The most normal Bond films
MilleniumForce
LondonPosts: 1,214MI6 Agent
I'm not saying their bad, but what films are the 'normal' films? In that, the films aren't known for anything special, and don't add anything to the franchise. They're just like 'day in the life of Bond' films. I'd say:
- Thunderball
- Diamonds Are Forever
- The Man With The Golen Gun
- For Your Eyes Only
- Octopussy
- The Living Daylights
- Tomorrow Never Dies
I didn't include any of the actors' first films (with the exception of TLD) as they are important times of changing the actor. I didn't include TWINE as it had unusually a female main villain, and left out AVTAK as that film is well known for how old Roger was.
- Thunderball
- Diamonds Are Forever
- The Man With The Golen Gun
- For Your Eyes Only
- Octopussy
- The Living Daylights
- Tomorrow Never Dies
I didn't include any of the actors' first films (with the exception of TLD) as they are important times of changing the actor. I didn't include TWINE as it had unusually a female main villain, and left out AVTAK as that film is well known for how old Roger was.
1.LTK 2.AVTAK 3.OP 4.FYEO 5.TND 6.LALD 7.GE 8.GF 9.TSWLM 10.SPECTRE 11.SF 12.MR 13.YOLT 14.TLD 15.CR (06) 16.TMWTGG 17.TB 18.FRWL 19.TWINE 20.OHMSS 21.DAF 22.DAD 23.QoS 24.NSNA 25.DN 26.CR (67)
Comments
I'd say TND, TB, YOLT, TMWTGG, and OP fit that description.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
It is not the film's fault that in 2015, many find it irrelevant. In fact, the background score still sounds good esp. the Wint and Kidd theme, theme song, etc. The 1st hour is highly entertaining, and when you have watched all the "great" Bond films, this one proves to be a nice filler before you once again get back to watching the "great" Bond films .... So all Bond films have added something to the fans' experience esp. at the time of their release
* TB had ground breaking underwater sequences
* YOLT was the first one to feature an elaborate villains lair, which arguably is still considered the best and a benchmark
Thunderball was the peak of the series' success for a long time. Even if it were arguably a lesser effort than the first 3 films, it undoubtedly had an impact on the series' legacy.
The Living Daylights also was a benchmark for the series. It had higher sales and acclaim than the past 2 Bond films, and it changed the direction of the series. Every film has been more gritty, violent and set-piece oriented since.
Diamonds Are Forever
The Man with the Golden Gun
Octopussy
A View to a Kill
License to Kill
Tomorrow Never Dies
The World Is Not Enough (They did something unique with the villains, but it wasn't executed well enough to stand out)
Die Another Day
Quantum of Solace (Even though it's starkly different in some ways, it didn't leave much of a mark)
Spectre (It seems like most people enjoyed it but the experience never stuck with them)
I'm not saying I dislike these films. A number of them are underrated and among my favorites. I'm just speaking objectively.
It can be said that DAF actually set the tone for campy films which many fans love, while LTK brought in elements such as dark violent scenes / theme, Bond going rogue, etc.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
FRWL - Sort of normal, but more espionage than usual
GF - Very normal, but this one set the formula
TB - I would say it's normal, but it is really boring at times
YOLT - Possible contender for most normal
OHMSS - Unusual, as it is the only time bond is played by Lazenby, and the only time he marries
DAF - IMO this film is rather weird and trippy
LALD - Again, slightly weird feel
TMWTGG - Weird feel again
TSWLM - Another contender for the most normal
MR - Space, so far from normal
FYEO - More serious for Moore, so another departure
OP - Heavy on comedy, so not normal
AVTAK - The villains are weird
TLD - Pretty normal, but also unique in that it is only 1 of 2 Daltons
LTK - Obviously a huge departure
GE - Normal, but feels more modern, so it felt fresh at the time
TND - 3rd contender for most normal
TWINE - Female main villain, so it has that
DAD - Over the top, so not normal
CR - Very different from the bond films we're used to
QOS - Again, a different approach
SF - More epic and character-driven than usual
SP - Kinda normal, but at the same time not, because of the bond/villain relationship
So...
IMO, we have 3 contenders for the most normal bond film:
YOLT
TSWLM
TND
TSWLM is heavier on comedy... so that's out
YOLT is one of the few with Blofeld as the main villain... so that's out
TND it is then.
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
every movie has its unique moments and is something special!
Maybe it will get a renaissance over time, but it's a Bond-formula film with little deviation. As it stands now, critics liked it (but didn't love it), Bond fans are polarized and the most casual moviegoers I know enjoyed it but didn't rave over it either.
It's a good movie, but I just don't see it being one of the standout films in the series (objectively speaking).
The other Bonds borrowed or were influenced by Bourne Or Nolan's Batman; this Bond is its own beast!
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
A "day in the life of Bond" IMO would be something more like the more simple films, like TLD or DN or FRWL etc...
If anything, the formulaic films like TB, TND, OP would be the more over the top missions in Bond's life.
"Better make that two."
Each Bond film is unique to us, but probably all look the same to average movie goers.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK