote: »
    echo wrote: »
    Eon has bought NSNA!

    As far as I can determine, MGM owns the property, not EON.

    If EON could get it hands on the film, then a little re-editing, a PTS, gun barrel opening and Barry style soundtrack could give this film new life and serve as tasty bit while we're waiting for the next Bond film. It's not as if films haven't been revisited years later and changed up a bit.

    I actually don't mind the score or the lack of gun barrel (thanks, Casino Royalle), I'd just like to see the warhead recovery scene tightened up a little- it drags quite a bit. But eh- it's my get more snacks & go to the loo moment. ;)
  • edited November 17 Posts: 7,427
    CrabKey wrote: »
    echo wrote: »
    Eon has bought NSNA!

    As far as I can determine, MGM owns the property, not EON.

    If EON could get it hands on the film, then a little re-editing, a PTS, gun barrel opening and Barry style soundtrack could give this film new life and serve as tasty bit while we're waiting for the next Bond film. It's not as if films haven't been revisited years later and changed up a bit.

    That opening field exercise was written as a pts by script doctors Dick Clement and Ian LaFrenais and they said someone made the decision to put the title song OVER it, which was not their intention!
    And James Horner was the original choice as composer before they went with Michel Legrand!
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    edited November 18 Posts: 17,800
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    CrabKey wrote: »
    echo wrote: »
    Eon has bought NSNA!

    As far as I can determine, MGM owns the property, not EON.

    If EON could get it hands on the film, then a little re-editing, a PTS, gun barrel opening and Barry style soundtrack could give this film new life and serve as tasty bit while we're waiting for the next Bond film. It's not as if films haven't been revisited years later and changed up a bit.

    That opening field exercise was written as a pts by script doctors Dick Clement and Ian LaFrenais and they said someone made the decision to put the title song OVER it, which was not their intention!
    And James Horner was the original choice as composer before they went with Michel Legrand!

    I watched a YouTube test video years ago concerning the 'pts' and I found it not to my liking as I feel the field test was not to be taken that seriously. Seeing it played as if it's important makes it seem all the more trivial to me. The song over it softens the blow of its ultimate & slightly dopey reveal. Your mileage may vary.... Oh, and it's a shame they didn't use Horner!
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 2,044
    I think Michel Legrand was the better choice. The James Horner of the 80s was a different composer. It was all about synthesizers then. I really love synth/electronic scores, but I'm not sure an 80s version of that sort of score, would have suited Bond. This situation is similar to the Radiohead and Sam Smith one in Spectre. Radiohead had the better Bond song, but Sam Smith's version was picked, because it sounded traditionally Bondian.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    edited November 18 Posts: 6,304
    NSNA is not the worst song. It has a pep. It's better than some of the same era Eon efforts.

    It's interesting to see it more traditionally scored. However, I think it's meant to be camp because it's a training exercise (especially when you get to the zipline and blow darts!), so it arguably works better with the song over it.
  • Posts: 12,473
    TB > YOLT > DAF > NSNA

    TB is one of the elites for me, and I think it’ll probably always be the best hybrid of book and movie Bond styles. YOLT is mid-tier for me; I love the third act in particular, though Connery’s performance is a significant dip from his first four. DAF and NSNA are right around the bottom of my ranking; not all bad, but significantly weaker than most of the other movies.
  • Posts: 1,993
    NSNA song strikes me as something along the lines of Burt Bacharach. It felt dated the first time I heard it and hasn't improved with age.
  • edited November 18 Posts: 1,368
    NSNA song is ok. At least It is catchy.
  • edited November 18 Posts: 4,162
    It really feels like a song from its time. The EON songs tend to have a timelessness to them I find and are much better produced. It’s also a bit… I dunno, soft? Like it just doesn’t have enough energy or bite behind it.
  • Posts: 7,427
    American soul singer Phyliss Hyman did a better song for 'NSNA' ! Only heard it recently
    It was dropped when Legrand was hired!
  • Posts: 1,368
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    American soul singer Phyliss Hyman did a better song for 'NSNA' ! Only heard it recently
    It was dropped when Legrand was hired!

    It's a boring song IMO.
  • edited November 18 Posts: 4,162
    Didn’t know about that. Just listened to it and I quite like it. Still a bit dated and not quite on the level of the EON songs (not very Bondian sounding to me personally), but I’d say it’s better than the NSNA we got.
  • George_KaplanGeorge_Kaplan Being chauffeured by Tibbett
    edited November 18 Posts: 685
    I really like the Hyman song. I would certainly take it over MR or ATH (and I don't dislike either of those songs). I think it's about the only thing I like about NSNA, and it's not even in the movie.

    The Lani Hall song is just awful.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    edited November 18 Posts: 2,044
    Yeah, I've heard Hyman's NSNA before, it's good. But I still prefer Lani Hall's.
    I don't know for some reason, I had this habit of watching NSNA, immediately after YOLT back in 2005. I don't know, weird! But I used to like it. Also, Legrand's score isn't very Bondian, but it's got some good tracks. I like that French song called "Une Chanson D'amour".
  • Posts: 1,368
    I think Michel Legrand was the better choice. The James Horner of the 80s was a different composer. It was all about synthesizers then. I really love synth/electronic scores, but I'm not sure an 80s version of that sort of score, would have suited Bond. This situation is similar to the Radiohead and Sam Smith one in Spectre. Radiohead had the better Bond song, but Sam Smith's version was picked, because it sounded traditionally Bondian.

    Jerry Goldsmith was the right man for the job.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 2,044
    I think Michel Legrand was the better choice. The James Horner of the 80s was a different composer. It was all about synthesizers then. I really love synth/electronic scores, but I'm not sure an 80s version of that sort of score, would have suited Bond. This situation is similar to the Radiohead and Sam Smith one in Spectre. Radiohead had the better Bond song, but Sam Smith's version was picked, because it sounded traditionally Bondian.

    Jerry Goldsmith was the right man for the job.

    Oh, yeah. A Jerry Goldsmith Bond score is something we missed. It would have been something. Such a great composer Goldsmith was. I'm not even sure the first 3 Rambo films would have had that sort of emotion without Goldsmith.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited November 18 Posts: 16,413
    I would have very much liked a Horner NSNA but probably would have loved a Goldsmith one. He always got what the brief was and overdelivered.
  • Posts: 1,368
    Yeah, I've heard Hyman's NSNA before, it's good. But I still prefer Lani Hall's.
    I don't know for some reason, I had this habit of watching NSNA, immediately after YOLT back in 2005. I don't know, weird! But I used to like it. Also, Legrand's score isn't very Bondian, but it's got some good tracks. I like that French song called "Une Chanson D'amour".

    I would miss Une Chanson D'amour and Tango of Death.
  • Posts: 1,493
    My top last four Connery Bonds are;

    YOLT
    TB
    NSNA
    DAF

    I think, like many here, Jerry Goldsmith would have produced a superb score for NSNA. I had the pleasure of working with the great composer on 1985's King Solomon's Mines, he did it as a favour for his friend, director and gentleman, J Lee Thompson. I asked Mr. Goldsmith about NSNA and he shrugged (he was a man of few words) and said something like, "Just a rumor, but it needed a strong new theme." He didn't elaborate, but I think we can conclude he would have done a great job.
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