47 replies to this topic

[Colossus]

It's obvious Goldfinger is the most iconic the world over of the series. But what would you say is the second most iconic?


I'll go with FRWL 2nd even though many agree it's objectively #1 best. In popculture there's a lot of "from ____ with love" knockoffs, Red Grant clones, evil old hags, even in the series itself it's probably the 2nd most influential too.

Edited by Colossus, 14 April 2009 - 08:54 PM.

[dinovelvet]

Dr. No established most of the iconic traits of Bond :

"Bond, James Bond"
Honey Ryder coming out of the sea
Villain with Secret Lair

[DamnCoffee]

I would probably go for TSWLM or MR, so very popular and iconic. OR maybe, just maybe Casino Royale, considering it's probaby the most famous movie of the decade.

[dogmanstar]

Gotta say Thunderball to this one. Reasons? Still have the Aston Martin, reasonably close script to the Fleming novel, Sean, Terence Young. It's formula (without being formulaic) plus icon, so it wins.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

I think I would have to plump for Casino Royale. When non-Bond fans think of Bond, I imagine that (after Goldfinger) Casino Royale is the first film that comes to mind.

[jaguar007]

As far as iconography goes, either Dr. No (Bond, James Bond and Honey Rider) or TSWLM (Lotus underwater, Jaws, ski jump). YOLT would also be a strong candidate mainly because of the appearance of Blofeld.

This has nothing to do with quality of the films, just the iconography.

[plankattack]

I'm going to make a case for YOLT. Coming out at the height of the spy-film-tv craze, it's Bond as other people see it rather than how it was originally envisioned. Ken Adams' volcano is a defining image in the series, bigger than anything ever seen up on-screen. And never mind that Mike Myers has lived off it, but how often do you read that Donald Pleasance's Blofeld is one of 007 greatest and most threatening villains (not that I agree).

While I don't think that YOLT is that great a film, it contains images and sounds (YOLT is probably the most sampled of Barry's scores) that define what the casual film-goer thinks a Bond-film is.

[MkB]

Dr. No established most of the iconic traits of Bond :

"Bond, James Bond"
Honey Ryder coming out of the sea
Villain with Secret Lair

Exactly. In terms of "iconicity", Honey Ryder is undoubtedly one of the top images of franchise.
Dr No is no Blofeld, but he also left his iconic mark.

[Vauxhall]

After GOLDFINGER, I'd say THE SPY WHO LOVED ME and DR NO have the most iconic images. But give it a few years and CASINO ROYALE will possibly fit in there.

[Judo chop]

Dr. No established most of the iconic traits of Bond :

"Bond, James Bond"
Honey Ryder coming out of the sea
Villain with Secret Lair

Exactly. In terms of "iconicity", Honey Ryder is undoubtedly one of the top images of franchise.
Dr No is no Blofeld, but he also left his iconic mark.

One more vote here for DN.

It might even be argued that it is the winner over GF even.

Or, it might be argued that it doesn't get to compete for having the unfair advantage of being the source. If that's the case, and I can't pick DN, I choose as runner-up...

hmmm...

maybe YOLT? Or maybe TSWLM. Maybe CR. It really gets hard to say after those first two are out of the way.

[BlackFelix]

I would also vote for YOLT as the 2nd most "iconic" Bond. Though I firmly believe TB sets the gold-standard of a Bond-film in terms of action, suspense, location, girls, and gadgets. YOLT, however has some of the most indelible imagery every to be produced from a single Bond film...and is almost a sort of "best of" Bond-movie.

First of, there is the very presence of Sean Connery, and regardless of fan-debates....Connery is the publicly recognized "James Bond" to beat! Bloefeld is finally revealed, and is probably the best remembered Bond-villain (though I could make a strong case for Jaws.) Though the gadgets weren't new to Bond series, everyone remembers "Little Nelly". Also, the promotional material is what always comes to mind when thinking of classic-Bond...The poster of James Bond running along the inner volcano walls, or the image of Bond in the Japanese bath with all the beautiful Japanese girls, it just stays in your head! John Barry is peaking and the soundtrack really is a masterpiece, he created those haunting strings that are as viable today as they were in 1967(when compared to any Craig-era theme, this song stands head and shoulders above the fray.) Also on a side note, John Barry ditched the usual "007 Theme" and creates almost an alternative theme that is just as good (shame it never turns back up on other soundtracks.)

