Tell us all about your BONDATHON

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  • eddychaputeddychaput Montreal, Canada
    Posts: 364
    My Bondathon had to go on hiatus for a couple of weeks. Life and whatnot got in the way. I did however finally get around to revisiting OHMSS for the first time in a few years. I was a little hesitant this time around. I've always loved the film very much, but in recent years I had read some articles and listened to some podcasts that poo-pooed the movie quite a bit. I therefore couldn't help but feel somewhat trepidatious, as if a discernible fear gripped me that maybe I wouldn't love it as much this time around.

    Well, that didn't happen. Below is the tiny review I posted on my Letterboxd page.

    ''The movie isn't perfect despite the five star mark I gave it. Some of the editing is a bit choppy and George Lazenby doesn't pull off all of his scenes with the panache one would hope for, but I can't help what I feel for this film. Lazenby is, I honestly believe, a solid Bond all things considered. Diana Rigg is scintillating as Tracy. Smart, brave, witty, sexy, a woman of action…who else could James Bond possibly fall in love with and marry? No one, I say. Heck, I'd marry her in a heartbeat.

    The cinematography is outstanding. This is probably my favourite looking Bond film and one of my favourite looking films ever. They really knock this one out of the park. Also, despite my love for Donald Pleasance, OHMSS actually feature my favourite Blofeld in Telly Savalas.

    Plus, the grandaddy of all the Bond ski chases! This one is fantastic. Oh, and that John Barry score. The main theme gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it.

    What can I say. I recognize some of its flaws, but by god I love this movie anyways.''

    So there you have it. OHMSS is still firmly one of my favourite Bonds.

    1-FRWL
    2-OHMSS
    3-GF
    4-TB
    5-DN
    6-YOLT (of the six, this is the one that I do enjoy but lags behind the top five by a bit of a margin)
  • eddychaputeddychaput Montreal, Canada
    Posts: 364
    Christopher Walken is probably the best actor we've had to play a Bond villain. I was half watching the first half of AVTAK that happened to be on ITV4 yesterday, and once again, his performance just really stands out: his little idiosyncrasies and his unnerving persona, coupled with great dialogue- truly one of the greatest Bond villains, and my own personal favourite.

    I agree that he is a heck of an actor to play a Bond villain. I just find that he's a bright spot in a sea of crap. I'm really not a fan of AVTAK. Then again, who knows what'll happen when I get to it in my own Bondathon.
  • eddychaputeddychaput Montreal, Canada
    Posts: 364
    Birdleson wrote: »
    @eddychaput , was it the Bondcast that was putting down OHMSS?

    Yes, that was definitely one of the reviews that didn't take kindly to the film all that much. I think they released that episode recently, too. I recall them giving the film some credit, but overall remaining unconvinced that the movie is all that good.

    For the life of me I can't recall the other podcast I listened to that took a huge dump all over the movie. If it comes back to me I'll let you know.
  • eddychaputeddychaput Montreal, Canada
    edited August 2015 Posts: 364
    Birdleson wrote: »
    The Englishman said it was his favorite. It was one of the the American who wasn't so kind, but by the end he was coming around.

    Sorry, it was Her Majesty's Secret Podcast. Bitter irony, having a name like that.
  • SzonanaSzonana Mexico
    Posts: 1,130
    I had my first one early this year to see all the Bond movies i never watched before and im planning to make another one in october before the release of Spectre but this timr in its prober order since my first one i went in a terrible order just so i could get to all the Bond actors as soon as Possible
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,129
    Continued the Bondathon based on keeping up with the Then and Now thread.
    Recently watched OHMSS and DAF. Two films that I generally find to be polar opposites of each other, and whilst DAF has often been a low ranking film for several years, I did enjoy it a lot more, and really quite enjoyed it. A mediocre entry, but not quite as bad as I thought. Majesty's is still near perfect, just a few nuances that let it slip a little.


    Rankings so far...

    1. From Russia With Love - Near perfect film
    2. On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Still a classic, very close to being perfect film
    2. Doctor No - A stunning debut for OO7.
    3. Thunderball - Visually beautiful, and Connery was COOL.
    4. Goldfinger - Re-found my appreciation for this classic
    5. You Only Live Twice - A new found enjoyment for this OTT film. Better than I thought.
    6. Diamonds Are Forever - Much better than I thought, though a little to all over the place to rank higher at present.

  • edited August 2015 Posts: 11,189
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Seeing it in the theater was exhilarating. More than just about any other film I've seen.

