Last Bond Movie You Watched.

The more you talk about your experience with it reminds me of watching LTK. I watch it and don't feel like watching Bond anymore.

I'll admit I didn't notice the feminist overtones but when I watch Hollywood I know what I am in for and have trained my mind to overlook their agenda's in film as best I can.

As far as the love story goes, it does fill underdeveloped in this one but I almost count that as a positive and I am just filling it in with my mind. I feel like he is madly in love with her, the love of his life...good enough, I don't really want to see it on the screen anyways and get sick of love stories in every single movie.

Better feminist undertones than feminist overtones. And, alas, it appears that's about the best we can hope for these days.

They are so entitled and out of touch with reality with this blame men bs. Are they really so stupid that they don't know most people come in couples? That women tend to have boyfriends, husbands and sons so when they go with 'men suck' you are alienating just about everybody? And to almost demand people go see their movies to prove they aren't sexist or misogynistic...it's just so utterly bizarre and again the entitled attitude. That's Hollywood. They do it with race too.
 If you want to make a purely feminist movie, cool, go for it it but you can't expect that to be a blockbuster or huge seller. That's a niche market like Catherine Breillat films which I really like as I find her a great director and it's something different. Funny thing is I wouldn't have even known who she was if it wasn't for my dad being a fan. I doubt Elizabeth Banks even knows who she is or has ever seen any of her movies.

The feminists have made enemies of women and men. How anybody could think that's a good idea is far beyond me. Madness.

The backlash will really hurt female led action movies in the future which is too bad. I enjoy those movies like Salt and Atomic Blonde but people are now genuinely angry. I am curious how the new Bond will do because in the comment sections under all the trailers I see so many people saying they aren't going to see it. The 'get woke, go broke' thing.

What people say and what they do are often 2 very different things ... election opinion polls vs. the actual election results, for example.

my first film of the decade...

Diamonds Are Forever....forever....ever....ver....er….

It's well established a film I've seen to death thanks to it being my Dad's favourite. Though I have a ton of new DVD's to pile through, somehow felt the urge.

From the off it's best to just let the film take you by the hand and get going. As OHMSS was my last Bond film, there is that nagging mental commentary in the PTS: "Should be Lazenby….should be a revenge flick...should be Hunt..."
Charles Gray though not the best Blofeld is somehow quite delightful. Connery is doing it for the money. M is fucking irritable (does he wish he could have the solid scenes he had with Lazenby? No...but still)…

...and you have a fantastic song. I usually skip the songs (most of these I know too well, so it's a case of let's skip into the action) but this time I left it. To rub it in, let's have the DBS in the background. (if Bond can have the DB5 over to Switzerland in GF, surely the DBS can follow in DAF).

The film is undeniably silly and yet there's something quite enjoyable to it. Had this been Connery's only film (let's say, someone else played Bond 1962-67 and he only does the one in 1971), then it would have been alright. Trouble is, he's already done six films, had someone else replace him and comes back as he does. But for all the silliness...

...the Bond theme as the hovercraft leaves (I went to Dover in 2013, shithole, but purposely went down to the old terminal imagining the theme in my head) then you have the fight in the lift. I love the close proximity, the elbows smashing about, the desperate nature and then Barry's theme (again, if only it was Lazenby...you'd imagine a Hunt film would have rapid cuts, close-ups and no theme).

Always like Bond's "if she gives your men the slip..." at Circus, Circus. Then promptly they both get distracted by the act.

Best actress or not, Jill St. John is not bad. A good looking woman, the hair, the eyes, the curves...if anyone should've gotten their own-spin off, JSJ would have been that. She might not be the Tiffany of the book but she's ballsy (the petrol station scene alone is worth it).

Had Connery done OHMSS, she actually could've made a half-decent Tracy. Imagine at the ice rink: "Say, are you hoping for the ice to freeze...?"

The Bond of old is sort of back, the bra-strangulation, the slapping of Tiffany at the pool...You know sometimes it's like this film can't decide where it should be after OHMSS.

Something about Nevada. It doesn't seem Bond's most exciting locale and yet the yawning desert and the buildings sticking out make you wonder. Imagine Lazenby striding about and imagine.

"I have a friend, Felix, who can fix anything?
-is he married?"

People slate Burton, and yes he's not the best Felix, but there's something quite enjoyable about him. I've always liked 'Fat Felix'. The delivery of some of his lines, the way he acts as if he quite tired of Bond shagging, shooting up anything in sight. Let's be grateful it's in DAF Burton was unleashed and not say, OHMSS or Dr No.

