Do you prefer the 1st hour or the 2nd hour of any Bond film?

Dirty PunkerDirty Punker ...Your Eyes Only, darling."Posts: 2,587MI6 Agent
edited March 2017 in The James Bond Films
For example, I prefer the 1st hour of You Only Live Twice, as it may be a little slow to start, but once it starts it really drags you in. By the time Aki is dead, everything slows down for quite a bit. The second hour is rewarding in the fact that Donald Pleasence is Blofeld. Of course, that's merely an example. I'd love to hear your opinions below.
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Comments

  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    Difficult question for me.

    In the first hour, I am usually overjoyed by the fact that I am seeing a new 007 movie so that only in the second half my brain switches to rational mode back.

    And this seems to stick - even after 30 years in some cases.
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • ChriscoopChriscoop Belize Posts: 10,449MI6 Agent
    This happens on a few films for me, I love MR up until bond finds drax's amazonian Base, a few of brosnans films start very strong but tail off a little, that being said I'm never unhappy about sitting through any bond film. if you are counting NSNA then I've never got past the water skiing girl! I've never finished that film.
    It was either that.....or the priesthood
  • Miles MesservyMiles Messervy Posts: 1,757MI6 Agent
    Interesting question. I prefer the first, because it contains all of the foreplay, so to speak. This is what makes Bond special. Bond as the provocateur. The big, action-packed finale are more generic because they exist in many other films across the genre.
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    Here's another thread about the same topic: http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/40635/1st-half-better-than-2nd-half/
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • Sir Hillary BraySir Hillary Bray College of ArmsPosts: 2,174MI6 Agent
    To me, the biggest 1st half / 2nd half discrepancy is DAD. The former is quite good, the latter terrible.
    Hilly...you old devil!
  • Dirty PunkerDirty Punker ...Your Eyes Only, darling."Posts: 2,587MI6 Agent
    Thanks Matt, I didn't check before I made this topic. Anyway, Bray, I have to strongly agree. I like Die Another Day up until the late Hong Kong/early Cuba area of the film. You know, before it goes balls-to-the-wall stupid. That said, I also like the fencing scene. Chriscoop, of course NSNA isn't counted here as I have never seen the film and I don't plan to.
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  • caractacus pottscaractacus potts Orbital communicator, level 10Posts: 3,907MI6 Agent
    I think second half of Dr No is more impressive than the first half
    that may be the only clearcut example
    as others have noted most second halves become more generic, we all know the villains going to explain his plot then there'll be a long fight scene then the headquarters will get blown up
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,239MI6 Agent
    First half almost always, as in second half it's just going thru the motions, I mean it's great the first time round but on repeat viewing it is dramatically almost always the same... Bond locates villain hideout, tries to stay under the radar, fails, confrontation etc...

    Exception to this is OHMSS as I find the first hour or more really drags. Also FRWL, not that the first bit drags but it really picks up for the last furlong.
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • Dirty PunkerDirty Punker ...Your Eyes Only, darling."Posts: 2,587MI6 Agent
    Plural, when I first attempted to watch From Russia With Love, I couldn't get past the first hour because at the time I thought that it was extremely dull and boring. When I finally got around to the second hour it was so much better and quicker, I love the train and hotel scenes.
    Moonraker is one that I can't get tired of as it has too much action in it but with that it at least never got boring. Another top candidate for that would also be Diamonds Are Forever. That is if you don't focus too much on the old man with a bad toupé :)) .
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  • walther p99walther p99 NJPosts: 3,416MI6 Agent
    Almost always the first half. Its a problem that alot of films, not just Bond films, have where they start off strong then slowly get worse and lose momentum going into the second or third act.
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    Plural, when I first attempted to watch From Russia With Love, I couldn't get past the first hour because at the time I thought that it was extremely dull and boring. When I finally got around to the second hour it was so much better and quicker, I love the train and hotel scenes.
    Moonraker is one that I can't get tired of as it has too much action in it but with that it at least never got boring. Another top candidate for that would also be Diamonds Are Forever. That is if you don't focus too much on the old man with a bad toupé :)) .

    But sometimes action can be boring. The first act of Casino Royale is all action, and I find it to be perhaps the most boring part of any Bond film. Casino Royale has one of the weakest first hours of any Bond film, but then in the second hour when it starts using some of Fleming's material, it gets much better, even though it's a poker game.
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  • Dirty PunkerDirty Punker ...Your Eyes Only, darling."Posts: 2,587MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    Plural, when I first attempted to watch From Russia With Love, I couldn't get past the first hour because at the time I thought that it was extremely dull and boring. When I finally got around to the second hour it was so much better and quicker, I love the train and hotel scenes.
    Moonraker is one that I can't get tired of as it has too much action in it but with that it at least never got boring. Another top candidate for that would also be Diamonds Are Forever. That is if you don't focus too much on the old man with a bad toupé :)) .

