33 replies to this topic

[Vanish]

My thoughts on these two films:

Live and Let Die is a fun movie, no doubt. George Martin's score is interesting, the voodoo mystique over the film is a nice change of pace, and Moore actually comes across very well considering it was his first outing. Jane Seymour remains my favorite Bond girl ever, and I doubt she'll be surpassed. The early '70s flavor in the film is fantastic, giving it a very distinct energy all its own.

My main issues with the film stem from two key factors. First, the speedboat chase goes on far, far too long - And for the most part, it lacks any music to quicken the pace, reducing the action to the droning monotony of speedboat motors and splashing sounds. While it was intended to be something spectacular, the chase is totally underwhelming and seemingly endless.

Secondly, the Mankeweicz/Hamilton factor is once again in full effect, as we are treated to lame scenes where the local police are reduced to cluelessly chasing Bond around and getting their vehicles destroyed in the process. This idea was repeated throughout the 3 Mankeweicz/Hamilton films, and it's a poor one. These scenes bring the film to a halt, and they crop up too often.


The Man With the Golden Gun, on the other hand, is one of the most uneven films in the series... And yet for some strange reason, I prefer it to LALD. For every positive, however, there's a strong negative in this film. Scaramanga is a terrific villain, but Moore stumbles in his portrayal of Bond. The scenery is lush and varied, but both Bond women are among the weakest in the series.

The storyline is extremely different and unique for a Bond film, retaining a dark edge that we wouldn't see again until Dalton came along, but the film often falls prey to silliness and poor comedic choices (slide whistles, JW Pepper, etc).

When it works, however, TMWTGG is a fun and lively Bond film, and I feel that the positives definitely outweigh the negatives.

Overall, despite the issues that plague both films, I very much enjoy them - I'll give TMWTGG the edge, as I feel it's a more unique, exciting, and interesting entry than LALD.

LALD: 7/10
TMWTGG: 8.5/10

Edited by Vanish, 15 June 2006 - 08:53 PM.

[tdalton]

LALD is the better film of the two, by far. LALD is one Bond film that has really gotten better and better every time that I've watched it. I don't know why that is, but I seem to appreciate it more every time I see it.

[Brian Flagg]

I prefer TMWTGG. I've never felt any kind of "connection" to LALD. Plus, the fact that Bond is made out to be a fool in those Harlem scenes in LALD really annoys me. The new Bond should have been introduced as super cool and "with it" instead of having him stupidly fall for gags like the revolving table in the bar and standing out like a sore thumb, as he did in Harlem. Pathetic Blaxploitation antics from a series that had no business trying them. Plus, there's no "Q"!

Edited by Brian Flagg, 15 June 2006 - 11:08 PM.

[Harmonica]

When I first saw the films I would've said TMWTGG over LALD, but now having seen them twice, I'll go with LALD.

They're both forgettable movies in the Bond canon and I would rank them in the bottom quarter. Moore's okay in the two and doesn't have as many unncessary quips as in his later movies, but the movies are just uninspired, dull, and poorly directed. Guy Hamilton is a hack: DAF, LALD, and TMWTGG are some of the worst films in the series, which makes the quality of Goldfinger baffling.

From a cast standpoint, Jane Seymour is LALD's biggest asset whereas Christopher Lee is TMWTGG's. Solitaire is one of the most beautiful Bond girls and Scaramanga one of the best villains. But Rosie Carver and Mary Goodnight detract from both movies considerably.

LALD felt like it was uncomfortable dealing with the controversial subject matter of the book, which contributed to its haphazard, desultory feel. Likewise, TMWTGG wasn't sure if it wanted to be a tense thriller, an exciting adventure, or a satirical comedy.

Ultimately, I'll go with Live and Let Die because, flawed as it may be, it's still a better film than TMWTGG, which is simply a mess of contradictory ideas.