what was Bond's toughest fight?

Andy007Andy007 Posts: 100MI6 Agent
In my opinion his fight with Hinx in Spectre on the train was the toughest fight Bond has faced across all movies. That's taking in to account that I regard Craig as the toughest Bond of all 6. Mr Hinx was incredibly strong and unbeatable in a fist fight. The situation turned desperate for Bond. A terrifying encounter really. Obviously a few other fights spring to mind from other films, but I honestly felt watching Spectre this was his toughest fight ever.
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  • nafets47nafets47 FloridaPosts: 939MI6 Agent
    Agreed.
  • Dirty PunkerDirty Punker ...Your Eyes Only, darling."Posts: 2,587MI6 Agent
    Imagine sitting for most of the day, mountaineering about on a Volcano base (while you had already mountaineered most of the day before, staying awake since 4:00 in the morning, outwitting a super-villain, dodging bullets and shooting bad guys while running about and then reaching Hans in You Only Live Twice.
    Bond was noticeably tired and couldn't out-power Hans.
    Good thing he was sharp enough to lure him into the piranha pool.
    a reasonable rate of return
  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,651MI6 Agent
    Imagine sitting for most of the day, mountaineering about on a Volcano base (while you had already mountaineered most of the day before, staying awake since 4:00 in the morning, outwitting a super-villain, dodging bullets and shooting bad guys while running about and then reaching Hans in You Only Live Twice.
    Bond was noticeably tired and couldn't out-power Hans.
    Good thing he was sharp enough to lure him into the piranha pool.

    Context is always important when appreciating things of Bond and for me Connery's fights will always be the standard to beat. The early Connery fights choreographed by Bob Simmons certainly set a high-water mark not only for Bond fights, but the cinema, but by the 80’s I felt that Bond was getting left behind in this area. My Bond fandom got me started with other spy fiction and Robert Ludlum in particular stood out for the way he wrote fight scenes, reminiscent of Fleming but updated with “modern” hand-to-hand stuff.

    I even remember hand-to-hand fights on TV surpassing Bond (at the time, Moore and Dalton) on shows like the “new” Mission Impossible, and even the prime-time soap, Dynasty when two characters with implied, but mysterious security service pasts go off against each other in a posh penthouse suite. Then in the Bond hiatus after LTK, we saw the likes of Steven Seagal showing us what a security service operative can do with Aikido with me wishing Bond’s return including this skill.

    With GE, I thought it was a relief that there was a nod to the Bob Simmons fights, but Brosnan’s following fights regressed to John Wayne style fist-a-cuffs. Undoubtedly, Bourne Identity (2002) upped the ante of cinematic fights and finally, finally, the Bond movies benefitted from that influence. I would even argue that without Bourne, Craig's fights would not even be near to their excellence that we were treated to. Exotic fighting styles like Krav Maga and Muay Thai are common currency nowadays in people’s minds and today's super spy movies cannot afford to ignore this new standard...the Bond producers certainly didn't.
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  • hehadlotsofgutshehadlotsofguts Durham England Posts: 2,107MI6 Agent
    The fight with Jaws on the train in TSWLM. Jaws spends a lot of the fight, throwing Bond around the train like a ragdòll, he has Bond pinned to the wall and he tries to bite Bond to finish him off. Bond sees a lamp and smashes it. Jaw's teeth conduct the eletricity, stunning him, allowing Bond to kick him through the train window.
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  • ToTheRightToTheRight Posts: 314MI6 Agent
    I'd go with Grant. The benchmark on which later Bond fights attempt to live up to. It's quite believable Connery has met his match and the moment after he strangles Grant and catches his breath it never fails to elicit a huge audience cheer in the cinema (at the least the four times I've seen it on the big screen).
  • fire and icefire and ice EarthPosts: 149MI6 Agent
    I would have to say Hinx, Bond was believably struggling in that fight, one of SP's better scenes.
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  • VesperMelogranoVesperMelograno The SouthPosts: 901MI6 Agent
    Bond in the bathroom in CR.
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  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    ToTheRight wrote:
    I'd go with Grant. The benchmark on which later Bond fights attempt to live up to. It's quite believable Connery has met his match and the moment after he strangles Grant and catches his breath it never fails to elicit a huge audience cheer in the cinema (at the least the four times I've seen it on the big screen).

    So many superb fisticuffs to choose from...I'd go with this one, but the Bathroom battle Royale in CR is hard to beat. Also the 007 vs 006 in GE is a corker.
    Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
  • DutchfingerDutchfinger Holland With LovePosts: 1,240MI6 Agent
    The one with Steven Obanno in the stairwell was pretty brutal as well!
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  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    The one with Steven Obanno in the stairwell was pretty brutal as well!

    Oh yes, that one to. Plus of course the elevator dust up in DAF and...
    Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
  • bainesy1usbainesy1us Posts: 42MI6 Agent
    zaphod99 wrote:
    ToTheRight wrote:
    I'd go with Grant. The benchmark on which later Bond fights attempt to live up to. It's quite believable Connery has met his match and the moment after he strangles Grant and catches his breath it never fails to elicit a huge audience cheer in the cinema (at the least the four times I've seen it on the big screen).

