Rank all the Bond Films!

From my recent marathon.

1. GOLDFINGER
2. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
3. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
4. DR. NO
5. THUNDERBALL
6. THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
7. OCTOPUSSY
8. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
9. CASINO ROYALE
10. DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
11. MOONRAKER
12. GOLDENEYE
13. A VIEW TO A KILL
14. LICENCE TO KILL
15. LIVE AND LET DIE
16. QUANTUM OF SOLACE
17. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
18. YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
19. THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
20. DIE ANOTHER DAY
21. TOMORROW NEVER DIES
22. THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH

I'm thinking SKYFALL may be #6, though it could breach my Top 5. I could totally see it overtaking THUNDERBALL, which I rate so highly in large part because no film after it (excluding OHMSS) really has a classic, balanced Bondian feel to it. I find TB a bit sloppy.

Having just seen it for the second time, I'm pretty confident about giving it a specific place in my ranking based on my recent viewings.

1. From Russia with Love
   
2. Goldfinger
   
3. Skyfall
   
4. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
   
5. Dr. No
   
6. Casino Royale
   
7. Thunderball
   
8. The Living Daylights
   
9. GoldenEye
   
10. For Your Eyes Only
    
11. Moonraker
    
12. Diamonds Are Forever
    
13. Live and Let Die
    
14. Octopussy
    
15. Licence to Kill
    
16. Quantum of Solace
    
17. The Spy Who Loved Me
    
18. You Only Live Twice
    
19. A View to a Kill
    
20. The Man with the Golden Gun
    
21. Die Another Day
    
22. Tomorrow Never Dies
    
23. The World is Not Enough

I rank it over OHMSS purely because I find Craig to be a much much better lead actor, so that's the edge. As for being below GF and FRWL, I consider all three equally great for different reasons. The way the three are ranked is purely determined by preference. I call it the Connery factor.

OHMSS needed Craig from this film. That's what it needed folks, a threadbare Bond at the end of his rope. Not a 20-something Lazenby.

Well, something closer to threadbare and at the end of his rope.

Rankings including SKYFALL and NSNA, but not CR67 as I didn't see it during this marathon.

GREAT
1. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
2. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
3. CASINO ROYALE
4. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

GOOD
5. THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
6. GOLDFINGER
7. SKYFALL
8. GOLDENEYE
9. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME

DECENT
10. DR. NO
11. LICENCE TO KILL
12. OCTOPUSSY
13. LIVE AND LET DIE
14. DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
15. QUANTUM OF SOLACE
16. A VIEW TO A KILL
17. MOONRAKER

MEDIOCRE
18. YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
19 THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
20. TOMORROW NEVER DIES
21. THUNDERBALL

BAD
22. THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
23. NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN
24. DIE ANOTHER DAY

I recall the days when you defended DAD with a shotgun.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

OHMSS needed Craig from this film. That's what it needed folks, a threadbare Bond at the end of his rope. Not a 20-something Lazenby.

Well, something closer to threadbare and at the end of his rope.

Absolutely, that's really the only thing that keeps OHMSS from making it all the way to the top. Had it been Connery at his A-game it probably would have been the Bond film that could never be topped, at least for me.

Adjusted rankings in the wake of the latest Craig travesty

1. DAF
2. YOLT
3. TB
4. GF
5. DN
6. FRWL
7.OHMSS
8. LALD
9. TMWTGG
10. MR
11. TSWLM
12. OP
13. FYEO
14. AVTAK
15. LTK
16. TLD
17. TWINE (Marceau and Richards spice this entry up)
18. GE
19. TND
20. DAD

===The alternative Bond films

1. NSNA
2. QoS
3. CR
4. SF

QoS has made a quantum leap in the alternative category. After the dreariness of SF, Quantum is suddenly far more entertaining in its own quirky way. And as CR gets dumber with each passing viewing, it's managed over time to sink below even Quantum. What QoS has going for it, is it doesn't get worse, in fact it gets a tad better with each viewing. CR is beyond redemption. YOLT has risen as well. One's appreciation of the escapist excitement, and grandeur of the classic-era is enhanced in the wake of the latest entry from the "Do I look like I give a damn" Bond.

Pretty bold wint, but each to their own.

