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Who is your favorite Bond director? (Poll)

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  • Andi1996RueggAndi1996Ruegg Hello. It's me, Evelyn Tremble.
    Posts: 2,005
    Guy Hamilton is my favorite Bond director.

    His work:
    Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, Live And Let Die, The Man With The Golden Gun

    3 of those are in my Top 10, the other in the middle.


    A close second is Gilbert Lewis.

    His work:
    You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker

    2 of those are in my Top 10, the other in the middle.


    I guess third has to be Martin Campbell if I judge by numbers in my ranking.
    Both, GoldenEye and Casino Royale are in my Top 10.

    But actually I feel Terence Young is my number 3. His Dr. No, From Russia With Love and Thunderball are all great and DN and TB are in my Top 10, the other in the middle.

    Peter Hunt of course is responsible for the best Bond film ever. But ranking one film against three or four is difficult.

    For context my Top 10:
    1 On Her Majesty's Secret Service Peter Hunt
    2 Dr. No Terence Young
    3 Casino Royale Martin Campbell
    4 Goldfinger Guy Hamilton
    5 You Only Live Twice Lewis Gilbert
    6 The Spy Who Loved Me Lewis Gilbert
    7 GoldenEye Martin Campbell
    8 Diamonds Are Forever Guy Hamilton
    9 The Man With The Golden Gun Guy Hamilton
    10 Thunderball Terence Young
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited January 2018 Posts: 23,883
    My favourite is not a difficult choice at all, but it's a bit tough to rank them.

    1. Terence Young - two from his trilogy are in my top two and all three are in my top five. He deserves all my respect for putting Fleming's creation on screen and starting the James Bond phenomenon. I truly appreciate the efforts he took to prep Connery and mold him into the smooth, stylish and confident cinematic character.

    2. Martin Campbell - two in my top ten. Both are truly awe inspiring experiences.

    3. Lewis Gilbert - one in my top four and the other two are guilty pleasures. Some of the most iconic and oft imitated moments in the series are from his films. I really appreciate his larger than life style, which I associate with cinematic Bond just as much as I do Young's spy & Hamilton's colourful quirky approaches.

    4. Guy Hamilton - although I don't rank his films very high (only one in the top ten) I really enjoy all of them and like his eccentric loud style. Very charismatic films.

    5. John Glen - a bit pedestrian certainly, but an excellent action director and I really enjoy the plots and pace of all his films. He has my respect for the prolific nature of his output.

    6. Sam Mendes - one of his films is a top ten of mine and truly is an excellent Bond film with superb characterizations. He should have listened to his instincts (rather than Craig) and left after the first. If he had, I would have rated him in the top three.

    7. Peter Hunt - one classic. It all came together beautifully. If he'd have done more, I'd have him higher.

    8. Roger Spottiswoode - handles the action quite well but he should have tried to be a bit more inventive so as not to come across as a poor man's Gilbert.

    9. Marc Forster - I like what he did by making the film brisk and speedy, but I deduct several points for the blatant Bourne Supremacy plot and fight choreography rip offs. It tainted a film that could have been much better.

    10. Lee Tamahori - I thought he did a decent job. The P&W script was a joke.

    11. Michael Apted - oh dear. Not much I like here at all I'm afraid. Not right for Bond in my humble view.
  • Andi1996RueggAndi1996Ruegg Hello. It's me, Evelyn Tremble.
    edited January 2018 Posts: 2,005
    How Sam Mendes can possibly be above Peter Hunt is beyond me @bondjames
    One of the greatest cinematic achievements of the 60s and in Bond anyway compared to SF and SP....ahem...
    ;)
  • ToTheRightToTheRight
    Posts: 16,169
    For me, my Bond director ranking would go like this:

    1. GUY HAMILTON
    2. TERENCE YOUNG
    3. JOHN GLEN
    4. LEWIS GILBERT
    5. PETER HUNT
    6. IRVIN KERSHNER
    7. MARTIN CAMPBELL


    8. ROGER SPOTTISWOODE
    9. MICHAEL APTED




    10. LEE TAMOHORI







    11.SAM MENDES






    12. MARC FORSTER
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    @Andi1996Ruegg , much as I dislike SP immensely, I think Mendes did the best he could with the rubbish script he was given. He crafted a visually impressive film with some decent moments in it. It's sad that some of the performances weren't up to the standards I would have liked and I'm not privy to the behind the scenes troubles, but I think the blame has to be shared on that one (including by the lead). So bottom line is he gave us two entries and one is a great film. That's why I have him above Hunt. Also, a lot of my enjoyment of OHMSS comes from the magnificent score, and that was Barry.
  • JamesBondKenyaJamesBondKenya Danny Boyle laughs to himself
    Posts: 2,730
    ill rank them

    1)John Glen

    2) Terence Young

    3) Martin Campbell

    4) Peter Hunt

    5) Lewis Gilbert

    6) Marc Forster

    7) Guy hamilton

    8)Spottiswoode

    9) Mendes

    10) Apted

    11) tamahori
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Terence Young wins this one. Hands down.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    Don't think I could do a full on ranking (need to revisit the Moore and Brosnan films first) but at the top would be Terence Young, then either Hunt or Campbell. After that, likely Mendes. Tamahori easily at the bottom.
  • FoxRoxFoxRox
    edited January 2018 Posts: 12,473
    My favorites are Terrence Young, Peter Hunt, John Glen, and Martin Campbell. Least favorites are Michael Apted and Lee Tamahori. Some are definitely quite mixed in my book, like Sam Mendes, Lewis Gilbert, and Guy Hamilton.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    If I should rank them

    1 Peter Hunt
    2 Sam Mendes
    3 Terence Young
    4 Marc Forster
    5 Martin Campbell
    6 Guy Hamilton
    7 John Glen
    8 Lewis Gilbert
    9 Irvin Kershner
    10 Roger Spottiswoode
    11 Michael Apted
    12 Lee Tamahori


  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    edited January 2018 Posts: 7,136
    On average ratings, I’d have them in this order:

    Returning directors
    1. Martin Campbell 95%
    2. John Glen 84%
    3. Terence Young 80%
    4. Guy Hamilton 72%
    5. Lewis Gilbert 66%
    6. Sam Mendes 65%

    One-time directors
    1. Peter Hunt 10/10
    2. Michael Apted 8/10
    3. Roger Spottiswoode 7/10
    4. Irvin Kershner/Marc Forster 6/10
    5. Lee Tamahori 5/10
  • 00Agent00Agent Any man who drinks Dom Perignon '52 can't be all bad.
    Posts: 5,185
    Returning directors
    1. Martin Campbell
    2. Terence Young
    3. Guy Hamilton
    4. Sam Mendes (pity he had to return, would be 2nd or even 1st one-timer if he hadn't)
    5. John Glen
    6. Lewis Gilbert

    One-time directors
    1. Peter Hunt
    2. Roger Spottiswoode
    3. Lee Tamahori
    4. Michael Apted
    5. Marc Forster

  • mybudgetbondmybudgetbond The World
    Posts: 189
    Martin Campbell and Terence Young for me. Both men "got" Bond for their time.
  • ForYourEyesOnlyForYourEyesOnly In the untained cradle of the heavens
    Posts: 1,984
    1. Terence Young
    2. Martin Campbell
    3. John Glen
    4. Lewis Gilbert
    5. Peter Hunt
    6. Guy Hamilton
    7. Sam Mendes
    -- Irvin Kershner
    8. Marc Forster
    9. Roger Spottiswoode
    10. Michael Apted
    11. Lee Tamahori
  • bondsumbondsum
    Posts: 3,333
    Without a doubt Terence Young tops my list. Second would go to Peter Hunt, followed by Martin Campbell and Guy Hamilton. The rest I'm not too impressed by, so they can fight it out amongst themselves.
  • Mathis1Mathis1
    Posts: 7,430
    1. Peter Hunt
    2. Terence Young
    3. John Glen
    4. Guy Hamilton
    5. Marc Forster
    6. Martin Campbell
    7. Sam Mendes
    8. Lewis Gilbert
    9. Michael Apted
    10. Irwin Kershner
    11. Roger Spottiswoode
    12. Lee Tamahori
    If we add CR'67 we'd have to add another 5 Directors on!!
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Now, to rate them...