    But sometimes action can be boring. The first act of Casino Royale is all action, and I find it to be perhaps the most boring part of any Bond film. Casino Royale has one of the weakest first hours of any Bond film, but then in the second hour when it starts using some of Fleming's material, it gets much better, even though it's a poker game.
    In Casino Royale's case, I think that the action should've been spaced out better or cut altogether so that it wouldn't have such a dramatic change of pace at the midpoint of the film (train scene, as far as I remember). The problem of action/story is bigger in Quantum of Solace. The World Is Not Enough got boring for me after the orgy of action from the long pre title sequence. At least it got a bit interesting at the "body double" scene where Bond goes undercover, that may be my favourite part of the movie after the PTS.
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  • jet set sweeneyjet set sweeney Posts: 25MI6 Agent
    Nearly always the first half for me...as this is when you often see Bond doing the small things - like having a shave in LALD, strolling around Kowloon in TMWTGG, the Gumbold and Portugal scenes in OHMSS, the golf scene in GF.

    I much prefer these moments to when the action picks up in the latter half, where the films tend to get a bit too generic at times.

    The only film which is the flipside to this is CR, where the generic action is crammed into the first half, and the Fleming story unfolds in the second half.
  • Revolver66Revolver66 Melbourne, AustraliaPosts: 470MI6 Agent
    Interesting question! It really depends for me. In a lot of cases, I find the second half stronger. For example, Dr. No, From Russia, Live and Let Die, Licence To Kill, Goldeneye, Casino Royale, and Qauntum are all films where I think the film picks up as it goes on. Then there are those that are pretty consistent throughout. Goldfinger, Thunderball, OHMSS, Spy, For Your Eyes Only, and Skyfall would be these for me. And the rest I would say that the first half is my preferred half. -{
  • Mr_OsatoMr_Osato Posts: 398MI6 Agent
    The first half, for pretty much the same reasons as above. The only exception I can thin of is maybe OHMSS. Although that movie is perfect, so probably first and second half are equal.
    OHMSS, FRWL, DN, GF, CR, GE, SP, YOLT, TB, TSWLM, LALD, TLD, TND, FYEO, SF, MR, TMWTGG, TWINE, OP, AVTAK, DAF, LTK, QOS, DAD

    1. Connery 2. Craig 3. Brosnan 4. Dalton 5. Lazenby 6. Moore
  • Gassy ManGassy Man USAPosts: 2,972MI6 Agent
    Every Brosnan film suffers from a stronger first half than second. The same can be said of the two Dalton entries and Craig's last three ventures. While the Moore ones are uneven, they and Casino Royale are the only Bonds that come close to matching the proper balance of the 60s films.
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    Gassy Man wrote:
    Every Brosnan film suffers from a stronger first half than second. The same can be said of the two Dalton entries and Craig's last three ventures. While the Moore ones are uneven, they and Casino Royale are the only Bonds that come close to matching the proper balance of the 60s films.

    Agreed. It also seems to me that they made quite a strong effort through the post-Saltzman Moore Bonds to have interesting 2nd halves.
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    Gassy Man wrote:
    Every Brosnan film suffers from a stronger first half than second. The same can be said of the two Dalton entries and Craig's last three ventures. While the Moore ones are uneven, they and Casino Royale are the only Bonds that come close to matching the proper balance of the 60s films.

    I can't think of any Bond film where the second half is stronger than the first with the possible exception of OHMSS but I'm not even convinced about that.
    Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
  • Mr_OsatoMr_Osato Posts: 398MI6 Agent
    edited March 2017
    zaphod99 wrote:
    Gassy Man wrote:
    Every Brosnan film suffers from a stronger first half than second. The same can be said of the two Dalton entries and Craig's last three ventures. While the Moore ones are uneven, they and Casino Royale are the only Bonds that come close to matching the proper balance of the 60s films.

    I can't think of any Bond film where the second half is stronger than the first with the possible exception of OHMSS but I'm not even convinced about that.

