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My favourite of all time, does something different while also keeping all the great Bond elements, and it feels like really 80s too. Love it.
I was about 5 when TLD came out but I knew/know lots of people who were older then. Anyway, I think it was liked (I remember the audience cheering at parts of it), but it wasn't raved about like CR because people didn't really want a darker Bond then.
Bond is fighting a drug lord and part of the film is in Florida. That's about as far as the Miami Vice influence everybody bangs on about goes.
With QOS every action sequence in the film was Bourne inspired and the realistic direction I think was Bourne inspired too.
I know people say that was because of DAD but I honesty think if it wasn't for Batman giving them the reboot idea and Bourne inspiring the realistic direction, we would've gotten a 5th Brosnan film, sort of his FYEO.
The admittedly few people I've talked to who aren't hardcore Bond fans but who are old enough to remember 1987-89 have said pretty much the same thing - i.e. that Dalton was seen as "Ok but nothing special". When I asked if his reception was similar to Craig's the answer was the same (it wasn't).
Don't get me wrong from what I gather Dalton/TLD were well received but just not in the way Craig's debut film was.
I saw FRWL and a bit of GF earlier today (got the Bond channel on Sky to thank for that) and Connery looks cool simply walking round a room. Dalton just doesn't have that effect - perhaps that's why he's still somewhat underrated. I understand what he was trying to do (go back to a less suave Bond of Fleming) but I don't know whether he was engaging enough as a lead to pull it off :-? Strange because TLD is a good, solid film (with one of the best fight scenes in the series - which ironically doesn't involve Bond).
As I've said before I feel sorry for Dalts because he never really had a fair grasp at the role but the likes of Connery just make things look easy and even fun. Sean could charm an audience with his swagger and "I don't care" attitude ("she'll do anything I say", "let me take care of this filthy stuff"). With Dalton it's the other way round. You can see him working away.
Watching LTK now - Davi is superb in it and easily ecclipses Dalts with his ruthless but calm manner. Dalton's good - don't get me wrong - but Davi's the one who steals the show.
LOL, just kidding. I just think his 'human' version of Bond is fascinating. Not a superhero, not an action machine, just a man with an extreme professional skill set, and some serious issues. Even Craig's edgy Bond (which I like immensely BTW) seems rather invulnerable by comparison IMO.
But at least Craig has a bit more of a relaxed manner about him. To tell the truth I do think he is a bit more natural in the part and not quite as "self aware". He's got a relaxed confidence that harks back to Connery. With Dalton part of me just thinks you can see him act a fair bit (the way he looks round, grimaces etc).
Connery was a "human" version of Bond in FRWL. He had little in the way of fancy gagets/guns there (the way he tricks Grant into opening the case is a perfect example of a professional agent relying on his wits to get him out of trouble rather than hardware) but was still more entertaining to watch.
I don't know :-? :-? :-? :-? :-?
I can understand what Dalts was aiming for but at the same time I can see why there are many people out there (and there are!) who prefer the likes of Sean/Rog etc. They're just more entertaining.
Connery was great, no doubt, but he created a Bond in his own image, confident and sarcastic. And that has influenced all actors to follow save Dalton & Craig.
Confident being the key word. Craig was conflicted but at the same time confident. Craig had a rather arrogant "don't care" manner ("A little...but I wouldn't consider myself to be in trouble until I start weeping blood" - LOVE the way he delivers that line).
I've said before many times - Dalton just seems quite stagey to me at times.
That was good I agree - although I stil feel Davi steals pretty much all the scenes he's in - he just gets all the best lines.
("Señor Bond you've got big cohones"
"no has seen you come in, so no one has to see you go out")
As my dad commented last night, "it's a shame he didn't do more films". :)
I do like the shot of Laz sliding on the ice firing the machine gun - that's great - as well as the bit at the wedding when he tosses the hat to MP - lovely moment and Laz looks like he genuinely cares for her :)
His Ozzy accent does come through occasionally :))
The dubbing is still a problem for me though.
Back to Dalton, I think I prefer him in TLD. His performance is overall a bit more restrained.
Davi is the star of LTK - not Dalton.
First up: Dr. No from the Bond 50 Blu-Ray set.
I've always adored this film, so it didn't surprise me that I was feeling all fuzzy inside by the end credits. Has there ever been anyone as cool as Sean Connery in Dr. No? From the very first moments we see Sir Sean he is JAMES BOND, no doubts there. The first 20 minutes is pure classic Bond: a smoke filled casino, "Bond, James Bond", Bond's flirtation with Sylvia Trench, M's Briefing and Bond's eventual nookie time. Bond shooting Professor Dent has to be one of the best moments in the entire franchise, without question. Honey Ryder makes quite an effective in-over-her head Bond girl, and Joseph Wiseman's ultra-reserved Dr. No performance ranks among the best of the Bond villains.
