Pre-title sequence
Both are fun to watch, but GE's one seems that little bit more inventive to me. It also has the advantage of containing THAT bungee jump. (GE 1 DAD 0)
Brosnan's performance
This is hard to judge, because unlike Moore and Connery, who very much had their peaks and troughs in a 007 tuexdo over the years, Brosnan for me plays a pretty consistant hand all the way through all his quartet. In the end, I award GE the point for this round if only because in that film Brosnan looks younger and more suave. (GE 2 DAD 0)
Stunts and jaw-dropping action
GE scores again, with its cocktail of bungee jumps, rampaging tanks, and self-destroying helicopters. In DAD half the fun is ruined by us not knowing what was done on computer and what wasn't. (GE 3 DAD 0)
Storyline
Both have a revenge tale, but where as watching Bond and Trevelyn slug is out has you gripped on the edge of your seat, the former doesn't even seem bothered when cutie pie Miranda Frost double crosses him. Bond even crouches over her dead body at the end as if it was Paris Carver who had just died again.
Additionally, the GE plot is intriguing for a good 2/3rds of the film. Gustav Graves' diamond caper just didn't seem much fun at all. (GE 4 DAD 0)
Gadgets/Cars
I don't know anything about cars, but DAD's Vanquish was quite cool. In GE the main car doesn't really get used much. It did though boast a brilliant exploding pen, which was used far more believably than the glass-cutting ring device in DAD. For this I shall award it the point (GE 5 DAD 0)
Bond girls
There isn't much between Xenia and Frost ; they were both excellent. On the goodies side however, Natalya Simonova is a pleasure where as Halle Berry is an incompetent pain in the butt (GE 6 DAD 0)
Villains
I could watch Sean Bean as Trevelyn all day. Gustav Graves? Not bad, but doesn't really set the world alight (no pun intended). I really think Brosnan's older 2002 Bond would have benefitted from facing an older main villain. At times it was like watching a teacher chase a naughty schoolboy. However, all the other DAD villains were very good. I liked Zao's subtle coolness. Miranda of course was superb. And I thought Mr Kill and the Icelandic techno geek were hilarious. Goldeneye also had good support for its main villain, with Xenia and Onatopp both imposing criminals. Boris annoys some Bond fans, but not me. I loved him. Close call this category, but DAD gets its first point (GE 6 DAD 1)
Final conflict
GE's Cuban hideout is one of the all time great "baddies lairs". Not only does DAD not have one of these, but it's moving plane things was tedious and uninventive. Lame way to finish. (GE 7 DAD 1)
Music
Eric Serra's score on GE could have been a LOT better. It just doesn't seem appropriate in many places. By contrast, DAD puts out a decent soundtrack with many memorable pieces to it - Madonna's song, The Cuba music, and London Calling. (GE 7 DAD 2)
Locations
I'm going with DAD because of the Iceland scenary, but it's lucky I don't penalise it for rehashing GE's Cuba idea. (GE 7 DAD 3)
MI6 back-up
DAD might not have Q, but John Cleese is a decent replacement. Just a shame then his efforts are in vain thanks to the absurd and pointless presence of Michael Madson whenever we cut to M's entourage. Moneypenny has some nice scenes, and the smooth talking of Colin Salmon is not something we get the pleasure of in GE. However, GE can boast both Q AND Michael Kitchen. Close call. GE gets the nod (GE 8 DAD 3)
Can't think of any other categories. Ok, final score is....
GOLDENEYE 8
DIE ANOTHER DAY 3
Edited by Scottlee, 03 March 2005 - 05:18 PM.
