My struggles with Ranking anything to do with Bond

James SuzukiJames Suzuki New ZealandPosts: 2,406MI6 Agent
Ranking things has always been popular. Your top five desserts? Top ten places to visit before you die? Top five Barry White songs? Yep, all easily answered. But does anyone else really struggle to rank things to do with Bond?
Sir Rog is probably my favourite James Bond.
For Your Eyes Only is my favourite Bond film, but that's got a lot to do with nolstagia and sentimental reasons. Oh and Die Another Day has some problems.
But apart from those few views, I'm just so in love with everything Bond that really do struggle to place them in any order. If one of the members held a gun against my head I'd might spit out an order for favourite Bond films, Villains, Actors, Roger Moore's grunts etc.
But they'd all change in the next five minutes.
Does anyone else have this issue?
Is it an issue at all? Or do you think I've reached the heights of fandom?
“The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming

Comments

  • OakvaleOakvale Pennsylvania Posts: 155MI6 Agent
    I can state my preferences, but to set it in stone and in writing by ranking, I just can't do that, it would change every time I see the films.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,060Chief of Staff
    I don't think it's an issue, and agree with most of the OP.

    (However, I must admit to never paying much attention to Sir Rog's grunts!)
  • CoolHandBondCoolHandBond Mactan IslandPosts: 6,033MI6 Agent
    I quite enjoy compiling ranking lists for all sorts of things. I rewatched all the Bonds last year and by the end of the viewings the order had changed somewhat and then I realised that if I did it again it would be different to the last one :)) . What will never change though is that since I first saw OHMSS in the cinema as a 13 year old in 1969 it was, is, and always will be #1.
    Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
  • James SuzukiJames Suzuki New ZealandPosts: 2,406MI6 Agent
    I quite enjoy compiling ranking lists for all sorts of things. I rewatched all the Bonds last year and by the end of the viewings the order had changed somewhat and then I realised that if I did it again it would be different to the last one :)) . What will never change though is that since I first saw OHMSS in the cinema as a 13 year old in 1969 it was, is, and always will be #1.
    Sometimes there's just one film that 'clicks' with you.
    As much as the other films go up and down, number one film for many is pretty consistent.
    “The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
    -Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
  • BIG TAMBIG TAM Wrexham, North Wales, UK.Posts: 773MI6 Agent
    To a certain degree I have the same issues. I'm always juggling with what I consider to be best & the most enjoyable. The two aren't always mutual. For example, I rate FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE very highly as a well-structured, thought-out thriller. It makes sense & has a strong believability to it. Though a fantasy of what espionage actually is, it doesn't feel stupid & therefore satisfies as a serious thriller. Compare this to MOONRAKER which by contrast is a patchwork quilt of past glories & has a 'thrown together' feel. The plot is pretty flimsy & reasons for one incident happening after another are tenuous at best - much of it doesn't bear close scrutiny. But in many ways I enjoy watching MOONRAKER far more than FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE even though I undoubtedly believe the latter to be the better film. So yes, I too struggle with such lists as I can see the good in all the films but very little that is actually bad.
  • walther p99walther p99 NJPosts: 3,416MI6 Agent
    I quite enjoy compiling ranking lists for all sorts of things. I rewatched all the Bonds last year and by the end of the viewings the order had changed somewhat and then I realised that if I did it again it would be different to the last one :)) . What will never change though is that since I first saw OHMSS in the cinema as a 13 year old in 1969 it was, is, and always will be #1.
    Sometimes there's just one film that 'clicks' with you.
    As much as the other films go up and down, number one film for many is pretty consistent.
    Yeah you bring up a solid point about having a film that just 'clicks' with you. Skyfall is definitely that film for me.
  • PeppermillPeppermill DelftPosts: 2,860MI6 Agent
    My rankins have changed quite a lot during the years, which in my opinion is a good thing. Let's face it, it is all subjective and there is no right or wrong (except maybe for Roger Moore being the best Bond :))). It is always difficult to rank something number 1 because it means that all your other favourites can NOT be number one.