    1. Terence Young
    2. Martin Campbell
    3. Lewis Gilbert
    4. Peter Hunt
    5. Roger Spottiswoode
    6. John Glen
    7. Guy Hamilton
    8. Irwin Kershner
    9. Michael Apted
    10. Marc Forster
    11. Lee Tamahori
    12. Sam Mendes
  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 3,197
    Returning directors
    1. John Glen
    2. Terence Young
    3. Guy Hamilton
    4. Martin Campbell
    5. Lewis Gilbert
    6. Sam Mendes

    One-time directors
    1. Peter Hunt
    2. Michael Apted
    3. Roger Spottiswoode
    4. Irvin Kershner/Marc Forster
    5. Lee Tamahori
  • boldfingerboldfinger
    edited January 2018 Posts: 5,767
    Terence Young
    John Glen


    All the others are fine.


    Except for Mendes, who I am averse to.


    Kershner as a Bond director had its pros and cons. Pro: Great film, except for running out of steam near the end, but that was not Kershner´s fault. Brandauer! Con: Emphasis on "Look who´s back".
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    I suspect that if Nolan or Villeneuve eventually gets the job, either of them would make it pretty good on this thread.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,400
    Thunderfinger wrote: »
    I suspect that if Nolan or Villeneuve eventually gets the job, either of them would make it pretty good on this thread.

    Definitely in the case of Nolan. He would make my top 5, I'm sure.

    My ranking:

    1. Martin Campbell
    2. Peter Hunt
    3. Terence Young
    4. John Glen
    5. Guy H
    6. Lewis Gilbert
    7. Micheal Apted
    8. Lee Tamahori
    9. Roger S
    10. Sam Mendes
    11. Mark Forster
  • GamesBond007GamesBond007 Golden Grotto
    Posts: 66
    1. Martin Campbell
    2. Terence Young
    3. Peter Hunt
    4. Michael Apted
    5. Guy Hamilton
    6. Roger Spottiswoode
    7. Sam Mendes
    8. Lewis Gilbert
    9. Lee Tamahori
    10. John Glen
    11. Irvin Kershner
    12. Marc Forster

    Yep, very happy with my ranking. Although I am sure it will likely give some users on here a stroke.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489

    Awright, returning directors:

    1 Sam Mendes
    2 Terence Young
    3 Martin Campbell
    4 Guy Hamilton
    5 John Glen
    6 Lewis Gilbert


    One-off:

    1 Peter Hunt
    2 Marc Forster
    3 Irvin Kershner
    4 Roger Spottiswoode
    5 Michael Apted
    6 Lee Tamahori
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    Not ranking them all just to say, Young and Campbell are tops for me.
  • LFSLFS
    edited July 2020 Posts: 40
    1. Terence YOUNG

    He created the "cinema Bond". Stayed faithful to the books and was the best at capturing the atmosphere of his locations. Incredible style. The most brilliant director the franchise has ever had and will ever have.

    2. John GLEN

    He was overall very consistent yet versatile and delivered the best action scenes in the series.
    Glen knows exactly what a James Bond film - and the character that is Bond - is all about. His movies are endlessly rewatchable; the Dalton films are highlights.

    3. Martin CAMPBELL

    He directed the best outings of two Bond actors - a great accomplishment (with regards to Brosnan's tenure, that's not saying much, though).
    While I will never be the biggest fan of "GoldenEye", "Casino Royale" is a masterpiece.

    4. Guy HAMILTON

    Nobody did "camp" like him! "Goldfinger" is legendary, and I love "Live and Let Die".
    His direction was colorful, loud, and, while admittedly his action scenes fell a little flat and the second halves of his movies are often problematic, nobody made funnier movies than him.

    5. Lewis GILBERT

    He shot the same film three times - two versions are good and earn him the fifth place.
    He knew what Bond has to look like on the big screen, his films had the best cinematography. I don't think he cared much for Fleming's character, though.

    6. Peter HUNT

    I may have put him higher had he done more films... I kind of like "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", like many former editors he was great with action scenes.
    I'm not sure if he handled Lazenby the right way, or if he should have cast him in the first place. Mixed feelings!

    7. Roger SPOTTISWOODE

    "Tomorrow Never Dies" is a generic 90s action movie, and not necessarily among the better ones. It's mostly Bruce Feirstein's script though - Spottiswoode's direction is solid if generic. Very superficial, but good action.