    Agreed. I cannot think of any either. The only thing I do remember is the big difference between first and second halfs, with the first half being far superior:

    - DAD is the obvious first choice. First half was actually quite enjoyable, but things went all belly up as soon as they were in Iceland
    - YOLT is pretty damn brilliant when they were in Tokyo and Kobe, but things slowed down and became silly when they entered the Japanese fisher town. Still love the movie though
    - TB is also notorious. Great first half, but second half has serious issues with the underwater fights that drag on for way too long.
    - TND is pretty great in the first half but slows down as soon as they enter Vietnam, with an underwhelming climax
    - QOS is quite decent the first half, but again an underwhelming climax
    - TLD is another good example, one of the best movies in the first half, but as soon as Bond gets locked up on the base, things slow down and gets a bit boring
    - GE great first half too, but the 3rd act is mediocre
    - TWINE another great half, but 2nd half is pretty boring
    - FYEO: I liked the first half, but I am not a big fan of the finale
    - AVTAK: This movie goes downhill as soon as Bond arrives in San Francisco.

    Films that were quite consistent in pacing are:

    - Dr No
    - OHMSS
    - FRWL (first half is still better though)
    - GF (First half is still a lot better)
    - TMWTGG
    - LALD
    - CR

    Like the others, I always love the build up; the intro of the villains, the plan unfolding and the little details: the golf scene of goldfinger, the drive through the alps in Goldfinger, the casino scenes in TB, OHMSS, etc.
    OHMSS, FRWL, DN, GF, CR, GE, SP, YOLT, TB, TSWLM, LALD, TLD, TND, FYEO, SF, MR, TMWTGG, TWINE, OP, AVTAK, DAF, LTK, QOS, DAD

    1. Connery 2. Craig 3. Brosnan 4. Dalton 5. Lazenby 6. Moore
  • The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man EnglandPosts: 434MI6 Agent
    Almost always the first half is better. I enjoy the build up and the setting up of the plot.
    A superior second half is OHMSS which goes up a gear from the escape from Piz Gloria - which remains my most enjoyable sequence in any Bond film. Also I prefer the second half in CR, whose structure seems the obverse from most other Bond films. The action is loaded in the first half but the film is better when the Fleming elements are introduced and the pace slows down. I enjoy all of FRWL but may have to give it to the last hour, the build up on the train to the Bond/Grant fight and the fight itself are excellent. Coincidentally these are my three favourite films from the series. -{
    1.ohmss 2.cr 3.frwl 4.ltk 5.gf 6.tswlm 7.sf 8.op 9.tld 10.dn 11.lald 12.tb 13.fyeo 14.ge 15.mr 16.yolt 17.tnd 18.avtak 19.sp 20.twine 21.qos 22.tmwtgg 23.daf 24.dad
  • Revolver66Revolver66 Melbourne, AustraliaPosts: 470MI6 Agent
    zaphod99 wrote:
    Gassy Man wrote:
    Every Brosnan film suffers from a stronger first half than second. The same can be said of the two Dalton entries and Craig's last three ventures. While the Moore ones are uneven, they and Casino Royale are the only Bonds that come close to matching the proper balance of the 60s films.

    I can't think of any Bond film where the second half is stronger than the first with the possible exception of OHMSS but I'm not even convinced about that.


    From Russia?
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    Better 1st halves:

    GF
    YOLT
    DAF
    TLD (marginally)
    TND
    DAD
    CR
    QoS
    SP

    Better 2nd halves:

    LALD - I find the beginning of the film odd and boringly set-up. Boat chase final is brilliant.
    MR - I'd also put this in well-balanced, but the space scenes are excellent and you look forward to it.
    GE - while the PTS etc. are very good, the film finally gets going at the end, spends too much time on plot set-up.

    Well balanced:

    DN
    FRWL
    OHMSS
    TMWTGG
    TSWLM
    FYEO
    OP
    AVTAK
    TWINE
    SF

    Patchy:

    TB
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • Dirty PunkerDirty Punker ...Your Eyes Only, darling."Posts: 2,587MI6 Agent
    Love the "Patchy" category. I'd add The Man With The Golden Gun to that as I find the ballet dancing school and boat chase rather boring. The rest of the film is quite excellent in my eyes. How exactly do you consider TWINE "well balanced"?
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  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    I'd add The Man With The Golden Gun to that as I find the ballet dancing school and boat chase rather boring. The rest of the film is quite excellent in my eyes. How exactly do you consider TWINE "well balanced"?

    You've made a good point actually about TMWTGG. Although I will say that the beginning and end of the film is quite strong - and that in the middle it's a bit flabby.