Now, for the (minor) quibbles: I found the film to be just a bit slower than I remember. I've always known that Dr. No was a downtempo film, but in this viewing, I felt the film drag just a little. I must also admit that the final fight between Bond and Dr. No was also a tad rushed, and upon seeing the film's antagonist drowning in his pool of radioactive liquid, I thought to myself, "That was it?"
Overall, however, a thoroughly enjoyable Bond flick. I believe that Dr. No still ranks among the best Bond movies and is easily a top 10 entry.
1. Dr. No (1962) - 8.5/10
I watched Dr. No a few days ago on Blue Ray, and I totally agree! :-)
Great movie and I actually enjoyed it more than the last time I watched it.
Even the "dragon" didn't bother me as much as last time.
I agree about Sean. His first scene just still has an unbelievable impact. When he delivered "Bond, James Bond", my girlfriend got big eyes saying: "He is so young there. He looks fantastic!" ...damn, even after all those years, he has that effect on women ;-)
I migh also add, that the dialogue between Bond and Dr. No at the table is fantastic! My last viewing was years ago and I could barely remember it. Great scene!
My biggest problem actually is that, after Bond is captured...the movie feels really different. It get's very strange and obscure in a way and I agree with SJK91 criticism.
Overall though a great start to the series!
I would also say: 8.5/10
We also watched FRWL!
Still a fantastic movie, even though I migh expected too much. I wasn't as entertained as last time I watched. But that doesn't say much.
Connery is again fantastic as Bond and Grant and Klebb may be the best villains ever imo. What surprised me was, how much I enjoyed Tatiana. I never realised it before, and maybe it is because I just read the novel for the first time, but Daniela Bianchi did a fantastic job! Again, everything on the train belongs to the best part of the movie. Tatiana and Bond have some fantastic sweet moments together and the Grant/Bond scene is probably the best scene of the whole series and one of the best fighting scenes of all time!
Another surprise to me was, how faithful they were regarding Flemings novel. Really good work!
It is still my number one though I am going through the Blue Ray Box now. We'll see if my opinion changes.
What the... let's just say 10/10!
I can't wait to see how my list is going to change after I rewatched all the movies. I haven't seen them for years!
My old list was something like:
1. FRWL
2. Casino Royale
3.The Spy who loved me
4. The living Daylights
5. The World is not Enough
6. Thunderball
7. Dr. No
8. Live and Let Die
9. Goldfinger
10. Quantum of Solace
11. FYEO
12. Octopussy
13. Goldeneye
14. LTK
15. Moonraker
16. DAF
17. TMWTGG
18. OHMSS
19. YOLT
20. AVTAK
21. TND
22. DAD
It will be interessting to see what happens to Quantum, OHMSS, DAF, LTK, TWINE and DAD and if Dr. No will get higher.
From Russia With Love from the Bond 50 blu-ray pack.
Let me start off by saying that this film looks nearly flawless in high definition. I'm willing to bet that the picture from this blu-ray version is likely more detailed than what people saw in the theaters 49 years ago.
In my Dr. No review, I asked if there was anyone as cool as Sean Connery in his debut James Bond film. From Russia With Love answered my question. Sean Connery is just a stunning 007 no matter what way you look at it. It also seems that Connery is having a great time in the role; he is the essence of cool. From the way he walks, to the way he fights, to the way he seduces, to the way he orders his "very" black coffee, Sean Connery is James Bond. Plain and simple.
The rest of the cast works out great, also. Red Grant is one of my favorite henchman and the climactic fist fight between Grant and Bond on the Orient Express is breathtaking (my heart quickens a little every time I see that fight). Rosa Klebb makes a fantastic ugly and disgusting villain, who likes to creepily touch our main Bond girl. I think I like Honey Ryder a little more than Tatiana, but Daniela Bianchi makes a good Bond girl nonetheless.
Where Dr. No was more of a detective film, From Russia With Love is based on pure Cold War type spying. FRWL is also more stylish than its predecessor; the cinematography has noticeably improved, and some neat editing tricks are used to transition between one scene and another (I really love the train half-dissolved into the map - that no doubt inspired Raiders of the Lost Ark).
The issues in From Russia With Love never get past the minor. Maybe the initial belly dance at the gypsy camp could be sliced a little bit, and maybe that boat chase at the end could be, too. But overall, the film moves at a good pace and always keeps you interested. (For example, the film begins to slow down when Kerim, Tanya and Bond get on the Orient Express, but then....BAM! Kerim is murdered and we're immediately captivated.)