    That's how I felt when I first saw Skyfall. For me the best "first" time seeing a new Bond film.
  • edited August 2015 Posts: 11,189
    Birdleson wrote: »
    I've built up such a negative impression of the character of Jinx over the years that I start getting upset the moment she comes on screen. She just messed up a, as yet, fine James Bond film.

    For me Halle Berry is a good contender for worst performance in the series. Her constant head tilting, smirks and bad lines really grate on me. Other performances like Toby Stephens are entertaining because they are intentionally OTT. Halle seems to think her character is genuinely equal to Bond.
  • royale65royale65 Caustic misanthrope reporting for duty.
    Posts: 4,423
    You've hit the nail on the head there Bain

    All together now - "psychedelic light mask!!!"
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    For me Halle Berry is a good contender for worst performance in the series (including Peter Sellers in CR 67).
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    edited August 2015 Posts: 5,080
    Moonraker

    One of my least favourable viewings of this film to date, the problem with MOONRAKER is that you can take out a lot of the crap and you've got a solid Bond film (unlike DIE ANOTHER DAY, for example, where you can keep hacking away at the film, and you're still left with an abomination)- but for some reason, they decided to laden the film with some of the most cringeworthy scenes in the franchise. It's Jaws and his girlfriend that does the film the most harm, I think- apart from the fact that there is absolutely no reason for Jaws to be in this film, it's rubbish like him and Dolly drinking champagne in the space station that frustrates me most.

    Anyway, I could go on for a while which scenes I dislike, so it's easier to talk about the scenes that I do like amongst other elements of the film (and I mean, when the films good, it is very good):

    -In one of my least favourite films of the series, you have one of the best individual scenes in the series- Drax's beaucerons chasing Corinne Dufour through the woods, accompanied by a stunning Barry score. I love the transition of this scene to the bells ringing in Venice- a very nice touch.
    -The centrifuge scene- very tense and followed by a great performance by Moore.
    -The PTS- thrilling and thoroughly entertaining (somewhat marred by Jaws' appearance, but I'm still left in awe at the great stunt work)
    -The scenes in space and the space shuttle rendezvous, as well as the marvellous space station set by Ken Adams (bar the laser battle...)
    -The death of the scientists in Drax's laboratory- a dark moment in an otherwise light film
    -The score (one of Barry's best)
    -The cinematography- the best looking film since OHMSS, perhaps on par.
    -The scene where the woman leads Bond inside the pyramid, and all of Drax's women appear and look on mysteriously
    -The fight with Chang in the Venitian glass museum (until the scene gets to the floor above)
    -The first half of the boat chase in the Amazon
    -The shooting scene and Bond's subsequent quip, "did I?"
    -The Minister of Defence apologising to Hugo Drax, a rather amusing scene

    Really, the good scenes make for a good portion of the film now I think about it.

    Hugo Drax isn't anything special as this films villain, but he does have some great dialogue.
    Holly Goodhead is serviceable, but not particularly interesting. Lois Chiles reminds me of Carrie Fisher.

    Moore is on form, a little "smiley smiley" in some scenes, but I don't think that can be helped with everything going on around him.

    My least favourite film so far, but I've still got one or two films to come that I think are far worse than Moonraker.

    Next up: one of my favourite films of the series, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

    Mayday's Bondathon Summer 2015: The run-up to SPECTRE

    -ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (1969)
    -THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977)
    -FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963)
    -GOLDFINGER (1964)
    -LIVE AND LET DIE (1973)
    -DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971)
    -THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1974)
    -THUNDERBALL (1965)
    -YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967)
    -DR. NO (1962)
    -MOONRAKER (1979)


  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,959
    The Living Daylights

    Dalton's first performance as Bond is a good one - not great, but not bad. A lot of his one liners, especially his first 'Bond, James Bond.' in the PTS, feel a bit forced and awkward to me. But, he nails the action and urbane look, which is good enough for me. Some scenes in this are great, and others tend to drag. As for the villains/henchmen, I find Necros to be very intimidating, but the rest are rather dull. I was real put off by Whitaker this time around, there's something childish about him that I don't care for, and not in the way you're supposed to hate a villain. So again, good movie, but not great.