    The thing is, I really enjoy reading other people's rankings especially when they give reasons for their choices; like the last few posts in the big movie rankings topic.
    1. Ohmss 2. Frwl 3. Op 4. Tswlm 5. Tld 6. Ge 7. Yolt 8. Lald 9. Cr 10. Ltk 11. Dn 12. Gf 13. Qos 14. Mr 15. Tmwtgg 16. Fyeo 17. Twine 18. Sf 19. Tb 20 Tnd 21. Spectre 22 Daf 23. Avtak 24. Dad
  • ChriscoopChriscoop Belize Posts: 10,449MI6 Agent
    I too simply can't rank things bond, I can tell you my most watched films or the films / soundtracks I have most affection for but I couldn't them in a ranking list, each film serves me up something different to enjoy, each bond actor puts in a performance somewhere I love etc etc.... No ranking is not from me I'm afraid.
    It was either that.....or the priesthood
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,060Chief of Staff
    {[] +1. Once again we agree, CC!
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    +1 -{
    for me it's like choosing which of your children is your favourite :))
    with NSNA as the weird evil twin, you keep hidden away
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • James SuzukiJames Suzuki New ZealandPosts: 2,406MI6 Agent
    +1 -{
    for me it's like choosing which of your children is your favourite :))
    with NSNA as the weird evil twin, you keep hidden away
    Wouldn't NSNA be that illegitimate child we have to acknowledge every once and a while?
    “The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
    -Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
  • DutchfingerDutchfinger Holland With LovePosts: 1,240MI6 Agent
    I enjoy ranking, but I defenitely could not tattoo my current ranking onto my back, - it changes constantly!
    I think that it's all part of the joy of Bond fandom though! These days we have to wait so long for new Bond films to be released that we Bond fans end up wanting our fandom needs to be fullfilled somehow! So we do so by watching these movies over and over again, It's not unheared of to have watched these movies hundreds of times, discussing and nitpicking every little aspect on YouTube or on forums like these and making lists and rankings to convay what type of Bond fans we are - and learn about other peoples views in the process... We're quite an odd lott.... - But you just gotta love Bond fandom :D -{

    So I'd say you're exactly the same as any other Bond fan! :))
    Better known as DutchBondFan on YouTube. My 007 movie reviews: Recapping 007
    YouTube channel Support my channel on Patreon Twitter Facebook fanpage
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    It's difficult to give an exact ranking, but I have no trouble saying that OHMSS and FRWL will always be at the top and that DAD and CR will be at the bottom.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,060Chief of Staff
    Matt S wrote:
    It's difficult to give an exact ranking, but I have no trouble saying that OHMSS and FRWL will always be at the top and that DAD and CR will be at the bottom.

    Which CR, Matt? :))
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    Matt S wrote:
    It's difficult to give an exact ranking, but I have no trouble saying that OHMSS and FRWL will always be at the top and that DAD and CR will be at the bottom.

    Which CR, Matt? :))

    I think you know. The one that's part of the Bond series. I'd much rather watch the other two.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,060Chief of Staff
    I know, just teasing. :)
  • ChriscoopChriscoop Belize Posts: 10,449MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    {[] +1. Once again we agree, CC!
    Thank you Barbel and Thunderpussy, I feel better now, I sometimes feel left out of all the ranking threads I can't post in.
    It was either that.....or the priesthood
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    BIG TAM wrote:
    To a certain degree I have the same issues. I'm always juggling with what I consider to be best & the most enjoyable. The two aren't always mutual. For example, I rate FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE very highly as a well-structured, thought-out thriller. It makes sense & has a strong believability to it. Though a fantasy of what espionage actually is, it doesn't feel stupid & therefore satisfies as a serious thriller. Compare this to MOONRAKER which by contrast is a patchwork quilt of past glories & has a 'thrown together' feel. The plot is pretty flimsy & reasons for one incident happening after another are tenuous at best - much of it doesn't bear close scrutiny. But in many ways I enjoy watching MOONRAKER far more than FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE even though I undoubtedly believe the latter to be the better film. So yes, I too struggle with such lists as I can see the good in all the films but very little that is actually bad.


    It's important to make a distinction between best and favorite. You could objectively rate FRWL as "better" than MR, but rate MR higher on your list of favorites. There's no right or wrong answers.

    I know you're a John Ford fan so I trust your judgment regarding films, but I am surprised that you think MR doesn't hold up to close scrutiny. To me, it's actually FRWL that falls apart under the microscope whereas MR is one of the most solid entries in the series. I've watched it probably 50+ times and haven't come across any real plot holes.

    FRWL falls apart with Kronsteen's plan being different than what is actually carried out in the film. The additional layer of Spectre above Smersh. The killing of agents to elevate the Cold War in Istanbul seems to have nothing to do with Bond. No explanation for many of the events that happen on the train. Red Grant suddenly "greedy" at exactly the right time.

    Anyway…back to ranking. It's good clean fun and enjoy seeing other fans rankings provided there is some explanation to go along with it. It makes me view the films with a more critical eye. (i.e best gun barrel sequence)
    Roger Moore's grunts etc.

    I'm not a total nerd that I'm going to rank Roger's grunts from best to worst! However, I have noticed his grunt sound clip is recycled on several occasions.
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    There are quite a few ranking threads, so those who fancy a quick rank can do so.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Sign In or Register to comment.