    8. Sam MENDES

    I don't think Mendes knows what a James Bond movie is. Mendes delivers kitchen sink psychoanalysis instead of espionage; his action scenes are terribly dull.
    This kind of drama has no place in a Bond picture; the "Home Alone" ending of "Skyfall" has to be one of the worst in Bond history. "Spectre" is altogether rubbish.
    His films look beautiful on screen, but they exhaust you and get worse with each viewing.

    9. Lee TAMAHORI

    The CGI criminal. Responsible for the most embarrassing, artificial Bond film.

    10. Marc FORSTER

    Hopelessly overstrained with a James Bond film.

    11. Michael APTED

    Hopelessly overstrained with a James Bond film.
  • ToTheRightToTheRight
    Posts: 16,169
    1. Terence Young
    2. Guy Hamilton
    3. John Glen
    4. Peter Hunt
    5. Lewis Gilbert


    6. Martin Campbell
    7. Roger Spottiswoode
    8. Michael Apted




    9. Sam Mendes
    10. Lee Tamahori
    11. Marc Forster
  • ThunderballThunderball playing Chemin de Fer in a casino, downing Vespers
    Posts: 814
    Terence Young(DN, FRWL and TB are in my top 5), Peter Hunt(OHMSS is another in my top 5 favorites), Martin Campbell (GE made me a Bond fan in '95 when I was 16, and CR is yet another one of my top 5).
  • CrzChris4CrzChris4
    Posts: 463
    Returning directors
    1. Terence Young
    2. Martin Campbell
    3. John Glen
    4. Guy Hamilton
    5. Lewis Gilbert
    6. Sam Mendes


    One-time directors
    1. Peter Hunt
    2. Marc Forster
    3. Michael Apted
    4. Roger Spottiswoode
    5. Lee Tamahori
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,183
    Very well then:

    1) Campbell: His 2 Bond films stand out as near perfect entries.
    2) Young: Both DN and FRWL established the ultimate canvas on which the entire series would be painted.
    3) Hunt: Both as an editor and director, Hunt delivered the goods time and again.
    4) Glen: The vastly underrated director IMO; he delivered five consecutive films, made them each very different, worked well with an ageing Moore and a newcomer-in-troubled-times, Timothy Dalton.
    5) Hamilton: Some laughs, some cringes, but ultimately still the driving force behind GF, the film that secured the future of the cinematic Bond as a pop icon.
    6) Mendes: Say what you want, he dragged Bond through these cynical times and got the job done.
    7) Gilbert: Why not do a Bond film on video game logic every once in a while? Gilbert is the one who did it well.
    8) Forster: His style was a bit challenging at first, but I have learned to appreciate the hell out of his work.
    9) Tamahori: This is the one who did the video game thing not so well, except he never allowed boredom into his Bond film, which is good enough to not end in the last spot.
    10) Spottiswoode: I guess he went for straight-forward 90s film grammar.
    11) Apted: Boredom is perhaps the biggest sin in a film, any film!
    12) Half of all directors working in the 1960s: Yes, it's tough to produce cohesion when each guy gets to do a different segment of an already troubled film, but CR67 can be astonishingly pleasant to watch and some of those segments, whether you're stoned or not, work in their own subgenre, un-Bond-ly though it may be.
    13) Kershner: Good lord, had he dropped his mojo in the swamps of Degobah or what?
  • 00Agent00Agent Any man who drinks Dom Perignon '52 can't be all bad.
    edited April 2019 Posts: 5,185
    Birdleson wrote: »
    00Agent wrote: »
    Returning directors
    1. Martin Campbell
    2. Terence Young
    3. Guy Hamilton
    4. Sam Mendes (pity he had to return, would be 2nd or even 1st one-timer if he hadn't)
    5. John Glen
    6. Lewis Gilbert

    One-time directors
    1. Peter Hunt
    2. Roger Spottiswoode
    3. Lee Tamahori
    4. Michael Apted
    5. Marc Forster

    I agree that the one offs need to be segregated or excluded. One film is open to too much chance or timing. It takes some grit to show consistency in these films. Lewis so low!?!

    Oh lol, i never even saw that message @Birdleson too many threads to keep track of.
    As for Lewis being so low, his 3 movies just never did it for me. I can't exactly explain it, i just feel disconnected with most of whats happening on screen when I watch them, the spectacle always seems to be front and centre. YOLT is my least favorite Connery, but i have grown to like TSWLM a lot. MR is overall entertaining all things considered.
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