Rank all the Bond Films!

Sure is a lot of wood in that second sentence. As it were.

Blunt Instrument wrote:

Sure is a lot of wood in that second sentence. As it were.

I wood have to agree.

Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang wrote:

Blunt Instrument wrote:

Sure is a lot of wood in that second sentence. As it were.

I wood have to agree.

You wood?.....I wood too!

Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang wrote:

I mean, can there really be a forum without one of these threads? This is your preference. There is no right or wrong answer. Oh and just the official Bond films.

EDIT: This is no longer my ranking. Far from it.

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

I was curious what is it about TND that makes you vote it as the best?

From the Detailed Bond Ranking thread:

I wrote:

Smooth, sleek and deftly updates the franchise. While perhaps a little heavy handed on the explosions, it encompasses what James Bond is about, just in a modern world. The Bondian tropes of Fleming's novels inform its structure, alluding to the source material in tone and conventions. The sex drips off the screen (Bond's tryst with Inga, Paris's dress slipping off to reveal her lingerie, Arnold's music, the sexual tension between Bond and the girls - even Moneypenny, which harkens back to Sean and Lois). The danger is there in spades (staging a fight in a soundproof room, Carver's death, the Kaufman scene-- the girl's dead, a hitman waits for Bond and all underscored not just with Arnold's apt music, but a prerecorded news report announcing Paris's death alongside an "unidentified man" (is Carver referring to Bond or to Kaufman, just in case?). There's humour, in part due one of the most quotable screenplays in the series. There's a sense of bizarre (in the aforementioned Kaufman scene, Stamper himself, the ostentation of Carver, newspaper apparel on the CMGN waiters, etc.) There's local colour (admittedly more so in Saigon than Hamburg, but the German setting is very fitting. Staging the bike chase amongst the every day Vietnamese market gives you a taste, not only of local traffic, but customs and dangers. The outdoor showers, Wai Lin's "bike shop" charade, the natural wonder of Ha Long Bay, etc.). There's geopolitical/social commentary in exploring the power of the media AND capturing a modern Britain - both which render this a somewhat timeless entry to the series. There's charisma in the form of Pierce Brosnan's Bond, so you believe Paris and Wai Lin are drawn to our man. Carver is also superbly written and performed by the excellent Jonathan Pryce, who has some of the best lines as a deranged yet charismatically articulate villain.

The action is choreographed and filmed excellently, all varied, always exciting, with esteemed cinematographer Robert Elswit creating perhaps the smoothest adventure that a gentleman spy should be involved in. Combined with Arnold's brilliant score (and in my top 5 in the series) it's a perfect entry in the series.

Top marks for James Bond himself: Pierce Brosnan is as deadly and brutal as he is charismatic and charming: the modern day Sean Connery. Bonus points for the character moments/introspection peppered throughout (at the airport, after the party).

I can't rank them all, as after my top five,  I find it hard to pick as they all have good points, but here's my top picks.

1. OHMSS,  I simply love this film, I even like George as Bond. I think his inexperience as an actor gives
                 his Bond a vulnerability. In my mind this is Bond's first mission ( I know that doesn't make
                 sense )
2, CR.         Stunning, I remember leaving the Cinema walking on air, Bond was Back and more
                 dangerous  than ever.
3. LTK.        I think Dalton was a great 007, and I love the darker tone of LTK. I guess the world wasn't ready
4. FRWL.     A classic, great story and cast, full of life and excitement.
5. SF.          A re-introduction of a bit more humour and " Office" or Home team. A great villain, and I love the
                 confined ending. Bond with little at hand fighting for his survival.

These are my top five. After this I can't really separate them. For instance  I enjoy AVTAK and DAD when I'm in
the mood. I even love Moonraker, I remember  seeing it in the cinema as a kid and thinking it amazing, Now my
opinion has changed slightly, and I don't care as much about the sci-fi elements  that I once loved.
    Also my opinion can change, I used to hate with a vengeance QOS, but through discussions with other Bond fans, I re-read the Books and changes my mind.  It's not in my top five but I do enjoy it.
    The Only Bond film I dislike, in fact when I try and watch it I always end up skipping forward huge chunks of it, and I only bought the Blu-ray to get the commentaries and that's the unofficial NSNA.  I don't like it at all, I think it looks cheap, and so boring with the worst movie score of all time.

