Most Recent Bond Syndrome
TheWorldIsEnough
Posts: 296MI6 Agent
I'd like to coin a new phrase here: Most Recent Bond Syndrome or MRBS
Definition: The tendency to rate a Bond film higher only because (A) it's newer (B) you've just watched it recently.
Case in point #1: I rewatched Octopussy for the first time in 15 years. I hated it at first. After rewatching it, I do like it more. But do I like it more because I just watched it, or did I realize it was better than my second most hated film Diamonds are Forever? And if I now rewatch Diamonds Are Forever next, will I change my mind again? And did I just put Octopussy higher on my list because it's more recent than Diamonds Are Forever? Also I'd like to put Octopussy higher on my list, however, I can't because I think the movies from Dalton to Craig are just better, probably because they are more recent.
Case in point#2: Quantum of Solace was at one point my second favorite behind Casino Royale. Now after time has passed, I think GoldenEye is once again my favorite and Quantum has dropped a few more spots. I still really like Quantum of Solace, but am I suffering from MRBS? Just because it's fresher than Dr. No?
Case in point #3: I put down the Roger Moore movies a lot, even though I try to remember that they were a unique product of the times. I really hate that I rate Die Another Day high on my list, possibly only because it's newer than most. But when I watch Die Another Day versus any Roger Moore film, I'm sorry, but Die another Day will win every time. It is just so visually stimulating and more entertaining than some of the older films. Bottom line: I just enjoy it more, so I rate it higher.
Final thought:
Usually when I rewatch the Bond movies, I always go back to just how good Dr. No, From Russia With Love and Goldfinger are. Despite being over 50 years old, those movies are just so good in every way. I will eventually get my ratings figured out, but I can also do it chronologically:
Dr. No ---- to ---- Goldfinger (OUTSTANDING)
Thunderball ---- to ---- On Her Majesty's Secret Service (GREAT)
Diamonds Are Forever ---- to ---- A View To A Kill (GOOD)
The Living Daylights ---- to ---- License To Kill (GREAT)
GoldenEye ---- to ---- Spectre ---- (OUTSTANDING)
Definition: The tendency to rate a Bond film higher only because (A) it's newer (B) you've just watched it recently.
Case in point #1: I rewatched Octopussy for the first time in 15 years. I hated it at first. After rewatching it, I do like it more. But do I like it more because I just watched it, or did I realize it was better than my second most hated film Diamonds are Forever? And if I now rewatch Diamonds Are Forever next, will I change my mind again? And did I just put Octopussy higher on my list because it's more recent than Diamonds Are Forever? Also I'd like to put Octopussy higher on my list, however, I can't because I think the movies from Dalton to Craig are just better, probably because they are more recent.
Case in point#2: Quantum of Solace was at one point my second favorite behind Casino Royale. Now after time has passed, I think GoldenEye is once again my favorite and Quantum has dropped a few more spots. I still really like Quantum of Solace, but am I suffering from MRBS? Just because it's fresher than Dr. No?
Case in point #3: I put down the Roger Moore movies a lot, even though I try to remember that they were a unique product of the times. I really hate that I rate Die Another Day high on my list, possibly only because it's newer than most. But when I watch Die Another Day versus any Roger Moore film, I'm sorry, but Die another Day will win every time. It is just so visually stimulating and more entertaining than some of the older films. Bottom line: I just enjoy it more, so I rate it higher.
Final thought:
Usually when I rewatch the Bond movies, I always go back to just how good Dr. No, From Russia With Love and Goldfinger are. Despite being over 50 years old, those movies are just so good in every way. I will eventually get my ratings figured out, but I can also do it chronologically:
Dr. No ---- to ---- Goldfinger (OUTSTANDING)
Thunderball ---- to ---- On Her Majesty's Secret Service (GREAT)
Diamonds Are Forever ---- to ---- A View To A Kill (GOOD)
The Living Daylights ---- to ---- License To Kill (GREAT)
GoldenEye ---- to ---- Spectre ---- (OUTSTANDING)
Comments
*It's pointless and does not improve anything.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
[goes and checks the medicine cabinet for antacid]
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
wait...what?
1. Dont unnecessarily try to rank a film that you hv not watched in the past 12 months or so. Trying to comment or rate a film that you watched 15 yrs ago is unfair ( esp if it is negative)
2. Develop 3 to 5 criteria to judge a film. Assign a number to those criteria and than rate as objectively as you possibly can. This way you are not influenced by the latest as everytime you hand a number to a film, it is the latest at that point. Later, you can just compare the numbers and rank accordingly
3. If possible try to benchmark a film and compare other films with it
The above is one of the ways to bring some sort of objectivity to your ranking and be fair to all Bond films
Hope this helps!
A lot of times, after watching a Bond movie people say "Oh, I'm gonna raise this on my list". But not every Bond movie can be above average. Sometimes you just gotta say "Hey, this is a really good film, but it's still not top 10 material"
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
as voted for by real spies and intelligence officers. They rated Skyfall as
The most true to life Bond film.
So I thake comfort from knowing that the people who actually do the job
Agree with Me,
to which one to watch, and I can't really rank one over another because they are so
different with so many good points etc.
My preferences are probably best separated into tiers of affection---from unabashed adoration down to patient tolerance. The number of cringes per film is the most measurable factor, :v and that really doesn't seem to change with the passing of time, funnily.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I like the cringe calculus as the test. I can see a weighted spreadsheet to measure intensity.
Exactly! Why hate it that you like a really great movie - one of the greatest Bond movies, in fact? Be proud!
my man {[]
Time will tell if Spectre holds up on DVD small screen.
The most recent Bond film I watch does not necessarily get a boost in rankings. Sometimes they are not as good as I remembered!
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK