42 replies to this topic

[Qwerty]

Same rules as before, just review your 19th ranked film please.

#19 - The Man With The Golden Gun I suppose The Man With The Golden Gun fits in here. It's not a horrible film really, it's just not a good one. I suppose an exception to the theory that a Bond film is usually as good as it's villain is this film. Francisco Scaramanga is an inspired villain, going for the dark side of James Bond or the mirrored image - completely opposite. His lines are well crafted and he's probably the best character in the film. Mary Goodnight however is not so good. She's not really horrendous, but she's just nothing special. Her sometimes blunderous actions: cutting Bond off, getting herself and the Solex locked in Scaramanga's car, knocking Craw into the liquid helium, hitting the button to open the shutter, etc... detract from her character. Andrea Anders is a somewhat more interesting girl, but her lack of screentime prevents her from leaving a real big impact in the film. The plot would have worked better had they spent more time developing it and deciding where they really wanted to go with things. That said, the locations are pretty nice at times.

[Tarl_Cabot]

#19: Fittingly it's Bond 19, aka "The World is not enough":

A terrific set up in Spain and then a boat chase on the river Thames...the film never gets any better. It really goes down hill after the credits roll. A terriblely joyless,prozac inspired song kicks off the dullest Bond film of them all. It has some good talent wasted too.Robert Carlysle is supposed to be soooo scary that the delicious Maria Gracia Cuzzinotta kills herself rather than face his wrath...we are led to beleive "Renard" is a Eastern European Machiavellian arch terrorist like 'Carlos the Jackal'. What he really is unfortunately is a pathectic p-whipped lap dog.Short, unthreatening and irrellevant.A total waste and huge dissapointment. So, the real villian is, surprise! A woman! woopdedoo.

Brosnan often looks bored to death;his over stacked on make-up and hammy emotionalism are embarrassing.The Worst James Bond performance of any actor can be found in TWINE and it's too bad because that pretitle in Spain was a smash.The cheesiest one liners don't help Brosnan in his third time is a charm film...

There are hints of glamour but it never really takes off. Watching Bond and Elektra ski to some very nice strings by David Arnold is beautiful but it gets ruined by a pointless and poorly executed action set piece.The director Michael Apted is known for chic movies and it shows throughout.

The pre-TWINE publicity led me to believe this was going to be a smart thriller with some drama and less emphisis on explosions, ie the anti-TND. It's not nearly as fun as TND. It's pretentious,cookie cutter and just a bad James Bond film.

[freemo]

19 - FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

Well made, "good", but dull and uninviting. Supposably a "return to Fleming", but I don't recall Fleming ever being dull and uninviting. Nothing from it particularly sticks out as memorable, which is such a rarity for Bond films. Sandwiched in the middle of the Moore years, but particularly in the spirit of his tenure. The car chase at the start is great, and the rock climbing at the end is one of the more suspense filled Bond scene, but between those two highlights lies a alot of tedium and plodding around. Fine, but very unmemorable.

[Harmsway]

19. A View to a Kill

A geriatric Roger Moore stars in one of the worst Bond films ever. Full of ridiculous situations, the film's only source of value lies in the great Christopher Walken as the villian and Patrick Macnee as Bond's ally. Otherwise, everyone else seems totally out of place. Grace Jones as May Day is horribly over-the-top, Tanya Roberts as Stacey Stutton is incredibly annoying, and even the typically enjoyable Roger Moore seems positively uninspiring.

[BondIsMoore]

#19 Diamonds Are Forever

- Weak performance by Sean Connery
- Tiffaney Case is badly used and can be very annoying sometimes.
- Mr.Kidd and Mr.Wint are two of the worst Bond henchmen in the series.
- Jimmy Dean overacts Willard Whyte any chance he gets."I Don't have anything in BAH-HAH!"
- Charles Gray is decent as Blofeld but is comical most of the time and not very menacing.
- Weak script.
- Very weak ending. Should of filmed what was originally in the script.

Edited by BondIsMoore, 12 December 2004 - 12:30 AM.

[brendan007]

Goldfinger
While i dont hate the film, i hate the fact that its constantly ranked so highly (usually by non-bond fans just so they sound like they know what they are talking about). Its a solid little Bond film, but it has not aged well at all (some scenes look like Get Smart).
It may have created the Bond formula, but other movies do it better.