New rankings:

1. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
2. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
3. THUNDERBALL
4. SKYFALL
5. THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
6. GOLDFINGER
7. LICENCE TO KILL
8. CASINO ROYALE
9. DR. NO
10. GOLDENEYE
11. DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
12. THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
13. OCTOPUSSY
14. QUANTUM OF SOLACE
15. MOONRAKER
16. LIVE AND LET DIE
17. YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
18. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
19. THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
20. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
21. A VIEW TO A KILL
22. TOMORROW NEVER DIES
23. DIE ANOTHER DAY

1 - DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
2 - THUNDERBALL
3 - DR. NO
4 - GOLDFINGER
5 - CASINO ROYALE
6 - FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
7 - YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
8 - THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
9 - ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
10 - LIVE AND LET DIE
11 - THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
12 - THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
13 - QUANTUM OF SOLACE
14 - A VIEW TO A KILL
15 - OCTOPUSSY
16 - FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
17 - LICENCE TO KILL
18 - MOONRAKER
19 - TOMORROW NEVER DIES
20 - DIE ANOTHER DAY
21 - GOLDENEYE
22 - THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH

free_mo wrote:

1 - DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
2 - THUNDERBALL
3 - DR. NO
4 - GOLDFINGER
5 - CASINO ROYALE
6 - FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
7 - YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
8 - THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
9 - ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
10 - LIVE AND LET DIE
11 - THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
12 - THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
13 - QUANTUM OF SOLACE
14 - A VIEW TO A KILL
15 - OCTOPUSSY
16 - FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
17 - LICENCE TO KILL
18 - MOONRAKER
19 - TOMORROW NEVER DIES
20 - DIE ANOTHER DAY
21 - GOLDENEYE
22 - THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH

Awesome list! :D To anyone that can put DAF at the top, I can easily defer to the rest of their rankings.

Actually we have 9 of the same top ten, and the Brozzer films, all in a pile at the bottom. You just have a tolerance for the Craig films that I don't have.

tiffanywint wrote:

Awesome list! :D To anyone that can put DAF at the top, I can easily defer to the rest of their rankings.

Actually we have 9 of the same top ten, and the Brozzer films, all in a pile at the bottom. You just have a tolerance for the Craig films that I don't have.

Just taken a peek at your list. Looks like we're cut from the same cloth. A fellow DAF fan. Terrific! It's been rather lonely.

Like you, YOLT (which was the first Bond film I saw) is one whose stocks have risen in my eyes too, after years of going back and forth on it. These days I'm content to ignore it's story flaws and just sit back and appreciate and revel in grandeur of it all: the music, the cinematography, the sets, the travelogue feel, etc. They don't make 'em like that anymore. :)

Always nice to see DAF get some appreciation. :)

1 FRWL

2 TLD
3 LTK

4 TB
5 GF
6 OHMSS
7 DN
8 YOLT

9 QoS
10 GE
11 DAF
12 FYEO
13 NSNA
14 SPY
15 OCT
16 MR
17 L&LD
18 MWGG
19 DAD
20 TWINE
21 TND
22 VIEW
23 CR
24 SF

free_mo wrote:

Just taken a peek at your list. Looks like we're cut from the same cloth. A fellow DAF fan. Terrific! It's been rather lonely.

There is respectable amount of DAF appreciation on this board

free_mo wrote:

Like you, YOLT (which was the first Bond film I saw) is one whose stocks have risen in my eyes too, after years of going back and forth on it. These days I'm content to ignore it's story flaws and and just sit back and appreciate and revel in grandeur of it all: the music, the cinematographic, the sets, the travelouge feel, etc. They don't make 'em like that anymore. :).

Yes, yes and yes!! YOLT is ultimate Bond in many ways; the apex and the crowning achievement of the magnificent period of Bond-mania. Has Bond ever been bigger?! The modern-Bond desperately needs it's own Spectre volcano, and a deadly raven-haired femme fatale. Severine had real potential but I guess she had to be dumped, so Mommy-Bond and her boy could take it to the end. The komodo pit at least served as a nod to the piranaha pool. Baby steps.

My rankings are pretty straightforward. DAF tops the list, not only as my personal favourite of all the films, but I also see it as homage to the glorious classic era that immediately preceded it, and as a transition into the magnificent post-classic era of Bond. Then come the most spectacular of the original Connery films, GF, TB and YOLT. Their order is easily shuffled around, followed by the two films that started it all, DN and FRWL, and then the awesomness that is Lazenby, and the final installment in the original 6-pak of close-to-source Fleming film adaptations.

Of note, all of the first 6 Bond films were made within 3-6 years of the publication of their source book. These films thus have a period affinity to the Fleming books, that none of the future films could possibly have.

Next I group the Moore films, with priority to the Hamilton originals and their camp/dark continuity with DAF. Then the twin YOLT inspired, Gilbert Moores, followed by the very worthy Glen Moores. Then come the two very solid and engaging Dalton films, followed by the hugely entertaining but somewhat inconsistent Brozzer entries, the order of which is fluid.

Beautifully put tiffanywint. :)

Count me in for loving the two underrated Hamilton/Mankewicz Moore Bonds too. It warms my heart whenever these sneak into someone's top ten. Not the most epic in scope to be sure, but they're packed with great one-liners, quirky characters, clever touches, bizarre ideas, wonderful action pieces, etc, and with a few stronger, darker moments than they're ever given credit for too. "Camp/dark"! I love it. I know exactly what you mean. No longer to the letter of Fleming, but still somewhat in the spirit, I think, and a worthy "silver age" follow-up to the Connery "golden age" (coming second to the Connery Bonds, which are absolute magic, is no disgrace).

tiffanywint wrote:

There is respectable amount of DAF appreciation on this board

One of the things that sets us apart from the kiddies of the Forum That Must Not Be Named. Witty writing wins over ceaseless explosions.