    2015 Bondathon Ranking:
    1.) FYEO
    2.) DN
    3.) LALD
    4.) FRWL
    5.) TSWLM
    6.) OP
    7.) OHMSS
    8.) TB
    9.) AVTAK
    10.) TLD
    11.) GF
    12.) DAF
    13.) YOLT
    14.) TMWTGG
    15.) MR
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,351
    James Bond is Back. After the mind altering Die Another Day, four years would pass before we'd see Bond again in his Fleming roots. with Casino Royale. As a naive young 15 year old, I was skeptical of this film because I love Pierce Brosnan as Bond and couldn't comprehend him being recast, I was at the dentist when I found out Daniel Craig would be playing James Bond in Casino Royale. The original picture they showed of him didn't impress me, I was disappointed in a way, and I was also skeptical because Casino Royale also shared the name of the 1967 spoof film which also made me weary. in summer of 2005 I read the original Fleming Novel and enjoyed it. This was a style of Bond I wasn't familiar with. When I saw the trailer, my appetite was whetted. Perhaps this Craig fellow can pull it off. And in the fall of 2006, My mind was blown. After the pretitle sequence I knew Craig was great and perfect for the role. I loved this film and I still love it today. It's a classic Bond film and a perfect Bond thriller. A modern From Russia With Love. It has the glitz, the glamor, the color and the grit of Bond. All the ingredients. It also helps that Martin Campbell directed this picture. All in all, this is a great Bond film to start with and I'm looking forward to continuing Craig's tenure as Bond. Keep the British end up good fellow.



    MURDOCK'S BONDATHON RANKING.
    GoldenEye.
    For Your Eyes Only.
    The Spy Who Loved Me.
    On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
    Casino Royale.
    The World is Not Enough.
    Thunderball.
    Dr. No.
    Live and Let Die.
    From Russia With Love.
    Tomorrow Never Dies.
    Licence To Kill.
    Moonraker.
    Octopussy.
    Goldfinger.
    Diamonds Are Forever.
    Die Another Day.
    The Living Daylights.
    A View To A Kill.
    The Man With The Golden Gun.
    You Only Live Twice.
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    For Your Eyes Only

    Gosh, what a difference coming off the back of MOONRAKER.

    This film is so very close to becoming my absolute favourite, but just prevented from being so because of a few moments in FYEO that are bit jarring. OHMSS is still sat safe and sound in it's throne.

    But I love almost everything about this film- the "back to basics" plot, Moore's fantastic performance that shows he is more than just a charming chap, Carole Bouquet as one of my favourite Bond girls (Bonds equal, but not to the extent where it is thrown in your face a la Jinx and Wai Lin), the villains (this film didn't need a high and mighty villain, so Kristatos makes for a cunning adversary to Bond- I like the moment where he says "oh, leave him!" when his henchman is getting savaged by a shark), the score (I'll discuss this a bit more below), the locations (Cortina is a nice return to the skiing scene), the action is some of the best in the franchise (the ski chase, car chase, climbing scene, keelhauling scene) and Columbo is one the very best of Bond's allies (his on screen chemistry with Moore's Bond is great to watch).

    Well, what stops the film from unseating OHMSS for top spot?

    Bibi, although I can't help but smile when she's turned down by Bond and gets slapped (twice) in the climax.

    In regards to the score, I can't imagine FYEO without Conti's contribution. Of course, it has dated since the films release in 1981, but I don't think this should be held against the film (one of the reasons I stopped short of calling DR. NO's score dated and horrible). Even then, one can still enjoy it, as it's a matter of taste. For my two cents, this is one of the most enjoyable and fun scores of the series- Barry is a genius and no one will ever match him, but Conti still brings his own sound to the Bond series and for a one time contribution, I'm happy that he did score the film. Some of the tracks that I think are particularly good; "A Drive in the Country" (incorporating a fantastic rendition of the Bond theme), "Runaway" (elevates the already brilliant ski chase), "Submarine", the lovely instrumental version of "For Your Eyes Only", "Flowers for Teresa" and "Ski...Shoot...Jump". Also, let's not forget one of the very best gunbarrels, too. Christopher Walken will be happy to hear that it makes good use of cowbells.

    A bloody fantastic Bond film, and, deservedly, currently in second position.

    Next up: yet another favourite, OCTOPUSSY



    Mayday's Bondathon Summer 2015: The run-up to SPECTRE

    -ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (1969)
    -FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (1981)
    -THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977)
    -FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963)
    -GOLDFINGER (1964)
    -LIVE AND LET DIE (1973)
    -DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971)
    -THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1974)
    -THUNDERBALL (1965)
    -YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967)
    -DR. NO (1962)
    -MOONRAKER (1979)
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    The Living Daylights

    Dalton's first performance as Bond is a good one - not great, but not bad. A lot of his one liners, especially his first 'Bond, James Bond.' in the PTS, feel a bit forced and awkward to me. But, he nails the action and urbane look, which is good enough for me. Some scenes in this are great, and others tend to drag. As for the villains/henchmen, I find Necros to be very intimidating, but the rest are rather dull. I was real put off by Whitaker this time around, there's something childish about him that I don't care for, and not in the way you're supposed to hate a villain. So again, good movie, but not great.