WW is a great character but his intro is a little off: "What has happened to me and what can I do about it?" er, well...let's get going first shall we?
The fired line and Connery's response still makes me chuckle.

And the end it what it is.

Well, not a bad way to spend nearly two hours.

excellent choice sir

watch it back to back with Fear and Loathing

Glad you're back, Sarai. I was afraid you'd fallen into a vat of maple syrup!

haha, thanks buddy good to see you

no maple syrup but ice storms and power outage, net down...the usual

James Bond cars speed ahead as the public's film favourites

https://www.thenational.scot/news/18137212.james-bond-cars-speed-ahead-publics-film-favourites/

Good little write up, Hilly. Connery is absolutely doing it for the money but he's enjoying it, I feel. A step up from YOLT but still far removed from his prime (DN-TB).

And I echo PK's sentiments, Sarai. :)

Out of nowhere, the second Bond film of 2020 is this groovy...

The Spy Who Loved Me

I say Babs, Babs, pay attention. This is sort of how you should do it.

Oh, the PTS...yes you get it all. One of Her Majesty's nuclear subs on the Fritz ("Oh my God!"), a very grave Gogol ("One of OUR subs is missing?" kind of incredulity), a female spy!? (two actresses who aren't Oscar worthy...?), Bond skiing to a disco beat? One of the best stunts in a film? Followed by one of the  most iconic songs in movie history and forever linked with Sir Roger?

Fuck it, it has it and then some.

I used to have TSWLM so far up my rankings it gave some people a nosebleed, it's not the best, it's not the worst and it's time to view it this time round with some levity, hence the wording of this review. That and drink definitely helps. (There are some hints of Tony Hancock coming. Who? Never mind let's press on!)

Like Moonraker you can't quite decide on where the film wants to be. Like films like YOLT and Thunderball or DAF maybe, there is so much ripe for parody (the goons, the girls, the villain, the lines etc) and then it has some very nice touches. I always liked Bond in uniform as it linked him to that Fleming past he gave Bond of course (and was taken liberally along the way), and more-so at Faslane because it's strictly speaking one of our bases (imagine if they got independence, that's one less base!) and there's Bond taking the salute of passing ratings/junior officers and indeed it's a very serious moment with ol' Freddie. After this Sir Frederick seemed to become a miserable old git vexed at his idiot son in law agent running riot everywhere.
But you know, trick missed. When Bond turns up at the naval chat, George Baker could say: "Nice to meet you, Bond, I've a feeling we've met before. Ark Royal?"
Bond replies dubbed by Baker: "Perhaps, tactfully adjusted to favour me of course!"

Then it swerves, there's our villain and there he is sending a blonde to...er, well, din dins for a shark. What's that? Jaws came out in '75, Jaws 2 soon after? Well...er, sure. Now I like Curt Jurgens (Enemy Below for example or even his cameo turn in Battle of Britain) but my life...you tend to forget he's here as the bad guy really. So much goes on around him like the Esprit sequence and then...oh look out...there he is...what's that, Bond shoots him six or seven times? Excessive? But yes, we need him out of the film sharpish.

Anyway, in the here and now. Oh, Bond's in Egypt. I've over-used the treasure line but it's Bond's expression. Had Dalton delivered it, it might work still (a stoic glance, he sort of twinkle to the eye) and Brosnan. Lazenby if he had stayed on with that 7 picture deal, by then he might have thought, blow it, we'll go out with a laugh. One assumes by Bond's Cambridge-related remark (we always knew what you were going to do) that his Sheikh mate (read those two words quick, close I'll ever get to a rap song) that his sheik mate (see?) was wandering the halls at Cambridge with an absolute bevy of attractive or semi-naked women. Lord helps me I did laugh out loud at the treasure line.

