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I might nominate Luciana Paluzzi's turn as Fiona in Thunderball though; as Peter mentions with regard to Marlohe, perhaps not underrated around these parts, but I'm not sure she gets the wider recognition for a pretty scene-stealing turn, certainly way more engaging and charismatic than the actual main villains of the film and easily holds her own against Connery, and if it were down to me I'd have replaced Largo with her.
I think all of the female actors in the Craig films were incredibly strong, not a duff performance in there.
Not to derail the discussion, but Fiona is, afak (but I'm biased) often rightfully seen as the hotter than a rockets' exhaust after launch, and that has a lot to do with her chemistry with Connery. I love the fact that she commands Largo, whom himself is quite threatening and imposing. I think the mixture of Largo, Claudine and FIona is what made the Thunderball phenomenon in the first place. The film has even more going for it, from story to locales, and to my mind is about the ultimate Bond-film. So no dropping Largo, and definately loads of praise to Fiona (and Claudine), but nothing underrated there.
So, Olga gets the prize I think. She's definately giving an ambsolute stellar performance, giving more background to the character with (comparitively) very few words.
did you watch Hitman? She stole the movie.
Not if you count elektra a bondgirl
Lupe Lamora too at the back.
Kurylenko and Marlohe are almost like the same character. Exotic women who have been scarred by the villains, though one ends up better than the other. Andress became an icon and symbol of the series after she rose out of the sea in that bikini so I'm not sure she was underrated.
I'd actually say Lenya is a bit overrated: kind of hammy, going a bit OTT on the "scary bitch" side, and equally so on the "I'm terribly frightened" side.
The Bondie for best female performance is Olga Kurylenko as Camille in Quantum of Solace.
Time to kick the shins with a Klebbie. Over the years the Bond films have featured romance and love. There have been wonderful pairings that have clicked and allowed the audience to believe Bond had feelings for his female lead. But there have been times when the chemistry between the leads is just...off. Lets look at the worst screen combo.
The nominees are:
There you have it a list of 5 nominees for worst screen combo. Which one do you think deserves the Klebbie? Which screen combo should be awarded to the worst on-screen pairing of actors in a film?
Feel free to write in your own vote, keep it to the main, or secondary female lead when writing in your own vote.
I never bought the story. Teri's just terrible. Lea and Dan make up for it in the enxt film, Lazenby and Diana works fine for me, as do Carole and Roger. Tanya nad Roger perhaps less so, but at least the story sort of makes sense.
I also think Lazenby and Rigg do not belong on that list, I find their chemistry pretty excellent despite all the rumors about their off screen relationship.
I’d replace them with Connery and Hama.
Lea/Daniel is not great in SP but they redeemed themselves in NTTD.
Hatcher and Brosnan have I-hate-you, undeniable sexual chemistry.
I kind of buy Tanya Roberts and Moore...she reads a bit more worldly than most (minus the cringe-inducing tuck-you-into-bed scene).
Rigg has chemistry with everyone...I half-expected her to get it on with Blofeld as well.
I would add Mie Hama and Connery to this list. Zero.
+1
The fact is, Hatcher and Brossa didn't get on, I believe she was pregnant, and suffering from morning sickness, and was constantly late to the shooting, thus annoying Brosnan. Despite this, the writing didnt help. After Paris death, a few minutes later Bond is smiling and enjoying his ride in his remote control car ". ...did I get too close?"
"Yes!"
Yeh, right!
I also agree with @R1s1ngs0n , Lazenby and Rigg most certainly do not belong in this list!
I would add Brossa and Wai Lin from TND, or in fact Brossa with any of his leading ladies 😁
I'll go with Bouquet & Moore. They didn't need to have romantic chemistry for most of the film. They were two strangers working together to achieve a similar goal. At the end, the two of them getting together was both inevitable and jarring because there was no clear build-up to it. Maybe if they kissed on the mountain top, that could've been a great moment to watch and transition nicely.
I'm fine with the other pairings listed.
Might not be fair due to the language barrier, but at the same time I think Akiko Wakabayashi and Sean have wonderful chemistry and Aki is among my favorite Bond girls. I enjoy Mie in King Kong vs Godzilla, but the ability for me to believe the marriage set up and compatibility is really compromised by their lack of chemistry.
Edit: @MooseWithFleas makes a compelling case so I'd actually like to support his write in of Sean and Mie with my vote instead.
In terms of Connery and Mie I was tempted to put them on the list. However the script doesn't really give them much to do in terms of romantic scenes. Bond to me comes off as a horn dog here and while it's a product of its time, the formula of Bond must bed three women is painfully obvious here. However I can accept this being a good write in choice.
I think I put Rigg and Laz on the list because of Laz and his rather wooden acting. I don't really buy that he's fallen deeply, madly in love. Maybe the script does him dirty by having him bed the Angels while he's apparently in love with Tracy. However the scenes with Laz and Rigg to me lack a chemistry.
Disagree entirely with that last line! The scene in the barn where he proposes to Tracy I thought Lazenby was very convincing! Despite his lack of acting skills, I think George did quite well as Bond!
yep, that was my reading as well. He's keeping a distance from her at the start, hence easily bedding the angels. he said he might be interested if she first got herself back on track. When they meet at the ice rink, he's definately falling for her. tbh I find it one of the most convincing love stories in a Bond film, probably the best. Lazenby is described as wooden, but I don't think that's entirely fair. OK, he sometimes seems slightly lost, but that's his lack of experience. Diana's definately guiding him in their scenes together. And I think she raises his game considerably. I think their 'hampered relationship' off screen is way overblown. He was probably just messing about a bit, which Diana probably didn't like, considering her professionalism. Still, I think Lazenby did a good job, beeing the novice he was.
The problem with these things is that we put our own norms on the characters we love, but Bond isn't as pius as many would want him to be. Lazenby's reading I think is close to him personally, but also corresponds to the Bond from the books if you ask me. The wish of settling down is constantly hampered by the excitement of his life, and the fact that he lives in the moment (as, btw, did Lazenby himself).
Then Bond saves her, and they have a screaming match.
I do like what starts to happen at L'American; threats, but a thawing, and then, all of that gets tossed out the window after the Hinx fight where they're magically head over heels and in love.
The return of Swann in NTTD wasn't something I was looking forward to (and thankfully they knocked my socks off.
So I will vote for Craig and Seydoux in SP.
What makes it worse is the relationship between them was meant to be paternal, yet made it romantic in the end, the age gap doesn't help.
Yes, the end feels forced and it somehow even works worse than in AVTAK.
Lazenby and Rigg I'd even say have superb chemistry. I put them with Craig/Green and Dalton/d'Abo amongst the very best in the series.
Also think Léa is underrated, loved her in SP, and she was one of the few things that kept NTTD watchable for me.
I'd write in Yeoh and Brosnan. Probably the worst on-screen couple in terms of chemistry in the entire series.
+1
I’d actually say that Brosnan and Hatcher are fine too, at least if you keep in mind they share a complicated history. They lean into the idea of being a bit awkward/cold around each other initially. Even Craig and Seydoux aren’t too bad (Swan’s an icy character anyway, and by NTTD they seem believable as a couple).
None of these are bad as such, but I suppose for me it’s Moore and Bouquet. Given the age difference I think Moore leaned into it as more paternal/with more a sense of romance rather than outright sexual attraction. Which is actually the best thing to do under the circumstances and works, but they don’t quite have that spark that the best Bond/Bond girl pairings have.