Best Bond Film Ever!

stumac7stumac7 ScotlandPosts: 295MI6 Agent
in The James Bond Films
Similar to the other thread I started - I was wondering which Bond film people would choose as there best of the Bond franchise and why? ( I was really only talking about the 'official' films).

After a while I will add up the results to see which one is the most popular.

Mine would be - GOLDFINGER, as it has always been the iconic bond film for me, Connery is superb and I really like the golf sequence near the begining between Bond and Goldfinger.
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Comments

  • LazenbyLazenby The upper reaches of the AmazoPosts: 606MI6 Agent
    OK, I'll bite, since nobody else seems to be. My favorite is OHMSS, for reasons I've elaborated ad nauseum in other threads. I will once again post the following link, however, which says more than mere words ever could:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA3FgHGJwKk
  • JohmssJohmss Posts: 274MI6 Agent
    Again this kind of topic (i mean, like i was too old to know that)

    I would have to say:

    From Russia With Love. Is a Cold war plot, with a secret organization, a movie that really starts the Bond franquise (the traveling i mean, Dr no is tropical, FRWL shows Europe) it has the best Connery (well, how it looks) has a little more Bond action (the gypsy camp, the train fight) and how about all the confrontation with Grant (Nash). it has Kerim Bay, one of the best Bond allies who starts (or continues) the tragic destiny they share. The music is Pure Barry, gives us 007 if i don't recall it wrong.

    Prsents the Q branch with a useful line of gadgets (Bond has the briefcase in GF) and how they are handled with pure wit.

    It also stars the gunbarrel, pre titles, titles movie...

    i mean, Dr no gives us Bond, FRWL shows us a Bond movie, and Goldfinger proves it.

    but hey, it's just my opinion, perhaps i'm wrong or i might be forgetting something.

    (but... i prefer OHMSS over GF)
  • Brosnan_fanBrosnan_fan Sydney, AustraliaPosts: 521MI6 Agent
    I'm not sure where you want to take this as its been done before ?:), but

    OP

    Everything is right with this one, and I can even overlook Moore being overage as its such an enjoyable romp. -{ -{ -{ -{
    "Well, he certainly left with his tails between his legs."
  • Son Of BarbelSon Of Barbel Posts: 227MI6 Agent
    I'd have to say TLD definitely I love Tim and the action in the desert The plane fight is one of my favorite fights ever.
  • JennyFlexFanJennyFlexFan Posts: 1,497MI6 Agent
    Goldeneye.

    It has EVERYTHING!

    A brilliant Bond

    TWO beautiful women (and fleshed out characters to boot)

    A great villain

    An interesting plot

    Fast cars (Ferrari, Aston, BMW)

    Great action and chase sequences

    Et cetera. The list goes on and on for this intense movie and it's my all time favorite!
  • Tee HeeTee Hee CBT Headquarters: Chicago, ILPosts: 917MI6 Agent
    Have to agree with Brosnan_fan,

    Octopussy:

    Great chemistry with Maud Adams,

    A host of great villains, including Louis Jordan, Kabir Bedi, and Stephen Berkoff,

    A great Cold War plot,

    A beautiful Indian location,

    A great John Barry score,

    Breathtaking action and stunts, such as the acrostar jet, the Tuk Tuk chase, the Bond hunt, the circus bomb defusal, and the attack on the Monsoon Palace,

    Great gadgets, such as the alligator submarine and the liquid crystal TV (Perfect image :p ),

    Lots of laughs, such as Bond sliding down the stair rail,

    Kristina Wayborn, 'nuff said.

    All the Bond elements are here in spades. Thoroughly entertaining throughout!

    Moore at his best! :007)
    "My acting range? Left eyebrow raised, right eyebrow raised..."

    -Roger Moore
  • KGB with loveKGB with love Posts: 18MI6 Agent
    From Russia with love
  • ShawnShawn Posts: 21MI6 Agent
    I'd say Casino Royale (2006) because they kept the film to the novel and they bought Bond back and they made him how I think Flemming would have imagined him. :)
  • SkywalkerSkywalker Posts: 7MI6 Agent
    LALD is my fav Bond film. I feel it is Sir Rog at his best.