[Turn]

No. 19 A View To a Kill

The film that was as tired as Roger Moore was at this point. Few surprises or much excitement at all on display here. Although some threads here have gotten me to appreciate AVTAK a little more, it really takes a lot for me to muster much enthusiasm for this flick.

I remember being incredibly let down walking out of the cinema after seeing this. I really like Walken (this is the film that made me a Walken fan), Patrick Bauchu as Scarpine (my favorite of the left-hand henchmen), MacNee as Tibbett (his byplay with Moore was one of the highlights; why, oh why did they have to kill him off) and Moore gives a nice performance, a bit understated and maybe a tad more serious than usual, and his looks weren't as bad as some believe. It's the rest that really seems bad.

May Day is built up to be this incredibly vibrant character but is a big disappointment. Instead of a struggle to the death with Bond, we get self-sacrifice and sparkling dialogue like "And I thought that creep loved me," just what I want in a Bond movie. Tanya Roberts is flat-out the worst Bond girl/woman ever -- screaming, acting like a bimbo and too brain-dead to know a blimp is behind her.

Chuck Lee is the least exciting sidekick ever. And why did they need to resurrect a Sheriff Pepper character without (I never thought I'd say this) Pepper's charm? The bumbling cop may be the worst character ever in a Bond film. The film even turns Gogol into a bumbling, non-threatening presence.

So much of the rest seems standard -- skiing scene; Bond in tux at fancy gathering scene; lame car chases; a boring climax scene in the mine. The whole film just seems to die when Bond arrives in San Francisco, probably the longest stretch without any excitement in any Bond film. Can it get any worse than James Bond makes quiche and falls asleep in a rocking chair next to the heroine's bed?

[Janus Assassin]

Can it get any worse than James Bond makes quiche and falls asleep in a rocking chair next to the heroine's bed?

No it doesn't.


At #19 I rank You Only Live Twice. After great Connery films such as DN, FRWL, GF and TB, You Only Live Twice feels like a let down to me. Maybe it was the setting... maybe it was Connery. I think it was the fact that they totally abandoned Fleming's book and made the story around a p...s looking spacecraft capturing other spacecrafts and World War III about to start. Space settings looked very cheesy and bad back in the 1960's.

[Moonraker]

19: Die Another Day

One of the most ridiculous films I've ever seen, it totes one of the worst themes, Bond girl, action stunts, villian, and plot. Halle Berry makes me cringe when ever I see her in the film or in any film for that matter. Gustav Graves isn't menacing or believable. The stunts or if you really want to call them that since most are computer are dumb and unrealistic.The only things that save the film are the pre-titles, Bond, Miranda Frost, and the car chase.

[Bond111]

#19 - Diamonds Are Forever Not quite the mess that The Man With The Golden Gun is, but close. First off, the script is incredibly cheesy and absurd, and the action scenes aren't up to par (not to mention the special effects). Sean Connery's performance is obviously lacking, and he just doesn't seem right for the film, or, rather, the film doesn't seem right for him. The Bond girl is terrible, and probably one of the worst of the series. Charles Gray as Blofeld is even worse. He's not even playing Blofeld. The things I will give it credit for, however, is its quality score by veteran John Barry (though not really in my style), the exciting fight in the elevator, and the epic battle at the end (even though it ends too abruptly). The end result ends up feeling more of a spoof of James Bond, rather than a wholehearted effort. This is bottom of the barrel Bond.

[Scottlee]

19 - Die Another Day

A really good first half, excellent in fact. Then things go downhill after the halfway point, culminating in a horrendously boring and unoriginal ending on a plane. Add this to a dodgy looking CGI parahute stunt just half an hour previously, and suddenly the integrity of your new film is in big trouble. I haven't even mentioned Halle Berry yet, whose shambolic acting has no place in any film, let alone one as important as this. What on earth were the casting department thinking? Whilst I'm on the subject of casting, let me also point a finger at Michael Madson and say "What the hell were you meant to be in this film? You're a good actor but your presence here is totally pointless".

Good points? Well, the pre-credits is entertaining and innovative, and the concept of Bond being captured and turned into a yeti adds a bit of never-seen-before spice to proceedings. The regular M16 staff all have good scenes, the sword fight is good, and Bond's invisible car leads to an interesting chase sequence with Yao (Although the falling chandelier is a bit naff). Best of all is the inclusion of Rosemund Pike as Miranda Frost. Pike oozes sex appeal and steals your eyes in practically every scene she's in. Only trouble is, her death scene is stupid, as is the death scene of practicaly every other baddie in the film.

