Most Recommended Bond Films

[Ranvir]

What are people's favourite James Bond theme songs?

 

My top 3 would be:

1. A View To A Kill - Duran Duran

2. The Living Daylights - A Ha

3. You Know My Name (from Casino Royale) by Chris Cornell

 

I'm really not liking these slow melancholic songs that have been in Craig's film since Quantum of Solace. The new one by Billie Eilish is tedious. My top 3 are good upbeat tunes!

[zen]

1 hour ago, Ranvir said:

What are people's favourite James Bond theme songs?

 

My top 3 would be:

1. A View To A Kill - Duran Duran

2. The Living Daylights - A Ha

3. You Know My Name (from Casino Royale) by Chris Cornell

 

I'm really not liking these slow melancholic songs that have been in Craig's film since Quantum of Solace. The new one by Billie Eilish is tedious. My top 3 are good upbeat tunes!

Not a bad list. I like the title sequence of AVTAK with the girl opening the chain to show the letters 007, and also in You Know My Name w/ Bond battling hard among cards 

 

For me, this is a tough one as I like most of theme songs esp. since background score is a big element of Bond films and tunes from the theme songs are also usually incorporated in the background score .... However, if i had to list a couple:

 

• You Only Live Twice - something magical about this song 
• Live and Let Die - the lively musical piece used in the background score 

 

 

Edited May 1, 2020 by zen

[coffee_rules]

My fav songs

 

Skyfall (Adela)

Golden Eye (Tina Turner)

YOLT

LALD

Living Daylights - Inxs

Casino Royale 

[Ranvir]

19 hours ago, coffee_rules said:

My fav songs

 

Skyfall (Adela)

Golden Eye (Tina Turner)

YOLT

LALD

Living Daylights - Inxs

Casino Royale 

The Living Daylights was by A Ha not INXS.

[zen]

TSWLM 

 

• How it holds up in 2020: There is a lot to like in this big Bond villain film. It shares its title with the Fleming book but that is the only thing in common b/w the two. While the book received mixed review, this one is right up there with the best Bond films. 
• Favorite part: Most of the film is like one highlight after another. The legendary pre title sequence, interesting drama playing out in beautiful locations of Egypt and Italy, underwater car ride, Jaws, Bond requesting to hold the attack on Stromberg's Atlantis to save Amasova, the last act on Atlantis, and of course the superiors of both agents catching them in the escape chamber  .... Also during a segment in Egypt, they paid tribute to Lawrence of Arabia by playing its tune as the background score  
• Least favorite part: If I have to be nitpicky, the fight sequence on the Liparus could have been shorter .... and some cinematic conveniences 
• Rating out of 10: What I like about this film is that it does not attempt to be a different Bond film. It is what you expect a Bond to be and does a great job of it. This is also a perfect film for Sir Roger Moore's type of Bond. I guess, it will be difficult to make this type of Bond film again without an actor like him. I gave FRWL 10/10, this one deserves a 10/10 as well but for slightly different reasons. The order of my favorites would change again! 

[coffee_rules]

Amazon removed all Bond movies 

[zen]

6 hours ago, coffee_rules said:

Amazon removed all Bond movies 

 

It was expected: 

 

On 4/23/2020 at 3:03 AM, zen said:

Noticed that many of the Bond films available on subscription based streaming services such as Amazon, Epix, Netflix, etc., would be leaving on April 30th - May 1st 

 

[coffee_rules]

4 hours ago, zen said:

 

It was expected: 

 

 

Knew it, but to rent it is expensive as well , 4$ is too much. Have to look for torrent s

[zen]

OHMSS 

 