Bond in one of the best suits Moore brandished up to this point wanders into what looks like a leftover set from Carry On Up the Khyber and meets sultry lady#3 who immediately is come in hither mood, making me wonder that most chaps in Egypt leave the women to not only housesit but should anyone come-a-knockin' they should instantly hit on them. (Incidentally, Bond's "I find I live longer" line I employ often to many scenarios.)
Classic Bond, a la say PTS in Goldfinger, he sees someone coming or danger and sort of, sort of, uses her as a human shield or maybe she tripped (Austin Powers style, "Oh I fell over!"). Carry On Spy Who Loved Me descends into a punch up that personally could benefit from a Barry/Conti score. As much as Hamlisch was a legend, even his 3 Men and a Baby score had weight, there's simply not enough score. Well, sort of. Now in Bullitt, no score on the car chase so you can hear the engines of the cars. Maybe he felt compelled to leave things unscore so we hear the action. What there is, is sometimes good and sometimes off. Atlantis is a beautiful piece in its way, The Tanker still carries tension (the close-up of faces as the tanker slides overhead is made more tense) but the disco stuff doesn't work entirely now, the Bond theme when Bond is messing with the nuclear warhead (cue Shane Rimmer style: "What!?") seems out of place, it's not quite Bond flinging himself onto something at Carver's factory or running through the caviar place or whatever.

Veers again (the helpful chap line again, I can use in real life), Jaws terrified me as a kid (I saw Moonraker more than TSWLM in those days and seeing those teeth about to bite Bond's ankle or Manuela in the alleyway...sheesh) but that moment in the catacomb is...well, it can be terrifying. Then a sort of fight. The chap doing the cross as he goes, and the diver later...stuntman 101? But another nice Moore line, hope you enjoyed the show.

The club scene has a favourite Moore-Serious moment. It's brief but when he gets sensitive about Tracy. I mean, it's not huge like Dalton in LTK but it's enough. Nice to think that be it Moore or Dalton, it's Bond. And that she isn't forgotten. Life moves on but she's there.
Bach isn't a bad looking woman, not the best actress, but the dress does wonders.

Hmm. Lovely instrumental of the song cross desert then Carry On TSWLM in the fight. A touch anyway. She moves bleedin' fast don't she? (Prior to Bond knocking down the scaffolding). Sorry Babs, look away, perceived sexist remarks coming. The women driver line still chuckles, I mean, by then (and after another loss of accent by Ms Bach), Bond or Moore rather is simply at wind-up point. Play any other tune? Try the big one? Try reverse that's backwards...Had it been Tracy, we would have seen some nice use of the handbrake, weaving, the tongue flicking at the lips, a quick, how do we get out? Reversing at Jaws then around him....and Bond mute in admiration.

Ah...well, Carry on TSWLM with that cursed music as the car sorry van falls to bits. I think we should get that in No Time to Die. Or the CR67 "never fear...James Bond is here!" song. Saved by Bond's remark about comrades and Siberia. Song helps.

And, er, the base in the pyramid. Ah, détente. Not only have SIS found the time to turn the ruins into a base with labs and stuff (Sort of like the bad guys in the Thunderbirds episode, The Uninvited), but they kindly allow Gogol to set up some sort of desk with his own phone lines...Before Mrs T became PM of course.

Then the one-up by Bond followed by M's well done line. What I like, is that Bond doesn't take the whole thing seriously. It's an excuse to wind up his Russian equivalent, hence the smile at her as their mission is. Though even a battle hardened Russian spy is scared shitless by Jaws 4.

Well in short order, Naomi (lovely lines etc), then all manner of goon after goon. Chap on bike, oh wait, Jaws et al, oh...Naomi...oh guys with harpoons and subs...Happens in MR where you get what feels like a constant wave after wave of chaps who are either lining up in a queue to attack or just happen to be about. (Oh for one of the goons to look up on Atlantis when Bond is taking a look. "Blimey, boss, there's a Lotus Esprit up there!"). Somewhat nice moment with Bond and XXX, then you have Bond's smirk as they descend onto the sub...Comes and goes really.

Like Bond's naval attire for the Liparus scenes. Guess our attache in Sardinia (and the Russian one) had a tailor handy. But, wait, yes, it's that man again, the late great Shane Rimmer in his best film role. I don't care how often I mention him, it's Scott Tracy.

Here's where the genius of Derek Meddings et al hits a high note. The long shot of the Liparus approaching the sub looks quite real, how the sub languishes in the swell and up close the models still work. I sometimes wonder the physics etc of such things, the doors opening, scooping the water on/off and at the same time capturing a sub that docks rather well inside. And the sets...incredible really. To have three mostly full-sized mockups of subs (that you can stand atop the conn on), water, the gantries...Sorry, XXX's hair just did the Charlie's Angels flick as her cap is knocked off.
Interesting how the model of the Russian sub is tilting how it comes out of the ship and rightens itself once clear of the overhang. Up zero bubble or whatever I guess.

Oh, look, it's Curt Jurgens. What's that, he's off with the girl providing her with a sexy dress he happens to have? Well, okay then.