    FRWL, GF, and DN deserve a mention too.
  • SkywalkerSkywalker Posts: 7MI6 Agent
    LALD is my fav Bond film. I feel it is Sir Rog at his best.

    FRWL, GF, and DN deserve a mention too.
  • ZachZach Posts: 51MI6 Agent
    I'll just echo Brosnan Fan and Tee Hee, and say that OP is the best. Kamal Kahn is my favorite villain and I love all of the supporting henchman. The locations were great. India is a great place to do a Bond movie. I also thought Roger Moore did an amazing job as Bond. It's a movie that I can sit down and watch anytime. It's probably the movie I watch most. (not just Bond) After typing this, I think I'm gonna have to watch it again pretty soon.
  • Slazenger7Slazenger7 Posts: 62MI6 Agent
    FRWL is the best Bond film ever, I would have to say. For my money Sean Connery and Robert Shaw are (were) two of the best actors on the planet, and both of their performances are outstanding. The strong source material is certainly a plus here as well, from what I consider to be one of Fleming's best novels, and the plot is straightforward, yet quite a tangled web for 007 and intelligent as heck.

    I also love TY's directing in this one, and the film features an incredible balance of suspense, action, romance, danger, and friendship.

    Certain films such as GF, TB and now CR may flip flop with FRWL as my favorite, but if pressed I would have to say that FRWL is the best Bond film.

    Surprised by all the OP lovers in this thread, which I've only seen about twice and I considered it to be one of Moore's weakest films (I even enjoyed TMWTGG much more!) Perhaps I'll give OP another chance sometime here soon, see if I missed something. :)
  • James F EJames F E Posts: 140MI6 Agent
    The question here is which is the best Bond film, not which is your favorite.(By the way mine is TB for various reasons).

    OHMSS gets my vote for best Bond film. The story line is complex on so many levels...the hunt for Blofeld, Draco's proposition to help his Son-in-Law, the whole love story, and then the brilliant ending. It really holds weight even when compared to the novel. The music score was probably the strogest of the whole series. The casting; spot-on. Dianna Rigg, Telly Savalas..& Lazenby as our lad. To bad he didn't make a few more films, I thought he was a great pick for this film.

    Alot of great films proceeded OHMSS..(actually all the Bonds before OHMSS are great),& a few great ones after it, (FYEO, TLD, GE, CR)...but for my money it's OHMSS.-{
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    edited April 2007
    IMO the greatest Bond film of all time was GF. Here's why:

    The film begins with arguably the greatest PTS of all time. Bond makes an 'explosive' entrance (pun intended ;)), dances with a beautiful woman, gets into a cool fight and delivers one of the all-time great one-liners; "Shocking! Positively shocking!" The film then leads into, arguably, the greatest ever title sequence featuring very arguably the greatest ever title song.

    (Don't worry, I'm not going to go through the entire film in detail. :D)

    After the title sequence, every scene is a classic and a masterpiece of Bond. We have the card game (where we meet arguably the greatest single film villain), the iconic covering of the girl in gold paint, arguably the greatest ever scene involving Q, arguably the finest scene involving Moneypenny, the golf game (a brilliant example of how clever Bond can be), the demonstration of Oddjob's abilities and the terrific road car chase. It's unbielivable to watch GF and see how much of it has been copied (and not just in the Bond films. Yet IMO GF remains the benchmark) Anyway, we then have that brilliant sequence in the woods (which includes the use of the ejector seat), the magnificent laser scene and the introduction to the beautiful Pussy Galore (see my sig for quite possibly the two best lines of dialogue in the entire film :D.)Although I do agree with those who believe that the first half was better than the second, I think it is a reflection of just how good the second half is, as IMO the second half is absolutely outstanding. For in that second half, we have Bond's great escape, the fantastic scene in the barn (in which Bond changed Pussy's sexuality as well as her allegiance :D), the conversation with Goldfinger (IMO one of the greatest examples of acting in the entire series and perhaps the best scene in GF), the killing of Solo and the wonderful line that followed ("As you said, he had a pressing engagement.") And then, after all this, we have more brilliant scenes at the end of the film, in the two fight scenes (in Fort Knox with Oddjob and on the plane with Goldfinger) and the last scene with Pussy.

