August 27, 2018

The Bond movies ranked.

The Guardian ranked the Bond films lately in a list that, quite frankly, sucked. It included the two dreadful non canon movies, 1967's Casino Royale and the Thunderball remake, Never Say Never Again which are two films that don't belong anywhere near a Bond list. Plus it ranked Spectre highly and didn't have the godawful Diamonds Are Forever where it belonged ie the bottom of the list. And that just won't do.

Ranked from worst to best of course.

Diamonds Are Forever




Dreadful. Shameful. A lot of early Bonds have aged badly but this one is septic. And i wont even mention Connery's hair.


View To A Kill




The film where a blimp sneaks up on a woman. A blimp!! It has a good ending and Walken was a fine bad guy but this one just sucks and Moore is WAY too old for Bond.


Spectre



Literally the only good scene in this film
A massive disappointment. Tried for a mix of Craig grittiness and Moore silliness and failed at both. Plus it's boring as fuck.

Moonraker




A fun first half is ruined by a truly brutal second half that tries to be Star Wars and dies on it's arse in doing so. Plus a pigeon does a double take at one stage. Oh no.


Die Another Day




One of the best opening segments of any Bond film. The rest though, nahhhh. Not even Halle Berry can save this one. Plus the CGI. Oh jesus the CGI. 


Thunderball




A boring Bond film. One thing Bond should never be is boring and a good underwater battle scene aside this is snoozeville.


Quantum Of Solace




An interesting failure. The baddie sucks and director Marc Forster's attempt to go arty is an oh dear god no moment but there's some very cool action stuff.


The Man With The Golden Gun




The attempt to jump on the early 70's chop socky bandwagon is embarrassing but Christopher Lee's Scaramanga is a class baddie and the more surreal moments are cool.


The World Is Not Enough




The first female main baddie of the series played by Sophie Marceau is a damp squib but there's lot of fun to be had here. Plus Q's final appearance is a lovely moment.


Dr No




The first film is fun but it's too dull in places and the best guy is pretty shitty. But Honey Ryder and Bond's viciousness save it. Plus it has a dragon. Sort of.


On Her Majesty's Secret Service




An intriguing film that doesn't really feel like Bond at all. Definitely the most romantic of the series and some great ski action & that famous song help cover for Lazenby's shabbiness.


Tomorrow Never Dies





A shite bad guy but a deadly Bond film. Michelle Yeoh is a truly excellent sidekick and Brosnan has settled perfectly into the role.

Skyfall




M finally gets in on the action. A super baddie. A bit of Bond backstory. Injokes by the tonne and a Scottish shootout up there with the best in the series.


For Your Eyes Only




Moore's most grounded Bond film. The bookends are cringeworthy but the stuff in between is class especially the mountain based climax.


Octopussy




The most entertaining opening segment of them all. That blazingly silly chase through the market place. Mishka & Grishka. Tarzan roar. Clown faced nuclear prevention. 2 hrs of fun.


The Living Daylights




The Dalton debut is a bit too serious in parts but exploding milk bottles, Jeroen KrabbĂ© and a deadly Afghanistan set ending kick it high up the list. Fantastic tune too.


From Russia With Love




The film where Bond started to take form. Cool gadgets, globe hopping action, vicious henchmen & women and the best fight scene in the series.


Goldeneye




Brosnan's debut rocks. That opening jump. Xenia Onatopp. A perfect blend of action and humour and that tank chase.


Casino Royale




An amazing reboot. Brilliant action, Eva Green, a killer song and Craig in blistering form on his 007 debut.


Live And Let Die




The only Bond film to imho, successfully jump on a bandwagon, here doing it with Blaxploitation. The opening scene in New Orleans is a top 3 fave Bond moment and Moore makes a great start.


Goldfinger




The quintessential Bond movie. The gadgets, the best double entendre in the series, the best henchman of all and a gold plated Jill Masterson.


Licence To Kill




The moment grit replaced campiness. A vicious film with a wicked Timothy Dalton on fire as Bond. Plus a cracking bad guy and the best Bond theme of all of them.


You Only Live Twice




The best Connery film. Nails the music, the action, the exotic locales and the ending which is an action extravaganza. Plus little Nelly is awesome.


The Spy Who Loves Me




The perfect Bond movie. Moore at his sauvest. A Bond woman who rocks. A baddie with a brilliantly outlandish scheme. Jaws.
Plus a submarine car. What's not to love.




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