56 replies to this topic

[DaveBond21]

Which Bond film do you think has the best atmosphere? What I mean is which uses best use of locations, to really make you feel like you are there amongst the scenery and culture?

The one that always springs to mind, although not my favourite movie, is YOLT, it really captures Japan in a travelogue kind of way - in particular the Sumo wrestling match, the meeting with Henderson, and the "wedding".

Other scenes in films include FRWL in Istanbul, and FYEO in Capri.

What are your favourite location/atmosphere scenes???

[Loomis]

Which Bond film do you think has the best atmosphere? What I mean is which uses best use of locations, to really make you feel like you are there amongst the scenery and culture?

THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN, hands down.

[DaveBond21]

Hi Loomis

Yes, that is a good example, of Thailand in particular. But Thailand has changed since the 70's, hasn't it?

[Loomis]

Hi Loomis

Yes, that is a good example, of Thailand in particular. But Thailand has changed since the 70's, hasn't it?

Well, I imagine so, but so what? The fact that the film is obviously 30 years old doesn't mar the atmosphere or travelogue experience - for me, at least.

Actually, during the Bangkok car chase, I notice a particular area I went to just a few years ago, and the funny thing is that it seems to have looked exactly the same in 1974 as it does now!

[Harmsway]

Which Bond film do you think has the best atmosphere? What I mean is which uses best use of locations, to really make you feel like you are there amongst the scenery and culture?

THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN, hands down.

I don't think it's even close to YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, which by far has the best travelogue feel of any Bond film.

The locations in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE are gorgeous (beautiful cinematography only increases their impact). Add into that the amazing use of Japanese culture as well as Barry's absolutely phenomenal score and you have an amazing atmosphere.

[Spurrier]

Sentimentally, because I have Greek ancestory, For Your Eyes Only. Take the emotions away and, it is The Man With The Golden Gun.

[Loomis]

Which Bond film do you think has the best atmosphere? What I mean is which uses best use of locations, to really make you feel like you are there amongst the scenery and culture?

THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN, hands down.

I don't think it's even close to YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, which by far has the best travelogue feel of any Bond film.

The locations in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE are gorgeous (beautiful cinematography aids that), and add into that the expensive sets and Barry's absolutely lush score and you have an incredible atmosphere.

Yes, but they could have done better. I agree that YOLT does have some great travelogue and location shooting moments, but I harshly take points off it for being too obviously Pinewood-based in parts, as well as for things like awful rear projection (Bond and Aki driving to meet Tiger) and that unforgivable shot of the English countryside as Helga Brandt bails out on Bond. And I do honestly believe they could and should have made much better use of Japan as a location - we're especially shortchanged on Tokyo (although I do appreciate that they needed to move the plot forward and weren't exactly making a film that catered exclusively to travelogue freaks ).

But maybe it's because I've been to more of the locations in TMWTGG that I have a softer spot for it - it's largely personal nostalgia talking, probably.

[DaveBond21]

Yes, having been to James Bond Island, I do love the ending of TMWTGG.

I also love the end to FYEO as I have been to Meteora too.


I think it definitely influences our choices of which movie locations we like. However, from FYEO, Corfu has changed since 1980/1...!!! Where were all the half-naked, beer-swilling Brits and Germans?????

[Turn]

The one that always springs to mind, although not my favourite movie, is YOLT, it really captures Japan in a travelogue kind of way - in particular the Sumo wrestling match, the meeting with Henderson, and the "wedding".

Exactly what I think, DaveBond21. It's not my favorite either, but you can't help but feel that Bond is not just in another country, but a different world in YOLT.

That's the great thing the early Bonds did -- introduce audiences to exotic places and cultures they had little or no idea about and probably didn't get to travel to very easily. You discovered sports like Thai kickboxing and Sumo wrestling you never knew existed or learned about heraldry or tarot and voodoo from Bond movies.

[DaveBond21]

That's the great thing the early Bonds did -- introduce audiences to exotic places and cultures they had little or no idea about and probably didn't get to travel to very easily

Yes, Turn, very good point. More people travel now, so we know what these places are like. But in those days, there wasn't as much travelling overseas and not as many travel shows on television, so the Bond movies would take you to exotic countries for the first time.

I think they still do that, when they choose real locations, but being from the UK, I can tell that certain scenes in TND, TWINE and DAD are obviously England when they are supposed to be Germany, Kazakstan or Korea. It's not the same!

[Double-Oh-Zero]

TMWTGG is indeed rife with a certain travelogue feel that somehow suits the otherwise tacky 70s atmosphere.

I've also always enjoyed Thunderball and - in a weird sort of way - LALD for the same reason. OP also takes on an interesting ambiance once they get to India, right down to the "curry line" (what a nice chap, that Roger Moore). Just a shame the plot didn't really bother to come along with it.

[DaveBond21]

Double-Oh-Zero

Yes, some people have said they enjoy Dr No, Thunderball and LALD because they transport us to the Caribbean, and of course, CR is going to do the same.

[MarcAngeDraco]

I really love the atmosphere/locations of Jamaica in Dr. No.