Do like how as soon as Stromberg is off, Bond breaks free. Bond kill count starts here. (No quickfire salute of Bond as he turns up, tut tut lads). Got to laugh at the Liparus' captain's instruction to the guard (as the blast doors close) of "move over there!", like it matters. Then it all goes haywire. Firing all over the place, idiots on mini mokes haring about with no actual purpose, British personnel falling at a rate of knots (but our temporary CO of HMS Ranger, does the British thing and valiantly sacrifices himself and his ratings), then we have time to sort out a Polaris.

He-llo, Stromberg has XXX dressed to the nines and is wearing some fancy tie. Judging the captain's nervous message to Stromberg, surely he could have been seen instead saying to a concerned lackey: "It's okay, we'll just not tell the boss what's happening. It'll be okay!"

Not mad on the nervous gulp the American crewman does. Just enough for our man Rimmer to look bloody nervous. But Bond really knows everything, poisonous fishes, Lotus', nuclear warheads, jet-skiing and two nuclear explosions that presumably go explained away by. All gets rather chummy on the sub, forget hot bunking, sardines you assume.

If Carter does get court-martialled the best way to start the defence is: "Look, I saw Barbara Bach in the shower...". "That comes from the TOP!"

Nope, there's Stromberg being shot. As villain departures goes it feels...well, nothing.

Jaws must be made of whatever Wolverine is. On a car through a steep drop and some guys house, sharks, crashing wrecks. Watching scenes involving water, like with Bond and Anya trying to get into the lifeboat, makes you wonder. In Poseidon Adventure when Hackman rescues the boy, Ronald Neame said that Hackman going over was unplanned and they very nearly lost both of them doing it.

And then it ends. Laughs, a wet girl (leave it), HMS Fearless (huzzar for the Navy that has managed to waltz out Gogol, Q, the MoD and M. One assumes Penny was below decks writing a report), classic one liner, and er, a camp rendition of the song.

Deleted scene involves the Fearless' skipper denying XXX the use of his cabin as he's having no ruddy Bolshie dirtying it.

Anyway, that's done and not a bad way of spending 2hrs if you let the mind stop saying: "It's not OHMSS...." Kidding, kidding.

Au revoir.

Somehow missed this but very good commentary Hilly, and I agree wholeheartedly. Middle of the road Bond for me and while you point out the misdeeds and flaws, it's still very much a celebration of Bond. This makes me want to pop in the film right now, but timing doesn't permit, sadly.

It's fortunate for Sir Roger, two of his better efforts came after TSWLM. Or else all would have been lost.

Being FYEO and...? I do wonder what might have been if TSWLM didn't turn out how it did, even if I'm not its biggest fan.

For me, the other is Octopussy. I know it's not universally liked but to me, performance wise, second to FYEO.

OP is the one of Roger's seven that I find myself the least attached to but that's only after much, much scrutinizing. If I absolutely HAD to choose my least favorite of the 7 or the 80's films it would be OP.

The reason I think is for it's over-convoluted plot marrying two pieces (India/Kamal/Octopusy/Adventure throwback and Cold War plot/WWIII possible/Orlov/political machinations) that don't really fully gel together. Plus you have the obvious attempt to mimic Raiders's success and the initial scripting by MacDonald Frasier which was probably a bit too non-Bondian in feeling necessitating the rewrites. And of course it didn't help having to constantly worry about the rival NSNA production and having to outdo that as well-all the while struggling with the MGM takeover of UA and all the nightmares that started.

It's also the film with the most Roger-isms that the public normally picture that don't really appear in the other films. Thus it becomes the Goldfinger of Roger's seven but most audience members don't realize that and write them all off as eyebrow raising gadget laden romps.

I adore the film though and think it is supremely underrated for many reasons. If it had been me I think the pacing needed tightening and the India-Iron Curtain halves could have been better integrated and provided a better through line for the audience to get fully invested in the plot. Ultimately it's the one with the most minor issues which make me like it slightly less in comparison. But as usual this is really splitting hairs in analysis.

I'm telling you Boots, you and I can write a book or host a YouTube channel. Sort of Counterpoint for Bond. You raise very sound and logical points. Just OP, if I may be so weak, holds a place in my heart for being the first Bond I could remember watching as a whole (others like TB, OHMSS I remember snatches of to begin with) when I was about 6 or 7. On holiday in with my parents/grandparents. I didn't want to go to the arcade with the family, so I sat at home whilst Grandad read the paper. Still remember the family got home (or the place) at the end and when Moore does his "oooer" or whatever, I laughed heartily and my mum said I was too young to know what that was for, ha.