• How it holds up in 2020: Bond's adventure in the Alps to take on the big Bond villain Blofeld. It is based on the book with the same title. This one is a serious Bond film and divided into 3 parts - Bond's love story, Bond's detective work, and then it turns into a fast paced action film. There is a lot of snow as well. In a way, this works in the opposite direction than the relatively recent Casino Royale, which starts off as an action film, has Bond doing some detective work, and then goes on to the love story.
• Favorite part: Bond's love story .... the escape from Piz Gloria which is a long sequence from Bond trying to first use the ropeway to his love interest getting captured. In b/w, there is a car chase through picturesque Swiss villages as well .... Ski sequences .... Blofeld trying his charm on Tracy  .... The awesome background score is among the best in the series .... Lazenby does action sequences very well. His style in the opening gun barrel sequence is pretty good too .... Nice use of locations in Portugal and Switzerland. 
• Least favorite part: Can't think of any apart from cinematic conveniences. Maybe Bond in the Scottish dress but it was convenient from the story's PoV. 
• Rating out of 10: Usually, this is my 9-10/10 film and will continue to stay at 9.5/10. A different type of Bond film! 

Edited May 4, 2020 by zen

[zen]

FYEO 

 

• How it holds up in 2020: After Bond's sojourn in space in MR, the film reverts to earth with the back to basic approach as seen in OHMSS and CR. Bond has to come out of this mission by using his wits and without the help of too many gadgets. Pierce Brosnan's wife plays one of the Bond girls in it (The Countess). Watching it after On Her Majesty's Secret Service, feels like FYEO is following up on it in a way. The film uses a few short stories in the Fleming book of the same name. 
• Favorite part: Once Bond meets with Columbo, the film changes its gears. Bond kicking the Benz off the cliff. The underwater fight b/w the two mini subs, Bond dragged in water (a scene from the book LALD), the climb on Meteora .... And the parrot speaking with the PM at the end  .... Due to the nature of the film, Moore is relatively serious in it as well .... As with all Bond films, the locations look great - this time it is Greece and Italy. 
• Least favorite part: The background score sounds dated (apart from when the Bond theme and some version of it is played). Maybe they should re-release it with a new score. The villain is not as strong as in some of the other Bond films due to the requirements of the story. The picture quality of the 80s films in general is not as good as those of the earlier ones relatively speaking (though still good). Maybe the filmmakers had changed the film stock. 
• Rating out of 10: Usually, this is my 8-9/10 Bond film. Will be at 8.5/10 on this occasion.  

Edited May 5, 2020 by zen

[zen]

With the above, I have finished the 7 films mini festival  .... Maybe will catch some more  

[zen]

SF

 

• How it holds up in 2020: Craig's biggest hit so far. The first half is loosely based on the book TMWTGG. The film sports excellent cinematography by Roger Deakins to make this one of the best looking films. Acting by Javier Bardem is notable. 
• Favorite part: The first part till Silva is captured, which as I said is loosely based on the book TMWTGG. Silva is pretty good as the villain. When Silva is telling his story to M, I like the look on Bond's face as if suggesting "I hear you"   .... The return of the old Aston  .... And like the other Bond films, the locations! 
• Least favorite part: After Silva is captured we learn that it was a part of his plan (or at least his anticipated move where he had planned a counter move). The subway train crashing into the hole looks out of place (maybe it is the CGI). Some segments of the 2nd half may feel slow at times. 
• Rating out of 10: Usually, this is my 8-9/10 Bond film. This will be at 9/10 esp. for Deakins cinematography and Bardem's acting. 

[zen]

TLD

 

• How it holds up in 2020: Builds upon the Fleming's short story "The Living Daylights" (The sniper was a woman segment in film). The film introduces Dalton, while being the last one for legendary Bond composer John Barry. There are some excellent stunts and a sense of adventure in it as well. This one is also the last big Bond cold war film, and, luckly, for Bond fans, the film has aged like a fine wine. 
• Favorite part: This is a solid film so has quite a few highlights. Dalton as Bond is superb. John Barry's final score for Bond films is memorable. Ice Chase sequence and the stunt on the plane are among my favorite Bond franchise moments .... Saunders as Bond's aide is good. Bond's anger when he breaks the ballon .... The shooting of Puskin .... Austria and Morocco are used well as locations. 
• Least favorite part: Nothing much to complain here. The villains are easy going, silently confident, and conniving so work in the context of the film but maybe a stronger big villain in Whitaker could have helped. 
• Rating out of 10: Usually, this is my 8-9/10 Bond film. This will be at 9.5/10 on this occasion esp. for Barry's score, Dalton's performance, memorable stunts, and it being the last big cold war drama in Bond franchise. Turn up the volume and enjoy! 