    GF is my all-time favourite Bond film. However I would argue it was also the best due to it featuring (IMO) the greatest performance from the best of the Bonds, the greatest single film villain, the best plot, the best screenplay, the best title song, the best PTS, one of the best Bond girls, the greatest one-liners (other great one-liners include "He blew a fuse" "You like a close shave, don't you?" and "My dear girl, there are some things that just aren't done, such as drinking Dom Perignon '53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That's just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs!"), the greatest car of all time and due to it being IMO the most effortlessly entertaining Bond film of all time.

    LONG LIVE GOLDFINGER!!! -{

    4000th post. {[]
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,385Chief of Staff
    edited April 2007
    ...so I guess you like it, then, Dan?

    I first saw GF in the 60s, when my late father (not a Bond fan) took me after much nagging to see it, and was blown away by the sheer impact of the film. The cast (Connery, naturally, but everyone else as well with a special mention for Gert Frobe), the stylishness (Guy Hamilton's best work), and (me being me) the music. I really don't know how often I've seen it since then- reissues, Beta, VHS, Special, Ultimate...- but one thing's for sure: it won't be long before I watch it again.
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 21,813MI6 Agent
    For me it's Casino Royale, but FRWL and OHMSS are close!
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    edited April 2007
    Barbel wrote:
    ...so I guess you like it, then, Dan?
    I think it's okay. :))
    Barbel wrote:
    I first saw GF in the 60s, when my late father (not a Bond fan) took me after much nagging to see it, and was blown away by the sheer impact of the film. The cast (Connery, naturally, but everyone else as well with a special mention for Gert Frobe), the stylishness (Guy Hamilton's best work), and (me being me) the music. I really don't know how often I've seen it since then- reissues, Beta, VHS, Special, Ultimate...- but one thing's for sure: it won't be long before I watch it again.
    Exactly. I've explained why I consider it to be the best ever Bond film, but more than that, I find it so incredibly watchable. :D
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,726MI6 Agent
    Yeah; Goldfinger's not perfect and it's probably not even my favourite, but if I had to pick just one to go in the capsule to send out into space, it'd have to be that one. It's the classic one.
  • pussy galorepussy galore Posts: 3MI6 Agent
    "Goldfinger".
  • Krassno GranitskiKrassno Granitski USAPosts: 896MI6 Agent
    FRWL wins only because it stars Connery, otherwise OHMSS wins.
    J1 Visa
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    pussy galore wrote:
    "Goldfinger".
    I would never have guessed. :D I also consider GF to be the greatest ever Bond film. Check out my post at the bottom of page one on this thread; you will see just how much I love GF! :))

    BTW, I love your sig! :D
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • RJJBRJJB United StatesPosts: 346MI6 Agent
    For me, it'll always be Goldfinger. I saw it in the theaters when it first premiered in 1964. All we knew about it is that it was supposed to be a cool movie. I almost didn't get to see it as it was too "adult" for me at that age. Good thing the parents relented. I remember being mesmerized the whole time I was watching the movie. Any plot holes or "bad" scenes were completely ignored by just how cool the movie was. There had never been anything like this before. We sat through it twice that day--you could do that back then. Any time the movie was re-released, I went to see it. I even had the good luck to see it during a Bond festival in London in 1972. That print included the bomb counting down to 003. For years, it was the one movie I had seen most often in a theater. The soundtrack to the movie was the first record album I ever bought.