    So many superb fisticuffs to choose from...I'd go with this one, but the Bathroom battle Royale in CR is hard to beat. Also the 007 vs 006 in GE is a corker.

    I agree. Grant is my fav followed closely by Bond vs Alec. But I guess the question is toughest and I suppose we'de have to say Hinx.
  • The Red KindThe Red Kind EnglandPosts: 3,119MI6 Agent
    Would say the Hinx fight as he was beaten until he was saved by Madeleine.

    The fight with Red Grant of course and he did well to see Jaws off too!

    Agree regarding the CR stairwell fight.

    The fight in DAF with Franks is pretty tough too and I always thought Bambi and Thumper should have seen him off.
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  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    bainesy1us wrote:
    zaphod99 wrote:
    ToTheRight wrote:
    I'd go with Grant. The benchmark on which later Bond fights attempt to live up to. It's quite believable Connery has met his match and the moment after he strangles Grant and catches his breath it never fails to elicit a huge audience cheer in the cinema (at the least the four times I've seen it on the big screen).

    So many superb fisticuffs to choose from...I'd go with this one, but the Bathroom battle Royale in CR is hard to beat. Also the 007 vs 006 in GE is a corker.

    I agree. Grant is my fav followed closely by Bond vs Alec. But I guess the question is toughest and I suppose we'de have to say Hinx.

    I need to rewatch the Hinx fight as so many seem to rate it so highly. I felt it lacked drama, but I must be wrong. I think that I may have let my disappointment with Spectre colour my judgement. Will look with fresh eyes.
    Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    zaphod99 wrote:
    bainesy1us wrote:
    zaphod99 wrote:

    So many superb fisticuffs to choose from...I'd go with this one, but the Bathroom battle Royale in CR is hard to beat. Also the 007 vs 006 in GE is a corker.

    I agree. Grant is my fav followed closely by Bond vs Alec. But I guess the question is toughest and I suppose we'de have to say Hinx.

    I need to rewatch the Hinx fight as so many seem to rate it so highly. I felt it lacked drama, but I must be wrong. I think that I may have let my disappointment with Spectre colour my judgement. Will look with fresh eyes.

    Just watched it, and yes it is superb. Towards the end Bond is no longer even defending himself. A brief pause for reaction shots of him knowing he's done would for me make it perfect. That said it's so kinetic that there is no time for that. A very good one indeed.I was wrong.
    Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    zaphod99 wrote:
    I think that I may have let my disappointment with Spectre colour my judgement.

    Was the colour yellow? :D
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  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    zaphod99 wrote:
    I think that I may have let my disappointment with Spectre colour my judgement.

    Was the colour yellow? :D

    A bit yellow come to think of it :007)
    Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
  • Shady TreeShady Tree London, UKPosts: 2,965MI6 Agent
    ToTheRight wrote:
    I'd go with Grant.

    Agreed; Connery vs. Grant is the benchmark. The Hinx fight is impressive, but its implied point of reference (as with several other Bond fights) is FRWL.
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  • Dirty PunkerDirty Punker ...Your Eyes Only, darling."Posts: 2,587MI6 Agent
    I remember reading that the choreography for the GE fight was heavily based on the Red Grant fight.

    Can't remember if it was fact or fiction though.
    a reasonable rate of return
  • Revolver66Revolver66 Melbourne, AustraliaPosts: 470MI6 Agent
    Interesting! I'd say that Bond toughest fights would be:

    - Hinx on the train in Spectre (He lost)

    - Alec in Goldeneye (he kinda lost this one too)

    - Red Grant in From Russia With Love (Probably the best fight in the series)

    - Stairway fight in Casino Royale (Brutal)

    - JAWS on train in The Spy Who Loved Me (Won by his ingenuity, obviously outmatched physically)

    - Necros in The Living Daylights (Now this was a tough fight. Strong opponent, hanging off the end of an airborne Hercules. That's tough)
  • ml94ml94 FinlandPosts: 79MI6 Agent
    Hinx.
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  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    IMO Bond came closer to being killed by Hinx than by anyone else in any other fight...
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
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  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    chrisisall wrote:
    IMO Bond came closer to being killed by Hinx than by anyone else in any other fight...

    True, but he got the drop on Grant which gave him an opportunity. I always felt that otherwise he would have been in big trouble in a straight fight with Grant. Similarly he bests Odd Job by out smarting him rather than besting him. Both had the potential to kill Bond. No doubt about it he stood little chance with Hinx.
    Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
  • Dirty PunkerDirty Punker ...Your Eyes Only, darling."Posts: 2,587MI6 Agent
    Do wits count?
    Zorin, MayDay and Sutton at the soirée, Xenia at the casino, Trevelyan in the control room, Red Grant during the train scenes, Le Chiffre in most of his scenes with Bond and Goldfinger in the golden shower laser scene.
    a reasonable rate of return
  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    Do wits count?
    Zorin, MayDay and Sutton at the soirée, Xenia at the casino, Trevelyan in the control room, Red Grant during the train scenes, Le Chiffre in most of his scenes with Bond and Goldfinger in the golden shower laser scene.

