71 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

Since THE SPY WHO LOVED ME is often said to be a remake of YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (not sure I'd agree, though)....

I say YOLT is the superior film, due to (in no particular order):

- Connery

- the locations and cinematography, the "travelogue feel"

- the score and title song

- great action and fight scenes

- sophisticated wit

- Blofeld

- and probably a few other things that aren't springing to mind right now.

TSWLM is an excellent Bond film, too, but I reckon YOLT still beats the pants off it. What do you say?

Oh, and apologies if this thread's been done before.

ETA: Cheers for making this into a poll, whoever did that.

[Scottlee]

Although YOLT gave TSWLM its basic premise, the latter is by far the better film IMO.

[Loomis]

You know what? I'm beginning to believe there's a strong and convincing case to be made that, just as "You Only Live Twice" is the best Bond novel, YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE is the best Bond film. YOLT boasts:

- Connery, impossibly charismatic even in a performance often slammed as lazy.

- Arguably the finest cinematography of the series (and best use of widescreen).

- Arguably the the most impressive sets of the series.

- Arguably the best score and title song of the series.

- Probably the best use of locations of the series, making for a film rich in travelogue detail.

- Arguably the greatest "epic feel" of the series.

- An "iconic" Blofeld (who talks like a Fleming Bond villain ought to talk).

- The "element of the bizarre" (obscure Japanese poisons, piranha fish, etc.).

- Excellent casting.

- Superb action scenes.

- Sophisticated wit, snobbery and connoisseurship.

- A fair amount of sadism and eroticism.

- A refusal to take itself seriously.

Etc. The best Bond flick ever? Why not?

[Scottlee]

Most of those points are fair, apart from perhaps "locations", which aren't as varied as in a lot of the Bond films. Also, there are a lot of minor plot holes, or things that make you scratch your head..

"Now maybe your enemies will pay a little less attention to you"
True, but he could have done this in any of the Bonds, save for maybe Dr No when he wouldn't have had a reputation in criminal circles. Why YOLT in particular?

"Just a drop in the ocean"
Does Roald Dahl think we're THAT stupid not to pick up on the second camera thing? I wince when I see that.

"Only two more days training"
For what? Bond doesn't jump around doing ninja kicks inside the volcano. He just acts normally

"There must be a long tunnel
And that's how Bond and the ninja's eventually escape. But what about Blofeld? Where does he go?

[DLibrasnow]

THE SPY WHO LOVED ME is far superior to YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE.

[Xenia_Onatopp]

YOLT any day.
*It's Sean Connery.
*It's classic Bond.
*Asian gal.

Edited by Xenia_Onatopp, 31 March 2005 - 09:09 PM.

[Loomis]

Most of those points are fair, apart from perhaps "locations", which aren't as varied as in a lot of the Bond films. Also, there are a lot of minor plot holes, or things that make you scratch your head..

It's true that YOLT has a few minor, trifling plot holes, but show me a Bond film that doesn't. As for locations, I'd far rather see a Bond flick using just one country (but using it very well) than a Bond flick zipping about all over the world but never really giving us a good look at or feel of anywhere (like DIE ANOTHER DAY).

[IndyB007]

THE SPY WHO LOVED ME is far superior to YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE.

I second that sentiment!

[Bondian]

Loomy, ya know I love ya, but why ask such awkward and horrid questions.

Bastard...no, really.

OK. My favourite Bond is Sean Connery, but my favourite Bond 'actor' is Roger Moore.

I love You Only Live Twice to death. I love the superb nostalgic soundtrack, and my favourite Bond is in this movie. But, The Spy Who Loved Me has got to many new and enticing elements, including Roger Moore, and some sexy females and some corking henchpersons.

Oh, I'll go with The Spy Who Loved Me just because it's a better overall movie.

Cheers,


L. Gilbert

[Scottlee]

Another thing you've got to remember is, YOLT sometimes feels like a cocky film riding on the crest of the spymania wave, where as TSWLM was up against it in terms of Bond's popularity at the times. It had to be perfect and it got damn close.

YOLT is still a great film with many plus points (they've been listed), but I feel TSWLM has the edge on most of them.

[DLibrasnow]

Another problem with YOLT is the performance of Sean Connery....we all know that Connery was bored with 007 by this point and resented the typecasting.....

But, as many people have pointed out in their books on the series (Steven Jay Rubin in THE JAMES BOND FILMS: A BEHIND THE SCENES HISTORY and John Brosnan) Sean Connery unfortunately LOOKS bored while making the movie and he seems to be sleepwalking through the role.

[Mr. Somerset]

It's TSWLM for my tastes. I love YOLT, even if Sean looks like he'd rather be having a root canal than to be playing OO7 again. They both have great locations, villains (I can proudly stand up and say I liked Strongberg!), and radiantly beautiful ladies.
Hans is no Jaws, though. TSWLM has a better pretitles sequence (IMO),and I love the Supertanker moment where the great Martin Grace is hanging high above the water 10 feet from the bomb!
It's close.

[007Travis]

THE SPY WHO LOVED ME is far superior to YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE.

Sums it up for me too. In fact YOLT is one that I'm least likely to watch.

[YOLT]

My nickname is:
YOLT
YOLT
YOLT
YOLT
YOLT
YOLT
YOLT

[hrabb04]

Well, hmmmmm, tough choice. Oh, wait, I'll pick the one that doesn't have the retard with the goofy teeth or the doofus in the piss yellow skisuit.