Otherwise, I know the plot is what it is but there are flashes of it I don't mind, I'm strongly swayed by Octopussy herself for whatever reason and Berkoff is enjoyable.

Performance wise, Moore does better here than other films.

Hilly wrote:

For me, the other is Octopussy. I know it's not universally liked but to me, performance wise, second to FYEO.

Fair call. I immediately think of the Orlov scene on the train. The power of editing... supposedly Moore kept fluffing his dialogue and had to record each response one line at a time in that scene.

Also good observations HGTB. I believe that a simpler, more seamless marriage between the India/Khan/Octopussy narrative and the Orlov/Berlin plot could have been achieved if the gags were toned down. The German portion is so full of intrigue and the pay off is excellent which I don't think could have been achieved had it not be set up earlier. So they did get something right with that first half. Or it could be that the first act is so super strong before we move to India.

Also I agree that OP is Moore's Goldfinger. It really defines/capitalises on what makes his era. The silliness of the 70s combined with the hard edged nature of his 80s flicks. But it's still that edginess and Cold War intrigue that far outweighs the 70s era in my book.

Agreed on all points. Over many, many re-watches you start to pick up on things here and there like the well edited yet slightly weird slowness in the Hitchcock derived "must get to the bomb before it goes off and everything conspires against you" sequence that is really the climax and then the India return attack is more like the tag finale final. I also like the classical nods (Tarzan yell-UGH. Yes we know MGM's got their hands in now...) the end shot gag of the leg going up is Some Like it Hot and probably one of the first phallic jokes I ever got, the literal man hunt of MOST DANGEROUS GAME, and my personal favorite: the banister slide in the palace which feels right out of MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN...but with added AK-47 and badassery.

One of Roger's best moments is without question the Orlov confrontation. Intelligent in that Bond puts together the scheme thinking on his feet and avoiding detection, gets the drop on the head man, uses Orlov's egomania to discover his true goal, is so appalled at the man's bloodlust that he throws the words right back at him-and manages to recover his emotion to beautifully say: "On your feet General. You're going to stop that train" in the best dead to rights twinkle in the eye manner.
The whole film hinges on the reveal shot of the bomb. All of a sudden everything has changed and the stakes have gone sky high. Again, the buildup and getting to the timer with only seconds left is wonderfully done-but some of the comedy bits are just too on the nose or on the silly side. Not the clown outfit so much mind you, but the bit with the stereotype German couple etc. On the flipside you get the lovely car of a-hole kids, phone booth biatch rightfully getting her Alfa stolen (DAS IST MEIN AUTO!!), Roger redlining an Alfa Romeo down the Autobahn, another brilliant scene where Bond drops the act in front of Octopussy and the base commander full well knowing what's at stake and how he left things with OP AND how he looks like a lunatic in clown makeup but time has run out. Then the last ditch move to grab the fire ax before finally shouting in utter desperation.

I definitely plan on doing more Bond uploads for my own YT channel since the posts I make here are what always float around my head. Most of my livestreams devolve into me doing Bond theory by the end. The last one suddenly had me waxing poetic about the eternal Young-Hamilton style debate. I'm amazed people hang around for those since usually I feel like I only speak the same language on BAB. And of course every other YT video or online article is the same old who is the best actor?/which is best?/rankings etc.

Sound post as always, HGTB. What's your YT channel? Curious to see your videos!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC99REfhONEEG0TBuAVk08bg

Here you go! So far Bondwise I've done uploads on my Laserdiscs and vinyl LPs and then as mentioned in livestreams where Bond gets brought up and I go off the deep end...

I'm currently in the process of making a new video about more Japanese Bond Laserdisc releases and plan to do another on my Bond books.

5 hour livestreams! What a commitment!

Goldeneye brings in my first Bond film viewing of the year and decade. Spontaneous viewing with a mate who was dying to give it a watch. I was planning to only watch the Craig films before NTTD but I suppose the powers above couldn't let me start the '20s with the Bond film I hate most.

What a film Goldeneye is. I fall in love with this movie the more I see it. What stood out most this time is the effortlessness of Brosnan's performance. I know some have said he's a little green and perhaps too enthusiastic in the role but I didn't see that at all. He's so present with so much happening behind the eyes from his lighter scenes with Natalya and Caroline, to the more intense moments with Alec, Ourumov and Zukovsky.