    I really think that people who have seen the later movies first and then catch up on the first four classics, can not truly appreciate just how great those movies are. Nothing against their POV, but they miss out on the scope and the originality that the series delivered.
  • pussy galorepussy galore Posts: 3MI6 Agent
    Dan Same wrote:
    pussy galore wrote:
    "Goldfinger".
    I would never have guessed. :D I also consider GF to be the greatest ever Bond film. Check out my post at the bottom of page one on this thread; you will see just how much I love GF! :))

    BTW, I love your sig! :D
    Terrific post! - I meant to compliment you on it. You obviously love GF just as much as I do. Pleased to make your acquaintance. :D

    Thank you - likewise. :D I'm sorry - I didn't notice that you were using the same quote, but I think that you would agree that it deserves to be repeated twice! :))
  • 72897289 Beau DesertPosts: 1,691MI6 Agent
    It's really like trying to pick a favorite wife from a Harem (T.D. would say Harreem) most all the Bond films have a certain charm.

    Right now I am rather taken by the latest one.
    Bond’s Walther PPK
    Bond’s Beretta
    The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    edited June 2007
    pussy galore wrote:
    Terrific post! - I meant to compliment you on it. You obviously love GF just as much as I do.
    I certainly do. :D Thank you BTW.
    pussy galore wrote:
    Pleased to make your acquaintance. :D
    It is always great to meet another GF fan. -{
    pussy galore wrote:
    Thank you - likewise. :D I'm sorry - I didn't notice that you were using the same quote, but I think that you would agree that it deserves to be repeated twice! :))
    Considering that IMO it's the best quote in the series, I would certainly agree with you that it deserves to be repeated twice. :D
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • bigzilchobigzilcho Toronto, ONPosts: 245MI6 Agent
    FRWL is the pound-for-pound champ.

    But there is one worthy contender:OHMSS.

    I am shocked and pleased at the the diversity of the responses.

    OP and LALD getting votes confirms my belief that Bond-fans are not taken in by easy assumptions. From a certain angle, I can understand why these two under-rated entries get the nod.

    They are good Bond thrillers.Period.

    I have heard the anti-Roger talk since time immemorial...some critics will never cut Rog the slack.

    But, mark my words, Roger will be more and more appreciated as time goes by.

    Why? His 007 was fun-loving.

    When you can accept the notion that Roger is not Sean and his 007 was not quite as tough as was needed, one sits back and enjoys a wonderful 007 romp that ALWAYS brings a smile.

    This notion that his 007 films will age badly is nonsense. On the contrary, they will be appreciated by future generations for what they are. The adventures of the 007 who had the most fun.Roger's stock will increase in value.

    So when OP and LALD get votes for best ever Bond film, one shouldn't be surprised. Its taken awhile, but Roger's movies have earned the right to be considered.

    (By the way, where are the TSWLM votes?)

    "Double sixes. Fancy that."
  • DEFIANT 74205DEFIANT 74205 Perth, AustraliaPosts: 1,881MI6 Agent
    Dan Same wrote:
    IMO the greatest Bond film of all time was GF. Here's why:

    The film begins with arguably the greatest PTS of all time. Bond makes an 'explosive' entrance (pun intended ;)), dances with a beautiful woman, gets into a cool fight and delivers one of the all-time great one-liners; "Shocking! Positively shocking!" The film then leads into, arguably, the greatest ever title sequence featuring very arguably the greatest ever title song.

    (Don't worry, I'm not going to go through the entire film in detail. :D)

    After the title sequence, every scene is a classic and a masterpiece of Bond. We have the card game (where we meet arguably the greatest single film villain), the iconic covering of the girl in gold paint, arguably the greatest ever scene involving Q, arguably the finest scene involving Moneypenny, the golf game (a brilliant example of how clever Bond can be), the demonstration of Oddjob's abilities and the terrific road car chase. It's unbielivable to watch GF and see how much of it has been copied (and not just in the Bond films. Yet IMO GF remains the benchmark) Anyway, we then have that brilliant sequence in the woods (which includes the use of the ejector seat), the magnificent laser scene and the introduction to the beautiful Pussy Galore (see my sig for quite possibly the two best lines of dialogue in the entire film :D.)Although I do agree with those who believe that the first half was better than the second, I think it is a reflection of just how good the second half is, as IMO the second half is absolutely outstanding. For in that second half, we have Bond's great escape, the fantastic scene in the barn (in which Bond changed Pussy's sexuality as well as her allegiance :D), the conversation with Goldfinger (IMO one of the greatest examples of acting in the entire series and perhaps the best scene in GF), the killing of Solo and the wonderful line that followed ("As you said, he had a pressing engagement.") And then, after all this, we have more brilliant scenes at the end of the film, in the two fight scenes (in Fort Knox with Oddjob and on the plane with Goldfinger) and the last scene with Pussy.