    Well balanced in my mind is purely a film which is neither better or worse in 1st or 2nd halves. I find TWINE well balanced because it's entertaining and consistent throughout. I also find the finale nail biting and very well done - Pierce is very strong without appearing as lame as he does in TND. One of the more underrated endings. Remember TWINE being my favourite so I may not be that objective!
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • Dirty PunkerDirty Punker ...Your Eyes Only, darling."Posts: 2,587MI6 Agent
    I'd add The Man With The Golden Gun to that as I find the ballet dancing school and boat chase rather boring. The rest of the film is quite excellent in my eyes. How exactly do you consider TWINE "well balanced"?


    Well balanced in my mind is purely a film which is neither better or worse in 1st or 2nd halves. I find TWINE well balanced because it's entertaining and consistent throughout. I also find the finale nail biting and very well done - Pierce is very strong without appearing as lame as he does in TND. One of the more underrated endings. Remember TWINE being my favourite so I may not be that objective!
    Objectivity goes out the window when it comes to your opinion :)) . Even if I love A View To A Kill, the horse racing bit (lifted directly from the DAF novel BTW) slows the film way down and is something that I never look forward to whenever I rewatch the movie. I can look past "California Girls" but the horse racing bit is what makes me believe that the second half is stronger.
    The only consistent films, in my opinion, are:
    Dr NO (Intriguing and gritty. Very consistent, even if it could've used a bit more fun and a better score)
    Goldfinger (Title matches the description)
    On Her Majesty's Secret Service (The truly consistent movie, even if I'm not the biggest fan of the montage as it hurts twice as bad by the time the movie is over.)
    Diamonds Are Forever (It's my guilty pleasure, and it does have a lot of action so it's consistent in that remark)
    The Spy Who Loved Me (See Goldfinger)
    Moonraker (One of the few people that enjoys the laser battle and Rio parts of the movie along with the stealthy 1st hour of the movie)
    (For Your Eyes Only, I haven't seen this film enough to judge)
    Octopussy (Bomb chase is edge of your seat entertainment, from the germans to "Mein Alfa!")
    Licence To Kill (I'm lost in the colours and the setting, so it's consistent for me)
    GoldenEye (See...............wait for it................Goldfinger)
    Quantum Of Solace (See Diamonds Are Forever)
    Skyfall (See FYEO)
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  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    Revolver66 wrote:
    zaphod99 wrote:
    Gassy Man wrote:
    Every Brosnan film suffers from a stronger first half than second. The same can be said of the two Dalton entries and Craig's last three ventures. While the Moore ones are uneven, they and Casino Royale are the only Bonds that come close to matching the proper balance of the 60s films.

    I can't think of any Bond film where the second half is stronger than the first with the possible exception of OHMSS but I'm not even convinced about that.


    From Russia?

    Ok maybe 2 B-)
    Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
  • McmadnessMcmadness Posts: 26MI6 Agent
    I can't decide personally as I enjoy both the set up and the generic action finales.

    Provided it's well made action finales and sometimes they aren't even generic!
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  • MrGoreMrGore Posts: 129MI6 Agent
    edited August 2017
    First half of LTK is masterly, I think. Particularly since it is pure Fleming.

    First they do the shark/warehouse scene from LALD, almost faithfully.
    Then they do The Hildebrand Rarity from FYEO short story collection with Krest and his boat.

    I watched it on TV today. Forgotten how good it was in parts.

    However, I still think it is let down by some of what comes after.

    The tanker chase climax is pretty damn good, though.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 SwitzerlandPosts: 870MI6 Agent
    There is the opinion around that usually the first half of a Bond film is better than the second half. Let's see if I come to the same conclusion, there are some films though that I feel have the middle part as their strength and some are simply perfect from start to finish.

    Red 1st half
    Green 2nd half
    Blue Middle part
    Gold All of it


    DN
    FRWL
    GF
    TB from Nassau to before the lengthy underwater battle is PERFECTION
    YOLT
    OHMSS
    DAF
    LALD J.W. Pepper and the boat/police car chase makes the second half essential
    TMWTGG
    TSWLM tempted to say first half, but the battle at the end is just too good
    MR tempted for the second half but it's all brilliant
    FYEO
    OP
    AVTAK
    TLD
    LTK
    GE
    TND
    TWINE
    DAD
    CR the middle section from the train to Montenegro to before Venice is PERFECTION the rest is meh...
    QOS
    SF the gravest case of a second half that is infinitely inferior to the first half
    SP although I love all of it, I say the first half 97 minutes incl. the train sequence is PERFECTION
    Dalton Rulez™
  • bainesy1usbainesy1us Posts: 42MI6 Agent
    The only one I can strongly say I prefer the 1st hour is DAD. And massively so. I thought the 1st half was very impressive but he 2nd half.. well I think we all know the general consensus. In fact I don't think I've known a film with quite contrasting first and second hours.
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