Die Another Day is a decent Bond film on the whole, but it lacks the consistant polish of most of the others in the series.

[Qwerty]

It may have created the Bond formula, but other movies do it better.

Quite, while it is a very good film, it often seems to be looked at as the best, no matter what.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

#19-Moonraker

Though I disliked the notion of having Bond in space, there are a couple of highlights in this film. The score is beautiful, the pre-credits sequence was great, and so were the centfrige trainer and Doberman/Dufour sequences. Then there are the bad things. I hated Holly Goodhead, as well as Jaws' silliness this time around. "Moonraker" felt too humourous to me, and the movie spent too long getting where it was going: Bond going to space. That was a letdown.

[Double-Oh-Zero]

#19: Licence to Kill

Not a horrid Bond movie by any means, but one where it could have been so much better. I can admire the fact that they tried to go back to a gritty, Flemingesque setting, but you can tell that films like Lethal Weapon and Die Hard had a hand in crafting the film and how it would look. Robert Davi is pretty good as Sanchez, but it would have been nice if Dalton blinked every now and then. Pam Bouvier was also pretty forgettable, as was most of the storyline itself. However, is some great stuff here, such as the tanker chase, the pretitles, and the return of Felix and his role in the film. The signature gun was also a nice touch. Other than these, the film sort of burns itself out by the end, taking the seriousness overboard and not having much fun while doing it.

[CharlieBind]

19. A View To A Kill

Suffers from a sense of tiredness. The first, European-set half is good fun, with some pleasent locations and a genuine chemistry between Moore and McNee. It all goes off the boil when the movie reaches America.

Oh, the pre-credit sequence is a bit cheesey and I don't really like both Jones and Roberts.

[Turn]

So, Qwerty. Can we expect no. 18 sometime soon?

[Qwerty]

Sure thing, I'll try to get it up tonight! Feel free to add to this one, for those who haven't yet.

[Qwerty]

http://debrief.comma...showtopic=20027

#18 up!

[YOLT]

No. 18 Diamonds Are Forever

I think Connerys Bond legacy died with this film until, 1983. Connery was so so but the film was awful. It was just a film made to say that "Connerys back come and see it". The locations and the action scenes where dull. The elevator fight was one of the highligths of the film. It was a bad and an awful Bond film.

[Skudor]

#19 - The Man With The Golden Gun

The scenery is probably the one thing that keeps TMWTGG off the bottom of my list. The film is dragged down by Britt Ekland's appalling acting, the annoying (although quite amusing) appearance of the fat cop (Sgt. Pepper?), the flying car ... Scaramanga's hall of mirrors (a case of taking Scaramanga

[DLibrasnow]

Tomorrow Never Dies

Action without substance. The behind-the-scenes problems really hurt this movie and it shows. Nobody seems to be having much fun in this movie as they race from one lame action sequence to another. Whereas the following movie had too much substance, this one has hardly any at all.
We do have to face a morose 007 chasing after some truly ugly women (only the Danish professor has any appeal), some cardboard cutout Oddjob wannabee (Stamper) and the least interesting, menacing or sinister villain of the series (Carver). Even the plot is rather boring - Britain and China go to war, woohoo, I mean who cares if they do or not?!
Whereas the action is handled better than in TWINE, it is still lame and flat. I suppose we were supposed to find some sadistic glee as (James Bond, curiously jumping back from the death of a woman he professed to love very quickly) is seen grinning like some crack-induced schoolboy as he remotely controls a car around a parking garage. Then his apparent disregard for innocent passerbys as he sends the (potentially lethal) weapon hurtling down to the streets below. What a moron!
Replacing the great score by Eric Serra, we are instead served up a paint-by-numbers score by David Arnold who doesn't appear to have an original bone in his body, relying instead on plagiarising former tracks and the criminal overuse of the James Bond theme. It is unforgiveable that instead of giving us something original. Arold instead spoils for all-time such an iconic piece of music.
It's hardly surprising that Mike Kitchen decided not to show up in this movie (he probably saw the script and did a pass on it), but we do have Desmond Llewelyn looking like Santa Claus in a ridiculous red car rental uniform.

[hrabb04]

Hmmm, which Roger Moore movie ranks as #19....The second to worst Bond of them all.....

I am going out on a limb and saying Moonraker.

