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[Harmsway]

OHMSS is perhaps the most odd film in the entire Bond canon. It doesn't fit in any of the eras that Bond has gone through, has been rejected by the majority of the public, and has gone on to be considered one of the best Bond films by the die-hard Bond fan center.

OHMSS came in when Bond was still in its early years, right after Sean Connery left the series after YOLT. OHMSS had quite a job to fill Connery's shoes. Connery had just finished 3 films with huge scopes. GF, TB, and YOLT defined James Bond for the public. When OHMSS was selected, it probably wasn't the best choice for a follow-up to Connery. It was sad, serious, and was low-key.

Many Bond films have had that atmosphere and they have been solid Bond films. OHMSS joins FRWL, FYEO, TLD, and TWINE as what could be referred to as the "serious" Bond films. While good films, they suffer as Bond films because of their lack of Bond-ness. They don't have the atmosphere of a Bond film. They seem more oriented to the books than films. The films have a larger scope, outrageous plots, and larger-than-life villains. These films strive to go for realism, losing the feel that GF, TB, YOLT, TSWLM, MR, OP, and TND have. They lose what the public wants to see: a fun movie. While these movies are carried out well, they're not that fun to watch.

That was mistake #1. Mistake #2 was perhaps the hiring of George Lazenby. Lazenby was not a great 007. His approach to Bond contrasted too much with what the public wanted to see, the same kind of conflict that occured during the switch from Moore to Dalton. Connery WAS James Bond. Roger Moore was able to replace Connery because Connery moved towards the Moore approach in DAF. Lazenby was just TOO different. He even cried at the end of the film. This was not the hardened, cruel, sardonic Bond the public had come to know.

Mistake #3 came around in the hiring of the director, Peter Hunt. Hunt somewhat ruined what could've been a successful film. The editing was terrible, notably in the pre-title sequence, the fight in Tracy's room, and the fight in Draco's HQ. Peter Hunt also lost the Bond feel with some directorial decisions. The angels of death scenes are terribly done. They belong in Austin Powers or In Like Flint. Also terribly done is the brainwashing scenes, which seem too unrealistic to be believable. Peter Hunt also made sure to have some corny elements thrown in, that wouldn't have appeared in any of the other Bond films. The scene in Bond's office, the playboy magazine scene, and Bond throwing the knife on the date come across as dated and awful. While the rest of the film is done fine, it seems that something is missing in the film. That "Bond" element just isn't there. The atmosphere feels different from all the other Bonds, which it should, but it doesn't feel like it belongs in the Bond canon. It feels more like an outsider. It seems to be more like an unofficial Bond film than an official one.

What they did right, however, was Diana Rigg. She's the classic Bond girl. She does seem like the kind of girl Bond would marry. The action in this film is among the best, especially the bobsled fight at the end. You really can't beat that.

TO BE CONTINUED