    2015 Bondathon Ranking:
    1.) FYEO
    2.) DN
    3.) LALD
    4.) FRWL
    5.) TSWLM
    6.) OP
    7.) OHMSS
    8.) TB
    9.) AVTAK
    10.) TLD
    11.) GF
    12.) DAF
    13.) YOLT
    14.) TMWTGG
    15.) MR

    I know it won t last, but feels good to see FYEO on top so far.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,959
    @Thunderfinger, the only two that'll trump it will be GE (obviously) and CR, and maybe QoS, because of how obsessed I am with it. I've always loved FYEO but when I watched it the other night, I couldn't get over how perfect it was in my eyes. I don't care for Bibi that much, but it's a small complaint in a movie sparkling with entertainment and fun.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    Stop the press! (or not :P )

    I'm about to enter the Craig-era with my Bondathon!

    Casino Royale
    Quantum Of Solace
    Skyfall
    (as if the correct order was not clear... :-j )

    Within some months I've watched 21 Bond movies so far in chronological order. NSNA included. And all of the marvelous documentaries on the Blu Rays. Takes some time I tell you.

    It will be the first time that I watch all 3 Craig movies on Blu Ray within a few days.
    I've seen CR the most as it is my No 4 Bond movie and I consider it near perfect.
    But QOS and especially Skyfall I haven't seen that much. Skyfall two times at the cinema and once after the Blu Ray was released.

    I'm pretty sure, my view on QOS and Skyfall will change, maybe just a little maybe more.
    I have read soooo much about those movies and Bond movies in general during the last couple of weeks on this site. So my horizon has been broaden I think (hope).

    As you do in this thread I will contribute my feelings and thoughts about the Craig movies once I've seen them:)
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,959
    Licence To Kill

    Dalton's second outing is much more impressive to me. Right off the bat, we're given a hard-driven revenge angle for Bond (and Dalton plays it quite nicely), and after that, it's a cat-and-mouse game with a druglord. Simple stuff, I think that's what makes this work so well (also given that it fits the 80's oh so well, a time of 'Miami Vice.') Davi and a young Benicio del Toro make a wonderful pairing, and both Bond girls are beautiful sights to see throughout. It all leads up to one explosive finale that I still feel is one of my favorites.

    EDIT: Switched around AVTAK and TB.

    2015 Bondathon Ranking:
    1.) FYEO
    2.) DN
    3.) LALD
    4.) FRWL
    5.) TSWLM
    6.) OP
    7.) OHMSS
    8.) LTK
    9.) AVTAK
    10.) TB
    11.) TLD
    12.) GF
    13.) DAF
    14.) YOLT
    15.) TMWTGG
    16.) MR
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,959
    @Birdleson, I don't like the pouty side of her, but other than that, I didn't mind her.

    Just broke open my new GE steelbook. Here we go...
  • Posts: 12,462
    I've always been more drawn to LTK than TLD; seems like opinions are pretty split on which was Dalton's better outing. Not only do I have more nostalgic memories of LTK, but I also just preferred the darker, revenge-driven plot that gave the series a more fresh entry.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,789
    FoxRox wrote: »
    seems like opinions are pretty split on which was Dalton's better outing.
    For me they are SO close... my favourite is invariably which one I most recently viewed.
    :))
  • eddychaputeddychaput Montreal, Canada
    Posts: 364
    Murdock wrote: »
    As a naive young 15 year old, I was skeptical of this film because I love Pierce Brosnan as Bond and couldn't comprehend him being recast, I was at the dentist when I found out Daniel Craig would be playing James Bond in Casino Royale. The original picture they showed of him didn't impress me, I was disappointed in a way,

    Till this day I wrack my head at how so many of us were weary about Craig being hired as Bond. I'm including myself in that bunch too, mind you. In hindsight it's like 'Of course he can be Bond. Just look at his other performances!' Back in the day though we were so off.