    Good question. Wits have always figured in the Films and serve to make Bond more than just a tough guy (whilst still being a tough guy of course) he has often been physically outgunned. From memory Fleming describes him as a 'tenacious fighter' not neccessarilly a supreme one. This has been an element missing from recent installments, possibly because DC is very credible physically it has not been developed. We saw hints of it with Brosnan who was one of the less overtly physical Bonds. I like my Bonds tough but smart,able to outhink as well as out punch. I hope that if Daniel is as reported looking for less running and jumping in the next one that we might see a smidgen of this. Daniel still looks as fit as a Butchers Dog so I'm not expecting him to entirely give up the rough and tumble, nor would I want him to.
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  • WadsyWadsy Auckland, New ZealandPosts: 410MI6 Agent
    Draco's thug in OHMSS when Bond is at the hotel, and Hinx in SP like everyone else says.
    1. FYEO 2. OHMSS 3. LTK 4. FRWL 5. TLD 6. TSWLM 7. GF 8. AVTAK 9. MR 10. DN 11. SF 12. LALD 13. TB 14. OP 15. CR 16. GE 17. YOLT 18. TMWTGG 19. SP 20. TND 21. TWINE 22. QOS 23. NTTD 24. DAF 25. DAD 26. NSNA 27. CR '67

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  • walther p99walther p99 NJPosts: 3,416MI6 Agent
    zaphod99 wrote:
    zaphod99 wrote:
    bainesy1us wrote:

    I agree. Grant is my fav followed closely by Bond vs Alec. But I guess the question is toughest and I suppose we'de have to say Hinx.

    I need to rewatch the Hinx fight as so many seem to rate it so highly. I felt it lacked drama, but I must be wrong. I think that I may have let my disappointment with Spectre colour my judgement. Will look with fresh eyes.

    Just watched it, and yes it is superb. Towards the end Bond is no longer even defending himself. A brief pause for reaction shots of him knowing he's done would for me make it perfect. That said it's so kinetic that there is no time for that. A very good one indeed.I was wrong.
    That's something i really appreciated about that fight is given its intensity and duration by the end you see Bond is physically running on fumes and can barely even fight back.
  • caractacus pottscaractacus potts Orbital communicator, level 10Posts: 3,907MI6 Agent
    Gymkata wrote:
    The only thing that I don't like about the Hinx fight is that, to be frank, he loses. The only reason he survives the fight is because Swann intercedes. From a story and character point of view, it makes sense to have her intercede, but I prefer it when Bond succeeds on his own due to his wits and/or skill, like he does with the Red Grant fight.
    the non-formulaic resolution is on of the things I like about it, after all we've seen Bond win train-fights against tuffer opponents in at least three previous films. There's no need to keep repeating variations on the same scene over and over again.
    Swann's saving him works within the larger context of this film, its actual character development that will ultimately change Bond himself by the end of the film
    in just the previous scene he is (maybe condescendingly) trying to show her how to use a gun, to her aggressive disinterest, then she demonstrates she already does know and explains a bit about her personal background (should have been obvious, she's an arch-criminal's daughter) and why she wants to leave such things behind and move on with her life
    then she has to use that very gun to save Bond's life, ironic maybe but necessary under the circumstances. But her principles have not been so easily disproven.
    SPECTRE may have a lot of faults, in terms of script and execution, but Swann saving Bonds life at that point was one of the things it did well

    we all know the last scene of the film: I would say Bonds decision to throw away his own gun and join her on the wrongs side of the bridge is related to how this scene plays out.
  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    The washroom dust up and the stairwell fracas deserve honourable mentions. The look on Bond/Craig's face in the mirror is truly superb and amongst the very best moments in the entire series for me.
    Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
  • WadsyWadsy Auckland, New ZealandPosts: 410MI6 Agent
    I love Spectre a lot, awesome movie in my opinion. The only thing I don't like about it, and here it is... Swan falls in love with Bond in two days.
    1. FYEO 2. OHMSS 3. LTK 4. FRWL 5. TLD 6. TSWLM 7. GF 8. AVTAK 9. MR 10. DN 11. SF 12. LALD 13. TB 14. OP 15. CR 16. GE 17. YOLT 18. TMWTGG 19. SP 20. TND 21. TWINE 22. QOS 23. NTTD 24. DAF 25. DAD 26. NSNA 27. CR '67

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  • Dirty PunkerDirty Punker ...Your Eyes Only, darling."Posts: 2,587MI6 Agent
    Wadsy wrote:
    I love Spectre a lot, awesome movie in my opinion. The only thing I don't like about it, and here it is... Swan falls in love with Bond in two days.
    Pondered that a bit in my review, as it was one of the most common complaints about the movie, and concluded that they most likely had unseen time between travelling and action. We only see things relevant to the story and the action.

    I mean, you don't see Bond taking a dump or going to the store to buy Heineken, do you?
    a reasonable rate of return
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