[zen]

Watched 9 so may do 1 more (if not more) to reach 10 films .... thinking about which one to pick

[Ranvir]

On 5/7/2020 at 6:42 AM, zen said:

TLD

 

• How it holds up in 2020: Builds upon the Fleming's short story "The Living Daylights" (The sniper was a woman segment in film). The film introduces Dalton, while being the last one for legendary Bond composer John Barry. There are some excellent stunts and a sense of adventure in it as well. This one is also the last big Bond cold war film, and, luckly, for Bond fans, the film has aged like a fine wine. 
• Favorite part: This is a solid film so has quite a few highlights. Dalton as Bond is superb. John Barry's final score for Bond films is memorable. Ice Chase sequence and the stunt on the plane are among my favorite Bond franchise moments .... Saunders as Bond's aide is good. Bond's anger when he breaks the ballon .... The shooting of Puskin .... Austria and Morocco are used well as locations. 
• Least favorite part: Nothing much to complain here. The villains are easy going, silently confident, and conniving so work in the context of the film but maybe a stronger big villain in Whitaker could have helped. 
• Rating out of 10: Usually, this is my 8-9/10 Bond film. This will be at 9.5/10 on this occasion esp. for Barry's score, Dalton's performance, memorable stunts, and it being the last big cold war drama in Bond franchise. Turn up the volume and enjoy! 

I just watched this a couple of days ago. Dalton was a fantastic Bond, the world just wasn't ready for his take on the character. He was like Daniel Craig but 20 years earlier. The action sequences were good, Dalton brought real emotion, seriousness and depth to the character with just the right level of humour. The soundtrack is very good with some good funky beats and a great title song.

 

The movie itself was good but it was a bit silly how Georgi could go from being seen as being a defector to having control of his own army again at the end. Whitaker was also a bit of a weak villain, more humorous than dangerous. The actor playing him was more suited to the loud dumb american character he played in the Pierce Brosnan movies. Even Georgi wasn't menacing enough, the blonde henchman however was as good as any sidekick in the series. The Bond girl was standard fare, nothing standout there.

 

It's also funny how Bond is helping the precursor of the Taliban and Al Qaeda against the Russians, that did not age well. Likewise how did these mujahadeen gatecrash a classical concert in Europe at the end.

 

I'd give it a 7/10, the next film Licemce To Kill is Dalton's best movie and one of the best Bond movies of all time.

 

Dalton deserved more films, he would have been fantastic in Goldeneye if it was made in the early 90s.

[zen]

21 hours ago, Ranvir said:

I just watched this a couple of days ago. Dalton was a fantastic Bond, the world just wasn't ready for his take on the character. He was like Daniel Craig but 20 years earlier. The action sequences were good, Dalton brought real emotion, seriousness and depth to the character with just the right level of humour. The soundtrack is very good with some good funky beats and a great title song.

 

The film has got good repeat value! One of my favorite Bond films 

 

21 hours ago, Ranvir said:

The movie itself was good but it was a bit silly how Georgi could go from being seen as being a defector to having control of his own army again at the end.

 

Since Georgi, at that point, believed that Puskin is dead,  he turned the situation to suggest that defection was a ruse under the secret direction of Pushkin to confuse the west

 

 

21 hours ago, Ranvir said:

It's also funny how Bond is helping the precursor of the Taliban and Al Qaeda against the Russians, that did not age well.

 

It is a story based in that time like how a WW2 film could have elements such as Russia and US on same side .... and then they were engaged in a cold war later and so on.  It would not suggest that a WW2 film has not aged well .... The west did help the Mujahideen against Russia like how Russia was involved in Vietnam 

 

 

Quote

Likewise how did these mujahadeen gatecrash a classical concert in Europe at the end.

 

At the end, many 007 films have segments which are there just for gags .... in FYEO, they have a parrot talking to the PM

 

 

21 hours ago, Ranvir said:

Licemce To Kill is one of the best Bond movies of all time.