Agree with you on the NSNA comments. I do tend to avoid both unofficial films now.

Impressive top five, certainly different. Variety is the spice of life, etc

CR being so high is blasphemy but good to see OHMSS and FRWL up there. I agree about Lazenby... not so much because of the vulnerability (though it's certainly there!) but for his physicality and predatory nature. It really is solid casting.

I love the story of how he got his audition, That man has Guts and nerves of steel .

Utter balls to do that but something that couldn't happen now. Shame he listened to his agent.

Indeed, highlighting how perfect the casting was. There's something inherent in Lazenby which is not unlike Bond's wit and courage.

On a lighter note, it reminds me of the What Would His Bond Do thread:

CR Torture Scene:

Lazenby: Le Chiffre swings the rope at Lazenby-Bond's balls. Lazenby's balls of steel cause the rope to bounce back and knock Le Chiffre out. "This never happened to the other fella."

Le Chiffre giggles: "It's true!"

"...such as your perfectly formed arse.

-You're pretty forward for a Sheila aren't you?"

(sorry lads)

CJB wrote:

Le Chiffre giggles: "It's true!"

After the latest run through the pack.

1. OHMSS
2. SF
3. LTK
4. CR
5. TLD
6. GE
7. FRWL
8. DN
9. FYEO
10. TB
11. Gun
12. LALD
13. DAF
14. SP
15. GF
16. QoS
17. Spy
18. TND
19. MR
20. AVTAK
21. YOLT
22. OP
23. TWINE
24. DAD

Shame about TND being so low. It previously fringed your top 10, didn't it PK? Why the decline this time round?

Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang wrote:

Shame about TND being so low. It previously fringed your top 10, didn't it PK? Why the decline this time round?

I'm not sure I ever had it top 10, but I find that films do slowly rise and/or fall over time. DAF, for instance, used to be in my top five. As for TND, I think it may have slipped a couple of spots this last time. Next time it may rise a few. May have something to do with my state of mind when viewing the given film.

Sad to see DAF slip, Khanners.

More libations next time; DAF is a movie that needs to be enjoyed half-cut.

Wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see DAF rebound at some point. And being slightly blotto while watching a Bond film, any Bond film, is de rigeur for me. Martinis, whiskey--I don't discriminate.

It's what Fleming would've wanted.

On that theme, this Danish movie starring Mads Mikkelsen sounds interesting -


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Another_Round_(film)

CJB wrote:

It's what Fleming would've wanted.

Heh. Yes, it is. I'm sure the Master watches over me chuckling fatly with every drink I mix.

Perilagu Khan wrote:

Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang wrote:

Shame about TND being so low. It previously fringed your top 10, didn't it PK? Why the decline this time round?

I'm not sure I ever had it top 10, but I find that films do slowly rise and/or fall over time. DAF, for instance, used to be in my top five. As for TND, I think it may have slipped a couple of spots this last time. Next time it may rise a few. May have something to do with my state of mind when viewing the given film.

I feel I recall seeing it around 12 or so at one stage. Where one places TND leaves quite the impression on me.

And wasn't Carver your favourite villain of the series?

Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang wrote:

Perilagu Khan wrote:

Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang wrote:

Shame about TND being so low. It previously fringed your top 10, didn't it PK? Why the decline this time round?

I'm not sure I ever had it top 10, but I find that films do slowly rise and/or fall over time. DAF, for instance, used to be in my top five. As for TND, I think it may have slipped a couple of spots this last time. Next time it may rise a few. May have something to do with my state of mind when viewing the given film.

I feel I recall seeing it around 12 or so at one stage. Where one places TND leaves quite the impression on me.  

And wasn't Carver your favourite villain of the series?

12 sounds about right. It probably peaked there at some point in the murky past. In point of fact, for the first half or so of the film, I rate TND a bona fide classic. Alas, IMO it falls off in the late going.

And, yes, I love Carver. Quite possibly my favorite villain.

Don't forget to update your rankings, now accounting for NTTD.