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I believe I have a more accurate read of the film now than I did on the initial viewing, when I was partially blinded by enthusiasm (not surprising as a Bond fan, given that we have to wait at least three years these days to get something even as mediocre as this).
Excellent list btw. I still think you have GF too high for nostalgic reasons, but I'm in agreement with much of the rest.
Some love SP. Some hate it. It's subjective. There's no right or wrong answer to a ranking.
I had SP ranked as high as #19, BUT by view #3, everything from torture scene forward was dragging. Found myself checking phone clock.
The movie was devolving into another dreary dark Sam Mendes mess.
The last 40 min or so is a long sit.. I have it at #23 now, but it may hit rock bottom.
I am planning a SF SP double viewing, emulating how Eon used to release theatre double-bills of the last two films.
I'm thinking with this twin viewing that SF might elevate to #23.
I Loved Spectre on the Second viewing.
I Loved Spectre on the Third viewing.
I Loved Spectre on the Fourth viewing.
I Loved Spectre on the Fifth viewing.
I Loved Spectre on the Sixth viewing.
I Loved Spectre on the Seventh viewing.
I Loved Spectre on the Eighth viewing.
I Loved Spectre on the Ninth viewing.
I Loved Spectre on the Tenth viewing.
I Loved Spectre on the Eleventh viewing.
I Loved Spectre on the Twelfth viewing.
I Loved Spectre on the Thirteenth viewing.
I Loved Spectre on the Fourteenth viewing.
I will Love Spectre when viewing it
the Fifteenth time.
15 times? That's nothing!
I seem to be in the minority who really like the London finale, particularly the Thames bit. Those two minutes are pure visceral excitement, IMO. I just wish it had lasted longer, and the implementation of police boats wouldn't have been too bad, either.
The background people are there but they seem dreamlike. This is by design.
Further commentary is probably best put in the SP as Illuminati-film thread.
The London finale is perfect, the demolished MI6 headquarters is amongst the best sets ever built in the series.
That's because society these days need 'The Fast and the Furious'. Especially 'the fast'. Slow pace is dying these days. I don't mind it.
Police boats would actually have been a cool addition.
Done. I flipped a couple, but NSNA is still proudly tied with OP as my number 8.
thanks for doing that. I'm glad NSNA has got some points to it's name now.
I had to re-do my top 10 as we can't have 2 films tied for the same place in that poll, so my beloved LALD had to be dropped a notch.
1. GOLDFINGER
2. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
3. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
4. DOCTOR NO
5. CASINO ROYALE
6. QUANTUM OF SOLACE
7. NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN
8. THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
9. LICENCE TO KILL
10. LIVE AND LET DIE
11. YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
12. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
13. GOLDENEYE
14. THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
15. SKYFALL
16. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
17. DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
18. OCTOPUSSY
19. THUNDERBALL
20. SPECTRE
21. THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
22. TOMORROW NEVER DIES
23. A VIEW TO A KILL
24. DIE ANOTHER DAY
25. MOONRAKER
I am curious about your selection of NSNA in lieu of TB in the top 10. Surely the earlier film is objectively superior on nearly every level? What makes you rank NSNA so high?
Read my username and count me in ;)
Even Skyfall which I have at No 24 will get a healthy 6.5 to 7.0 out of 10 in my book.
If it were mathematically possible I'd place 15 Bond movie into the Top 10 and the other 9 on 11-15.
Thank you @bondjames. The reason I place Never Say Never Again so highly over Thunderball is that Thunderball falls apart under it's own weight. It drags, and was the first film in the series that proves bigger isn't always better. It's poorly edited and really puts Bond in the backseat, moving the gadgets up to be front and centre. Sean Connery also displays less enthusiasm for the film. Whereas in Never Say Never Again he's at least interested in playing Bond. I realise my feeling toward this film is outside the normal. But it has a faster pace and better storytelling from Irvin Kershner. Klaus Maria Brandauer is one of the best Bond villains of all time, with the sexy yet dangerous Fatima Blush as played by Barbara Carrera also being a notable inclusion. Max Von Sydow is also often overlooked as Ernst Blofeld and his portrayal is subtle yet convincing. I find it to be a Bond of the 80's with the feel of a good 60's Bond film. Very underrated film in the Bond canon. We get a credible Felix Leiter who actually does something other than blend into the background. A very good performance from a young Kim Basinger, who plays Domino as a more reserved, yet believable Bond lead. She's just a normal girl deep down. No special training or a spy. The whole film is based in the plausible, yet slightly fantastical. But at the centre of it is the character of James Bond, with Sean Connery putting in one of his best performances in the role.
NSNA, on the other hand I love for what it is, problems and all. I agree it reminds me of a '60s Bond film in the '80s. Perhaps it's the low key vibe, not as many over the top stunts, and the characterizations. I really can't compare Klaus to Adolfo. They're so radically different interpretations. To me it's like comparing Sanchez to Scaramanga. I love them both.
I can understand where you're coming from, but what Basinger lacks in acting talent, she makes up for with credibility and innocence. Certainly agree on Bernie Casey as Felix. Amazing that he's the only time they've got the character close to being that of the novels.
I do like Carrera very much as Blush, and think that Famke's Onatopp was inspired by her characterization. Similarly, I've always felt that Almaric's Green was inspired to a degree by Brandauer's Largo. They both seem insecure (particularly about their women), appear to have a Napoleon complex, and are unhinged with a short temper. Small but dangerous.
I've never been a fan of Basinger's Domino however, and much prefer Auger's interpretation. I felt she brought a similar blonde silliness to her Vicki Vale in Batman (1989). I agree that she is a bit of a throwback to earlier films though, especially in comparison to what EON was dishing up at that point (Octopussy, Holy, Anya etc. who were more liberated and modern).
Your great support for NSNA makes me want to take another look at this film as well, which I'll try to do in the next few days!
The fight at Schrublands with Lippe is reminiscent of the Oddjob scene without being an obvious homage a'la Tamahori and Mendes.
The scene with the bouncer is pure Connery. The film hits the spot when you're in the mood for it. Granted the 3rd act is pretty "meh", but that's becoming the new standard these days, so NSNA fits right in.