Why bother calling it Moonraker? Aside from Drax and Bond and M, and maybe one or two more, it is a stretch to call it Ian Fleming's Moonraker. Roger Moore always reminds me of Gil Gerard as Buck Rogers in this movie. And how dumb can this Bond be by repeatedly punching Jaws in the mouth, always hurting his own hand? And does Jaws really have steel balls?
Speaking of Jaws, whose idea was it to bring in Herman Munster as the henchman? The guy is incredibly stupid! Any credibility he has as a villain is gone when he meets Dolly, the gal with the large knockers.
The action is incredibly lame and unbelievable. The pre-credits fight is ruined by Jaws and the idiotic ending on the circus tent. The gondola chase is cheesy and stupid. It sets the tone for the rest of the movie. This is not Ian Fleming. It isn't even James Bond. Oh, sure, Roger Moore is playing some guy with that name, but he's not 007.
The only thing I like about the movie is the Shirley Bassey theme and the John Barry score, and that is why I have the soundtrack and not the movie.

[Tarl_Cabot]

I kinda agree with most of that Hrabb04 although Moonraker is a guilty pleasure.Very guilty.I think Drax is great and Rio is a top notch locale.

[DLibrasnow]

Actually Moonraker is one of the worst Bond movies in my opinion and I agree with almost every point you made hrabb. The movie isn't even a guilty pleasure for me because after an excellent first hour it slides into an absurdity from which it never recovers. I hate the whole Jaws-Dolly stuff and about the only good thing the latter half of the picture has is Michael Lonsdale as Drax (IMO one of the better villains).
Moonraker ranks as #17 on my list so I'll speak more on this mess of a movie when I get there.

[DLibrasnow]

All set to post #17 - Moonraker

[Qwerty]

I think Drax is great and Rio is a top notch locale.

Most definitely Tarl. Standouts in both categories.

[Loomis]

Tomorrow Never Dies

Action without substance. The behind-the-scenes problems really hurt this movie and it shows. Nobody seems to be having much fun in this movie as they race from one lame action sequence to another. Whereas the following movie had too much substance, this one has hardly any at all.
We do have to face a morose 007 chasing after some truly ugly women (only the Danish professor has any appeal), some cardboard cutout Oddjob wannabee (Stamper) and the least interesting, menacing or sinister villain of the series (Carver). Even the plot is rather boring - Britain and China go to war, woohoo, I mean who cares if they do or not?!
Whereas the action is handled better than in TWINE, it is still lame and flat. I suppose we were supposed to find some sadistic glee as (James Bond, curiously jumping back from the death of a woman he professed to love very quickly) is seen grinning like some crack-induced schoolboy as he remotely controls a car around a parking garage. Then his apparent disregard for innocent passerbys as he sends the (potentially lethal) weapon hurtling down to the streets below. What a moron!
Replacing the great score by Eric Serra, we are instead served up a paint-by-numbers score by David Arnold who doesn't appear to have an original bone in his body, relying instead on plagiarising former tracks and the criminal overuse of the James Bond theme. It is unforgiveable that instead of giving us something original. Arold instead spoils for all-time such an iconic piece of music.
It's hardly surprising that Mike Kitchen decided not to show up in this movie (he probably saw the script and did a pass on it), but we do have Desmond Llewelyn looking like Santa Claus in a ridiculous red car rental uniform.

Agreed with most of that, Darren.

Looking back, I'm quite surprised I didn't give up on Bond in the wake of TOMORROW NEVER DIES and THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH.

[DLibrasnow]

I agree Loomis, both Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough were major disappointments.

[Loomis]

both Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough were major disappointments.

They took the series down a grey, dull, self-important route (with too much Americanisation and political correctness, a hopelessly ill-conceived "sensitive" 007, and overblown and crashingly boring action scenes). At least DIE ANOTHER DAY was a return to fun and unpretentious Bond. I remember leaving the cinema after THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH with a longing for the days of Moore.

Some say THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS and LICENCE TO KILL was the double whammy of thumpingly dull James Bond that nearly squeezed all excitement out of the series. I say it was TOMORROW NEVER DIES and TWINE.

[Qwerty]

Some say THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS and LICENCE TO KILL was the double whammy of thumpingly dull James Bond that nearly squeezed all excitement out of the series.

Really? I guess I can see in the case of Licence To Kill, but I'd always seen The Living Daylights as a fairly enjoyable Bond film for all on many accounts. You don't see too much bashing of it (rightly so IMO), compared to some other films.