    GF is my all-time favourite Bond film. However I would argue it was also the best due to it featuring (IMO) the greatest performance from the best of the Bonds, the greatest single film villain, the best plot, the best screenplay, the best title song, the best PTS, one of the best Bond girls, the greatest one-liners (other great one-liners include "He blew a fuse" "You like a close shave, don't you?" and "My dear girl, there are some things that just aren't done, such as drinking Dom Perignon '53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That's just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs!"), the greatest car of all time and due to it being IMO the most effortlessly entertaining Bond film of all time.

    LONG LIVE GOLDFINGER!!! -{

    4000th post. {[]

    Almost makes me want to vote for Goldfinger, the way you put it. For me, however, Goldfinger ranks third, behind On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and From Russia With Love. That's not to take anything away from OHMSS and GF, they're both terrific films that I'd watch over and over again without hesitation, but I think From Russia With Love tops them all.

    It is espionage at its very best: the plot to lure Bond to Russia by SPECTRE in order to have the chance to avenge the death of Dr No in the previous movie was, I thought, a terrific plot and a change away from the usual villain with dreams of world domination. Everything about it just clicked: the chemistry between Grant (as the ruthless killer) and Bond, as well as Tatiana, the innocent girl caught in between. There was also Bond's friendship and alliance with Kerim Bey.

    It is perhaps more character driven than other Bond films, but that doesn't detract from the film. This film manages to combine a cohesive story and one of the best plots in any film. All this with only one gadget: the briefcase full of nasty toys.

    I wouldn't be able to split FRWL, OHMSS and GF if I were to rate these films out of 10 - they would all get 9. But FRWL just edges out with what IMO is a better story.
    "Watch the birdie, you bastard!"
  • SteedSteed Posts: 134MI6 Agent
    edited June 2007
    My top 10 would go something like this:

    On Her Majesty's Secret Service (gets better every time I see it- real depth, class, emotion and tension; perfect all round for me)
    From Russia With Love (perhaps the most realistic- the scene between Bond and Grant on the train is superb)
    The Spy Who Loved Me (the best 70s Bond by a mile, imho- everything about it works for me)
    Casino Royale (2006- an excellent reboot of a flagging series, the bombast of some of the Brosnan era is thankfully taken out)
    Goldfinger (there's always been something which has kept it from being amongst my very favourites, but it is hugely entertaining)
    Dr. No (pretty excellent debut film- stands up well, imho)
    Octopussy (the most underrated in the series- and one of the most watched Bond films in my collection)
    For Your Eyes Only (another excellent Moore vehicle)
    Goldeneye (the best Brosnan by far, for me)
    Licence To Kill (has some slight flaws but this is a daring and edgy movie, imho)
  • LazenbyLazenby The upper reaches of the AmazoPosts: 606MI6 Agent
    Steed wrote:
    On Her Majesty's Secret Service (gets better every time I see it- real depth, class, emotion and tension; perfect all round for me)

    Ditto on all counts.
  • Willie GarvinWillie Garvin Posts: 1,412MI6 Agent
    edited June 2007
    I think the best James Bond film is From Russia With Love.For my taste,From Russia With Love has the best story,the best screenplay,the best direction and the best cast.

    I also like Thunderball,Goldfinger, On Her Majesty's Secret Service,Dr.No,The Living Daylights,Licence to Kill,Casino Royale,For Your Eyes Only and The World is Not Enough as well.Each of these movies resembles Fleming's writings (in varying degrees) and frankly, I really prefer to see that type of storytelling over movies placing 007 in volcanoes,or on the ocean floor or in outer space--not that those kinds of movies can't also be enjoyable.

    But everything being equal, From Russia With Love really strikes me as being one of those rare entries in the Bond series--a perfect film.
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