(Perhaps I'm biased because I've been able to visit many of the Dr. No locations in person, and it's really the only film I can say that about...)

[Jim]

Interesting topic.

Thunderball and OHMSS for me capture the atmosphere of their main settings (I only write that having been there).

[Mr_Wint]

Which Bond film do you think has the best atmosphere? What I mean is which uses best use of locations, to really make you feel like you are there amongst the scenery and culture?

I think Guy Hamilton was a master at creating a good atmosphere (although none of the scripts he got was particularly good). DAF, LALD and TMWTGG still holds up today largely thanks to the atmosphere, "the magic".

DAF gets my vote.

What are your favourite location/atmosphere scenes???

The Egypt scenes in TSWLM.

[iexpectu2die]

Licence to Kill, by far. Everything from the gritty realism to the soundtrack give the film an unsafe, no limits feel, which I find very effective.

[dee-bee-five]

Which Bond film do you think has the best atmosphere? What I mean is which uses best use of locations, to really make you feel like you are there amongst the scenery and culture?

The one that always springs to mind, although not my favourite movie, is YOLT, it really captures Japan in a travelogue kind of way - in particular the Sumo wrestling match, the meeting with Henderson, and the "wedding".

Other scenes in films include FRWL in Istanbul, and FYEO in Capri.

What are your favourite location/atmosphere scenes???

For me, Dr. No, You Only Live Twice, OHMSS, and, surprisingly, GoldenEye.

[Captain Grimes]

Moonraker, definitely. Lewis Gilbert perfectly captured the (lack of) atomosphere of outer space.

Seriously, though, Gilbert did a fantastic job capturing exotic locales in his other two movies, YOLT and TSWLM. His movies have alwasy struck me as bigger, brighter, a bit more painterly. Hard to explain exactly what I mean, but his Japan and Egypt seem somehow more vivid than, say, Terence Young's Istanbul (which is itself one of the best Bond locales).

In the case of YOLT, a lot of the credit has to go to the cinematographer, Freddie Young, who, incidentally, also shot Lawrence of Arabia.

[doublenoughtspy]

OHMSS - Portugal, Switzerland, England. Perfectly captures all 3.

[Atomic Agent]

Definately Dr. No and Thunderball. Even when nothing is happening, I don't mind watching because it just feels great.

[DamnCoffee]

I dont mind the Cuba scene in DAD but i think TMWTGG has a great atmosphere - its really beautiful

[DaveBond21]

mharkin, good point about Cuba in DAD, I like it too, especially before Bond arrives at the cigar factory.

Also to those who mentioned OHMSS, good choice too, and also captures Christmas as well, which I suppose is the only Bond to feature Christmas until TWINE!!! ....I love the scenes in the wooden shack Bond & Tracy find themselves in, in OHMSS.

[Judo chop]

This thread has just caused me to realize why Goldfinger isn't a top-5 film for me. I make no secret that I love Connery as Bond, and he's absolutely brilliant in GF. Oddjob is near perfect. Frobe is marvelous. So what's my problem? It has everything to do with the location/atmosphere. It's a bit stifling.

So, thanks Davebond21 for clearing that problem up for me!

[DaveBond21]

No problem, Judo Chop (cool name, by the way).

Why do you think the atmosphere is stifling? Do you mean at Goldfinger's ranch?? Maybe it is meant to be? I know what you mean though, because after the Swiss alps scenery, we don't see anything else in the way of cool locations in GF.

[Captain Grimes]

This thread has just caused me to realize why Goldfinger isn't a top-5 film for me. I make no secret that I love Connery as Bond, and he's absolutely brilliant in GF. Oddjob is near perfect. Frobe is marvelous. So what's my problem? It has everything to do with the location/atmosphere. It's a bit stifling.

Agreed. The travelogue aspect means a lot to me, and GF just doesn't really deliver in that department, in my opinion. Everything seems a little flat, a little lifeless, a little stifling, as you say. Maybe it's because I'm a Yank, and so much of the movie is set in the States. At any rate, the most atmospheric scenes take place indoors on Adam's great sets.

Edited by Captain Grimes, 25 August 2006 - 12:44 AM.

[DaltonCraig]

What about Octopussy?

I always liked the vibe of that one...

[Captain Grimes]

What about Octopussy?

I always liked the vibe of that one...

Me too. The India stuff is terrific--lots of local color and exoticism. The same is true of FYEO, from start to finish. John Glen and his team really did a great job creating a travelogue feeling for his first two movies. (TLD is pretty good in that department as well, but the Paris sequence in AVTAK doesn't do much for me. LTK seems pretty small-scale all around, maybe because of budget restrictions?)

Edited by Captain Grimes, 25 August 2006 - 12:53 AM.

[DaveBond21]

Octopussy makes India look fantastic, and this was long before Western tourists turned it into a touristy place.

Also, I agree with FYEO, fantastic locations all round there.

And a nice mention for TLD too, with Austria and Czech Republic well represented as well as Afghanistan.

[Qwerty]

Thunderball, [film=99]On Her Majesty

[DaveBond21]

it's hard to just pick one!

I know. But the most popular for atmosphere seem to be DN, TB, YOLT and OHMSS.