[Skudor]

Tough one. But I'll go with TSWLM, as it is one of my favourite Bond films. Although mostly I'd prefer any of Sean's over any of Roger's.

[Turn]

This is a tough one for me because I'm not a big fan of either film. I'll go with YOLT because TSWLM copies it and borrows many other elements from other films in the series.

[Turn]

Another problem with YOLT is the performance of Sean Connery....we all know that Connery was bored with 007 by this point and resented the typecasting.....

But, as many people have pointed out in their books on the series (Steven Jay Rubin in THE JAMES BOND FILMS: A BEHIND THE SCENES HISTORY and John Brosnan) Sean Connery unfortunately LOOKS bored while making the movie and he seems to be sleepwalking through the role.

Ah, but you did leave out one important bit Rubin wrote - I'm paraphrasing but he said something like even looking bored and weary in YOLT, Connery still radiates more screen presence than George Lazenby or Roger Moore. Although I think Roger hits his stride in TSWLM.

[Station Domino]

"Welcome to Japan Mr. Bond..."


You Only Live Twice gets my vote going away.

[trumanlodge89]

TSWLM, hands down. easily the best visuals in the series, and is Moores best movie (and maybe his best performence). YOLT lacks the epic feeling that TSWLM just oozes.

[SnakeEyes]

YOLT is boring drab.
TSWLM is overrated drab.
But the overrated drab still isn't too boring.
I had to vote 'spy'; although it's like asking if you prefer treading in horse poo or cow pats. End of the day, what's the difference?

[Bon-san]

YOLT is boring drab.
TSWLM is overrated drab.
But the overrated drab still isn't too boring.
I had to vote 'spy'; although it's like asking if you prefer treading in horse poo or cow pats. End of the day, what's the difference?

Are you any relation to Debbie Downer?

[Loomis]

YOLT is boring drab.
TSWLM is overrated drab.
But the overrated drab still isn't too boring.
I had to vote 'spy'; although it's like asking if you prefer treading in horse poo or cow pats. End of the day, what's the difference?

*stunned silence*

[DLibrasnow]

I like both movies and I think YOLT is a lot to commend it. Unfortunately its also Connery's worst performance as James Bond. He obviously doesn't want to be there and it's plainly evident in his performance.

On the other hand there is Roger Moore really hitting his stride in TSWLM. I love the scene on the rooftop, the comedy is toned down slightly (compared to the later Moore entries) and the repartee between Moore and the impossibly gorgeous Barbara Bach is fun to watch.

Actually there is so much to commend both pictures. They are both in my top 10.

[SnakeEyes]

Maybe an explanation would help the 'stunned silence'?

Well, YOLT has a dire Connery and underwhelming Blofeld and a dull gadget plot that is simply silly and boring. The 'bigger is better' rubbish in this film is the direct forefather of the rubbish we get in films like DAD. I can understand why people like it, but surely you can understand why a more 'Fleming' based fan wouldn't. Hollowed out volcano. No. Ninjas. No.
(Now is the time for someone to be clever and pointout that, infact, this isn't too far removed from the actual Fleming novel. However in counterpoint to this, I say they are handled in a fairly underwheling way in the novel rather than the huge and outgoing direction employed in the film.)

The same goes for TSWLM - a load of action fluf and set peices to mask the non event of story and characters. At least Moore isn't bored in this, so it's got an edge over YOLT and that's probably what pushed me in the TSWLM direction on the vote. I mean, really, Jaws. No.

[Agent 76]

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) all the way!

[Turn]

Maybe an explanation would help the 'stunned silence'?

Well, YOLT has a dire Connery and underwhelming Blofeld and a dull gadget plot that is simply silly and boring. The 'bigger is better' rubbish in this film is the direct forefather of the rubbish we get in films like DAD. I can understand why people like it, but surely you can understand why a more 'Fleming' based fan wouldn't. Hollowed out volcano. No. Ninjas. No.
(Now is the time for someone to be clever and pointout that, infact, this isn't too far removed from the actual Fleming novel. However in counterpoint to this, I say they are handled in a fairly underwheling way in the novel rather than the huge and outgoing direction employed in the film.)

The same goes for TSWLM - a load of action fluf and set peices to mask the non event of story and characters. At least Moore isn't bored in this, so it's got an edge over YOLT and that's probably what pushed me in the TSWLM direction on the vote. I mean, really, Jaws. No.

Here I thought I was alone in my general feelings for these films. Good summary on some of these things, SnakeEyes.

[Bon-san]

There's a lot to like in YOLT. I was loving it for the first half, but it bogs down after Aki dies. The whole wedding/training sequence was like a pin in a balloon. By the time they get to the volcano, momentum had been irretrievably lost.

TSWLM, on the other hand has excellent pacing. And scenery, and cinematography, and action set pieces. It is a bit of a slick package. But it's so well done, that I find it works very well. Iconic: the opening ski jump; Ken Adam's "passageway set" in the belly of Atlantis, the Lotus, and Barbara's pneumatic boobs.

Overall, nod to TSWLM.

[tdalton]

The Spy Who Loved Me is clearly the better film. Connery just sleepwalked his way through YOLT and the whole film was just a mess and easily the worst of Connery's Bonds.

[Qwerty]

THE SPY WHO LOVED ME is far superior to YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE.

Ditto.