    The casting of Craig in the role has taught me a lesson I will keep in mind until the day I die. I'm still pretty young so I guess I'll witness a fair amount of other actors don the tux. With that in mind:

    Whoever the heck the producers cast, I'll keep an open mind and wait for that actor's first film to actually come out.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Also, @Birdleson, they are tied together by Fleming s posthumous OCTOPUSSY AND THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    edited August 2015 Posts: 5,080
    Octopussy

    Another wonderful entry to the Bond canon. Octopussy is a melange of a great ensemble of villains (Kamal Khan is brilliantly portrayed by the late Louis Jourdan, Berkoff as General Orlov is oh so entertaining to watch and he goes out with a great line in "tomorrow, I will be the hero of the Soviet Union", and Kabir Bedi is great as the threatening Gobinda), a fantastic Bond girl in Octopussy (Adams has great chemistry with Moore- as with Blackman and Connery, I see Adams as the perfect match for Moore), impressive action sequences (the PTS, the entire segment in Germany, the three finales including the plane stunt) and most importantly, an absolute cracker of a plot. It also contains snippets of a Cold War thriller, which adds a nice juxtaposition to the proceedings. The film is let down somewhat in the first half with some ridiculous scenes which we all know about by now, and the pace is a little slow, but the first half of the film also contains some classic scenes- the auction at Sotheby's, the Backgammon game with Kamal, the twins chase 009 through the woods...

    Another effortless performance by Moore, perhaps my favourite of his after his two exemplary performances in TSWLM and FYEO. Some highlights of his performance include him winning the backgammon game (I love the fact that he doesn't even look down when he rolls the double six- great stuff), his confrontation with Orlov in the train carriage and him diffusing the bomb whilst in a clown costume (this brings me to the last twenty minutes or so of the film, which I want to focus on).

    The climax in the circus, as well as the preceding scenes on the train and Bond's killing of the other knife throwing twin ("and that's for 009!" is also another great MooreBond moment), is perhaps my favourite segment in a Bond film. The tension when Bond exclaims that "there's a bomb in there!" as he gets pulled back only for Octopussy to shoot open the crate to reveal the bomb to gasps by the audience, is truly palpable. John Glen does a fantastic job here. It's accompanied by Barry's score too, which further elevates the tension.

    The film looks gorgeous, probably due the palette being a kaleidoscope of colours, particularly the scenes in India. It's very pleasing to the eye. Love the score, too, perhaps one of Barry's most underrated.

    If Live and Let Die is Moore's Dr No, For Your Eyes Only is Moore's From Russia With Love, then I think Octopussy is Moore's Goldfinger (there are some similarities, such as him outwitting the film's villain at a game (gin and backgammon), Bond seducing a morally dubious woman, both of which have very similar names (Pussy in the barn, and Octopussy when she lambasts Bond for judging her because of her smuggling activities and so he kisses her passionately, with a bit of restraint, I might add), the smuggling subplots, the henchman crushing something in his hand (a golfball and die, respectively), the finale takes place on an aeroplane and the use of a bomb for the villain's scheme, both of which are supplied by a foreign entity.

    Now where to rank it. I think some of the silly scenes in India drag the film down a little, so it doesn't quite make it into the prestigious top 5.

    Mayday's Bondathon Summer 2015: The run-up to SPECTRE

    -ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (1969)
    -FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (1981)
    -THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977)
    -FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963)
    -GOLDFINGER (1964)
    -OCTOPUSSY (1983)
    -LIVE AND LET DIE (1973)
    -DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971)
    -THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1974)
    -THUNDERBALL (1965)
    -YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967)
    -DR. NO (1962)
    -MOONRAKER (1979)
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    MayDay, Moore himself has said Maud Adams was his own favourite female lead.
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    MayDay, Moore himself has said Maud Adams was his own favourite female lead.

    He has impeccable taste!
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    MayDay, Moore himself has said Maud Adams was his own favourite female lead.

    He has impeccable taste!

    Mostly. He wanted John McEnroe to succeed him as Bond at one point.
  • w2bondw2bond is indeed a very rare breed
    edited August 2015 Posts: 2,252
    Octopussy
    The film looks gorgeous, probably due the palette being a kaleidoscope of colours, particularly the scenes in India. It's very pleasing to the eye. Love the score, too, perhaps one of Barry's most underrated.

    The only bit where I disagree, but I love this movie (6th atm), gorilla suit and all

    I've only watched up to YOLT in my Bondathon...that's a film that looks and sounds wonderful, good enough to elevate it from bottom spot. But OP is better in every other way
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    Those scenes in India are so colourful and vibrant, as well as the pink and gold colour pallete of Octopussy's floating palace. I love the warm reds of the circus, the harsh red that we see in the rotating Soviet meeting room. There's something just so warm about the film that really appeals to me. Of course, it's not on the same level as the early Connery films, or indeed the Craig films, but it's vibrancy is certainly aesthetically pleasing.
  • edited August 2015 Posts: 11,189
    MayDay, Moore himself has said Maud Adams was his own favourite female lead.

    He has impeccable taste!

    Mostly. He wanted John McEnroe to succeed him as Bond at one point.

    And his FAVOURITE Bond film out the ones he didn't do is apparently DAF.

    I can understand people enjoy and like the film but favourite?
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