 

I like both the Dalton films .... Talking about LTK, it has borrowed elements from multiple Bond books, while also delving into the drug cartel theme. It has some good stunts too including the seaplane ski one and the truck sequence. Sanchez is a good villain .... Since Bond franchise has 24 films (and a couple of non EON ones), any one of them can potentially be the top favorite for a fan!

Edited May 10, 2020 by zen

[zen]

LALD 

 

• How it holds up in 2020: Based on the Fleming's book by the same name with some changes, Live and Let Die is a fun Bond adventure. The film's background score is by George Martin, which is one of my favorite non Barry background scores. The film introduces Roger Moore as 007. He slips into the role in style. This is his biggest hit and one of the franchise's mega hit films. 
• Favorite part: I like almost everything about the film - the 70s atmosphere, the voodoo elements, Solitaire's Tarot,  Bond’s arrival in NYC, Bond handling the snake in the washroom, the plane ride w/ Mrs. Bell, the escape from Crocodiles, and so on. The villains are cool too - Mr. Big, Baron Samedi, Tee Hee, & Whisper. Sheriff Pepper provides more comedy. Also many of the sequences are generously long so it allows for more nuances in those sequences. The background score is epic. It makes you want to turn the volume up and tap the feet! 
• Least favorite part: If I have to list something maybe the funeral sequences could be shorter. Many parts of the book are used in other films such as FYEO and LTK but I would have liked it if they had used them in this film to make it more closer to the book. In the book, I liked how Bond swims through various challenges and also gets tied up to Solitaire to be dragged in the water. If they had used those elements here, the film could have been even more epic. 
• Rating out of 10: Usually, this is my 9-10/10 Bond film. This will be at 9.5/10 on this occasion. It is fun and continues to entertain. I also like how the film has lots of reds and oranges (flames for e.g) so it will look great if given the HDR/Dolby Vision treatment. An upgraded sound could benefit the awesome soundtrack too. 

Edited May 12, 2020 by zen

[Manny_Pacquiao]

On 5/9/2020 at 1:58 AM, Ranvir said:

I just watched this a couple of days ago. Dalton was a fantastic Bond, the world just wasn't ready for his take on the character. He was like Daniel Craig but 20 years earlier. The action sequences were good, Dalton brought real emotion, seriousness and depth to the character with just the right level of humour. The soundtrack is very good with some good funky beats and a great title song.

 

The movie itself was good but it was a bit silly how Georgi could go from being seen as being a defector to having control of his own army again at the end. Whitaker was also a bit of a weak villain, more humorous than dangerous. The actor playing him was more suited to the loud dumb american character he played in the Pierce Brosnan movies. Even Georgi wasn't menacing enough, the blonde henchman however was as good as any sidekick in the series. The Bond girl was standard fare, nothing standout there.

 

It's also funny how Bond is helping the precursor of the Taliban and Al Qaeda against the Russians, that did not age well. Likewise how did these mujahadeen gatecrash a classical concert in Europe at the end.

 

I'd give it a 7/10, the next film Licemce To Kill is Dalton's best movie and one of the best Bond movies of all time.

 

Dalton deserved more films, he would have been fantastic in Goldeneye if it was made in the early 90s.

 

I thought License to Kill was awful. It didn't feel like a bond movie; he broke protocol and acted emotionally. Very un-Bond like.

[coffee_rules]

1 hour ago, Manny_Pacquiao said:

 

I thought License to Kill was awful. It didn't feel like a bond movie; he broke protocol and acted emotionally. Very un-Bond like.

That’s the new Bond image depicted by Craig and also by PB in his last movie , Die Another Day. LTK was beyond its time and Timothy’s Bond is underrated.

[Ranvir]

8 hours ago, Manny_Pacquiao said:

 

I thought License to Kill was awful. It didn't feel like a bond movie; he broke protocol and acted emotionally. Very un-Bond like.

No it was a good film that had emotion. That's also why Goldeneye was Brosnan's best film. 

Dalton was a great Bond who should have gotten the role even earlier. The producers wanted him to replace Connery in 1968 but he refused it as he was too young.