Though I feel YOLT borrows the same overall approach and tone of TB, though not as good...it really delivers a much "Bigger" film that's more in common with modern Bond films. Should have been the swan-song for Connery.

[Red Barchetta]

I'd say FRWL.

It has...

The Cold War

The best henchman ever (Red Grant)

An evil organization

Classic action scenes (boat chase, fight on train, shootout at gypsy camp)

Exotic locales.

[jaguar007]

Bloefeld is finally revealed, and is probably the best remembered Bond-villain (though I could make a strong case for Jaws.)

I would also put Odd Job in that list.

[dinovelvet]

Dr. No established most of the iconic traits of Bond :

"Bond, James Bond"
Honey Ryder coming out of the sea
Villain with Secret Lair

Exactly. In terms of "iconicity", Honey Ryder is undoubtedly one of the top images of franchise.
Dr No is no Blofeld, but he also left his iconic mark.

One more vote here for DN.

It might even be argued that it is the winner over GF even.

Or, it might be argued that it doesn't get to compete for having the unfair advantage of being the source. If that's the case, and I can't pick DN, I choose as runner-up...

That doesn't always make it the winner though. For example. Star Trek : The Motion Picture is pretty much forgotten these days, but Wrath of Khan became the iconic one. Ditto Rambo (II) being more iconic than First Blood (though Loomis will have to give that theory the official seal of approval!)

I'd say FRWL.
It has...
The Cold War
The best henchman ever (Red Grant)
An evil organization
Classic action scenes (boat chase, fight on train, shootout at gypsy camp)
Exotic locales.

There's nothing on this list that became as big a part of pop culture as Connery saying "Bond, James Bond" with the cigarette hanging out of his mouth or Honey Ryder coming out of the sea, though.

After GOLDFINGER, I'd say THE SPY WHO LOVED ME and DR NO have the most iconic images. But give it a few years and CASINO ROYALE will possibly fit in there.

Yeah CR has certainly made an impact in modern pop culture, with Craig on the beach, the black and white opening, the second best ever "Bond, James Bond", the parkour scene, and just the whole surprise "Wow, they can actually make good Bond films these days?" public reception, but it'll be a few years before we can really judge how much of an impact it has/had.

[Mr. Somerset]

Toss up between FRWL and TSWLM.

Really hard to decide, though. Dr No is way up there.

[MkB]

Dr. No established most of the iconic traits of Bond :

"Bond, James Bond"
Honey Ryder coming out of the sea
Villain with Secret Lair

Exactly. In terms of "iconicity", Honey Ryder is undoubtedly one of the top images of franchise.
Dr No is no Blofeld, but he also left his iconic mark.

One more vote here for DN.

It might even be argued that it is the winner over GF even.

Or, it might be argued that it doesn't get to compete for having the unfair advantage of being the source. If that's the case, and I can't pick DN, I choose as runner-up...

I definitely agree with that. To me, DN is the "defining" Bond movie, and the most iconic (exotic locations, magnetic Bond, megalomaniac Villain and his lair with an army of nondescript henchmen, and Honey Ryder, THE Bond Girl).
Actually, I don't like GF much (and the novel is a real mess). But I believe that in the general public it is the one that is deemed the most iconic, mainly because of the dead Bond Girl painted gold, OddJob and his dealdy bowler hat, Goldfinger himself and the Shirley Bassey song, and also the Freudian torture scene ("Do you expect me to talk?" "No Mr Bond, I expect you to die!"). Those are great iconic moments, but unfortunately they belong in a not-so-great Bond film!

[tdalton]

DR. NO is my choice. It's got everything that the rest of the films went on to draw from: the locations, "Bond, James Bond", great villain, etc.

[jaguar007]

I definitely agree with that. To me, DN is the "defining" Bond movie, and the most iconic (exotic locations, magnetic Bond, megalomaniac Villain and his lair with an army of nondescript henchmen, and Honey Ryder, THE Bond Girl).
Actually, I don't like GF much (and the novel is a real mess). But I believe that in the general public it is the one that is deemed the most iconic, mainly because of the dead Bond Girl painted gold, OddJob and his dealdy bowler hat, Goldfinger himself and the Shirley Bassey song, and also the Freudian torture scene ("Do you expect me to talk?" "No Mr Bond, I expect you to die!"). Those are great iconic moments, but unfortunately they belong in a not-so-great Bond film!