From Russia With Love is not only one of the greatest Bond movies, but it is also one of the greatest spy movies. Timeless, ultra-cool, and very slick, From Russia With Love still thrills after nearly 50 years in service.
1. From Russia With Love (1963) - 9.5/10
2. Dr. No (1962) - 8.5/10
Addendum: Oh, and how could I forget my favorite James Bond ally, Kerim Bay?! (Must have been a late night last night!) Pedro Armendariz's portrayal is likely my favorite Bond ally of the entire series.
Regarding Connery I still think his best performance is yet to come.
Some things I've noticed from the re-watch:
From Russia With Love is still my personal favourite. It's a perfect 60s Bond film. Spectre at their menacing best up against Bond's bare wit before all the gadgets really started to take over. The fight with Grant on the train is epic. You absolutely get the sense that they are two highly-trained merchants of death going hammer and tongs.
Karim, Klebb and Tanya are great characters and there are some great one-liners delivered in the best possible way by Connery; "She should have kept her mouth closed" has always been one of my favourites.
Completely agree with @SJK91, Sean's best performance.
At the other end of the spectrum, was shocked at how poor I found Diamonds Are Forever this time around. Hair-pieces, bombs in Pavlovas, space buggy chases, Sean's beer-gut and a woman who changes into an ape. It's ludicrous. There are some good one-liners, but that's all it was. The man has just seen his wife murdered on their wedding day, but you just wouldn't guess it. Such a shame Lazenby wasn't cast as Bond again to do a proper follow up to OHMSS.
It may change, but so far DAF goes straight to the bottom of my all-time Bond list
You obviously haven't read my review I posted yesterday on it ;). I do feel DAF will be continually punished because it isn't in the same tone as OHMSS (which I love also - definetly top 5). However much you love OHMSS though, DAF was needed to save the series and set it up for the 70's.
Goldfinger from the Bond 50 blu-ray set.
Like Dr. No and From Russia With Love, Goldfinger was a stunning watch in high definition.
It has taken me a very long time to properly recognize this, but Goldfinger very much changed the cinematic James Bond after Dr. No and From Russia With Love. Nearly everything in Goldfinger is more flippant and blithe, more laid back and all smiles. Some people may despise this approach; after all, I believe Goldfinger was the beginning of what was to become the Roger Moore-esque Bond. You can take that or leave it, but whatever way you spin Goldfinger, the film is a joyride.
I'll start off by saying that I am completely dumbfounded by the amount of slack this film gets on these forums. Is Goldfinger perfect? Of course it isn't. But is it the snooze-fest that some of you folks claim it is? Absolutely not. Goldfinger is still one of the best James Bond films, and certainly one of the most fun. It all stems from Sean Connery's performance as our favorite secret agent. He isn't quite as 'lethal' as he was in Dr. No and From Russia With Love, but Connery's more easygoing approach suits Goldfinger's tone perfectly. He certainly has some great liners, also ("shocking" has always been one of my favorites).
Miss Pussy Galore may not be the most attractive Bond girl ever, but her performance is extremely strong. She's sassy, clearly knows her business and therefore comes across as 100% convincing. Three films into the Bond franchise and she is my favorite Bond girl, believe it or not (better get to the 'controversial' thread). Continuing with the cast, the Goldfinger/Oddjob duo is the best villain/henchman combination of the series. Not only does Goldfinger get to partake in one of the greatest dialogue exchanges of cinema history, he is delightfully arrogant and calculating. Oddjob is also my favorite Bond henchman. His bowler hat of death is unbelievably neat, and the way he shakes off a gold brick to the chest is the best done absurd moment in Bond history.
Classic Bond elements are at abundance here. That Aston Martin never fails to bring a smile to my face, and the Q lab scene is superb. John Barry produces a truly incredible score that oozes quintessential James Bond and Shirley Bassey's magnificent song ranks among the best in the franchise.
From a plot progression perspective, Goldfinger is actually very similar to Dr. No. Both films start off as a relatively small scale investigation, and end up turning into a sinister ploy to disrupt the world in one way or another. Goldfinger's is on a bigger scale however, and the climax at Fort Knox contains tension, fun and humor all in one. It's truly great.
Now, for some surprises (at least for me). Ever since I became a Bond fan, I have regarded Goldfinger as a 10/10, a perfect Bond film. This time around, I was extremely surprised to find myself doubting that score. There are some issues in Goldfinger - Cec Linder's portrayal of Felix is a good step backwards from Jack Lord's. Not to say that I dislike Linder's Leiter, but it is a true shame that Lord did not return (I am aware of the story behind it, though). Goldfinger meeting with all the gangsters bugged me just a little more than I remember, too. I thought to myself, "A scene like this would never have been in From Russia With Love." I think it was meant to be a little silly, but the scene went a little too far (the blatant overacting did not help). In the end these are minor criticisms, but they seemed to carry a little more resonance than I once thought.