Also Lana Wood's tits.

After watching some more Bond:

1.Skyfall
2.Casino Royale
3.Quantum Of Solace
4.Licence to Kill
5.Moonraker
6.Goldfinger
7.Thunderball
8.A View To A Kill
9.Diamonds Are Forever
10.From Russia with Love
11.Dr No
12.World is not Enough
13.Tomorrow never dies
14.Man with the Golden Gun
15.You only live Twice
16.Goldeneye
17.Live And Let Die
18.Die another Day

Be interested to know your thoughts on FYEO, Paula :)

Erica Ambler wrote:

I actually found it very moving, strange though that may seem. Skyfall somehow encapsulates a lot of things I feel about getting older and living in England, things I would never expect to be addressed by a Bond film.

This makes me curious; the most intriguing, spoiler-free response I've read about Skyfall.

Still have not finished my Bondathon despite already seeing SkyFall, hahahaha. I'm ready for TND now, but if I had to go ahead and rank them all anyway, this is about how it would look:

1. GoldenEye
2. Tomorrow Never Dies
3. License to Kill
4. A View to a Kill
5. For Your Eyes Only
6. The World is not Enough
7. The Living Daylights
8. From Russia with Love
9. SkyFall
10. Octopussy
11. Quantum of Solace
12. Live and Let Die
13. The Man with the Golden Gun
14. Casino Royale
15. The Spy Who Loved Me
16. Thunderball
17. Diamonds Are Forever
18. Die Another Day
19. Moonraker
20. Dr. No
21. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
22. You Only Live Twice
23. Goldfinger

That's a rough list for now, since I still need to watch TND-QoS to wrap up my Bondathon.

1. Casino Royale
2. From Russia With Love
3. The Living Daylights
4. Thunderball
5. Skyfall
6. The Man With The Golden Gun
7. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
8. Quantum Of Solace
9. Goldeneye
10. The Spy Who Loved Me
11. Octopussy
12. Dr. No
13. Tomorrow Never Dies
14. You Only Live Twice
15. Licence To Kill
16. Live And Let Die
17. Goldfinger
18. The World Is Not Enough
19. For Your Eyes Only
20. Diamonds Are Forever
21. Moonraker
22. Die Another Day
23. A View To A Kill

It is very hard to list the films, especially between spot 10-17. All of them are more or less equally as good so many of them move around quite a lot on my list.

Adjusted to move SF from 4th to 2nd in the alternative Bond rankings

1. DAF
2. YOLT
3. TB
4. GF
5. DN
6. FRWL
7.OHMSS
8. LALD
9. TMWTGG
10. MR
11. TSWLM
12. OP
13. FYEO
14. AVTAK
15. LTK
16. TLD
17. TWINE (Marceau and Richards spice this entry up)
18. GE
19. TND
20. DAD

===The alternative Bond films

1. NSNA
2. SF
3. QoS
4. CR

Whoa! SF is making a major push!

:)

2012 Ranking:

Tomorrow Never Dies
From Russia With Love
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
4. The World Is Not Enough
Thunderball
Dr.No
Goldeneye
For Your Eyes Only
The Living Daylights
Quantum of Solace

Goldfinger
Skyfall
A View to a Kill
You Only Live Twice
Octopussy
Casino Royale
Live and Let Die
Licence to Kill
The Man With The Golden Gun
Diamonds Are Forever
The Spy Who Loved Me

Moonraker
Die Another Day

It's got a chance to move up. Let's see how subsequent viewings hold up. 2 down, at least three more to go at the cinemas. I also want to see how it holds up against the other Bond films when I watch it between two classics. I have an idea of what a Bond film should be, but this is different, but still very Bondian.

@FieldsMan: I love seeing the first three Brosnan movies in your top ten! Excellent choices, sir!

I'm not going to put Skyfall in there because of the one viewing, but I'm thinking it'll pester the top 5.

With my last Bondathon, the rankings have had a bit of a shuffle, especially at the top, which surprised me. But I'd go:

1. OHMSS (For true!)
2. FRWL
3. GF
4. TLD
5. TSWLM
6. GE
7. CR
8. DN
9. LTK
10. FYEO
11. LALD
12. YOLT
13. AVTAK
14. MR
15. OP
16. DAF
17. TB (The appeal continues to elude me, sorry to say)
18. QOS
19. TMWTGG
20. TND
21. TWINE
22. DAD

I'm thinking SF would usurp TSWLM as my #5, but I'll give it a second run-through to see how I feel about that.