I think that is what we are talking about, the most iconic films to the public. Not necessarily what is the best film. I think FRWL is the best Bond film (with possible exception of CR), but I acknowledge that it does not have any real iconography in that film. GF clearly is #1 in those terms. I give #2 a tie between Dr. No (Bond, James Bond and Honey Rider) and TSWLM (Jaws, Lotus, Ski jump).

[sharpshooter]

Doctor No.

Connery uttering the immortal "Bond...James Bond" for the first time. This could well be my favorite line in cinema history. And as others have pointed out, Ursula Andress rising from the sea in the white bikini is massively iconic.

[Frimmel]

Well Dr. No has THE "Bond, James Bond".

When you see montages of what we love about the movies and what we love about Bond and what we love about spy movies that scene is hardly ever NOT included. I think it even made a list of best introductions and best lighting of a cigarette and best tux. When Connery passes on I'd wager that scene will be in his Oscars obituary montage.

When anyone does their 'Bond imitation' if they don't say that was the delivery they kept in mind there are only two possible reasons: they've never seen Dr. No/that scene or they are a liar.

As for entire films with the most iconic stuff after Goldfinger, if you exclude Dr. No for establishing everything and more importantly for not having a gadgeted up car you probably have to go with TSWLM.

Over the top villain? Check (or at least not fail.)

Over the top henchman? Check

Over the top gadgeted up car? Check

Over the top villain's lair? Check

Hot babe who's a match for Bond? Check

Fate of the world at stake? Check

Big battle leading to a countdown? Check

Loads of gadgets? Check

Over the top stunts? Check

Great curtain line? Check

No cliche goes unmined in TSWLM.

[Mr_Wint]

I would say that TSWLM is the 2nd most iconic Bondmovie with Moore as Bond, the Ski jump, Jaws, Atlantis, Locations, hijacking of submarines etc. Closely followed by TB, YOLT, LALD and MR.

[danielcraigisjamesbond007]

It's obvious Goldfinger is the most iconic the world over of the series. But what would you say is the second most iconic?

Would you believe it? I have to disagree. (Blasphemer! ) I think that Casino Royale is now the most iconic, IMO. So that demotes Goldfinger to second.

[sharpshooter]

I think that Casino Royale is now the most iconic, IMO.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I'm confident Goldfinger will always be number one iconic wise.

[[dark]]

I'm going to make a case for YOLT. Coming out at the height of the spy-film-tv craze, it's Bond as other people see it rather than how it was originally envisioned. Ken Adams' volcano is a defining image in the series, bigger than anything ever seen up on-screen. And never mind that Mike Myers has lived off it, but how often do you read that Donald Pleasance's Blofeld is one of 007 greatest and most threatening villains (not that I agree).

While I don't think that YOLT is that great a film, it contains images and sounds (YOLT is probably the most sampled of Barry's scores) that define what the casual film-goer thinks a Bond-film is.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

[Tybre]

I think that Casino Royale is now the most iconic, IMO.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I'm confident Goldfinger will always be number one iconic wise.

I don't think Goldfinger as a whole is really iconic, just certain scenes, i.e.

"Do you expect me to talk?"
"No, Mr Bond, I expect you to die!"

Most people I know who are only casual Bond fans can't even tell you what film that's from.

[Cruiserweight]

TSWLM

[sharpshooter]

I don't think Goldfinger as a whole is really iconic, just certain scenes, i.e.

"Do you expect me to talk?"
"No, Mr Bond, I expect you to die!"

Most people I know who are only casual Bond fans can't even tell you what film that's from.

That line exchange is legendary. It's not just a great moment from Bond, it's a great moment from film full stop. It's also extremely well known. Just because some 'casual' fans can't pinpoint what film it's from, doesn't make it any less of a scene. They are at least aware of it.

[DamnCoffee]

I absoloutly agree! Well said, Sharpshooter.

[007FANATIC]

I also think Dr. No.
It has the first "Bond, James Bond.", Honey Ryder emerging from the sea, and a very iconic villain.
Although it's my sixth favorite, I definitely think it's the second most iconic.

[RJJB]

I would agree that Goldfinger is the most iconic move as it was the one that truly catapulted Bond into the world-wide phenomenon. I know a lot of late-comers are not fond of the movie, but if they were not around before Goldfinger, they do not understand just how much that it changed the public perception of the series. It truly is the lynchpin for the series' longevity.

I would only think of any of the first four movies to be considered for iconic status. They are the solid foundation for what we can enjoy today. Don't even consider any of the Roger Moore movies as being instrumental. They merely served as place holders until James Bond could return and the comedic fop could be replaced.