In conclusion, Goldfinger is one of the best and certainly the most iconic James Bond film. I have no doubts that it will fall very comfortably into my top 5 by the end of this Bond-a-thon, also. But for the first time ever, I am not going to give Goldfinger a perfect score. It feels weird, and it kind of hurts, but I cannot ignore my gut. Regardless, I had a great time revisiting this classic James Bond film.
1. From Russia With Love (1963) - 9.5/10
2. Goldfinger (1964) - 9/10
3. Dr. No (1962) - 8.5/10
James Bond (and my reviews) will return with....Thunderball.
"Goldfinger, I'm not happy, where's my money"
"Banks don't open on Sunday"
Great review. Echos with my own sentiments.
@Bain123
not forgetting...
"what's the map doing up there?"!
It's a smegging map! What do you think it's doing up there!
Haha thanks for the comments, gents.
I have to confess that each time I watch it I like it a little more... it's building up as an incresing guilty pleasure.
I now it's one of the worst, that Moore was to old and the story to well-know. But I don't know if it's the Barry soundtrack, the memory of first seeing it when I was a kid or Tanya Robert in that white skirt, but I really enjoy it.
If a want a quality Bond movie (or by any chance a general good movie) I'll watch FRWL, CR or OHMSS, but for a boring Saturday afternoon this one is great.
Thunderball from the Bond 50 blu-ray set.
Bondmania had set in very nicely by the time Thunderball was released back in 1965, and the film itself reflects that. Just take a look at that pre-titles sequence: Bond fights a cross-dressing SPECTRE agent, escapes via an inexplicably placed jet-pack, puts said jet-pack in the trunk of his Aston and gets away by spraying water out the back of said Aston at incoming thugs. Does it make any sense? Not really. Does it really matter that it doesn't make any sense? Not really. If you sit back and relax, Thunderball is very entertaining.
Of course Sean Connery is still superb as our favorite spy. Bond's liners are the best they've ever been (including, "Wait 'till you get to my teeth," and "She's just dead!"), Connery looks to be having a blast, and the extra jolt of confidence he gives the James Bond character often makes for some very amusing exchanges (the scenes between Bond and Q, and Bond and Largo come to mind).
When it comes to the supporting cast, Thunderball is quite solid. Jack Lord's Felix cannot be beaten in my eyes, but Rick Van Nutter does a better job than Cec Linder did. The film's villain, Largo, has an eyepatch and gets to do a good deal of evil things, but he ends up being overshadowed by the sinister Fiona Volpe (played marvelously by Luciana Paluzzi). The Fiona character is the best supporting member of the film and my personal favorite femme fatale. Domino is incredibly attractive, perhaps the most beautiful of all the Bond girls. Her actual character is a very solid, also. Naturally, the usuals (M, Moneypenny, Q etc.) are great.
The plot of Thunderball is actually interesting to me, despite it being done to death in this day and age. The plot progressing scenes (such as Domino's brother getting murdered by his look-a-like), make for some of the best scenes in the movie. From a technical aspect, Thunderball is a fairly mixed bag. While there are some serious dubbing issues and odd editing choices, Fiona Volpe's death scene is one of the best edited sequences ever to be seen in Bond (and therefore ends up being 100% effective).
Now, I view Thunderball as the first Bond movie to contain a more than minor issue (still not serious). The film's one true weakness is the pace and runtime. Plainly put, the film is at least 10 minutes too long with an option of 15 minutes if you really want to go there. This is particularly evident after watching the first three Bond films, all of which clocked in at roughly 110 minutes. Thunderball, of course, is 130 minutes. Most of the scenes that could be cut are the underwater ones; they are beautifully shot, but are quite lengthy (the scene in which Largo steals the nuclear bombs is the biggest offender). You'll recall that I criticized Dr. No's pace, but as the first Bond film was under two hours, the problem was less apparent. Unfortunately, Thunderball occasionally gets lost in its bloated run time.
But when it is on target (nearly the entire film is), Thunderball truly delivers. Sean Connery's Bond coupled with a great Barry score and Terence Young's direction can only mean one thing: a very good Bond picture. And, despite the bloat, Thunderball is just that.
1. From Russia With Love (1963) - 9.5/10
2. Goldfinger (1964) - 9/10
3. Dr. No (1962) - 8.5/10
4. Thunderball (1965) - 8/10
James Bond (and my reviews) will return with....You Only Live Twice.
"Let me go you're breaking my back"
Great TB review by the way :)